Hello FDMB Forum!
I signed up a few months ago but this is my first post. Thank you for all of your help these last few months. Alex was diagnosed with diabetes about August 2nd. He's a gorgeous long hair Maine Coon, just a few months over 15 years old. He was put on just one unit of Lantus twice a day. The first couple weeks getting him regulated was a little scary. I was always so worried he would get too low since he's a grazer and doesn't eat big meals. I took him completely off dry food, with the exception of the m/d dry I bought to give him as a treat once in a while. (Oh yeah - such a treat!). Anyway, once we got him regulated, he was almost immediately able to go off of the insulin. It took about a month. We test him every few days to make sure he's still in remission. Unfortunately, since then his appetite has been steadily declining and he has lost yet another pound. (Before the diabetes hit, he was 16.5 lbs...Now he is 13.5)
It turns out now he has chronic kidney disease, which I'm sure started with the diabetes.
So now I need your help. I have switched him to high protein/low carb canned wet food, but now I'm not sure with the kidney issues what to feed him. I know the vet will want to put him on the k/d, but there's no way I'll do that since he'll end up back on insulin I'm sure. I don't know which disease is worse and I want him to have a good quality of life. Anyone out there have a baby with similar issues who could give me advice? I know I can learn how to do the fluids at home if I learned how to home test and give shots, so other than my poor baby's discomfort I'm not worried about that, but I want him to start eating again and gain a little weight without making his kidneys worse. Suggestions on managing both diseases successfully?
Thanks!!
Dee
I signed up a few months ago but this is my first post. Thank you for all of your help these last few months. Alex was diagnosed with diabetes about August 2nd. He's a gorgeous long hair Maine Coon, just a few months over 15 years old. He was put on just one unit of Lantus twice a day. The first couple weeks getting him regulated was a little scary. I was always so worried he would get too low since he's a grazer and doesn't eat big meals. I took him completely off dry food, with the exception of the m/d dry I bought to give him as a treat once in a while. (Oh yeah - such a treat!). Anyway, once we got him regulated, he was almost immediately able to go off of the insulin. It took about a month. We test him every few days to make sure he's still in remission. Unfortunately, since then his appetite has been steadily declining and he has lost yet another pound. (Before the diabetes hit, he was 16.5 lbs...Now he is 13.5)
It turns out now he has chronic kidney disease, which I'm sure started with the diabetes. So now I need your help. I have switched him to high protein/low carb canned wet food, but now I'm not sure with the kidney issues what to feed him. I know the vet will want to put him on the k/d, but there's no way I'll do that since he'll end up back on insulin I'm sure. I don't know which disease is worse and I want him to have a good quality of life. Anyone out there have a baby with similar issues who could give me advice? I know I can learn how to do the fluids at home if I learned how to home test and give shots, so other than my poor baby's discomfort I'm not worried about that, but I want him to start eating again and gain a little weight without making his kidneys worse. Suggestions on managing both diseases successfully?
Thanks!!
Dee
