Foods to help with the weight loss?

[Melanie and Smokey]

I thought we'd not have to deal with the side effects as much this time around since we were monitoring and caught it early. But we are not having much luck getting Smokey's numbers under control and she is starting to look thin and her coat is getting the shaggy look she got last time. Any suggestions on higher calorie foods that might help her with the weight loss? We feed a variety of FF, Wellness, Whiskas, Nature's Valley Instinct. She tends to prefer the beef flavored FF these days. She does have chronic pancreatitis so she will vomit sometimes if the food is too greasy. She's never exhibited many symptoms from the pancreatitis other than her food not settling once in a while.

We have a high calorie gel from the vet, but I am sure that is full of glucose. The last couple of days she's just looked kind of wiped out and skinny

 

[Melanie and Smokey]

I could also use some recommendations for food for our foster failure. He only wants the fish flavored soft food. I know that's not good for him, we've tried some of the smaller varieties like sardines since they shouldn't have the level of chemicals, but the look he gives me is comical and he literally runs away from the dish. We give him his SD light in his room when we are gone (still separate him when we aren't there because he fights with Taz), but sometimes when we come home tired or are distracted by something when we let him out we forget to pick up any leftovers and that is NOT good for Smokey because she will go in to look for it.

Any suggestions on fishy foods that would be safe for him. We've tried Tiki since it is wild caught, but he only likes the tuna. Is it still going to be bad for him to eat all the time? He won't eat enough of the hard EVO/Wellness. There is one other soft he eats once in a while - Royal Canin pea and duck - but it is high in carbs so I've avoided putting it out.

He could stand to lose some weight. He is still close to 15 pounds. Has a pretty good belly roll. He's lost some since we got him and he is meant to be a stocky guy, but needs to slim down. But I don't want him to lose weight because he's not eating anything.

 

[Jen & Squeak]

Hi Melanie

If Smokey is looking poorly I'd be wondering if it is time to get some blood tests run just in case....

For your foster, honestly, getting off of a fish habit is tough so its up to you as to how tough you want to be. Fish is not a proper protein for cats, etc. etc. etc. but you have to balance that with whether there is anything else he'll eat or not. My Squeak gets cod/sole/shrimp for breakfast and some of his other foods have a bit of fish in them. I figure its worth having him eat....

Jen

 

[Melanie and Smokey]

We did full blood panel 10/26 when I suspected the diabetes had crept back in, but wanted to confirm it wasn't also the pancreatitis getting worse again. We did urinalysis this week to look for infection. The symptoms seem to be what happened last time her diabetes went unchecked. We have a dental scheduled for 11/29 as he mouth could use a cleaning up. Since her last dental was 12/14 and she is at the vets.. probably every 3 months, I don't expect anything too crazy nasty to show up.

Do you think blood work before 11/29 pre-dental is in order? I think my vet will tell me it is just the diabetes, but they are used to me being better-safe-than-sorry with testing.

 

[BJM]

For the fish issue, attempt food changes slowly.

For example, add 1 teaspoon of something else to the fish flavor du jour and mix well. Continue for a few days, then step up to 2 teaspoons. As he gets used to it, you keep adding a bit more till its a 50/50 blend, then you start removing a teaspoon of the fish flavor and step down on that. Never resume the 100% fish again, or you'll need to start the process over.

You might use 1/2 teaspoon changes at a time, if its a very picky cat.