The Effect of Veterinary Enalapril on Feline Diabetes

Feline diabetes is a problem found in many obese or older cats that requires careful monitoring, both for blood sugar levels and for any potential drug interactions.

  1. Understanding Feline Diabetes

    • Diabetes mellitus is a fairly common disorder in cats, affecting approximately one in 400. In feline diabetes, proper blood sugar levels are not maintained due to problems with the production of insulin from the pancreas. Many cats suffering from diabetes also have issues with high blood pressure, leading to the prescribing of enalapril.

    Understanding Enalapril

    • Enalapril (manufactured under the brand names Enacard and Vasotec) is an ACE inhibitor that is used in the treatment of hypertension in cats. It opens up the blood vessels in the circulatory system, causing the blood pressure to drop.

    Enalapril and Feline Diabetes

    • When enalapril is given to a cat with feline diabetes, careful monitoring is required to make sure that the dosage given is accurate. If the dosage level is too high, the cat can become lethargic and listless, indicating that the blood pressure is dropping too low.

    Insulin and Enalapril

    • According to Don Richardson, a researcher at Merial Pharmaceuticals, manufacturers of enalapril under the brand name of Enacard, there are no conflicting effects from the use of enalapril with insulin in cats with feline diabetes.

    Longer Lifespan

    • Due to advances in modern veterinary medicine, cats with diabetes are living longer than ever, as are cats that have high blood pressure and heart disease. By using enalapril for your cat's condition as well as treating the feline diabetes, you'll be doing everything you can to ensure that you have much more time together.