Hello everyone. My name is Korey and my 11yr old cat Lily is newly diagnosed with diabetes. It has been only 4 days and its been a struggle to get her to eat so I can give her insulin. She has no appetite. Is this normal? Has anyone else had this issue? Im very worried about her.
New member- Newly diagnosed- no appetite
- Thread starter Korey
- Start date
CORKY
Member Since 2023
Welcome to FDMB
It is overwhelming I’m sure, but Feline diabetes is manageable, what insulin was Lily prescribed and what dose, the best insulin for cats are Lantus and ProZinc they are a 12- hour insulin and easy on cats. Also home testing is very very important, you do not want to give insulin without knowing Lily’s glucose level to avoid hypoglycemia, also a diabetic cat need to have a diet of wet can or raw foods between 0-10% carbs, also several meal a day is very important, what are you feeding, if you are feeding kibbles and grazing, the dry foods contain between 20-30% carbs cats cannot digest carbs, so when you switch from dry to wet, the transition needs to be done slowly, as for lack of appetite, there are several medication available, please continue to post we are here to help you on this journey, there are many sticky notes on the Main Forum that have much valuable information
It is overwhelming I’m sure, but Feline diabetes is manageable, what insulin was Lily prescribed and what dose, the best insulin for cats are Lantus and ProZinc they are a 12- hour insulin and easy on cats. Also home testing is very very important, you do not want to give insulin without knowing Lily’s glucose level to avoid hypoglycemia, also a diabetic cat need to have a diet of wet can or raw foods between 0-10% carbs, also several meal a day is very important, what are you feeding, if you are feeding kibbles and grazing, the dry foods contain between 20-30% carbs cats cannot digest carbs, so when you switch from dry to wet, the transition needs to be done slowly, as for lack of appetite, there are several medication available, please continue to post we are here to help you on this journey, there are many sticky notes on the Main Forum that have much valuable information
Lily is prescribed Vetsulin 1 unit twice a day after eating. She is not eating so I was told to blend her wet food which is Royal canin glycobalance and force feed her. I have been doing that for 3 days now. They gave her a prescription for Mirtazapine 7.5mg tablets to help her appetite and I gave it to her about 3 hrs ago but they said it could take 24 hrs for her appetite to come back on the medication. I also do not know how to do home testing. Thanks for responding to my post. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
CORKY
Member Since 2023
1- Vetsulin, also known as Caninsulin is a dog insulin it hits hard and fast in a cat
2- Royal CANIN is very high in carbs
3- for home testing you can purchase any human monitor and strips, most members use the ReliOn human monitor and strips, you do not need a pet meter, testing before each shot and several times during the day is important,,in the main menu is a thread on how to home test, please ask your vet to switch to switch from Caninsulin to either Lantus or ProZinc, I will tag a couple of members than can also assist you on Canninsulin
@Wendy&Neko
@Sienne and Gabby (GA)
2- Royal CANIN is very high in carbs
3- for home testing you can purchase any human monitor and strips, most members use the ReliOn human monitor and strips, you do not need a pet meter, testing before each shot and several times during the day is important,,in the main menu is a thread on how to home test, please ask your vet to switch to switch from Caninsulin to either Lantus or ProZinc, I will tag a couple of members than can also assist you on Canninsulin
@Wendy&Neko
@Sienne and Gabby (GA)
Thank you for your help. Do u have any recommendations on what food I should feed her?
Christie & Maverick
Member Since 2017
Hello and welcome to you and Lily. As part of Lily’s diagnosis, did the vet run some blood work? Was there a urinalysis? Any ketones in the urine? Have you been giving insulin? There are some helpful tips for those who are new here, Sticky - New? How You Can Help Us Help You!
And some things you can do to help encourage her to eat. Suggestions on How to Stimulate Kitty's Appetite
It would be worth going to a pharmacy and getting some Ketostix to test her urine for ketones. Right now, the best food is the food she will eat.
And some things you can do to help encourage her to eat. Suggestions on How to Stimulate Kitty's Appetite
It would be worth going to a pharmacy and getting some Ketostix to test her urine for ketones. Right now, the best food is the food she will eat.
CORKY
Member Since 2023
Most member use Fancy Feast Pates between 0-10% carbs most members feed up to 5% they are US made and regulated so no waste goes into the food
Below is a link of an approved Drs food list, the third column contains the %s of carbs for each food, also you should have what is called a HYPO KIT, this should contain some medium carb foods between 11-15% carbs, some high carb food between 16-24% carbs, Karo syrup or honey, this are in case the glucose level get lower than 50, we can help you hike up the glucose numbers with food, rather than the syrups, We are very numbers oriented, we would like you to create your signature and Lily's spreadsheet, links below
you can purchase the ReliOn human Meter and strips at Walmart
Info - Dr. Pierson - new Food Chart
Sticky - New? How You Can Help Us Help You!
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-create-a-spreadsheet.241706/
Below is a link of an approved Drs food list, the third column contains the %s of carbs for each food, also you should have what is called a HYPO KIT, this should contain some medium carb foods between 11-15% carbs, some high carb food between 16-24% carbs, Karo syrup or honey, this are in case the glucose level get lower than 50, we can help you hike up the glucose numbers with food, rather than the syrups, We are very numbers oriented, we would like you to create your signature and Lily's spreadsheet, links below
you can purchase the ReliOn human Meter and strips at WalmartInfo - Dr. Pierson - new Food Chart
Sticky - New? How You Can Help Us Help You!
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-create-a-spreadsheet.241706/
Last edited:
squeem3
Member Since 2009
Mirtazapine is also available as a transmdermal gel, much easier to administer if a cat isn't eating. You rub it on the inside of the ear, wearing gloves so your skin doesn't absorb the medication. Mirataz the name of the transdermal gel form.
If your cat continues to not eat even with the appetite stimulant, have the vet run full blood work and include the FPLI test for pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is common in diabetic cats. Treatment is some combo of anti nausea meds, anti vomiting meds, appetite stimulant, fluids, pan medicine. Also have the teeth checked. Dental issues can cause a cat to not eat.
What was your cat eating before the diabetes diagnosis? Is she refusing to eat that now?
If your cat continues to not eat even with the appetite stimulant, have the vet run full blood work and include the FPLI test for pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is common in diabetic cats. Treatment is some combo of anti nausea meds, anti vomiting meds, appetite stimulant, fluids, pan medicine. Also have the teeth checked. Dental issues can cause a cat to not eat.
What was your cat eating before the diabetes diagnosis? Is she refusing to eat that now?
Thank you for the information. She was eating fine before the diagnosis. I think she is not feeling well because her blood sugar is off. The vet ran a blood panel and urinalysis. I gave her some medicine to her her appetite last night and she ate a tiny bit this morning. Im hoping thst she will want to eat something when I get home this evening. Im going to try and get her some Fancy feast pate that was recommended. Maybe she will like it better. This is a work in progress and I have hope and faith that things will get better.
CORKY
Member Since 2023
Yes the MIRATZ, gel works quickly, it's a small tube that goes a long way, by placing a tip pin size in the fold of the inner ear, rubbing it well, switching ears every day for 5-7 days, Lily will devour her food, I know mine did by the next day, you get it at the vets, it's about $38.00 - $47.00 IT'S REALLY GOOD STUFF
CORKY
Member Since 2023
If you are not home during the day you might want to purchase a wet feeder, some have ice bags, and cameras, Walmart has great prices, as well as CHEWY.COM for the feeder and the Fancy Feast, I have two cats, I feed 1/2cn every 4-5 hours to each and four flavors, and buy the case from Chewy, so that would be 4 cans a day/4 cases, I buy Auto Ship get discount, that I can change the date or order at any time, and the prices for Fancey Feast at Publix are $1.04-1.20, compared to $0.83 a can, I'm on a tight budget so saving for me is very important, without pinching my babies needsThank you for the information. She was eating fine before the diagnosis. I think she is not feeling well because her blood sugar is off. The vet ran a blood panel and urinalysis. I gave her some medicine to her her appetite last night and she ate a tiny bit this morning. Im hoping thst she will want to eat something when I get home this evening. Im going to try and get her some Fancy feast pate that was recommended. Maybe she will like it better. This is a work in progress and I have hope and faith that things will get better.