8/31 Mama AMPS: 141, +3:70, +4: 52/45/45, +5: 61/84/ 115

[Ellen & Mama]

Mama is doing well. I am feeding something called Fussie Cat and also Before Grain dry to my other cats in case Mama wants to eat it (is grain free dry OK?) I just looked at Fussie Cat ingredients though and it does have oligo sugar? and something called shirasu (never mind I looked it up, it's a type of fish!) But she really loves it and eats it up more than anything else.

She is still 5 lbs, potassium is still a little low so am adding to fluids, her renal #s have all come down (BUN is normal and creatinine is 2.4 from 3.5, normal to 2.0) She is still anemic HCT 17 as of last blood test, we will recheck next week, is on darbopoetin (sp?) to stimluate RBC but maybe now that she is well hydrated again the number is lower. Her fructosamine last week came back within normal limits so vet is happy and 'pleasantly surprised' but her #s still seem to go up and down. We are still at .1 although I am never sure it's the same amount each time, it does seem to be working even though it feels like I am giving her nothing but a drop!

Today is the second time I shot to a number under 200, this time 141 so am a little wary as it's now 70 but am just feeding her her regular grain-free food and hoping it will stablize. I try to just feed her all day long with wet food and esp when she gets the insulin or #s are under 150. I am a lot less nervous about the low #s now that I know she is somewhat stable. She is definitely in great spirits, not lethargic, and her spine is protruding less so I think she is finally absorbing her calories!

Ellen & Mama

 

[SmokeyD]

Re: 8/31/ Mama - AMPS: 141, +3: 70

Poor little thing! I'm glad Mama seems to be getting some nutritional benefit from her food! You're doing great!

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

Re: 8/31/ Mama - AMPS: 141, +3: 70

hi ellen - good report on mama! i don't know about the dry food - in general i've heard pretty much no dry food is ok for diabetics, except one kitten formula of EVO i think. but i look at her being 19 and i'm thinking when my dad got diagnosed with diabetes at 87 and he still wanted his chocolate milk - i was thinking "at 87 if you want chocolate milk to make you happy i'm giving you chocolate milk." so . . . i don't know if that's a helpful thing to say or not. if her overall numbers are acceptable with the dry food, then probably you're managing it just fine.

if not, someone will be along and likely tell you! ;-)

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Re: 8/31/ Mama - AMPS: 141, +3: 70

My concern with the dry food is more related to Mama's kidney issues. With a kidney kitty, you want to keep the cat as hydrated as possible. Dry doesn't do that.

I'm wondering what the carb count is on what it is you're feeding. I'm thinking that maybe feeding something that's a little higher in carbs will offset the drops that Mama seems to experience. I'd love to see the curve flatten out.

 

[Ellen & Mama]

She dropped down to the 40s so had to feed HC food (Friskies with gravy) and it went right back up. I don't think the Fussie Cat has very many carbs at all, despite the oligo sugar, when I used a carb calculator it said -1 carbs. So I probably should give her something with more carbs in it, she does like the flaked Fancy Feast flavors which have wheat gluten in them, but there is probably something better?

She really doesn't eat dry food much at all, but I figure in the middle of the night it would be good if she had something she could eat.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Are you really sure about the carb count on Fussie Cat? How can if be that low and contain sugar?

I'd get a couple of cans of food that are 4% and maybe up to 7% and see how Mama does with a higher carb food.