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  1. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    Hi my name is Lisa and I am new to all this. My cat just got diagnosed and they put her on the DM diet, but after reading your website I see that it isn't needed and the dry is a definite no. I have a question, what is the average blood glucose levels in cats? is 350 extremely high?
     
  2. Ferndoc

    Ferndoc Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2015
    350 is high for a cat but not necessarily for a diabetic. Remission range is 80-120. Many non-sugar kitties come in below 50.
     
  3. Shenandoah

    Shenandoah Member

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    Nov 25, 2015
    Hi Lisa, welcome to the forums! There's a lot of great information about here, and people are really friendly - so just ask if you have any questions. You'll find most people hang out on the main Feline Health forum.

    As Ferndoc said, normal ranges are much lower - however, many of us started here in the 400s and some even in the 500s. So you're kind of middle-of-the-road in the 300s. It definitely needs to be treated, but is not as bad as it could be.
     
  4. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    Ok so should I be treating her with insulin? Diet ? Definitely going to take her off dry Purina DM. After reading these posts and the vets website I have seen 3 different vets at my same office and some say yes some say diet and I get mixed views on the insulin the only thing consistent is the type of insulin lantus is what they want if I do go that route. I am so confused
     
  5. Shenandoah

    Shenandoah Member

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    Nov 25, 2015
    Definitely get her on a low carb wet food diet. Make the change slowly, though, to avoid digestive problems. This site is the most recommended around here for diet information http://www.catinfo.org/
    It would be good to learn to how to test her blood glucose at home as well, so that you can monitor that. It's much more accurate than doing it at the vet's when they are stressed. And if you do end up giving insulin, then you'll want to be testing before every shot and between shots as often as feasible. You can start here http://www.felinediabetes.com/bg-home-test.htm for monitoring tips, but don't be afraid to ask - it's a bit daunting to all of us when we start. Most of us us human glucometers since the meters and test strips are cheaper than the pet specific ones, so most of the numbers you'll find on this site are based on the human readings (typically a bit lower than the pet ones at the low end of the range).
    I'll let others respond about insulin and how to dose that - I'm not experienced enough in that area. Do you have a prescription for it now?
     
  6. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    Welcome to FDMB.

    Changing to a low carb diet may reduce the glucose 100-200 mg/dL.
    Testing at home may show numbers 100-180 mg/dL lower than at the vet's office.

    Sooo ... before you make any food changes, please, please learn to home test the blood glucose for safety reasons.

    And just in case, here is How To Handle A Hypo.
     
  7. Shenandoah

    Shenandoah Member

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    Nov 25, 2015
    Just to clarify for Lisa - if you decide to start insulin then make sure you are testing when you make the diet change, because the new diet can cause a large drop in blood glucose.
    As long as you are NOT yet giving insulin, you can start the diet change immediately, as hypo is not a risk if you aren't giving insulin. Just make sure you are testing when/if you do start the insulin. And it's a good idea to start testing anyway, so you can monitor what her BG is doing.
     
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  8. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    Ok she is already on the prescription diet the vet put her on Purina DM both dry and wet but after reading here the dry isn't good at all for her and the wet is good but expensive.
    So I am going to just give her wet , she used to like only dry and not wet but now she loves the wet so it should be easy for her
    I haven't started her on insulin yet. She has been thru a lot of stress and she is about 16 years old. 3 years ago we drove from California to NH and moved to NH , then about a year ago we got a dog, now we moved again not far but enough to bother her , just moved to the downstairs apartment, she snuck back upstairs and hid for 2 days. Right after I found her she had a vet appointment and that is when her blood glocose was high. Took her back a week or 2 later and had it tested again and it dropped dramatically but still high.
    What meter do everyone use ? And where do u get it?
    I am just trying to control diet, I can't afford the high price of the insulin. if I don't have to buy it, then the vet I am seeing recently said I will have to throw a lot of it away cus it will expire . I don't have money to throw away
     
  9. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2009
    Many of us here use the WalMart ReliOn Confirm or Confirm Micro.
    Some of us here get Lantus (and Levemir), both human insulins from
    https://rxcanada4less.com/
    You do need a script from your vet. Most of use here purchase the disposable pens. Although more expensive per unit that the 10 ml vial most of us can use up a 3 ml pen before the insulin loses effectiveness compared with a vial. Just keep the insulun refrigerated and disregard the that the Lantus manufacturer says discard after open for 28 days and 42 days for Levemir. You use a syringe to draw the insulin of of the end of the pen. The pens only dispenses in 1 unit increments and most cats need finer control.
     
  10. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    Feeding small meals frequently may help the pancreas by not overburdening it to produce a lot of insulin at one time.
    Effective insulins for cats include the human insulins Lantus and Levemir, and the pet insulins ProZinc and BCP PZI. some folks have had success with Vetsulin/Caninsulin; others have not.
     
  11. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2016
    So the reliOn from Walmart is the glucose montitor? The vet wants her on lantus but not the pen. I can order the insulin thru that site u posted? How much is it?
    I am switching her food mixing the Purina DM with the fancy feast classic to get her used to it,how much should I feed her a day?
     
  12. Jeanne & Dottie

    Jeanne & Dottie Member

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    Jan 9, 2016
    Welcome to the board, Lisa! :bighug:This site has brought so many kitties into remission, either partly or permanently. And everyone is so kind and helpful.

    BTW, what's your kitty's name? We like to get down on a personal level with your cat, too. Even our male members are:cat:Crazy:cat: Cat:cat: Ladies:cat: when it comes to taking care of our furbabies. We want HEALTHY!

    The manufacturers of dry foods would have you believe that a cat can consume their grain and veggie/fruit based dry foods and stay healthy. What the manufacturers have done is cater to the general public's wish for a food that is easy to feed, and convenient to store. I think of them as being like the tobacco companies...there's a lot of Sins of Omission within their advertising programs. Now the truth is getting out, which is why we're now seeing so many new dry foods coming out on the shelf. But they're still not any more optimal for our cats, than living on an exclusive diet of Brownies and Hot dogs is optimal for human health. (Here I need to tuck my tail between my legs, and go hide. MUST HAVE Brownies, gack! o_O My cats eat better than I do, now.)

    Cats need moisture in what they eat...they can survive, but they can't really thrive, on dry food... In the wild, they get their water from within the bodies of the critters they eat. Off the savanna and into our homes, cats, most of them, just don't drink enough water. They're programmed to NOT drink much. So our"house lions" go around dehydrated, and that leads to stomach upsets, dry flaky skin, (dandruff), and eventually other, more serious problems. So you want your wet food to contain at least 72% water.

    Make sure the wet food corresponds with low carb brands and flavors. Fancy Feast is a good one, and within 'normal' price range. So are Friskies classic PATES, (pates only). There are other good foods on the market, and there's a link in this message board to a whole list of acceptable canned food.

    So don't buy chunks, shreds, morsels, whatever:) with gravy if you are going low carb. Gravy is flour or corn starch, and flour/cornstarch is actually sugar when it hits the digestive system.. BTW the clear gravies may be made of either guar gum, or cornstarch, both produce a much clearer gravy than flour based gravies. You want the good stuff, (meat based) to be in the first five ingredients on the can. And meat by-products isn't necessarily bad. (You WILL, however, want to keep some cans of gravy laden foods in your HYPO emergency kit...they'll bring your cats' glucose readings back up if they crash)

    Stay away with wet foods that have fruits or veggies, because they're carbs, too. Dry food manufacturers toss them in their foods because they look and sound good to human eyes and ears. It's like putting pleasing colors on the food's packaging.

    Cats are obligate carnivores, true meat eaters. Anything else can eventually throw their systems out of whack. Even lions and tigers rarely ingest plant matter, and even then it's usually from the guts of prey, and has been predigested, and only eaten in small amounts. Greens like Cat Grass are mostly hurled back out because they're eaten to help remove hairballs, parasites, and other 'clutter' from the cats' guts. The cat grass sold in most Big Box Stores' cat food aisles, is usually rye grass and that DOES have carbs. Every Carb counts, especially if your kitty is a brittle diabetic, who is very sensitive to changes in BG levels. Switch to wheat grass kitty greens. No or minimal carbs..

    And as other members have pointed out, go s l o w. So your furbaby doesn't crash and burn. We're so glad to have you here:kiss: You're a good CatMom.:D
     
  13. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2009
    Yes "the reliOn from Walmart is the glucose montitor"
    You can purchase the Lantus pen and use a syringe to draw the insulin out of the end of the pen when human attached the pen needle. However, unlike a for a vial you do not inject air into the pen.
    You have to go to th site to find the price. You can call them too.
     
  14. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    Oh ok but my vet says no on the pen, so I am afraid to use it without her consent
     
  15. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2016
    Her name is Gato. She has already been eating Purina DM dry and wet ( vet recommended) she loves the wet, so not hard to change her over to just wet . Just wondering how much I should give her a day? It is 630 am here and she is staring at her bowl like food is going to appear, and like she is starving. Should I give her some in the morning some at night ?
     
  16. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Hi Lisa, and welcome to you and Gato. :)

    The Lantus pen itself may not allow for fine enough dosing. However, the pen cartridges are like mini vials of Lantus. They have a little rubber seal on the top, just like the vials, and you use a syringe to draw up the insulin dose.

    It might help to reassure you to know that our vets actually stock and sell individual pen cartridges of Lantus. For most cats the 10ml vial will lose its potency before it's all used up and therefore some of it may go to waste. Our vets think it's better all round to offer the Lantus pen cartridges. :)


    Mogs
    .
     
  17. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    How can I get my vet to go along with it?
     
  18. Shenandoah

    Shenandoah Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2015
    Just tell him that you plan to still use the same syringes for the injection either way, it's just a different container that is storing the insulin, and is more economical. Make sure you're clear that you're not going to use the pen for the actual injection, because that's probably their concern - it's too difficult to be accurate at the tiny doses cats need. But if you use the same syringe, there's absolutely no difference.
    If your vet still gives you a hard time, ask why. Make him justify his reasoning.
     
  19. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Also, maybe tell him about my vet's preference for issuing Lantus pen cartridges. (They don't even carry the 10ml vials in stock.)

    The best syringes to use are U100 0.3ml syringes with half unit markings. The small volume means that the barrel of the syringe is quite narrow so it makes it easier to fine tune cat insulin doses. Becton Dickinson do them and I also think Walmart may do similar in their Relion range of diabetic supplies. (Could someone from the US confirm this, please?).


    Mogs
    .
     
  20. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    Yeah those are the size syringes she wants me to use but with the vial
     
  21. Shenandoah

    Shenandoah Member

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    Nov 25, 2015
    Just make sure she knows you want to use the syringes with the pen. If she thinks you want to use the pen to administer the insulin, then her objection makes sense. But if you're using the syringes either way, what difference does it make to her whether you stick the needle into a smaller or larger container?
     
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  22. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    Tell your vet you want to use the pen refill vials that contain only 3ml (300u) instead of the 10ml (1000u) vials because you don't want to be throwing money away. At the dose an average kitty needs, you can usually use up all the insulin in the 3ml. vials by always keeping it refrigerated. The unopened vials often have an expiry date of close to two years past the purchase date. With a 10ml vial, once used it's not going to last the two years. Why any vet would object to a more economical purchase of insulin is beyond comprehension!

    Just in case you vet is thinking economically (worrying about you having sticker shock??), be aware that the cost for the pen refills will be higher initially because you will be purchasing 1500u instead of 1000u but you will be able to use most if not all of it as opposed to potentially throwing out a significant amount of insulin in a 10ml. vial.
     
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  23. Bobbie And Bubba

    Bobbie And Bubba Well-Known Member

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    Jun 15, 2015
    I had to school my vet on how to write the RX for the Lantus pens. If you get the RX filled at Walmart you can buy just one pen for $86. If that is the way you choose to purchase it, the vet would need to write for : 1 Solostar Lantus Pen, 3ml and then her to say how many units twice a day. And she should give you at least 6 refills on it. Or you can use the RX and go to Mark's Marine Pharmacy and I believe you can get 5 Solostar pens for about $ 144.00. I thought I had the information saved for Marks's Pharmacy but can't find it, I will tag @Chris & China as she is who gave me the information. Hope this helps.
     
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  24. Chris & China (GA)

    Chris & China (GA) Well-Known Member

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    May 10, 2013
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  25. Bobbie And Bubba

    Bobbie And Bubba Well-Known Member

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    Jun 15, 2015
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  26. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    Ok I will have to discuss it with her , cod I don't want to throw stuff away
     
  27. Julia & Bandit (GA)

    Julia & Bandit (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    Yes, there is no difference between drawing the insulin from a vial or pen with a syringe, except that the pens are smaller in size so they have less waste. A box of 5 pens from the Canadian pharmacy costs about $170 after shipping, but they will last you nearly a year or more with proper handling. That breaks down to be only about $14 a month for insulin. A vial from the same Canadian pharmacy will cost you $120, but it will only last you 3-6 months at most (and 6 is seriously pushing it--the longest my insulin has ever lasted is 3 months). That's $20-$40 a month using the vials.

    Here's a picture of how you would draw the insulin out of the pen with the syringe: [​IMG]
     
  28. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    Thank you now I need to get my vet to agree
     
  29. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
     
  30. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    Is this the monitor you use called reliOn confirm?
     
  31. Chris & China (GA)

    Chris & China (GA) Well-Known Member

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    May 10, 2013
    Either the Confirm or the Micro...both at WalMart

    One is a little bigger meter than the other....that's the only difference. They take the same strips. It just depends on your personal preference as to which meter fits your hand best
     
  32. Jeanne & Dottie

    Jeanne & Dottie Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2016
    Most cats need 3oz to 6oz of wet cat food a day, dependent on how big a cat they actually are. My Dottie is a small kitty. She can get away with only 3 oz of food a day. But very big cats might need double that. Is your kitty overweight, or skinny?

    Oh and yes, Walmart sells the Reli-on syringes with the half unit markings. That's what I have.
     
  33. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    Ok thank you my cat is in the small side and not overweight, I give half a can of fancy feast in the morning and half at night and she acts like she is starving. Every time I am near her bowl she meows for food
     
  34. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    What should her glucose level be ?
     
  35. Ferndoc

    Ferndoc Member

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    Dec 20, 2015
    Normal range happy range (meaning he's in remission) for a diabetic is below 120. 40 is too low an he needs to be treated for hypoglycemia. At 250 they are in danger for renal failure. Anything about 250 is way too high for a cat.
     
  36. Shenandoah

    Shenandoah Member

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    Nov 25, 2015
    Do you have a scale? Either a baby scale you can weigh your kitty on or a human scale you can weight yourself and yourself+kitty and subtract to get the difference? If so, record her weight once/week or so. This is the best way to tell if she's getting enough food.
    One can of Fancy Feast Classics (3oz) seems pretty low. For reference, my 10 lb cat eats 1.5 cans FFC/day, and my 11 lb cat eats about 2 cans FFC/day, and both are maintaining weight (neither gaining nor losing). So a lot depends on the individual.

    Do be aware that some brands of wet cat food come in 5.5 oz cans or other sizes, so that would change the calculations. FFC are 3 oz.
     
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  37. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    She weighs about 7 lbs
     
  38. Olive & Paula

    Olive & Paula Well-Known Member

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    Sep 6, 2015
    1 can (3 oz) doesn't seem like it would be enough. You might want to check with your vet and calculate to see if you need to adjust.
     
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  39. Julia & Bandit (GA)

    Julia & Bandit (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    I agree, 3 oz seems a bit light for a 7 lb cat. I think I would try out 1 1/2 cans a day and see how it goes--if it's too much food you can always scale back a bit.

    I would also increase the frequency you're feeding. Diabetic cats do best with smaller, more frequent meals. Bandit is 11 lbs eats 4x a day--when I fed Fancy Feast/Sheba, he got 1/2 can every 6 hours.
     
  40. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2016
    Thanks I am giving her 2 cans a day she still thinks she is starving and whenever I walk near where her bowl is she runs to it. I can only space out her food so much because I work, so I give her some in the morning when I get home from work and then later in the evening so that is 3 times
     
  41. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2016
    I have another question. Been giving her a all wet food diet for a week now , and she doesn't seem to be drinking as much water and peeing as much is that a good thing or a bad thing ? Should I be taking her to the vet? Was going to feed her all wet for a week and then check her blood gucose but haven't yet
     
  42. Ferndoc

    Ferndoc Member

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    Dec 20, 2015
    If you want to try and add a 4th. I give food when I get up, before I leave for work (1-2 hours later) when I get home and before bed. I also work so can't give food every x hours.
     
  43. Ferndoc

    Ferndoc Member

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    Dec 20, 2015
    GOOD THING
     
  44. Shenandoah

    Shenandoah Member

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    Nov 25, 2015
    Another option is to make popsicles. I use 1/4 can for mine plus pumpkin, and the 2"x2" silicone ice cube trays work perfectly. I put them in, fill the remainder of each square with water, and freeze.
    Then I put them down right before bed, which means a few hours into the night, when those melt, they get another meal. I also do that if I have to be away all day for some reason - put popsicles down right before I leave so they will have a meal a few hours later.
     
  45. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    Is pumpkin good for them?
     
  46. Ferndoc

    Ferndoc Member

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    Dec 20, 2015
    Pumpkin is good for regulating the digestive system and does not effect carbs. I haven't tried to add it yet or see if my cats will touch food mixed with it.
     
  47. Shenandoah

    Shenandoah Member

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    Nov 25, 2015
    A lot of people here use pumpkin to avoid constipation issues.
    A few weeks after I changed Shenandoah to 100% canned food, we had a couple days of bad constipation. I added the pumpkin and it all cleared up. So I keep it in her diet now.
    This is the page that someone here referenced to me at the time http://www.felineconstipation.org/

    If you aren't seeing issues, you may not have to worry about it. But if you start seeing some constipation, you might want to add a bit in.
     
  48. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2009
    Pumpkin (not the pie filling) is not infrequently used for constipation and diarrhea. It does have some carbs but is high in fiber.
     
  49. Julia & Bandit (GA)

    Julia & Bandit (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    I work all day, too! I have two auto feeders (one for each cat), that I put a frozen portion of canned food in before I leave for work, and set it to release at lunch time. I do the same if we need to do a late night feeeding and everyone needed to go to bed early. If your cats aren't food crazy like mine, you can try just leaving a frozen portion out without a feeder, and that would be fine, too.

    This is good! The reduced drinking means she's better hydrated, and reduced peeing means that the food must be having a positive impact on her BG levels. Many cats don't drink from the water dish at all when they're on an all canned diet. Bandit only drinks water when there's something wrong with him (e.g. high blood sugar), so it makes me worried when he does!
     
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  50. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    Ok thanks that helps, she is food crazy over the canned food, I could feed her all night it seems where do u get the times feeder ?
     
  51. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    Here bms are a bit hard compared to before so I think I might introduce pumpkin into it
     
  52. Olive & Paula

    Olive & Paula Well-Known Member

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    Sep 6, 2015
    Petsmart has auto feeders (a couple of them) and you can Google them to get a lot of options for ordering.
     
  53. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    Jun 16, 2014
    Petsafe 5 feeders are the best I've used to date. Burgle-proof, reliable and you can set out up to 4 timed feeds plus one that's available to the cat immediately. It has a digital timer and will dispense feeds over a maximum period of 24 hours. It's great for night time feeding, too. :)

    Don't go for Petpod feeders. They're a lovely design but they're so easy to burgle a semi-conscious amoeba could break into them. :rolleyes:


    Mogs
    .
     
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  54. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Feb 18, 2015
    Good to know! I'm looking into auto feeders and I'd be in real trouble with Menace who is very aptly named!;)
     
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  55. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    Jun 16, 2014
    @MrWorfMen's Mom -

    The Petsafe's are the biz for 24-hour feeding. They're quite substantial size-wise, but the feed tray rotates toward the cat so you don't need that much space for them. You can actually set up to 9 feed times on the digital timer. This is really useful if you need to use it during the day (e.g. while you're at work) and at night (while you're asleep) because you don't have to keep reprogramming it.

    If ever you needed a feeder for a period longer than 24 hours then Catmate 20s are OK. They have mechanical timers and are a bit clunky but they're burgle-proof. They also come with an ice-pack.

    Avoid the Catmate 50 like the plague: the minimum interval between feeds is 4 hours and the mechanical timer on it is an absolute pig. And you need a miniature ballroom for them because the cat has to rotate around the feeder. :rolleyes: (I sent mine back for a refund.)


    Mogs
    .
     
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  56. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

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    Oct 6, 2010
    Welcome to FDMB.
    Check my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools for a couple ways to check for dehydration, as well as other assessments you may find helpful.
     
  57. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    Ok ty
     
  58. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    The lady at Walmart told me to use the reliOn prime because the strips are cheaper and if it is for my pet to save money , what is your opinion?
     
  59. Shenandoah

    Shenandoah Member

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    Nov 25, 2015
    I haven't used it, but I think I read somewhere here that it requires a larger drop of blood. If your kitty's ears bleed easily that may not be a problem, but if you struggle to get enough, you might want to stick with the Confirm or Micro.
     
  60. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Feb 18, 2015
    I'm pretty sure a lot of folks are using the Prime and quite happy with it.
     
  61. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Feb 18, 2015
    @Shenandoah You are correct. The Prime needa a 0.5 drop (can't remember the measure short form) and the Confirm needs 0.3. The difference between them though might not be a big issue. I wouldn't recommend anything requiring any larger than the 0.5 drop and some need 0.8.
     
  62. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    Ok thank both of you !
     
  63. Chris & China (GA)

    Chris & China (GA) Well-Known Member

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    May 10, 2013
    Some people do fine with the Prime, but others have had some problems with getting lots of error messages and using more strips (which negates the benefit of the cheaper strips)

    Personally I've used both, and I like the Confirm a lot better...the strips have a "wicking action" that sucks the blood up into the meter really quickly
     
  64. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Feb 18, 2015
    @Chris & China - Good to know! Thanks for chiming in. Making note to self for future reference!
     
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  65. Julia & Bandit (GA)

    Julia & Bandit (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2009
    The petsafe 5 feeders are easy to program and use, and definitely the most popular ones around here! They work great for most cats, and are pretty easy to program. I have 2 unusally mischevous, food crazed cats that think they're raccoons, so I needed something a bit more sturdy because Bandit destroyed our first Petsafe feeder (back in 2007, when they were way more expensive than they are now, along with another $80 feeder!). So I've owned 2 of these feeders since 2007, and they work great. A little harder to program than the petsafe, but not too hard to figure out and they are mostly mischief proof. They don't make them anymore which is why they're expensive on Amazon now (but you can find them for less than $40 on Ebay). There's a six tray feeder made by the same company that's only about $35, but it doesn't have the ice pack compartment, so I think the Petsafe is the better deal (as long as your cats aren't crazy trouble like mine).
     
  66. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2016
    Thanks for all your help
     
  67. Lisa and Gato

    Lisa and Gato Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2016
    What size lancets should I get for my cat to use with the reliOn ?
     
  68. Shenandoah

    Shenandoah Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2015
    It's easier to start out with larger needles (smaller numbers). You can get lancets for "alternative testing sites" that are around 28 gauge.
    Once your kitty's ears learn to bleed, the regular 30 or 31 gauge lancets are usually fine.
    I only used the 31s, but in the beginning I frequently had to poke twice to get enough blood.

    I'd suggest you start a new thread on the Health board. More people hang out there to see your questions, plus this thread is getting long so some people won't read through it all.
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2016
  69. Chris & China (GA)

    Chris & China (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2013
    The lancets are just used to "poke" the ear to get a blood drop, so it doesn't matter what size or even what brand you use. If you're using the lancet device and it's the Relion device, they have lancets for "alternate site testing" that are 28 gauge and are better when you're new to testing than the ones that come with the device (which are usually 31-33 gauge and are very tiny)

    I don't use the device since I find I can control it better just freehanding, but if you're using the device and like it, get some of the lower numbered (like 28 gauge) until your cats ears "learn to bleed" and then you can go back to the higher numbered gauge lancets
     
  70. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
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