Feline Diabetes

Overview

Help us find a cure for Feline Diabetes

Complete the registration form to find out if your pet qualifies to be in our clinical trial.

A new partnership between Anivive Lifesciences and Basepaws has formed to study the genetics of feline diabetes. Cats meeting the study criteria are eligible to receive complimentary genetic testing. Your participation in this study is an opportunity to support scientific exploration of the genes thought to be involved with diabetes. This information will help researchers develop new diagnostic tests, suggest possible preventative measures and explore new treatments for this common feline disease.

Compensation

Enrolled pets receive:

Free Genetic Test Kit
Free Genetic Report

You will be shipped a saliva collection kit free of charge that you will use at home to collect a saliva sample from your cat. You will receive the results of the Basepaws Genetic Report ($149 value) at no charge to you.

Study Team

David BruyetteChief Medical Officer, DVM, DACVIM

Dr. David Bruyette received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Missouri. Subsequently, he completed an internship at Purdue University and residency in internal medicine at the University of California-Davis. He was a staff internist at the West Los Angeles Veterinary Medical Group and a member of the Department of Comparative Medicine at Stanford University. Dr. Bruyette was an Assistant Professor and Head of Internal Medicine at Kansas State University and Director of the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at Kansas State. He was most recently, Medical Director of the VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital, one of the largest 24-hour emergency/specialty practices in the country. Dr. Bruyette is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and a member of the Endocrine Society.

Background

Diabetes mellitus is the most common disorder of the endocrine pancreas in dogs and cats. The incidence in dogs is approximately 0.13%, and the incidence in cats is approximately 0.5%, depending on the study population, and is influenced by geographical location and type of veterinary practice (referral or primary accession).

Diabetes mellitus is a disease of middle aged to older companion animals, with peak prevalence of 7-12 years of age in dogs, and 10 – 13 years in cats. Intact female dogs, and male cats, are predisposed. Various breeds of cat and dog are overrepresented, and predisposed breeds vary with geographic area. For example, in the USA, dog breeds at increased risk include miniature Schnauzer, Samoyed, and miniature poodle, whereas in the UK, in addition to Miniature Schnauzer and Samoyed, breeds more commonly seen include Tibetan, Cairn, Border and Yorkshire Terriers and Labrador retrievers. In cats, Burmese are overrepresented in Australia, New Zealand and UK, and in USA, Maine coon, domestic longhair, Russian Blue and Siamese. Norwegian forest cats are at increased risk in Scandinavia.

Causes

Type 1 diabetes is a result of immune-mediated β-cell destruction, usually leading to an absolute insulin deficiency. The majority of neutered diabetic dogs have type 1 diabetes, but this form appears to be very rare in cats. The etiology of type 1 diabetes in dogs is multifactorial, and likely involves genetic factors, and poorly understood environmental factors, which trigger β-cell injury and inflammation. As in humans, there is a seasonal influence with the incidence peaking in winter. Environmental factors such as such as chronic insulin resistance secondary to glucocorticoid administration or obesity, and diseases which antagonize insulin’s actions would be expected to hasten onset of clinical signs when superimposed on a reduced capacity to secrete insulin as a result of immune-mediated β-cell destruction.

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance with concomitant β–cell dysfunction. In developed countries, the majority of feline diabetics are type 2. Insulin resistance is multifactorial and associated with genetic factors, obesity, physical inactivity, male gender, and glucocorticoid steroids.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is based on demonstration of persistently increased blood glucose concentration, and is typically associated with classical clinical signs of excessive drinking and urination. The presence of elevated plasma fructosamine (approximately > 400 umol/L; reference range varies by laboratory) or glycated hemoglobin (A1c) (reference range depends on assay used), in symptomatic pets with hyperglycemia and glucosuria help confirm the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Treatment

Avoiding pet obesity and avoiding or limiting exposure to medications that may predispose to diabetes are important preventative factors. Nearly all veterinary patients with diabetes mellitus are managed with a combination of insulin therapy, diet, and weight management. In dogs and cats, insulin therapy is generally administered twice daily for the life of the pet.

About Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is the most common disorder of the endocrine pancreas in dogs and cats. The incidence in dogs is approximately 0.13%, and the incidence in cats is approximately 0.5%, depending on the study population, and is influenced by geographical location and type of veterinary practice (referral or primary accession).

Diabetes mellitus is a disease of middle aged to older companion animals, with peak prevalence of 7-12 years of age in dogs, and 10 – 13 years in cats. Intact female dogs, and male cats, are predisposed. Various breeds of cat and dog are overrepresented, and predisposed breeds vary with geographic area. For example, in the USA, dog breeds at increased risk include miniature Schnauzer, Samoyed, and miniature poodle, whereas in the UK, in addition to Miniature Schnauzer and Samoyed, breeds more commonly seen include Tibetan, Cairn, Border and Yorkshire Terriers and Labrador retrievers. In cats, Burmese are overrepresented in Australia, New Zealand and UK, and in USA, Maine coon, domestic longhair, Russian Blue and Siamese. Norwegian forest cats are at increased risk in Scandinavia.

Type 1 diabetes is a result of immune-mediated β-cell destruction, usually leading to an absolute insulin deficiency. The majority of neutered diabetic dogs have type 1 diabetes, but this form appears to be very rare in cats. The etiology of type 1 diabetes in dogs is multifactorial, and likely involves genetic factors, and poorly understood environmental factors, which trigger β-cell injury and inflammation. As in humans, there is a seasonal influence with the incidence peaking in winter. Environmental factors such as such as chronic insulin resistance secondary to glucocorticoid administration or obesity, and diseases which antagonize insulin’s actions would be expected to hasten onset of clinical signs when superimposed on a reduced capacity to secrete insulin as a result of immune-mediated β-cell destruction.

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance with concomitant β–cell dysfunction. In developed countries, the majority of feline diabetics are type 2. Insulin resistance is multifactorial and associated with genetic factors, obesity, physical inactivity, male gender, and glucocorticoid steroids.

Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is based on demonstration of persistently increased blood glucose concentration, and is typically associated with classical clinical signs of excessive drinking and urination. The presence of elevated plasma fructosamine (approximately > 400 umol/L; reference range varies by laboratory) or glycated hemoglobin (A1c) (reference range depends on assay used), in symptomatic pets with hyperglycemia and glucosuria help confirm the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Avoiding pet obesity and avoiding or limiting exposure to medications that may predispose to diabetes are important preventative factors. Nearly all veterinary patients with diabetes mellitus are managed with a combination of insulin therapy, diet, and weight management. In dogs and cats, insulin therapy is generally administered twice daily for the life of the pet.

FAQs

Know before you register

Does it cost anything to participate in this study?

How and when will I receive my cat’s genetic report?

What is included in the Basepaws report?

How will my cat’s data be used by Basepaws and Anivive?

Who do I contact if I have questions about collecting and submitting the saliva sample from my cat?

How do I activate the CatKit?

Does it cost anything to participate in this study?

This study is being funded by Basepaws and Anivive so there is no cost to pet owners to participate. In fact, you will receive a free genetic test report for your cat at no charge ($129 value.)

How and when will I receive my cat’s genetic report?

Once you have submitted your cat’s saliva sample, please ensure that you also complete the phenotype survey so that we have all the information on hand to generate your cat’s personalized report. You will be notified by Basepaws when your cat’s report is available, approximately 6 to 9 weeks post sample receipt. For specific information about the Basepaws report, please visit https://www.basepaws.com/faq/.

What is included in the Basepaws report?

The Basepaws report includes a Breed Relativity test, along with Health Marker testing for genetic diseases. View a sample report here. To learn more in-depth about our testing process for both sections, please refer to our Breed Analysis and Health Marker white papers.

How will my cat’s data be used by Basepaws and Anivive?

The genetic sequencing information provides us data that, when combined with other medical history data, helps us understand the role of genetics in health and disease. These insights help us learn more about genetic disease markers and develop genetics-based precision medicine tools to improve and extend the lives of diabetic cats.