boarder line diabetic cat
- Thread starter deedee57
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squeem3
Member Since 2009
deedee57 said:
Yes, there is a lot of commerical foods you can feed to your borderline diabetic :smile: Canned foods are best. Dry food is one reason why so many cats end up diabetic in the first place. Many dry foods, even the prescription stuff, are very high in carbs (like 30%+ per cup :shock: ) which is too much for a cat's pancreas to handle. http://www.catinfo.org has more info about proper nutrition and about canned vs dry food.
Here are the food charts and lists we use:
Binky's canned food charts
Pet Food Nutritional Values list
Hobo's Guide To Nutritional Values
Dr. Lynne's Wet Food list
List of low carb gluten free Fancy Feast
On Binky's charts, stick with foods that have a number 10 or less in the carbs colum. On the Pet Food Nutritional Values Chart and Hobo's Guide, look at the %kcal from carbs column and choose foods that have a number 10 or less.
Popular brands to feed a diabetic cat are Fancy Feast Classics, Merrick, Innova EVO, Nature's Variety, and Friskies. These foods are also suitable for non-diabetic cats and borderline diabetics.
Low carb treats: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9172
Some people choose to feed raw pet food instead or in addition to canned food.
If your cat is a dry food addict and won't eat canned food readily, here are tips on how to make the transition: http://catinfo.org/docs/Tips for Transitioning PDF 1-14-11.pdf
You could also try a 100% complete freeze dried raw food such as Stella and Chewy's. It's kibble shaped pieces of crunchy freeze dried raw food and a lot healthier for your cat than dry food. The compnay highly recommends that you rehydrate the food in water for a minute before serving (water is essential for normal body functions) but if your cat won't go for that, you can feed it dry and try to add small amounts of water to the food so that your cat slowly becomes accustomed to eating moist food.
You can return the prescription food to the vet for a refund.
C
Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)
This one is easy!
Does your kitty like canned food? I am not quite sure the reason, but many vets "prescribe" dry food for diabetic cats, and it's about the worst possible food any cat can eat, never mind a diabetic one!
Good news - many of us have done this.....you can bring the opened bag of KD dry back to the vet. Just tell him your cat won't eat it. Most vets will just refund your money.
When you do that, either print out this information, or share the links with the vet:
The first one is a site belonging to a vet who is an authority on feline nutrition. Her name is Dr. Lisa Pierson and she posts here occasionally -
http://www.catinfo.org/?link=felinediabetes She explains very clearly what the problem is with dry food, and why the key to treating diabetes is to feed a canned or raw low-carb diet.
This is a link to charts filled with nutritional info on dozens of different canned cat foods, many of which are available at any grocery store. The key, as I said, is "low-carbs". If you look at the charts, pay attention to the "% kcal from carbs" column. A low carb value would be anything below 10%. (If you look at the link to the dry foods, you'll see that the KD has 35% carbs!)
Many of us use Fancy Feast "Classics" or Friskees Pates, all of which are low carbs, most less than 7%. Not only will it help your kitty tremendously, but it'll save you a lot of money in the long run given the cost of the prescription food.
http://binkyspage.tripod.com/canfood.html
The really good news? Sometimes just a switch to a "diabetes appropriate" diet is all it takes to get the blood glucose back to "normal", and since your vet said "borderline diabetic", I would think that increases your chances.
Carl
Does your kitty like canned food? I am not quite sure the reason, but many vets "prescribe" dry food for diabetic cats, and it's about the worst possible food any cat can eat, never mind a diabetic one!
Good news - many of us have done this.....you can bring the opened bag of KD dry back to the vet. Just tell him your cat won't eat it. Most vets will just refund your money.
When you do that, either print out this information, or share the links with the vet:
The first one is a site belonging to a vet who is an authority on feline nutrition. Her name is Dr. Lisa Pierson and she posts here occasionally -
http://www.catinfo.org/?link=felinediabetes She explains very clearly what the problem is with dry food, and why the key to treating diabetes is to feed a canned or raw low-carb diet.
This is a link to charts filled with nutritional info on dozens of different canned cat foods, many of which are available at any grocery store. The key, as I said, is "low-carbs". If you look at the charts, pay attention to the "% kcal from carbs" column. A low carb value would be anything below 10%. (If you look at the link to the dry foods, you'll see that the KD has 35% carbs!)
Many of us use Fancy Feast "Classics" or Friskees Pates, all of which are low carbs, most less than 7%. Not only will it help your kitty tremendously, but it'll save you a lot of money in the long run given the cost of the prescription food.
http://binkyspage.tripod.com/canfood.html
The really good news? Sometimes just a switch to a "diabetes appropriate" diet is all it takes to get the blood glucose back to "normal", and since your vet said "borderline diabetic", I would think that increases your chances.
Carl
Lisa and Witn (GA)
Member Since 2009
Also, you do not need to worry about throwing away the food. Since K/D is a prescription food, you should be able to return it to your vet for a refund, even if the bag is open.
Julia & Bandit (GA)
Member Since 2009
How old is your cat, and was he also diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease? K/D is the prescription diet for kidney disease, and is completely inappropriate for a cat unless the cat is in end stage renal failure. That's because K/D has extremely low protein levels--when fed long term, it causes muscle wasting which is more dehabilitating than the actual kidney disease. The dry K/D is extremely high in carbs and absolutely should not be fed to diabetic cat. Definitely return it to your vet for a refund--you can always say your cat wouldn't eat it. Since K/D tastes pretty awful to most cats, that's completely believable and you should have no problems getting a refund.
It's also important to note that blood glucose levels can raise significantly at the vet, so it's important that you test blood glucose levels at home. Most of us use human glucose meters. One popular one here is the Relion Confirm (or Micro) from Walmart, because it's inexpensive and reliable.
Your vet may try to give you a different prescription diet; these are all over priced and not good for your cat. Hills makes no food that is appropriate for a diabetic, and they make a ton of money charging obscene prices for pretty much the lowest quality ingredients you can find in cat food. Remember that your vet also makes money on prescription diets, so it may not always be in your best interest to feed one.
If your cat does have kidney disease in conjunction with the diabeties, there are many low carb, canned commercial foods that are good for both conditions. You just need a high quality protein, low phosphorus, low carb food. If this is the case, I can give you several good suggestions that shouldn't break your bank.
If your cat's blood glucose levels are still high after a week or so of a low carb, canned diet, it's important that you start insulin right away. The two best insulins for cats are Lantus (glargine) and Levemir (detemir), but Prozinc is also an acceptable insulin. The sooner you start insulin therapy, the sooner and more likely it is that your cat will go into remission and not need insulin anymore.
It's also important to note that blood glucose levels can raise significantly at the vet, so it's important that you test blood glucose levels at home. Most of us use human glucose meters. One popular one here is the Relion Confirm (or Micro) from Walmart, because it's inexpensive and reliable.
Your vet may try to give you a different prescription diet; these are all over priced and not good for your cat. Hills makes no food that is appropriate for a diabetic, and they make a ton of money charging obscene prices for pretty much the lowest quality ingredients you can find in cat food. Remember that your vet also makes money on prescription diets, so it may not always be in your best interest to feed one.
If your cat does have kidney disease in conjunction with the diabeties, there are many low carb, canned commercial foods that are good for both conditions. You just need a high quality protein, low phosphorus, low carb food. If this is the case, I can give you several good suggestions that shouldn't break your bank.
If your cat's blood glucose levels are still high after a week or so of a low carb, canned diet, it's important that you start insulin right away. The two best insulins for cats are Lantus (glargine) and Levemir (detemir), but Prozinc is also an acceptable insulin. The sooner you start insulin therapy, the sooner and more likely it is that your cat will go into remission and not need insulin anymore.
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