The Associated Press
A new pill aims to make it easier to treat diabetic cats without twice-a-day insulin shots.
The drug is the first oral treatment for feline diabetes approved by the U-S Food and Drug Administration.
But the new once-daily pill called Bexacat can’t be used in diabetic cats that have already received insulin.
And animals must be screened carefully for other conditions and monitored for serious side-effects.
While many cat owners successfully treat their cats with insulin shots, others struggle.
Research shows that owners put down one in 10 cats with a new diabetes diagnosis.
Another 10 per cent are euthanized within a year, partly because of the difficulties of treatment.
Drugmaker Elanco says the list price for the drug is about 53-dollars U-S per month.
A cat veterinarian in Texas thinks most vets will double or triple the cost of the drug, which may be higher than the costs for insulin and the syringes or pens to give it.
Banner image via The Associated Press
