3/18/2021 new member kathlyn

[Kathlyn21]

Hi! I have a 12 yo male named Squeaky who was just diagnosed with diabetes. The vet says no keytones in urine so can try to correct with diet right now. We are waiting for Hill Science dry and wet to be delivered. She says only prescription food will work.

But I have been waiting since last Saturday. So I got him some other low carb wet food (Tikki Cat, Weruva Outback grill ) and Wysong Epigen 90 dry.

Yesterday the vet retested him at our request and his glucose was 462. He has already lost a ton of weight. He is drinking and peeing an enormous amount. He is a little lethargic but otherwise seems ok. Should I be doing something else?

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

The only thing that's special about the "prescription" food is the price. There's absolutely nothing in it that treats diabetes.

The Tiki and Weruva are both high quality low carb choices. Many of us feed our own sugarcat's Fancy Feast Classics, Friskie's or 9-Lives ground because they're under 10% carbs, easy to find and affordable.

I'd get the kibble completely out of the diet if at all possible.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Hi and welcome to Kathlyn and Squeak
Have you started with insulin yet? If so what are you giving and the dose?
If he is lethargic and you haven't started on insulin yet I would be testing for ketones in the urine, even though the vet said there were none at the time of diagnosis. This is very important! You can get a bottle of Ketostix from Walmart or a pharmacy
Have you thought about home testing the blood glucose?

I agree with Chris....I would ditch the dry. It is high carb and totally unsuitable for diabetic cats.
Keep asking questions

 

[Kathlyn21]

The vet said we should try diet first before insulin. I will get some of the ketostix to see. Should I be worried about this 462 reading? I have two other cats who graze so the kibble is really for them and then Squeaky eats it if he is really hungry. I don't know how to separate their food.