Europe: General Contintental European Information

 

METERS & TEST STRIPS

Most major brands of glucometers are available in in most European countries.  They are available in pharmacies, and perhaps, depending whre you live, on-line for a better price.  most pharmacies tend to only stock one brand. Some models:

• Accu-Check:  Performa or  Performa Nano
• Ascensia (formerly Bayer):  Contour Next One – note a free meter is offered on their page – see note below on how to request.
• Glucofix:  Glucofix Premium in France, GlucoMen LX Plus in some other countries
–  Large screen and also will test for blood ketones (using separate strips)
–  Uses the smallest blood sample on the market (0.3ml)
• OneTouch:  Verio

To note: The Freestyle Lite, while widely available, has shown to give falsely lower than real numbers in mid-high range BGs for some cats. For this reason, it is recommended that you choose another Brand.

 Depending on your country, checking out prices on internet may be good – in many countries the price is fixed though, due to national health systems.  You may nonetheless find perhaps good prices on EBay at times.  You will probably only be able to buy off your local country EBay – due to  restrictions on the shipping of certain medical supplies and medications across border, they block the entire health category of sites outside of your own market.

You may also be able to request a free meter from some companies if you contact their customer service and simply say that you would like to try their meter (do NOT mention that you want to use it on a cat – they will tell you that their meters are only for humans). The companies make their money by selling the test strips, so are often happy to send the meter for free.

 Amazon may also be a source of cheaper meters for you.

SYRINGES

The only brand of 0.3ml U100 syringes to come with half unit markings in Europe is BD Micro + Demi  (the + Demi is the half unit markings). The half unit markings are necessary to allow you to dose small increments of insulin accurately.

They are not available in all countries, however.  Northern and Eastern European countries may not have them.  Depending on your country’s laws regarding importing syringes, you may be able to purchase off UK internet sites.

FOOD

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

The appropriate food available will depend on your country.  Below are listed some on-line sources of appropriate foods that may help you.

As is the norm in Europe, figures are based on Nutritional/As Fed Analysis.

Please see the information in the articles 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.

AVAILABLE ONLINE (Zooplus – but please seek out other sources – see note below)

Animonda
• Pouches – Exotic: Buffalo, Kangaroo or Ostrich………………..3,7%
• Pouches – Classic: Poultry & Veal, Turkey & Lamb or Beef & Turkey Hearts…………………………………………………………………5,8%
• Senior Trays: Beef, Poultry or Lamb……………………………..7,1%
• Adult Trays: Poultry & Veal, With Turkey Hearts, Multi-Meat Cocktail, Turkey & Rabbit or With Chicken Liver…….5,8%

Bozita
• 400g Tins: Poulet, Boeuf, Saumon, Crevettes.……………….5.5%
• Tetrapaks: Bouchées in Jelly…………………………….….…..7.1%
• Tetrapaks: Bouchées en Sauce…………………………………7.1%

Smilla
• 200-800g Tins: Assorted flavours.……………….>5%

 

IF YOUR CAT HAS RENAL PROBLEMS/LOWER PHOSPHOROUS

Integra Protect Diabete
• Available from zooplus (0.9% phos.)…………………………..7,2%

Specific FXW
• Available from VetoMalin Specific FXW (0.74% phos.)………..…………..……..7.4%
• Does contain psyllium and some rice

TREATS: Zooplus (see note below)
• Thrive freeze dried treats
• Cosma freeze dried treats (less expensive) : Regular or XL, do NOT buy THAI (which contain rice)

ZOOPLUS

Zooplus is a european wide source of animal supplies, and does have a choice of appropriate low carb foods.  However its shipping charges are increasingly heavy (shipping is free over 49€, but an extra charge is added for each additional box over the first).  There are more and more local sites where you can find the same, perhaps with better shipping costs.  And, more and more supermarkets are providing no cereal/low carb foods.

        Zooplus does not treat its long term customers well, and we do not recommend it unless you have no other source.  Please do google and
make sure that you cannot find the same or better elsewhere – we cannot recommend them because of their service and increased costs today.

This link is to the UK site PetForums and a list of all low carb food available from Zooplus. Please do use this as a guide only and recheck the carbs yourself, as recipes can change.  It is an excellent starting point though for foods that are available in Europe (if again, we suggest you find other sources than zooplus to make your purchase:  https://www.petforums.co.uk/threads/zooplus-cat-food-list-just-the-good-stuff-work-in-progress.440844/

INSULIN

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

The only vet insulin that has been available historically in Europe is Caninsulin. In many countries in Europe Caninsulin does need to be tried first before there is the possibility of moving to another insulin. ProZinc is now just arriving in Europe in 2016 – to see if vets start suggesting it over Caninsulin, which they are familar with!  No doubt it will probably become a case of trying the two “vet” insulins before many vets will be willing to allow the use of another.

Caninsulin

Caninsulin is a U40 vet insulin, used on both dogs and cats.

Caninsulin is available in vials or increasingly in a pen form. The lowest dose on the pen is 0.50u. It is strongly recommended that you use 3/10cc-0.3ml syringes with half unit markings to dose, even if you have the pens in order to be able to dose small increments. The top of the cartridge is clearly visible when you remove the cap – you simply stick the needle of the syringe into the stopper.

Please note that a conversion is necessary to dose U40 insulin with U100 syringes. See Converting U40 insulin to U100 syringes under Useful Tools & Tips in the Knowledge Centre for more information on the conversion.

ProZinc (just becoming available in at least some European markets in 2016)

ProZinc, like Caninsulin is a U40 vet insulin; however unlike Caninsulin it is specifically made for use on cats.  It was created in the US to replace the previously available manufactured PZI bovine insulines.  Those insulines became difficult to manufacture as sources of beef pancreas dried up over the Mad Cow disease.

ProZinc is available in vials only to date.  It is strongly recommended that you use 3/10cc-0.3ml syringes with half unit markings to allow you to dose accurately and consistently, given the difficulty in finding U40 syringes with half unit markings (they will appear on the market from time to time…. to then disappear).

Please note that a conversion is necessary to dose U40 insulin with U100 syringes. See Converting U40 insulin to U100 syringes under Useful Tools & Tips in the Knowledge Centre for more information on the conversion.

Lantus (Glargine) & Levemir (Detemir)

Both Lantus and Levemir are available for human use in Europe and can be prescribed by your vet and purchased in any pharmacy. Depending on what country you are in these insulins will be more or less well known to your vet. In many countries, they are becoming much more well known as good insulins to use with Feline Diabetes.

     To note:  The UK is one big exception.  It is very difficult, if not almost impossible, to find a vet  willling to prescribe either. They are only supposed to prescribe vet insulin.

Lantus is available in vial, cartridge (5 cartridges/box) or pen form. The cartridges are more cost effective as there is less chance of the cartridges losing potency before you have finished one vs. the usual 10ml vial.

Levemir comes in pen form only. It is possible (and necessary) to use a syringe with these – they only dose in full units (1u, 2u, 3u).

While more expensive than Canisulin, due to national health systems in Europe, both Levemir and Lantus remain reasonably priced, and are sold for far under what people in the US are paying today.

SUPPLEMENTS

Iherb.com is a very good source for supplements: the prices are good and above all the shipping prices to Europe are excellent.  Shipping does take about 10 days – 2 weeks usually (and may take longer), so do plan ahead and don’t let yourself run out of an important supplement for your cat.

Many supplements do contain fillers that are not appropriate for diabetic cats, such as rice powder or hidden sugars. Please check the ingredients carefully before purchasing (they can change!), and post in Introductions & Questions if you would like some help in choosing the best supplement.

Appetite Stimulants:
• Periactin ( Cyproheptidine): Usually available in most pharmacies, if certain contries may require a prespcription.

B50 Complex:
• B50 Complex:   NOW B50 Complex – iherb

Cancer aid/support:
• IP6 Gold:  IP6 Gold – iherb
• Curcumin (and excellent anti-inflamatory): Jarrows Curcumin – iherb
• CQ10 (also good for heart issues:  Doctor’s Best Ubiquitol – iherb

Digestive Issues:
• PepsidAC has unfortunately been taken off the market in almost all if not all European markets. Famotidine (the molecule in PepsidAC/generic) may be available, but only in 20mg tablets and usually only by prescription. The tablets are small, and it is virtually impossible to cut them into 1/8s to give the correct dose of 2.5mg/BID. If your cat is suffering badly from acid/burning you can give half a tablet of the 20mg Famotidine for 1-2 weeks maximum if your vet will give you a script.
• Slippery Elm Bark: Now Slippery Elm – iherb

Immune System Boosters:
• Agaricus Blazeii: Doctor’s Best Agaricus – iherb
• Mushroom Optimizer (7 Mushroom blend):  Jarrows Mushroom –  iHerb

Neuropathy: Methyl Cobalamin B12
• Zobaline (Methyl B12 for FD cats): Lifelink
–  Note: Shipping to Europe is very expensive

Omega 3:
• Krill Oil:  NOW Krill Oil – iherb

Pancreatitis Supplements:
• L Carnitine (must be pure L Carnitine, not acytel or D variety ): NOW  L-Carnitine from iherb
• Milk Thistle Powder: Jarrows MT  –  iHerb
• SamE – Denemarin Tablets: Vet UK

Taurine:
• Taurine:  My Protein Company

 

Last updated February 2021

 

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