The information contained in this sticky is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace veterinary advice. The intention of this sticky is to open doors to understanding about the specific medical condition or topic, allowing for educated and on-going discussion with your vet.
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Diabetic Cat
Care Supplements & Support Remedies |
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DCC is an affiliate partner of HerbsPro and links to most supplements mentioned on this sticky will take you to the HerbsPro website so you can see examples of ingredients for supplements suitable for FD cats. We encourage you when possible to order supplements through HerbsPro because DCC earns a small commission from purchases made which assist to cover site fees and help member cats in need. Please note however, in order for DCC to earn a small commission, purchases made from HerbsPro MUST be placed online and MUST initiate with the click through from this banner ad which is also posted on the Affiliates Page.
There are a number of great products on the market that can
help with various health issues associated with
FD. Most are listed here. Please do not be
taken in by "snake oil" products that claim to cure and/or
heal FD - only insulin if needed, combined with a species
appropriate diet can do that! Please note that the
links to the supplements listed on this sticky are to give a
guideline as to what ingredients are safe for diabetic cats
when sourcing supplements. If you have any concerns or
questions about supplements, please post on the
Head to Tail
forum for further
guidance from members using supplement therapies for their
cats.
For
local sources of supplements available in specific countries
around the world, please visit your individual country's
Information Sticky. HerbsPro does ship internationally,
please always make sure to get a quote for shipping and
inquire about brokerage fees, customs and duty charges
applicable when importing supplements.
If possible when purchasing
supplements, try to get the capsule form rather than tablets.
Capsules are easily pulled apart so the contents can be
sprinkled into meals. Most cats do not notice when
supplements are added, however cats "eat with their noses"
and there are some supplements which have an odour or bitter
taste so when adding those (for example sylmarin/milk thistle
and B Complex); start with a small amount and increase slowly
to the recommended daily dose.
The rule of thumb when it comes to
dosing of supplements is 1/6th to 1/10th of a human dose. If
the cat is on the larger side, 1/6th of a human dose - if on
the smaller side, 1/10th of a human dose. Taurine and most
"B" vitamins are water soluble and as such, can't really be
overdosed as excess is excreted through the urine. Vitamin E,
fish oils and others are "fat soluble" and are stored in the
liver - it is very important not to overdose oil based
supplements. Probiotics are another supplement where "less is
more" - too much probiotic is not always a good thing and can
cause gastro-intestinal issues.
Because manufacturers frequently
change their recipes, it is important to make sure to double
check labels when purchasing supplements. Even though the FDA
does not regulate supplements there are rules in place when
it comes to manufacturing processes to make sure they
consistently meet quality standards. Look for products that
have a GMP Quality Control Indicator on the label - that
means they're meeting the FDA's Good Manufacturing Processes.
Also, look for USP Verified or NSF Certified on the label -
this verifies that the product contains the ingredients
listed. Go to USP.org or NSF.org for a complete list of
certified products and brands. The supplements recommended on
this sticky have not yet been verified on the USP/NSF
listings.
When giving pills to cats, please
do not dry pill as this can cause choking and injury to the
esophagus! Either wrap the pill in a small ball of wet food,
or follow the pill with a syringe containing at least 6cc of
water. When possible it helps avoid pills being spit out when
some wet food is set down immediately after giving a pill.
Some supplements require being given hours apart from other
medications/supplement, for example slippery elm bark or
SamE/Denemarin.
For some very interesting
insights, what to look out for, combining supplements, etc.,
Bat's Mom has provided very informative information
about
things that are
good to know about supplements.
Neuropathy(weakness in legs)-
Methylcobalamin B12 comes in tablet form, or can be given by injection with a prescription from the vet if not available over-the-counter. Do not confuse it with Cyanocobalamin which does not help when it comes to neuropathy. A product called Zobaline manufactured by Life Link is specifically made for FD cats and can be ordered through DCC's Affiliate Program to help pay for DCC's site costs (the click through must occur from the Affiliates Page). If you aren't able to get Zobaline, Dr's Best Fully Active Methyl B12 is a product suitable for diabetic cats. Or check your local health food store for METHYLcobalamin B-12, but make sure to read the label carefully to be sure it has no sugars or other inappropriate ingredients for FD cats. When given orally, the recommended daily dosage is 3mg to 6mg (2 to 4 tablets) depending on the severity of the neuropathy. Tablets can be crushed and mixed with food if necessary. Methyl B12 requires folic acid to be absorbed into the system so adding Vitamin B Complex containing folic acid to the supplement regime is recommended (look for one with a minimum amount of Inositol -25 to 50mg or less - because too much Inositol can be toxic or cats) . Methyl B12 is a water soluble vitamin and therefore very difficult to overdose as any that is not used by the system is excreted through the urine. For oral Methyl B12, the dose is best split into two approximately 12 hours apart for daily coverage. Please note, most injectable B12 is Cobalamin, not Methyl B12.
Liver and pancreas
(pancreatitis, cholangitis,
triaditis, gall stones, etc.)
Sylmarin (Milk
Thistle)
Recent studies indicate the properties in sylmarin are capable of regenerating cells in both the liver and pancreas. There are many different products containing sylmarin which are recommended for cats.
SamE (available in "cat sized tablets", no prescription required, use as directed), Denemarin and Denosyl:
(prescription required for the last two, use as directed by your vet). SamE, Denemarin and Denosyl contain a number of ingredients to help support the liver and pancreas and are considered well-rounded support. The enteric coated tablets must be given on an empty stomach an hour before or after meals to ensure the pill dissolves in the gut. They can be given wrapped in a small amount of wet food, a piece of cheese, a moistened piece of freeze dried chicken, or a portion of a Pill Pocket. The amount of sylmarin in each varies usually under 10% sylmarin; as such, there is little issue with giving more sylmarin in addition to these products. Please note, cats on Tramadol for pain should not take SamE at the same time.
Milk Thistle: The recommended level for Milk Thistle (aka MT) is 80% sylmarin. Milk Thistle can be obtained in both capsules or tincture formulas. As with all supplements, look for as much purity (no sugars or flours) and in the case of liquids/tinctures, as little alcohol/grain ethanol as possible. It is very important to check the labels when it comes to purchasing sylmarin - for the dry formulas, rice flour is a very common ingredient; for the liquid tinctures, very often honey, other sugars or glycerin is added. Both MT capsules and tincture can be mixed with food. MT has a very bitter taste so it is recommended to start with a small amount (a pinch or a drop only) and build up to your cat's optimum dose over a few days. MT "can" be used in combination with SamE, Denemarin and Denosyl to maximize the healing properties (please see the manufacturer's websites for clarification). Recommended daily dosage of MT is 1/6th to 1/10th of a human dose depending on the size of the cat and the severity of any health issue and is best split into two doses over the course of the day for better coverage. In the case where more aggressive use of MT is called for, then spreading the supplement over up to 4 meals a day may be required.
LCarnitine – is an amino acid which helps the system break down fats and cholesterol to process them through the mitochondria. As our cats age, just like humans, they stop producing LCarnitine. Acytel Carnitine or D-Carnitine (toxic to cats) are NOT at all suitable for cats. Make sure to get the purest form of L-Carnitine you can find! Daily dose is 250mg, and is best split into two doses over the course of the day. Here’s a great article on the benefits of LCarnitine - follow the links to “learn more” and the sidebars provide some great info as well. In humans, the use of LCarnitine is not recommended for those who have seizures, are using blood thinners, or have Hypothyroidism.
Taurine - recent studies have shown that taurine also has regenerative properties when it comes to healing of the pancreas and liver. Taurine is water soluable and as such, any excess is excreted through the urine. The recommended daily dose of Taurine is up to 500mg. Taurine is also known to support the heart, eyes, kidneys as well as other organs in the body. Double check labels to make sure there are no fillers added which are not appropriate for FD cats.
Immune system Support
Agaricus -Dr. Hodgkins highly recommends the use of Agaricus Blazeii mushroom compounds as immune system boosters for our cats. In fact, her words are "give your cat a quarter capsule daily, then take the rest yourself". It comes in both powder and liquid forms.
Original Powder and liquid forms: Atlas World
Powder form: Herbspro
The liquid form is more powerful, starts to work faster and is therefore recommended for cats who are ill or have compromised immune systems. It has been found helpful in times of sickness to start with the liquid form and once the illness has past to move to the powdered form. Please note some websites claim rice powder as an ingredient for the Dr's Best product and others do not - when in doubt contact the company to make certain you are ordering a product with no rice flour or rice powder.
Bio-Preparation #3 -
A natural whole food product, Bio
Prep is not considered a supplement. It
contains Spirulina pacifica,
Spirulina platensis, Dunaliella salina and astaxanthin.
This bio-algae contains Vitamin A, B-complex, C, D, E and K,
essential fatty acids of Omega 3, Omega 6, Omega 9, Gamma
Linoleic Acid (GLA content is similar to early mother's
milk), Alpha-Linolenic Acids (ALAs),
Dihomogamma-Linolenic Acid (DGLA), Docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA) and more fatty acids, over 4,000 enzymes, 10
essential amino acids plus 10 non-essential ones, all known
trace minerals and elements, antioxidants, phytonutrients,
polysaccharides and thousands of other nutrients. A
number of cats on forum have now started taking Bio-Prep and
while the jury is still out, there are some interesting
improvments which seem to be developing, such as runs
starting to stretch out. Bio-Prep can be mixed with
food (although it has been reported some cats have been a
little fussy about it). The recommendation to start is
with a small amount and build up to 1/4 to 1/2 capsule a day
over the course of a month. There are a number of
suppliers of Bio-Prep #3, Vitamin Donkey which has offered a $3.00
discount code posted on the Affiliates Page, and another
here. Dr. Becker of the Mercola
Healthy Pet site offers another version as well.
Arthritis
Dasuquin is recommended
over Cosequin, but both are acceptable to
assist with joint pain. Turmeric is also supposed to be
great when it comes to helping with arthritis; it needs to be
given with both pepper and a small amount of fat to be
absorbed.
Constipation
Just like humans, there are times
when our cats become constipated. Adding any kind of animal based fat to food
will work wonders. One or two drops of salmon oil, a
pat of real butter (not margarine), a teaspoonful of bacon or
sausage grease can be given as needed.
Slippery Elm Bark is also helpful to coat the intestine, helping stool pass easier (daily dose is 1/8 to 1/4 tsp), but it cannot be given within two hours of any other supplement or medication. Slippery Elm Bark is usually available at health food stores and online sources - organic is best.
Miralax (aka Restoralax in Canada) - there are times when constipation in our cats can be more severe or chronic. The active ingredientis Polyethylene Glycol 3350OK. Recommended dosage is 1/8 tsp once a day until the constipation is resolved. In severe cases, some have given Miralax twice a day. Extra water should always be added to food when using Miralax, as the product pulls moisture from the system to soften the stool to make it easier to pass. Do NOT use other human laxatives as they are not appropriate for cats. Many vets will recommend Lactulose, however this product contains sugars and is NOT suitable for FD cats.
Upset stomach, nausea, vomiting
Pepcid AC or its generic equivalent is helpful when kitty isn't feeling very well, for example, when certain antibiotics are being used, or during a pancreatitis attack or flare up. For generic brands, the active ingredient is Famotidine, 10 mg. Do not use Pepcid Complete. The dose for Pepcid AC is - 1/4 tab BID, preferably 20-30 min before feeding or medications. Pepcid AC can be given in 1/2 tablet doses twice a day in cases of extreme nausea. Long-term use of Pepcid AC should be monitored by your veterinarian.
Important Notice for Pepcid AC users with CRD
cats, or cats with heart rhythm problems - Famotidine Side
Effects and Interactions
A
study found that antacids can reduce
absorption of Vitamin B12 by 72% in just two
weeks. When using Pepcid AC/famotidine or other acid reducing
medications, members would be well advised to make sure our cats are
getting supplemental Methyl B12 to help increase
what is depleted in the
system.
Some cats, particularly those with
high creatine levels( <5 USA/450 international) do not do
well on famotidine, perhaps because their kidneys cannot
excrete it efficiently. CRD cats may in fact exhibit
increased vomiting and appetite loss when it is used. If your
cat's vomiting and appetite loss do not improve after two
days of using famotidine, ask your vet about switching to
ranitidine, which is also used for cats with heart rhythm
issues. When using ranitidine, please work closely with
your vet.
For
more info on Pepcid's side effects
Drug's.com
Malabsorption and GI Issues
When taking antibiotics, not only
is the bad bacteria in the gut and intestines killed off, the
good bacteria is as well. The addition of a probiotic
is helpful to restore healthy bacteria back into the gut and
intestines. When a cat has been very ill a probiotic
known to work very quickly to restore healthy bacteria
is Bio
Gaia. This
probiotic contains the LReuteri strain and is commonly used
for infants to treat colic. Once over the illness, for
continued use, Country Life
Acidophilus has proven
successful for FD kitties and was proven in FDA trials to be
the top brand when it comes to live bacteria claims; while
this product does list maltodextrin on the label, it does not
seem to affect the BG of FD cats. Recommended dose is
1/4 capsule once a day for felines. FortiFlora and Felinedolphilus are two other probiotics for felines. As
with any medication or supplement, it is important to monitor
your FD cat's BG to see if there is any reaction which
affects BG. With probiotics, it is recommended to start
out with a low dose and increase slowly over the course of a
few days. A number of probiotics contain
FOS
(fructo-oligosaccharides); while in diabetic humans FOS does not appear
to cause any issues with BG, FOS has proven repeatedly on
forum to affect the BG in cats, and is believed to have
caused severe gastrointestinal issues - based on the
experience of fellow members, we don't recommend probiotics
containing FOS for cats.
Some cats experience constipation when switching from high carb dry food to an all wet low carb diet. To help with constipation issues, Miralax (this product is known as Restoralax in Canada) is helpful. The recommended starting dose is 1/8th tsp once a day mixed into food, increasing to as much as 1/4 tsp twice daily if necessary. These products are "stool softeners" and work by drawing moisture into the colon so it is important to make sure to add additional water to your cat's food. In addition to stool softener, it may be that your cat may require additional fiber be added to their diet. A suitable fiber for FD cats is unflavored Metamucil "Simply Clear" in the blue container (this product is becoming very difficult to find). The daily recommended dose would be 1/8th of a tsp to start, increasing to 1/4 tsp twice daily if necessary. Please discuss the use of Miralax or Metamucil with your vet.
Hairballs
The best way to avoid hairballs in your cat is with a frequent brushing routine. Because Slippery Elm Bark (SEB)coats the intestine and mucous membranes, some have found it very useful to help control hairballs. The daily dose is 1/8 to 1/4 tsp, but it cannot be given within two hours of any other supplement or medication. It is relatively inexpensive and is available at health food stores and online sources and when possible, purchasing organic slippery elm bark is recommended.
Other Supplements
There are other supplements which
are used when making a homemade raw diet or to assist with
various health issues which affect our FD cats. They
include wild salmon
oil, Vitamin
E, Low Odor Vitamin B
Complex,
pancreatic
enzymes,
human grade bone
meal,
L-Arginine, Folic
Acid, Curcumin
(turmeric is better though)
and CO Q10
to mention a
few.
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