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Sammanfattning

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common endocrine diseases in cats. Although treatment may offer a favourable prognosis and a potential for remission, disease management often encompasses challenges. The overall aim of this thesis was to broaden the understanding of DM in cats and contribute to an improved clinical management, including aspects related to the cat, the owner, and to the veterinarian.  

A questionnaire sent to owners of cats with DM contributed with information on clinical outcomes and owner experiences. Eating predominantly a commercially available wet diet increased odds of remission, and remission was associated with a better quality of life of the cat. Difficulties and worries associated with DM management were common among owners. Interviews demonstrated that both owners and veterinarians considered the cat’s quality of life as central, and this, together with a strong sense of responsibility, guided reasoning around the cat’s DM and treatment. Clinical decision-making was influenced by the human-cat relationship, moral values, veterinary-owner communication and other contextual factors. Finally, hair cortisol concentration (HCC) was evaluated as a biomarker of long-term hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity and stress. Cats with chronic disease, including DM, had higher HCC than healthy cats, suggesting that disease and disease management affect HPA-axis activity. Combing demonstrated potential as a low-stress method for hair sampling.  

Together, the four studies provide new insights into the clinical, emotional, and ethical dimensions of DM in cats, and highlight the importance of integrating the lived experiences of owners, cats and veterinarians in DM management.

Nyckelord

Cat; diabetes; wet diet; owner; veterinary; remission; quality of life; non-invasive; stress; chronic disease; katt; diabetes; blötmat; ägare; veterinär; remission; livskvalitet; icke-invasiv; stress; kronisk sjukdom

Publicerad i

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae
2025, nummer: 2025:78
Utgivare: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

SLU författare

UKÄ forskningsämne

Klinisk vetenskap
Endokrinologi och diabetes

Publikationens identifierare

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.54612/a.4oc7e3o61k
  • ISBN: 978-91-8124-062-7
  • eISBN: 978-91-8124-108-2

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/142479