Canadian Information

 

METERS

Below, in alphabetical order, are some meter choices that have proved to work well and provide accurate results.

AccuChek – Aviva
The AccuChek is an easy to use meter that does though need a larger blood sample than many of the others. It does let you “add” more blood to the sample if not enough was taken with the first (as long as you do so within 5 seconds of the first sample).

Bayer Contour
Like the AccuChek, The Bayer Contour requires a relatively large 0.6ml sample of blood. It is however a good and accurate meter.

Nova Max Plus
The NovaMax Plus meter tests for glucose and also for blood ketones (separate testing strips, which are quite expensive, are used for the ketone testing). A very small blood sample is needed.

ReliOn Micro/ ReliON Confirm
The ReliOn Meters are available at Walmart. Both the Micro and Confirm meters in particular give accurate readings and only need a small blood sample. Both the meters and more importantly the test strips are very reasonably priced

The following two meters have shown problems with false readings for some people. For this reason, it is recommended to choose another meter for testing your cat.

Freestyle Lite
The Freestyle Lite has shown to provide results that are much lower than reality in some cases. It tends to be more accurate towards the lower/normal BG range. In mid-high BG numbers though, it can read significantly lower.

Walgreen “True” line of meters
As with the FS Lite, the “True” meters can read significantly lower than reality, especially for mid to high range numbers.

 

SYRINGES

Some suggested syringes are:

• BD Ultrafine, 3/10cc-0.3ml U100 syringes with half unit markings
– Make certain to get the syringes with half unit markings (they also exist with full unit markings)
– Available without a prescription from any pharmacy
– May be available in packs of 10, more often in boxes of 100
– Only available in short (5/16”) needle lengths
– Best prices are usually found at WalMart or Costco

• Monoject 3/10cc-0.3ml U100 syringes with half unit markings
– May be ordered from American Diabetes Wholesale(ADW) .
– Shipment is done through Bongo : Use the customer service tool on the Bongo link to check shipping and brokerage costs before you place your order.
– Confirm that the syringes that you are buying do have the half unit marks

• ReliOn (Walmart) 3/10cc-0.3ml U100 syringes with hal unit markings
– Syringes may be purchased in US border cities
– SKW 81131-0311-66

• U-40 syringes for U-40 insulin are only available from veterinarians in Canada; they may, however, be on-line via ADW or other sources.

• Note: Prescriptions may be required by some US based on-line sources.

FOOD INFORMATION

Important: If your cat is on high carb wet or dry food, please see the sticky Detoxing your Cat from High Carb Food under Starting TR for information on how to transition your cat to 100% low carb wet food safely.

Please see the information in the stickies Calculating Carbs – Carb Calculator under Starting TR, and Choosing the right low carb canned food under Food & Felines in the Knowledge Centre for more information on selecting the best food for your cat.

Below is a list of appropriate low carb foods and their dry matter carb content in %:

Note:  Fancy Feast has been changing recipes – please double check the carbs before buying!

Fancy Feast:
• Beef and Liver Feast, 85g………………….6.8%
• Turkey and Giblets Feast, 85g…..…………6.8%
• Tender Beef Feast, 85g……………….…….9.1%
• Salmon Feast, 85g………………………….9.1%
• Seafood Feast, 85g………………………….9.1%

Hounds & Gatos
• H&G Chicken…………………………………………………..2%
• H&G Lamb/chicken/salmon…………………………….3%
• H&G Lamb/Duck Liver…………………………………….3%

Feline Cuisine:
• Beef Banquet Dinner, 85g,………………….9.1%

Compliments Happy Tails:
• Liver and Chicken Dinner 156g cans………8.2%
• Prime Entrée 156g cans…………….….……8.2%

Compliments Ultra Gourmet:
• Mixed Grill Pate 85g can…………………….9.1%
• Turkey and Giblets Pate………………….…6.8%

Finicky Cat Gourmet Pate:
• Liver and Chicken Dinner 85g……………..9.1%
• Turkey and Giblets Dinner 85g…………….6.8%

Newmans Own Organic 95% – Make sure it is the 95%
• Newmans Own Organic Turkey……………….…….0.8%
• Newmans Own Organic Turkey & Liver………….1.0%
• Newmans Own Organic Chicken & Liver…………1.3%
• Newmans Own Organic Chicken……………………..0.9%

Special Kitty Select:
• Liver and Chicken Dinner, 85g…………….9.1%
• Gourmet Chicken Dinner, 85g……………..6.8%
• Turkey and Giblets Dinner, 85g……………6.8%

Raw Food

Feline’s Choice (a division of Feline’s Pride), a top quality, ready made, bone in raw food is available in Canada.

Acceptable Treats

• Pure Bites Turkey and Chicken are good choices for your cat; the Duck is high in fat, and the other flavours are either fish or vegetable.
• Benny Bully’s:  Note: The Sweet Potato Chips are NOT suitable for FD cats.

INSULIN

Please see Insulins, Starting Scales & Dosing Criteria under Starting TR in the Knowledge Centre for full information on the different insulins.

OTC/Over the Counter Insulins: Lantus, Levemir & NPH

In Canada, human insulins such as Lantus, Levemir and NPH are available OTC (over-the-counter or without prescription) in any pharmacy. WalMart and CostCo usually have the best prices.

Lantus & Levemir

Lantus and Levemir are long-acting insulins, and are better adapted to cats than NPH, which can cause sharp drops and quick spikes in blood glucose levels.

Both are available in 10ml vials, pens or cartridges.

The 3ml cartridges (sold in packs of 5) are recommended as there is less waste vs. the vial which may lose potency before all insulin is used.

If you are unable to find the cartridges, the pens can be used with 3/10cc-0.3ml U100 syringes with half unit markings: the rubber stopper at the top of the cartridge is clearly visible when you remove the pen cap.

NPH

NPH is available in vials, and is dosed using 3/10cc-0.3ml U100 syringes with half unit markings.

Prescription/Vet Insulins: Caninsulin & ProZinc:

Caninsulin/Vetsulin

Caninsulin is available in vials or in pen form.  While the pen will dose 0.5u increments (unlike the pens for the human insulins, Lantus and Levemir, which dose in 1.0u increments) you will need to use syringes to dose the smaller increments used with TR, if that is what your vet has subscribed.

Caninsulin is a U40 insulin, so does require the conversion if you use 0.3ml U100 syringes with half unit markings to dose it. Please see the Converting U40 insulin to U100 syringes under Useful TR Tools & Tips in the Knowledge Centre for more information.

ProZinc

ProZinc, which has been available in the US since 2009 has now in 2015 been made available in Canada also.  It is a vet insulin that was originally created to replace manufactured bovine pzi insulins.

Please note that ProZinc is a U40 insulin, so does require the conversion if you use 0.3ml U100 syringes with half unit markings to dose it. Please see the Converting U40 insulin to U100 syringes under Useful TR Tools & Tips in the Knowledge Centre for more information.

SUPPLEMENTS

Below you will find information on how to order certain supplements that can help our cats.

Many supplements will contain ingredients that are not good for our FD cats, please do check the ingredients before ordering any supplement. They often contain rice powder or hidden sugars.

Good sources of supplements are HerbsPro, Vitacost, (note delivery times may be up to 3 weeks or more for Vitacost).
Specific supplements that have been checked and are recommended are:

• Vitamin B complex Equate Brand : WalMart
• Vitamin E capsule Equate Brand : WalMart
• Omega 3 Fish oil: Solgar Omega3 – iHerb
• Taurine: Jarrows Taurine – iHerb
• For making raw: Windsor Lite salt – Available at most grocery stores.e

Sub-cutaneous Supplies

Buying SubQ fluids can be very expensive… and cost to ship, because of their weight, is expensive also.

It is possible to ask your local pharmacy if they are willing to order subQ fluids for you: the product code for a 500 ml bag of Lactated Ringers – intravenous fluids and electrolyte replenishment, NaCl 0.9% Sodium Cloride, manufactured by Baxters is JB1323 – DIN00060208.

Last update:  Sep 16

 

Back to the DCI Knowledge Centre Back to the DCI Forum

 

 

© Diabetic Cat International 2014-2022