Time for a new vet I think

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Chris & China (GA)

Chris & China (GA)

Member Since 2013
Yesterday I got the diabetes diagnosis (447 BG) and picked my China up this morning from the vet. First, I did a LOT of reading last night so thank you for the wealth of information you provide on this message board. Here's the problem(s)

1. The vet refuses to accept that there's anything other than Hills M/D (Dry) to feed her, although most of what I read has said there are better (and certainly cheaper) options. At $20 for 4lbs, I don't see any way to continue feeding this long term, especially if there are better options.

2. This vet has seen her almost her entire life, but when I even mentioned that I'd done some research overnight, got all "huffy" and said "you know, I've NEVER treated a diabetic cat in all my years of practice".

3. He wants me to switch her over to the Dry M/D over the next 2 days (which I think is TOO fast even if I agreed it was the best choice)

4. He wants to retest her in about a week, thinking the food change will bring her blood glucose down to under 300 and if it does, "Insulin is a big hassle to deal with" so if it's 300 or under, I guess he's going to consider her "cured"?

5. The only thing I did agree with is she would probably need kidney/liver function testing every 6 months (although at this time, there's no issue, I understand it''s something that should be monitored.

Should I even bother to try to change his mind, or just find a vet that's more willing to treat each animal as the individual they are?
 
First, WELCOME Chris and extra sweet China!

Oh yeah - this place is AMAZING for those of us with sugar cats! I'm glad you decided to join us.

In MY opinion only, I think I would find a new vet if you're going to have a vet treat the diabetes. If not, you're in the right place to do this for yourself! My vet gave us the original diagnosis but from that point on, I handle diabetes related things here at home. It's not complicated, it's just different. KT only sees the vet for other things.

1) Since you've already read here for a while, I'm sure you've discovered that dry food is NOT the best food...period. Here, everyone eats either Friskies pates, Fancy Feast Classics or Blue Wilderness grain free wet....surely NOT $20/4 lbs!

2) Some vets have the same 'God Complex' as doctors, lawyers, Indian Chiefs...ooops, sorry.... :oops:

3) See #1

4) He needs to move into the real world...over 200 are numbers above the renal threshold that causes glucose toxicity. Insulin isn't any bigger of a headache that anything else....

5) OK....

I don't know if any of this helped but at least it's a warm welcome!!!!

BIG HUGS TOO!!!
 
Thank you both for your replies. I think since this is my first Sugar Cat (and especially if she's going to require insulin) having a vet that's will to talk TO me and not DOWN TO me will make all of us a lot happier in the long run.

I do feel a lot more comfortable about managing her care at home than I did when I first got here, so I'm sure I'll be asking lots of questions, and doing lots of reading.

I think I'll just take this first week and gradually switch her and my other two to Friskies Pate's. They seem to get a lot of everyone's recommendations, especially if you're on a budget (which I am)

I have sent an email to the makers of the food they've all been on the majority of their lives too, just for my own education if nothing else. It is a high protein, highly digestible dry that they've always done well on, but it may be easier to just switch them all to the same thing instead of trying to juggle different diets. I sure don't want China feeling she's being treated differently than the other 2

Thanks again, and will keep you informed as well as continue asking questions as I need to!
 
Yikes! :shock: I would definitely be asking around and finding a new vet, but that's mainly because I can't deal with confrontation, and ESPECIALLY when I'm already nervous about the vet visit to begin with!

Now, I'm only two and a half weeks into this diabetes thing, but from my own experience insulin is no more of a hassle than feeding the cat or cleaning the litter box. Heck, I think it's LESS of a hassle than cleaning the litter box at this point! On the other hand, Baloo is remarkably chill about getting poked most of the time, so your experience may be different.
 
See my signature link for some Vet Interview Topics in case you decide to go looking for another vet.

It is difficult for vets to stay on top of every disease for every species they treat. Given that, you might print out the AAHA guidelines to read, then share them with the vet, saying (diplomatically, of course) you understand how hard it can be.

And if you choose to leave, be sure to indicate it is because the vet is not up to date.
 
I've been giving my own shots to my animals since I was 13 and worked for a vet all summer...then I moved on to my human children, so the insulin part doesn't scare me...what scares me is a vet thinking a blood glucose in the 300's is OK!
 
That can be part on not being up to date, along with prescribing dry food diets, and N type insulins (instead of longer-acting insulins like Lantus, Levemir and ProZinc).
 
Thanks for the tips BJM....I will try approaching him once more with the AAHA guidelines in hand and see if he is willing to rethink his attitude, but it seems with the rise of diabetes in animals, this is one of those diseases any good vet would try to stay more up to date on.

He did say he had one of his office cats on ProZinc but was completely rude when I even discussed that I'd seen that dry and prescription diets weren't always required (I did try to leave him a way "out" by phrasing it like that, but his reaction tends to verify what I've thought of this particular man for some time....That he's mostly interested in the money)
 
Saw an article saying there were too many vets "diluting the earnings" posted on AAHA site.

And if that is the attitude you're picking up, then looking elsewhere is probably overdue.
 
Welcome to the board

I hope you find a good new vet but even if you dont, as long as you can find one thats willing to prescribe a good insulin and accept your choices, we can work with that!

For now, I agree at least with trying the food to see if that helps. However dry wont cut it since most as too high carb. Wet is much better. What did you feed before diagnosis?
I would recommend transitioning to a low carb canned over a period of a week to prevent diarrhea issues. Many of use here feed Fancy feast classic pates, Friskies pates or Wellness grain free but as long as you pick one from here thats under 10% calories from carbs (column C) you are good):http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf

Now in order to know if this is working, and then later to keep China safe when on insulin, we need to get you home testing... Are you open to giving it a try?

Wendy
 
I had a vet who was an absolute bastard. One day a dog tore up his face and arm.

I have a great vet now, who my cat really likes (and is part of a cat only hospital). She is actually very intimidated by my cat, he's her oldest patient (18), only her second skinny diabetic, and her first to ever go into remission. She used to be a dry prescription food believer, now she pretty much lets me do what I think is best, but it makes her feel better if I consult with her when I want to make big changes, and bring my cat in every so often for checkups.
 
Sorry for the late reply, but not only am I learning all about feline diabetes, my mom had a stroke since last time I was online (she's doing well though, thank goodness!)

I'm totally comfortable with doing whatever is necessary to give China the quality of life she deserves. The only reason I use this horrid man is because I live in the middle of nowhere (well not really, but it's farm country so there are only a few vets within a 30 minute drive and they all have mixed practices of both small and large animal)

I DID buy a Relion BG meter and 100 test strips, lancets, so will be attempting to teach myself how to do this (they make it look so easy in the youtube videos....lol)

I have gotten some recommendations for a vet about 45 minutes away who although treats dogs, actually prefers cats, so this is promising! Hopefully once we're more stable with her disease, the trips will be few and far between because I've not met too many cats in my life that enjoy riding in the car, and I understand stress effects blood glucose results.

The food she's been eating for many years is called Life's Abundance...it's available online only and has always kept all 3 cats in good shape (but have switched China to Friskies pate' despite the vets "recommendation" to feed her only Science Diet M/D dry
(link to Life's Abundance for information only..if not allowed, feel free to delete http://www.lifesabundance.com/Pets/Cats ... &Ath=False

just called the makers..it's 29% carb...so TOO high!

Now for the Question of the day!!

China's normal body weight over her lifetime has been in the 11lb range, but she only weighed 7.8lbs on diagnoses. I've started her on 3 feedings/day of 1/3 of a 5.5 oz can at each feeding (so 1 can/day) but she's still looking for more! I don't know how much is too much, or if I should let her eat her fill 3 times/day no matter how much that is, increase the number of feedings per day or what to do.

Appreciate your help and kindness!!
 
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Unregulated diabetics may consume 50-100% more calories than normal, expecially if they need to gain weight. Without enough insulin helping them use the glucose the consume (and make from proteins and fats!), they are literally starving.

Frequent small feedings helps prevent scarf 'n' barf. Using a kitten food helps as the caloric content may be a bit higher, as well as the protein content.
 
ok so heres a calculation for food to get her back to the 11lbs if you think thats her ideal weight?

Required calories per day = [13.6 X ideal weight in lbs] + 70 = 220 calories per day.

Friskies pates are around 170 calories a can so you need to feed her slightly more than now. Maybe add a can of Fancy feast classic pates at 80 calories?

Weigh her twice a month and alter the amount of food depending on how she is doing. The above calculation is just an approx starting point thats based on China being regulated - since she isnt regulated, her body is still starving so you might want to feed more in the meantime like BJ said. Three feedings a day is good - more is up to you..
 
What area do you live in (city/state/province)? Maybe we have a member here in your area that can recommend a vet.

Starting to change the diet to low carb is a good first step while you're looking for a vet. If you haven't already got copies of your kitty's records / recent bloodwork - request it -- you paid for it!
 
my mom had a stroke since last time I was online (she's doing well though, thank goodness!)
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear that your mom suffered a stroke. Sending healing vines and get well vines to your mom.
 
I live near Versailles, Missouri

Yes..she's weighed close to 11lbs her whole life, and has never been overweight, so 11 is a good target weight for her. At 7.8 she looks so terribly thin :cry:

and YES..I did pay for them, so if I try another vet, you can bet I'm taking her records with me!!

Thanks again for all the suggestions and help!!!
 
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Do you see those little bits of information at the end of other people's posts? That is information we all have put in our user control panel, profile tab, edit signature free form text box.

Would you be willing to put some information in there too? I think of it as a quick snapshot of your cat and it lets us help you help your cat better.

I like to see your first name, your cats name age and sex, meter used for home testing, insulin used, food type being fed, any complicating medical conditions your cat may have. The user control panel is at the top left side of the screen. Click on that. A page comes up with various tabs. click on the Profile tab. Over on the left hand side of the page, there is now a list to choose from. Select Edit Signature and a free-form text box pops up. Enter the data and then click submit to save the data.

Once you get a spreadsheet set up to track the BG numbers, that link will go into your signature also.

Do one more thing please while you are in there if you would be so kind. Within the profile tab, select edit profile and update the location field with your location information. Click on submit once more to save the data.

Thanks for doing this.
 
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