Diabetic shots for an old cat w/ kidney trouble

[MJIthewriter]

In this last year, our cat Waldo has fallen apart. We are treating him for hyperthyroidism for about a year now.  Recently his kidneys have started to give way.  I switched his diet to something for kidney health.  He was still not improving, so we scheduled another appointment earlier than the three months they advised to check his levels.

Now he's developed diabetes. His other levels seem to be stable. We're given two options on what type of shots we want to give him. One is designed for cats, but costs a lot more. The other is designed for human but can be used on cats.  I'm not sure what option would be better.  I'm also left with a decision, if this doesn't work how long I should give it before deciding to let him go.

[opus88]

hi...just going on the fact they had recalls too just a few weeks ago, just the dog food I think? you can read about it on the dog forum
EVO is good, just transition slowly and it won't be such a problem.
I remember a member donnayav with a CRF cat feeding TIKKI brand and it had excellent ingredients, she said it was sold at petco and the price was resonable.

[MJIthewriter]

I forgot to ask, why blue buffalo cat food is considered a bad brand? I gave up on nutro as soon as they had all the recalls. In my last post I was listing the stuff we've fed Waldo over the years we had him.

[MJIthewriter]

I asked the vet about the idea, and they would like me to stick on the royal canon diet I have him on.  I'm phasing out the dry food and going to continue with the cans.

I just feel it is so darn expensive and wondering if it is doing any good for him.  I'm trying a can of evo for the other cat (gave her a couple spoonfulls), but she scorned it at first.

[opus88]

sorry hon but I have to disagree with much of your post....ANY canned food is better than dry especially for a CRF cat...and nutro and blue buffalo aren't good brand names they are no different than store bought one. Wellness is good and so is EVO by INNOVA...so is TIKKI to name a few.
Its now understood that protein is alright for CRF cats as long as its good quality protein and not the by products like you find in the store bought brands.....and as long as you feed chicken or turkey as the protein because they are lower in phosphorus.!!!!
Raw or cooked diet has many many challanges, safety for one and also getting just the right supplements otherwise you can cause more problems than what you are trying to correct!!!
It took me weeks of research to learn the correct balance of nutrients and supplements such as tauine, calcium, vitamin A&D&E, trace minerals etc etc......and not only how much to give but which brand name of each is SAFE for use for cats.....
Honey I recommend you stick to a GOOD brand of commercial food, cans NOT dry.
I see NO reason why you cannot feed the Royal Canin for an extended time, although there are much better choices in foods.
When changing a cat from dry to wet you have to do the transition slowly.....the change alone will cause vomiting or diarrhea, do it slow add 50/50 to begin with....smaller meals thoughout the day is a good way to feed.
good luck.♥

[MJIthewriter]

Yeah I've been feeding Waldo mostly dry food. I tried to get the better quality brands, Nutro, wellness, and blue buffalo to name a few. It is convenient,and that is about the only good to it. That may have also led to Sahib's dimise as well.  We would give them moist (grandma insisted upon special kitty)  (Waldo's previous owners, who had him the first 9 years, fed him alley cat and those moist packet cat foods.)

I'm nearing the end of his Royal Canin dry food and the moist cans aren't meant to be fed as the only meal for an extended time.  Would raw or home cooked meals work for kidney problems as well?  The kidney health requires low protein, but the diabetes, seems to require something higher...

The next challenge will be dealing with my grandma, as she flat out refused before (concerned about disease and space in the fridge), but perhaps it will be better I order a sample first and then deal with grandma later.

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About the other cat:
So far the only food she really eats is dry... She seemed to like the LID Natural balance can I tried last, but that was what she threw up. It could be she eats too much. I'm giving her smaller portions of food throughout the day. I think she's grown longer since we found her.

[Maddie6]

Hi Opus,
Hey, that is great the homemade diet made a difference in Nemo's dissolving the urinary crystals.  I'm impressed with the homemade diet for Nemo - one very lucky kitty.  It is hard to get them to drink water, so the canned helps and the diet you are feeding Nemo, too.  I'm glad Nemo is doing so well.