9/22 Crushy amps 428 ...switching his food

previous: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=104928&p=1115864#p1115864

His pm shot was late by 45 minutes last night but he was so high at regular shot time this morning I went ahead and shot at the normal time.

Im switching to canned wellness today for a while to see if it makes any difference. He has been raw fed for 10 years and still ended up diabetic so maybe his food was contributing somehow? an allergy/irritation?

I also figure that canned cat food has GOT to be easier to digest (and thus easier on the pancreas.) its processed so much its basically mush.

I know they say that raw meat has enzymes in it that are destroyed by cooking, and is supposed to be easier to digest because those enzymes help break down the food. But that doesnt really make total sense to me. I have digestion issues myself and the absolute hardest thing to digest is anything raw! (veg, fruit, or meat) Well cooked food is easier on the stomach generally. Im guessing cooking breaks down food much more than enzymes in the food itself could. And since the pancreas is responsible for supplying digestive enzymes that break down food as well, it makes sense to me that cooked food (ie canned) would be easier to digest and thus easier on the pancreas.

This is pure conjecture though. If it doesnt work, it doesnt work, but I figured it might be worth giving crusher some canned food for a while to see if it makes a difference.

He seems fine this morning (he always acts mostly fine when his BG is high....drives me nuts. Id never know if I didnt test him) maybe a little hungry but thats typical for him.

Michele

I was feeding my guys raw for probably close to 2 years. When Gabby was first diabetic, I was feeding Fancy Feast. (As much as she likes to eat, she wasn't enthusiastic about any of the premium cat foods.) She did fine on raw and I was actually using a pre-mix and making raw myself. At one point, my shipment of pre-mix didn't arrive and I fed them Wellness. Given that they liked it and the cost ended up being pretty close, Gabby and Gizmo have been getting Wellness. I did not notice any appreciable difference in Gabby's numbers. Fundamentally, there should only be a difference if the carbs are different. I'll be curious is you see a change in Crushy's numbers.

Sienne and Gabby said:

Fundamentally, there should only be a difference if the carbs are different. I'll be curious is you see a change in Crushy's numbers.

Click to expand...

I was determining carbs by weight! 7% of the weight of the raw food I gave him was carbs. The canned Wellness lists carbs by % of calories. Those are not the same at all right?? I dont know if its higher or lower! Should be interesting....

It's worth trying, so see if there's some issue with raw. I've been a huge evangelist for raw feeding. I've made my cats a raw diet for 15 years, and have taught other people how and why to do it. I was very surprised that my cat developed diabetes, as there weren't high carbs in the food. It turned out to be the type of meat I was using. The irritation sent his numbers up. While I was figuring all of this out, I transitioned him to Wellness, and he's been doing well on it, so I'm not messing with that.

Let me know how it goes. I think it's worthwhile to try an elimination or change of anything that could be affecting Crushy negatively.

In cats and dogs, carbohydrates and protein are 3.5 calories per gram and fat is 8.5 calories per gram.
What were the percent weights of fat and protein?

Using those percents, we can calculate by multiplying the grams of each by the respective calories of each for a 100 gram amount, total the calories, then calculating the percent of the calories contributed by each calorie source.

BJM said:

In cats and dogs, carbohydrates and protein are 3.5 calories per gram and fat is 8.5 calories per gram.
What were the percent weights of fat and protein?

Using those percents, we can calculate by multiplying the grams of each by the respective calories of each for a 100 gram amount, total the calories, then calculating the percent of the calories contributed by each calorie source.

Click to expand...

its MUCH higher. Im really kicking myself....
I was feeding closer to 20% of calories from carbs. :shock:

Way back when I was figuring out the recipe Ive used all this time everything I read said 5-10% carbs....not calories from carbs! At least I didnt read it that way or make the distinction (apparently there is a lot of water weight in raw meat) And once I got my recipe down I just plowed ahead and never looked back.

well mystery solved!! I guess we know why Crushy got diabetes even though he was raw fed this whole time!

I cant stop crying :cry:
I thought I was being so smart
If you need me Ill be banging my head against the wall.....

Huge hugs to you. And no bruises or black eyes ;-)
Don't worry, hon, the only way is forward, to health.

thank you Lara, your very kind
Im trying to focus on the positive: his numbers are already looking better!
this really IS good news

I think you need to borrow one of these, so you don't hurt your head.


Wait and see how Crushy does on the new food, before beating yourself up too much.

lol thanks Deb