Opinions on my diet plan?

[researcheresk]

We have changed my newly diagnosed cat's diet (and my other cat) .My diabetic cat is currently on Hill's M/S canned (vet pushed it on us) morning and night and I also bought them Merrick's Grain free dry (supposedly low carb). After reading, my plan is to convert her (and my other cat) completely over to Merrick's canned (with some cheaper low carb cans mixed) and have some dry out for them to much on in between. Opinions on the diet plan? What are some preferred canned foods around here? I'm looking at http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf made by Dr. Lisa Pierson to get some ideas about canned options.

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

Sounds okay except the dry to munch on. There is really no reason to feed any dry. It's bad for any cat, but especially diabetics. It will make it hard to regulate and get your cat in remission. I imagine you have seen the vet website: www.catinfo.org

You can free feed wet. I freeze it in silicone cupcake pans and keep those pucks in the freezer in a plastic bag. Some people feed them and let them thaw as the cat munches. (that didn't work for us. Oliver dragged the puck all over the carpet and ate what flaked off.) We use them in combination with an automatic feeder. It opens and closes when we want him to eat or not.

You can also leave it out for up to 8 hours or so, as long as it isn't awful hot and buggy. Adding a little water can help it from drying out and make a gravy which some cats like and it keeps them hydrated.

 

[Deb & Wink]

Hill's M/S can

I think you meant to type Hill's M/D, not M/S. The M/D is 14% carb, a bit higher than we like to see.

Sometimes, a diet change to a low carb food, under 10% carbs, can make a big difference in the BG (blood glucose) numbers. A cat's BG levels can drop 100 points (mg/dL) with a diet change.

Be sure to be home testing, which you are, before you change the diet.

There are only a couple of dry foods that are under the 10% limit we suggest. Perhaps someone else can provide you with that list.

 

[researcheresk]

Yes, you are right it is M/D. Ok, so stick with wet food all the way. Will do.

 

[KPassa]

You can also return the Hills to the vet for a refund under the Hills "guarantee." Just tell them your cat won't eat it.

You might also want to double-check the Merrick's you're feeding as they recently had a formula change when they introduced their Purrfect Bistro line.