New to this

Status
Not open for further replies.
Deborah&Buddy

Deborah&Buddy

Member Since 2015
Hi All,
My name is Deborah and my cat is Buddy,we just found out Friday gone that Buds has diabetes and he is a CKD cat too. Since last November.
I'm so overwelmed with it all.
So he's not been himself for 5 weeks,took him to the vets the 1st week because he had the sneezes and he had a touch of cat flu (mild) but still I noticed he just wasn't right took him back and she did all the checks listening to his chess felt his tummy and so on. Said he was fine. Took him home again and watched him just sleep and drink a lot ( did mention this to her). I gave the vets a call because I just wasn't happy and she said bring him down to do some blood test. Cut a long story short, she came on the phone telling me that Buddies kidneys levels were alarming high. I did say could this be due to infection with the way that he was and if I got a wee sample would she test it. She told me to bring one down,which I did and it showed a UTI and diabetes. She did a blood test to confirm this.. She also said I should be looking to PTS because of his CKD and now this... I cried for days and thought he's not ready to go yet and I want to fight for him.when I went down on Fridayto get the results,she had a change of heart I think because she seen him 5 weeks ago and said he didn't even look like a CKD cat. His weight then was 11lb... He has lost a bit due to him being poorly.
We have started Buddy on 1.5mls of insulin twice a day (intermediate acting insulin) and Emma my vet told me to keep him on a renal diet,as I did ask should we be changing him. I'm going down this morning to show how I'm getting on with injecting him, funny I had to go Saturday day and night to vets and was shaking violently when trying to inject him procedure. But did it at home yesterday and was fine hahaha must of been the vet putting me off. I will ask again would it not be better to put Buds on low carb diet.....
Deborah & Buddy
 
Hi Deborah and Buddy,:)
Welcome to the FDMB. You will find a lot of very knowledgeable people here who will be only too willing to help you.
We are all in the same boat and have diabetic cats so understand what you are going through.

First of all I want to say I would not even consider PTS Buddy....I have a diabetic cat who is also CRD and we are managing very well at this point.

There are many things you can do to help Buddy.
Would you mind answering a few questions so we can get a better idea of things please?
What insulin are you using?
How much does Buddy weigh
What country do you live in?
Are you feeding a dry food or a canned food.

OK...one of the most important things you can do for Buddy is to test his blood sugars. It is not as hard or frightening as it sounds.....we all started from scratch and we all test our cats.......it keeps them safe and tells us how the insulin is working. It does not hurt the cats and they get used to it very quickly.
Once I know which country you live in we can tell you some of the blood glucose monitors to get.

Another thing you can do which will help him greatly is feed him the right food. A diabetic cat should have a low carbohydrate diet. You have the added issue of CRD but there are canned foods you can buy over the counter which will be good for both the diabetes and the CRD.
Have a look at the list in this link below. You need to have low carbohydrate for the diabetes and low phosphorus for the CRD. The list tells you the protein, fats, carbs and phosphorus levels of all the foods. You need to look for a carb level of under 10% and best around 4 or 5 %. With the phosphorus, look for levels under or around 200.

The prescription food you buy from the vet is far too high in carbohydrates for the diabetes and it is too low in protein.. The new thinking is that high protein is better for cats in the early stages or CRD NOT low protein.
If you think you can see some suitable foods ....ask us and we will tell you if they are suitable.
However if you are feeding a dry food or a high carbohydrate wet food at the moment DO NOT change it over to the more suitable ones until you are home testing Buddy.
The reason for this is because once you give the low carbohydrate food to Buddy it will most likely lower his blood sugars quite a bit and it is not safe to do it without monitoring it. It is not hard to do.
http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPhosphorus9-22-12.pdf

I don't want to bombard you with too much information as it is a lot to take in.
Main things are......
You can definitely treat diabetes and CRD together....a lot of us have cats that have both conditions and manage them both very well.
Look at the food and find a more suitable food. Don't let the vet bulldoze you into getting the prescription food, it is not suitable.
If you could answer those questions that would be great thanks.
Think about getting a monitor for testing ....a human one.....no need to buy a pet specific one, they are too expensive to maintain.
Give Buddy some extra fluids. It will be good for his kidneys and keep him hydrated as he is probably peeing a lot at the moment. A good way to do this is to put some extra water in his food (if he is having wet food that is)

Next time I or someone will give you some really good links to help you with testing the blood sugar and setting up a spread sheet.
We all felt overwhelmed by it all in the beginning but it does get easier and people here will support you every step of the way. Knowledge is power.
Again welcome and we hope to hear back from you soon:bighug:
 
Welcome to FDMB! You have come to the right place for support. There are a lot of caring and experience folks here. Bron has given you a lot of good information and you will be given a whole lot more information and at first, it will seem very overwhelming however in a couple of weeks, things will start falling into place. Merlin has been diagnosed with diabetes and Stage 3 kidney disease for two years. I have found that as long as I can control his diabetes that his kidney disease seems to have slowed down in progression. Since you have the two diseases going on, you will need to find food that will help both.

Good Reading: This is a must read. It is an excellent 18 page informative document that covers feline health and nutrition. Don't take short cuts and read it all. www.catinfo.org It is here where you will also find a food list. The key with CRD and Diabetes is to find a low carb and low in phosphorous. I have landed on giving Wellness Turkey although there are other options. Also read other postings and their spreadsheets. You will learn a lot more from others.

Home Testing: Here, we all home test. It is mandatory to understand how your kitty is reacting to the insulin and the dose. You will want to test before each shot and some additional test in between the 12 hour cycle. Another reason to home test is to keep your kitty safe. Find a place in your home where you will always perform the test and give lots of hugs before and after testing. There are many videos showing you how to test. Hometesting Links and TipsHere is a picture of where you test on your kitty. http://s106.photobucket.com/user/chupie_2006/media/testingear/sweetspot.jpg.html

Here is another good link on Home Testing:http://www.felinediabetes.com/bg-home-test.htm

Meters: There are many meters. There is a pet meter called the Alpha Trak2 and human meters. Some use the pet meter because it is what the vets use so the numbers will match up. The meter and strips are expensive though. Most use human meters that can be purchased at any pharmacy. It typically reads a little lower than the pet meter but we have ways of compensating those lower numbers. Many use Walmart's brand, Relion Micro or Relion Confirm, because it only needs a tiny drop of blood. They cost around $15 and the strips are around 35 cents each.

Lancets: These are used to poke the ear to get blood. There are many different sizes (gauges). It is recommended when you are first starting out to use a 26-28 gauge. Also, it would be a good idea to pick up Neosporin WITH pain reliever to apply on the edge of the ears and don't forget to alternate ears.

Spreadsheets: Our spreadsheet instructions are here. If you look at the signatures of the members here, you will see a link to their kitty’s spreadsheets. We keep track of all our tests. This is basically a place to collect data and help you to determine patterns, doses, etc. It also aids those that may be helping you to better understand your kitty.

Food: There are many reasons why we are here but one is due to feeding dry cat food which is high in carbs. You will want to consider changing your food to wet, low carb food. It is recommended to feed food that is under 10% carbs. Here is a list of cat food to choose from food chartyou will note that the food with fish are lower in carbs however it is recommended that you only give fish once a week due to its mercury content. Many use Fancy Feast, 9 Lives, Friskies, etc. This list can also be found in www.catinfo.org If you are already giving insulin and you have not transitioned to wet, low carb cat food, be sure to test while you are transitioning. This is because by changing to low carb food, it could decrease your kitty’s number by 100 points or more. One last thing, many of us add water to the wet food so your kitty is getting plenty of water to flush out the toxins and to keep them hydrated.

Hypo Kit: Always good to be prepared for possible hypo events which means that your cat has reached dangerously low numbers. It can be fatal, hence, the importance of home testing and collecting data in a spreadsheet. In each of the Insulin Forums are stickie’s labeled Hypo Links. Here is one: How to Handle a Hypo. Please print and post on your refrigerator so everyone in your household is aware of hypo symptoms. You will want to create your hypo kit that would include and not limited to; extra testing strips, honey/karo/maple syrup, high carb food, medium carb food, vet information, etc.

Ketones: Diabetic cats are susceptible to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). It is best to buy testing strips that will measure (if any) ketones in the urine. One brand is Ketostix which can be found at Walmart or any pharmacy. You will want to test periodically unless you continue to get high numbers, then it is suggested to test more frequently. Ketostix typically costs around $10.

Treats: It is always nice to have treats available for your kitty. Some use it after they have tested to reward. I like using Pure Bites. I have found it at Petsmart and other pet stores. It is freeze dried and the only ingredient is the meat i.e. chicken, duck, etc. If your cat likes it, then I would go to the dog section where it is cheaper than the cat package. It is bigger chunks but no problem in breaking it up. Another option is to use Bonita Flakes. There is a link here somewhere that has a list of low carb treats but I don't have it right now.

Injections: Most folks here use one of these main insulins; Lantus, Levemir and Prozinc and hopefully you were prescribed one of these three. Two hours prior to your insulin shot, you will not want your kitty to eat. Then you will test and then feed. It is best for your kitty to eat a little before your shoot. I shoot while he is eating. The reason why you do not want your kitty to eat two hours prior to your test is because food elevates BG numbers. So you do not want to dose based on a food influenced number. Here is a link on how to give injections.http://www.felinediabetes.com/injections.htm

Note: Please check your insulin as there are some (the harsher ones like Humulin, Novolin, Vetsulin, etc.) that would be best to allow some time after your kitty has eaten before you shoot.

If you have any questions, just holler.
 
Last edited:
Thank you Born & Cindi.
Wow my mind at the moment seems to have just shut down.
So Buddies insulin is Caninsulin,weight it 5.5kg,we live in the UK and food wise he was eating wet and dry renal Royal Canin Rsf 26 dry and from my CKD forum list of wet food such as Beaphar,Kattovit and Integra. Sometime the RC renal wet depending on what he went off. And when he went off it all I would feed him Applaws tuna and cheese and chicken and cheese. But since Friday he's not looked at his dry biscuits and that's a 1st since the beginning of the year. But is eating RC Instinctive +7 Ns RC renal tuna. And eating like a horse.
I asked for number and this is what the nurse gave me..Fructosamine :534 (146-271)
Vera=30.2 Crea=376 and phos =3.05 I have know idea what they all mean. Since Buddy was diagnosed a year in November 26. He has had no meds just diet alone and doing very well till 5 weeks ago.
I'm not great with numbers and I have looked at the food chart but yet again there is so much to look at... I'm scared to pick some and get it wrong then make him worst than what he is. I have to ring the vets in middle of week because I didn't get to see Buddies vet Emma,see told the nurse to leave the food as it is,while she looks into the best food for him. So I had already order 2 boxes of Royal Canin +7 and his tuna renal. Which is costly and if I'm not going to used it I need to refuse the food to get money back.... And buy him what he needs now!
I'm going to start reading what you have suggested and hopefully it won't go over my head,like it is now.. I think it's shock that I'm suffering from that the moment. But I will get over it and move on...
Sorry I meant to say that when Buddy started feeling unwell I started the organic slippery elm bark. I made the bark into syrup and was giving him 1/8 of a spoonful a day,now the vet left me a message telling me not to give Buddy it. That she is going to find something that he can have.
Deborah & Buddy
 
I am wondering why the vet says not to give him the slippery elm bark. I have read some posts here that some are using it and it seems to do well. Interesting....
 
Buddy is quite handsome. I am particularly fond of orange boys :-)

Folks more experienced than I have already given you a good list of things to study, but I just wanted to encourage you to take a breath. We've all been there, and it seems overwhelming for sure. I bet that I had to read everything 5 times before it started to sink in. But there are plenty of folks on here with diabetics that also have kidney issues, and I am pretty sure there are a fair number of folks in the UK too, so they should be able to give you good help with the food recommendations that you can find in your country.

In my case, my first priority was getting set up with a meter and watching ear-testing videos over and over. Second for me was getting a hypo kit set up, third was setting up a spreadsheet, and fourth came diet changes. It helped me to have a plan of attack to not feel so overwhelmed, but others may have had a different priority order.

So welcome and good luck to you and Buddy, from me and Whisper!
 

When you have a moment, could you add a few tidbits to your signature? It will help us give you feedback.

Editing your Signature

In the upper right corner of the screen, within the dark blue bar, you will see ID, Inbox, and Alerts

Click on your ID.

On the left, under Settings, Click on Signature.
This is where you will put information that helps us give you feedback. You are limited to 2hard returns, so separate pieces by | or -.
This is where you paste the link for your spreadsheet, once it is set up.
Add any other text, such as your name | cat's name | date of Dx (diagnosis) | insulin | meter general location (city and state/province) any other pertinent issues like if there are any food issues, history of DKA, hepatic lipidosis, pancreatitis, allergies, IBD, etc.

Click the Save Changes button at the bottom.

Always click the Save Changes button at the bottom when you have changed anything.
 
Thank you Sandi he is and such a cutie too.
Merlin is that with CKD too? She knows nothing about it and I did ask her took have a look into it. Will ring tomorrow and find out why. Also is there anything I can give Buddy for constipation? That's what I was using the elm for...
I will do my best to try and work on my Sigature BJM but I have to say and not great with iPads computers.....
Thank you Sandi will bare this in mind.
Again many thanks
 
I am not sure whether the posts also had CKD kitties involved. You can do a search on slippery elm and you will get a lists of posts to read. I use Miralax for constipation and I use about 1/4 tsp with each meal (am/pm). My vet said that if I needed to, I could give him 1/2 tsp. but I never had to. One thing to remember is that you don't want to give him Miralax if he is totally block. I used it for a while as a maintenance and then reduced it until it wasn't needed. Some use pure pumpkin to help with diarrhea and constipation and is used as a maintenance too.
 
I don't know why the vet said no to Slippery Elm. My cat is diabetic and CRD and I give it every day.i make a slurry by mixing a teaspoon of SEB powder with Half cup cold water. Mix it and bring to the boil, stirring all the time. Let it boil gently for a couple of minutes then cool and keep in frig for up to a week. I give 5 mls twice a day. Make sure you don't give it within 2 hours of medications as it coats the stomach and interfers with absorption of meds. I find it is great.

Another thing that is good for constipation or diarrhoea is plain mashed pumpkin. Nothing else added.....just boiled pumpkin drained and mashed. I give 1 small teaspoon twice a day with meals
 
I think you will find that most of the renal prescription foods are high in carbohydrates and are no good for diabetes.
I agree with Cindi.......you need to get the diabetes under control first, because that will take the strain off the kidneys. So you need to find a low carb wet food that is also low in phosphorus. Have a look through the charts and see what you can find. I will see if I can find someone who lives in the UK who has a CRD cat who can help with the food. I would not buy the renal food you have ordered.
The tests you have listed all look above normal levels to me. The 'Vera' you mentioned I think you mean Urea. Could you ask the vet for a print out of the tests so we can see them all. It is important you keep a folder of all his results I think.
Has the vet tested his urine? There are two things they look for in CRD cats urine especially............specific gravity and protein. Can you ask the vet what the results were of those as well please.
There are medications which some CRD cats can have to assist with their condition.
Because Buddy's phosphorus is elevated, and you have been using a low phosphorus food with the renal diet....you could ask the vet about using a binder....which will help to lower the phosphorus levels in his blood....all these things will take a strain off his kidneys.
And as Cindi said try and give extra fluids to Buddy.....another very important thing you can do to help him.
I know you have to start off with caninsulin in the UK but as soon as you can it would be much better for Buddy to swap over to an insulin like Lantus which is longer acting and better for cats.
I am going to send an alert to @Elizabeth and Bertie as I know she lives in the UK and she might be able to help you with many of the things which we.....living in other countries.....can't help you with.
I know all this is a lot to take in, try making a list of things you need to do and then you can cross them off as you go.
Keep asking questions. You are doing a great job with Buddy trying to get him sorted out!:)
 
Thank you all again,
I am finding this really hard at the moment. The vet left me a message telling me that she spoke to a Hills Dieitian and he recommended that Buudy stay on renal till the kidney were under control.
I have also started Buddy back on the SEB because he looks so bloated. He is doing poos,which are big and not hard but not soft... And once a day he is going. I will ring the vets today and ask about Miralax and also why can't Buddy have the elm. You have to have a reason to say no,so we will see....
I'm looking into the low carb foods for him but I'm worried if I change him over the vet will stop treating Buddy I go to the PDSA. And I wouldn't be able to pay for a private vet. Just haven't that sort of money.
Many thanks Deborah & Buddy
 
Hello Deborah, and welcome. :bighug:
(Waving 'Hi' to you from a very rainy Surrey!)

It does make me so cross when vets rush to suggest that a cat be PTS. :mad:
As you've seen from the posts above there are people here whose cats have CKD and diabetes. And these conditions can be usually be managed, although nobody will tell you that it's easy ;).

Since this is early in Buddy's CKD/Diabetes journey, and there's a lot take in, you may well want to keep things as they are at the moment (renal food and current insulin dosage) until you 'find your feet' in all of this. But in a little while, when you're feeling more confident, you may (or may not) want to reconsider how you do things. At the moment, you're just getting to grips with giving insulin injections. We all understand how difficult those early days can be. But it does become routine. Honestly.

Most vets do recommend the 'prescription' foods because they are low in phosphorous. But increasing numbers of folks are choosing not to feed them to their cats (especially in the early stages of kidney disease) because those foods also tend to be low in protein and that can exacerbate the weight loss that CKD cats are prone to. Most of the prescription foods are also quite high in carbohydrates. Another alternative, as Bron suggested above, is to feed an ordinary low carb food (to help keep the blood glucose lower) and add a phosphorous binder.
Another problem with the prescription foods is that some cats simply won't eat them. And the cat absolutely must eat. So, if it transpires that Buddy won't eat the renal food you may have no option but to feed other 'ordinary' foods long term.

Incidentally, I had a (non-diabetic) cat with CKD and also found that slippery elm was helpful. He wouldn't take the syrup, so I just mixed it into his breakfast with a little extra water; even so it did seem to help.

Just in case nobody has given you this yet (sorry if they have and I've missed it) here is the link to the 'Tanya' CKD website. There is also a support forum, and people there are very knowledgeable and helpful. http://www.felinecrf.org/index.htm

There are two links in my signature that you might find useful. The first is to the UK low carb food list (which also lists phosphorous levels if that info is available); and the second is to general food info for UK kitties.
Note: If you DO decide to feed a lower carb food then it is important that you learn to test your kitty's blood glucose first. That's because lowering the carb content of the diet can lower the blood glucose, and the insulin dosage may need to be reduced accordingly. Fortunately, 'hometesting' is not hard to learn, and it needn't cost much either.

Huge hug to you, Deborah!


Eliz
 
Last edited:
Deborah&Buddy said:
Thank you all again,
I am finding this really hard at the moment. The vet left me a message telling me that she spoke to a Hills Dieitian and he recommended that Buudy stay on renal till the kidney were under control.
I have also started Buddy back on the SEB because he looks so bloated. He is doing poos,which are big and not hard but not soft... And once a day he is going. I will ring the vets today and ask about Miralax and also why can't Buddy have the elm. You have to have a reason to say no,so we will see....
I'm looking into the low carb foods for him but I'm worried if I change him over the vet will stop treating Buddy I go to the PDSA. And I wouldn't be able to pay for a private vet. Just haven't that sort of money.
Many thanks Deborah & Buddy
Click to expand...

Hi Deborah,
I am so pleased Elizabeth has been in touch. She knows a lot about diabetes, CRD and the food needed for both and should be able to help you with what is available in England.
Of course the Hills dietitian would recommend you stay on their renal diet!!!
About 18 months ago I had Sheba, my cat, on Hills MD which is the one for diabetes. But she had diarrhoea for ages and her blood sugars were high. I rang the Hills people out here in Australia and spoke to the vet there who highly recommended I stay fully on their diet. When things did not get better I stopped the Hills altogether and Sheba's diarrhoea stopped almost immediately. I realised she was allergic to something in their food.
You know you can always say your cat will not eat the Hills food......and all vets know that cats must eat....so they can't say much when you feed him something else.
However I understand you are worried about going against your vets advice, and the consequences if they stop treating him....so you must do what you feel you have to. We all understand about finances.
:bighug::bighug:
 
Thank you Elizabeth & Bron,
Buddy has stage 3 KD (which was diagnosed Nov 14) and at the moment his levels are alarmingly high,he is eat the RC renal and wanting more at every sitting. I must say that Buddy was a stray and came into my garden a couple of years ago...I noticed he was getting thinner and that he was in the garden for a few weeks through the winter,so I started to feed him . He's not allowed into my home because my husband is allergic to cats,we have a shed that I put carpet in and a bed and give him all the love I can .. He would jump in the car and go for road journeys with me,shopping,to my mums which he was allowed to come into. He loves the car,will sleep in it through the day with the door open so he can get out. When he became really poorly last Nov I took care of him till the Jan then he started to go down hill and I could only sit with him in the shed for an hour at a time.(I put heating in the shed for him) but his eating got less and less. So my mum was good enough to offer to look after him through the winter months and he picked up,did really really well. I came over and stopped a few nights and through the day with him. Then the spring came and he would follow me to the gate and wanted to come home. I thought it was still a little chilly .So we waited till it warmed up. He stopped eating and drink so I knew it was time to take him home... And he picked up again he was doing great until 5 weeks ago. So now he is back at my mums and I come over twice a day to inject and and give him loves ..My mum has said she will try to injection Buddy which will be great. I will still come over and see to him,give him plenty of loves and kisses.. He does miss me when I'm not there. Mum tells me when he goes into the garden he walks to the gate and sits waiting for me .
I don't know if Buddy came to me with renal failure,but I'm going to do my best for him and I love him to bits. Never have a seen a cat sit in a car like a dog. So that's Buddies story.
I am looking into the foods but maybe Elizabeth you could tell me what Bertie eats and that would be a start. Thanks so much. I do get very teary due to my depression and feel like crap because I'm slow with everything,the brain can only cope with so much,then it just stops. Sorry
The hugs are all welcome
Deborah & Buddy
 
That was interesting to read Buddy's story. He sounds a real character and obviously loves you very much. You were very kind to take him in and it is good of your mother to have him in the colder months and is willing to learn how to inject the insulin. Are you going to both learn how to test the blood sugars? It would be much safer for Buddy if you think you could.

If you want to ask Elizabeth a question, just to make sure she sees it, it is best to send her an alert. To do this all you have to do is type in @ and then type in her user name which is below her picture. When you do this a little box will pop up with all the names of the people you typed in. Then you select the right one and click on it and it will send an alert to the person. I will put one in for Elizabeth now for you about the food @Elizabeth and Bertie

Don't worry about being slow. Just go at your own pace. You are doing really well I think and are a wonderful mamabean to Buddy.
:bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Hi all
@Elizabeth and Bertie @Bron and Sheba thank you both so much. Elizabeth you have made it a whole lot easier for me to find the food to feed him so thank you for taking the time to write all the different foods on your list and levels. I'm getting my head out of the sand! So I have decide to take Buddy off the renal, I'm going to let the vet know tomorrow. I have a couple of cans of Thrive which I bought when Buddy went off his renal food. So have given him that today. Born I want to learn how to home test Buddy and I'll show my mum too,may be if you didn't mind helpping with where I could find I home kit please I would be very gratefully I'm not sure what I have to get. Now that I've found some foods for Buddy I'm so happy. I have a binder called Renalizin now my ? Is do I give this in every meal? It says 2-4full pumps. The dose can be divided according to feeding schedule..Dose adjustment should be based on serum phosphate levels. The thing is if I'm pumping it onto his food how can I divide it?. Sorry I feel so stupid not knowing this. And is this binder OK to use. I have to tell the vet I'm using this too. I'm just worried that she will stop treating us.
Warmest regards
Deborah&Buddy
 
Hi Deborah,
I am going to ask Elizabeth @Elizabeth and Bertie if she would help you with the binder and how much to give etc. I have not had to use binders yet and I don't know a lot about them, and I think the names may be different in the UK.
Elizabeth may also be able to help you with a suitable monitor to test the blood sugar.....they vary from country to country. Thanks Elizabeth:)

But I will give you the link to how to test the blood sugar

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/testing-and-shooting-tips.85113/

And how to set up a spread sheet to record the blood sugars. If you run into trouble setting it up, post and someone will help you....I needed help.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

Here is how to recognise a hypo and how to treat it. We recommend you print it off and stick on the frig or somewhere you can find quickly if you ever need it
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-treat-hypos-they-can-kill-print-this-out.15887/

Looking forward to hearing how you are going with it all. Best of luck.....you and you mum are doing a really good job helping Buddy!
Keep asking questions!
 
Hi Deborah,
Deborah&Buddy said:
I'm so happy. I have a binder called Renalizin now my ? Is do I give this in every meal? It says 2-4full pumps. The dose can be divided according to feeding schedule..Dose adjustment should be based on serum phosphate levels. The thing is if I'm pumping it onto his food how can I divide it?
Click to expand...

The only phosphorous binder I've tried is aluminium hydroxide ('Alucaps', that I bought from Clear Chemist online), so I have no experience of using Renalzin.
I measured out the 'daily dose' of binder and put that into a tiny container; and then I added it to the meals that my cat, Elliot, had during the day. It was a bit of trial and error at first, making sure that he had some binder in all the food that he ate. But we soon got the hang of things.
Aluminium hydroxide is in granular form so it's easy to add a pinch to food. But it sounds like Renalzin is liquid if it has a pump dispenser? If that's the case then you may be able to pump out the daily dose into a container and then use a syringe to draw some up to add to food....? (Just an idea. It may not work!)
Do see this page of info on the use of binders (from the CRF website). There's lots of useful stuff here:
http://www.felinecrf.org/phosphorus_binders.htm

As to changing the food. If it is the case that Buddy won't eat the renal food then I'm pretty sure your vet should be OK with you feeding ordinary foods (and using phos binder). After all, the cat has to eat! And hopefully your vet might also be able to give you some initial advice about using the binder (although you may find that the CRF website/support group knows more about binders than your vet does...;))

DO be very careful though about switching to lower carb food. We recommend that - for cats on insulin - this is only done if the caregiver has learned to hometest and can monitor the effects of the diet change. In some cats, the blood glucose can drop quite a bit once the diet is switched to lower carb, and the insulin dose will need to be reduced accordingly in order to prevent hypoglycemia.
Which renal food are you feeding Buddy at the moment? (It would good to know the carb content of that before switching foods...)

Regarding glucose meters, quite a few folks in the UK use the Accucheck Aviva. It is generally easily available from pharmacies, and the test strips (the main cost of testing) can often be bought for around half the RRP on Ebay.

You're doing really well, Deborah. Buddy is lucky to have you in his life! :bighug:

Eliz
 
Thank you Born.. @Elizabeth and Bertie ,thank you for your help. Buddy is on Royal Canin renal tuna, my daughter worked out that the carb level is around 24%...And he has been on the insulin for just a week today. I'm just all over the place wanting to get the carbs down. But now I'm worried in case I do damage.
I will have a look at the tester. I've left a message for my vet about the food issue. She hasn't said don't change his diet but she thinks we should treat the renal and hopefully get the diabetes in remission. Buddy is booked in for a day at the vets on the 10th. But shes not mention anything about smaller or higher doses of insulin. In fact she has not told me a lot. Just about the hypoglycaemia. I've just had a call from the vet and she is saying buddy needs to be on a renal diet with him being stage3. Messing around with his food is not good. She said we need to stick to 1 food. The swapping won't be good for him. She wants to get them stable He is eating the renal but eating so much that I just can't afford to keep it up. The RC he could eat over 6 sachet a day.
I'm feeling unsure again. I need to protect his kidneys. I've bought him natures:menu today and gave him half a pack with half renal. Oh I hope I'm doing the right thing. Please Elizabeth what should I do? I don't want to kill my cat!
Tearful Deborah&Buddy
 
Exhale completely. Pause a second or two. Inhale slowly and fully. Repeat - a good 20 minutes or so will help your body wind down a bit and make it easier to think.

You can manage both the diabetes and the renal disease. Renal disease tends to be slowly progressive. You've got time yet. You just need to take it step by step.

If you use a phosphorus binder, you have managed one of the key objections to regular cat food. and as Elizabeth said - he's got to eat. As you get the glucose under control, be it from diet, insulin, or a combination, he will be less hungry because he will be able to use the food he eats.
 
Merlin is in Stage 3 CKD and has been for more than two years. He was dx with diabetes and Stage 3 CKD at the same time. I never had him on prescription renal or diabetic food. He is always hungry and always eats all of his food. He typically gets blood work done every six months and basically his renal tests has only increased just a little over the past two years. I made it a priority to try and get his diabetes under control first while also using food that is both for diabetes and CKD. I give him distilled water and mix plenty of water in his low carb, low phosphorous canned food. Just recently, I add a phosphorous binder. I still need to get tests done to see how that is affecting him. Anyway, feeding the right food that is over the counter, can be done.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top