Urination Down To Only Once A Day..Problem?

[Louellen]

Morrigan had a bout with loose bowel movements for 2 or 3 days after too quick a change in foods. She's now got normal bowel movements but, she's only urinating once a day. (She's gone from 6 or more/day pre-insulin, down to 2 or 3 max. per day after starting insulin, now...only once per day for the past 2 days).

Should I be concerned?

The food switch happened last Monday. By Wednesday, she had loose movements (not water, just unformed). Went back to her usual food on Thursday and by late Saturday/early Sunday, movements were normal again.
She's back to mainly canned foods, with 1/8th cup of m/d kibble through the night but, only urinating once per day??? We're mixing water with her canned foods as well.

Edit to add: She had a 6.9 (124) reading last night out of the blue then, a 9.3 (167) after food and a re-check but, being so late, I didn't shoot as vet told me NOT to shoot at 10 (180) or under. This morning, she was at a 17.5 (311) 24 hours with NO insulin and AFTER eating so, shot the insulin as normal. If this means anything.

 

[Voula]

One of the symptoms of high blood glucose is increased frequency of urination so a reduction in frequency of urination can mean that the blood glucose level is coming down. This is a good thing. All the best for continued success.

 

[Louellen]

One of the symptoms of high blood glucose is increased frequency of urination so a reduction in frequency of urination can mean that the blood glucose level is coming down. This is a good thing. All the best for continued success.

Thank you, Voula. I was more concerned because it was only once a day yesterday. Maybe, this is a good sign as her numbers were down last night???

 

[BJM]

Decreased urination, maybe half a cup to a cup a day, is about normal when you are getting good control of the glucose.
Does she go once or several times with small amounts? That could indicate infection or a stone somewhere.
Is the volume large?
Is she dehydrated (see my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools for 2 ways to check)/

 

[Voula]

Thank you, Voula. I was more concerned because it was only once a day yesterday. Maybe, this is a good sign as her numbers were down last night???

Once a day could be normal as long as the amount of urine is normal too as BJM said. Every cat is different too so frequency may vary but seeing less frequent urination as long as everything else seems fine like a normal quantity of urine and no straining or other issues could well be from better control of the diabetes. Because some of my cats have had urinary tract infections over the years I do take note of frequency of urination and when there have been no health issues I have noticed some days they might have urinated once but other days two or three times so it can vary even with no health issues.

 

[Louellen]

Decreased urination, maybe half a cup to a cup a day, is about normal when you are getting good control of the glucose.
Does she go once or several times with small amounts? That could indicate infection or a stone somewhere.
Is the volume large?
Is she dehydrated (see my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools for 2 ways to check)/

Thanks BJ. She usually goes twice a day now. (She was going 6 or more times a day before insulin...so, I know that's a good sign with control). However, the past day or two, she was only going once, one puddle (larger amount in one time...not several times or straining or seeming distressed). Today though, she did finally go twice. Both times were larger than usual BUT...I also became concerned about dehydration due to the looser bowel movements for 3 days last week on a food change....so, I was adding bottled water to her wet food each time today. I'm keeping a journal of everything even in the litter box.

I read your secondary notes again and I can't tell with her if her skin stays tented as she's so long furred! Her gums looked moist and pink but, I will try the pushing on the gums before I head off to bed. Of course, Wednesday is a holiday up here. I will keep trying to add water to her wet food (she's at about 75% wet now I just realized today...getting there!)

 

[Louellen]

Once a day could be normal as long as the amount of urine is normal too as BJM said. Every cat is different too so frequency may vary but seeing less frequent urination as long as everything else seems fine like a normal quantity of urine and no straining or other issues could well be from better control of the diabetes. Because some of my cats have had urinary tract infections over the years I do take note of frequency of urination and when there have been no health issues I have noticed some days they might have urinated once but other days two or three times so it can vary even with no health issues.

Thanks Voula. Yes, the quantity of urine overall, seems to be about the same as she has been since regulating on the insulin. It's just done at one time, instead of a couple. And, I am adding water to her wet foods to help *IF* there was any dehydration. No straining that we can tell. Hubby has seen her in the box and there's no seeming sign of struggle or discomfort when she goes. She finally did go a second time today and the volume was larger BUT...I have been adding extra water to her wet food today.

I'm going to watch her carefully again until Thursday when our vet opens again (July 1st Canada Day Holiday up here on Wednesday).

 

[BJM]

The eyes may appear sunken in and gummy, too, if she is dehydrated.

 

[Louellen]

Thanks BJ. I checked all of the criteria in your notes and here and she was fine it seems. Her gums responded well, were wet, not sticky and she did go twice yesterday and twice again today. I also keep checking the skin pull up and I found that I can see it more clearly (loads of fur with a long haired cat as I'm sure you know) a bit further down the neck towards the scruff area but, bottom of the neck and it went down almost instantly. I have continued to add water to her wet food though just to ensure more water. Hubby had to put her in the box tonight and once in there, he watched and she went fine. No struggling, discomfort or moving around. Just a straight pee, dig, cover and out again. I think she is ok. I'm continuing to watch and keep a journal of that and her stools. Boy...I pay closer attention to her than I do to myself and hubby who is also diabetic...though diet only controlled.

I'm also seeing lower PMPS numbers and a couple of nights now, she's into the blue ranges. I skipped her shot on Monday night because it was too low for an overnighter when it's harder to get 2 of us to test (takes 2 of us to do it with her). Tonight, she was just at about the (10.2) 185 mark so, I waited a half hour and she was up to a 12.3 (canned food kicked in). I gave her the shot 45 minutes later than usual but, gave it at that point.

I'm not sure what her body is doing right now but, I see others with similar SS things happening so, keeping up the canned foods (now more like 70/30 for the wet/m/d kibble so, getting there!) and adding water (not too much but, adding some each time). She's eating about 2 3/4 cans of the wet food per day and about 1/8th cup of m/d kibble (hopefully, soon to be gone. I'm counting calories as well. She's usually in about the 250 range so, for 14.4 lbs, I think that's about ok and should maintain her since she's pretty inactive indoors.

I'm losing hair myself though and what little I have left is going white

 

[BJM]

You've got your signature and spreadsheet going, so I think you are ready to move into the Lantus/Levemir forum, read over the sticky notes at the top, and pick one of the protocols to follow in managing her care.