Hello all, my cat was just diagnosed with diabetes and was curious as to peoples opinions on the high protein no grain dry food brands like orijen and evo? I've read that the dry foods are bad due to the fillers and such but was curious if these 2 brands were different. Thanks in advance for the info!!
high quality dry diets
- Thread starter moneill77
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squeem3
Very Active Member
All dry food is the same: water depleted and species inappropriate. Brand doesn't matter. Dr Lisa's web site has more info about why no cat should be fed dry food, http://www.catinfo.org EVO is one of the "better" dry foods but it's still not great for cats and can even keep blood glucose levels high for some diabetic cats.
The best diet for a diabetic cat is low carb canned food. Or raw if you choose to feed that. Some cats simply need a diet change from dry food to low carb canned food along with a short duration of insulin to achieve remission.
The best diet for a diabetic cat is low carb canned food. Or raw if you choose to feed that. Some cats simply need a diet change from dry food to low carb canned food along with a short duration of insulin to achieve remission.
Lisa dvm
Active Member
In addition to the main webpage that squeem posted, please seem my Urinary Tract Health page (linked below) for reasons why "high quality" does not ever belong in the same sentence with "dry" food since they are all water-depleted.
Please be sure to look at Opie's pictures to see how cats often suffer tremendously on dry food.
Sure...some dry foods are better than others in terms of protein source and carb levels but they are all cooked-to-death and are DRY.
And no...cat's don't make up the water deficit caused by these diets at the water bowl.
Keep in mind that Orijen is pretty high in carbs.
Please be sure to look at Opie's pictures to see how cats often suffer tremendously on dry food.
Sure...some dry foods are better than others in terms of protein source and carb levels but they are all cooked-to-death and are DRY.
And no...cat's don't make up the water deficit caused by these diets at the water bowl.
Keep in mind that Orijen is pretty high in carbs.
janelle and Nomad
Active Member
I recently switched my eleven cat household to predominantly wet food about a month ago.It did make a difference with my diabetic cat Nomad and it dropped his BG about fifty points.When I first tried this, I thought it would be more expensive but ironically it cost me less now.
I have not completely eliminated the dry food but I try to use it as only an occasional "back up" for my nondiabetic cats.I do use a grain free variety made by blue buffalo.
If you want some ideas on how to try feeding wet when you are gone for extended periods of time, see the post titled Holiday feeding from two days ago. Another reader suggested freezing canned so it unthaws gradually.
I have not completely eliminated the dry food but I try to use it as only an occasional "back up" for my nondiabetic cats.I do use a grain free variety made by blue buffalo.
If you want some ideas on how to try feeding wet when you are gone for extended periods of time, see the post titled Holiday feeding from two days ago. Another reader suggested freezing canned so it unthaws gradually.
Lisa dvm
Active Member
Excerpt from my Tips for Transitioning Dry Food Addicts to Canned Food:
Vacations and jobs that demand long working hours are often used as reasons for free-feeding dry food to cats. However, these situations have a very simple remedy.
With regard to vacations and pet-sitters, cats need to be checked on at least once each day to clean their litter box and to make sure that all is well.
Let’s say that you are going to be gone for 1 week. Freeze 7 meals and have your once-a-day pet-sitter put out two meals at each visit – one meal that is at ‘mouse body’ temperature and one that is frozen. The freshness of the frozen meal will be prolonged and your cat will be fine until your pet-sitter returns.
The same trick can be used if you are working long hours or if you live in a particularly hot climate and want to leave food out for many hours.
Vacations and jobs that demand long working hours are often used as reasons for free-feeding dry food to cats. However, these situations have a very simple remedy.
With regard to vacations and pet-sitters, cats need to be checked on at least once each day to clean their litter box and to make sure that all is well.
Let’s say that you are going to be gone for 1 week. Freeze 7 meals and have your once-a-day pet-sitter put out two meals at each visit – one meal that is at ‘mouse body’ temperature and one that is frozen. The freshness of the frozen meal will be prolonged and your cat will be fine until your pet-sitter returns.
The same trick can be used if you are working long hours or if you live in a particularly hot climate and want to leave food out for many hours.
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