10/14 Rex PM+3.25 50 +3.75 72 +4.25 81 +5.25 101

Hello LL,

Sorry for the late post. Looks like Rex is slowly recovering from his bounce on the 12th.
Thankfully we did not get into the Reds, but hindsight being 20/20 I should have shot through the bounce.
Last time I shot through the bounce he can crashing down.

On a very sad note, we finally finished up the last of the Old Recipe Cowboy Cookout.
We are on to bigger and better things, We have launch our new dining menu - Wellness Chicken & Beef.

Rex is taking to it nicely!

Hope everyone had a good Monday!

Rex's 10/13 Condo

Re: 10/14 Rex PMPS 142 +2.25 35

Ok Ok - I am a little confused!

** I can handle the low number but need help with the food!!

I know Rex is recovering from his bounce and probably shot a falling number. But this is very strange!
The only thing I can think of is the food change.

Is Wellness Chicken & Beef (grain free) really that much different than Merrick Cowboy Cookout??
So I will need some help, Please

Prior Food-
Merrick Cowboy Cookout - a 5.5oz can provides 162 kcal (on can)
Rex was getting 1oz @ 5a, 6a, 7a & 1.5oz @ 8a = 4.5oz (4.5/5.5*162 = 132.55 kcal)
Rex was getting 1oz @ 5p, 6p, 7p & 1.5oz @ 8p = 4.5oz (4.5/5.5*162 = 132.55 kcal)
For a total of 265.10 kcal a day

New Food-
Wellnewss Chicken & Beef - a 12.5oz can provides 439 kcal (on website)
Rex was getting 1oz @ 5a, 6a, 7a, 8z = 4.0oz (4.0/12.5*439 = 140.48 kcal)
Rex was getting 1oz @ 5p, 6p, 7p, 8p = 4.0oz (4.0/12.5*439 = 140.48 kcal)
For a total of 280.96 kcal a day

Are my calculations off/wrong???? I thought I was giving him more calories and his BG would have been about the same. Grrrrrr

PMPS - 142 - 1.0oz Wellness Chicken & Beef
+1.00 - ___ - 1.0oz Wellness Chicken & Beef - Auto Feeder
+2.00 - ___ - 1.0oz Wellness Chicken & Beef - Auto Feeder
+2.25 - 35 - 0.5oz HC Mostly Gravy & 3 Drops Karo - Normal behavior
+2.75 - 44 - 0.5oz HC Mostly Gravy & 3 Drops Karo - Normal behavior
+3.00 - ___ - 1.0oz Wellness Chicken & Beef - Auto Feeder
** Retest in 30 minutes **

Re: 10/14 Rex PMPS 142 +2.25 35 +2.75 44 - New Food Help!!!

Wow on the drop! Good catch Rich. :shock: :shock: :mrgreen:

According to Dr. Lisa's chart, the Cowboy Cookout has 5% by carbs and the Wellness Beef/Chicken has 4%. But that's close enough and with manufacturing variances probably not enough to be significant. I know that doesn't help but some people have notice some foods just raise the BG more than others. Or it could just be that Rex thought it was time for a deduction. Congrats!

Re: 10/14 Rex PMPS 142 +2.25 35 +2.75 44 - New Food Help!!!

In answer to your question, a drop to the 30's always means a reduction.

Re: 10/14 Rex PMPS 142 +2.25 35 +2.75 44 - New Food Help!!!

Hiya Rich!

I wanted to (hopefully) put your mind at ease on the food.
First from Dr. Lisa when she updated the food charts last year, specifically about "carb levels":
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=79754&p=861552&hilit=chart#p861552

My words here - it's cat food. It's made in huge vats in some factory with godonlyknowswhat in the "Recipe". The carb values, or any other ingredient specific values are "close enough for government work". It isn't a precise science.

And I borrow this from Jill, and I'm paraphrasing here....

Think of it like this. You make a huge batch of chili. Enough to serve 20 people and have leftovers for freezing. You ladle it into tupperware freezer containers to freeze. One ladle is heavy on the beans. One is heavy on the meat. Another heavy on the tomatoes. The carb levels and the calorie count on each of those three servings are not the same. They might even be pretty far off. But in theory at least, they all have the "same" calorie, carb, protien, fat, etc content. At least when you look at the recipe it says "X calories per serving", right? But in reality, probably not so much...

One can says 4%, the other says 5%. Good bet neither is absolutely on target. But close enough, because it's cat food. Yes, by all means, it MATTERS to us, because we want to control carbs. But Purina, or Wellness, or any other cat food maker? They just make sure the right ingredients go into the right vats. And the portions all get squeezed into the cans.

Re: 10/14 Rex PMPS 142 +2.25 35 +2.75 44 - New Food Help!!!

PMPS - 142 - 1.0oz Wellness Chicken & Beef
+1.00 - ___ - 1.0oz Wellness Chicken & Beef - Auto Feeder
+2.00 - ___ - 1.0oz Wellness Chicken & Beef - Auto Feeder
+2.25 - 035 - 0.5oz HC Mostly Gravy & 3 Drops Karo - Normal behavior
+2.75 - 044 - 0.5oz HC Mostly Gravy & 3 Drops Karo - Normal behavior
+3.00 - ___ - 1.0oz Wellness Chicken & Beef - Auto Feeder
+3.25 - 050 - 0.5oz HC Food & Gravy - Mostly Gravy
** Retest in 30 minutes **

Re: 10/14 Rex PMPS 142 +2.25 35 +2.75 44 +3.25 50

Rich

I have found that not all foods that are close to the same % calories from carbs are not created equally. In using different % carb foods with Gracie, I found that the wellness 4% foods work great for day to day; the WN Core 5% foods are actually more effective, for Gracie, in controlling dropping or low numbers than their WN Core 8% food.

So you could be seeing a big difference in how a 4% carb food controls his numbers vs a 5% carb food. Especially if they are difference manufacturers with different sources of carbs. AND then throw in there Rex's own sensitivity to carbs.

It's tough to have to go back to the drawing board on foods once you have it all figured out. I'm sorry they messed with the CC.

Good luck on the reduction!

Re: 10/14 Rex PMPS 142 +2.25 35 +2.75 44 +3.25 50 +3.75 72

One other thing....it doesn't really matter how many calories you are giving in terms of controlling BG because calories could be from fat or protein.

Re: 10/14 Rex PMPS 142 +2.25 35 +2.75 44 +3.25 50 +3.75 72

Carl & Marje,

Thanks for the awesome insight!
I am ultimately happy for Rex. Iam all in if this helps him go into remission soon and keeps him there.

It was just a little shocking and caught me by surprise.

Re: 10/14 Rex PMPS 142 +2.25 35 +2.75 44 +3.25 50 +3.75 72

Rich, I'm pretty sure that a 35 causes :shock: nailbite_smile to everyone who sees one. No matter how many times it happens. Even more so that early in the cycle. ;-)

Re: 10/14 Rex PM+3.25 50 +3.75 72 +4.25 81

Carl - you are spot on.
I know how to handle them with Rex, and he seems to be getting them more and more. eeeekkkk

I am just so happy he is staying in the green and blues longer. We will try out his reduction tomorrow.
He is just coasting in the greens now. Pretty amazing!

Re: 10/14 Rex PM+3.25 50 +3.75 72 +4.25 81

You did a great job getting him up to surf.

I wonder if he would have the same response as Gracie to the WN Core turkey/duck which is 5%. If Gracie is low, it bringd her up Really nicely.