feeding schedules

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ericbakes

ericbakes

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I would like to have a conversation about feeding schedules used by PZI folks. In reading through these forums and other cat health sites, I have heard recommendations from "strictly twice-a-day" to "let 'em graze!" I wouldn't be surprised if the responses here reflect that range.

So, what's your diabetic kitty's feeding schedule? How much do you feed them per day? Are you strict or lenient? Do you have any insights into how feeding schedule has informed your decisions about insulin dosage?
 
Morning Eric,

In the beginning I was doing 2x a day only with shots. I found that Jax was crying for food incessantly and numbers all over the place. With the suggestion from Sue, I left frozen food out one morning on ice packs (not ideal I know) but his numbers held steady that cycle and I came home to find a PMPS sub 300. A first!
The only other time I saw a PMPS that low was when I gave too much insulin whereas I could not give the evening shot because I overshot his AM dose.

Now I feed his AM meal, dose, then leave out frozen right before leaving. Then in the evening upon my return I give PM meal, dose and relax. Upon +6 or +7 I put out frozen food. It's been working. One more piece in the puzzle solved to try and get him regulated. But you know the disclaimer... ECID.
 
I for one free feed, I always have. I feed a mix of canned and raw and have never had any problems.

Harley was a grazer, he would nibble every hour on the hour for the first 4 hours, so I would take that into consideration when analyzing his numbers.
 
Cass gets 1/2 a can of friskees at shot time. Half is fresh, half is frozen in the hopes that it will slow him down long enough for his brother to get some food. He eats if frozen anyway. He also gets 1/4 of a can somewhere around +6 (sometimes early if I"m not going to be around). The vet told me letting him graze is find--but with the switch to wet he eats is so fast that really doesn't work. This way the bulk of the food is eaten when the insulin is still in effect, and it's all gone long before I get the next ps.
 
I've tried feeding Poopy and his playmate the 2x a day (13 oz can each time for both to eat), but since his BGs have dropped, he grazes (as does his playmate). He has set the pace by eating what he wants when he wants. Sometimes he has it all eaten by +6-+7 and is asking for more, so I'll open a 5.5 oz can. It does play with the numbers so I try to be aware when he eats and take that into consideration.
 
Beauregard has been a grazer all of his life, and I free-fed the (horrendous, poisonous, toxic) dry food (and will never, ever forgive myself for being so stoopid).

Once he started the quasi-healthy canned food, I tried the twice a day feeding for about a week, but he was just so hungry at meal time he'd overindulge and then throw up. Now he gets 1.5 oz for first and second breakfast (at wake-up and then before leaving for work). Prior to having the auto-feeder, I'd leave another 1.5 oz for his lunch but I have no idea when he actually ate that. With the auto-feeder, he gets 1.5 oz around noon. That auto-feeder is wonderful, btw, I highly recommend the PetSafe 5! Then 1.5 oz for first and second dinners (when I get home from work and a couple hours after that). He gets a spoonful of Cowboy Cookout for a treat. I think I have to cut back the portion size though, because he's gained all the weight back that he lost pre-diagnosis (which was about 2 lbs), and seems to be developing a grandpapa belly!
 
good morning Eric and Melville cat_pet_icon

of course callie gets fed before each shot then about 5 hours she gets fed again then around 5:00 pm like clock work she begs for food so I feed her again, then after her pm shot I usually feed her one time early morning between 1 and 2:00 in the morning all in all she gets 3 cans of ff a day which most of the time she doesn't eat it all and I end up taking it away about an hour after I give it to her ! ;-)
 
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