Barry update

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Lylene & Barry, Dec 4, 2010.

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  1. Lylene & Barry

    Lylene & Barry Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2009
    It's been a while since we've been around so I thought I'd give an update on Barry.

    Barry was a shelter cat who was diagnosed with diabetes in June 2009. Some staff wanted to euthanize him due to the high cost of treatment. I immediately jumped online and found this site. I was amazed by the amount and quality of information provided. I printed out a lot of information for the shelter. Barry had such a great personality it seemed horrible to euthanize him. The manager decided to keep him and he was started on Lantus. Very shortly thereafter, she went on a two week vacation and I kept Barry. When she returned we decided it would be best for Barry if he remained with me.

    I changed his diet to high protein, grain free canned food. Home testing was a struggle a first but we both got the hang of it. He had Lantus shots every 12 hours. His blood sugar finally stablized and he began to gain back the weight he had lost. On October 23, 2009 he surprised me with a BG of 18 and 16. I had not been testing regularly as I should have been. After getting advice here, we stopped the Lantus and monitored BG.

    It's now Dec 2010 and he is still OTJ :)

    Our hurdle at the moment is weight loss and a dental needs to be done. He eats a raw diet which is supplemented by Willow's excellent hunting skills. They get the occasional canned food when I've been too depressed to make up the raw. I've gotten strict on food intake. With winter here, Willow won't be out hunting as much and I weigh out his food allotment for the day. Having it weighed out ahead makes it easier for both me and my DH to stick to the amount and not give in to that "I'm a starving cat" look. Thanks to Dr. Lisa for her expertise on feline weight loss.

    All in all, he is doing great. I'm so very glad that he was not PTS. He's a funny cat. He helps with chores. It took the chickens a bit to get used to him going into their coops. Sometimes he joins the dogs and I and whatever other cats when we go on a walk. One day it was me, two dogs and four cats out for a walk. Wonder what the neighbors think. He and Little Brother have started wrestling and trying to eviscerate each other. His latest joy has been having the circular track with the ball in it propped up a couple inches in the back. It makes the ball come back to him and he spends a lot of time laying half on his back batting the ball as it rolls by.

    Thank you to everyone who has helped us with advice and support. Thank you to everyone who has provided financial support to keep this going. This website is very important and I would encourage people to donate when they can. I found that setting up Paypal to send a little every month worked well and I don't miss the money because I never see it. Strange how that works. Hmmm, can you tell I listen to public radio a lot? :lol:

    Hope everyone has a good day. Purrs and head butts to the furballs.

    Lylene & Barry (diagnosed 6/09, Lantus, OTJ since 10/23/09)
     
  2. Phoebe_TiggyGA_NortonGA

    Phoebe_TiggyGA_NortonGA Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2009
    Hi Lylene,
    Thanks so much for posting an update. Great to hear that Barry is doing well and still OTJ. Happy Anni-fur-sary!

    (((((hugs)))))
    phoebe
     
  3. janelle and Nomad

    janelle and Nomad Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2010
    I didn,t know you from before since I am fairly new to the board but this was a great story. Too often others or even vets will just advise to put cats with chronic illnesses asleep. I do rescue on an informal basis. My Diabetic kitty literally showed up on my door step last October. He was obviously someone's pet before since he was neutered and declawed. He was very skinny and DKA when first diagnosed. He is now much better but still on Lantus. I changed diet and this lowered his BG an average of fifty points. Nomad lives in a urban area so he can't hunt but he loves to watch birds and lizards from the window. Keep up the good work and tell Barry Nomad says Meow!
     
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