Hello all! My boy Henry was diagnosed yesterday with feline DM after a few days of inconsistent signs snd symptoms. His loss of appetite is what prompted a vet appointment where they were assuming GI issues. I pushed for lab draws which they sent out. They sent us on out way after some iv hydration and a new prebiotic food. The following morning (yesterday) we received a frantic call saying his BG was 447, AST & ALT elevated and ketones in his urine. We rushed him to the hospital immediately where they ruled out other issues with some testing and confirmed he is a newly diagnosed diabetic. They sent us home with an appetite stimulant, anti nausea, and long acting insulin every 12 hours. They said we should not change his diet or be testing his blood sugar right now. They instructed we give his insulin based on how much food he is eating. (Full meal one unit half meal half unit) and start off this way. The pressing issue right now is his appetite loss. His appetite has been suppressed which is VERY unusual for him and he doesn’t seem super interested in meals even with the meds on board. At best he’s taken in about half his usual portion size. Not many resources provided from vet, looking for guidance. Thank you!!!
New member 7/16. Henry appetite loss
- Thread starter Ava_y911
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CORKY
Very Active Member
Welcome Ava, what type of appetite stimulant ? I give both of my cats when their appetite slow down, MIRATZ, rubbing a bit inside the outer ear, switching ear every day, immediately, their next meal is devoured Are you feeding dry or wet can food
One of the most important things for a diabetic cat is the food they eat, dry food contains high contents of carbohydrates, that a cat cannot digest while the pancreas become damaged, also is important home testing , especially before and each insulin shot and feeding, there are many things to be done to keep your cat on a low BG, below there will be several links that will help you to start to get better, also a few links for you to read and to create a spreadsheet for your fur baby so the members in this forum can help you by seeing the progress with your cat and again welcome I will tag several member so they can help you along
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-use-the-fdmb-the-basics.130682/
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...DMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food-chart.174147/
@Sieanne & Gabby
Bron and Sheba (GA)
Very Active Member
Hi and welcome to the forum. @Ava_y911
What was the antinausea medication they gave you? Did they give you some tablets to bring home?.
The best antinausea med for nausea is ondansetron which you can give every 8 hours if necessary. So if they have not given you any antinausea meds to bring home, I would get onto the phone immediately and ask for some ondansetron. Don’t give an appetite stimulant until after you have giving antinausea medication.
A diabetic kitty who has ketones in the urine, will most likely be nauseated but he must eat, and they need to eat a lot of food to try and combat the ketones in the urine.
And he needs to be getting that insulin every 12 hours.
I don’t agree with the vet saying don’t change the food and don’t test the blood glucose.
First of all, at the moment, the most important thing is Henry needs to eat, so let him eat what ever he will eat, even if it is not low carb. He needs to be eating up to 1 and a half time as many calories as he normally eats. W can worry about what he is eating later once the ketones have gone and he’s not nauseated. At the moment eating something trumps everything else.
And I would strongly advise you to start hometesting the blood glucose so that you know how well the insulin is working. And if it is safe to keep giving a certain dose of insulin.
To hometest you will need to buy a human glucose meter.
You can get one from Walmart called the ReliOn premier meter.
You will also need a box of test strips
And a box of lancets size 26 or 28
And some cotton balls to hops behind the ear to test.
Here is a link to HOMETESTING HINTS AND LINKS….we can help you with this. It is not hard and Henry will not hate you!
I am going to ask @Bandit's Mom to help you set up a spreadsheet and signature .
I would also recommend you go out and buy a bottle of Ketostix from Walmart or a pharmacy today and test every day for ketones in the urine, It is very important these are monitored and eliminated.
What insulin and dose was Henry prescribed?
Keep posting and asking questions. Please let us know how you get on with the antinausea medications, testing for ketones and if he is eating.
What was the antinausea medication they gave you? Did they give you some tablets to bring home?.
The best antinausea med for nausea is ondansetron which you can give every 8 hours if necessary. So if they have not given you any antinausea meds to bring home, I would get onto the phone immediately and ask for some ondansetron. Don’t give an appetite stimulant until after you have giving antinausea medication.
A diabetic kitty who has ketones in the urine, will most likely be nauseated but he must eat, and they need to eat a lot of food to try and combat the ketones in the urine.
And he needs to be getting that insulin every 12 hours.
I don’t agree with the vet saying don’t change the food and don’t test the blood glucose.
First of all, at the moment, the most important thing is Henry needs to eat, so let him eat what ever he will eat, even if it is not low carb. He needs to be eating up to 1 and a half time as many calories as he normally eats. W can worry about what he is eating later once the ketones have gone and he’s not nauseated. At the moment eating something trumps everything else.
And I would strongly advise you to start hometesting the blood glucose so that you know how well the insulin is working. And if it is safe to keep giving a certain dose of insulin.
To hometest you will need to buy a human glucose meter.
You can get one from Walmart called the ReliOn premier meter.
You will also need a box of test strips
And a box of lancets size 26 or 28
And some cotton balls to hops behind the ear to test.
Here is a link to HOMETESTING HINTS AND LINKS….we can help you with this. It is not hard and Henry will not hate you!
I am going to ask @Bandit's Mom to help you set up a spreadsheet and signature .
I would also recommend you go out and buy a bottle of Ketostix from Walmart or a pharmacy today and test every day for ketones in the urine, It is very important these are monitored and eliminated.
What insulin and dose was Henry prescribed?
Keep posting and asking questions. Please let us know how you get on with the antinausea medications, testing for ketones and if he is eating.
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