introduction: George

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jssaustintx

Member Since 2012
George is 15 and on his honeymoon! To be honest I did post to an insulin group once so we aren't complete newcomers, but 9 months after our diabetes dx and of reading the site, I felt like a veteran. :) It was such a specific lantus question then, but now I don't know where to turn.

I won't bore you with all the details of the crazy ride we've had with diabetes, but we have been honeymooning since early December 2012 (dx March 2012). YAY- but, now we think George has IBD. There was some vomiting and some weight loss, right after a bout with neuropathy around the time he went into remission, despite good appetite. Tested negative for hyperthroid. I almost thought we were off the hook when the vomiting stopped and George gained 4 oz, but now he has had diarrhea for a couple of days. My understanding is IBD is really diagnosed with biopsies, but after everything we have been through (and yes, I mean both of us) I have decided not to pursue biopsies/endoscopy at the time. The vet was supportive and said it is not uncommon to just go ahead and treat for IBD with Budesonide, a steriod- but one that has had good results with diabetic cats, i.e. usually doesn't negatively impact BG. We JUST got off insulin though, so I am reluctant. I have heard diet can help. I see all the positive posts for raw, but to be honest- George doesn't love it and its really hard for me to manage/prepare in a way he will eat. I guess my primary question is if there are other canned hypoallergenic foods that are OK for diabetic cats? Fancy Feast actually helped get us where we are today, but I know its not the highest quality food around. My second question would be- should I just put him on the Budesonide or is there merit to trying a diet change first? Finally, is there a better forum for me and my IBD diabetic kitty within the forum?

Thanks y'all. I have been a quiet lurker, but this site has been such a blessing during the hard times. jssaustintx
 
We don't have an IBD forum within this site. How about going back to your first post and adding "IBD questions" to your subject line. We do have members who are dealing with it and should be able to help.
 
Hello,

Just wanted to welcome you and George to FDMB!
(Just in case you sneaked in under the radar before and nobody welcomed you when you first posted! ;-) )
 
Things folks have tried for GI malfunction:

FortiFlora or other probiotic
Slippery elm
Pumpkin
Fiber to make stool less loose
Possibly aloe vera juice

When you have another condition with diabetes, you do what you have to do to manage that condition and adjust the glucose management as needed, even if it means going back on insulin.
 
If it was me, I'd think about going raw. It can be overwhelming. What I have done is, I buy frozen chicken thighs at Trader Joes, boil 2 min. to kill
any outside bacteria and add the premix. The particular premix I recommend has real bone, not a calcium sup. Dr. Lisa recommends real bone.

http://rawmeatpetfood.com/products-page ... emix-21oz/

The other suggestions are all good supplements.
 
I think others have given good suggestions. Something I would add is that you should consider asking your vet if he/she thinks that George's heart is healthy enough to tolerate steroid use since the metabolic effects can stress a weak heart and he is no longer a young cat. Also, you might consider an ultrasound to rule out intestinal lymphoma. Just my thoughts - I'm not a vet. Laura
 
Y'all are awesome! I got a little busy so I haven't responded yet. The vet actually Rxed an antibiotic (over the phone bless her!) since the diarrhea was so bad. It has cleared up. The bad news is we are diabetic again and that's without any steroid. The 4 oz weight gain is gone too so we may be back to the drawing board. So here's where I'm at:
On Binky and Dr. Lisa's sites I found novel protein canned foods with low carb counts (EVO and Natural Variety duck, rabbit, and venison) which are supposedly hypoallergenic. I am going to start with one of those. One of the things I didn't include in my earlier post was that Georgie lost small patches of hair at his nape and jaw/neck. Apparently that can be allergy related so my fingers are crossed this could be food allergy related.

I haven't figured out how to reply directly to a fellow poster, so here goes (please let me know if there is a way to respond to these kind people directly)
Shelly/Boots- I would love to know more about your recipe. Boil thighs, add supplement- do you grind? How much do you mix? Dr.Lisa's site is so helpful but I got pretty overwhelmed with all the info. I need a simple recipe to start with if I tackle raw.

Troublelaurak- George had an ultrasound in August when he seemed insulin resistant (showed mild pancreatitis only.) The vet suggested doing another to check for cancer b/c it can progress pretty rapidly but I just can't afford that at this point. Also- I know I will not do chemo- I wouldn't be able to manage the appointments or the expense. This may seem uncaring, but if I am not going to treat cancer.... I don't feel like I need to diagnosis it.
Finally, Elizabeth and Bertie- TY :)
 
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