6/6 Champ AMPS 256, PMPS 333, +2 107, +3.25 80, +4 83

Yesterday

Champ decided to give me some really pretty numbers last night, but not so low that I had to stay up all night!! This morning has started out pretty well. I fed him Wellness this morning since he was hungry and wasn't going to turn his nose up at it (he's always seemed to like the Turkey & Salmon anyway). I've always suspected that Wellness elevates his BGs so this will be a good test since a PS of 256 usually means he will have low numbers that cycle. I'm going to be curious how this cycle plays out.

I've noticed the wobbling of his front leg has gotten worse. I'm going to try to get video of it and post it here so maybe someone here can tell me if you've seen anything like this before. It's concerning, but he doesn't seem to hurt. I've never heard of neuropathy presenting like this and I don't know that he would have neuropathy symptoms with his numbers being as good as they are. He has gained a pound since I started him on insulin so I really do need to get him to lose some weight. Maybe taking some weight off will reduce the stress enough on his front legs to let any injury he may have heal. I was thinking maybe I should start him on methyl-B12 on the off chance it is neuropathy. Is it okay to give methyl-B12 if there is no neuropathy? It's my thought that it's just a vitamin supplement and shouldn't be harmful, though it might not be helpful. Any opinions?

Well, it's the start of the work week. I'm going to try to stay focused and on top of things here at work so I'm not always rushing my deadlines!! I hope everyone has a terrific Monday!!!

Re: 6/6 Champ AMPS 256

Morning Patty - no clue on the B12, but I would think it would be OK. Hopefully someone in the know will be along soon.

Nice start for Champ today - sunny yellow, with a promise of blues skies. Interesting on the wellness elevating his BG. It will be interesting to see how the cycle plays out. I feed Mannie wellness too, but it doesn't seem to affect his BG that much, ECID I guess.

Good luck with the weight loss. I need to do that with Mannie too - he could stand to loose a couple of pounds. Easier said than done for him.

have a great day today!

Re: 6/6 Champ AMPS 256

easier said than done for me too! perhaps i could join champ & mannie on a WW program! ;-)

don't know on the B12, but my guess is it couldn't hurt. someone will no doubt be along who knows more about that. if it doesn't present in the same way that neuropathy usually does, i wonder if it's something else? no idea, but just talking out loud.

have a good day at work!

Re: 6/6 Champ AMPS 256

Hi Patty, I'm sorry about Champ's one wobbly leg. I hope someone comes along for advice on the B12. It will be interesting with the Wellness and seeing if it elevates Champ's bg. I did the same thing with Maggie testing her bg against a food, only it was the FF Turkey & Giblets. It elevates her bg enough that I now use it as a mc when I need her to stay stable. Have a good Monday.

Re: 6/6 Champ AMPS 256, +2 252, +4 204

Hi Patty, that is a really nice start to Champs day. I would agree with the other that it should be safe but you know that someone with more exp. will come along with the answer you're looking for. I was just looking over his SS and those are some impressive evenings lately :smile:
I hope the wobbly is nothing more than a slight injury that will heal in time.. Keeping paws and fingers crossed that's all it is.
I really want to thank you for keeping us in your thoughts the past few days and coming to visit.. I do so enjoy hearing from you. I sure hope to catch up soon on the goings on here over the past couple of days. It appears as though i've missed just a little...
Have a good Day and give Champ smooches for me would ya!

Re: 6/6 Champ AMPS 256, +2 252, +4 204

Hi Patty, in all the neuropathy reading i've done i can't recall seeing anything about the front legs showing neuropathy, its usually the hind legs that it presents in. But i'm not 100% sure, maybe someone else with neuropathy experience will chime in here. If not, i've spoken to Kathy & Kitty and KarenRamboConan about neuropathy, so maybe speak to one of them about it. I can't see what it would hurt if you put Champ on a methyl B12 dose, if you want. The body uses what it needs and the rest is excreted in the urine, so you can't OD your kitty on methyl B12.

You and Champers have yourselves a great day!

Re: 6/6 Champ AMPS 256, +2 252, +4 204

Sunny yellow.....maybe blue? Champ's numbers are looking good. I don't know about the methyl-B12 - but like you, since it is just a vitamin, shouldn't hurt?! Good luck with Champ....hope he has another night of great numbers... ;-)

Re: 6/6 Champ AMPS 256, +2 252, +4 204

Hi Patty!

My understanding is that the neuropathy only plays out in the back legs (but I could be completely wrong). Willy has neuropathy and I was originally considering putting the b-12 into the central water source but had a concern my healthy pets may have a problem with ingesting additional, unneeded, b-12 since SOME vitamins (when you take in more than you need) are NOT secreted (water soluable) they are stored (fat soluable). I found out that b-12 is not one of these, it is water soluable and any of it that is NOT NEEDED (ie the animal is healthy) will just be removed in urine so there is no worry about OD or damage.

You have to be cautious about finding the correct thing, some b-12 is actually in methyl form even though it is just labeled as b-12 (and it's cheaper). This is fine to use (but you have to read the labels closely) because it's the form of the b-12 that is actually important. Methyl-B-12 is absorbed into the spinal fluid, which is what makes it so effective. Methylcobalamin is ok too (from what I have read). You don't want to use the cyanocobalamin form, it won't hurt the kitty but it won't help either because it's not absorbed in the same way.

Unfortunately, we checked GNC, Walmart, Target, etc. and the b-12 these places sell is not in methyl form but we did find it at our local organic store that actually has a very large vitamin/herb area inside of it. The ones we found come in 1mg (1,000 mcg) pills and the recommended treatment for neuropathy is 3-5mg (3,000-5,000 mcg). We give Willy 4 pills (4,000 mcg) a day. We split the dose into 2 pills and dissolve in water either by crushing them (I have found it easier to do this in water) up or by letting them dissolve for a few hours in water and then we mix the solution into his food.

Most of the b-12 you will find is flavored and contains a little bit of sugar because it's meant to be taken by people sublingually (under the tongue). This seems to be such a small amount of sugar that it doesn't affect Willy's BG (he is carb sensitive). My reading on this has seemed to support this as well. As long as the flavoring is natural, that should be ok too. The only concern I was given is that some forms of sugar used to flavor medications for people are harmful to cats. I cannot recall what it is, specifically (hopefully someone can help with this), and I am having a hard time locating the post about it but the kind we buy is super natural/organic so it hasn't been an issue for us. It would be an issue if we ever had to buy online but luckily this store has several brands of "methyl-b12" and 1 or 2 brands that have regular b-12 in a methyl form. We pay around $9-11 for a jar of 150 pills.

Re: 6/6 Champ AMPS 256, +2 252, +4 204, +7.5 223

Hi Patty, I'm interested in seeing what is finally decided regarding the B12. Gus' hind legs sometimes don't do what he expects them to and he'll falter a bit. But, it's not often and it's not severe. However, I would consider giving him a little nudge with the B12 if it would make the situation better. Meanwhile, Champ seems to like the 200s today. Hey, we've all seen (and been) worse . Champ is a good boy and I'm sure he'll continue to lower his #s. Reductions are like badges of honor as far as I'm concerned!! Have a good night my friend.

Re: 6/6 Champ AMPS 256, +2 252, +4 204, +7.5 223

Hey Patty: I'm sorry to hear about Champ's wobbly front leg but it is also my understanding that neuropathy affects the back legs. If you decide to put him on methylB12, there is a specific one made for cats.

Xobaline

Hope you got done what you wanted to today. Monday's back at work are always tough!!!! Pls keep us posted on Chomper's legs. And hope he gives you another NICE night!!

Re: 6/6 Champ AMPS 256, +2 252, +4 204, +7.5 223

Hope you find out the problem w/his leg and get it resolved.

Re: 6/6 Champ AMPS 256, +2 252, +4 204, +7.5 223

Hi Patty,
I don't know the answer to the front legs-neuropathy question, sorry. The MB12 won't hurt him, Stephanie explained that well (fat soluble vs water soluble). Getting a video of it might help people give you some ideas...it also might help your vet diagnose the problem. He has had this going on for a while now, right? A vet visit might be a good idea. Sorry I'm not much help.

I hope Champ gets back to the greens tonight (or tomorrow if you want sleep...) ;-)

Re: 6/6 Champ AMPS 256, PMPS 333, +2 104, +2.5 96

I'm sorry I haven't been around visiting much. Worrisome things just don't know how to hit me one at a time and I've just been trying to function the last couple of days. I talk to my mom every day on the phone, a couple times a day when I can just to keep her company in the hospital. She sounds to be in good spirits and I hope she's not just faking it for me!! They placed a central line in her jugular because the IV's were ripping her delicate skin so badly. They also inserted a filter into one of the major arteries in her heart so they would be able to wrap her leg to reduce the swelling. That way if a piece of the blood clot breaks off and travels, it can't get to her heart and do any damage. Now I have this worry with Champ. He has had this leg wobble for a month or so, but it has gotten progressively worse. Before it was a "Did I just see that?" and now it's "Wow, look at that." Plus, something I never really thought about, mostly because I wanted to be an ostrich and bury my head in the sand, I saw Champ standing in the living room one day a week or so ago and did a double take with an "Oh my God, what is that?" He was incredibly swaybacked, so much so that it was grotesque. But then he started to walk and his back moved right up to where it's supposed to be. With everything with his back and his legs, he has no pain at all. I have run my hands all over him, manipulated his joints, massaged him all over, and he has no pain. As it is, I've put step-stools everywhere he likes to jump so he doesn't have to jump. I just have a bad feeling the leg tremors have something to do with his spine, but I can't think about that because any testing to try to find what's going on would be out of my price range. As long as he's not in pain and the swayback doesn't happen again, I'm going to see how it goes. I have to get serious about his weight loss, though, in case that's the problem. I think I'm going to try the methyl-B12 also. I figure it can't hurt and it might help...you never know.!! I thank all of you who wrote giving me your advice!!!! It means a lot to hear others opinions and learn from you!!!

At least Champ's numbers are starting to look good again after the last decrease. Right now, he's lying on his back on the living room floor, legs spread wide, airing it out!!! He looks like one content, happy cat so I'm going to run with that for now!!!

Re: 6/6 Champ AMPS 256, PMPS 333, +2 104, +2.5 96

The avatar of Champ makes him look like a soft plush cream-colored teddy bear... makes me want to squish him. I hope you can find something to help with his wobblies.
Hugs.
MJ&Donovan

Re: 6/6 Champ AMPS 256, PMPS 333, +2 107, +2.5 96, +3.25 80

Hi Patty,
Wow, I didn't know about your mom, and I sure hope things get stabilized for her soon. It is such a worry and such a sense of helplessness, I know.

Champ eats Wellness? I think it might be quite high in fat, which is why I steered away from it with Tessie Lou. She also needs to lose weight--badly! I have her down to 7.5 oz daily, and she still managed to gain 2 ozs this week. Aaaargh! Anyway, she likes her Merrick's and I think it's a good quality food, so I'm sticking with it.

Please do try to get a video. It would definitely help the wise ones here assess the situation for you. I wonder how much an xray of his leg would cost?