"Hi, Doc," said Mr. Dobbs. "I'd like for you to take a look at Betty here. I do not know what is going on with her. She's eating like maniac, and you would think that she would be as big as a house, but she looks like she is losing weight."

I looked at Betty, a pretty, little domestic shorthair cat. She did look smaller than she had when I had last seen her. I weighed her. She weighed nine pounds, a pound less than her weight at her last visit six months ago.

"Is she having any vomiting or diarrhea?" I asked Mr. Dobbs.

"She throws up every once in a while," he replied. "Sometimes it has hair in it."

"What about her water intake?" I asked. "Have you noticed any changes in the amount of water that she has been drinking?"

"Well, Doc," he replied, "I don't really pay much attention to that. I have seen her at the water bowl, but I do not know how much she is drinking."

"What about her litter box?" I asked. "Has there been any more or less urine in the litter?"

"Well, now that you mention it, she does seem to be urinating more. There are a lot more wet spots in the litter."

"Have you changed her diet recently?" I asked.

"No," Mr. Dobbs replied. "She has been on the same food since she became an adult."

I examined Betty. Aside from weighing less, she was in good shape for a three-year old cat.

"There could be several things going on here," I said to Mr. Dobbs. "Common things that can cause weight loss in a cat that has a good appetite include diabetes and hyperthyroidism. With diabetes, you usually see an increase in thirst. The cat drinks more and consequently, urinates more. You can see this to a lesser extent in hyperthyroidism, but it is uncommon to see hyperthyroidism in a three-year old cat; they are usually older with that."

"Other diseases can cause weight loss in addition to these two diseases, so we need to do some diagnostics. I would like to do some bloodwork on her and get a urine sample to do a urinalysis."

"How do you get a urine sample from a cat?" asked Mr. Dobbs.

"We can sometimes press on the bladder and get urine," I replied. "We can also insert a small needle into the bladder and obtain some that way. It depends on the cat."

"Good luck," he said.

We took Betty back and got the blood and urine. The urinalysis revealed some glucose in the urine. Normal urine does not have any glucose in it. This is usually seen with diabetics. Betty's urine also showed that she had a bladder infection, which is also common with diabetics. The glucose in the urine makes a nice medium for bacteria to grow in. Bacteria thrive on glucose.

We sent the bloodwork out and got that back the next day. Betty's blood glucose was elevated. She had diabetes mellitus, the official name for "sugar" diabetes.

I called Mr. Dobbs and went over the bloodwork with him. "Betty will need to be regulated on insulin," I told him.

"You mean I have to give her shots?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied. "Insulin needles are tiny. Most animals barely feel them. We will show you how to do it."

"How do you regulate her?" he asked.

"We hospitalize her and do a glucose curve while we start her on insulin. The glucose curve involves checking her glucose level every few hours to see how her particular body is responding to the insulin."

We admitted Betty the next day and monitored her glucose levels over the following few days. Once we got her at a comfortable insulin level, we showed Mr. Dobbs how to give the insulin injections. He gave her her insulin over the next week, then brought her back in for another glucose curve. It showed that she was doing nicely.

Many owners feel dismayed when they first learn that their pet has diabetes. They wonder how they will be able to give their pet shots and worry about how it will impact them. Diabetics have to be given their insulin every day around the same time in order for it to work properly. Many have to be given insulin twice a day. Owners have to decide upon times appropriate to their schedule. Most people can pick times that fit in with their schedules.

If your diabetic pet has not been spayed, it is advisable to do so. Being in heat can make it difficult to regulate your pet. It can make the glucose level fluctuate. Regular exercise can facilitate insulin regulation by stabilizing glucose levels in the bloodstream. High fiber diets can also help to stabilize glucose levels and make regulation easier.

Do not despair if you find out your pet has diabetes. It is a usually a manageable disease. It does require a commitment on your part. Aside from adjusting your daily routine, when vacationing, you will have to have someone who will administer the insulin for you. If friends or family are not available to do this, check boarding places; many will accommodate you. Look into pet sitters. Many have medical experience and will gladly include that in their sitting for you. Just remember that you have options. If you have concerns, ask your veterinarian. He/she may be able to help you find a solution.

-Dr. Reggie Cox practices at prime Care Animal Hospital, Inc., a small animal practice in Gambrills, Maryland. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri, Columbia.