Inappetance

From Diabetes in Pets

It is important for diabetic pets to get proper nutrition. However, sometimes they won’t eat or won’t eat as much as they need. That condition is referred to as inappetance. This article explores some of the reasons why inappetance happens and what a caretaker can do to deal with the situation.

It is important to regulation and to general health that a diabetic pet eat a consistent, balanced diet. Because the dosage and timing of insulin shots often is based on the amount and timing of feeding, you should consider the effect of inappetance on your pet’s insulin needs. A lack of feeding may cause hypoglycemia or rebound on an otherwise “safe” dose of insulin. It also may lead to ketoacidosis and fatty liver.

Keep in mind that even if your pet is not eating, his or her body still requires some insulin; this need does not disappear because your pet doesn't eat. (See the discussion at "Getting regulated--diabetes" at the link below^[1]. The advice regarding the need for a reduced insulin dose holds true for dogs as well.)

See also the article on fasting, which is the act of purposefully withholding food and, in some cases fluids, from a pet for a period of time.

1 Reasons for inappetance
2 Treatments for inappetance
3 Further Reading
4 References

[edit] Reasons for inappetance

[edit] Maybe nothing is wrong

Sometimes, a temporary bout of inappetance means nothing; the pet just happens not to be hungry. A single missed meal without a history of inappetance should not cause concern that there is an underlying problem. However, you should investigate and address inappetance that continues for more than 12 hours.

[edit] New food? New formulation? Food consistency problems?

Many pets do not automatically accept new foods. If you are switching to a new food, like a low-carb diet, you may need to introduce the new food slowly by mixing the new food with the old food in increasing proportions over time. The article link below^[2] discusses how to transition dry-eating cats to canned food.

Some pet food manufacturers change ingredients in their foods without specific notice on the labels. If your pet is refusing a food that it previously has eaten well, you should check for ingredient changes.

Further, some pet food manufacturers have problems with consistency in the production of their products, even though they have not changed ingredients. Is there a change in the appearance or smell of the food? Check the batch numbers on the cans and go back to a can with a batch number that your pet previously has eaten. This may give you a clue whether the inappetance is caused by an unintended change in the food.

[edit] Medical problem brewing? Upset stomach?

Animals often become inappetant when they do not feel well. Nausea is a symptom of many other conditions, and will often lead to lack of appetite. (Nausea in cats may be indicated by frequent lip-licking or smacking). Your pet may be brewing a urinary tract infection. If your pet is eating little and favoring one side of its mouth (or pawing at its mouth), it may need to be seen by its vet to determine whether there is a dental infection or other problem.

Some animals have medical conditions, such as pancreatitis, that cause digestive problems and the animal does not eat well because it is nauseated or has diarrhea. Is your pet vomiting (with cats, from other than hair balls)? Have you noticed problems with your pet’s stool? It might be time for a vet visit.

Some medications for other conditions, such as antibiotics, can cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

[edit] Treatments for inappetance

[edit] Medications and supplements

If your pet's inappetance is caused by a course of antibiotics, consider adding a probiotic like Culturelle^[3], which is available at vitamin stores, to the animal's food to minimize diarrhea. Nausea and vomiting caused by antibiotics also can be treated with Pepcid AC--plain famotidine, not the Pepcid Complete (1/8 to 1/4 of a 10mg tab for cats 30 to 45 minutes before meals)^[4].

Common Appetite Stimulant Drugs-Cats
Valium (diazepam)^[5]^[6]^[7]
Cyproheptadine (Periactin)^[8]^[9]
Winstrol (Stanozolol)^[10]^[11]^[12], an anabolic steroid^[13]
Serax (Oxazepam)^[14]^[15]^[16]

Common Appetite Stimulant Drugs-General
Valium (diazepam)^[17]^[18]^[19]
Alprazolam/Xanax^[20]
Oxazepam/Serax^[21]

Some drugs shown at these Merck Veterinary Manual links^[22]^[23] are not appropriate for all species; some are also not appropriate for pets with diabetes.

This article is a stub. You can help the Diabetes in Pets wiki by adding to it. Just use the "edit" tab above.

Need information on other medications/supplements that caregivers use for nausea/diarrhea (slippery elm?) and to enhance appetite.

[edit] “Special foods”

When presented with inappetance, some caregivers mix into the food low-carb treats that the pet will readily accept, such as tuna or tuna juice, boiled chicken or roasted pork, baby food, or (for cats) seafood flavors of canned food. In serious cases of inappetance, caregivers may offer higher carb food that the pet finds palatable. (With this choice, the caregiver needs to seriously consider the effect of that food on insulin dosage and timing.) The website link below^[24] discusses other possible treats to induce feeding.

[edit] Finger and syringe feeding

Depending on the animal’s condition and level of inappetance, some caregivers resort to finger or syringe feeding. Finger feeding involves placing wet food on your fingers and letting the pet lick it off. Gorbzilla.com^[25] has information about syringe feeding.