I am new to FDMB helping my next-door neighbor with her diabetic cat, Snugs, who is a 12 year old neutered male. She is disabled and not physically able to obtain pinna blood samples to monitor Snugs. (She also has another female spay, Niki, 3 years old). I have been getting samples twice a day for 2 weeks and I am getting varied readings. I would like to note that I worked as a veterinary technician for 15 years, but that was 25 years ago when most vets used (and still use) Science prescription diets, specifically W/D. I myself had a diabetic cat and did not take heed to another veterinarian's suggestion in using high protein and moist food only. We all know better now.
Her present veterinarian placed Snugs on Science kitten formula. I don't understand why.
Snugs is 20 pounds. I have changed his diet to certain formulas of Fancy feast because she doesn't want to spend a lot of money on the better foods.
The problems I am faced with are: 1) She is accustomed to keeping the food bowls full with dry food. (It was Science kitten formula). After extensive research I came up with 'Crave' but have not given him free access to it. (Personally, I would use Farmina N&D pumpkin formula IF I used kibbles, because it has a low glycemic index). Free feeding is the worst thing for a diabetic, although some disagree. 2) Niki (also overweight) uses the same litter pan and it is also difficult to get a urine sample with the covered lid. (I would catch the urine as I did with my cat). 3) Neighbor is not taking in the seriousness of the disease and waited 2 months to get him to the vet last year when I noticed the excessive thirst and urination. (I help her with many things)
4) She is not mentally, nor physically capable to handle this alone. 5) I can't keep testing him twice a day, and I fear she will go back to over feeding them again. (Many have the fear that
'the cat will be hungry'). 5) Difficulty in obtaining ALL necessary samples.
The vet called her yesterday to tell her she should bring him in because it has been a while. She will make the appointment and I will take her next week. The vet was unable to get a urine sample from him but I will see if she will try to asparate his bladder. He did not urinate when she held him for one day. In the meantime, I used fish and shrimp recipe (NO kibbles) and got a 169 reading yesterday morning and 200 this morniing, Last eve was high 419 and I don't know if she fed them more.
Up until yesterday, I was mixing some Crave with the Fancy feast, and the glucose readings were mostly in the high 300's, with some in the lower 400's and 1 or 2 readings in the 200 range. He is definetly not stabilized, but there has been a significant decrease in water consumption and urine output! His coat is even shinnier, and we have noticed he is perkier than he was.
God knows how high his glucose levels were before the changed diet. So... How to resolve all these issues? I am using Track 2 glucose meter.
Her present veterinarian placed Snugs on Science kitten formula. I don't understand why.
Snugs is 20 pounds. I have changed his diet to certain formulas of Fancy feast because she doesn't want to spend a lot of money on the better foods.
The problems I am faced with are: 1) She is accustomed to keeping the food bowls full with dry food. (It was Science kitten formula). After extensive research I came up with 'Crave' but have not given him free access to it. (Personally, I would use Farmina N&D pumpkin formula IF I used kibbles, because it has a low glycemic index). Free feeding is the worst thing for a diabetic, although some disagree. 2) Niki (also overweight) uses the same litter pan and it is also difficult to get a urine sample with the covered lid. (I would catch the urine as I did with my cat). 3) Neighbor is not taking in the seriousness of the disease and waited 2 months to get him to the vet last year when I noticed the excessive thirst and urination. (I help her with many things)
4) She is not mentally, nor physically capable to handle this alone. 5) I can't keep testing him twice a day, and I fear she will go back to over feeding them again. (Many have the fear that
'the cat will be hungry'). 5) Difficulty in obtaining ALL necessary samples.
The vet called her yesterday to tell her she should bring him in because it has been a while. She will make the appointment and I will take her next week. The vet was unable to get a urine sample from him but I will see if she will try to asparate his bladder. He did not urinate when she held him for one day. In the meantime, I used fish and shrimp recipe (NO kibbles) and got a 169 reading yesterday morning and 200 this morniing, Last eve was high 419 and I don't know if she fed them more.
Up until yesterday, I was mixing some Crave with the Fancy feast, and the glucose readings were mostly in the high 300's, with some in the lower 400's and 1 or 2 readings in the 200 range. He is definetly not stabilized, but there has been a significant decrease in water consumption and urine output! His coat is even shinnier, and we have noticed he is perkier than he was.
God knows how high his glucose levels were before the changed diet. So... How to resolve all these issues? I am using Track 2 glucose meter.
