Suits (10yo neutered, not overweight 12lb DSH tuxedo) was diagnosed diabetic around Labor Day after fooling more than one round of labs trying to figure out his muscle loss, water intake, crazy appetite, and poor coat condition. A keen ER vet finally did a spot test instead of ordering a panel, and starting 1U Lantus every 12hr made a massive improvement in his demeanor and overall condition.
2 months after initial diagnosis, we are still struggling to get him regulated. He’s been on solely wet food for years and switched to a 50-50 mix of Weruva Paw Lickin Chicken and Chicken Frick a Zee starting the first week of October. He’s been allowed 15oz a day (3oz more than Weruva suggests for his size), remains ravenous, and we confirmed today he is just maintaining his weight.
The vet just bumped him up to 4.5U of Lantus twice daily. His water intake is massively improved since hitting 3-4U, but after a week at 4U the vet just clocked his glucose at something like 380 an hour before his evening dose. It was over 400 after a week at 3U, and a bit under 400 the test before that at 2U (which wasn’t timed as closely to his evening dose due to scheduling issues).
Today, I’m addition to the half-unit increase in dose from 4 to 4.5U, the vet wants to try switching him from the Weruva mix I have him on (>55% protein, <3% carbs) to canned Purina DM. She sent me home with some donated cans for free. Suits went straight for the spoonful I trialed beside his Weruva this evening, so it seems he’s game to try it. I’m a bit skeptical, though.
Has anyone had any experience to suggest the DM could actually make a difference for better or worse? Anything we should be asking or checking for since he appears to be so insulin resistant? I do want to learn to test at home but haven’t sorted that out yet. I’m concerned his levels could be artificially elevated at the vet, but his clinical signs don’t suggest he’s well regulated, either.
2 months after initial diagnosis, we are still struggling to get him regulated. He’s been on solely wet food for years and switched to a 50-50 mix of Weruva Paw Lickin Chicken and Chicken Frick a Zee starting the first week of October. He’s been allowed 15oz a day (3oz more than Weruva suggests for his size), remains ravenous, and we confirmed today he is just maintaining his weight.
The vet just bumped him up to 4.5U of Lantus twice daily. His water intake is massively improved since hitting 3-4U, but after a week at 4U the vet just clocked his glucose at something like 380 an hour before his evening dose. It was over 400 after a week at 3U, and a bit under 400 the test before that at 2U (which wasn’t timed as closely to his evening dose due to scheduling issues).
Today, I’m addition to the half-unit increase in dose from 4 to 4.5U, the vet wants to try switching him from the Weruva mix I have him on (>55% protein, <3% carbs) to canned Purina DM. She sent me home with some donated cans for free. Suits went straight for the spoonful I trialed beside his Weruva this evening, so it seems he’s game to try it. I’m a bit skeptical, though.
Has anyone had any experience to suggest the DM could actually make a difference for better or worse? Anything we should be asking or checking for since he appears to be so insulin resistant? I do want to learn to test at home but haven’t sorted that out yet. I’m concerned his levels could be artificially elevated at the vet, but his clinical signs don’t suggest he’s well regulated, either.
