diabetic cat , weight loss, Hills MD

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Pam Gibbs - 01 May 2004 22:12 GMT

My vet has
prescribed Hills Science Diet MD for my cat. We think Bozo has contracted
steroid induced diabetes.

This cat is not and has never been overweight. His normal weight is between
twelve and thirteen pounds. In the two weeks he has been eating the Hills
he has lost two more pounds, and is now down to eight pounds. His blood
sugar has gone from over five hundred last time down to 389 this morning

The prescribed amount of food is 3/8 cup perday, and nothing else. The
technician says that Bozo will soon get used to eating less and told me to
stop giving the cat more food. (He has been eating one cup per day along
with 1/4 cup of cooked beef or chicken every other day.)

I have looked at the Hill website and see that this is the same thing they
prescribe for obese cats on a weight loss diet, and that only recently has
it been prescribed for diabetic cats. There is very little information
about the diet and diabetes on the website.

Does anyone have any experience with this food and diabetic cats? We will
see the vet on Monday to discusss test results and options and I am starting
to think I need a new vet.

Thanks!

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Larry - 02 May 2004 00:48 GMT

Few diabetic cats can be controlled by diet alone. there is an oral
medication that also only works in a few cats. I would suggest that you
talk to your vet about starting insulin. Right now because of his
uncontrolled diabetes he cant use enough food that he eats and is losing
weight. Also, since your cat is not overweight I would not limit his food.
I presently have two diabetic cats on insulin.

Signature

Larry - Owned by seven cats

> My vet has
> prescribed Hills Science Diet MD for my cat. We think Bozo has contracted
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> Thanks!

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Rhonda - 02 May 2004 01:35 GMT

I agree with Larry. It could be the diabetes causing the weight loss.
Once it's under control, the weight should stabalize.

We always knew Bob was in trouble when he lost weight, or drank/peed too
much.

Did you say 3/8ths cup of cat food? That doesn't sound like much. We had
Bob on Purina DM, and he ate 1.5 to 2 cans a day. He was about 11-12 lbs.

You can also try asking questions at the message board on
www.felinediabetes.com. There are lots of ultra-experienced diabetic
cat-owners there, and they helped me immensely.

Take care,

Rhonda

> Few diabetic cats can be controlled by diet alone. there is an oral
> medication that also only works in a few cats. I would suggest that you
> talk to your vet about starting insulin. Right now because of his
> uncontrolled diabetes he cant use enough food that he eats and is losing
> weight. Also, since your cat is not overweight I would not limit his food.
> I presently have two diabetic cats on insulin.

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Gene Royer - 04 May 2004 23:52 GMT

Good advice.

> --
> Larry - Owned by seven cats
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> >
> > Thanks!

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Gene Royer - 04 May 2004 23:50 GMT

> My vet has
> prescribed Hills Science Diet MD for my cat. We think Bozo has contracted
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> Thanks!

I only have experience with m/d (dry). It is often recommended for diabetic
cats because it is low in carbohydrate calories and high in protein.
However it is also low in fiber and may tighten your cat up. My cats like
it, but I find it necessary to mix in a generous amount of higher fiber food
with it to keep them from having difficult stools. It is also pretty costly
when considered that it only comes in small bags (10 lb is the largest).

I have a steroid induced diabetic cat as well, and he liked it fine;
however, for the reasons above, I put him back on a basic canned w/d diet
made sloppy from a mixture of dry w/d and water. He gets insulin twice a
day and the w/d does not send his glucose through the ceiling.

As long as I watch his water consumption and urination I find I can give him
a break from it from time to time with some a/d mixed in for gravy.

--Geno

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