? New member: Do skin infections / allergies reoccur often with Diabetic cats?

[Arthur Guinness & Rebecca]

Hello all, first post! Thank you for your attention.

Arthur Guinness rescue cat received 17 March 2021. Adopted 22 March. Estimated to be 2yrs old.
Neutered March 10 2021. I reported suspicions 22 march, finally Diagnosed 20 April. Dose: Vetsulin 40U twice daily 2.25units. No ketones. No urinary tract probs.

Query: Are skin infections a constant battle with Diabetic cats?
I first noticed a balding patch on Arthur's left back before hip, approx 4cm diameter. Was worried about ringworm as it had red ring around it. Finally was able to get vet appt. 3 days later. He was given an antibiotic to last 14days, no steroid due to diabetes, diagnosis skin allergy/ infection.

First big patch is slowly healing "from inside, out" though now larger, 7cm across and totally bald.
He also has a scaly patch behind ear which may have been from his violent kicking to remove cone. **See second post
His scruff is peeling large flakes with fur now in a 6cm x 3cm area, incidentally where I put the spot-on 10days ago.
I can feel ‘pin pricks’ dotted around his head, ears.
He has a tiny red dot on white sock I have been observing since last week as possible puncture / bite wound. Now looking angrier and larger. Was pin head, now sesame seed size.
He now seems sensitive all over and flinches and goes away from even gentle touch.

Any advice?
His next appointment for 2nd leukemia vaccine is in 10days. Should I wait till then to ask about perhaps another antibiotic?
P.D. there are foxes and badgers in the area so I do check his fur every evening as he lies beside me on couch.
Have been watching him for suspect contact with houseplants or garden plants. Nothing to report. He loves to nibble on my festuca glauca which is catsafe.

I do worry that as he is short-term on dry diabetic food, might he have an allergy to the soy products in it? For data go to end.
I had initially transitioned him off Canagan to Royal Canin diabetic prescription but even that had quite high carbs, hence the Purina now. However I do not want to have to buy, either wet or dry food, longterm from Nestle for ethical reasons.

Hope to transition to Lantus and home testing shortly.
Wasn’t aware of dry food dangers before reading up on diabetes when I first suspected a chronic health issue. Dry food was going to be manageable for me as a vegetarian and seasonable / low income artist.
Have now been beginning to go to butchers for Arthur for first time in over 20years. Trying to get used to having meat in my fridge. Not what I ever wanted. Not ready to actually chop and mix food up or have cooking meat smells in my home. Looking at work-arounds I can afford.

Very difficult to see a vet here for more than 8minutes due to massive uptick in pet ownership thru lockdowns, hugely expensive for max 15min visit.
Raw foods were apparently previously available in Republic of Ireland but are now no longer arriving due to Brexit as most products came from or via UK.

Doing as best I can afford at the mo, having not been able to work for 16 months under covid rules. Have found excellent and kind local butchers who will cut meat into cubes for Arthur and are generally so helpful to a vegetarian.

On initial diagnosis I had tried giving him all his food in only two meals. He scarfed and barfed and it was dangerous. He has a fast metabolism and this is how I have been helping him to regain weight:

7.30-8.30 am 48grammes healthy + insulin
12.00 either 13grammes kibble or boiled chicken in throw and catch game outside
4pm raw snack either kidney / duck chunks (with fat on) / something less chewy than cow cheek (maybe called chuck?)
7.30-8.30pm 48 grammes Purina Diabetic kibble + insulin + 1tsp cod liver oil
11.30pm 13grammes kibble
4am 15 grammes kibble from robot feeder

48gramme meals are spread over the hour in different slow feeders
Sundays - small piece of liver.


PRO PLAN® VETERINARY DIETS DM Diabetes Management Dry Cat Food
Ingredients
Dehydrated poultry protein
Maize gluten meal*
Soya protein isolate
Maize starch*
Animal fat
Soya meal*
Digest
Minerals
Yeast
Fish oil
* Carbohydrate sources

Nutrition & Analytical Constituents
Moisture: 6.5%
Protein: 50%
— Arginine: 2.87%
Fat: 17%
— Essential fatty acids: 2%
— Omega-6 fatty acids: 1.77%
— Omega-3 fatty acids: 0.39%
Carbohydrate: 17%
— Starch: 12.5%
— Total sugars: 0.8%
Crude fibre: 1.5%
Metabolisable energy (ME)*: 411.8kcal/100g
Nutritional additives
IU/kg:
Vit. E: 710.
*Calculated following NRC 2006 equations.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I doubt the diabetes would cause a skin allergy to recur. However, before diabetes is treated, some cats to develop dry, flaky skin. It's usually more like dandruff than the red patch you described. Had you previously been feeding your kitty any fish products? There's fish oil in his food along with other allergens such as gluten.

The dry food is suboptimal for a diabetic cat. It is high in carbohydrates. The raw diet should be fine. If you are feeding a raw diet, there are a number of supplements that are needed to make it nutritionally complete. There are pre-mixes that are available in the US. I don't know what's available in the UK.

 

[Arthur Guinness & Rebecca]

Hi Sienne and dear Gabby! Nice to hear from you.

The vet has said diabetics get more skin problems, bacterial infections, fungal infections, and itching. I suppose as Arthur has had his first infection under my care, if this is something some of you deal with every year? It can be worse in pollen season, she mentioned.

Republic of Ireland is not United Kingdom, we are Europe. The vast majority of goods coming to Ireland used go through Europe, onto a ferry to UK, drive up through UK onto another ferry to Ireland. Now there are customs borders because the UK left Europe - hence the dearth of products making it to Irish shelves post-Brexit.

He did indeed have dandruff and sad, dull, spiky coat before diagnosis - it was one of the signs that made me suspicious along with the polyuria / polydipsia and behavior. He has a specially formulated cod liver oil supplement, one teaspoon with dinner (or a little less) that has rendered him gorgeously glossy again. It is made by Trixie.

Very eager to get away from the dry food when possible. With Covid unemployment the cost of wet food is already more than I can afford so I have been filling his diet with fresh meat from the butchers.
I also have some packaged wet foods for backup, using 3 or 4 a week.
I love the Natures:menu Country Hunter 96% meat but a) it is 1.50euro for 85g (1.78 US) and is an expensive way to buy 79% water, but it is delicious, has only 1.4%carbs, has superfoods and 1.5g taurine. However it is often out of stock because of Brexit and the difficulty of getting goods from the UK into Europe now. If I could at some point find a cook willing to make such food here, it would be these kinds of recipes I'd ask for!
I also get some of the 75g Canagan wet food cans when on special 3 for 4euro e.g. chicken broth 58% chicken broth 31, duck 5, sunflower oil, thickening agent (tapioca), minerals.
analytical: crude protein 16.5, crude fat 3, crude fibre 0.5, crude ash 2, moisture 77 ... 2.5% carb - is that correct?

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Tagging @Dasha and Kabosu who sometimes comes on and is from Ireland and might be able to suggest some food options. Most of us that use premixes to make our own food just order it on line and get it mailed to us. Not much of that in the stores either. We did have one member in France who got the TC Feline premix from Germany. Another option is to make your own using the formula of Dr. Lisa Pierson, recipe on this page on Making Cat Food. I found making my own food, even with a premix, cheaper than buying canned. There is no need for him to be on the "diabetic" (in name only) dry food.

This UK Cat Food List also contains some foods available from Europe.

Regarding the sores, was the ringworm ruled out? Is there anyplace else on his body that he seems to be losing his fur? Does he have a pot belly?

 

[Arthur Guinness & Rebecca]

Thanks Wendy and Neko!
It is really hard being a vegetarian even having meat in my fridge now. I ask the butcher to cut it because I really don't want to have to mess around myself yet. I can handle holding the slimy meat bits in a bag to feed him but I am really not ready to prepare cuts and mix or cook myself. I have a singleton's small fridge with ice compartment which is barely a shoe box. I can envisage eventually having to get Arthur his own little freezer.
Yes, I totally find the Veterinary 'Prescription' dry foods to be a very cynical industry, and the fact that the parent company denies water as a human right and persuades 3rd world women from breast feeding is horrific to me. I am taking the dry food as a short term measure until I can work again or find a wet /raw mix I can afford.
I've actually been trying to but the Rosie's Farm wet food on Zooplus for the last week and their checkout isn't working for me on any device (all Apple and with latest updates).

Ringworm was ruled out. I have been doing regular deworming alright. Cant see any bugs / mites/ fleas / ticks. Will ask vet to check at next visit anyway. He does seem to kick his collar around and around and his poor neck fluff is growing back on the underside where they shaved each time to get bloods. His last sample was actually lost by the lab so I have no answer on if he has Acromegaly. Don't have spare cash to do that again now and the lab did not offer to repeat it.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

His last sample was actually lost by the lab so I have no answer on if he has Acromegaly.

You paid for it, the lab either owes your money back or the test results. Skin issues aren't something I associate with acromegaly anyway.

 

[Dasha and Kabosu]

Welcome to the forum! We are from Dublin too!

It is really hard being a vegetarian even having meat in my fridge now.

I know!!! I am the same! We ended up buying chicken for Kabosu, but my husband deals with it.

Good wet foods are unfortunately very expensive. The most affordable one with a relatively low carbohydrate % is Whiskas in Jelly (you'd need to double check the box), you can buy a large box of it.
We're also on Country Hunter, but you're right, it's expensive (and Kabosu eats like a horse), so he now eats that and Whiskas in jelly.

His last sample was actually lost by the lab so I have no answer on if he has Acromegaly.

Oh no... Interesting that they even tested him for acro, we only got Kabosu tested when he got to a large dose. They definitely should repeat the test and not charge you! Acro test is super expensive. By the way, are you home testing for glucose? In Ireland, you can get a blood glucose meter for free from most pharmacies (but you'll need to buy the test strips, which are expensive).

Good luck and I hope Arthur Guinness feel better soon!

 

[Arthur Guinness & Rebecca]

Lovely to hear from you Dasha and Kabosu! I was wondering if there are others in Ireland with diabetic cats. I have found it hard to get a vet with the time and the inclination to be a regular carer. Seems the huge rise in lockdown pet ownership has them all run ragged.
I have been looking at meters available in Ireland, yes. I am thinking of the Glucomen Areo Sensor test strips for Glucomen Areo 2K* Compatible with blood ketone testing Blood volume (μL): 0.5 (glucose), 0.8 (ketone). Test range (mmol/L): 1.1-33.3 (glucose), 0.1-8.0 (ketone). Haematocrit (%): 10-70 (glucose), 20-60 (ketone)
Money for the big purchases is very problematic at the moment as I have not worked since March 12 when Covid hit.

I noticed the Country Hunter is actually made in Europe. I will investigate if it is possible to have it sent directly here, not via UK and so could be cheaper. Alternatively knowing which manufacturer it is and what other similar products they make would be great.

 

[Dasha and Kabosu]

I was wondering if there are others in Ireland with diabetic cats. I have found it hard to get a vet with the time and the inclination to be a regular carer.

Where do you live? I can recommend our vet, she is really nice, cares a lot for Kabosu and has been with us through a lot! It is in Dun Laoghaire (not sure if it may be too far for you).

Money for the big purchases is very problematic at the moment as I have not worked since March 12 when Covid hit.

I am so sorry about this... All the treatments are really expensive.

I have been looking at meters available in Ireland, yes. I am thinking of the Glucomen Areo Sensor test strips for Glucomen Areo 2K*

I just got a simple one from a pharmacy, it's for glucose only. For ketones, I bought urine strips online. I believe this may be cheaper. Test strips for a fancy meter will be very pricey!

I am seeing that Arthur is gaining weight. Does he keep drinking/urinating a lot? If he had some BG measurements, we'd know whether he's gaining weight because his BG is better regulated now.

 

[Arthur Guinness & Rebecca]

Hi again,
I've no doubt Covid has been the worst time for a chronic illness diagnosis.
Every vet visit has been a different staff behind a mask, often forgetting to say their name even. They change constantly on rotation in bubbles, messages get lost, no relationship is developed. They are all swamped with clients now.

He has stopped having a crazy appetite, I am putting warm water onto his dry food to mix it with an ever increasing amount of wet.

I'm Northside costal Dublin and I have few vets within walking / cycling distance.
He has an appointment today for second leukemia vax and I asked via email and phone to be given Lantus today too. This is the second time I have asked but I don't know how far I'll get with them. They give each animal 15mins only. A new Village Vets will be opening in Killester and I will defo try there if they will spend more time and develop a relationship with an animal.

I just really have to aim at remission with a 2yr old non-obese cat! No-one can manage this alone for a cat's lifespan!

 

[Dasha and Kabosu]

He has an appointment today for second leukemia vax and I asked via email and phone to be given Lantus today too.

How did it go? By the way, Lantus is more expensive, and they won't give a prescription until it is clear Caninsulin does not work.

I just really have to aim at remission with a 2yr old non-obese cat!

This is possible!

My advice would be to go to a pharmacy and get a free glucose meter. They usually come with a few strips. Even this will help you understand how Arthur is doing on Caninsulin. Let us know what number you see if you do it!