Managing feline diabetes with a low carb diet
In early summer of 2016, our cat Priscilla began losing weight. She was 15 years old.
Her daily urine output increased dramatically. She began consuming 20 ounces or more of water each day.
For 1 1/2 years she and her "sister" Bexy had been eating a "prescription diet". This cat food was 37% Carbohydrates! In hindsight we understand how this was nothing like the natural balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates that cats eat in the wild.
On Monday, August 29, 2016—Priscilla weighed 7.5 pounds. Blood samples were taken by her veterinarian.
On August 31st—our vet phoned explaining that Priscilla's blood glucose level was 31 mmol/L or 558 mg/dL. The lab had enough blood to follow up with a fructosamine test; on September 2nd the diagnosis of feline diabetes was confirmed.
It was also on September 2nd that Sharie and I discovered the website of veterinarian and cat specialist, Dr. Lisa Pierson.
Click on this link for Dr. Lisa Pierson's website
As I build this web-page on June 16th of 2017, Priscilla's urine output is relatively normal. Her blood sugar is maintained between 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dl) and 12 mmol/L (216 mg/dL). She is receiving no injections of insulin. On September 4th of 2016 we began feeding Priscilla assorted Friskies canned pates averaging 6% carbohydrates.
Sharie and I carefully regulate the quantity of Priscilla's food. Reverse osmosis water is available 24 hours a day. When partial cans of Friskies Pates are kept in the refrigerator, her portions are heated for about 8 seconds in our microwave oven. They are fed at a temperature that's slightly warm to the touch.
We feed between 1 to 1 1/2 156 gram cans of low carbohydrate foods per day. They are listed below. She loves all of them and never tires of a daily rotation of these foods. Note: There's also a Friskies Turkey Dinner Pate available in Canada. This doesn't agree with Priscilla. Turkey Dinner Pate increases the volume of her urine and upsets her tummy. Some experimentation was necessary.
Priscilla is energetic, contented, and currently 16 years old.
Dr. Pierson mentions some mainstream canned foods that include muscle meats as the first ingredient; this is explained in detail on her website.
Priscilla's favorite Friskies Dinners are below: These canned animal by product foods are the only low carbohydrate products available in our rural marketplace. Here is a link to analysis of different canned foods on Dr. Pierson's website.
catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf
—Salmon Dinner Pate
—Whitefish and Tuna Dinner Pate
—Chicken Dinner Pate
—Seafood Supreme Pate
—Mariner's Catch Pate
UPDATE:
Priscilla past away quietly as a result of old age infirmities, on October 17th, 2017. She enjoyed her last year of life, including a trip to Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.
On November 17th of 2016 Bexy didn't awaken from her sleep; she was 26 years old.
Cat's make wonderful pets. But please make sure that you are willing to view your pets among the highest of priorities before adopting one.
Her daily urine output increased dramatically. She began consuming 20 ounces or more of water each day.
For 1 1/2 years she and her "sister" Bexy had been eating a "prescription diet". This cat food was 37% Carbohydrates! In hindsight we understand how this was nothing like the natural balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates that cats eat in the wild.
On Monday, August 29, 2016—Priscilla weighed 7.5 pounds. Blood samples were taken by her veterinarian.
On August 31st—our vet phoned explaining that Priscilla's blood glucose level was 31 mmol/L or 558 mg/dL. The lab had enough blood to follow up with a fructosamine test; on September 2nd the diagnosis of feline diabetes was confirmed.
It was also on September 2nd that Sharie and I discovered the website of veterinarian and cat specialist, Dr. Lisa Pierson.
Click on this link for Dr. Lisa Pierson's website
As I build this web-page on June 16th of 2017, Priscilla's urine output is relatively normal. Her blood sugar is maintained between 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dl) and 12 mmol/L (216 mg/dL). She is receiving no injections of insulin. On September 4th of 2016 we began feeding Priscilla assorted Friskies canned pates averaging 6% carbohydrates.
Sharie and I carefully regulate the quantity of Priscilla's food. Reverse osmosis water is available 24 hours a day. When partial cans of Friskies Pates are kept in the refrigerator, her portions are heated for about 8 seconds in our microwave oven. They are fed at a temperature that's slightly warm to the touch.
We feed between 1 to 1 1/2 156 gram cans of low carbohydrate foods per day. They are listed below. She loves all of them and never tires of a daily rotation of these foods. Note: There's also a Friskies Turkey Dinner Pate available in Canada. This doesn't agree with Priscilla. Turkey Dinner Pate increases the volume of her urine and upsets her tummy. Some experimentation was necessary.
Priscilla is energetic, contented, and currently 16 years old.
Dr. Pierson mentions some mainstream canned foods that include muscle meats as the first ingredient; this is explained in detail on her website.
Priscilla's favorite Friskies Dinners are below: These canned animal by product foods are the only low carbohydrate products available in our rural marketplace. Here is a link to analysis of different canned foods on Dr. Pierson's website.
catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf
—Salmon Dinner Pate
—Whitefish and Tuna Dinner Pate
—Chicken Dinner Pate
—Seafood Supreme Pate
—Mariner's Catch Pate
UPDATE:
Priscilla past away quietly as a result of old age infirmities, on October 17th, 2017. She enjoyed her last year of life, including a trip to Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.
On November 17th of 2016 Bexy didn't awaken from her sleep; she was 26 years old.
Cat's make wonderful pets. But please make sure that you are willing to view your pets among the highest of priorities before adopting one.
Priscilla and her make believe friends, Roary and Rat-ta-tat-tat.
Bexy was adopted as a kitten from "People for Animals" now called "Regina Cat Rescue".
Here's a photo of our new precious kitten, Miley.
She was also adopted from Regina Cat Rescue on November 12th, 2017.
She was also adopted from Regina Cat Rescue on November 12th, 2017.
