New Member: Putting on Weight for Kitty in Remission

[wikismart]

Greetings to all! I could really use some advice from the collective mind hive. I have a 15 year old female DSH diagnosed with diabetes two years ago. Long story short, she is in remission (no insulin needed), but the weight keeps falling off her. BG levels are consistently good (90-110), blood work run every 6 months looks normal (though we’re keeping an eye on creatinine levels just high of normal). She’s fed 9 Oz of Purina Pro Plan Kitten Ocean Whitefish and Tuna (her favorite) over three equal meals per day. She is very picky and resistant to change. She currently weighs 6.9 lbs after dropping three lbs due to a recent UTI. In her peak, she was 14 lbs, held steady until her diabetes dx. What can I do to get her weight back up? She is uninterested in the freeze-dried chicken treats. Can I give her raw salmon? Maybe some shrimp? No one has been able to help me. Thanks in advance for your insight.

 

[wikismart]

My apologies, I left out a few details. She is also on an appetite stimulant every three days to promote eating. And when I suggested the raw salmon/shrimp, I only meant as a supplement to her current diet. I would not replace the canned food.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

I would start with higher calorie food, meaning higher percent fat. Try different kitten foods to see if they help. And I think a vet visit is in order, perhaps a GI blood panel to see if she has some GI issues preventing her from absorbing her food. Possibly an ultrasound follow up to see if there is anything going on inside. Has she had her thyroid values checked? That’s another cause of losing weight.

If she likes chicken, you can give her some plain boiled or baked, thighs have more fat.