Breaking barriers in feline diabetes treatment

Caring for a cat that has diabetes can be a rewarding, yet challenging feat for any pet owner. Their pet needs their doses of insulin on a strict regime to make sure the cat is okay, and sometimes administering that medication can be a troubling experience for both the cat and owner.

During a recent interview with dvm360, Whit Cothern, DVM, executive director, Veterinary Professional Services, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, shared more about how the new velagliflozin oral solution (SENVELGO; Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health) is changing the game for cats with diabetes.

The following is a partial transcript of the video.

Whit Cothern, DVM: Historically with cats diagnosed with type 2, which they typically have type 2 diabetes, it requires twice, daily insulin. Those usually have to be pretty close in time. So 8 AM to 8 PM or 6 AM to 6 PM. You can't go skipping. You can't necessarily say I'm not going to give it tonight because we're going out to dinner.

Historically, one of the great things about having cats as pets is that they're pretty self-sufficient. So if you have an overnight, you [can say], 'oh, the cats gonna be fine. I'll put a little extra food out. I'll be back tomorrow.' Not if you have a diabetic, right? And so, we want to find ways to reduce the rate of euthanasia for feline diabetics, but also quality of life, right? Being in a high chronically high glucose blood glucose level is quite toxic to the body.