New to all this and feeling so stressed/overwhelmed.

[MyZookyBoy]

4/15 I found out the devastating news about my Zooks. He's almost 11 and a pretty big boy. His BG came back a 500 at the vets, and a 456 later on. I'm trying to wrap my head around everything. It's been a whirlwind. I have let him free range his entire life (on dry food which I didn't realize was so bad for him). I've read quite a few things on here about various issues or advice from those who have been in this situation for a while. The vet I took him to seems to be awesome, but this is his first time there. I will probably continue to see her. She gave me some info on different options, and also a bit of reading material. I immediately started looking for a discussion board.

I opted to try Senvelgo. Yesterday was his first treatment, and he ate it well. I do hope this continues. I hope this will help him out. My biggest issue is I work 12/16 hour swing shift and I technically live alone. My boyfriend stays with me most of the time and he loves my boy.

I bought a timed feeder. The cat mate C300. I also have 2 other cats in the house. I'm trying to figure out how to do all of this. I think I'm going to have to separate them while I'm gone at work. He will allow them to come up and eat his food. My female cat I call my "scavenger". She is a huge beggar of food.

I feel like I have a million questions. My biggest one is that I'm not sure how much to feed him. He's 18.7 lbs. He is a big boy. I've had a few vets tell me he was 1 or 2 lbs overweight, nothing major. My current vet wants him to be around 15 lbs. I'm strictly feeding him canned cat food. I feel like I'm never feeding him enough, and maybe I'm not. I feel really bad that he is today without food for close to 9 hours. My boyfriend will be over to feed him and give his med dose. I don't get home until 2 hours after he does. (the timed bowl arrived today)

As far as the ketone strips and checking his pee. How does everyone go about that? He does NOT pee often. Is there a time frame after he pees to check it? Is there any info about it? That is all so new to me.

I was going to try the Libre 3, but I don't have the correct phone for it. My carrier doesn't even have much for options. I did buy the Relion for $9 at Walmart. It seems most everyone sticks the ear. Is there anything bad with sticking the paw pads? I'm so nervous about this. Once he doesn't like something, he remembers and I'm not even sure food will bribe him enough. Fingers crossed. He was mad at me for putting Laxatone on his paw a few days ago.

If you read this far, you're very patient and I appreciate that. Any advice you can give to someone who has cried more tears this last week than I have in a very long time, it would be so appreciated!

 

[CORKY]

4/15 I found out the devastating news about my Zooks. He's almost 11 and a pretty big boy. His BG came back a 500 at the vets, and a 456 later on. I'm trying to wrap my head around everything. It's been a whirlwind. I have let him free range his entire life (on dry food which I didn't realize was so bad for him). I've read quite a few things on here about various issues or advice from those who have been in this situation for a while. The vet I took him to seems to be awesome, but this is his first time there. I will probably continue to see her. She gave me some info on different options, and also a bit of reading material. I immediately started looking for a discussion board.

I opted to try Senvelgo. Yesterday was his first treatment, and he ate it well. I do hope this continues. I hope this will help him out. My biggest issue is I work 12/16 hour swing shift and I technically live alone. My boyfriend stays with me most of the time and he loves my boy.

I bought a timed feeder. The cat mate C300. I also have 2 other cats in the house. I'm trying to figure out how to do all of this. I think I'm going to have to separate them while I'm gone at work. He will allow them to come up and eat his food. My female cat I call my "scavenger". She is a huge beggar of food.

I feel like I have a million questions. My biggest one is that I'm not sure how much to feed him. He's 18.7 lbs. He is a big boy. I've had a few vets tell me he was 1 or 2 lbs overweight, nothing major. My current vet wants him to be around 15 lbs. I'm strictly feeding him canned cat food. I feel like I'm never feeding him enough, and maybe I'm not. I feel really bad that he is today without food for close to 9 hours. My boyfriend will be over to feed him and give his med dose. I don't get home until 2 hours after he does. (the timed bowl arrived today)

As far as the ketone strips and checking his pee. How does everyone go about that? He does NOT pee often. Is there a time frame after he pees to check it? Is there any info about it? That is all so new to me.

I was going to try the Libre 3, but I don't have the correct phone for it. My carrier doesn't even have much for options. I did buy the Relion for $9 at Walmart. It seems most everyone sticks the ear. Is there anything bad with sticking the paw pads? I'm so nervous about this. Once he doesn't like something, he remembers and I'm not even sure food will bribe him enough. Fingers crossed. He was mad at me for putting Laxatone on his paw a few days ago.

If you read this far, you're very patient and I appreciate that. Any advice you can give to someone who has cried more tears this last week than I have in a very long time, it would be so appreciated!

hi! Welcome, you are in the right place, trust me I am still after 1 1/2 years get stressed out, it took me a long time and lots of coaching (still) to get it right, you did great getting the ReliOn, the Libre, I did that at the beginning I almost had a breakdown, they fall off do not read accurately especially on low BG's; you and your ZookiBoy will be in great hands with the expert members here they will reach out to you soon, My Corky is also a big boy he weighs 16.5 and is not over weight. and I feed him 1 can Fancy Feast Pates, always, after testing morning and evening that would be here in Fl 6:00 AM- 6:00PM and 1/2 can in between and he is totally satisfied, and I do have another cat Coco, so I have them both on the same schedule, same food, so that would be every 6 hours, you know your baby better that I to decide that , just make sure you feed low carb only, best food USA made, Fancy Feast Pates, make sure there is no gravy, Like I said you're right where you should be, This Forum
Main Page, you will find articles and post on "Know what your in your cat's food"

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
I am giving you a link below to new methods for treating feline diabetes. This includes Senvelgo. Please read it. make sure you test regularly for ketones in the urine or if you have trouble collecting urine samples you can get a blood ketone meter instead.
INFORMATION ON OTHER TREATMENTS FOR FD

COLLECTION OF URINE FOR TESTING

 

[MyZookyBoy]

hi! Welcome, you are in the right place, trust me I am still after 1 1/2 years get stressed out, it took me a long time and lots of coaching (still) to get it right, you did great getting the ReliOn, the Libre, I did that at the beginning I almost had a breakdown, they fall off do not read accurately especially on low BG's; you and your ZookiBoy will be in great hands with the expert members here they will reach out to you soon, My Corky is also a big boy he weighs 16.5 and is not over weight. and I feed him 1 can Fancy Feast Pates, always, after testing morning and evening that would be here in Fl 6:00 AM- 6:00PM and 1/2 can in between and he is totally satisfied, and I do have another cat Coco, so I have them both on the same schedule, same food, so that would be every 6 hours, you know your baby better that I to decide that , just make sure you feed low carb only, best food USA made, Fancy Feast Pates, make sure there is no gravy, Like I said you're right where you should be, This Forum
Main Page, you will find articles and post on "Know what your in your cat's food"

Thank you for your response! I appreciate it.

 

[MyZookyBoy]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
I am giving you a link below to new methods for treating feline diabetes. This includes Senvelgo. Please read it. make sure you test regularly for ketones in the urine or if you have trouble collecting urine samples you can get a blood ketone meter instead.
INFORMATION ON OTHER TREATMENTS FOR FD

COLLECTION OF URINE FOR TESTING

Thank you for the info! Is there anything negative to sticking the paw pad?

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Welcome to FDMB!

It is absolutely fine to test on the paw pad. Most members seen to test along the edge of their cat's ear because their cat's are less bothered by testing the ear (there are fewer pain nerves along the edge of the ear) than on the paw. My cat would never have put up for my testing on her paw.

Have you given any thought to a feeder that works with a microchip? It's programmed to open based on your cat's chip or to a chip you can put on your cat's collar. The feeder will only open for the cat with the compatible chip. Your other cat won't be able to poach Zooks' food.

This is a link to information about feline nutrition. There's information about feeding your cat and links on the sidebar to a food chart and other topics like obesity where you a find guidelines for helping your cat lose weight. Often, switching over to a low carbohydrate diet will foster a small weight loss. You will want your cat on a diet that is under 10% carbs although most members feed their cats in the 5% range.