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My Pet World: Dosing a diabetic cat with testosterone is irresponsible

By Steve Dale, Tribune Content Agency on

Q: Two of my medical patients have taken the liberty of successfully using their own testosterone injectables on their cats to reverse diabetes. I thought you might want to pass this information along. -- E.L., via cyberspace

A: No, thank you. Instead, I'll pass along this information: "Don't do it!" implores feline veterinarian Dr. Susan Little, of Ottawa, Ontario Canada, editor and author of "The Cat: Clinical Medicine and Management" (Elsevier/Saunders Publishing, Philadelphia, PA, 2011; $180).

Little wonders if you, as a medical doctor, are endorsing a treatment which should be the purview of a veterinary professional.

"There are a plethora of potential adverse responses of using hormones," she notes. "And what you suggest has never been tested on cats."

"Typically, diabetes in cats is type-2, which is often related to body condition, being overweight or obese," Little says. She notes that there are two insulin products approved for felines, Vetsulin and ProZinc, the latter specific to cats.

"I'm unsure why you would ever want to use testosterone on these cats," says Little, a past president of the Winn Feline Foundation, a non-profit that funds cat health research. "There's no science to support efficacy or safety in cats. The most important rule for any medical professional is, "first, do no harm."

 

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Q: Grandma lives three states away. We plan to visit her this summer and would like to take Sadie along. Unfortunately, Sadie gets sick in the car. She's excited when we say, "Let's go for a ride," but the moment she gets in the car, she pants, drools, whines and sometimes gets sick to her stomach. Any suggestions? -- D.L., Aurora, IL

A: I assume Sadie is a dog. Begin by purchasing some products which will make your job easier. Start by asking your veterinarian about Cerenia, a drug which effectively eases motion sickness. As long as your dog is feeling sick in the car, there's not much you can do to help her.

Next, buy an Adaptil collar, Adaptil spray (both are a 'knock off' of a calming pheromone) and a Thundershirt, a vest that fits snuggly around a dog's chest.

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