So I'm trying to find some tips for my parents. They recently found out one of their cats is diabetic when he wasn't healing properly from a minor surgical procedure. He had a blood test done yesterday and was way high, 530s.
The household:
3 cats - 8 year old, 6 year old and 4 year old (approx) [the 6ish year old is the new diabetic)
2 dogs - 15 week old puppy and 8 year old large dog
With the new puppy, the dogs are fed on a schedule. The cats have an automatic feeder that dispenses 3 times a day. The diabetic cat is, of course, the only one who has no interest in the canned food or treats the other two sometimes get; he has always refused anything but the dry. I've read that dry food is a no go for diabetic cats, but they can't exactly put anything else in the feeder. Feeding all 3 canned food would also get way too expensive. I can't really think of any way to prevent diabetic cat from accessing the dispenser if it's also somewhere the other 2 cat get to. Obviously keeping diabetic cat by himself behind a door isn't a reasonable long term solution, especially once he's feeling better. Closed doors aren't really a thing at the parents place, basically every animal there yells if one is closed.
Also, they are obviously worried about costs. I tried finding a free meter for them, but they all require an Rx. I also can't see to find any supplies (test strips, insulin, syringes) that won't cost them $100 or more a month in addition to the food. Are supplies generally cheaper online or in store in ya'lls experience?
Diabetic cat is the only one of the bunch to be overweight, how likely is it that he would not need insulin and such frequent testing once he loses weight (similar to a type 2 diabetic)? My mom is already anguished and anxious about the testing and the giving shots. :/
The household:
3 cats - 8 year old, 6 year old and 4 year old (approx) [the 6ish year old is the new diabetic)
2 dogs - 15 week old puppy and 8 year old large dog
With the new puppy, the dogs are fed on a schedule. The cats have an automatic feeder that dispenses 3 times a day. The diabetic cat is, of course, the only one who has no interest in the canned food or treats the other two sometimes get; he has always refused anything but the dry. I've read that dry food is a no go for diabetic cats, but they can't exactly put anything else in the feeder. Feeding all 3 canned food would also get way too expensive. I can't really think of any way to prevent diabetic cat from accessing the dispenser if it's also somewhere the other 2 cat get to. Obviously keeping diabetic cat by himself behind a door isn't a reasonable long term solution, especially once he's feeling better. Closed doors aren't really a thing at the parents place, basically every animal there yells if one is closed.
Also, they are obviously worried about costs. I tried finding a free meter for them, but they all require an Rx. I also can't see to find any supplies (test strips, insulin, syringes) that won't cost them $100 or more a month in addition to the food. Are supplies generally cheaper online or in store in ya'lls experience?
Diabetic cat is the only one of the bunch to be overweight, how likely is it that he would not need insulin and such frequent testing once he loses weight (similar to a type 2 diabetic)? My mom is already anguished and anxious about the testing and the giving shots. :/
