Considering a RAW Food diet

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Sapphire Skye, Apr 15, 2019.

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  1. Sapphire Skye

    Sapphire Skye Member

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    Feb 19, 2019
    I wanted to know if anyone here had their cat on a raw food diet. I had been feeding FF pates but the BS seem to be increasing every time they bump the dose. So I started feeding Purina ONE grain free chicken pate at 5% carb. T His last time the vet said do 4u and rx'd Purina ONE Pro Plan DM...its expensive but bc I love my baby I decided to at least try the new food since it approx a 2% carb. Vet said if this did not work he was going to refer her to a specialists. *rolled my eyes* That tells me he is not confient in handling her case. So I went ahead and scheduled with a vet that specializes in feline. First available appt is April 27. In the meantime, looking at her numbers we never tried the 2.5u dose. IT seemed like she was starting to show SOME improvement then we jumped to 3. I humored the vet and started dosing 3.5 u for a few days. Yesterday I started her back at 2.5. along w/ the RX diet. Because of the expense I think it may be more cost effective and feed raw and am currently researching the logistics of this and discuss with the vet at the appt. I wanted to know if anyone here has had any success with a raw food diet and how soon improvement was seen. I am so frustrated that her numbers are so high, also currently I am only able to feed twice a day. I fear this may also be having an effect on her high BS. Please review SS, I also try to do UA frequently look under Lab tab. Thank you in advance

    FYI I am using the CArbCAlc app to calculate the amount of carbs in the food. I also compared the numbers manually with the formula provide in the catinfo.org site and the numbers seen to correlate closely.
     
  2. ladysown

    ladysown New Member

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    Jan 12, 2019
    we tried raw, had cats throwing up, so took the raw and cooked it lightly and that works well.

    we do no carbs in his diet. :) He eats our house plants so we aren't too worried about carbs :)
     
  3. Sharon14

    Sharon14 Well-Known Member

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    Aug 16, 2015
  4. Bron and Sheba (GA)

    Bron and Sheba (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 21, 2015
    I feed my current cats who are not diabetic with a home prepared raw diet. I fed Sheba my FD kitty with a home prepared half raw half cooked diet. Highly recommend it. I would never go back to canned food again. I feed a frankenprey diet but you can use supplements which are available in the US to add to the raw diet or I think you can buy ok raw diets in the US. I have found they are cheaper than canned as well
    If you would like us to help you with getting a good dose for your kitty we are more than happy to do so. We have found many vets have not been taught a lot about feline diabetes. It is not like canine diabetes and the insulins are different. What type of insulin are you using?
    Be prepared for the vet to say no to a raw diet. Again they have had very little education on a raw diet and much prefer a prescription diet ( which is expensive, high in carbs and not necessary. )
    Please ask lots of questions. We are very happy to help in any way.
    Have you thought about home testing the blood sugars.? That is the bigger thing you could do to help your kitty get regulated and stay safe. It is not hard to do and we can help you if you like
    Bron
     
  5. katiesmom

    katiesmom Member

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    Mar 1, 2013
    Many, many people use Dr. Lisa Pierson's raw food recipe.
    https://catinfo.org/
    I started feeding my girls a commercial raw 10 years ago. About 6 years I started making it myself following Dr. Pierson's recipe. Katie also went into remission a couple months after I started making it. Stayed in remission for 3 years. I always wondered if that helped her go into remission, but I really don't know. But regardless, I highly recommend it.
     
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  6. Bron and Sheba (GA)

    Bron and Sheba (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 21, 2015
    I used Lisa Pierson’s diet for my FD kitty as well but do the frankenprey diet now. Both are excellent and far superior to canned IMHO.
     
  7. Sapphire Skye

    Sapphire Skye Member

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    Feb 19, 2019
    What type of insulin are you using? Vetsulin, she was diagnosed in February 2019 and her numbers have not broken the 300 at all :( Lantus is the gold standard but not affordable at this time. I looked at discount programs but this is only available to human diabetics. :mad:

    Be prepared for the vet to say no to a raw diet. I am switching vet from a multi species to a feline specific vet that has a Diabetic cat herself. I hope she will agree to home made, I wasn't sure about a raw diet and am glad there is a half cooked one. :)

    Have you thought about home testing the blood sugars.? I do home testing and glucose curve to keep my cost as minimal as possible.
    Bron[/QUOTE]
     
  8. Idjit's mom

    Idjit's mom Well-Known Member

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    Apr 3, 2018
    Denice, good morning to you and Sapphire. I do use the FoodFurLife EZ Complete supplement with raw meat for Idjit. We began the transition in December and so far he is a big fan.

    I use this supplement because I wanted to reduce the amount of phosphorus he was getting in canned food, I wanted to avoid the product ingredient changes/possible recalls, and because I did not want to have to track down different ingredients or invest in a grinder. The EZ Complete uses egg shells instead of bone, reducing the phosphorus content. I just use my food processor to chunk up the meats to a combination of chunky/pate, mix in the measured amount of the powder and water and freeze. Then thaw portions for the next day in the fridge.
    I alternate proteins, and lean and fattier meats. I had emailed the staff at FFL about the phosphorus and they told me that the dark poultry parts actually have less phosphorus. The only protein he doesn't like is pork, so we don't offer that. I haven't tried any novel proteins yet.

    He licks the plate clean every time. He does get raw gizzards and small pieces of cooked chicken breast for treats.

    I visited the FFL website, and carefully read all the information before I made my decision. I also consulted with other members who use this product to get their opinions and how they process it. Then I ordered the sample pack. We were on our way.

    Idjit is in excellent health, with the exception that vet says he needs to lose about a pound. He is a big cat, Maine Coon mix and he loves his food, so perhaps he did get bigger portions than he needed. So, we are reducing the portions and trying not to let him notice. He is staying in remission, it's almost a year now, and we are hopeful that it will last for a very long time.

    Last vet visit we told her that Idjit was on the raw diet and she wasn't familiar with the supplement product, so I brought the website up on my phone and showed her that it has the essential ingredients a cat needs, without additives he doesn't. She didn't look entirely convinced, but accepted the information. After all, he has a smooth, soft coat, clear eyes, is in remission and no health issues. Maybe she will look further into it.

    Some kitties don't do well on raw food or this particular supplement, but it might be worth exploring. If I can help further, let me know. Soft head rubs and chin scritches to Sapphire.
     
    Sharon14 likes this.
  9. Sapphire Skye

    Sapphire Skye Member

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    Feb 19, 2019

    THANK You! :bighug: I had been stressing over how to make this a financially feasible change for us. heck i was even looking at financing option for a Vitamix or a meat grinder as not to spread myself out too thin.
     
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2019
  10. Sapphire Skye

    Sapphire Skye Member

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    Feb 19, 2019
    The only protein he doesn't like is pork, so we don't offer that.

    Ironically the supplement had pork pancreas lol
     
  11. Idjit's mom

    Idjit's mom Well-Known Member

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    Apr 3, 2018
    I guess Idjit wasn't able to detect that <grin> He just wouldn't eat the pork meat + supplement I offered. On diagnosis, we bought the Hill's DM canned food, which is pork based, and he wouldn't eat that either.
     
  12. Sapphire Skye

    Sapphire Skye Member

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    Feb 19, 2019
    I assume the meat remains in a raw state? I am also looking the the half cooked, half raw recipe on catinfo site. weight out my options, Thanks again :)
     
  13. Idjit's mom

    Idjit's mom Well-Known Member

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    Apr 3, 2018
    yes, all raw. I don't cook or partially cook the meat for Idjit. There is information about using cooked or partially cooked meat on the FFL website. @Tanya and Ducia uses FFL and does partially cook the meat. She could probably tell you about how she goes about that.
     
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