Just like with people, diabetes rising in pets

[pbowers]

But 'Catkins' diet, Weight Watchers-type programs and new meds can help
By Kim Campbell Thornton
MSNBC contributor
updated 9:06 a.m. ET Nov. 19, 2007

The 9-year-old Australian Terrier was drinking a lot of water and urinating frequently. So his owner took the little dog to her veterinarian, John Hamil of Canyon Animal Hospital in Laguna Beach, Calif. A urinalysis and blood work revealed that he had diabetes.

As with people, the incidence of diabetes in cats and dogs is increasing. Not so much of a problem in decades past, diabetes now affects as many as one in 50 of the animals, some statistics show, especially pudgy pets.

“There is no question from what I know that is published in the literature that obesity is on the rise, No. 1, and No. 2, diabetes is on the rise right along with it,” says veterinarian Robin Downing, hospital director of Windsor Veterinary Clinic in Windsor, Colo.

Diabetes results when the body doesn't produce enough insulin, a hormone that processes glucose (blood sugar), or properly use it. As a result, the body's tissues cannot use glucose for energy, and the sugar builds up in the blood and urine.

Veterinarians say that while obesity clearly is linked to diabetes in pets, it appears to contribute to the disease differently in cats and dogs.

Fat cats are prone to diabetes because they develop insulin resistance, meaning their bodies don't effectively use insulin. As a result, the pancreas pumps out more insulin as well as another hormone called amylin. “When you get too much insulin secreted, you get too much amylin secreted as well, and that tends to aggregate and destroy the insulin-producing cells,” says veterinarian Richard W. Nelson, a professor at the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine in Davis.

With dogs, obesity is associated with an increased risk of pancreatitis — an inflammation of the pancreas — which can then lead to diabetes because the body doesn't make enough insulin, according to a report by Jacquie S. Rand, a diabetes expert at the University of Queensland’s School of Veterinary Medicine in Brisbane, Australia.

'Catkins' diet and other aids
Not every dog or cat that develops diabetes is fat, but any way you look at it, obesity and diabetes are linked. The good news is that obesity is preventable and reversible, and oftentimes so is the diabetes.

A change to a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet — nicknamed the “Catkins” diet — can promote weight loss and make diabetes more manageable in cats, often sending them into remission so that they no longer require insulin injections. At the Windsor Veterinary Clinic in Colorado, three out of every four diabetic cats have their disease controlled through diet alone, says Downing.

Diet can help manage the disease in dogs so that they need less insulin, but it doesn’t have as dramatic an effect as it does in cats.

“We don’t see dogs go into remission after dietary change, whereas that happens fairly frequently in cats,” says veterinarian Michael Stone, an assistant clinical professor of veterinary medicine at Tufts University in Grafton, Mass.

Besides diet, improvements in insulin have made it easier for owners to manage diabetes in dogs and cats. Veterinarians now have two newly approved forms of insulin, one for cats and one for dogs, that make treatment better. Vets also are finding that some diabetic cats respond well to a long-acting human synthetic insulin called glargine, which appears to work best in newly diagnosed diabetic cats that are being fed a high-protein, low-carb diet.

Another important development has been the ability of owners to check a pet’s blood glucose level at home using a blood glucose meter. That makes it a lot easier to ensure that a pet is receiving the right amount of insulin, without subjecting it to a stressful overnight stay at a veterinary clinic.

A preventable disease
Downing wants pet owners to know that diabetes is almost always a preventable disease if a pet maintains a normal weight. She stages interventions — advising clients with fat pets about the risk their animals face — and runs a pet weight-loss program.

“We treat this just like Weight Watchers,” she says. “We have regular weigh-ins, we create a food program and an exercise program, and we give regular feedback to the owners about what a good job they’re doing.”

What happened with the little Australian Terrier?

“We sent him home,” Hamil says. “We put him on insulin over the weekend and changed his diet. Once we have diabetic patients regulated, we find that the vast majority of them do very well.”

Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning author who has written many articles and more than a dozen books about dogs and cats. She belongs to the Dog Writers Association of America and is past president of the Cat Writers Association. She shares her home in California with two Cavalier King Charles spaniels and one African ringneck parakeet.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21755451/

[Wifezilla]

At the Windsor Veterinary Clinic in Colorado, three out of every four diabetic cats have their disease controlled through diet alone

This doesn't surprise me. My cats are doing great since I got them off of grains.

Humans are omnivores, cats (like ferrets) are pure carnivores. They have even less reason to be eating grains and carbs than humans. But what is the first ingredient in most commercial cat foods? Corn gluten, or wheat gluten, or rice.

Their natural diet (yummmy little rodents) is about 3% carbs. If you are feeding them Purina, or Iams, or Hill Science (that expensive crap you get from the vet), you are feeding them between 20 and 50% carbs.

Like with people, some cats don't seem to be bothered by the carbs, but others blow up like a balloon. That is what has happened at my house. My older cat never gained weight, but our younger cat got up to 22 lbs on high carb cat food.

I have blogged about the girls and their new lc diet here...
http://wifezillasway.blogspot.com/2007/10/cats-are-going-low-carb-too.html
http://wifezillasway.blogspot.com/2007/10/low-carb-cat-update.html
http://wifezillasway.blogspot.com/2007/10/kitty-weigh-in.html

For good info on feline diabetes, check out this place...
http://www.felinediabetes.com/

[Demokat]

This doesn't surprise me. My cats are doing great since I got them off of grains.

Humans are omnivores, cats (like ferrets) are pure carnivores. They have even less reason to be eating grains and carbs than humans. But what is the first ingredient in most commercial cat foods? Corn gluten, or wheat gluten, or rice.

Their natural diet (yummmy little rodents) is about 3% carbs. If you are feeding them Purina, or Iams, or Hill Science (that expensive crap you get from the vet), you are feeding them between 20 and 50% carbs.

Like with people, some cats don't seem to be bothered by the carbs, but others blow up like a balloon. That is what has happened at my house. My older cat never gained weight, but our younger cat got up to 22 lbs on high carb cat food.

I have blogged about the girls and their new lc diet here...
http://wifezillasway.blogspot.com/2007/10/cats-are-going-low-carb-too.html
http://wifezillasway.blogspot.com/2007/10/low-carb-cat-update.html
http://wifezillasway.blogspot.com/2007/10/kitty-weigh-in.html

For good info on feline diabetes, check out this place...
http://www.felinediabetes.com/


I feed the boys Evo kibble and table scraps, and one of them is thin and the other is chubby. Evo has no grains and is only 7% carbs, but I'm thinking of changing over to an all-meat diet.

[Wifezilla]

I use the Innova EVO as their dry crunchie..both have always had free access to dry food. I did start giving them each a can of grain-free wet food in the morning. That has seemed to make the biggest difference.

[mike_d]

My dog has been on 'K9kins' or BARF for a year and has improved greatly-- even a crippling hip problem has vanished.

Healthy Grains cause aches 'n pains (sm)

[eryalen]

A change to a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet — nicknamed the “Catkins” diet — can promote weight loss and make diabetes more manageable in cats,
Maybe I'll dump my pill pushing doc and go to the vet.

[kneebrace]

I use the Innova EVO as their dry crunchie..both have always had free access to dry food. I did start giving them each a can of grain-free wet food in the morning. That has seemed to make the biggest difference.

WZ, just curious why you give them free access to any food. The jury might still be out about how often humans should eat (not in my mind, of course :) ), but natural carnivores definitely would be lucky to make a successful kill even once a day, and for the same reason departing our evolutionary dietary heritage always seems to turn out to be a very bad idea, so it is with cats. It would take some time to wean your cats off free access food. They're creatures of habit like their human companions after all - habits that physiologically really need time to break. But they'd thank you for it long term.

Stuart

[Rachel1]

Catkins? But isn't that unhealthy? Won't their kidneys fall out? And what about high cholesterol and the risk of heart attacks?

:)
Rachel

[Wifezilla]

just curious why you give them free access to any food.

Every pet I have had always had free access. My dad said the same thing about his dogs growing up (which I am sure why he had us do it for our pets). When I had dogs, they always had a bowl of crunchies and they were never neurotic about food...no begging problems, etc... I guess I just never saw the point. Until Xena, I have never had an overweight pet.

I have seen people I know with pets on specific feeding schedules and their dogs are neurotic as all hell. Sure, it could be a coincidence, but maybe it because the food they do get is grain based so the poor things always feel hungry.

As for my oldest kitty...she is 18. I am reluctant to make changes for her at all. She is happy, healthy, and very set in her ways (you know how old people get...hee hee hee).

[Judynyc]

I would never ever free feed my dogs as they would not know when to stop eating.:eek: Not the best way to feed..IMO!!

They are all on a grain free diet and eat some kibble and meat.

[LessLiz]

Depends on the breed and sometimes the individual dog. I've had dogs that could free feed and some that couldn't.

All my cats free feed and none have been overweight or diabetic. As for the natural carnivores statement, when I lived where it was safe for my cats to go outside none of them wiould have needed me to feed them if they had eaten the mice and birds rather than presenting them to mom as gifts. Two cats each presented me with multiple mice and birds every day.

[Wifezilla]

I would never ever free feed my dogs as they would not know when to stop eating.

Dogs who are free fed from the time they are puppies don't usually have an issue with this. And it isn't necessarily the amount of food your pet is eating, but the kind.

Aren't we facing the same issue with ourselves as we are with our pets? Aren't we getting the same suggestion as to how to fix it? We can either free feed on quality food, or strictly regulate the amount of high-carb food and only eat it in semi-starvation portions?

If the food is low carb, high protein and fat, we will experience the natural feelings of hunger/fullness and quit when we are full (and our insulin wont spike so we wont store what we do eat as body fat). If the food is high carb, low fat, even if it is the same amount of calories, we will always feel hungry and deprived and get neurotic about food (ala the Minnesota Starvation Study). Why would this be any different for a dog or cat?

Which would you want to do?

[ProfGumby]

Dogs who are free fed from the time they are puppies don't usually have an issue with this. And it isn't necessarily the amount of food your pet is eating, but the kind.

Aren't we facing the same issue with ourselves as we are with our pets? Aren't we getting the same suggestion as to how to fix it? We can either free feed on quality food, or strictly regulate the amount of high-carb food and only eat it in semi-starvation portions?

If the food is low carb, high protein and fat, we will experience the natural feelings of hunger/fullness and quit when we are full (and our insulin wont spike so we wont store what we do eat as body fat). If the food is high carb, low fat, even if it is the same amount of calories, we will always feel hungry and deprived and get neurotic about food (ala the Minnesota Starvation Study). Why would this be any different for a dog or cat?

Which would you want to do?

Great post!

[glendarc]

Depends on the breed and sometimes the individual dog. I've had dogs that could free feed and some that couldn't.

All my cats free feed and none have been overweight or diabetic. As for the natural carnivores statement, when I lived where it was safe for my cats to go outside none of them wiould have needed me to feed them if they had eaten the mice and birds rather than presenting them to mom as gifts. Two cats each presented me with multiple mice and birds every day.

This brought back some memories - our last cat died over 10 years ago but he had his cat-door into the kitchen, so he was in and out all night, every night. We finally had to keep the kitchen closed to the rest of the house overnight because he would bring home his "contribution to the family larder" and we'd almost always get up to find a bird or mouse on the kitchen floor - a few times we even found half a rat! Never did find the other half - I hope he ate it!!!

With all the grains in a lot of brands of commercial cat food, I wonder how long before a myriad of other problems surface in our cats - carnivores don't thrive on grains!!

[Judynyc]

Why would this be any different for a dog or cat?

Because we have thumbs and can make choices...dogs are natural scavengers and left to their own devices, many will eat to their own detriment. I can't speak for cats as I am not a cat person...but am totally a dog person!!

Having a pack of dogs (more than 2)means that it is necessary to have feeding times to make sure that those who will eat anything, don't and those who are picky eaters, get to eat too.

[kebaldwin]

SO ... when are we going to get a new part of this forum for pets ?!?!?!

[Demokat]

SO ... when are we going to get a new part of this forum for pets ?!?!?!

That's a good idea. :)

[Wifezilla]

many will eat to their own detriment.

Is this true for Wolves? When is the last time you saw a fat wolf? The genes are the same for them as they are for dogs. (There is debate as to whether dogs should even be considered a separate species from wolves because there is not enough genetic difference between the two...they still cross breed with fertile young, etc...)

I think this detrimental eating is CAUSED by grains...JUST LIKE IT IS FOR PEOPLE!

If your pets are fed high fat, high protein, LOW CARB food, the picky eating or over eating is no longer an issue.

With the new high quality food my cats get, the volume of food they eat is much less, and where the used to fight over food in the past, the now share the same can of wet food without a fuss.

[Wifezilla]

Found a dog trainer with a similar view...
"Why does a "dog trainer" care about nutrition? In my years of experience with both my own and my client's fur companions, I can say without hesitation that pet nutrition is strongly linked to behavior, just as poor (sugar, fast food, etc.) quality diets are linked to behavior problems in children. Trying to learn, process information, or simply be calm when you are riding a wave of over-processed, chemical laden diets is impossible. On behavior consultations for reactivity, hyperactivity, and other excessive issues, invariably those pets also have poor quality, grain based diets. Many times, I have seen a dramatic shift in behavior from a dietary change alone to a higher quality diet. So, I feel that diet is important beyond just a simple nutritional level."
http://www.bluedogk9.com/nutrition.html

And this is really interesting...a site that talks about correcting behavior problems in horses by decreasing the amount of grains in their diet and increasing the fat level!
"You should decrease the amount of grain and starch in a horse’s diet as you increase the level of fat which can be up to one and a half to two pounds per day. The horse can get an adequate amount of energy to meet their activity level when you increase the level of fat content and decrease the amount of grain or starch that is in the horse’s diet. However, you avoid the “spikes” in the horses metabolic hormone levels because you are not feeding as much starch and as a result you can avoid the mood swings in the horse’s behavior and attitude."
http://www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/0297diet.shtml

[Dodger]

Both my dogs have maintained healthy body weights while having food available all the time. I do know of other dogs that feel that they have to eat all the food available and have to be fed limited amounts of food to avoid being overweight. My observations are that the smaller the dog, the more likely it is to have eating problems with readily available food.

[kebaldwin]

{Originally Posted by kebaldwin
SO ... when are we going to get a new part of this forum for pets ?!?!?! }

That's a good idea. :)

I've been asking for a while now. I am surprised that most others have already started doing this with their dogs! Glad - but surprised. I thought I was only one wierd enough to make the thought association - if it worked for me then it should work for my dogs.

I typically get luncheon meat for breakfast - some sort of meat for dinner (sometimes leftover meat from dinner), I keep the Evo dry dog food around for when I run out of other food, and I give my dog the Dogswell treats

BTW - great sources are

http://www.naturapet.com/

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/default.aspx

[KarenJ]

I suspect that the reason why diabetic dogs don't respond to low carb as well as cats do is because dogs may be getting Type I, whereas cats are getting Type II. They didn't mention that in the article, but it "fits" in my brain.

It's amazing how many people (My neighborhood is loaded with dog owners) don't really have a clue what dogs are supposed to eat. Only people who eat low carb seem to know... it's as if we've all become so much more aware of the natural order of things. Maybe our brains are thinking better.

The more I think about it, the more I suspect humans to be obligate carnivores. If we can't get by without vitamin B12, then we are obligated to eat sources of it! And, like dogs and cats, we can toss in some greens.

[kebaldwin]

Maybe I should go on strike until they give us a "pets" section of this forum?

[Wifezilla]

Hee hee hee

I'll hold a picket sign for you if it helps.

[kneebrace]

Aren't we facing the same issue with ourselves as we are with our pets? Aren't we getting the same suggestion as to how to fix it? We can either free feed on quality food, or strictly regulate the amount of high-carb food and only eat it in semi-starvation portions?

If the food is low carb, high protein and fat, we will experience the natural feelings of hunger/fullness and quit when we are full (and our insulin wont spike so we wont store what we do eat as body fat). If the food is high carb, low fat, even if it is the same amount of calories, we will always feel hungry and deprived and get neurotic about food (ala the Minnesota Starvation Study). Why would this be any different for a dog or cat?

Which would you want to do?


Well in my experience of four years of very low carb, I was never as ravenous as the previous mod-high unprocessed 'healthy' carbs for sure, but I still felt 'hungry' every few waking hours and ate a prodigious amount of low carb/high fat/mod protein food. Usually about 3000 calories. I've never needed or wanted to lose bodyfat, so I just assumed that this was my 'natural' calorie intake for my individual metabolism/ activity level/ genetics, etc. But it always felt 'odd' to get hungry when I could feel my stomach wasn't even empty.

I added IF to low carb just over a year ago after reading Dr. Mike's blog post about the extra health benefits. Now I eat about 1600- 1800 low carb calories, so less protein and fat than before. Yet I've gained muscle and lost a small amount of abdominal fat with no change in activity level, and no hunger while I'm fasting. But even now if I eat a 'normal' low carb breakfast, I'll basically feel hungry all day and go back to my former habit of eating a heroic amount of low carb food. So IF is a deliberate choice to not provide my body with a maintenance calorie intake it happily will expect if allowed. I just seem to utilize energy/nutrients way more efficiently with a much longer overnight fast (20-22 hrs). I always liked the optimal health theory behind calorie restriction without going short of nutrients, but could tell constant hunger and emaciation meant that something was very wrong with such a dietary approach.



We have two dogs, both of which will eat massive amounts of fat and protein if allowed to without gaining much bodyfat, but maintain the same bodycomp on a tiny fraction of that free feeding intake, on just one meal a day. They are content happy dogs on that one low carb meal a day. But if I free fed, they, like me, would happily eat far more. I can understand that most low carbers are here for the bodyfat loss factor. But there is considerably more to optimal health, once you have achieved the bodyfat levels you desire. In my experience, reduced eating frequency is a critical part of truly optimal health. For pets as well as humans, this is for compelling evolutionary reasons.

I know for a lot of low carbers this WOE is attractive for allowing them to eat more calories and not gain (or even sometimes lose) bodyfat. But for me optimal health is about finding the dietary approach that maintains body comp on the lowest possible calorie intake while maintaining body comp, all without hunger. As Mike Eades pointed out, eating itself is inflammatory. Low carb eating is of course the least inflammatory, but the less low carb calories you can comfortably (ie. no hunger) eat and maintain body comp the healthier you'll be.

On the topic of 'natural' obligate carnivore eating frequency somebody mentioned that their cats would regularly present them with several birds/mice a day. But in a wild (evolutionary) environment, the number of cats would multiply and/or the number of birds would diminish very quickly until the equilibrium of one kill a day if you are lucky was reestablished. Cats enjoy hunting and killing and are very good at it (we do have a greatly loved and admired cat who is a particularly good example :) ) Unfortunately suburban back yards are not a good example of wild eating behaviour.

The bottom line is that both humans and cats/dogs will happily overeat an evolutionarily appropriate diet - if they can. Eating is fun, after all. Bear in mind here that I'm talking about eating here, not hunting, which all three species also enjoy doing :) . You'll certainly tend to overeat more if the food is evolutionarily innappropriate of course (high carb for cats, dogs, and humans alike, but you'll still overeat.
Only by reducing meal frequency will you physically find it much more difficult to overeat. This has been my experience with both myself and my companion animals.

And WZ, don't you think saying that you have an eighteen year old cat who has free fed its whole life proves that it must be a healthy way to eat, is a bit like saying that a centenarian who has smoked drank and eaten high carb his/her entire life proves that such a dietary approach is healthy?

And I agree, a pet section is a great idea!

Stuart

[ProfGumby]

Is this true for Wolves? When is the last time you saw a fat wolf? The genes are the same for them as they are for dogs. (There is debate as to whether dogs should even be considered a separate species from wolves because there is not enough genetic difference between the two...they still cross breed with fertile young, etc...)

I think this detrimental eating is CAUSED by grains...JUST LIKE IT IS FOR PEOPLE!

If your pets are fed high fat, high protein, LOW CARB food, the picky eating or over eating is no longer an issue.

With the new high quality food my cats get, the volume of food they eat is much less, and where the used to fight over food in the past, the now share the same can of wet food without a fuss.

Great post, except that wolves don't generally have a big old bowl full of food for their enjoyment every day, they have to work for their food. Face it most house pets have it pretty cushy....

But as I said before, I agree that the grains fillers and all the fun little chemicals in our pets food does them no real good.

:wave:

[ProfGumby]

Maybe I should go on strike until they give us a "pets" section of this forum?

I'm with ya! No more processed foods for me, no empty carbs and fruit juices and no rice, bran or miled corn and oats....for ever! That'll show em!
:lol:

Seriously, if enough folks asked for such a forum maybe the powers that be will add a pets section?

[Locarb4mee]

Interesting post!

I came to this same conclusion a couple months ago, when the vet warned me about the weight of one of my Goldens. I had just been low carbing a few months and a bell went off in my head. I come from a veterinary background, so I knew immediately what the issue was. It's the grains they use as fillers in our dog foods.

The biggest problem I have now is being able to afford the super-high protein foods I would like to feed my dogs. I have 3 Goldens and feeding these guys on BARF would be astronomical. We are using Bil Jac right now but I think I could probably do better. EVO looks good, but geez.....$$$$$!

So I compromise by letting them have coconut oil on their BilJac and hope it will help some. These guys also shed like crazy and I have to vacuum every day. I'm betting higher protein and higher fat would help that too.

[kebaldwin]

Well. I did it. I am offically on strike. I hope yall (youz guyz) will support my cause.

http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=356256