not drinking enough water

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Paul & Spook, Feb 27, 2018.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Paul & Spook

    Paul & Spook Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2018
    Spook is not drinking enough water. what can we do ? Changing insulins he is on novalin n. Hate it
    Lantus or Prozinc? Which is better?
     
  2. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2016
    Most of us add extra water to all wet food meals because a lot of cats aren't good water drinkers on their own.

    Re Lantus or ProZinc: both good insulins for cats but a bit like comparing apples and oranges.

    ProZinc
    • pricier than Novolin (about $120 US per vial) and is U4o so less concentrated than Novolin and you'll go through it faster
    • is similar to Novolin in that it's *mostly* an in and out insulin - ie., give dose, dose gets used up by around 12 hour mark and is gone from system. It can have a slightly longer residual effect in some cats
    • some flexibility in dose timing and dose changing
    • BG profile over the cycle will be smile shaped - ie. higher at pre shot dipping to lower nadir then back to higher pre shot.
    • slower and gentler in its action than Novolin so it can moderate erratic responses to insulin.
    Lantus
    • VERY expensive in the US ($300+ per vial) but is U100 like Novolin. Many people buy from a reputable Canadian online pharmacy, Marks Marine Pharmacy, in Vancouver for a little over half the price. A 5 pack of Lantus pen cartrides are a better deal.
    • higher remission rates for feline diabetes
    • can produce a much flatter curve
    • less flexibility in dose scheduling and dose changing
    • very slow and gentle in its action for many cats.
    Food for thought ...
     
  3. Paul & Spook

    Paul & Spook Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2018
  4. FurBabiesMama

    FurBabiesMama Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2017
    Wet food has a very high moisture content. Once Mia was switched to wet and started insulin to bring her BG down, she stopped drinking water. I never see her drink it at all. She gets moisture from her food (to which I also add bone broth and water). Drinking a lot of water is not necessarily a good thing. It is a symptom of uncontrolled diabetes or hyperthyroidism. Cats also drink more when they are on a dry food diet because the food does not have water content. Is Spook eating wet food? Do you have reason to believe he is dehydrated?
     
  5. Squalliesmom

    Squalliesmom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2015
    Cats innately have a very low thirst drive; in nature, they get most of their required fluid intake from their kills. Since most of our housecats don't go around killing things (at least I hope not, lol), the best way to assure they stay hydrated is to feed canned (or raw) food supplemented with a teaspoon or two of water at each feeding. I have two water fountains going but I almost never see any of my four cats use them.
     
  6. Paul & Spook

    Paul & Spook Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2018
    We were wetting his wet food before. Will start again. He has a fouintain.
    Thanks
     
  7. tiffmaxee

    tiffmaxee Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2013
    One of my young ones never drinks water. The other drinks a little. They eat raw and I add a little water to get it to room temp out of the fridge although eating it cold doesn’t bother them, just me, lol.
     
    Squalliesmom likes this.
  8. Sharon14

    Sharon14 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2015
    Paul if you’re adding the miralax to his food you should add water as it works by pulling water into the intestines.
     
    Squalliesmom and Kris & Teasel like this.
  9. Squalliesmom

    Squalliesmom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2015
    Paul, I have a cat on Miralax, too. I add 1 tbsp. of water to each cats' food, but the one cat I have who is on Miralax gets 2 tbsp. of water with his food.
     
    Kris & Teasel and Sharon14 like this.
  10. Paul & Spook

    Paul & Spook Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2018
    Thanks all
    Swithing to Pro-Zinc tonight. Hope he does better on it.
     
    Squalliesmom and Kris & Teasel like this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page