Skinny cat-suggestions

[Brenda Thompson]

My cat was diagnosed with diabetes over a year ago and we initially tried insulin therapy along with a diet change to strictly canned food twice a day. My cat hated the shots and it was a very stressful ordeal that eventually led to her not eating well. She became hypoglycemic one night and was rushed to the vet ER. After that, I decided to just try and maintain her glucose levels with diet alone. It worked to some degree for the last year but I'm noticing increased weight loss and she can't afford to get any skinnier. I'm very fearful of insulin therapy because of the reaction she had the first time around but I know she won't thrive if we continue on out current path. Has anyone out there experienced this and if so did you find a solution?

 

[Lisa and Smoky]

I don't know if this helps or not. What insulin were you using? Smoky was started on vetsulin which made him feel horrible and was very stressed by his shots. I think he knew they would make him feel like crap and would run from me during shot times. I switched him to prozinc and now he doesn't mind the shots in the least. Hang in there.

 

[Kris & Teasel]

I answered your post on the welcome forum:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/no-insulin-and-seeking-advise.176474/

 

[Djamila]

Hi Brenda, and welcome! Many many people join here with fears and concerns about how to manage giving injections to their cats, or how to do the blood glucose tests without making their cat hate them. We have so many different cat dispositions around here, and we have managed to figure out an endless number of tips and tricks to get through our own anxiety and help our cats to thrive.

Hypoglycemia is scary, but we can help you learn how to manage the insulin and keep your kitty safe. I agree with Lisa, that the type of insulin can make a difference, both for your cat, and for you in deciding which type of insulin you can manage the best since different insulins have different "rules" for how to feed, dose, and monitor. What kind were you using? And also, what food have you been feeding?

 

[Brenda Thompson]

My cat was diagnosed with diabetes over a year ago and we initially tried insulin therapy along with a diet change to strictly canned food twice a day. My cat hated the shots and it was a very stressful ordeal that eventually led to her not eating well. She became hypoglycemic one night and was rushed to the vet ER. After that, I decided to just try and maintain her glucose levels with diet alone. It worked to some degree for the last year but I'm noticing increased weight loss and she can't afford to get any skinnier. I'm very fearful of insulin therapy because of the reaction she had the first time around but I know she won't thrive if we continue on out current path. Has anyone out there experienced this and if so did you find a solution?

Thank you all so much for your input. Some have asked what kind of insulin we were using and it was a compounded formula called SCP PZI Bovine. She only got 1 unit at each feeding. Upon diagnosis her food was switched immediately from a dry kibble to Proplan True Nature turkey/chicken pate. She loves the food and she has done pretty well for the last year...considering (her last blood glucose test was 232) but I'm noticing that she has lost a lot of muscle mass in her back end and is just a little too skinny. She's a long hair so you can't really see it as much as you can feel it. Upon your recommendations, I'm making another vet appt. this week to reexamine our options. Thank you all...I love my cat like she's my family and just want to do right by her!!

 

[JanetNJ]

Thank you all so much for your input. Some have asked what kind of insulin we were using and it was a compounded formula called SCP PZI Bovine. She only got 1 unit at each feeding. Upon diagnosis her food was switched immediately from a dry kibble to Proplan True Nature turkey/chicken pate. She loves the food and she has done pretty well for the last year...considering (her last blood glucose test was 232) but I'm noticing that she has lost a lot of muscle mass in her back end and is just a little too skinny. She's a long hair so you can't really see it as much as you can feel it. Upon your recommendations, I'm making another vet appt. this week to reexamine our options. Thank you all...I love my cat like she's my family and just want to do right by her!!

Normal cats range from 68-150 on a pet meter. 232, while not super high, is still in diabetic range, and left untreated can cause all kinds of problems including neuropathy (weakening of the legs) and organ failure. Diabetic cats often loose wait because they are generally feeling crappy, and because their bodies are not utilizing the nutrients in the food properly. I'm glad she's on low carb wet food...

Just because 1 unit was too much doesn't mean that insulin shouldn't be given... it just means the dose she was on was too high. If you test at home it will give you that information you need and help you prevent another scary hypo. I would say start at .5 We can help you if you are ready and willing to start testing at home.

 

[jayla-n-Drevon]

1 of the most respected holistic vets once said in a lecture when the question was asked how much to feed "If you dog/cat is skinny feed them more-if fat feed less"
Of course making sure there is no other issues involved .... recent blood work?