My cat Mini is about 12-years-old. Two weeks ago, he was weak in his hindquarters and his belly was bloated. His eyes had been a little cloudy for ages, but I figured it was his age. He was peeing a lot in the box, and drinking a lot and I now realize he was eating tons of dry food. I was feeding both of my cats (they're brothers) Science Diet Hairball. When a friend said her cats stopped vomiting when she switched them to Purina Natural, I switched mine too, and they liked the Purina a lot more than Science Diet.
But then Mini's symptoms got progressively worse, probably because of the food? I wish I'd recognized the symptoms sooner or I never would have switched them, but what sent me to the vet was, he'd been having accidents here and there for a year, but one day I walked in and found poop and pee everywhere, and the kitchen looked like a lake, and it seemed weird for a cat to produce that much urine, so I called the vet and after blood and urine tests, they diagnosed diabetes.
So I put out a second, more accessible litter box for Mini's neuropathy, and the accidents have mostly stopped. And for two weeks, I've been giving Mini twice daily injections of 1 unit of ProZink, and rewarding with a lick of coconut oil, which both cats love. They also get a splash of milk every night.
I gradually switched both cats over to the Hill's Prescription MD dry food from the vet, which they pick at, which tells me how MUCH Mini was eating before, since before all this, I was constantly refilling the bowl. I also started feeding them both canned Friskies Pate. Each cat gets a quarter can twice a day, immediately before Mini gets his insulin shot, and I buy the Friskies in various flavors, all of which they love.
Maybe I should be pickier about flavors?
I'm sort of torn about the vet, who cost a fortune, as vets usually do. She did not heavily stress diet, beyond the MD dry food. She was very concerned that I maintain them on free-feeding dry food, since that's what they were used to, and when I asked about low carb, she referred vaguely to theoretical successes some people have had with diet and diabetes....? I really like her, but I called today to check in with them on Mini's progress. I also said I want to monitor his glucose levels myself, and the lady at the desk pushed a cat-specific glucometer, which she said is preferable to the human kind, and by the way, they want $106 for it.
I was planning to order a meter from Walmart and start checking his levels myself.
Oh, and Mini? After two weeks, his eyes are already clear and he's much more interactive. No more hiding under the furniture. He's relaxed and they both stay near me, the way they used to. He seems much healthier and happier, although he's still very weak in his back legs.
Should I drop the MD all together, or is it of value?
Can the neuropathy go away? Does it usually take a long time, or is this permanent?
Am I making any glaring mistakes?
Thanks for any advice. I'm really excited to be helping my cat like this.
But then Mini's symptoms got progressively worse, probably because of the food? I wish I'd recognized the symptoms sooner or I never would have switched them, but what sent me to the vet was, he'd been having accidents here and there for a year, but one day I walked in and found poop and pee everywhere, and the kitchen looked like a lake, and it seemed weird for a cat to produce that much urine, so I called the vet and after blood and urine tests, they diagnosed diabetes.
So I put out a second, more accessible litter box for Mini's neuropathy, and the accidents have mostly stopped. And for two weeks, I've been giving Mini twice daily injections of 1 unit of ProZink, and rewarding with a lick of coconut oil, which both cats love. They also get a splash of milk every night.
I gradually switched both cats over to the Hill's Prescription MD dry food from the vet, which they pick at, which tells me how MUCH Mini was eating before, since before all this, I was constantly refilling the bowl. I also started feeding them both canned Friskies Pate. Each cat gets a quarter can twice a day, immediately before Mini gets his insulin shot, and I buy the Friskies in various flavors, all of which they love.
Maybe I should be pickier about flavors?
I'm sort of torn about the vet, who cost a fortune, as vets usually do. She did not heavily stress diet, beyond the MD dry food. She was very concerned that I maintain them on free-feeding dry food, since that's what they were used to, and when I asked about low carb, she referred vaguely to theoretical successes some people have had with diet and diabetes....? I really like her, but I called today to check in with them on Mini's progress. I also said I want to monitor his glucose levels myself, and the lady at the desk pushed a cat-specific glucometer, which she said is preferable to the human kind, and by the way, they want $106 for it.
I was planning to order a meter from Walmart and start checking his levels myself.
Oh, and Mini? After two weeks, his eyes are already clear and he's much more interactive. No more hiding under the furniture. He's relaxed and they both stay near me, the way they used to. He seems much healthier and happier, although he's still very weak in his back legs.
Should I drop the MD all together, or is it of value?
Can the neuropathy go away? Does it usually take a long time, or is this permanent?
Am I making any glaring mistakes?
Thanks for any advice. I'm really excited to be helping my cat like this.
It can seem overwhelming, but after just a few weeks, all this diabetic care for your beloved Mini becomes almost second nature. It builds a very special close bond between you and your cat which you will cherish.
