Needing suggestions quickly!

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Susan Gray

My cat, Mini was just diagnosed this week. She was having muscle spasms in her hind legs and found out she had diabetes. She also has IBD. She is already at the point today that she can hardly walk. She seems to be breathing heavier also. Last night I was thinking that she may have to be taken to be euthanized today, as she's so sick. I found this site yesterday through the IBDKitties group. Has anyone seen a kitty bounce back from being this sick so quickly? If there's a chance I want to try, but I can't bear to see her to continue the way she is. It's breaking my heart!
 
Forgot to add that I saw that methylcobalamin is good for neuropathy, but last night could only find one that is cherry flavored and wasn't sure she could have that. She needs something quick. She is so thin also. As I said I don't want her to suffer, but if there's a chance I want to try. My vet closes in an hour and a half.
 
I'm so sorry your Mini has been diagnosed with diabetes and isn't doing well. It's been almost two years since my Hannah was diagnosed. At that time, she was sick, not eating, and experiencing problems with walking and jumping. I also thought about having her euthanized. Watching what she was going through tore me apart... I could hardly function. However, I couldn't give up on her without even trying, so we changed her diet, started her on ProZinc insulin, found this message board and the wonderful people who reside here, asked tons of questions, and gave it all we could. We're still struggling with the diabetes, but I can tell you she's so much improved. I'm so glad I didn't give up on her. I say there is always a chance. But it won't happen overnight, so patience is a major requirement. If you think you and Mini are up to it, go for it. Hugs and best wishes.
 
Blamethecats and Hannah said:
I'm so sorry your Mini has been diagnosed with diabetes and isn't doing well. It's been almost two years since my Hannah was diagnosed. At that time, she was sick, not eating, and experiencing problems with walking and jumping. I also thought about having her euthanized. Watching what she was going through tore me apart... I could hardly function. However, I couldn't give up on her without even trying, so we changed her diet, started her on ProZinc insulin, found this message board and the wonderful people who reside here, asked tons of questions, and gave it all we could. We're still struggling with the diabetes, but I can tell you she's so much improved. I'm so glad I didn't give up on her. I say there is always a chance. But it won't happen overnight, so patience is a major requirement. If you think you and Mini are up to it, go for it. Hugs and best wishes.
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Thank you. I'm just so worried because she can't even walk at the moment. I started insulin just this past Tuesday, but she has went from muscle spasms to not walking in this short time.
 
Please don't give up on Mini. There is a steep learning curve and it will be overwhelming, but stay the course and the long road will seem so worth it.

First, please get supplies to home test. You don't want a hypo on top of all she's going through. Look through and read all the stickys in this site.

Second, start slow on the insulin. Please set up a SS so all the members can "see" at a glance what she's doing on the insulin.

Third, see if you can fin the unflavored methylcobalamin check with your vet.

Also, if she is not eating well, make sure you have a feeding syringe, I think your vet can help you.

I have read about so many sugar cats that were as sick or stickier than yours pull through and live years.

I will tag a few members to help and give suggestions further

@Critter Mom @MrWorfMen's Mom @manxcat419 @Marje and Gracie @Tuxedo Mom @Chris & China @Squalliesmom
 
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Diego was in bad shape when he was diagnosed. No neuropathy, but the day before I brought him he spent the majority of the day sleeping in the corner of the closet which he has never done before. That night he tried to jump onto the bathroom counter (to ask for fresh running water to drink) but he missed and fell flat on the floor. I couldn't catch him in time and broke down crying. It really does eat at your heart. The next morning I found out he was diabetic. He had lost 2.5 pounds in two months and his hair was falling out. His glucose was WELL beyond renal threshhold and he was urinating every 30 minutes to one hour. Drinking constantly. I thought he was in renal failure before he was diagnosed.

It's amazing how quickly they can come back to life with the right treatment. In two months within starting insulin and being on a species-appropriate low carb wet diet, he has put all of his weight back on, he has long flowing orange hair again and his personality is coming back. It seems grim right now but do your best to fight for her. If after you've exhausted all of your efforts and she still has a miserable quality of life, that's the time to consider euthanasia as being the kindest option. You aren't at that point yet.
 
I have used Methylcobalamin for Hannah. I think it helped somewhat. Others here have had very good luck with it. Again, it takes time to work and it won't happen overnight. However, I've found that the more time Hannah spends in good numbers, the better her mobility. Here's a link to a choice of Methyl B12 that is recommended for kitties. Here's another. We've used both with equal success. Neither contain sugar. Are you monitoring Mini's blood glucose? An inexpensive human meter and test strips can be purchased at Walmart, for example. You don't necessarily need a pet-specific meter. We recommend that you test your kitty before giving insulin. That way, you'll know that it's safe to give her recommended dose and you won't be giving too much insulin. Giving too much insulin can cause a kitty's blood glucose to drop to dangerous, life-threatening levels. What insulin does Mini receive?
 
Mum of two felines said:
Please don't give up on Mini. There is a steep learning curve and it will be overwhelming, but stay the course and the long road will seem so worth it.

First, please get supplies to home test. You don't want a hypo on top of all she's going through. Look through and read all the stickys in this site.

Second, start slow on the insulin. Please set up a SS so all the members can "see" at a glance what she's doing on the insulin.

Third, see if you can fin the unflavored methylcobalamin check with your vet.

Also, if she is not eating well, make sure you have a feeding syringe, I think your vet can help you.

I have read about so many sugar cats that were as sick or stickier than yours pull through and live years.

I will tag a few members to help and give suggestions further

@Critter Mom @MrWorfMen's Mom @Chris & China @Squalliesmom
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Thank you. I am home testing. My vet didn't have the methylcobalamin and suggested I look over the counter. She was already getting B12 injections because of her IBD, but that is a different form of B12. I was hoping to get the methylcobalamin quickly and not have to wait to order it, but it doesn't look like that will happen. She has a great appetite, but she can't even sit up to eat today, so I'm holding her up to eat. Her muscle spasms are so bad, as she's lying down she keeps kicking her legs in the air. She is so thin from the IBD, I'm afraid she doesn't have the reserves to fight this. I'm just sick about it.
 
Once the insulin starts to help her BG levels and she starts gaining weight you'll feel better. It's tough seeing our fur babies suffer. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Blamethecats and Hannah said:
I have used Methylcobalamin for Hannah. I think it helped somewhat. Others here have had very good luck with it. Again, it takes time to work and it won't happen overnight. However, I've found that the more time Hannah spends in good numbers, the better her mobility. Here's a link to a choice of Methyl B12 that is recommended for kitties. Here's another. We've used both with equal success. Neither contain sugar. Are you monitoring Mini's blood glucose? An inexpensive human meter and test strips can be purchased at Walmart, for example. You don't necessarily need a pet-specific meter. We recommend that you test your kitty before giving insulin. That way, you'll know that it's safe to give her recommended dose and you won't be giving too much insulin. Giving too much insulin can cause a kitty's blood glucose to drop to dangerous, life-threatening levels. What insulin does Mini receive?
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They gave me Vetsulin and I am testing at home. Do you know if the over the counter cherry flavored methylcobalamin would harm her until I get the other ordered?
 
About 10 years ago I adopted Mario as an untreated diabetic cat. When I first saw him I thought he was a basket case. He was very thin and could not walk well at all. Shortly after I adopted him he was very sick and and had surgery for a block bile duct. During the surgery they took biopsies and those showed he had small cell intestinal lymphoma. He started chem with oral Leukeran and had over two years of a good life until the lymphoma finally go him. I do not regret the adoption and treatment
 
I don't want to say it won't hurt her, it may spike her BG but I've always read here to treat other problems then the insulin can be adjusted. So, to make you feel like you're doing something, if Mini were mine I would start it, but it would definitely be trying to get some other here ASAP.
 
Larry and Kitties said:
About 10 years ago I adopted Mario as an untreated diabetic cat. When I first saw him I thought he was a basket case. He was very thin and could not walk well at all. Shortly after I adopted him he was very sick and and had surgery for a block bile duct. During the surgery they took biopsies and those showed he had small cell intestinal lymphoma. He started chem with oral Leukeran and had over two years of a good life until the lymphoma finally go him. I do not regret the adoption and treatment
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Larry, do you think the cheery flavor will hurt Mini?
 
Susan Gray said:
They gave me Vetsulin and I am testing at home. Do you know if the over the counter cherry flavored methylcobalamin would harm her until I get the other ordered?
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You must make sure the B12 supplements have NO sweeteners in it, especially xylitol, which is posionous for a cat.

ETA: "When cats ingest xylitol, it can prompt a sudden release of insulin, resulting in hypoglycemia. Common signs of xylitol consumption include vomiting, lethargy, dizziness, seizures and coma. A cat that eats xylitol may even get liver failure and die."
 
Mum of two felines said:
I don't want to say it won't hurt her, it may spike her BG but I've always read here to treat other problems then the insulin can be adjusted. So, to make you feel like you're doing something, if Mini were mine I would start it, but it would definitely be trying to get some other here ASAP.
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Susan, did you see Tuxedo Moms reply!
 
With so little data available my suggestion would be to skip this shot. You need to have a good amount of data including all preshot levels and at least one mid cycle test in order to know what the insulin is doing.

For newer diabetic it is suggested not to shoot if the number is under 200 until you have good data.
 

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Mum of two felines said:
She is concerned about Mini not being able to move and she's kicking and having muscle spasms.
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That almost sounds like something neurological. If the glucose is currently at 154 then a hypo is not the problem, but without knowing the numbers it is hard to say.

How long has your kitty being unable to move and having spasms? Is there any chance Mini got into something..plants, cleaners, etc etc. If this is going on for awhile I would suggest a trip to the vet
 
Tuxedo Mom said:
That almost sounds like something neurological. If the glucose is currently at 154 then a hypo is not the problem, but without knowing the numbers it is hard to say.

How long has your kitty being unable to move and having spasms? Is there any chance Mini got into something..plants, cleaners, etc etc. If this is going on for awhile I would suggest a trip to the vet
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Her vet says she has neuropathy but it came on fast. I gather Susan took Mini in for muscle spasms and that's when she was diagnosed. Does it sound like neuropathy? Or something her vet is not looking at?
 
Tuxedo Mom said:
Neuropathy generally is a progressive problem. Muscle spasms are not necessarily associated with neuropathy. Is the kitty eating, peeing, pooping, drinking normally??
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She has been doing all normally, and she has been at the vet twice this week. They did say neuropathy because she was walking flat footed and having the spasms. She has even been pooping quite normally which is rare given her IBD.
 
Had she been progressively walking strangely for a while, or did it come on suddenly. If it came on suddenly it may not be neuropathy.
 
Mum of two felines said:
Yes, for the IBD and the vet said the B12 was a different form and was not the same kind for the neuropathy.
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B12 injectable is the cyanocobalamin form which works fine for IBD or for neuropathy. Cyanocobalamin in oral form is not absorbed properly in kitties which is why Methylcobalamin is used when giving it orally
 
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