My 11 year old, Sebastian, was just diagnosed with diabetes this week, and what a week we've had. His level has been from 400 to 600 in testing at the vet, we just got our home kit (thanks Lori and Tom!) and are getting better readings. He had FLUTD, what used to be called Feline Urological Syndrome, when he was two years old. Since then he has been on Hill Prescription Diet C/D dry, but with all the research I've done here, I know I need to feed him wet food. I'm working on incorporating canned food into his meals, but the canned C/D is still high in carbs. The vet said I need to worry about the FLUTD first, and the diabetes second. Anyone else have this issue and what have they done?
Diabetes and FLUTD
- Thread starter jeannes
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Karen & Angus(GA)
Active Member
Do you know what type of crystals he had? There are two main types, struvite and calcium oxalate. If it was struvite, Friskies Special Diet is formulated for that and is low carb (except the Sliced Chicken in Gravy). Calcium oxalate are harder to dissolve. Royal Canin Urinary SO works for both types of crystals. It is medium carbs (about 16% in the 6oz cans, pouches are higher) and has much better ingredients than the c/d. Your vet should be able to order it for you.
Try to encourage water consumption any way you can. Add water to his food, consider a fountain, try ice cubes in the water dish, etc. You can also add a glucosamine/chondrotin supplement (Cosequin, available OTC) to help rebuild the bladder lining.
Try to encourage water consumption any way you can. Add water to his food, consider a fountain, try ice cubes in the water dish, etc. You can also add a glucosamine/chondrotin supplement (Cosequin, available OTC) to help rebuild the bladder lining.
Thanks, I have no idea what kind of crystals they were, but since we've had the same vet all these years I'll check. Luckily he likes ice cubes, I'll keep his water dish full of them. Thanks for all the information. There's also a holistic pet store nearby, I'm going to check it out this week.
So much to learn with Diabetes, my family says they haven't seen me cuz I've been online most nights reading blogs and website! This one is wonderful, great people. Time to be a vampire, and I'm not too good at it cuz poor Sebastian has bruises on his ears already. Luckily he's a good cat and puts up with my clumsy attemps
So much to learn with Diabetes, my family says they haven't seen me cuz I've been online most nights reading blogs and website! This one is wonderful, great people. Time to be a vampire, and I'm not too good at it cuz poor Sebastian has bruises on his ears already. Luckily he's a good cat and puts up with my clumsy attemps
Larry and Kitties
Very Active Member
There is no way of dissolving oxalate stones/crystals. There are diets that prevent both type of stones/crystals.
Karen & Angus(GA) said:
Karen & Angus(GA)
Active Member
Thanks Larry. Mine had struvite and I knew oxalate are harder to treat.
underdawg
Active Member
I have a cat who is not diabetic that has urinary problems so I asked my vet today if this would help him. I told her I read about this on this board. She said that she has not seen much improvement with nondiabetic cats but she would not give it to a diabetic cat. Better check with your vet to be sure.
Lisa dvm
Active Member
Please see my Urinary Tract Health page.
C/d is a diet that I would never feed - especially in the dry form since it makes ZERO sense to feed any water-depleted diet to a cat with UT issues. Zero sense. But then, as noted on my website, it makes no sense to feed a water-depleted diet to any cat.
Please also note that crystals are *not* an abnormal finding in cats and are focused on far too heavily.
As one of the VIN urologists often states....."dilution is the solution".
I do not use any of the Rx diets except in rare situations as noted on the UTH page and even then, it is only used temporarily (usually less than one month).
They cost far too much given the quality and they are simply not necessary.
C/d is a diet that I would never feed - especially in the dry form since it makes ZERO sense to feed any water-depleted diet to a cat with UT issues. Zero sense. But then, as noted on my website, it makes no sense to feed a water-depleted diet to any cat.
Please also note that crystals are *not* an abnormal finding in cats and are focused on far too heavily.
As one of the VIN urologists often states....."dilution is the solution".
I do not use any of the Rx diets except in rare situations as noted on the UTH page and even then, it is only used temporarily (usually less than one month).
They cost far too much given the quality and they are simply not necessary.
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