New to the Forum - Cat with DM and FLUTD

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

AshjackAZ

New Member
Greetings everyone -- I am new to the forum as my 15 year old male neutered fur-child was diagnosed with diabetes two weeks ago. So far, the insulin is going well, we have a glucose curve scheduled and he seems pretty good overall (drinking a little less that he was prior to the diagnosis). He stared on 1 unit, twice per day (ProZinc). Hopefully, his BG will reflect the changes I have seen (he was in the 400s, and I will add that he was very stressed as they expressed his bladder for a urine sample before they drew the blood, the urine had glucose which is why they drew the blood to confirm). His symptoms were pretty narrow, excessive drinking and peeing. His appetite is consistent and good, he has never been overweight and has not lost any weight. I am hopeful that he'll be easy to regulate, but we'll see.

My question to you all is -- does anyone have a cat with concurrent feline lower urinary tract disease and diabetes? Ashler was diagnosed with FLUTD (FUS at the time), struvite crystals, when he was 2 and has been on HIll's CD ever since. He is a kibble lover, but I have increased wet food availability and he is taking to it well. I'd like to at least get his diet over to wet to increase the protein content. His FLUTD has been managed very well by this diet. When we tried to switch to another urinary food, he blocked, it was horrible. So, I am very hesitant to change his food. I'd rather give him insulin twice per day than risk him blocking. Does anyone have any experience they'd like to share? I am happy to listen to anything you all have to offer.

Thanks!
 
Hi guys and welcome! I don't have much in the way of answers for the questions you are asking, but did want to jump in and say Hi, and that I am sure before to long you will have all the answers you are looking for!
 
Have you seen this website by a vet: Dr. Lisa’s Urinary tract page She discusses urinary tract disease and diabetes.

Here is some info on ProZinc: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=32799

We will be nagging you to learn to hometest: Video for hometesting It is absolutely the best way to keep your kitty safe. We test before each shot to make sure it is safe to give the insulin and mid cycle to see how the insulin is working. We find testing at home much more beneficial than curves done at the vet. Stress raises bg levels and kitties are stressed at the vet when they are left all day with the strange noises, smells and people. We do curves at home and think the results are more accurate. In some cats, it makes over a 100 point difference.
 
Thank you for the information. I did see Dr. Lisa's page, but it still doesn't help me with FLUTD + DM in the same cat. I really don't want to risk him blocking, so trying to encourage as much wet HIll's CD will probably be my best bet unless I can find more info.

Thanks again!
 
interesting that he's been on the c/d that long.

my late Tiger developed struvite crystals around 2004, blocked something horrible, and was put on the c/d food. he ate that for about 2 years and then was off one day in 2006 so i took him to the vet. turned out he was getting calcium oaxylate crystals this time and the vet said we'd have to change to another prescription food for those.

wellllllllllllllllllllllll, my cat Mousie happened to be diagnosed with diabetes just a month or so before and i had discovered that my vet at the time didn't know much about diabetes so I found a vet who knew a whole lot about diabetes to take Mousie to at least.

after what i thought was poor care of my Tiger this second time (taking a day and a half to get a urine sample!) i decided i was switching all my cats to the new vet and lo and behold she told me i'd just be chasing one prescription food after another as the type of crystal changed so she told me to feed Tiger the same food I was feeding Mousie and he'd be fine.

i started feeding him the low carb wet food and sure enough, no more crystals. anddddddddddd, he lost about 7 lbs that he'd gained on the c/d. unfortunately we lost him last year to suddenly to suspected cancer :-(

so i guess that's why i think it's interesting your kitty has eaten c/d for so long without having those other problems.

anyhow, fwiw, dr. lisa pierson does do individual consults that can help customize diet plans for special kitties so perhaps set one of those up with her. you can find her email address on her website and my understanding is that it is welllllllllllllllll worth the money. my current vet has even consulted her for nutrition help.

and yes, i agree with you, i'd rather give insulin shots for the rest of the cat's life than develop what i consider a more life threatening situation like blocking.

oh, i haven't read the other responses just yet but just in case, you know you can monitor glucose levels at home right? that way you have a better idea as to what is going on with kitty's diabetes and can keep kitty safe and out of danger of diabetic comas or seizures. not to mention the $$ savings.
 
Yeah, you know that is why my vet wanted me to switch Ashler off c/d... because he had been on it so long and he (my vet) was concerned about oxylate crystal formation... told me that tends to happen when cat's are on c/d long term. Anyway, we tried Royal Canin SO and that is when the trouble started. About a years worth of problems culminating in a blockage and then a urinary infection. Once we got him back on c/d -- no problems, just as he had no problems for the 10+years he had been on it!

And, he has always been an ideal weight... never over-wieght, never under-weight. He is just unique I guess, like all our feline friends right!

Thanks again, I will keep searching and reading. He is doing very well.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top