? kitty not wanting to eat much

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Unfortunately I think you do need a different vet if she’s prescribing Vetsulin which is known not a good insulin for cats and enzymes based upon only one set of labs. I’d stop the enzymes and see if she eats better. At least that will eliminate one problem if it is the cause of inappetence. When cats are finicky they are often nauseous.
 
tiffmaxee said:
Unfortunately I think you do need a different vet if she’s prescribing Vetsulin which is known not a good insulin for cats and enzymes based upon only one set of labs. I’d stop the enzymes and see if she eats better. At least that will eliminate one problem if it is the cause of inappetence. When cats are finicky they are often nauseous.
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Fluffy is on Novolin-N, not Vetsulin. Maybe there's little difference between the two, idk. I want her to authorize and write a prescription for Levemir but she has declined so far. Her preferred insulin is Vetsulin. DCIN will not pay for Novolin or Vetsulin!!! Only Lantus or Levemir will DCIN pay for.
 
You could try stopping the Ursodiol for a day or two, just to see if Fluffy starts to eat more. There could be a connection. If it helps Fluffy's appetite, then you could speak with the vet about why you discontinued it (hurting Fluffy's appetite). If Fluffy's liver enzymes are elevated (do you happen to know the number(s) for the liver enzymes ... it was probably ALT and perhaps AST on your labs? There are other supplements that are very beneficial for a cat's liver. I recently started one kitty of mine on Denamarin for her elevated liver enzymes. Now that is a pill, but my Ginger is easy to pill. Milk Thistle Powder is very helpful for the liver and is less expensive and can be mixed in food (if Fluffy will eat it.) I wish I could see Fluffy's labs. I do not believe it is uncommon for an unregulated diabetic cat to have some elevated liver enzymes. All of my Darcy's liver enzymes were elevated at the time of his diagnosis. They improved as his BG levels improved. So I think if we can get Fluffy into better BG numbers, the liver enzymes will return to a better range. Also, as I am sure you know, the liver has a great capacity to regenerate.
 
I saw she’s on Novolin. I also saw vet likes Vetsulin. That’s my concern.

Max had an elevated ALT but my internist said unless more Tran double the highest range it wasn’t a concern. His seemed to rise from his chronic pancreatitis but never was over the range my vet said might need support.
 
tiffmaxee said:
I saw she’s on Novolin. I also saw vet likes Vetsulin. That’s my concern.

Max had an elevated ALT but my internist said unless more Tran double the highest range it wasn’t a concern. His seemed to rise from his chronic pancreatitis but never was over the range my vet said might need support.
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My kitty's ALT is currently 311. Top end of normal is 158 for IDEXX.
 
Were any other markers high? If my cat I would see how he does without it and recheck the ALT in a month or two if you see any signs he’s not feeling well. That’s what my vet did. Max on'y had a high ALT. it seemed to always be a little high and went higher with pancreatitis flares. @Suzanne & Darcy
 
tiffmaxee said:
Were any other markers high? If my cat I would see how he does without it and recheck the ALT in a month or two if you see any signs he’s not feeling well. That’s what my vet did. Max on'y had a high ALT. it seemed to always be a little high and went higher with pancreatitis flares. @Suzanne & Darcy
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Only the ALT was high. We will recheck the bloodwork in a month and try some antibiotics if still high.
 
Scarlette & Fluffy said:
Fluffy so far has been holding steady at 12 lb and 4 oz since diagnosed in March. I have been trying to feed him primarily FF wet food or Friskies wet food. If I put a 3 oz can of FF in his food dish he doesn't seem to want to finish it so he goes to the community dish and he nibbles a little and then he's done. I'm concerned that he's not getting enough food in him and he is currently getting two units. His BG's haven't yet normalized. He does graze off and on at community dish. He's still on Novolin-N. I've been having some difficulties getting a hold of the vet to have it switched to Lantus or Levemir.
I would prefer him to switch to totally wet food. Unfortunately that would mean switching all seven of them to wet food which I can't financially do. I'm not sure if he's bored with the seafood flavors and the chicken flavors because I'm trying to keep it as low carb as possible within my budget . Or is he just have a craving for the high carb dry food? Any suggestions?

This is very hard and very discouraging.
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Fluffy Eating Update 5.16.22

It has become apparent that he's being finicky because he doesn't want to eat the Friskies or the Fancy Feast Pate wet food. I have discovered that he likes to eat the Walmart Kitty brand, little chicken chunks and so far he's ate that for two days pretty good.

He is still also nibbling on the dry food. As long as he is eating his wet food I will pick up the community food bowl before I go to bed and he will have to wait till his morning feeding to eat. Fluffy started this journey weighing in at 12 lb 4 oz and now he is up to 13 lb so that's a good sign, I think?

His new vet still has not responded or authorized to switch to either Lantus or Levemir which is my preferred choice I may have to seek out another vet. Meanwhile, Fluffy is still on the Novolin-N, one unit every 12 hours. His BG's don't seem to be normalizing. Can anybody explain to me why? What do we have to change? Am I doing something wrong?

@Suzanne & Darcy @tiffmaxee @Diane Tyler's Mom @Bron and Sheba (GA) @Sienne and Gabby (GA)
 
Oh, I feel for you. Your vet is being an idiot. It looks like you are really doing an excellent job of testing Fluffy. You really are ready to het a better, more cat-appropriate insulin. As for Fluffy’s numbers, it really just looks as though he needs more insulin as he is mostly in pink and red.
 
He most likely needs a dose increase, but I would like to see some more tests in the pm cycle to see he’s not dropping at night first.
And if you can, one test during the am cycle at least. I know it can be hard if you work outside the home.
I would look for another vet to get either Lantus or Levemir. It’s ridiculous the current vet has not got back to you.
Lantus and Levemir are much better insulins for cats. Novolin N is not an insulin for cats. It is too harsh and does not last the full 12 hours. You will get much better results and I’m sure Fluffy will feel much better from the Lantus or Levemir.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Oh, I feel for you. Your vet is being an idiot. It looks like you are really doing an excellent job of testing Fluffy. You really are ready to het a better, more cat-appropriate insulin. As for Fluffy’s numbers, it really just looks as though he needs more insulin as he is mostly in pink and red.
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Thank you for the encouragement! It's been challenging! My current vet had him all wsy up to 4U, its indicated on SS. It seem to mike him spike so forum instructed me to cut back to 2U, then because he wasn't wanting to eat much I reduced to 1U so he didn't go hypo on me.

@Suzanne & Darcy @tiffmaxee @Diane Tyler's Mom @Bron and Sheba (GA) @Sienne and Gabby (GA)
 
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Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
He most likely needs a dose increase, but I would like to see some more tests in the pm cycle to see he’s not dropping at night first.
And if you can, one test during the am cycle at least. I know it can be hard if you work outside the home.
I would look for another vet to get either Lantus or Levemir. It’s ridiculous the current vet has not got back to you.
Lantus and Levemir are much better insulins for cats. Novolin N is not an insulin for cats. It is too harsh and does not last the full 12 hours. You will get much better results and I’m sure Fluffy will feel much better from the Lantus or Levemir.
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I'm working a 10hr shift, tomorrow I'm calling another vet!
 
Scarlette & Fluffy said:
Fluffy so far has been holding steady at 12 lb and 4 oz since diagnosed in March. I have been trying to feed him primarily FF wet food or Friskies wet food. If I put a 3 oz can of FF in his food dish he doesn't seem to want to finish it so he goes to the community dish and he nibbles a little and then he's done. I'm concerned that he's not getting enough food in him and he is currently getting two units. His BG's haven't yet normalized. He does graze off and on at community dish. He's still on Novolin-N. I've been having some difficulties getting a hold of the vet to have it switched to Lantus or Levemir.
I would prefer him to switch to totally wet food. Unfortunately that would mean switching all seven of them to wet food which I can't financially do. I'm not sure if he's bored with the seafood flavors and the chicken flavors because I'm trying to keep it as low carb as possible within my budget . Or is he just have a craving for the high carb dry food? Any suggestions?

This is very hard and very discouraging.
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UPDATE: Fluffy is refusing to eat any kind of canned cat food, at least the ones I have on hand which are Fancy Feast and Friskies, all low carb. I offered him some raw food that I had in the freezer that I made and he turned his nose up at that also. He will eat the high carb dry kibble and I guess I have no choice but to let him eat that he has to eat so that I can give him his insulin. But his blood sugar numbers have been in the 400s sometimes 300's and sometimes 500's and I don't believe he is spiking.

I am just beside myself I just don't know what to do. Should I give him wet food even if it's high carb gravy stuff? I don't know if that is worse or better than the dry kibble he's eating which is Purina Naturals.

I will be switching him to Lantus soon when it arrives however I was told that shipment would take about 3 weeks.

Plz advise. This is discouraging.

@tiffmaxee @Sienne and Gabby (GA) @Bron and Sheba (GA) @Suzanne & Darcy
 
Bottom line is he needs to eat. So for now give him what he will eat.
Is it because he doesn’t like wet food or do you think he could be nauseated.? He may need some ondansetron for nausea. Or is he just stubborn?
There are some low carb dry foods out there if he won’t eat the wet food.
if you need to feed all your cats the same, you could look at feeding them the low carb dry.
 
I think if the cat was nauseated he wouldn't even want to eat dry food. So for now I have to rule out nausea. I think he's just being finicky. I believe those low carb dry food it's very expensive. It is not feasible for me to pay $60+ for an 8 lb bag when I would have to feed 7 cats! it would not go very far!
 
Scarlette & Fluffy said:
I think if the cat was nauseated he wouldn't even want to eat dry food. So for now I have to rule out nausea. I think he's just being finicky. I believe those low carb dry food it's very expensive. It is not feasible for me to pay $60+ for an 8 lb bag when I would have to feed 7 cats! it would not go very far!
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I have no idea how much the low carb dry food costs sorry as I live in Australia.
Is there no cheaper low carb food you can feed them all?
I will ask @Diane Tyler's Mom how much the low carb dry is, she will know.
 
They are all pretty expensive
https://www.chewy.com/dr-elseys-cleanprotein-chicken/dp/146269?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12791446238&utm_content=Dr. Elsey's&utm_term=&show-search=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-KX73_qN-AIVQ8qUCR2nZQYOEAQYASABEgK1U_D_BwE
13.97 for a 2 lb bag
41.87 for a 6.6 lb bag
https://www.wysong.net/epigen. You can buy it on Amazon or Chewys maybe cheaper there
Epigen™ Chicken 5 lb. [$19.09]
Epigen™ Chicken 20 lb. Box [$63.69]
Epigen™ Chicken 40 lb. Case [$125.38]


https://www.youngagainpetfood.com/shop-cat#diabetic

4 lb. 38.00
8 lb. 57.00
25 lb 149.00

2020-YA-ZERO-Mature-Web-Hero.png
 
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Diane Tyler's Mom said:
They are all pretty expensive
https://www.chewy.com/dr-elseys-cleanprotein-chicken/dp/146269?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12791446238&utm_content=Dr. Elsey's&utm_term=&show-search=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-KX73_qN-AIVQ8qUCR2nZQYOEAQYASABEgK1U_D_BwE
13.97 for a 2 lb bag
41.87 for a 6.6 lb bag
https://www.wysong.net/epigen. You can buy it on Amazon or Chewys maybe cheaper there
Epigen™ Chicken 5 lb. [$19.09]
Epigen™ Chicken 20 lb. Box [$63.69]
Epigen™ Chicken 40 lb. Case [$125.38]


https://www.youngagainpetfood.com/shop-cat#diabetic

4 lb. 38.00
8 lb. 57.00
25 lb 149.00

2020-YA-ZERO-Mature-Web-Hero.png
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Thank you!
 
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