Food-controlled & too much shedding !??

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Jenner & Felix

Jenner & Felix

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Our 9 yr. old Felix is mid-way through his second week of diet-control before determining whether to start insulin. He's been off the pred dosage (1/2 tab every three days) since Jan. 19. His diet is Hill's M/D dry and mix of tuna (after home-testing) and wet M/D 2x day. (Although he really only pushes the M/D around the plate as he was raised on all dry).

His BG's, since learning how to home test three days ago, have been 176, 178, 179, and a jump to 190 yesterday morning. Our vet wants us to come in next week to do a comparison BG with their Alpha Trak (we use the True Test) and has said that she doesn't want to start him on a regiment unless he goes over 200.

I'd like his BG's to come down lower than 176, and am wondering if using the 200 rule is an unhealthy decision??? He is still drinking alot, but appetite is normal, a regular stool daily, but he has been (i think) over shedding and very covered in dander these past few days. Am I missing something?????

He is strictly an indoor cat, but its been extremely cold outside and our furnace has been running almost non-stop in our drafty farmhouse the past few days. We do run a humidifier, but probably too small for the living areas its placed in.

Any input would be welcomed! His T4 was 2.2 when tested almost 2.5 weeks ago.
 
It is possible that a change to all wet would bring your numbers down into remission range. When we changed Oliver over from dry to wet, he went down 100 points overnight. We consider a general range of non diabetic numbers to be 40 - 120.

MD dry is 13% carbs. We try to feed under 8-10%. It isn't only the carb count but dry food in general. Here is what Dr. Lisa Pierson DVM says about dry food:

"The three key negative issues associated with dry food are:
1) type of protein - too high in plant-based versus animal-based proteins
2) carbohydrate load is too high
3) water content is too low"
You can get more info on her website: http://www.catinfo.org

MD wet is 7% carbs which is much better, but many cats tire of the taste. It is liver based and they don't seem to want to eat it for long.

Lots of us feed Fancy Feast, Wellness, Friskies or Merrick. We pick from Janet and Binky's food chart: Janet and Binky’s chart
 
When we took all dry away from Trouble his numbers droped at least 100 points. Course he WAS reading in the 4-500's at the time AND ECID. But it helped in getting him OFF insulin.

ECID= Every Cat Is Different. :)

jeanne
 
I'll bet you'll be able to avoid insulin if you go on an ultra-low carb diet. My cat went from a BG of 600 at diagnosis - to OTJ in three weeks. Short course of lantus along with an immediate change to Merrick chicken and beef flavors, and BG chicken, beef and turkey flavors. Hills for the most part is junk - that's in fact what I blame (the Hill's and my vet) for my cat going diabetic to start with.
 
PS - Hill's comment above - to be more specific, how can their "weight loss formula" have 37% carbs? Further investigations have shown me that the brand, for the most part, is a true ripoff and has no health benefits across the entire range.
 
You may need a little more fat in the diet - such as salmon oil - for the dry skin.

Also, take a look at the breakdown of your food by reviewing the sections on Binky's Page for the distribution of calories from protein, fat, and carbohydrate. Then, if the fat content is less than 50% of the calories, you might try a higher fat low carb food; kitten food from the list may meet this criterion.
 
Hi Jennifer,

Petie's been OTJ for a long time now, and he still has dandruff and shedding. Right now, the weather is dry one minute, then raining, hot then cold ... it's really bad. His BGs are fine, he has no other major health problems. I think some cats are just prone to it (seems like black kitties have really dry skin?). Most of the time, it's not bad at all. What helped us the most taking out all dry food, adding water to each meal of canned food, and adding salmon oil to his meals. He likes salmon oil by itself so when it's really dry, I'll let him have some as a treat, too. Brushing does help, but it also seems to stimulate more dandruff in the beginning ... and oatmeal baths do wonders for all of our dry skin! It takes a while to really control sometimes, and Petie misses all the extra attention from when he was a sugarcat, so he found another way to get me following him around

I would really encourage you to go with other wet food brands. Binky's chart is truly a blessing! Wellness is a favorite at our house, and when they won't eat that we add in some Fancy Feast (or, if money is super tight that week). Petie was only on insulin for about six months. The diet changed everything.

Another little diet fact, I have a civvie who will be 18 in June (she's very excited). She had elevated kidney values right around when, or just before, Petie was diagnosed with diabetes. I followed the vet's diet, and she hated it. She was lethargic, dropping weight, shedding. Then, I put her on the no-carb diet with Petie and she has now gained weight, not shedding, not lethargic, and she has become a new woman! Her values have never gone up.

Best of luck to you! Follow your instincts.
 
thanks Wendi...my instincts lead me here, so I'm hoping I'm on the right path.

My hubbie & I had started the switch to Wellness when the vet suggested M/D (before I had come here). Felix is prone to IBD, hence the switching of foods-he's a kibble cat. I'd love to get him on all wet...but the way he pushes wet around, and takes forever to eat it, he never seems to get enough. So, grazing on kibble ensues.
 
Jenner alot of us mix water with the canned food and make a gravy for them..most cats like that and felix may find it easier to eat the really wet food.[*] I make tom's to an 'almost' gravy consistancy. And I know the water is really helpful for him with his higher numbers as diabetics are usually dehydrated before being treated.
 
SaraJaye said:
PS - Hill's comment above - to be more specific, how can their "weight loss formula" have 37% carbs? Further investigations have shown me that the brand, for the most part, is a true ripoff and has no health benefits across the entire range.
Click to expand...

I agree with SaraJayne.
Get the lowest carb food on J & B's food chart and see if that brings the BG down lower. I'm also betting it will. That list saved Sweety from going on insulin at all. She was borderline like Felix.
 
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