New DX-science diet

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cjmo

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My kitty (Gissie) was recently diagnosed with diabetes along with a bladder infection. They are both under control now. His sugar is normal on diet alone. My problem-qustions are-
1. He is on Science Diet MD. He has a hard time keeping it down, especially in the mornings.
2. I have been reading that a dry diet isn't the best way to go. So I am confused why the vet would order this. But at the same time, he has responded to this diet.

It has been 2 months of treatment by diet and antibiotics, one month without infection and normal urine sugars. He will be rechecked in a week or so. What diet suggestions do you have that I might bring up to the vet? Any care suggestions would help.

thanks!
 
If your cat's diabetes is controlled just by switching him to m/d, he will likely do very well on a low carb, canned food diet. There are many choices including Friskies, Fancy Feast, Wellness, EVO, etc. Check out the food charts here and choose something with 10 or less in the carb column.
Janet & Binky's Food Chart

The canned food will likely be less expensive and better for your cat.
 
Thanks. I will approach the vet with this. I don't want to come off as a know it all, but I want what is best for Gissie.

I have 2 cats, and I used to leave them with an auto feeder when we left for the weekend. What should I do now/ Just leave dry diabetic food in the feeder for both?

I am so happy I found this site.
 
I was just reading the chart, SD-MD has 14 carbs, but you recommend less than 10. So the prescribed diet is a little high in carbs. Hmmmm
 
There are timed feeders with ice compartments you can use for weekend feeding. You can also just freeze canned cat food and put it out frozen. Finally, there are dry foods that are lower in carbs than m/d. Wellness Core and EVO are two. There is a link to a dry food table on the canned food list.
 
Hi.. just curious what the #s are that you & your Vet consider diet controlled? Some Vets (certainly not all) think that under 300 is Ok :YMSIGH:
 
It was 105 if I remember right. I am a nurse so I have some understanding of diabetes, but it is somewhat different in Kitties. That is why I need any info you can provide. He told me sometimes it goes away in kitties, once you get the sugar under control. He was diagnosed because he was urinating in inappropriate places, so I took him in. The work up showed a bladder infection, no crystals, and urine strip showed highest amount of sugar. Their glucometer showed 80, so they said it wasn't working. When I took him back to be rechecked, the infection was still there and BS was high. Next visit the infection was clear and the BS was normal. He will have another check in about a week. He is on a once monthly recheck for now.
 
when Garth was first DX his vet put him on md, then we switched vets and they put him on DM which is diabetic matience, one thing they failed to know is that it affects the kidneys especially if they are week. when I read that knowing Gart had bun and creatin levels elevating I stopped and went to Janet's chart. I found a food that was low in arbs and fat fore the kidneys, started the switch over then took Janet's chart in to my vet, in which he was very impressed. now he uses Janet's chart on all his cat patients not just crf and diabetics, educating them that the rise of diabetes in cats and dogs are due to diet. maybe you can use the same approach. good luck!
 
your vet is not trained in nutrition. They take a very short course on ANIMAL nutrition, and it is often sponsored by one of the big pet food companies.

I just went to our shelter's annual kitten forum for foster kitten families, and the vet there (Sadly, my personal vet) just got all excited about AAFCO.. and how much $$ they invest in those trials, so obviously the food must be good (I had to actually bite the inside of my cheek to not say anything) He called the local teaching hospital to talk about AAFCO and because he wanted another resource on the matter, he called one of his old professors at the college he went to. he said they all expressed great satisfaction and trust in AAFCO..

he also touted that many pet food companies have veterinarians on staff to help formulate the foods so they are the most nutritious.. which again I had to bite my tongue..

Most practicing vets rely on the marketing of the pet food companies they do business with. These companies tout that they have done the research, they have the data, so this food is "the best" (of course they fail to mention the best that they have at the cheapest price they could make it for)

Since vets don't study nutrition, they aren't comfortable making recommendations because they are supposedly the experts, and if they recommend something and it is wrong, they are liable. I am sure the "prescription" foods take that liability away

Most vets stop listening to you when you start any sentence with "well I found this on the internet". So if you want to have a discussion with your vet about nutrition, you need to print out some of the journal articles that have been printed and start there.

Connie
 
I always start with ' i am a nurse" LOL. You are giving me good info. Thanks. i am going to see if I can find a wet feeder locally and try changing him over to wet food. From what I am understanding it is the best choice.
 
a good canned food is best because cats are carnivores and dry food is full of carbs plus is moisture depleted so can lead to urinary issues as a result of dehydration. For more see www.catinfo.org

As long as your cat is under 120 then yes, you can consider him diet controlled...congrats!~
 
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