I'm not sure if this is the place to post this request, so if admin has the power to move to the correct spot, please do so. After doing a lot of reading I'm fairly certain my cat has developed diabetes. I don't have a regular vet. It's been a long time since my cat has seen one. . probably the last time was when she finished her shots. Anyways, she is a twelve year old calico female cat. She has many of the classic signs now, drinks a lot, pees a lot, now might be developing neuropathy on her hind leg. She doesn't have the lethargy and hasn't lost any noticeable weight. I tried the Core Wellness food to see if a change in diet was sufficient--it wasn't. One thing I've read is that it is better to see a vet who is familiar with the identification and treatment of feline diabetes, rather then just choosing a vet at Random. . so I'm asking? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help
Vet Familiar with Feline Diabete in Corona-Ontario Area?
- Thread starter mfiner
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Sorry I can't offer any advice on a vet but just had a question. You said you tried the Wellnees Core was that dry or canned? If it was dry try the canned, even tho Wellness Core is a 'high quality dry food' all diabetic cats should be on an all canned low carb diet. My cats blood sugar dropped over 100 points just changing to canned food and btw it doesn't have to be the expensive kind. My cat eats mostly Friskies and Fancy Feast and hasn't needed insulin in 10 days!!!
Good Luck with your little girl!!
Good Luck with your little girl!!
LynnLee + Mousie
Very Active Member
hey there,
i used to live in xxx and still go to my vet there. not sure where you are at in xxxx but it's about a 10 mile drive down the 91 freeway and right off at gypsum canyon. she's WONDERFUL! i have absolutely nothing bad to say about her. she's very familiar with feline diabetes, is a cat only vet which in itself made such a huge difference for my cats.....no barking dogs or squawking birds to make them scared and nervous. and she has saturday hours which is the save all for me since i work ungodly hours during the week.
You could test your cat's blood glucose level at home which would give you an idea if you might be looking at diabetes. If it's high though it doesn't necessarily mean diabetes because other things can raise glucose levels, i.e. infection, pain, steroids, etc..... so you'd still want the vet to have a look at kitty and run some blood work.
i used to live in xxx and still go to my vet there. not sure where you are at in xxxx but it's about a 10 mile drive down the 91 freeway and right off at gypsum canyon. she's WONDERFUL! i have absolutely nothing bad to say about her. she's very familiar with feline diabetes, is a cat only vet which in itself made such a huge difference for my cats.....no barking dogs or squawking birds to make them scared and nervous. and she has saturday hours which is the save all for me since i work ungodly hours during the week.
You could test your cat's blood glucose level at home which would give you an idea if you might be looking at diabetes. If it's high though it doesn't necessarily mean diabetes because other things can raise glucose levels, i.e. infection, pain, steroids, etc..... so you'd still want the vet to have a look at kitty and run some blood work.
@ Harry - Yeah, I tried the Wellness Core food, since it seemed to be the highest protein food that I could buy, even higher then the "prescription" foods marked for diabetes. I will try feeding her an all canned food diet. I had tried feeding her a bit of the Fancy Feast Classic foods. . but it wasn't the dominant food source
@ Cindy & Mousie - I will definitely check that vet out. I'm actually in Eastvale. . so it's a bit longer trip. My cat does not travel well. Better to say she is fine but her owner doesn't handle her loud crying when in the car--with the noise she makes you'd think I was killing her, LOL
I'm not sure how to test Feline glucose. I'm fairly certain it is Diabetes. Unless there has been a long term untreated urinary infection, I've noticed the large urinary volume and water consumption for quite some time. The only thing that gives me pause is that normally, given the urinary volume, water consumption and the neuropathy, her diabetes has had to have been occurring for a while but I didn't notice any of the weight loss that should have occurred at this point.
I'm heading away for vacation at the end of the week so hopefully I'll have a chance to make it to the vet when I return. Plus I'm hoping to get a little Xmas money from my bosses since the first visit or two at the vet for this kind of thing is going to be rather pricey.
@ Cindy & Mousie - I will definitely check that vet out. I'm actually in Eastvale. . so it's a bit longer trip. My cat does not travel well. Better to say she is fine but her owner doesn't handle her loud crying when in the car--with the noise she makes you'd think I was killing her, LOL
I'm not sure how to test Feline glucose. I'm fairly certain it is Diabetes. Unless there has been a long term untreated urinary infection, I've noticed the large urinary volume and water consumption for quite some time. The only thing that gives me pause is that normally, given the urinary volume, water consumption and the neuropathy, her diabetes has had to have been occurring for a while but I didn't notice any of the weight loss that should have occurred at this point.
I'm heading away for vacation at the end of the week so hopefully I'll have a chance to make it to the vet when I return. Plus I'm hoping to get a little Xmas money from my bosses since the first visit or two at the vet for this kind of thing is going to be rather pricey.
LynnLee + Mousie
Very Active Member
LOL!!! I know those sounds well. I meoooooooooow back at my kitties on the way to the vet and next thing you know we have a nice loud conversation the whole way there. they sure do get quiet though when we walk in the door at the clinic.
we have friends with kitties that live there and i'm sure they go to a vet there in xxxx. I can find out what vet they use and if perhaps we could call and find out how much they know about diabetes. ohhhhh, i just thought of something, let me do some googling and get back to you on this. i remember reading about one place and i think it said something about diabetes experience but can't be certain.
how friendly is kitty with strangers? if you'd like I could come by one evening and see if we can get a reading on kitty. If it is diabetes i could even probably start you off with a meter & strips for testing or some lantus insulin if the chosen vet is a fan of lantus. What are your plans for kitty while you're gone? Do you have someone to care for her?
we have friends with kitties that live there and i'm sure they go to a vet there in xxxx. I can find out what vet they use and if perhaps we could call and find out how much they know about diabetes. ohhhhh, i just thought of something, let me do some googling and get back to you on this. i remember reading about one place and i think it said something about diabetes experience but can't be certain.
how friendly is kitty with strangers? if you'd like I could come by one evening and see if we can get a reading on kitty. If it is diabetes i could even probably start you off with a meter & strips for testing or some lantus insulin if the chosen vet is a fan of lantus. What are your plans for kitty while you're gone? Do you have someone to care for her?
I actually don't live too far from that Ralph's that you used to shop at.
My cat is different with every stranger. Some she is totally accepting with and other's she will be hissing and uphappy--it's basically roulette guessing
I appreciate the offer and may take you up on it when I get back from vacation. I think tomorrow or the next day I'm going to put her strictly on a canned food low carb, high protein dies with Fancy Feast Classic (at least I've seen several recommendations for it) and see what happens. It will also help stagger things in so far as I understand one shouldn't both change a cat's diet and put her in insulin at the same time since it adds an addition variable in trying to titrate the correct insulin donation
I do have someone to care for her when I'm gone. I actually share a house with my best friend and her family.
My cat is different with every stranger. Some she is totally accepting with and other's she will be hissing and uphappy--it's basically roulette guessing
I appreciate the offer and may take you up on it when I get back from vacation. I think tomorrow or the next day I'm going to put her strictly on a canned food low carb, high protein dies with Fancy Feast Classic (at least I've seen several recommendations for it) and see what happens. It will also help stagger things in so far as I understand one shouldn't both change a cat's diet and put her in insulin at the same time since it adds an addition variable in trying to titrate the correct insulin donation
I do have someone to care for her when I'm gone. I actually share a house with my best friend and her family.
LynnLee + Mousie
Very Active Member
Awesome you have someone who knows her that can care for her while you are gone! and yes, one change at a time is a good idea. 
let me know when you get back if you need anything.
I did find out that my friend uses Acacia Animal Hospital. It's over on 6th street though in xxxxx, just past the 91 freeway. They like them and said their prices are reasonable but didn't know how much they know about diabetes. There address is 939 W. 6th St., xxxx and their phone number is xxx-371-1002. If you call them you can tell them xxxx sent you.
That was how my calico was too. For the most part when a stranger came in, she wanted to sniff and check them all out, but on her terms. Some people she would let pet her, others, hell no. LOL!! She loved us though, following me around all over the house, sitting on my shoulders while i did dishes, etc....and she was Queen of the house.
let me know when you get back if you need anything.
I did find out that my friend uses Acacia Animal Hospital. It's over on 6th street though in xxxxx, just past the 91 freeway. They like them and said their prices are reasonable but didn't know how much they know about diabetes. There address is 939 W. 6th St., xxxx and their phone number is xxx-371-1002. If you call them you can tell them xxxx sent you.
That was how my calico was too. For the most part when a stranger came in, she wanted to sniff and check them all out, but on her terms. Some people she would let pet her, others, hell no. LOL!! She loved us though, following me around all over the house, sitting on my shoulders while i did dishes, etc....and she was Queen of the house.
I thought I'd let you know that my kitty is doing REALLY well on the Fancy Feast Classic wet feed. After a bit of adjustment to the food---things seem to be fine. I am feeding her probably a bit less then needed for her weight. . . but between the wet food and the possible weight loss (haven't weighed her yet). . she is drinking NOTICEABLY less water. . in fact I was looking at the water feeder I use and noticing that most of the water was still there--normally it's gone in a week. And she is peeing less--although I started using that Arm & Hammer corn based litter because the clay litter had been sticking to her paws (so it's a bit harder to judge). But based on the water consumption and excretion. . her diabetes appears to be under control. The only thing still noticeable is the neuropathy that developed on her hind legs. . but that's it. I've perused a few things that might help with that. . but need to do more research in that regard.
It's really amazing the change that using the wet feed made!
It's really amazing the change that using the wet feed made!
Jenn & Baxter
Very Active Member
Methyl B -12 is suppose to help with neuropathy.
I purchased mine from www.vitacost.com. When shopping for methyl b-12 make sure it is pure & doesn't have any form of sugar alochol in it. Sugar alochol is toxic to animals.
The other option is to have a vet give your cat B-12 shots. They do wear off in a couple of days & can get pricey. Also, you could ask for the B -12 to administer at home. The vet will most likely want to do blood work before giving you the B-12.
Although, your cat is not drinking or going to the liter box as much doesn't mean her diabetes is under control. If her BG was really high & with diet change, her BG could come down. It doesnt mean they are in normal BG ranges. Your cat still needs to see a vet & have the blood work done. Home testing would help you get a idea of what her BG #s are so you can present those to the vet.
Keep us posted.
Jenn & Baxter
I purchased mine from www.vitacost.com. When shopping for methyl b-12 make sure it is pure & doesn't have any form of sugar alochol in it. Sugar alochol is toxic to animals.
The other option is to have a vet give your cat B-12 shots. They do wear off in a couple of days & can get pricey. Also, you could ask for the B -12 to administer at home. The vet will most likely want to do blood work before giving you the B-12.
Although, your cat is not drinking or going to the liter box as much doesn't mean her diabetes is under control. If her BG was really high & with diet change, her BG could come down. It doesnt mean they are in normal BG ranges. Your cat still needs to see a vet & have the blood work done. Home testing would help you get a idea of what her BG #s are so you can present those to the vet.
Keep us posted.
Jenn & Baxter
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