food change question - newbies trying to figure this out

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klescinsky

klescinsky

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OK, we're newbies, white-knuckling this, so sorry for the dumb questions.

Lois is in the hospital and has been eating wet food only since Thursday. She will tentatively come home on Monday evening. Should I consider her switched? I can feed her wet food only like they've been doing in the ICU since they put her on insulin, or what do I do?

I've asked for a complete copy of her records to be made for her discharge so I'll have some data to get started. She was 418 and DKA going in, and they've told me that her numbers are now in the high 100s and low 200s after 2 days with an insulin UV and this is now day 2 on Lantus, but I will get more details today when I meet with her doctor.
 
I posted a more detailed response in your other post, so be sure to check there! This chart has values for premium brand foods as well (use column D as your carb reference). I would find out what food they are feeding at the hospital so you can verify the carb percentage (likely DM, which is 3%). What is important is that you do NOT need a prescription food... DM is not the best stuff in the world ingredients wise, and for the price you'd be paying, you can get MUCH better quality food that is still FD appropriate. Many cats won't eat it. If the vet insists and you don't feel like arguing, just take it, but then return it with the explanation that your cat just wouldn't eat it. They will refund your money. Where you go from there is up to you. While some feed fancier brand foods, others stick to Special Kitty from Walmart, Friskies Pate and Fancy Feast, among others. Others do homemade and/or raw diets (see Dr. Lisa's Site on pet nutrition). ALL of our cats are doing better because of our food choices! The key is getting a food with at least under 10% carbs (though, many of us choose foods much lower... Willie is carb sensitive, so we go with under 2%).

Lantus is an effective insulin used by many here. We have had tremendous luck with it. Please stop by our lantus forum where the stickies will give you a great deal of useful information about how lantus works, how to handle it, etc. One other thing you can do to keep you busy until Lois comes home is to set up a profile here for her, a signature file with key details (Insulin, dose, foods fed, fact that she was DKA, etc.)... if the info is visible, it will help those assisting you in not repeatedly asking you the same questions over and over. You can also set up a spreadsheet where you'll record her poke results. We use a google spreadsheet (instructions can be found in our tech support forum here). This lets other users view your data in real time, which is invaluable when you have questions or need assistance. It also allows your vet to do the same, and it allows you to see patterns in Lois' numbers so you can better direct her care.
 
They are feeding her Fancy Feast right now. They don't like the DM. Said that as weak as she was and refusing food, she needed built up, so since she would eat the Fancy Feast, that's what they've been giving her.

I have sent copies of the food chart to my phone and my Kindle and my husband's phone so I always have it, and will stop and get more canned food after I visit her today. I am cheered to see that some of her favorites have some of the lowest carb counts. All of our girls will knock me down for Wellness turkey, and they seem to love the Evo canned. We also feed fancy feast classic (our Maine Coon doesn't like the texture though) and I add a little water to make her gravy. Blue Wilderness chicken and duck are also favorites.

Just finished a batch of cupcakes for her medical team. They have been so supportive, and so doting on her, that I wanted to do something nice in return.

I downloaded the spreadsheet and will post it as soon as I get a copy of the records from the hospital, so it's accurate. They've given me numbers over the phone, but I don't have times for them and I want to be accurate.
 
First off, it is very very encouraging that she is eating, period. In some DKA cases, kitty won't eat at all, and it becomes necessary to syringe feed or put a feeding tube in place. Be very encouraged in knowing that she is eating on her own.

The numbers they are getting when they test her are great too! Especially considering she is in an unfamiliar place, and likely a little stressed out about the strange sounds, smells, and people.

klescinsky said:
They are feeding her Fancy Feast right now. They don't like the DM. Said that as weak as she was and refusing food, she needed built up, so since she would eat the Fancy Feast, that's what they've been giving her.
Click to expand...

You haven't been here long enough to grasp how fantastic it is to read what you said about the Fancy Feast and DM. I read that as a very positive indication about your vet and the treatment Lois is getting. Looking forward to a lot more good news in the coming days!

Carl
 
carlinsc said:
klescinsky said:
They are feeding her Fancy Feast right now. They don't like the DM. Said that as weak as she was and refusing food, she needed built up, so since she would eat the Fancy Feast, that's what they've been giving her.
Click to expand...

You haven't been here long enough to grasp how fantastic it is to read what you said about the Fancy Feast and DM. I read that as a very positive indication about your vet and the treatment Lois is getting. Looking forward to a lot more good news in the coming days!

Carl
Click to expand...

This is a great sign that you are in very good hands with your vet. Not recommending prescription food means that they have done their research! My vet also told me prescription food was not good for diabetics and handed me a list of low carb commercial foods divided into low, medium, and higher price ranges, as well as key ingredients to avoid on labels if I decided to feed something not on their list. It wasn't until I found this site a few months later that I realized how lucky I was to with their recommendations for Bandit's diet and treatment.
 
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