Allison K
Member Since 2021
Sorry it occurred to me belatedly that I had not made a post in here .... Lets see, Jax was diagnosed back in November 2020, vet wanted me to put him on RX food at first but because this is a low income vet, they also offered me a list of food that is low carb and available at the grocery/pet store. I tried one from the pet store first (by Merrick) but it was still more expensive than I could afford so switched to Fancy Feast. Once his weight was down to the target deemed healthy by the vet (6kg or 13.25lbs), I got a revision made to the calories required to maintain that healthier weight and am now switching him to Friskies just cause (a) more calories per can and (b) larger cans so need to buy less of them to get the required daily amount.
To start with, I was using a Contour Next which had a sample size requirement of 0.6 μl. It was the meter I used to use for myself (as I am insulin resistant) and therefore had a prescription for the strips. Problem is, my testing was once a week (and that is what the vet wanted at first as well) but I was having trouble getting a large enough sample size, even using the heat pack on the ear, consistently enough. So I researched a meter that used a smaller sample size and requested a new meter as I was due for a new one (been 5+ years since I had gotten the Contour Next) and got the Freestyle lite. I like this meter for more than just the small sample size (0.3μl). It also has a small light near the test strip that is useful for finding the vein by shining it behind my black cat's ear.
On to food. Initially we were trying to get him under control with just food, so switched completely off his former dry food to canned wet. I am given to understand fish is not a good choice for regular eating but at least at first, he would ONLY eat fish (preferred salmon to just about anything else) and as my vet stressed how important it was for him to eat his meal in one sitting (she wanted me to only feed every 12 hours, no exceptions and I do NOT do that), I feed mostly fish, but thankfully he is not fond of tuna which is one of the highest for mercury as I understand it. Until just now, he eats salmon, turkey & giblets, and trout. The Friskies I have gotten is Turkey & Giblets and Salmon, am going to try him on others but it is more important that he EATS regularly to avoid any of the issues like DKA and such that I have heard about as well as his blood sugar dropping too low.
The next time I hit the store (later this week) I will be getting the ketone test strips and seeing if I can get some little sample cups to catch the urine (if I can get him mid-stream).
To start with, I was using a Contour Next which had a sample size requirement of 0.6 μl. It was the meter I used to use for myself (as I am insulin resistant) and therefore had a prescription for the strips. Problem is, my testing was once a week (and that is what the vet wanted at first as well) but I was having trouble getting a large enough sample size, even using the heat pack on the ear, consistently enough. So I researched a meter that used a smaller sample size and requested a new meter as I was due for a new one (been 5+ years since I had gotten the Contour Next) and got the Freestyle lite. I like this meter for more than just the small sample size (0.3μl). It also has a small light near the test strip that is useful for finding the vein by shining it behind my black cat's ear.
On to food. Initially we were trying to get him under control with just food, so switched completely off his former dry food to canned wet. I am given to understand fish is not a good choice for regular eating but at least at first, he would ONLY eat fish (preferred salmon to just about anything else) and as my vet stressed how important it was for him to eat his meal in one sitting (she wanted me to only feed every 12 hours, no exceptions and I do NOT do that), I feed mostly fish, but thankfully he is not fond of tuna which is one of the highest for mercury as I understand it. Until just now, he eats salmon, turkey & giblets, and trout. The Friskies I have gotten is Turkey & Giblets and Salmon, am going to try him on others but it is more important that he EATS regularly to avoid any of the issues like DKA and such that I have heard about as well as his blood sugar dropping too low.
The next time I hit the store (later this week) I will be getting the ketone test strips and seeing if I can get some little sample cups to catch the urine (if I can get him mid-stream).
