Is DM OK for kittens?

[gisele]

I'm a Mom of a newly diagnosed 16-year old cat (Bear), a 15 year-old (Disco the Insane), and a 4 month old kitten (Susie the Monkey). All prefer wet food - even though we switched the old guys to dry food at the vet's insistence years ago. The more reading I do, the more stupid that seems. I am switching everybody back to wet food ASAP.

Bear got home yesterday. He was in intensive care for a week. We never knew he was diabetic and his last blood work was only a month ago! He's now diagnosed with diabetes, fatty liver, hyperthyroid, and potassium deficiency. He's gone from a 16 pound (healthy - not fat - just really big) cat to an 8 pound sack of bones. It was a long 7 days... He went in because he suddenly stopped eating and drinking.

Bear came home with DM canned and dry. He also came home with Caninsulin, Denamarin, Thera-K, Clavamox (elevated white cell count), and Tapazole. I came home with a huge bill and a migraine. I plan on going into town to buy a glucometer today. And more aspirin and Tums for me.

So the question - does anyone have recommendations on whether or not DM is OK for healthy cats and kittens? Would I be better off going with the recommended low-carb fancy feast? kitten food?

All 3 are indoor kitties - they go outside only in the yard with me and only wearing a harness. They love a bit of fresh grass...

Suggestions? Recommendations? Help?

Thank you from an overwhelmed newbie.
-Gisele

 

[Larry and Kitties]

The lable for canned DM says:
Canned Formula
Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that this product provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult cats.

For additional information about this diet, consult your veterinarian.

Thus, it is not recommended for kittens.
Most FF canned are good for all life stages. Look at the label (y will need very good eyes or a magnifying glass) and see if it says good for all life stages. If so then no reason for the FF labeled kitten food.

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

Hello Gisele,

Bear...was in intensive care for a week. We never knew he was diabetic and his last blood work was only a month ago! He's now diagnosed with diabetes, fatty liver, hyperthyroid, and potassium deficiency. He's gone from a 16 pound (healthy - not fat - just really big) cat to an 8 pound sack of bones. It was a long 7 days... He went in because he suddenly stopped eating and drinking

Bear came home with DM canned and dry. He also came home with Caninsulin, Denamarin, Thera-K, Clavamox (elevated white cell count), and Tapazole..

Crikey, Gisele, that's a lot for you to have to deal with all in one hit! :shock:

Focussing on the diabetes though, what jumps out at me from what you've written is that Bear's blood glucose wasn't elevated a month ago (is that right?) but it is now? And, is he on Clavamox for a possible infection...?
Well, any kind of infection or inflammation can raise blood glucose levels. And when the infection/inflammation clears the blood glucose will probably drop again. How did the vet diagnose the diabetes? Was it just a blood glucose test/urine test, or did s/he also do a fructosamine test?

Well done, you, for wanting to hometest. That's excellent news. We can help you learn how to do that.

What dose of Caninsulin has the vet suggested?

So the question - does anyone have recommendations on whether or not DM is OK for healthy cats and kittens? Would I be better off going with the recommended low-carb fancy feast? kitten food?

My understanding is that any ordinary good quality cat food is fine for kittens, and it's not necessary to feed them a special food. (After all, mice don't go running around with 'adult' or 'kitten' written on them. ;-) )

Welcome to FDMB!

Eliz

 

[gisele]

Thanks Eliz, That helps.

Bear's glucose on June 10 was 174. High end of the range but assumption was normal vet stress reaction. On July 25, he had been staying with friends (we were packing to move house on the other side of the country) and they realized he wasn't eating and looked way too skinny. They took him to the vet who said he was dangerously dehydrated. She also did blood tests and diagnosed him as diabetic. After 12 hours of fluid he wasn't getting better (or more hydrated) so she had him sent to the 24 hour ICU hospital. The ran fructosomine test and said he'd been diabetic for a while. I don't have all the test results - they're a referral hospital and will only send full notes to his "primary care" vet - who is now on vacation!

He's on 1unit (40 needle) twice a day of caninsulin but I am still not convinced... Will know more after I start testing I think... This site has been incredibly helpful with diet, testing, and other recommendations. My goal right now is to get him feeling better and fattened up. He's eating and drinking, but not anywhere near what he was doing 2 weeks ago.

The vet has no idea what caused all of this - could be this, could be that, etc... He's had heart and abdominal ultrasound but nothing showed up other than fatty liver.

Yes, it's a whole lot to take in at once. And it was so much worse since I couldn't even get back to see him until Saturday. I was getting all of this by phone. He's sitting in the sun next to me now - which is much better for all of us!

 

[BJM]

You indicated a high white count - infection often causes the glucose levels to rise. Resolving the infection and feeding low carb food may help control the glucose levels and give the pancreas a rest. Then, if you're lucky, he'll eventually be able to come off the insulin and be diet-controlled.