Vet feeding instructions for Charlie...??

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Kristina & Charlie :)

Member Since 2013
Hey Charlie's Angels I have a few ??s for ya...
FIRST of all, after the hypo incindent on Monday, I have NOT given Charlie any shots. On his SS, I just keep his AMPS and PMPS #'s but no shot, just food after I test. I talked to the vet to see if I can just check his BG for a few days with the Purina DM- She was ok with that.
Here is the thing. The lead vet basically told me he NEEDS to be eating that food and only twice a day. They say he should eat 2/3rds of a 5.5 oz can twice a day!! They are used to being free fed so I knew my work was cut out for me. Tuesday I did not feed them but twice a day, but they STILL don't eat a lot (barely 1/4 can) I do not feel comfortable with eating schedule. They are hungry...ALL THE TIME confused_cat

Question- Is it IMPERATIVE that I feed him only twice a day for the insulin to work at its best? Or is the schedule more important (like what if i feed them 4X a day ON A SCHEDULE) My concern is that when I start giving him shots, he will not eat enough and his numbers will drop too low. nailbite_smile

Question- True or False: The fact that I give Charlie his nasty Purina DM and pour a little juice from Chispas yummy Wellness (less than 10%carb) on top is OK.
-He eats more when that is mixed in :?:

I was going to wait until Monday to start shooting him up, but I am going to start tomorrow, as I will be home all day, and most of the Sunday. You can see on his SS that he is consisantly over 300 and I want the boy to feel good. I am starting at 1/2 U twice a day. I told the vet that.

Question- I assume that 1/2 U twice a day is good...and WON'T make his numbers plummit like the 2U did on Monday. Is this correct? nailbite_smile

I think thats all for me. I have read that some people feed 3-4 times a day on a schedule and that works for them. Do other kats eat as little as mine do???
I love this board...
Talk to you guys soon!!!
:mrgreen:
 
Kristina, a lot of your questions were answered in your other post http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?t=91771

There are links in there for types of food he can eat, canned only, plus a lot of info from Lantus users and their feeding schedules. Forget that darn DM food...Yuck!...just don't bother telling the vet :mrgreen:

I'm sure Lantus people will respond to this new post by you also.
 
A question for you - why are you giving him the DM?
For most (me included) the vet prescribed DM - I took it back after 1 can and got a full refund.

Its too expensive and cats generally don't like it - why not give him something he does like for the same or less carbs?

If Charlie isn't regulated, he's going to be very hungry and would want more than normal (Honey was on 4 cans of FF but now is down to around 2) - and that's fine.
Remember - vets are not nutrition experts - they usually get a couple of classes and then fliers and prescription food provided by the manufacturer - and they get a kick-back from selling it as well.

Honey is no longer on insulin but when she was, I fed her 4 times a day but smaller meals.
I always made sure she ate at shot time - even if that mean't putting sprinkles on to entice her or swapping out a flavour.
Then I encouraged her to eat at the between shot times.

Now she's off insulin, we stick to the same schedule but I'm not pushing the food as much - if she nibbles, that's ok.
 
Denise & Honey said:
A question for you - why are you giving him the DM?
For most (me included) the vet prescribed DM - I took it back after 1 can and got a full refund.

Its too expensive and cats generally don't like it - why not give him something he does like for the same or less carbs?

If Charlie isn't regulated, he's going to be very hungry and would want more than normal (Honey was on 4 cans of FF but now is down to around 2) - and that's fine.
Remember - vets are not nutrition experts - they usually get a couple of classes and then fliers and prescription food provided by the manufacturer - and they get a kick-back from selling it as well.

Honey is no longer on insulin but when she was, I fed her 4 times a day but smaller meals.
I always made sure she ate at shot time - even if that mean't putting sprinkles on to entice her or swapping out a flavour.
Then I encouraged her to eat at the between shot times.

Now she's off insulin, we stick to the same schedule but I'm not pushing the food as much - if she nibbles, that's ok.
Click to expand...

The vet said this food is the "key" to getting off insulin, and if he doesn't eat it, he will be diabetic forever. Those are his words. I'm going out to buy some FF tonight after work to see if he will like those better. I guess i'll tell the vet this, he won't be happy. I'm sure he absolutely believes what he says, but I have to grow a backbone and tell him what I think...and that ther is research to back it up. (I know about the kick-backs...boo)
Thanks you guys.
I really appreciate it.
 
Hope + (((Baby)))GA said:
Kristina, a lot of your questions were answered in your other post http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?t=91771

There are links in there for types of food he can eat, canned only, plus a lot of info from Lantus users and their feeding schedules. Forget that darn DM food...Yuck!...just don't bother telling the vet :mrgreen:

I'm sure Lantus people will respond to this new post by you also.
Click to expand...

I looked through the list, and made my own...Thanks for the reminder, I am reading so much I don't remember where I read what!!
 
Well, FWIW, I have never fed DM purposely except for one time when Hope decided she didn't want any kind of canned but loved the DM dry. Few weeks of that and she decided she wanted canned again. Also, thier poop REALLY stinks on that food ( not that it ever smells good but on DM...gas mask needed) :lol:

Cats can and do go into remission with regular canned food and especially on Lantus insulin. Thing to remember is not every cat will go into remission........if it happens, it happens and be thankful.......and if it doesn't happen, still be thankful that it is just diabetes and not a cancer. I've seen so many over the years try so hard for remission and get so frustrated because it doesn't happen.
 
Unfortunately your lead vet isnt fully educated on diet for diabetes. Maybe what he was trying to say is that a low carb food is critical to help get Charlie into remission - IF he is going to do it - maybe as many as 40% of cats do.. but not all of them unfortunately :( .

Purina DM is not required at all unless you work for Purina ;). Any low carb canned food will do - fancy feast classic pates, friskies pates and wellness grain free are just a few examples. I have seen many cats go into remission on this.

Second - two meals a day isnt required. I would free feed since thats what he is used to and it will keep his blood sugar more stable. However take the food up 2 hours before his shot so that when you do the test, the number isn't influenced by the food.

You are right, two units was too much and a reduced dose is better. What weight is he? we have a calculation for starting dose based on weight.

Wendy
 
Wendy&Tiggy said:
Unfortunately your lead vet isnt fully educated on diet for diabetes. Maybe what he was trying to say is that a low carb food is critical to help get Charlie into remission - IF he is going to do it - maybe as many as 40% of cats do.. but not all of them unfortunately :( .

Purina DM is not required at all unless you work for Purina ;). Any low carb canned food will do - fancy feast classic pates, friskies pates and wellness grain free are just a few examples. I have seen many cats go into remission on this.

Second - two meals a day isnt required. I would free feed since thats what he is used to and it will keep his blood sugar more stable. However take the food up 2 hours before his shot so that when you do the test, the number isn't influenced by the food.

You are right, two units was too much and a reduced dose is better. What weight is he? we have a calculation for starting dose based on weight.

Wendy
Click to expand...
Charlie was 11.6 when we went to the vet on Monday, but he may have lost a little with me trying to get him on a schedule. Im sure he is still around 11 lbs.
My DH just came down and gave me a pep talk about how these are OUR kids, and not the vet's. And you guys are reliable and knowledgable. :mrgreen:
So I'm goinig to start Charlie tomorrow on 1/2U twice daily and feed about 4-5 times a day. I do like that they are actually eating when we put food out. But I'm going to letthem eat a few smaller meals, since thats what they are used too and I dont want to use starvation as a method for creating a feeding schedule.
 
I agree with Deb - give the wet food a few days first and get him eating properly first. If he isnt eating right his BG might drop too low. Give it the weekend - but keep testing - before you put him back on.
 
**sigh of releif**
OK, I will get him eating better first...on FF or Friskies. I will continue to moniter him before he eats...
I will give him one week, and then go from there.
You guys rock. :RAHCAT
 
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