help with switching over to "whole" foods

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Checkabunny

Checkabunny

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How and when can I begin switching Checkers over from his current Purina DM to ground whole foods? I'm convinced from what I've been reading and seeing in Checkers numbers that once I can switch over to the ground rabbit (includes bones and organs), the Checkabunny's diabetes could be eliminated by the better quality (obligate carnivore appropriate) food.

When Checkers was first diagnosed with diabetes 2/18 our vet switched us from a special unrinary dry with some canned food diet to Purina DM. Checkers is an excellent eater (and very overweight -- which we're working on) so has happily switched from mostly dry food to all canned DM. Not knowing it could be a problem, a friend told me about Woody's and encouraged me to switch Checkers to their whole ground foods. Two days before his first glucose curve (at the vet's) I began introducing the ground rabbit. Because his numbers kept dropping all day, my vet had me take Checkers off the rabbit and stick only with the DM. I've read the Dr. Lisa's site and have since learned why I should't have introduced the rabbit as we were trying to regulate Checkers.

Anyone suggestions?
 
You can make the switch anytime. I see in your other post that you are having testing issues, you may want to get that resolved so you know what's going on when you do switch. Also, keep in mind that you may need to reduce the amount of insulin being given too.
 
Yes, difficulty getting to the right levels. I thought I was making headway and I just posted on Lantus because I took a +5 reading, expecting nice low numbers, and bg levels had shot way high. :sad: With something like that I guess I'll need to wait. I was hoping I could start a gradual shift this weekend while I could be around to monitor him. Not?
 
I may be in the minority here - but a switch to ground homemade food like you are wanting to do could actually *help* you regulate Checkers. You just need to be prepared to test often and lower the insulin dose. It just seems odd to me that Checkers' numbers started dropping and your vet wanted you to stop giving the rabbit instead of just lowering the insulin dose ;-)

What we did is slowly change the percentage of raw vs canned food. We started with 40% raw food 60% canned for 5 days, then 50/50% for 5 days, then 70% raw 30% canned for 5 days, then strictly raw after that. It was a seamless transition for us.
 
Thanks! I had been hoping to begin a swith this weekend so I could be around to monitor closely. Do you think I should? I work 10 hour shifts Mon to Thurs so can't really stay to monitor then. I'm already 1 1/2 days behind where I'd hoped to be on the switch. Or should I wait till next Friday? It's just so heart breaking to watch Checkers' neuropathy be so bad that he drags himself around by his front feet -- when he does move.
 
If you start the switch slowly, then you should see a slow reduction in numbers/insulin. You can go ahead and start doing a 30/70 mix right now, and don't increase the rabbit until next weekend when you will be home more again.
 
There are a couple of reasons to switch over slowly. First, some cats will make the switch easily. Others, not so much. If you note on Dr. Lisa's site, she recommends transitioning slowly so you're making sure your cat will eat. Second, as you're switching, numbers may start to come down. You do need to be home testing and be confident in your ability to monitor. If you work long days, just start transitioning over but don't make any big changes when you won't be around to monitor.

Just a work of caution about Woody's food. Make sure it is nutritionally balance. From what I read, it is purely ground meat and bone. There are no supplements. Cats need certain supplements added to a raw diet (e.g., taurine). I would suggest looking at the raw recipe on Dr. Lisa's site to make sure you are feeding a nutritionally balanced diet. There are also pre-mixes available that contain all of the needed supplements.
 
Hi Checkers mom and welcome,

Harley and I are in Minneapolis too and recently switched to Woody's raw food. I started with the whole chicken with suppliments, we've tried the turkey but they prefer the chicken. I would start the switch now and do it slowely for a smoother transition.

Woody's now sells their ground food with or without suppliments (I''ve checked and Taurine is one of the suppliments), it is ground whole with organs and bones, they need to update their website a little because their 25lb bulk course ground, recommended for big dogs only, is now also double ground and ok for cats. With multiple kitties and a golden retriever I wll be switching to the bulk and mixing in my own suppliments.

As for the neuropothy you can start Checkers on Methyl B-12, it takes a few weeks to start helping but it worked really well for Harley. Never mind I see now that you have already ordered it.

I can't find your other posts, are they in Lantus? What kind of testing trouble are you having, maybe I can help.

Hang in there,
Robin
 
Howdy Robin! Another Minneapolitan and Woody's user!

I just have the two furry kids and Checkers is the bigger (eater) if the two. He LOVES food -- all kinds. But thankfully won't need to buy in large quantities. I PM-ed you -- just went through an ordeal at Eden Prairie ER which thankfully was only a uti.

We're normally on the Lantus site. I see you switched to PZI. Woody's directed me to a Dr Elizabeth Hodgkins and she says she prefers that to Lantus. Is it ok to ask why you switched? I just want to get to "normal" anywhere -- normal. I'm not confident in my regular vet's knowledge of diabetes -- and she was open with us that she's not so up on it. If you look at our spread sheet you'll see I've been all over the place with amounts. Alot of that was a result from advice from the vet. I've since tried to follow the advice here on FDMB and that's given me some sanity back and a start of more regular dosing. But I'm not sure what to do about cutting back dosing as it warrants it.

Any way, nice to know you're nearby! Hey neighbor! :-D
 
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