Bonnie & Kyndra
Member
Hi all,
OK, I have been having some trouble getting Kyndra's numbers to make much sense lately so I have some questions, rethinking some things and also some ?? about values on tables so will ask all here. Please read all before replying b/c I revisit some things. Here are some background/current details may or may not be important:
Kyndra will be 13 years old this spring, though rather active. I live in a small space and do my best to chase them around as much as possible! She has ALWAYS been overweight (adopted at 1.5 years old, slim, got heavier around 4 or 5(?) and never lost the weight. She is not obese, but could stand to lose about 3 lbs -I’d be happy with 2). She was dx with diabetes Sept. 2009. Maintained on DM for about 6 months then went on insulin. Up down history there. Currently, her insulin is 2 units Lantus 2x/day.
Feeding:
I feed a selection of FF Turkey/Beef/Chicken Classic (paté type). Merrick's Before Grain (BG) Beef (was using primarily thinking it was highest in protein and lowest in fat b/c at the time I could not find it in a chart) and occasionally one of the Friskies lowest carbs (from Janet's chart) if that is all I had on hand. I have two cats and Líta gets FF and Friskies simply b/c I cannot afford to feed her the really expensive stuff, too (I am on a very fixed budget).
I gave Kyndra the Wellness Grain Free (Chicken, Beef and Turkey) a couple times b/c I like the larger size, can get it at a fairly decent price AND after looking at labels and noticing that all had identical (within 1%) amount for protein and fat and after inquiring was told that they did this so that the cat is getting the same each meal. This seemed like a good idea for a diabetic cat! Unfortunately, she was not thrilled with it and also seemed to give her a bit of a looser stool so I mixed it with the BG and then stopped buying it.
Once I found the Pet Food Nutritional Values Comparison chart I decided to try the BG Turkey b/c, according to this, the numbers are: Protein 65, Fat 31 and Carbs 1 (and “as fed”: 48/10.2/0.7).
This brings me to my first question. Is it possible that the protein and fat numbers are reversed here? – almost too good to be true! Here are the 4 lowest from the BG line (2nd set are the “as fed”).
As you can see the reason for my question, and my delight if it is correct!
Question 2: what is the reason for not giving seafood often? And what is too often? (sorry, can’t find where I have read this a zillion times!) I know it is high in protein -though I see some brands/type were surprisingly high in carbs. For some reason both my girls (especially Líta) do not care for Salmon.
It was suggested to me by my vet, when I was chatting with woman at store re: the Wellness consistency of values and in reading here/elsewhere that to try and maintain level of protein and carbs from meal to meal. Líta gets very bored after two meals of same so I am always buying variety for her. Kyndra (diabetic) is not so much, but I am finding she is not as fond of the turkey and chicken (BG) which are the ones I would like to give her regularly! UGH! That said, she eats it slower -she is normally a vacuum cleaner! I know that the BG is now 96% as opposed to the previous 100% and had to be combined with other foods to create a whole meal. Is it OK as a stand alone? I can get a decent break by the case and thought that I would try and maybe do the BG Turkey, Chicken and an occasional Tuna for consistency to see if I can get lower and consistent numbers from her.
Question 3: I read recently in an article linked from here or from Janet & Binky’s (did not bookmark and cannot find now) something about unable to regulate blood glucose numbers could be due to giving injections in the scruff…huh? That is where I was instructed. I have never been able to give it to her in her side or anywhere else. She did develop a lumpy area where I inject and I brought her to my vet (a diff vet saw her) and said it was just a fat roll. I disagree because it feels funny in a couple places and she has been fat for a very long time. What do all of you do when you give shots 2x/day? Not sure how else to describe, but it is not just her “scruff” up by her neck. It covers the area to her shoulders – anywhere I can get a good skin tent. Kyndra has really “baggy” skin, which in fact give me a lot of choice.
Her numbers: I have to admit I am not very good about keep a chart like so many of you are. She was pretty consistent so I was not taking blood very regularly I took her bg one night (she get insulin around 9a.m. with breakfast, fed around 6pm and then I check before 9pm “snack” to see if she gets evening dose. Recently it was anywhere from 310, 174, 234, 210, 128, 257… so I began to wonder if the food choice inconsistency is the problem. – or is it this scruff injection thing, or her weight, or the Lantus (though from everything I have read it really is about the best, long acting, etc.).
It is too difficult for me (she won't stand for it) to do a curve at home so I will start doing it more often. Today I took it before dinner and it was a nice low 124!
OK, I will stop. Thanks for any help! I just got some new work (have had next to none in 2 months!) so may not get back right away. This is also why I wanted to get all my ??? in one place :mrgreen:
OK, I have been having some trouble getting Kyndra's numbers to make much sense lately so I have some questions, rethinking some things and also some ?? about values on tables so will ask all here. Please read all before replying b/c I revisit some things. Here are some background/current details may or may not be important:
Kyndra will be 13 years old this spring, though rather active. I live in a small space and do my best to chase them around as much as possible! She has ALWAYS been overweight (adopted at 1.5 years old, slim, got heavier around 4 or 5(?) and never lost the weight. She is not obese, but could stand to lose about 3 lbs -I’d be happy with 2). She was dx with diabetes Sept. 2009. Maintained on DM for about 6 months then went on insulin. Up down history there. Currently, her insulin is 2 units Lantus 2x/day.
Feeding:
I feed a selection of FF Turkey/Beef/Chicken Classic (paté type). Merrick's Before Grain (BG) Beef (was using primarily thinking it was highest in protein and lowest in fat b/c at the time I could not find it in a chart) and occasionally one of the Friskies lowest carbs (from Janet's chart) if that is all I had on hand. I have two cats and Líta gets FF and Friskies simply b/c I cannot afford to feed her the really expensive stuff, too (I am on a very fixed budget).
I gave Kyndra the Wellness Grain Free (Chicken, Beef and Turkey) a couple times b/c I like the larger size, can get it at a fairly decent price AND after looking at labels and noticing that all had identical (within 1%) amount for protein and fat and after inquiring was told that they did this so that the cat is getting the same each meal. This seemed like a good idea for a diabetic cat! Unfortunately, she was not thrilled with it and also seemed to give her a bit of a looser stool so I mixed it with the BG and then stopped buying it.
Once I found the Pet Food Nutritional Values Comparison chart I decided to try the BG Turkey b/c, according to this, the numbers are: Protein 65, Fat 31 and Carbs 1 (and “as fed”: 48/10.2/0.7).
This brings me to my first question. Is it possible that the protein and fat numbers are reversed here? – almost too good to be true! Here are the 4 lowest from the BG line (2nd set are the “as fed”).
As you can see the reason for my question, and my delight if it is correct!
Question 2: what is the reason for not giving seafood often? And what is too often? (sorry, can’t find where I have read this a zillion times!) I know it is high in protein -though I see some brands/type were surprisingly high in carbs. For some reason both my girls (especially Líta) do not care for Salmon.
It was suggested to me by my vet, when I was chatting with woman at store re: the Wellness consistency of values and in reading here/elsewhere that to try and maintain level of protein and carbs from meal to meal. Líta gets very bored after two meals of same so I am always buying variety for her. Kyndra (diabetic) is not so much, but I am finding she is not as fond of the turkey and chicken (BG) which are the ones I would like to give her regularly! UGH! That said, she eats it slower -she is normally a vacuum cleaner! I know that the BG is now 96% as opposed to the previous 100% and had to be combined with other foods to create a whole meal. Is it OK as a stand alone? I can get a decent break by the case and thought that I would try and maybe do the BG Turkey, Chicken and an occasional Tuna for consistency to see if I can get lower and consistent numbers from her.
Question 3: I read recently in an article linked from here or from Janet & Binky’s (did not bookmark and cannot find now) something about unable to regulate blood glucose numbers could be due to giving injections in the scruff…huh? That is where I was instructed. I have never been able to give it to her in her side or anywhere else. She did develop a lumpy area where I inject and I brought her to my vet (a diff vet saw her) and said it was just a fat roll. I disagree because it feels funny in a couple places and she has been fat for a very long time. What do all of you do when you give shots 2x/day? Not sure how else to describe, but it is not just her “scruff” up by her neck. It covers the area to her shoulders – anywhere I can get a good skin tent. Kyndra has really “baggy” skin, which in fact give me a lot of choice.
Her numbers: I have to admit I am not very good about keep a chart like so many of you are. She was pretty consistent so I was not taking blood very regularly I took her bg one night (she get insulin around 9a.m. with breakfast, fed around 6pm and then I check before 9pm “snack” to see if she gets evening dose. Recently it was anywhere from 310, 174, 234, 210, 128, 257… so I began to wonder if the food choice inconsistency is the problem. – or is it this scruff injection thing, or her weight, or the Lantus (though from everything I have read it really is about the best, long acting, etc.).
It is too difficult for me (she won't stand for it) to do a curve at home so I will start doing it more often. Today I took it before dinner and it was a nice low 124!
OK, I will stop. Thanks for any help! I just got some new work (have had next to none in 2 months!) so may not get back right away. This is also why I wanted to get all my ??? in one place :mrgreen:
has kept me away...
