2/10 Maxi AMPS (404)+2(357)+4(300) Ketones, Feeding Questions

bambinaki

bambinaki

Member Since 2010
Last post: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/your-thoughts-on-glucose-vs-protein.225307/

Hello-

Could you please take a look at the attached photo of the ketone test strip I held under Maxi's pee this morning? None of the colors seems to me to really match the color of the strip.

Before Maxi's diabetes diagnosis, I didn't follow a perfectly regular feeding schedule. My work schedule is irregular. Maxi and the 2 other cats he lives with always got a full meal (wet/canned only) in the mornings and a full meal in the evenings, not always at the same time. Sometimes they got snacks (wet/canned only) in between meals. Since Maxi's diagnosis, I understood that feeding should follow a strict schedule, so now Maxi (and the other 2) are fed every 12 hours -- about 5.5 to 6 ounces of food per cat per 2x/day meal). But I feel sorry for them and would like to give them snacks. Maxi weighs 13.8 pounds (at the vet 2 weeks ago - he might have lost some weight since then). Must I follow this strict feeding schedule? How many ounces of food should Maxi get per day? (Free feeding is impossible.)

Thank you
 

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Does he have a history of ketones or DKA?

That result looks to me like “small”. Anything above trace warrants a call to the vet.

Get another ketone test ASAP. Make Sure that you read it within the timeframe indicated on the container. I found I had an easier time seeing the color while next to a window in natural light.
 
You might want to try doing a ketones test on yourself. That'll hopefully tell you what normal is. Make sure you wait just the 15 seconds suggested.

It's best to feed primarily before nadir. After nadir, the insulin starts fading and any carbs fed then will put brakes on the insulin action, shorten duration, and give you higher preshots.

As for amount of food to feed, a scale and regular weighing is the way to go. Check the number of calories in the food you are giving, and try to be fairly consistent. My girl who was around the same weight as Maxi did fine on around 200-220 calories a day. But cats differ on how active they are, some need more/less.
 
It's best to feed primarily before nadir. After nadir, the insulin starts fading and any carbs fed then will put brakes on the insulin action, shorten duration, and give you higher preshots.

On many days in the future, I will not be able to feed before nadir because of work. Does not feeding before nadir hurt him? I guess it does. Any advice on how to deal with this? As I've said, the only way to do free feeding/grazing is to isolate Maxi from the other cats, and I really don't want to do that. Maxi would hate it and so would the others.
Thank you.
 
bambinaki said:
It's best to feed primarily before nadir. After nadir, the insulin starts fading and any carbs fed then will put brakes on the insulin action, shorten duration, and give you higher preshots.

On many days in the future, I will not be able to feed before nadir because of work. Does not feeding before nadir hurt him? I guess it does. Any advice on how to deal with this? As I've said, the only way to do free feeding/grazing is to isolate Maxi from the other cats, and I really don't want to do that. Maxi would hate it and so would the others.
Thank you.
Click to expand...


Most of us use automatic feeders to offer meals when we won't be around. It seems like even if you offered food in an automatic feeder you are thinking that Maxi just wouldn't get to eat any of it ...? I have known people to have more than one feeder, like 1 per 2 cats- similar to litter boxes.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
You might want to try doing a ketones test on yourself. That'll hopefully tell you what normal is. Make sure you wait just the 15 seconds suggested.

It's best to feed primarily before nadir. After nadir, the insulin starts fading and any carbs fed then will put brakes on the insulin action, shorten duration, and give you higher preshots.

As for amount of food to feed, a scale and regular weighing is the way to go. Check the number of calories in the food you are giving, and try to be fairly consistent. My girl who was around the same weight as Maxi did fine on around 200-220 calories a day. But cats differ on how active they are, some need more/less.
Click to expand...


I made a mistake above: each cats gets 5.5-6 ounces per day divided into 2 meals -- not 5.5-6 ounces per meal.
 
Si am cat mom said:
Most of us use automatic feeders to offer meals when we won't be around. It seems like even if you offered food in an automatic feeder you are thinking that Maxi just wouldn't get to eat any of it ...? I have known people to have more than one feeder, like 1 per 2 cats- similar to litter boxes.
Click to expand...

Maxi would have to compete with the other cats, even if there were 3 feeders. They wouldn't follow the rules and eat from their own feeders. Also, Maxi is on a binder and the others aren't.
 
He's supposed to get a special scoopful of binder twice a day in his food. Do I need t put the binder in his small snacks too?
 
bambinaki said:
Maxi would have to compete with the other cats, even if there were 3 feeders. They wouldn't follow the rules and eat from their own feeders. Also, Maxi is on a binder and the others aren't.
Click to expand...

I see. You could always just try it when you are home and see if it makes a difference, but I guess if it ain't broke then...
 
There are now feeders that are microchip activated. Maxi would need to wear a collar that activates the lid on the feeder. If Maxi walks away, the feeder closes. The feeders are expensive but your other cats wouldn't have access to his food.

Also, a phosphorus binder should be in any of the meals your cat eats.
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
There are now feeders that are microchip activated. Maxi would need to wear a collar that activates the lid on the feeder. If Maxi walks away, the feeder closes. The feeders are expensive but your other cats wouldn't have access to his food.

Also, a phosphorus binder should be in any of the meals your cat eats.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Sienne.

I know about those chip-reading feeders, but I can imagine that Rudi would stick his head in there next to Maxi's and eat Maxi's food and vice versa -- the way they do at their bowls if I'm not monitoring.

If the instructions are to give one scoop twice a day mixed with food, should I divide those 2 scoops into 3 if I feed him 3 times a day?

Per this board's rules: Am I supposed to copy this and paste it into a new thread since it's a new day?
 
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