Glassgoblin
Member Since 2018
Well, that sucks. I did put out the Young Again food but she just sniffed it and moved away. I want to get her something good, but it doesn't matter if she won't eat it.
I hear ya. My "regular" cat ate the young again for a week, and no really won't. Rufus barely touches it. What you could do is mix the 2 foods together, and then it would be like 13% carbs. OR mix 2 cups of young again with 1 cup of the royal canin and make it like 8 or 9%. That is kind of what I'm doing, mixing 2 foods together.Well, that sucks. I did put out the Young Again food but she just sniffed it and moved away. I want to get her something good, but it doesn't matter if she won't eat it.
Sorry she’s not interested in Young Again. This dry is ok too
https://www.drelseys.com/learn-more/chicken-recipe/
Not sure if they’ll send a sample, but it’s worth a call to find out.
Hi Glassgoblin,
Https://www.chewy.com
Will let you order food ships free 1-2 days if your order is over $49. AND if your kitty hates it they will refund you ! I’ve had to turn away a bunch of food I received on auto ship and they credited me and asked me to donate it to a cat shelter - which I did
It gets expensive trying out foods - chewy is great!!!
I hear ya about indecisive! I'm indecisive and I'm going through Rufus not eating well, and then on top of that having to find a food my other cat will eat. If I we're you, I'd order the Dr Elsey food. Cross fingers that she likes it (it's higher cals, too), and if she doesn't have Chewy refund you. I have heard too about the Young Again and loose stool, but supposedly that goes away after a short time.If she would get over the diarrhea, which someone suggested may be caused by the Young Again anecdotally, I like that for the calorie count alone. Jaxa is a small volume cat so she needs high calories; a half cup is almost all she would need in a day. But no matter which food we pick I worry that I'll spend 30+ on a small bag only for her not to eat it, and then I have to find something else. I'm naturally indecisive and am hearing so many things right now it makes me hesitate and second guess every choice. I just want a clear answer and to know she will eat enough every day to slowly get to a better weight without liver issues. I've been scared every day since mid-December, when she was hospitalized for fatty liver, that it would happen again. And of course there are no clear answers or guarantees, so I worry.
I am not thrilled with the way YA made her bm smell, lol. Really bad. I had to smell the litter after she peed just to make sure it wasn't that, which is wasn't thankfully.
Chewy is awesome! I first ordered form them last summer, and both cats didn't like the new food. They asked me to write a review, so I did. I said that my cats didn't care for the food, even though it was highly rated. Next day I got an email saying they wanted to refund my money! I had no idea companies did that without even asking! I'm not a huge fan of Petsmart, but Chewy is terrific!It gets expensive trying out foods - chewy is great!!!
Re food: yes, carbs are important, but even more important is eating. Low carbs is better, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t get anywhere with higher carb food. It might be less easy, but not impossible. So first worry about finding something she eats and tolerates, and try and work with that.
hi glassgoblin...I just felt for you very much when you said you are crying all the time over the frustration of this illness...I have been too and i havent even started giving my cat bubbles any insulin ...I am frankly terrified of killing my own cat through some overlooked error....I will be starting this same rollercoaster this week and i have the additional problem of a 17 yr old cat with some underlying condition making her not want to eat much at all...which will require me to force feed her and she hates being held...omg...so i am just sending you our love and saying hang in there ...i think you are doing an awesome job...I have been reading alot of your posts...your kitty is very lucky to have you as her keeper...hugsShe had her second appt with the vet today; glucose at 419 so the vet wants to go to 3 units in the insulin- she is at 18lbs still. My mother thinks she smells musty and the dog keeps smelling her too, though I don't know if it because Jaxa was away for hours. Third appt set for this Saturday.
I plan to stop at the petstore for food and Walmart for ketone strips after work tomorrow.
I feel like I'm crying all the time lately.
hi glassgoblin...I just felt for you very much when you said you are crying all the time over the frustration of this illness...I have been too and i havent even started giving my cat bubbles any insulin ...I am frankly terrified of killing my own cat through some overlooked error....I will be starting this same rollercoaster this week and i have the additional problem of a 17 yr old cat with some underlying condition making her not want to eat much at all...which will require me to force feed her and she hates being held...omg...so i am just sending you our love and saying hang in there ...i think you are doing an awesome job...I have been reading alot of your posts...your kitty is very lucky to have you as her keeper...hugs
Thanks and good luck to you and your kitty. With panreatitis Jaxa isn't a big eater; if your vet is willing to give a prescription of cyproheptadine or mirtazapine it can help, both are good appetite stimulants, or if there is a nausea issue ask about zofran (aka ondansetron). They can help a lot, even if cats do not appreciate pills. I have to give Jaxa cerenia occasionally as well, to prevent vomiting.
It is a roller coaster though; one day will seem like everything is starting to make sense and the tests are good, and then the next day she won't eat or has hgiher tests and just doesn't seem to feel well. I just hope that it evens out over time, and with proper treatment and diet.
Just be careful because at the high levels your cat is, not giving any insulin plus high levels puts him at risk for developing ketones. How is he doing today?hi glassgoblin...apparently m..and i have read MUCH about this very issue...you do have a struggle in the beginning but a routine will soon develop...my vet said main rule...not enough food equals no insulin...thank you very much for thr info on appetite stimulants as i had not even thot of tbat!!!!this is my HUGE CONCERN about this process...and the antinauseant info aswell!! maybe there is alot more hope than i thot...cant thank u enough for that as i will actually be able to sleep tonight!
Just be careful because at the high levels your cat is, not giving any insulin plus high levels puts him at risk for developing ketones. How is he doing today?
hi Janet...Bubbles has eaten two tbsps of wet food....I got her several cans of royal canon food (this one is for kittens so its tasty)...the only food she can be coaxed to eat these days and I took all her food away last night to make her feel an appetite this am...I was REALLY hoping she would eat the recommended three tbsps ...this is my biggest concern other than the immediate threat of ketones which came back negative yesterday from fridays urine test at the vet....my vet said "half the food half the recommended insulin dose"...I am wondering if it would be best to take her to another vet immediately for the curve and get her started on insulin...this vet didnt seem AT ALL concerned and said see if she will eat over next "cppl" days and then bring her in for the test and subsequent insulin...? I am getting such incredibly different information from vets than this site...I am sure you have heard this ...there seems to be this GIGANTIC gap btwn the knowledge here and the vet....everyone is inclined to believe doctors before ppl but i am very leary and feel very alone in my decision making process about nearly everything. ..I mean wat if she develops ketones overnight in her urine...her prognosis and treatment change drasticallyJust be careful because at the high levels your cat is, not giving any insulin plus high levels puts him at risk for developing ketones. How is he doing today?
I think a second vet opinion is a good idea. I think she should have been started on insulin immediately. Ketones can develop quickly.hi Janet...Bubbles has eaten two tbsps of wet food....I got her several cans of royal canon food (this one is for kittens so its tasty)...the only food she can be coaxed to eat these days and I took all her food away last night to make her feel an appetite this am...I was REALLY hoping she would eat the recommended three tbsps ...this is my biggest concern other than the immediate threat of ketones which came back negative yesterday from fridays urine test at the vet....my vet said "half the food half the recommended insulin dose"...I am wondering if it would be best to take her to another vet immediately for the curve and get her started on insulin...this vet didnt seem AT ALL concerned and said see if she will eat over next "cppl" days and then bring her in for the test and subsequent insulin...? I am getting such incredibly different information from vets than this site...I am sure you have heard this ...there seems to be this GIGANTIC gap btwn the knowledge here and the vet....everyone is inclined to believe doctors before ppl but i am very leary and feel very alone in my decision making process about nearly everything. ..I mean wat if she develops ketones overnight in her urine...her prognosis and treatment change drastically
hi Janet...Bubbles has eaten two tbsps of wet food....I got her several cans of royal canon food (this one is for kittens so its tasty)...the only food she can be coaxed to eat these days and I took all her food away last night to make her feel an appetite this am...I was REALLY hoping she would eat the recommended three tbsps ...this is my biggest concern other than the immediate threat of ketones which came back negative yesterday from fridays urine test at the vet....my vet said "half the food half the recommended insulin dose"...I am wondering if it would be best to take her to another vet immediately for the curve and get her started on insulin...this vet didnt seem AT ALL concerned and said see if she will eat over next "cppl" days and then bring her in for the test and subsequent insulin...? I am getting such incredibly different information from vets than this site...I am sure you have heard this ...there seems to be this GIGANTIC gap btwn the knowledge here and the vet....everyone is inclined to believe doctors before ppl but i am very leary and feel very alone in my decision making process about nearly everything. ..I mean wat if she develops ketones overnight in her urine...her prognosis and treatment change drastically
hi its Allison...yes vets are way off at times it seems...I have had pancreatitis ...its the most painful thing you can have almost ...I have learned you realky have to be assertive with not only yur pets care but yur own...in hospitals everywhere...staff are busy and make mistakesI feel the same about my vet sometimes; when my kitty was diagnosed with pancreatitis they didn't give us any pain meds, even though I asked about it (it is supposed to be a painful thing). I asked that vet about diabetes also, because it was a possibility a month before she was diagnosed and he bascially blew me off. Last week this new vet mentioned smelling Jaxa and watching out for ketones but when I asked about testing for them he said I didn't have to worry about doing that (and they didn't test either). I'm going in shortly, and ketone strips are on my list.
no three different expensive vets did not even SUGGEST insulin rite away even tho all three of them had her glucose levels...shocking...I have no choice but to wait another 24 hrs to get her into a vet for insulin...this is really surprising...and the fact that any vet would put my cats life in jeopardy is hard to believeI think a second vet opinion is a good idea. I think she should have been started on insulin immediately. Ketones can develop quickly.
So even with his advice of half food half insulin you should have given her some insulin, or had he not even given you a perscription yet?
hi janet...three seperate vets knowing her bg level was 33 and rising to 35.4 in three days did not suggest i put her on insulin until they did the diabetic curve and none of them stressed any urgency to it so today after you said that i called all over trying to get her in immediately for proper care and noone was able to do it...she is eating still and drinking and seems quite upbeat...the earliest i can get her in is Tuesday....saying my prayers...I know there is sometimes no inication in their behavior to show ketones are in her urine...correct?I think a second vet opinion is a good idea. I think she should have been started on insulin immediately. Ketones can develop quickly.
So even with his advice of half food half insulin you should have given her some insulin, or had he not even given you a perscription yet?
Ok well then all you can do in the meantime is make sure she only eats very low carb food and wait. Good luck.hi janet...three seperate vets knowing her bg level was 33 and rising to 35.4 in three days did not suggest i put her on insulin until they did the diabetic curve and none of them stressed any urgency to it so today after you said that i called all over trying to get her in immediately for proper care and noone was able to do it...she is eating still and drinking and seems quite upbeat...the earliest i can get her in is Tuesday....saying my prayers...I know there is sometimes no inication in their behavior to show ketones are in her urine...correct?
That's a decent pre shot number this AM. I agree that she has to eat and for now if it's higher carb you have to do that. You don't want to risk liver problems. It'll be difficult to assess an insulin dose with higher carb food in the mix but you have to choose your battles right now. The YA is known to cause loose stools in some kitties.Update on Jaxa's numbers yesterday; since she has been eating poorly I haven't wanted to take food away just because I was going to test during the day, and unfortunately yesterday we had very little of our sample ZYA left, so I mixed in her other higher carb food and she ate mostly that. I tried to get a # after our PM shot, but after sticking her ear five times and not getting anywhere I could see she was getting anxious and she started pulling away, so I let her go. It was a day of excuses. Hopefully we will get the ZYA, in the mail supposedly, soon, but she will be eating higher carb today too- she actually wanted to eat between testing and the shot today, and after the shot again though. I would rather that she eat though and not go back toward bad liver values.
Plus, we went from loose bm on Friday morning to normal bm last night. She seemed to feel better after that. I have been holding back on cerenia until I am sure she isn't going to eat, and she has been eating enough each day to just put it off a little more. I would give her a pepcid, but read that antacids are bad to giving when on amoxicillan.
What size lancet are you usingUpdate on Jaxa's numbers yesterday; since she has been eating poorly I haven't wanted to take food away just because I was going to test during the day, and unfortunately yesterday we had very little of our sample ZYA left, so I mixed in her other higher carb food and she ate mostly that. I tried to get a # after our PM shot, but after sticking her ear five times and not getting anywhere I could see she was getting anxious and she started pulling away, so I let her go. It was a day of excuses. Hopefully we will get the ZYA, in the mail supposedly, soon, but she will be eating higher carb today too- she actually wanted to eat between testing and the shot today, and after the shot again though. I would rather that she eat though and not go back toward bad liver values.
Plus, we went from loose bm on Friday morning to normal bm last night. She seemed to feel better after that. I have been holding back on cerenia until I am sure she isn't going to eat, and she has been eating enough each day to just put it off a little more. I would give her a pepcid, but read that antacids are bad to giving when on amoxicillan.
What size lancet are you using
Yikes that's about as thin as they come. This is why you had trouble. You want thicker ones. 26 or 28 gauge.the smaller the number the thicker the point. I use 28.When I shopped at Wal-mart last weekend the smallest I could find were the micro-thin Relion 33, which I've seen on here is larger than most use. I don't get paid until Thursday so I can't really afford to find a replacement until then at the earliest though.
They tend to over eat it at first which can make them gassy or get the runs.I wanted to post an update but not start a new thread; So about two weeks ago, I had just gotten through the sample of YA food and was waiting for our bag to arrive (the weekend shipping is slow) so I had to give her some of the higher carb food I had at hand to get by. She liked it a lot, but her numbers went up a bit on average. Then the YA food arrived, it was all mixed together in a pie pan and she has been eating that since last Tuesday. I have not had to give her anything for nausea or appetite stimulation in almost a week. A week before this last Friday we had gone to the vet because she vomited and needed a curve test there; so they kept us at 3 units twice a day then, and gave her amoxocillan (which she loathed with a vengeance). By the end of the next week (this last Friday) she seemed so much better, and the amoxicillan was ended, even though her numbers have not really gone down. So the vet upped her morning shot to 4 units and kept the evening at 3.
She is eating on her own- when the food is put down again at food time she gobbles up enough that I don't worry and I give her the shot while she is distracted by the food. I haven't measured it, except what I am adding to the dish since last Tuesday. She doesn't even want her old treats anymore, which is good since I shouldn't be offering them at all. I tested for ketones after getting some strips, and it was negative. I wish her numbers were going down more noticeably, but there is something very noticeable right now. She has more energy, she is playing, she is social and she is as vocal as she always used to be (she has always been my chatty cat until these last few months). I am hoping to keep on track with her weight loss, and hoping that she continues to feel better. It is almost like I have my old kitty back; she hasn't really been like this since last November. The only thing I don't like is that the YA food is making her gassy- and it really, really stinks. Every time something goes right I just wait for something to go wrong though, so I am hoping that this continues and she doesn't have a flare or anything else go wrong with her health as we are starting to see improvement.