fructosamine test?

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Peppersmom72, Jan 2, 2018.

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  1. Peppersmom72

    Peppersmom72 Member

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    Our vet has mentioned that she would like to do a fructosamine test on Pepper once she is switched to her new insulin.
    Is this necessary or normal for her to want to do this test?

    Also, is it safe and healthy or beneficial for me to do a partial raw food diet with Pepper (i.e. some cut up chicken with her FF? or to supplement an entire meal with raw?)
     
  2. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    If you frequently take BG at home (before every shot and periodically between shots) I say a fructosamine test is unnecessary. It does have use for caretakers who do not home test and and initially to help confirm diabetes.
     
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  3. FurBabiesMama

    FurBabiesMama Well-Known Member

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    That test measures the average level of glucose control over the previous two to three weeks. It can be a helpful tool, but if you are home testing, it is not necessary. (I personally think it is more helpful at diagnosis.) Once she is on her new insulin a few days, you could do a curve (test every two hours for 12 or, if you are up to it, 24 hours) and provide the results to your vet. That is a great tool for seeing the impact of an insulin dose. The AAHA guidelines say that after a month of treatment you should "Measure fructosamine unless detailed home-monitoring records are available." They do suggest doing a fructosamine every 3 to 6 months, but it is certainly not necessary if you are continually monitoring.
     
  4. Diana&Tom

    Diana&Tom Well-Known Member

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    Not necessary at all! A fructo test shows an AVERAGE bg over a period of two or three weeks, so could include some very high and some very low numbers. It will confirm ongoing diabetes but is no substitute for testing daily at pre-shot times and whatever intervals in between you can manage. If you're doing this, don't bother with a fructo test.

    Partial raw food diet is ok as long as you are feeding other complete foods (ie with all the vitamins and minerals needed).
     
  5. Peppersmom72

    Peppersmom72 Member

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    Thank you very much. The vet knows that I test every day and do curves, as well. So, I think this was just to get more $ out of me.
     
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  6. Peppersmom72

    Peppersmom72 Member

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    Do I have to add anything to the raw meat? What other complete foods are you referring to? I'm just trying to get pepper to poop on a regular basis. I tried 1/8 tsp of miralax and she got diarrhea on the 2nd day.
     
  7. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    I agree - no need for a fructosamine test. Put the money toward test strips! ;)
     
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  8. Peppersmom72

    Peppersmom72 Member

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    I'm switching meters also with her switch of insulin. How do I get an updated SS?
     
  9. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Re raw food: if it's a garnish on her FF meals, she's getting the vitamins/minerals she needs from the FF. If you go all raw then you have to add a supplement to the raw food. Taurine in particular is very important.
    http://www.foodfurlife.com/
     
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  10. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    You can tag Marje and Gracie to revamp your SS.
     
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  11. Diana&Tom

    Diana&Tom Well-Known Member

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    Complete foods are those marketed by the pet food companies as just that. I'm in the UK and I don't think you are so I can't recommend specific brands, but usually a good quality wet food in jelly is what you're looking for, with words on the label saying "complete" (ie as opposed to "complementary" or "supplementary" which as the names imply mean are not actually complete foods and don't contain all the nutrients required).

    As for feeding raw, there are products you can buy to add to raw meat that will make it complete - again, the specific products will vary from country to country so hopefully someone will be along to help with that.
     
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  12. Peppersmom72

    Peppersmom72 Member

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    @Marje and Gracie, can you help me with this?
     
  13. Peppersmom72

    Peppersmom72 Member

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    I'm really interested in the egg yolk listed on that website. I'm wondering if I can add my own egg yolk now or if I can add egg yolk to her diet in that powder form?
     
  14. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    I'm sorry but I don't have experience with that. Wasn't it Chris and China that suggested it?
     
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  15. Chris & China (GA)

    Chris & China (GA) Well-Known Member

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    it's fine to add egg yolk any time to the diet....it's low carb/high protein
     
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  16. Peppersmom72

    Peppersmom72 Member

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    oops!
     
  17. Peppersmom72

    Peppersmom72 Member

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    @Chris & China

    Raw egg yolk, correct? Since I can't eat egg yolk myself only the whites (bad stomach aches from the yolks), can I just give her some from my egg before I make my eggs? If so, how much?
     
  18. Chris & China (GA)

    Chris & China (GA) Well-Known Member

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    To prevent hairballs, for many kitties, apart from steps to avoid hairball ingestion (frequent brushing or a lion cut - for some, even just a belly shave (where they groom the most) helps immensely), the use of additional egg yolks in the diet (one or two a week) alone is often sufficient to prevent hairballs. For some cats, additional yolk can cause soft or runny stool, so please introduce it slowly, and work up to smaller amounts fed more frequently, rather than a whole yolk at a time

    Making your own dried egg yolk (not all cats like raw egg yolk, but most will eat the dried powder)
     
  19. Peppersmom72

    Peppersmom72 Member

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    • @Chris & China, It says that it also Benefits Gastrointestinal Motility. So, I'm hoping it works. I'll try anything at this point. She just does not move her bowels normally.
     
  20. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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  21. Marje and Gracie

    Marje and Gracie Senior Member Moderator

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    The only issue with that product is the rice flour which I don’t like my cats to have but everyone is different on what they put on their preferred ingredient list. Also, if one is giving a cat psyllium powder, one needs to be sure they get a lot of water or it could make things worse.

    Absolutely I can. I’ll send you a PM as I need you to give me editing rights.

    I am also a fan of the egg yolk and powdered egg yolk. If it is an isolated incident of a bit of coonstipation, you can give 1/8th of a fresh, raw egg yolk to start.
     
  22. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    This!!! :D


    Mogs
    .
     
  23. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    When using psyllium powder it's also a good plan to start with a very conservative amount because it can really bulk up the stool.


    Mogs
    .
     
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