10/18 Charms AMPS 67,+1 74,+2 74,+4 58,+5 69, PMPS 98,+2 136

Yesterday's Condo

All greens for today and then that blue at PMPS +2 . I did give Charms some extra fat (canola oil) this afternoon to help him gain a little weight. Would that affect his BG? I am concerned because he has lost two lbs in the last two months. He is a little too lean right now. What is the best way to help Charms gain weight without adding carbs to his diet? Should I ask this question as a separate post?

The dose seems to be holding so far and those greens were wonderful today. - Sam

Re: 10/18 Charms AMPS 67,+1 74,+2 74,+4 58,+5 69, PMPS 98,+2

Love that +4 today. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: This dose is looking good.

What does Charms weigh now and what do you think he should weigh? I know he's eating YAZC, but I wonder if supplementing with some higher calorie low carb wet food would work. Some of the Wellness flavors might fit that bill. Another option, I think Marje was using organic cold pressed coconut oil to add weight to her civvie Gus.

Re: 10/18 Charms AMPS 67,+1 74,+2 74,+4 58,+5 69, PMPS 98,+2

Hi Wendy - I have not gotten a chance to put Charms picture up, but when you do get a chance to see him, he is a big boy, and right now he only weighs 9 lbs. When he was first diagnosed he weighed about 11-12 lbs, and he had already lost some weight. I am not sure what his ideal weight should be, but I know he is too thin right now, no padding on the backbone. I use two vets, and they both agreed he needs to gain weight, I actually suggested the organic coconut oil to one (I have some in the fridge) but she strongly disagreed and said not to give it to him. She said to give him chicken fat. I was not to sure about that. I asked the other vet, and he did blood work last week to recheck thyroid, in case hyperthyroid had gone undiagnosed at Charms last blood test, (Charms still drinks a lot of water) but he called me and said that everything came back fine. Charms is very carb sensitive, I use the FF cans with o carbs to distract him while I test him and give him his insulin. His blood sugar raises a lot if I even use the 9-10% pates, so I would be afraid to try any extra carbs. Not sure why my one vet does not want me to use coconut oil. I left some out on the counter one day and I caught Charms licking it , so I know it would not be a problem to get him to eat it. Do you think Charms weight has just not caught up with his improved BG levels yet? -Sam

PS My DH was given exercises to do at home but his hand is really weak. How did you ever manage to get your elbow in shape for rowing after breaking it!! I just want him to be able to go back to work or at least if he is home, to be able to help me clean the horse stalls!!

Re: 10/18 Charms AMPS 67,+1 74,+2 74,+4 58,+5 69, PMPS 98,+2

Don't have any advice on the weight gain...I have the opposite problem (not with China, but one of the civvies)...she needs to lose it but even with portion control, she isn't getting with the program

You're sure getting some great numbers though! Just 4 months ago they were all red and black and Charms is quickly working down the dose ladder...All in all, a great thing to see!

Hope you figure out how to get some weight on...safely without causing any BG problems

Re: 10/18 Charms AMPS 67,+1 74,+2 74,+4 58,+5 69, PMPS 98,+2

My vet is also a nutritionist and she prescribed the organic cold pressed virgin coconut oil for our civvie, Gus, who has CKD and was losing weight. It has no carbs and does not raise the BG. I started him on .25 ml bid and gradually increased. He was on 5 mls bid for quite a long time and he did gain weight. I've backed it down a bit now just because he hd been sick and we were trying to simplify.

It's always made his coat gorgeous and helps with hairballs too. I was giving it to Gracie but it made her triglycerides go up. I think that is ECID because my other two civvies had no issue with it and their triglycerides and there are other diabetics cats in this group taking it with no triglyceride issues. Perhaps that is the concern your vet had.

You could always try it and if it raised his triglycerides, you could stop it. I'd be wary of chicken fat myself. Will he eat more food or a higher calorie (not higher carb) food? One with more fat or protein?

Re: 10/18 Charms AMPS 67,+1 74,+2 74,+4 58,+5 69, PMPS 98,+2

Sam - to answer your question on the elbow. I did my exercises every day as the PT said. After the bone was healed, I went to physio once a week. Elbows are notoriously hard to heal straight and you have to be aggressive with them. I broke it in February but am still seeing physio, just not as often. And I'm still doing exercises but just a few per day.

On Sam's weight, have you ever tried giving him some pure protein, like boiled chicken breast, as a supplement? Neko also gets a little coconut oil, but it's for hairballs which she hardly ever has now.