New Member- Seeking Advice

[TigerBear]

Hello Everyone,

My fur baby Tiger has been recently diagnosis with diabetes. He just came home from staying at the vet hospital for 3 days and 2 nights from Diabetic ketoacidosis and having a UTI. When he was discharged from the hospital 2 days ago they were unsure if he was going to eat on his own and wanted to give him a feeding tube. His primary vet opt to give him a chance to see what happens. Thank goodness he came home and started to eat on his own but has only been eating boil chicken breast (he has always been a picky eater). He is on 2 units of lantus insulin twice a day and was sent home with potassium tablets anti nausea medication and antibiotics. I am seeking advice in reference to

1. home glucose and ketone testing
2. any other way potassium can be given to him besides prescription
3. any home prepared cat food recipes
4. ways to promote healthy weight gain as he lost a lot of weight from being sick

I appreciate any advice that anyone has. Thank you all and I look forward to being apart of the group.

Thanks All,
Aixa (ike-sa) Tiger's mommy

 

[Deb & Wink]

Question 1 A couple of links to get your started with question 1, home testing BG and ketones
Hometesting Links and Tips - includes numerous links, instructions, pictures, & videos

Blood Ketone Meters
You can also test the urine with urine ketone test strips, for ketones, but the ketones show up in the urine hours later than they show up in the blood. Since your cat Tiger already had DKA, I think you want to get a blood ketone meter and the matching strips.

Ketones/Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA): Ketones, Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), and Blood Ketone Meters

Question 2. on the potassium I have no knowledge of that.
Question 3. on home prepared cat food recipes. This is one possibility. https://catinfo.org/making-cat-food/
Tagging @Bron and Sheba (GA) who has made her own cat food.
@Wendy&Neko also makes her own raw cat food.

Question 4. Feed him. Lots. Cats that have had diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) need at least 1.5 times the normal amount of food.
Use some sort of tasty treat, to get him to eat his food. Freeze dried treats, cooked fish, little pieces of cheese, bonito flakes, any type of pure meat is fine.

 

[Deb & Wink]

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[Larry and Kitties]

. any other way potassium can be given to him besides prescription

I have used this
https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Suppleme...ound/dp/B0015C2ZI2/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
Note that potassium is usually dosed by milliequivalents since one wants potassium and the "concentration" varies by the specific potassium compound. See about the middle of
https://www.felinecrf.org/potassium.htm

 

[TigerBear]

Thank you very much everyone for the replies! They are very helpful and good information.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

I have also given the potassium gluconate powder, mixed in with food. The amount you give should be with agreement from your vet. It's dangerous to not give the right amount.

You can make raw or cooked food with either the FoodFurLife's EZ Complete premix (I did raw) or the premix from Alnutrin. Both are low carb. I also did raw with the TC Feline premix.

Which antibiotic are you giving and which anti nausea med? Many antibiotics will destroy the good tummy flora giving them an upset tummy, so it's good to give a probiotic too. Many of the human ones are fine, Renew Life Ultimate Flora is one.

 

[TigerBear]

Hi Wendy,
Thank you for your reply! He is on enrofloxacin for antibiotics and cerenia for nausea. I will definitely look into the probiotics. Thank you.