Feline Diabetes and Diet: The High Carbohydrate Culprit by
Lisa A. Pierson, DVM
This is a very good link with great recommendations on what to feed
a diabetic cat.
http://www.catinfo.org/felinediabetes.htm
At this link you can check out the top ten holistic canned foods for
felines.
Check the ingredients for carb items like corn, potatoes, etc.
http://cats.about.com/cs/catfood/tp/tpcannedadult.htm
Ingredients of some canned and dry catfoods with links to the manufacturer's
websites.
Carbs in the ingredients are underlined. Many animals have allergies
to corn and wheat.
Corn is also higher on the glycemic index.
***** Five Star Rating*****
These products by Wysong®
look really good carb wise but would have to be careful of fat content
of some of them if the pet was prone to pancreatitis. So read the ingredient
list on the different products they put out by visiting their website.
Some are much lower then others in fat content.
Wysong® recommends for diabetic
cats
Diabetes – Nurture/Vitality,
Archetype™, All Meats, Carboprin, Panzyme
Archetype™ Dry Cat Food by Wysong®
Review by Franny Syufy
Link
to Review
Archetype™ is the perfect answer to cat owners who want
the best nutrition for their cats, but don't want to mess with raw chicken..
Its ingredients are high in protein, including: beef, beef liver, chicken,
chicken liver, lamb, lamb liver and ground bone. There are no added
carbohydrate fillers - after all, cats are carnivores. The manufacturer
recommends the addition of certain selected vegetables and fruits (organic,
if possible), along with three supplements designed specifically for this
purpose. Dr. Wysong believes that consumers need and want a company they
can believe in, and the company's web site goes a long way in developing
that trust, despite the controversial nature of some of its content. Consumer
education is a "biggie" with Wysong®, and I appreciate that.
Visit their website for all the varieties and check out ingredients
in each product.
Manufacturer's
Website
Some diabetic cats seem to prefer to graze over
the day and this looks like it could be a good dry food to do this with
and the use of a long acting non peaking insulin
Ingredients Dry : Archetype™
Beef and Chicken; Beef and Chicken Liver; Ground Bone,
Milk Calcium, Fish Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Coral Calcium,
Organic Mung Bean Sprouts, Organic Quinoa Sprouts, Organic Millet Sprouts,
Organic
Blueberries, Organic Apples, Plums, Chlorella, Barley Grass,
Wheat Grass, Dried Whey, Kelp, Dried Seaweed, Artichoke, Direct
Fed Microbials (Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried
Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation
Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Lactobacillus
casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus lactis Fermentation Product,
Dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus
oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Product),
Natural Extractives of Rosemary, Natural Extractives of Sage, Choline Chloride,
Ascorbic Acid, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Calcium Pantothenate,
Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin
Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement,
Vitamin D3 Supplement.
ANALYSIS of Dry Archetype™:
Protein 50%, Fat 28%, Fiber 2.8%, Moisture 3.0%
Ingredients Canned: Chicken Au Jus™
Chicken, Water Sufficient for Processing, Chicken Liver,
Animal Plasma, Guar Gum.
ANALYSIS:
Protein 10%, Fat 7%, Fiber 1.5%, Moisture 78%
One Drawback Note: If canned
meats are fed alone, use Call of the Wild™ supplement.
INGREDIENTS in Call of the Wild™ supplement:
Enzymatic Digest of Poultry Meat and Organs, Calcium
Carbonate, Lecithin, Kelp, Plums, Dried Seaweed Meal, Milk Calcium, Ground
Bone, Coral Calcium, Barley Grass Powder, Wheat Grass Powder, Carrots,
Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus
casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus lactis Fermentation Product,
Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus
faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fermentation
Product, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus
niger Fermentation Product, Taurine, L-Arginine, Phytase, Garlic, Artichoke,
Natural Extractives of Rosemary, Natural Extractives of Sage, Choline Chloride,
Ascorbic Acid, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement,
Niacin Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine
Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement,
Vitamin A Acetate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin
D3 Supplement, Milk Protein Extracts.
ANALYSIS:
Protein 18% Fiber 16% Fat 5% Moisture 10%
Their entire meat line is incredible
for diabetic felines because some contain no carbs and others very little!!!!
Visit their website for a complete
listing of all the varieties of canned foods with ingredient listings!!!
Manufacturer's
Website
More foods by Wysong®: this line of their food is very low in
fat but higher in carbs
Anergen™
A rice and lamb meat-based for use in the nutritional management of
adverse food reactions in dogs and cats. Contains no beef, poultry, beef
by-products,dairy or wheat products by Wysong®
Ingredients Dry Anergen™:
Canine/Feline Dry Ingredients:
Lamb, Ground Brown Rice, Ground Oat Groats, Ground
Flax Seeds, Dried Yeast, DL-Methionine, Taurine, Lecithin, Fish Oil, Coconut
Oil, Plums, Dried Wheat Grass Powder, Dried Barley Grass Powder,
Citric Acid, Natural Extractives of Sage, Natural Extractives of Rosemary,
Dried Kelp, Garlic, Black Pepper, Artichoke, L-Carnitine, Dried
Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation
Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus
casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus lactis Fermentation Product,
Dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus
oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Product,
Ascorbic Acid, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement,
Niacin Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine
Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement,
Vitamin A Acetate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin
D3 Supplement.
Analysis: Protein 24%, Fat 12%, Fiber 4.5%, Moisture
12%
Anergen™ Feline Canned Ingredients:
Lamb, Lamb Liver, Water Sufficient For Processing, Ground
Brown Rice, Carrots, Ground Flax Seeds, Dicalcium Phosphate, Ground
Limestone, Taurine, DL-Methionine, Yeast Culture, Dried Kelp, Dried Wheat
Grass Powder, Dried Barley Grass Powder, Natural Extractives of Sage and
Rosemary, Garlic, Black Pepper, Artichoke, Ascorbic Acid, Zinc Proteinate,
Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Manganese Proteinate,
Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Pyridoxine
Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Folic Acid, Biotin,
Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
Analysis: Protein 9%, Fat 5%, Fiber 1.3%, Moisture
75%
*************************************************************************
Wysong® also puts out a dry food designed
specifically for diabetic pets but is only available through veterinarians.
If you are interested in this product have your veterinarian contact Wysong.
For more information on Diabid™ or to find a local veterinarian who carries
Diabid™, please contact Wysong at 1-800-748-0188. You may also email them
at wysong@wysong.net
Diabid™ Ingredients:
Beef, Beef Liver, Ground Bone, Fish Oil, Coconut Oil,
Fenugreek Seeds,Panax Ginseng, Gymnema Sylvestre Leaves, Bilberry, Vanadyl
Sulfate,Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Dried Pancreas, Garlic, Dried Adrenal Gland,
Milk Calcium, Plums, Lactoferrin, Barley Grass, Wheat Grass, Desiccated
Sea Plankton, Artichoke, Amylase, Protease, Lipase, Cellulase, Dried Enterococcus
faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation
Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus
casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus lactis Fermentation Product,
Dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus
oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Product,
Phytase, Natural Extractives of Rosemary and Sage, Choline Chloride, Ascorbic
Acid, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement,
Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper
Proteinate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A
Acetate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
Analysis: Protein 50.0%, Fat 28%, Fiber 2.8%,
Moisture 3.0%
Wysong® also recommends these two supplements
for diabetic cats.
You can purchase them from their website.
Carboprin™
INGREDIENTS: Natural Phytonutrient
Extracts and Concentrates of Fenugreek Seeds, Panax Ginseng, Gymnema Sylvestre
Leaves, and Bilberry, Vanadyl Sulfate, Alpha-lipoic Acid, Dried Pancreas
A nutritional supplement designed
to aid in sugar and carbohydrate metabolism.
Panzyme™
INGREDIENTS: Pepsin, Ox Bile, Pancreatin (source of Lipase,
Amylase, Protease), Dried Pancreas
A nutritional supplement designed to support the health
of pancreatic enzymes and biliary secretions.
Sensible Choice
Manufacturer's
Website
Chicken Meal & Rice Canned Cat Food
Ingredients:
Chicken, chicken liver, water sufficient for processing,
brewers
rice, guar gum, potassium chloride, salt, carrageenan, taurine, ferrous
sulphate, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, zinc oxide, zinc proteinate,
thiamine mononitrate, copper proteinate, manganous sulfate, manganese proteinate,
niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement,
pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement,
folic acid, potassium iodide, biotin, sodium selenite.
Analysis:
Crude Protein (min) 09.00%
Crude Fat (min) 05.00%
Crude Fiber (max) 02.00%
Moisture (max) 76.00%
Ash (max) 01.50%
Calcium (min) 00.30%
Phosphorus (min) 00.20%
Magnesium (max) 0.025%
Taurine (min) 00.05%
Natural Balance® Ultra-Premium Canned Cat Food
Manufacturer's
Website
Ingredients of two of their canned foods
VENISON & GREEN PEA FORMULA
Venison, Venison Broth, Venison Liver, Pea Flour,
Venison Meal, Salmon Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Kelp, Flaxseed, Guar Gum,
Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Methionine, Taurine, Parsley,
Dried Cranberries, Yucca Schidigera, Sodium Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc
Sulfate, Iron Sulfate,Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate,
Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate,
Calcium Iodate,Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin
A Supplement,Folic Acid, Vitamin K Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement,
Vitamin B12.
ULTRA FORMULA
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Duck, Salmon,
Carrots, Brown Rice Flour, Fish Meal, Lecithin, Dried Cranberries,
Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium
Chloride, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc
Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese
Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium
Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin,
Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin
D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
Analysis for above two canned products:
Crude Protein 9.0% minimum
Crude Fat 5.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 1.0% maximum
Moisture 78% maximum
Taurine 0.05% minimum
Magnesium 0.025% maximum
Pinnacle Chicken and Tuna Formula
Manufacturer's
Website
Ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Giblets, Tuna, Mackerel,
Turkey, Kidney, Oat Bran, Quinoa Seed, Egg Product, Guar Gum, Grapeseed
Oil, Cottage Cheese, Dried Whey, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Carrageenan,
Cranberry Meal, Taurine, Papain, Ferrous Sulfate, Choline Chloride, Vitamin
E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous
Sulfate, Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin
D3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin
B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Biotin, Sodium Selenite.
Analysis:
Crude Protein not less than 10.00%
Crude Fat not less than 5.00%
Crude Fiber not more than 1.50%
Moisture not more than 78.00%
Ash not more than 1.90%
Magnesium not more than 0.025%
Taurine not less than 0.05%
Wellness Canned and Dry
Manufacturer's
Website
It comes in five flavors
Canned
Turkey & Salmon
Turkey
Chicken & Herring
Chicken
Beef & Chicken
Ingredients for Canned Beef & Chicken
Beef, Chicken Liver, Deboned Chicken, Beef Broth, Sweet
Potatoes, Carrots, Vegetable Gums, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride,
Alfalfa, Cranberries, Blueberries, Yellow Squash,Yellow
Zucchini, Garlic, Dicalcium Phosphate, Spirulina, Taurine, Choline
Chloride, Vitamin E, A, D-3, And B-12 Supplements, Beta Carotene, Thiamine
Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, Iron Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, , Calcium Pantothenate,
Iron Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Iron), Zinc Proteinate (Source Of Chelated
Zinc), Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Copper
Proteinate(Source Of Chelated Copper), Biotin, Manganese Proteinate (Source
Of Chelated Manganese), Calcium Iodate, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid,
Sodium Selenite.
Analysis:
Crude Protein Not Less Than 9.0%
Crude Fat Not Less Than 6.5%
Crude Fiber Not More Than 1.0%
Moisture Not More Than 78.0%
Ash Not More Than 1.8%
Magnesium Not More Than 0.025%
Taurine Not Less Than 0.10%
Wellness Dry
Super5Mix® Adult
Manufacturer's Website
Dry comes in following flavors
Super5Mix® Adult
Super5Mix® Lite
Super5Mix® Kitten
Super5Mix® Salmon
Senior SuperMix™
Ingredients for Super5Mix® Adult :
Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Chicken Liver, Ground
Brown Rice, Ground Whole Oats, Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed
Tocopherols & Rosemary), Cranberries, Blueberries, Flaxseed,
Eggs, Peas, Taurine, Garlic, Alfalfa Leaf, Spirulina, Norwegian
Kelp, Whole Apples, Zucchini, Sweet Potatoes, Yucca
Schidigera, Chondroitin Sulfate, Glucosamine, Pro-Biotics (Lactobacillus
Plantarum, Enterococcus Faecium, Lactobacillus Casei, Lactobacillus Acidophilus),
Pre-Biotics (Mannanoligosaccharides), Beta-Carotene, Choline Chloride,
Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Proteinate (A Chelated Source Of Zinc), Vitamin
E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate (A Chelated
Source Of Iron), Manganese Proteinate (A Chelated Source Of Manganese),
Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin A Acetate,
Folic Acid, Cobalt Proteinate (A Chelated Source Of Cobalt), Copper Sulfate,
Cobalt Carbonate, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Copper Proteinate
(A Chelated Source Of Copper), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin
D-3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Menadione Sodium
Bisulfite Complex (Source Of Vitamin K Activity).
Analysis:
Crude Protein Not Less Than 33.0%
Crude Fat Not Less Than 19.0%
Crude Fiber Not More Than 5.0%
Moisture Not More Than 10.0%
Ash Not More Than 6.0%
Magnesium Not More Than 0.10%
Taurine Not Less Than 0.18%
Linoleic Acid Not Less Than 3.5%
My non-diabetic cat loves this dry super 5 mix by Wellness but in
fairness has not tried the other products listed on this page.
MAX Cat Gourmet Classics Veal Paté
Manufacturer's
Website
Ingredients:
Veal Broth, Chicken, Veal, Turkey, Chicken Liver, Rice
Flour, Guar Gum, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, DL-Methionine, Iodized Salt,
Taurine, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Ferrous
Sulfate, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate,
Copper Sulfate, Manganous Sulfate, Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin
A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin
Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Potassium
Iodide, Biotin.
Nutro supports the safe, ethical and humane treatment
of all animals, including those used by our suppliers who provide our ingredients.
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (minimum) 10.00%
Crude Fat (minimum) 5.50%
Crude Fiber (maximum) 1.00%
Moisture (maximum) 78.00%
Ash (maximum) 3.00%
Magnesium (maximum) 0.022%
Taurine (minimum) 0.05%
Ascorbic Acid (minimum)* 5 mg/kg
*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO
Cat Food Nutrient Profiles.
They have several varities of canned food so you need
to check the ingredients on each of them at the manufacturer's
website and then make a decision on the best choice of their foods.
Dr. Pierson Dislikes the following two foods often
prescribed for a diabetic cat!
Purina Feline DM ( Diabetes Mgmt. ) (canned and dry)
Manufacturer's
Website
Ingredients (canned)
Liver, water, beef, corn gluten meal, trout, fish
meal, beef tallow preserved with mixed-tocopherols (source of Vitamin E),
wheat
flour, soy protein isolate, cellulose, carrageenan, calcium carbonate,
potassium citrate, choline chloride, potassium chloride, L-Lysine monohydrochloride,
salt, taurine, vitamin supplements (E, B-12, D-3), niacin, biotin, riboflavin
supplement, calcium pantothenate, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganese
sulfate, folic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, copper
sulfate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity),
sodium selenite.
Ingredients (dry)
Poultry meal, soy protein isolate, corn gluten meal,
soybean
flour, beef tallow preserved with mixed-tocopherols (source of Vitamin
E), corn starch, calcium carbonate, phosphoric acid, brewers dried
yeast, fish oil, salt, animal digest, tetra sodium pyrophosphate, DL-Methionine,
cellulose, choline chloride, taurine, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, vitamin
supplements (E, A, B-12, D-3), L-Alanine, riboflavin supplement, niacin,
calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, biotin, thiamine mononitrate,
folic acid, copper sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, citric acid, menadione
sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), calcium iodate,
sodium selenite.
Manufacturer's Website
Ingredients of the Dry Feline m/d®
Chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, pork
fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), pork protein isolate,
corn
meal, powdered cellulose, wheat gluten, dried egg product, chicken
liver flavor, L-lysine, taurine, rice flour, L-carnitine, preserved
with mixed tocopherols and citric acid, minerals (potassium chloride, calcium
sulfate, salt, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, manganous oxide,
calcium iodate, sodium selenite), rosemary extract, beta carotene, vitamins
(choline chloride, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin
E supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (a source of vitamin C), niacin,
thiamine mononitrate, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride,
folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement).
Ingredients of the Canned Feline m/d®
Pork by-products, pork liver, water, corn starch,
powdered cellulose, soy protein isolate, chicken fat (preserved with mixed
tocopherols and citric acid), guar gum, locust bean gum, carrageenan, rice
flour, taurine, DL-methionine, L-carnitine, minerals (calcium carbonate,
calcium sulfate, dicalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, zinc oxide, ferrous
sulfate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite),
beta-carotene, vitamins (choline chloride, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin
E supplement, ascorbic acid (a source of vitamin C), thiamine mononitrate,
niacin, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, folic
acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement).
Dr Pierson
has this to say about the following two homecooked recipes that follow:
" I am not a fan of these recipes. For instance,
Hill's uses rice which is a very high glycemic index food and has no business
being fed to carnivores in the first place but especially not to a diabetic
carnivore.
I am also not keen on the first recipe. (Diet
for Cats with Diabetes )
The other issue that I noted is that we (me included)
always underline the bad (high GI ingredients) in the foods but the bottom
line really is...the GL (glycemic LOAD) which deals with the quantity of
the item. For instance, look at Wellness. It has some not-so-good
ingredients but they do not contribute much to the GL. Note that
the carb content in most canned Wellness products is less than 5%.
Also, most people (but not 100%) on the FDMB who feed Wellness do not note
a negative effect on their cat's bgs when feeding Wellness.
The point that I am trying to make is that looking at
these darn labels can be misleading and frustrating...as the AMOUNT of
the item is not listed. I know that Dr. Hodgkins does not like Wellness
but in reality, it can be a very good food for a diabetic since there must
not be very much of the 'bad' stuff in there since there are many cats
on the FDMB that do very well on it - and this is with caretakers who are
doing frequent home testing - ie - periodic curves and testing prior to
every insulin injection."
FDMB (Feline Diabetes Message Board)
An online message board where owners of diabetic cats can share experiences!
|
Check
Amazon to buy the book or your local book retailer
Price: $22.45 s&h fee $6.95
Natural Health Bible for Dogs and Cats; Prima Publishing,
Roseville, CA
by Dr. Shawn Messonnier
Respected holistic veterinarian Messonnier cross-references the most
common ailments among dogs and cats with their related therapies, and presents
a balanced view of natural versus conventional treatments in this encyclopedic
companion. Presents an A-Z guide for over 200 common illnesses and ailments
as well as an A-Z guide to herbs, vitamins, and supplements.
Excerpts
from the article on diabetes can be found at this url
Go and read the article it is very interesting.
A Natural Approach to Diabetes
Diet for Cats with Diabetes
Most doctors also recommend similar diets for diabetic cats. However,
cats are true carnivores and require meat in their diets. Therefore, the
diet that may prove most helpful for diabetic cats uses the maintenance
diet with added fiber. However, keep in mind that cats will usually not
accept diets high in fiber.
1/3 to 1/2 pound of ground meat (turkey, chicken, lamb, beef)
1/2 to 1 large hard-boiled egg
1/2 ounce of clams chopped in juice
4 teaspoons chicken fat or canola oil
1/8 teaspoon potassium chloride (salt substitute)
100 mg taurine
If using 1/2 pound of chicken and 1/2 egg, the diet will provide 471
kcal, 53.1 gm of protein, and 27.4 gm of fat. An adult indoor 10-ponnd
cat requires approximately 300 kcal of energy per day, an adult outdoor
10-pound cat requires approximately 360 kcal of energy per day, and a 5-
pound kitten requires approximately 300 kcal of energy per day.
Variations
1. Substitute tuna (4 ounces in water without salt), sardines (4 to
6 ounces in tomato sauce), or other fish (such as 5 ounces of salmon) for
the meat protein. For occasional variety, substitute 1/2 to 2/3 cup of
tofu. Since cats are true carnivores, most doctors prefer to recommend
tofu on only an occasional basis.
2. Add 1/3 cup of potato (cooked with the skin), rice, or macaroni,
although cats do not have a defined dietary requirement for carbohydrates.
3. Supply vitamins and minerals as follows: 3 to 4 bonemeal tablets
(10-grain or equivalent) or 3/4 to 1 teaspoon of bonemeal powder to supply
calcium and phosphorus with a multivitamin/mineral supplement, using the
label instructions. Alternatively, use a natural product from Standard
Process (1 Calcifood Wafer or 2 Calcium Lactate tablets for each 2 bonemeal
tablets).
4. When possible, add natural vitamins made from raw whole foods, rather
than synthetic vitamins (although both can he used in combination), as
the natural vitamins also supply plant phytochemicals, enzymes, and other
nutrients not found in chemically synthesized vitamins. Use either Catalyn
from Standard Process (at a dose of 1 Catalyn per 10 pounds) or NuCat from
VetriScience (following label dosages) as the natural vitamin in this recipe.
5. For extra nutrition and variety, use fresh, raw or slightly steamed
vegetables, such as carrots or broccoli (approximately 1/2 to 1 cup per
recipe) as a top dressing for the diet. (Many cats, however, will not eat
vegetables.) Most vegetables provide approximately 25 kcal per 1/2 cup.
6. The nutrient composition of the diet will vary depending upon which
ingredients are used. The actual amount to feed will vary based upon the
pet's weight (feed less if weight gain, more if weight loss).
7. Extra fiber can be added by supplementing with kidney beans (1/8
cup), oatmeal (1/4 cup), wheat bran (1/4 ounce), pumpkin or squashes, and
sugar-free fiber products such as Metamucil.
My vet provided me with a printout of different homemade recipes from
Hill's
From Hill's Homemade Diets
Feline Restricted Protein Diets
1/4 lb. cooked liver
1 large egg, hard-cooked
2 cups cooked rice
1 tablespoon fat(bacon grease or vegetable oil)
1 teaspoon calcium carbonate
A balanced vitamin-mineral supplement in a quantity sufficient to provide
the daily requirement for each vitamin and trace mineral.
Braise the meat, retaining fat.
Dice or grind liver and egg.
Combine all ingredients and mix well.
This mixture is somewhat dry and the palatability may be improved by
adding some water(not milk)
Yield 1 and 1/4 lb.
Analysis
Moisture 70.0%
Protein 7.4%
Fat
5.3%
Carbohydrate 15.8%
Metabolize energy is 638 Kcal/lb
This diet supplies 21%protein calories, 34% fat calories and 45% carbohydrate
calories
Feeding Guide
Feed sufficient amount to maintain normal body weight
5 lb. cat approximately 1/4 lb
7-8 lb. cat approximately 1/3 lb
10 lb cat approximately 2/3 lb
Vitamin and mineral supplements should be obtained from your veterinarian
Never change your pet's diet without consulting your veterinarian
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