topic Re: Help with a diabetic cat in Pet Lovers

Help with a diabetic cat

photodreamr — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 13:04:23 GMT

Hi All,

I don't post often, but I need some wisdom. For the first time I have a diabetic cat. He was diagnosed a little more than a week ago by the vet.

When we went there his glucose level was 500+ and weighed 9.5 lbs. He was neever a fat cat so this diagnoses surprised me. Armed with glocose monitoring stuff, insulin and new cat food we went home. We kept the kitty on the insulin schedule and food schedule even though he was crying for food. When given food he cleaned his dish so good you thoght it was a new bowl.

Went to the vet again after a week, my poor kitty lost a 1/2 pound and insulin still was 450-500. We were asked to do a glucose curve and try some new insulin. Glucose curve showed he was insulin resistant and after a couple days of the new insulin nothing has changed.

He seems to be losing more weigh and he is soo hungry my heart is breaking for him. The vet has told us to stay strong with the diet.

I am scared with the weigh being lost. I am trying to figure out when is enough is enough. The kitty is a great cat. He has helped me through some tough times and when I was sick in bed he only left me to eat and use the litter box. He is the most gentlest kitty and woudl put up with about anything I ask of him.

Something is beginning to tell me it is time, but I don't want to let go too soon. I keep thinking maybe this time his levels will go down. But I don't want him to suffer by being hungry all the time.

Any word of wisdom?

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

Anita Hug — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 13:37:56 GMT

I don't have much advice to offer because I am not a vet and wouldn't want to steer you wrong.I might suggest that if you are not getting results with your current vet, you might want to get another opinion with a different vet office. What worked for my cat may be different than what will work for yours.

I'll say one thing - when I went through this, the precription foods the vets offered did not help at all. They actually caused other problems - itchy skin, goopy eyes, etc. Reading the ingredients, it was no wonder. By-product meals, corn, lots of weird ingredients. I switched to a different brand (Acana) with quality ingredients, and she did so much better. The main thing is keeping the glycemic index of her food low. Try playing games to keep her active also. Excercise is one of her best defenses.

I'd also be concerned if I wasn't seeing any improvement at all by now. Give it a little more time...it can take a bit to see things stabilize. Then see another vet. Good luck!

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

photodreamr — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 14:03:49 GMT

Timey,

thank you for your words of wisdom. I appreciate the help.

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

doxie1 — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 14:34:25 GMT

I am not a specialist with diabetes in cats. It sounds like you are doing what the vet suggests. Maybe ask the vet about the prognosis and how long until you see results.I have a great relationship with my vet where I can ask what they would do and value their opinion. I wonder if there are low carbohydrate treats that you can use.. I also wonder if your cat will adjust to the lower food after a couple of weeks.

I will say some prayers for you and your kitty.

doxie

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

lolakimono — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 14:46:48 GMT

@photodreamr

What kind of food are you using?

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

photodreamr — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 16:18:11 GMT

Royal Cain DM

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

photodreamr — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 16:26:02 GMT

Thanks Doxie...the vet said they are not sure and might hasve to do more testing. Not to put a price tag on my poor kitty, but we have spent $1500 in the last week. The last insulin ran $300. They want to do an ultra sound then maybe an internal specialist. I am not sure if we can afford all of that.

I asked the vet about the treats and more food but she is saying that a strict diet needs to followed. It still breaks my heart becasue the cat is actually very hungry and when she was "normal" she was able to graze on 1/2 cup of dry food and 1 can of wet food. Currently the vet has her on 3 cans of wet food. So I think is woudl have been the same amount of calories. Like I said she was never a fat kitty.

I am going to go to a different vet...maybe it isn't diabetes.

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

lolakimono — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 16:39:19 GMT

@photodreamr wrote:

I asked the vet about the treats and more food but she is saying that a strict diet needs to followed. It still breaks my heart becasue the cat is actually very hungry and when she was "normal" she was able to graze on 1/2 cup of dry food and 1 can of wet food. Currently the vet has her on 3 cans of wet food.
@photodreamr

Please ask the vet about adding canned pumpkin to the wet food to make kitty feel fuller.

Also, if you don't have a fountain, you might want to get one as diabetic kitties will tend to drink a lot of water.

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

photodreamr — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 17:08:24 GMT

lolakimono,

I will do that. I do have a fountain and he loves it.

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

catlover — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 17:33:07 GMT

One of our cats has diabetes-she's had it now for about 4 years or so.

We realized something was wrong when the cat litter box had a muddy consistency and not all of everything was clumping-

-she's been on regular people insulin now and is a healthy 13 pounds. Was 18 lbs when we adopted her and got down to 9 lbs when she was sick.

She eats all the canned food she wants............and she wants alot-talk about whining-sheesh.........

We found a place that charges quite a bit less than a regular vet-it's called Island Rescue on Long Island, NY.

She gets her shot 2x per day-and she is as healthy as can be. We love her so much.

Don't give up-and don't starve the kitty-canned food is fine-The vet told us no hard food-too many carbs-But I sneak and give her some sometimes and she's fine.

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

photodreamr — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 17:47:48 GMT

Cat Lover..

Thank you!!. I started this morning feeding him all of what he wants. i figure that if we could not control the glucose then we might have to put him down...so what would it hurt? And if it helped then we are golden.

He is on Lantus a people's insulin also. thank you for giving me hope.

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

ID2 — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 17:58:44 GMT

Aww my heart goes out to you caring for a diabetic cat. But my feelings are very personal. I am a type 1 diabetic and have been on insulin for the past 34 years. Please give it more time to see if you can level off your kittys readings. I'm sure its very difficult since your kitty can't tell you how he's feeling. But I hope you can find a balance with a vet you can trust and treatment that is doable. Please don't give up on your kitty.

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

photodreamr — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 18:13:50 GMT

ID2 and all who have helped.

THANK YOU!!!

I was beginning to think there was no hope and was getting ready to say good bye to a great kitty. With your words of wisdom I have found renewed hope and determination.

I can't begin to tell you how blessed and relieved I am feeling.

I will keep you updated. If anyone can add anything for this first-timer dealing with a diabetic kitty I will be so grateful.

Thank you again.

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

catlover — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 18:16:10 GMT

that's the trick-finding the amount of insulin the cat needs-we give her 3 lines 2x per day-

From what I understand there in no animal insulin-we were very naive thinking it would cost less.........

We get it twice a year at just under $300-same medicine as you have.

The vet tried to get us to come in more and more often and for a plethora of testing etc...............who can afford to pay thousands of dollars like this for all these tests-as soon as we saw the cat was doing well-no more tests-

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

Mama Mia — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 18:33:54 GMT

My heart goes out to you and your kitty, too .Our kitty Noah, a Maine coon who is about ten years old, developed diabetes about a year ago. He got very thin and developed an abcess on his forehead one night. We got him right in and our longtime vet did a lot of blood tests, after draining the abcess, and found he had diabetes too.

He put him on Novalin insulin, people's, we buy a vial at Walmart for a few cents less than $25.00. This has to be

refrigerated and lasts over a month. Anyway, at first he had to see the vet weekly and blood work was done, and insulin regulated. This was done for several months, also at about two thirty in the afternoon because the levels were at either their highest or lowest then. Sorry I can;t remember.

He was put on Hill's MD cat food, expensive and prescription,,but we always got a coupon discount. The problem was we couldn't keep our other cats from eating which was too expensive. He is eating regular food now again.

If it were me, I would find another vet. You are being gouged to death onthe price

of\ insulin for one thing, and they must charge you plenty for a visit. Ours didnot, gave us a big break on tests and visits. There is no way we would let him cry for food.

Noah gets his shots twice a day, by the way. I will keep you and kitty in my heart, please find another vet for another opinion. sorry this is so long.

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

Mama Mia — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 18:41:01 GMT

I can't remember how to edit. As I said, our vet gave us a break on the visits and tests, we have gone to him for fifteen years. I suppose $300.00 a year if you did a vial a month,it would add up that way. You don't buy it all at once do you/ from your vet?Our lasts over a month.

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

jaxs mom — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 18:56:00 GMT

Here is the ingredient list of Royal Canin DM ( I just copied the main ingredients)

Chicken Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Barley, Wheat Gluten, Tapioca, Powdered Cellulose,

I see a bunch of carbs in that food. Cats don't need corn gluten meal, barley, wheat gluten, tapioca or powdered cellulose.

My suggestion is to read this vets website http://www.catinfo.org/?link=felinediabetes

And get the cat on a grain free and starch free meat based diet, either raw or canned.

Fancy Feast classic line ( only the classic) tender chicken, tender beef and turkey and giblets are low carb canned foods that are healthier for cats than any of the vet prescribed foods. Raw would be even better but if your cat already likes canned food this is an easy transition and the food is readily available. Don't buy the other flavors though as they rest of them are all high in carbs.

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

Anita Hug — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 19:09:11 GMT

Exactly, jaxsmom. In the case of the prescription pet foods, many of them are subpar. They want you to buy it, and buy it at their office. But when you look at the ingredients, they are not much better than the cheap stuff at the grocery store. Definitely look for carb amount, but also look for quality carbs.

for comparison to the ingredients in the prescription food, here is what is in my kitties food: Boneless herring, herring meal, pollock meal, boneless flounder, boneless Pacific hake, chickpeas, red lentils, canola oil, green peas, green lentils, yellow peas, herring oil, sun-cured alfalfa, dried kelp, pumpkin, butternut squash, spinach greens, carrots, apples, pears, cranberries, mixed tocopherols (preservative), chicory root, dandelion root, chamomile, peppermint leaf, ginger root, caraway seeds, turmeric, rose hips, freeze-dried herring, freeze-dried hake, freeze- dried flounder, Enterococcus faecium fermentation product plus premium vitamins and minerals.

There are carbs in it, but they are low glycemic carbs - which just means that they wont spike blood sugar as much as corn gluten meal and tapioca... in the Rx food. My cat got worse on the prescribed food, and better after I changed her to the premium food. Don't make a lot of changes at once, though. I think it's best to change one thing at a time and keep track of what works and what doesn't. If you do several things at once, you wont know which made her better (or worse).

Your cat is likely diabetic with those numbers. Where the second opinion will help would be in the approach to treating her. I agree with the poster who said you are being gouged on those prices, so that would be another reason to seek out another vet. And defintiely ask for a prescription for the insulin. It is much much cheaper at Walmart.

Pulling for your cat, and for you as you figure all of this out. It can be overwhelming at first, but it gets easier once you understand it and get into the routine.

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

Fona — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 19:37:46 GMT

Photodreamr: My heart goes out to you and the struggle you are having. I have been going through a struggle with my elderly girl, too (although she is not diabetic, she has a lot of health problems). I have done a ton of research so I do have some suggestions (for what they are worth to you). I realize you may be aware of what I am about to say, but here goes anyway.

First, here is something to think about. Many older cats that become diabetic also develop hyperthyroidism and the symptoms are losing weight, constantly crying for food, plus a lot more. HP is serious and always needs to be addressed asap. I have read that diabetic cats with hyperthyroidism require higher doses of insulin in order to maintain blood glucose levels. As the HP is brought under control, the metabolism slows and the insulin has to be adjusted.

My girl does not have diabetes but she does have a host of other illnesses and has also developed HP in the last few weeks, which we seem to be getting under control. How? Well, she is on a hyperthyroid pill twice a day, and is now eating raw, freeze dried food only - which I totally believe in because of the good results I am seeing. (Just a note here. Some vets don't believe in raw food, but please do some research on it, look up customer reviews, etc., then make your own decision. I just went ahead with it because we had nothing to lose and it is working.)

The raw, freeze dried food comes in a bag and you add some to warm water, let it stand for about a minute, then mix it up and let the cat eat it. (Take a couple of days to gradually introduce it to your cat). My cat loved it on sight and licks her bowl clean - and she is slowly looking better, plays with her toys, is acting like her old self and hopefully will be putting on some weight (it is too early to see weight gain as yet). Because of her stomach problems (IBD) she was on raw freeze dried food just before I discovered she also had HP, but I really believe in it anyway. In my opinion, the best brand is called Primal, which I think is slightly milder on her stomach and, to be honest, for me it was a last resort. Please believe a previous post to this one by jaxsmom - your cat definitely does not need those horrible ingredients in his food.

Photodreamr: The above is only my opinion and some suggestions you may not have considered, but I sincerely hope you (and your new vet) will at least consider what I have said and I sincerely hope this post will help. It will not happen overnight but in a few weeks I am sure you will see a big difference. Like you, just a few weeks ago I also went through a time of wondering just how long my girl would last - and today she is sitting right here on my desk, bright eyed and asking me to play with her.

I really do wish you and your kitty the very best of luck with this problem. Please keep us informed of how you are both doing.

Re: Help with a diabetic cat

catlover — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 21:37:43 GMT

I forgot to tell you that out cat is 17 years old-we adopted her when she was almost 6 and a half-her elderly owners could no longer care for her-she was so big and beautiful-still is.

When I first saw her I told my husband-come quick.............you've never seen anything like this.

At first he did not want her..........said-she might not even fit in the litter box!

And she'll probably get sick too-

We went out to lunch to talk about it-went back and said "wrap her up"-she has brought us imeasurable joy.

Please don't give up.