Question about switching from free fed Dry food to Wet food

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rdl

Member Since 2013
Hi,
My 12 year old female cat has eaten only dry food (Science Diet) her whole life. Today we went to the vet because a month ago I switched from what I always feed her (Science Diet Mature Adult to Science Diet Sensitive Skin) and a couple of weeks after the switch she started drinking and peeing a lot more than normal. The vet is waiting on blood work but he did a urine strip test and it changed colors which he said means the sugar was high in her urine so he gave me a prescription for Purina DM canned wet food to start her on in case (assuming) it is diabetes.

My question is how much of the canned wet food do I feed her? I'm use to feeding her dry food and just always making sure how bowl is full so this switch is confusing for me. I know if it is diabetes I want to make sure she is eating enough and not less so I'm worried about the amount to feed her. I couldn't get to a store today that sold the Purina DM so I am starting her on Fancy Feast Classic (Beef) today. She ate one can already but keeps walking to her bowl like she's still hungry so I don't know what to do. Someone mentioned you can free feed wet food but honestly I don't want to do that. She thinks of it as a treat so I'm afraid then she will over eat and throw up most of it. I would like to stop her dry food immediately but confused about amount of new food to feed her. I work 8am to 5pm so would one can in morning be enough until I get home or not? Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
 
Re: Question about switching from free fed Dry food to Wet f

So she is not on insulin yet? If that is the case, you can switch over - as long as she doesn't get an upset tummy or refuse to eat the wet. It was lucky you couldn't get the Purina DM; it is expensive and its ingredients are no better than the Fancy Feast. Many cats refuse to eat it for very long as it is liver based.

My Oliver was a Science Diet dry kitty. He got very heavy and developed diabetes. When we switched to Fancy Feast and started insulin, he lost 2 pounds and was in remission in 6 months. He weighed 16 pounds and got 2.5 cans a day. It depends on whether your kitty is overweight, active or needs to gain. They are very hungry when unregulated as their body is not processing their food efficiently, so you can feed a little extra.

Your vet should really do a fructosamine test to determine if your kitty is diabetic. It is a blood test that is an average of blood flucose levels over the past few weeks and a true picture of what is going on. A blood test (or urine test) at the vet is not nearly as reliable.
 
Re: Question about switching from free fed Dry food to Wet f

You can free-feed the wet as well. Just add water to it so it doesn't dry out as fast. I give my cats three "main meals" a day (breakfast, dinner, and before bed) and then I just top it off throughout the day as their bowls get empty.
 
Re: Question about switching from free fed Dry food to Wet f

Hi Sue,
Thank you for the quick reply! My cat, Nina, is not on insulin yet and the vet is doing the blood work you mentioned because he explained that because she was stressed in the office that could be the reason for high blood sugar level and not diabetes but he wanted me to start her on the Purina DM just in case. Nina is an indoor cat so not very active and she is a little heavy but not obese. I keep reading that the Fancy Feast is just as good as the Purina DM so I might stick with it. I think I also read that Wellness makes a wet food that is good for diabetic cats so I might try that one as well.

"he was in remission in 6 months"
CONGRATS to Oliver!! Did he ever need to return to insulin? I'm hoping to start remission before any insulin but I know that might be wishful thinking. Also I know the results haven't come back yet but seems the vet was preparing me for it. We discussed costs of insulin and he told me they would teach me how to give her the shots.. I'm scared of hurting her and terrified of needles but I will end up doing it (if needed) because thats what we do when we have no other choice.
 
Re: Question about switching from free fed Dry food to Wet f

It all seems overwhelming at first. Do a lot of reading, especially the links on the Index page and other new posts. Ask questions.

We hometest our cats, to be sure the amount we are planning to give is safe and to see how the insulin is working. You'll be surprised how easily you and your kitty get into a pattern of tests and shots. I hope your vet prescribes a mild long lasting insulin like Lantus, Levemir or ProZinc.

Oliver lived for another year, insulin free. He died at 18 from heart disease.
 
Re: Question about switching from free fed Dry food to Wet f

KPassa,
I wasn't sure if two 3 oz cans a day would be enough but three cans (breakfast, lunch, dinner) makes sense. Will feed her one in the morning before I leave for work, one when I get home and one before bed. Thank you!! Also please do not judge me but after this first can of fancy feast I can't imagine free feeding wet food because the smell is horrible. I live in a small apartment and can't smell this all day/night (otherwise I would free feed her the wet food). If Wellness is an option I will definitely try that brand in hopes the smell isn't as bad as this Fancy Feast. I was also reading about raw foods and actually cooking for your diabetic cat? I'd rather do that than have to smell this wet food smell all the time (or any time). It really is a potent, lingering, terrible smell.
 
Re: Question about switching from free fed Dry food to Wet f

Sue,
Glad Oliver lived his last year insulin free. I love hearing how many people have cats that do go into remission. It's very encouraging.
 
Re: Question about switching from free fed Dry food to Wet f

RDl,

After experimenting with different foods I came across some information that told me I should stick to one brand rather than many. So I switched to Wellness. Am using mostly the kitten formula since it is the lowest in carbs. Because he gets sick of one taste only, I also use the wellness core which has no grains and is also low in carbs. He was on insulin for just a few months and has been in remission for over a year now. Hope this helps.
 
Re: Question about switching from free fed Dry food to Wet f

postiecat,
One brand makes sense. Unfortunately today I bought two different brands (Wellness and Abady) but I will stick to one brand very soon! She seems to love all the wet food so getting her to eat them won't be a problem just trying to decide which to stick with. I couldn't find much info on Abady and diabetic cats so will probably stick with Fancy Feast or Wellness.

Its only been a day and a half off dry food and on fancy feast and she hasn't drank much water (she was drinking non stop before) so I'm optimistic that maybe it was caught in time and her body is already adjusting back to normal. All this started when I switched her dry food (the food I switched her to had no protein at all but at the time I didn't know or think to read labels) so hopefully she's already responding to the high protein diet. I would love not to have to start the insulin treatment at all but will see what the vet says once the blood work results come back. Regardless the results this new diet will continue. I'm so happy that your cat (and others) did not have to stay on insulin! Great that diabetic cats can remain healthy and happy off diet alone and not daily insulin shots :)
 
Re: Question about switching from free fed Dry food to Wet f

Hello and welcome to the board!

Not all canned food is low carb - you need % calories from carbs as fed under 10% which isnt listed on the can!! So use this list column C: http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf

The Wellness grain free varieties are perfect.As are friskies pates and fancy feast classic pates. I wouldnt try abady if you cant find info on it. Better safe than sorry

Have you considered home testing? That way you will see how well the food change is working. And it saves future trips to the vet for testing. Its more accurate too since Nina wont be so stressed and stress inflates blood sugar. We can recommend meters and explain how to test.

Wendy
 
Re: Question about switching from free fed Dry food to Wet f

Wendy,
Thank u will continue with the Wellness canned grain free food because Nina loves it and I love it because it doesn't smell half as bad as the Fancy Feast.

DEFINITELY need and want to test her myself at home. About to start another post because I got her blood work results from vet and now more confused than ever about the insulin that he wants to start ASAP without even seeing my cat again. Unless I misunderstood or read wrong it seems most owners on this site had their animals start insulin under the care of their vets and then they came home to the right dose. My vet isn't doing it that way at all. Also she seems back to normal now that I started the new diet so do I even need to start her on insulin? SO CONFUSED! Testing at home would help tremendously (IF I can do it)!
 
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