Am quite new to fdmb and the nuances of navigating about. Not only is the depth and breadth of information and experience found here a great resource, but also the melting of the boundaries of isolation that we each feel from time to time. the comaradery and perspectives from many viewpoints ... The connecting, the grounding, if you will... as we all travel this journey.
Popping in here and been following Smiffy because she and my Sootie, though they each are on different insulins, seem to be following similar blips in the now mostly blue and green path towards remission and with periodic days of 0 dosing. Today I started a micro-dosing "trial" with the generous and kind hearted support of Fdmb'ers who helped me to better see not just the big picture but understand and connect with the how's and why's. The more knowledge and understanding we each have and the better we can connect and be grounded in that knowledge, the better, yes?
I have more of an integrative approach to feline care, an approach that my traditional vet is aware of and, fortunately, has seen the good effects of. So even though he advocates higher numbers than fdmb as comfortable remission range for Sootie (and based on knowing Sootie as an individual for most of Sootie's life), he trusts my instincts and approaches and with the understanding that I update between visits if any changes. I think that is pretty much at the heart of what Lucille's traditional vet was getting to. We all have to think outside the box sometimes, whatever the source of those parameters may be. Again, it's when we are grounded in knowledge and understanding how's and why's that we can get through crises more smoothly. Yes?
Yes, diet essential in supporting pancreatic healing. It's a given that some cats transition more readily than others. The suggestion above about keeping kibble in freezer, out of scent range: marvelous and of course! A wonderful example of how we have to think like our cats do and be in their shoes! If kibble still a problem (or one of the problems) with Smiffy transitioning to wet, maybe keep kibble in freezer and bring out and give her one or two or a few only after she's eaten some wet? If that goes well, then transition from the kibble treat to freeze dried protein that she'd like (salmon? Turkey? Etc?)
Fascinating how stressors affect bg. For example, Sootie gets stressed by hyperactive and barking dogs while in waiting room at the vet. Or when one of our younger cats, a rescue who came with extreme fear-aggression behaviors, gets upstairs and disturbs the calm. But fireworks or thunder? To her, that's all ho hum. Spiffy freaks at thunder. I think cats are very attuned to their humans' stress levels too and mostly respond either by comforting us with the benefit of their wisdom or waiting for us to take a good deep breath to get our own calm back. But seems to me their worry about us can be stressful for them. The good news is whether it's the Harvest Moon, thunder or barking dogs, the short term stressors abate and bg will calm down, too.
Here's to remission for all!
