7/5 Meadow's AMPS 367 and a question

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Meadow

Member Since 2010
Good Morning everyone....hope your day is off to a great start. AMPS for Meadow is 367, but it was expected considering the excitement of yesterday's adventure. Not testing as much today since I'll be in and out all day and her little ears are sore from yesterday. Was able to keep myself awake until 1:30am for testing last night.....unheard of for me!....so of course I slept right through the alarm at 4am. :roll: :lol:

Anyone have any suggestions on how to keep the weight on her? Meadow is still losing weight and it bothers me to see her getting so skinny.

Have a great day everyone and thanks again for all your help yesterday.
7/4 condo: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=18892
 
How is Meadow's appetite? If she's hungry, I'd feed her frequently and let her have as much as she wants. If she's not eating well, is it a matter of her always having been a picky eater or just since the FD? If the latter, I'd discuss it with your vet. One immediate thought is that she may have a bad tooth and it may bother her to chew. She may need a dental.

There are a number of ways to entice a picky eater -- crumbling freeze dried chicken or other freeze dried treats onto food, some cats like FortiFlora (a probiotic) and you can sprinkle that, parmesan cheese, tuna water, etc.

Some of the weight issues may correct themselves as Meadow gets better regulated. Diabetes is a "starving" disease. Despite many cats (or humans, for that matter) eating ravenously, they still lose weight. The glucose from food isn't getting into the cells where it can be utilized. Instead, it's floating around in the blood because the body isn't producing insulin to help move the glucose into the cells. As you start providing exogenous insulin, glucose starts going where it's supposed to and BG levels start returning to healthier levels. As this happens, the weight loss should taper off. Gabby had lost about 2 lb. with her diagnosis. (This actually put her at a good weight. I've now got to try to get the weight she gained back, off.)
 
Hope Meadow's #'s improve, her weight will come back as they get better. Paws crossed and prayers going out that she puts some weight on soon.
 
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Sienne said:

As you start providing exogenous insulin, glucose starts going where it's supposed to and BG levels start returning to healthier levels. As this happens, the weight loss should taper off. Gabby had lost about 2 lb. with her diagnosis. (This actually put her at a good weight. I've now got to try to get the weight she gained back, off.)


Just adding my experience with this. Luna had gotten very thin at DX time. For the first couple of months he ate a lot, like I mean a lot.
As his numbers got lower, he filled out, and as I tracked his food intake with my data, I noticed his intake reduced, he got a little plump, lol, but again, as the numbers got better, he got more active, and slowly got back into shape.

So yes, the constant eating does get better. Overall, physically, you will see the positive changes in Meadow, not just the numbers.
 
Maybe post her weight in the notes section of the SS so you can keep track on paper. Shadow had lost a lot of weight and he has put some back on lately. He is filling out nicely. Maybe you can compare the calorie content of the food you are giving and see if there is another low carb kind that you could see if she likes....and encourage her to eat a little more as Sienne suggested...with freeze-dried chicken sprinkled on top. Great day for pretty Meadow yesterday...Nice!!
 
Sienne and Gabby said:
How is Meadow's appetite?

One thing that has not suffered through this whole thing is her appetite! That cat eats just about anything you put in front of her. She usually polishes off 3-4 cans FF a day plus whatever snacks of chicken or freeze dried treats I give her. She begs and begs for the dry EVO and I know she misses it, but I am being strong in withholding that from her. She does seem to have dropped some weight since she stopped getting that too. She used to be such a plump little girl...not really overweight, but filled out nicely, and now I pet her and feel her backbone. :sad:
 
Good luck getting Meadow to gain weight. I don't have any further advice to offer because what has already been said is good. All the best to you and Meadow.
 
From Dr. Lisa's feline nutrition site,

Required calories per day = [13.6 X optimal lean body weight in pounds] + 70

The average female cat weighs about 10 lbs. and Dr. Lisa acknowledges that her formula is very generous. So, Meadow should be eating around 200 cal. of food per day. A can of FF has somewhere in the neighborhood of 95 cal. per can. Meadow is getting between 285 - 380 cal. per day. I think the extra calories will catch up once she's better regulated.
 
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