FRUSTRATION

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Wow I'm glad I'm not alone and many others have similar experiences.

Can anyone here advise me on how much insulin to dose chopper with? I see a previous comment suggesting 2units is too much. Should I proceed with 2 tonight or a little less?
 
I don't comment much on dosing but for Chopper's weight the Tight Regulation Protocol dosing guidelines would indicate half that amount as a starting dose (subject to overall clinical status of the cat).

I'm going to tag some other members who will be able to give you better input on dosage. I strongly recommend that you wait to get input from them before giving Chopper his first dose of insulin:

@Chris & China
@Julia & Bandit
@Marje and Gracie

Ladies, could you advise on starting dose of Lantus, please? For information:

Rescuemamaprays said:
Chopper is 9 pounds/ underweight, he was previously much heavier and I can feel his spine/ ribs, etc. Should I start him at 2units or less? 2 is what the vet recommended.
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Mogs
.
 
T
Critter Mom said:
I don't comment much on dosing but for Chopper's weight the Tight Regulation Protocol dosing guidelines would indicate half that amount as a starting dose (subject to overall clinical status of the cat).

I'm going to tag some other members who will be able to give you better input on dosage. I strongly recommend that you wait to get input from them before giving Chopper his first dose of insulin:

@Chris & China
@Julia & Bandit
@Marje and Gracie

Ladies, could you advise on starting dose of Lantus, please? For information:





Mogs
.
Click to expand...
Thanks!
 
I wouldn't start him at anything over 1 unit...his starting dose on TR would be 1.08 and we'd usually suggest starting even lower, like .5 or .75 (but with the pen needles, you're stuck at whole units)

The problem is going to be....what if 1 unit is too much? Then you'll be back to waiting until you get some regular insulin syringes before you could give him another shot.

If you don't refrigerate it, it'll only last 28 days...but if you DO put it in the refrigerator, there have been reports of the mechanism not working in the pens....My personal feeling is that it's probably worth the risk to keep it in the refrigerator so it lasts longer, but we need to figure out a way for you to get the right syringes....even if it means dealing with that idiot vet of yours until he gets it right!!

Are you able to get to a Walmart and have $12.58 plus tax if you get the correct script?
 
The starting dose depends on whether he eats dry food or not or whether you intend to follow the tight regulation protocol which I'm absolutely sure you haven't even thought about right now.

If he eats dry food....at all....you would start him on 1u every 12 hours.

If he eats low carb canned or raw food (no dry at all) and you want to take this whole process slowly, you would start him on 0.5u every 12 hours. The approach here would be the Start Low Go Slow where doses are held for one week and then you would do an at home curve to determine how the dose is working.

If he eats low carb canned or raw food (no dry at all) and you want to use the tight regulation protocol, his starting dose for his weight of 9 lbs is 1u every 12 hours. The TR protocol is more aggressive and has us reevaluating dose changes roughly every 3-6 cycles and doing spot checks each cycle.

You can always start with one approach and switch to another later.

Also....I can help you get your SS up pronto. I'll send you a private message....check your inbox in the upper right corner.

Chris & China said:
I wouldn't start him at anything over 1 unit...his starting dose on TR would be 1.08 and we'd usually suggest starting even lower, like .5 or .75 (but with the pen needles, you're stuck at whole units)
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I'm not sure who "we" is :) because I wouldn't make that suggestion if someone is doing the TR protocol. It's pretty clear how to calculate the dose and for this kitty, if she can do TR protocol, it's 1u. Of course, she is free to start at whatever dose she wants ...we are just providing her with the dosing info as we calculate it in this forum.
 
Marje and Gracie said:
I'm not sure who "we" is :) because I wouldn't make that suggestion if someone is doing the TR protocol. It's pretty clear how to calculate the dose and for this kitty, if she can do TR protocol, it's 1u. Of course, she is free to start at whatever dose she wants ...we are just providing her with the dosing info as we calculate it in this forum.
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Right now all she has are the pen needles so she is restricted to full unit doses. Her vet gave her the wrong Rx and it will be a day or so, if she can afford it until she can purchase syringes to use with the pens. Considering that her vet had said to start at 2 units, I would think 1 unit is really the only way to go right now as long as she is monitoring adequately.
 
Tuxedo Mom said:
Right now all she has are the pen needles so she is restricted to full unit doses. Her vet gave her the wrong Rx and it will be a day or so, if she can afford it until she can purchase syringes to use with the pens. Considering that her vet had said to start at 2 units, I would think 1 unit is really the only way to go right now as long as she is monitoring adequately.
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Thanks, Mary Ann. I did read she has only pen needles but got the impression she was finding a way to get syringes.

If that is not the case, 1u is fine.
 
I have no money and no transportation either, my heart goes out to you.
When Eleanor was first diagnosed I was a complete basket case, trying to find a new, decent vet, trying to get supplies, with no money and no vehicle, desparately trying to save my cats life.
Take a deep breath, you are doing everything you can do. And it will get easier.
Is there anyone here who lives nearby who can donate a few syringes?!!
 
Yup it's time to search out another vet. This whole episode could have been avoidable if your vet had just used common sense..it's something that is sorely lacking in many of them these days.
 
I'm sorry I got back to this so late! Given that you only have the pen needles for the time being (if they can't be returned), I agree with Marje and would start at 1u, not 2. And try and get your hands on some of the correct syringes in the mean time. I would physically go to his office and pick up the script, making sure it says exactly what I wrote up above. You shouldn't have to go see a new vet just to get a script for syringes.
 
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