Help with SS data since dose reduction; Feeding issues

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Lauren and Loki

Lauren and Loki

Member Since 2022
Here are past threads for reference:

New member thread- https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...ki-intro-where-to-begin-lost-confused.272082/

2nd thread- https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/bg-44-on-libre.272392/

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Hi y'all! I need some direction, please. I'm having some frustrating issues with feeding, and was also wondering if someone can look at Loki's SS, and help me determine what's happening. His dose has been reduced for 3 days now (from 2U to 1.25U), and he went low-ish tonight, but I feel the feeding issues are maybe contributing to this, and not the dose.

First of all, Loki is seeming happy, playful, and loving the last couple days, so he seems good! But at the same time, he is having reluctancy to eat, which has never happened. He is also already on Gabapentin, Ondansetron & Cerenia for his pancreatitis. I know him being unregulated for such a long time made him ravenous for food. Now that I'm trying to stay on top of this and he seems to be feeling better, he's not drinking so much water, nor eating as much (which is good, but not if I can't get him to eat much at all, as this can lead to low events that are preventable with food!). This is making me unsure if the low numbers are from too much insulin, or from not enough food!!

He has always liked Fancy Feast pate's, and that's what I've been feeding him for a while now. When I go to feed him these last 2 days, he is definitely hungry and interested in eating, but when I give him his bowl, he just stares at it, maybe has a few licks, but doesn't eat, and just kind of looks at me. I have had to either give him some small pieces of plain shredded chicken to kind of stimulate his palate, or I've had to hold his bowl with my hands in front of his face to get him to eat, and follow him around with his bowl. This has been so weird to me! He has never needed to be "babied" like this with food. And again, it's not because he's lethargic or can't make it to his food. He's been great to say the least.

We had a vet check-up this past Friday, and she told me I could try to see how he does without the meds. Well, the next day he wasn't really eating again, so I thought it was because he needed to be back on them. But I have been giving them again for a couple days now, and the issue continues. I had to give him some FF Gravy Lovers tonight for the low numbers, and he ate that pretty well. And reluctantly, I've also had to let him have a few bites of dry food just to get something into his system when I've had to leave for work. He ate that fine as well. Maybe he is not liking the pate's all of a sudden??! I have no idea what to do. I'm nervous for when I need to give a dose, and leave for work that he won't be eating when I'm gone, and don't want to be giving high carb foods and ruin all the progress we've made! Any advice?? Thank you!!
 
Hi and welcome to the group. Loki is adorable! I am not one of the experts on here so I am sorry to say your situation is a bit beyond my level of expertise, if Loki was displaying inappetence (lack of appetite) one of the things often recommended is Cerenia/ondansatron to combat nausea and you're doing that already.


Maybe what could help is some Mirtazapine to stimulate his appetite?

Also have you checked ketones? The symptoms do not really line up with DKA, DKA typically presents with lethargy, LOTS of water drinking, and no appetite. But would be good to check ketones just to be safe.

I'm sure one of the expert gurus will chime in here soon enough with some better advice. Hang in there!
 
Hello, thank you for your reply! And Loki says thank you for the compliment! :cat:

Yes, I was thinking I might need an appetite stimulant. But I was confused by the fact that he was not hesitating to eat the FF Gravy Lovers, nor the dry food. Seems to be just the FF pate low carb food.

I am still waiting for my blood ketone meter to come in the mail; until then I have to catch him peeing to test for ketones. But he was just at the vet on Friday, and ketones were 0.8, although I know they can build very fast if there's an issue. And you're right, the symptoms are not really there.

I found that @Bron and Sheba (GA) had told me this on my first post: "Food is like a medicine and helps keep ketones away. If your kitty won’t eat the low carb food, feed him whatever he will eat as eating any food is better than not eating." Of course, I don't want to ruin the progress we've made by feeding high carb food, but not eating at all will definitely lead to a disaster, so I understand this. Just want to make sure I'm taking the best course of action, or if I'm missing something, or if I just need to try a different kind of low carb food!

Also, wanting to know in Loki's situation, if it is as important to not feed in the 2 hours leading up to pre-shot? Or do I feed him? Especially if he hasn't eaten much?? I'm wondering because he is still 105 @ +10.75!

Thanks!
 
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hmmm it is sounding more like he just has grown tired of the low carb pate and you might need to try a different variety/ flavor/brand etc

with my cat Hendrick we went through many different types of low-carb food. some he would eat enthusiastically for just a few days or a week and then grow tired of it, and we would need to switch to a different brand or flavor.

yes, i would continue to withhold food two hours before shot time unless that is the only time he'll eat at all
 
Now I'm not sure if I should dose this morning! His BG is 129 @ +11.25... we're supposed to wait and ask for help right? Normally I would be making him some food (although not sure if he would eat it now), and getting ready to inject! At least he has gone up, but wow this has been weird night. No sleep. I should wait for him to be at least over 200 right?

I made a new post for this here:

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/amps-do-i-dose-this-morning.272568/
 
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Lauren, I would definitely not stop the anti nausea medications. Kitties who have had pancreatitis and/or DKA can have lingering nausea for some time. Some cats are not bothered by it but it does sound as if Loki is. It is very common. It is also possible he has developed an aversion to the pates which he might be associating with nausea, so I would try and find another low carb wet food that he will eat.
When Sheba had pancreatitis I sometimes had to resort to giving her some dry food to get her to start eating again for a couple of days. I didn’t like doing it but I knew she would eat it and I needed her to start eating again.
Also remember that eating trumps everything, so that means if he won’t eat low carb wet, give him something else he will eat. If it is dry or higher carb …so be it. It is only temporary and that is far better than not eating anything.
If he has not been eating but will suddenly eat in the 2 hours preshot, then feed him, but just keep in your mind that the pre shot might be food influenced.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
I would definitely not stop the anti nausea medications.
Click to expand...

Thank you Bron! Should I be giving the full 8mg of Ondansetron, and 16mg of Cerenia? That is what he was on to start, but his vet has since lowered the dosing to half the pill. I suppose I can just see how he does on the half dose, and up it if needed?

Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
It is also possible he has developed an aversion to the pates which he might be associating with nausea, so I would try and find another low carb wet food that he will eat.
When Sheba had pancreatitis I sometimes had to resort to giving her some dry food to get her to start eating again for a couple of days. I didn’t like doing it but I knew she would eat it and I needed her to start eating again.
Also remember that eating trumps everything, so that means if he won’t eat low carb wet, give him something else he will eat. If it is dry or higher carb …so be it. It is only temporary and that is far better than not eating anything.
Click to expand...

I will go get some different kind of low carb canned tomorrow. He is going back and forth with the FF pates. Like right now he is eating some well lol...But if I needed to give dry/high carb, I should only give a little at a time right? And would I leave some out for him to graze on if I am at work, maybe with some low carb? I don't want to overfeed the high carb right?
 
Lauren and Loki said:
Thank you Bron! Should I be giving the full 8mg of Ondansetron, and 16mg of Cerenia? That is what he was on to start, but his vet has since lowered the dosing to half the pill. I suppose I can just see how he does on the half dose, and up it if needed?
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I would try the 1/2 doses to start as they are really the normal doses. See how they go.
Are you giving the ondansetron more than once a day? It can be given 8 hourly if necessary.


Lauren and Loki said:
will go get some different kind of low carb canned tomorrow. He is going back and forth with the FF pates. Like right now he is eating some well lol...But if I needed to give dry/high carb, I should only give a little at a time right? And would I leave some out for him to graze on if I am at work, maybe with some low carb? I don't want to overfeed the high carb right?
Click to expand...
I would only feed the high carb or dry if he wasn’t eating anything else or you needed to raise the BG.
Do you have an automatic timed feeder? They are terrific for people who have to work and at night as well. You can then leave several snacks for him at certain times.
I would just leave out normal low carb food for him unless he is dropping low and you have to leave.
We do want him to eat well though because of the recent DKA and pancreatitis.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Are you giving the ondansetron more than once a day?
Click to expand...

I've been giving Ondansetron twice per day (was at full dose, just started 1/2 dose tonight). Will continue at least twice a day for sure, and can increase to three times if needed. Can you give Ondansetron 3x/day at the full dose? Just so I know. Thanks for letting me know. Do you think I should continue with the pain meds (Gabapentin) as well? He's been happy and playing, but not sure if it's because pain meds are helping or if I can stop. He has not had a dose of it today, and is seemingly happy. Just wondering if I should stay ahead of pain if there is any? Ugh, my brain, lol...you're amazing for helping so many of us all the time <3

I have an automatic timed feeder for dry food only. There were some auto-feeder suggestions for wet food on my new member post - I'll go back and re-read through that.

Thank you for all your advice!
 
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Ondesetron is dosed based on weight of cat. How much does Loki weight? And yes, you can give the dose that works for him 3-4 times a day.
 
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