Teddy's dosage

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shawna

shawna

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I'm feeling really upset about Teddy. I think I'm just tired and he's grouchy...I don't blame him. I had the hardest time getting a drop of blood tonight. And it's just heartbreaking...this whole year I've seen him getting older and slowly losing his ability to walk...and it just breaks my heart all the time. I love him so much.

My question though is about his dosage. Should I increase his dosage, or do I need more days to see what happens? His blood sugar just keeps raising tonight and it should be going lower first and then rising, right?
It isn't raising to super high numbers or anything, but it's not going down either.
I feel like I should know this all by now, but it's just stressful and I start to worry that I don't know.

Thanks for any advice, xoxox
 
I don't have enough experience to give dosing advice I'm sorry, but I just wanted to send happy vines and hugs (if you want them).

I understand how stressful this sugar dance is and know how hard it is watching your kitty getting older. Alfred is 15 and I've had him almost his whole life (he was with my mom for a couple years), it sucks seeing them get older and develop health issues.

You're doing everything you can for Teddy and I'm sure he knows it. He's a wonderful, lucky kitty and you're an awesome kitty caretaker. Chin up, you can do it!! :bighug:
 
shawna said:
I'm feeling really upset about Teddy. I think I'm just tired and he's grouchy...I don't blame him. I had the hardest time getting a drop of blood tonight. And it's just heartbreaking...this whole year I've seen him getting older and slowly losing his ability to walk...and it just breaks my heart all the time. I love him so much.

My question though is about his dosage. Should I increase his dosage, or do I need more days to see what happens? His blood sugar just keeps raising tonight and it should be going lower first and then rising, right?
It isn't raising to super high numbers or anything, but it's not going down either.
I feel like I should know this all by now, but it's just stressful and I start to worry that I don't know.

Thanks for any advice, xoxox
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You could try 0.5 u. Maybe do that on the weekend when you can get more mid cycle tests in.
 
Yes, I agree with Kris, I think he may need a bit more, so 0.5u either this weekend, or you could probably start it Friday evening. You usually monitor the evenings enough.

As for the struggle to get a drop of blood, that usually indicates that they're a bit dehydrated. You already add water to his food, right? see if you can make it even a bit more soupy, or try putting him in front of his water a few extra times/day to try to encourage him to drink a little more.

And I'll send a few hugs your way too. I'm so sorry you guys are having a tough night. Hopefully some good rest tonight will help you both feel better in the morning. :bighug:
 
Alfred's Human said:
I don't have enough experience to give dosing advice I'm sorry, but I just wanted to send happy vines and hugs (if you want them).

I understand how stressful this sugar dance is and know how hard it is watching your kitty getting older. Alfred is 15 and I've had him almost his whole life (he was with my mom for a couple years), it sucks seeing them get older and develop health issues.

You're doing everything you can for Teddy and I'm sure he knows it. He's a wonderful, lucky kitty and you're an awesome kitty caretaker. Chin up, you can do it!! :bighug:
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Aww thanks Alfred's Human, the happy vibes and hugs are appreciated so much! Sometimes I just get so upset because it's so hard to see him struggling to walk, and then I start to think about how much I will miss him some day. I'm trying to stay in the moment and I know this is how life goes. Thanks for being so sweet. I will at least always know I tried my best to give him a good kitty life xoxox I hope you have a good night and thanks so much again.
 
Djamila said:
Yes, I agree with Kris, I think he may need a bit more, so 0.5u either this weekend, or you could probably start it Friday evening. You usually monitor the evenings enough.

As for the struggle to get a drop of blood, that usually indicates that they're a bit dehydrated. You already add water to his food, right? see if you can make it even a bit more soupy, or try putting him in front of his water a few extra times/day to try to encourage him to drink a little more.

And I'll send a few hugs your way too. I'm so sorry you guys are having a tough night. Hopefully some good rest tonight will help you both feel better in the morning. :bighug:
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Thank you so much...yes I always add water to his canned food and I even syringe water into his mouth because he doesn't like to drink a lot of water...Im just so used to doing it I just give him "drinks" of water every once in awhile with a syringe...he must think I am so annoying lol.

Yes after sleeping everything was all better. Sometimes I just get so upset...mostly because of his stuggle to walk is so heartbreaking.

I did his test and it was 184 and I gave him 1 unit...But then I checked the website and read your and Kris's replies....and I wish I had checked first and given the 0.5u....so I hope I didn't mess things up for him. I can test all night though so I know I can keep him safe.

Thanks for everything xoxoxo :bighug:
 
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It looks like he did just fine last night. It may take a little time to figure out how much he needs right now.
 
Djamila said:
It looks like he did just fine last night. It may take a little time to figure out how much he needs right now.
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Hi there -
When checking for nadir should I wait to feed him until I find his low point?

He was at 142, and I gave 0.5
+2 he was at 71
And now +3 he is at 60

I am going to feed him - but a part of me wonders if I should see if he will go back up on his own? I wouldn't let him get much lower. Or do I just feed him and wait two hours.

I should know this - but I don't. Ideally one should see if the cat will go back up by itself right??
But at 60 I should feed him.
 
That's always a tricky question. You should feed him if you would normally feed him at this time. However, 60 is still quite safe. Even 50 is safe, it's just that at 50 we give a snack to keep them from going too much lower than that. So if he's at 60 and wouldn't normally have a snack, you can just keep monitoring, or if you'll feel better, give just a low carb snack of regular food.
 
Djamila said:
That's always a tricky question. You should feed him if you would normally feed him at this time. However, 60 is still quite safe. Even 50 is safe, it's just that at 50 we give a snack to keep them from going too much lower than that. So if he's at 60 and wouldn't normally have a snack, you can just keep monitoring, or if you'll feel better, give just a low carb snack of regular food.
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Ok thank you...I'd like to just keep monitoring without feeding him because I usually am at work so I need to figure out how low he gets. And I leave food out but I can't ensure he would eat it of course.
And if course I would never risk it when I am at work, by the it's good to see since I can be home all day.
Should I stick with one hour monitoring, or do thirty minutes?
Thank you so much.....you are like an angel helping kitties everywhere :bighug:
 
Oh, and the rule about no food two hours before a test is only for the PS tests. The mid-cycle tests you just test whenever and don't worry about if they've been eating, although it's good to make a note if there was a snack close to the test (which it looks like you do anyway)
 
I agree that it's a good opportunity to see what he does on his own. Since he has food out, you'll also be able to see if he starts to steer himself (Sam goes and eats if he starts to drop too fast or low). I think every hour should be fine, although if he does go lower at the next test you might want to monitor more closely after that.
 
Djamila said:
Oh, and the rule about no food two hours before a test is only for the PS tests. The mid-cycle tests you just test whenever and don't worry about if they've been eating, although it's good to make a note if there was a snack close to the test (which it looks like you do anyway)
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Ok thank you! I've always tried to wait two hours before I do any testing, but this is good to know! I thought the food heavily influenced blood sugar reading even for mid cycle testing. But yes I do make note or if I don't make note that means it's been two hours anyways. Thanks!
 
Food particularly influences kitties who aren't regulated yet. For most of the last six months, I didn't care at all if Sam ate before a test because he was so regulated that he wasn't getting food spikes. With his numbers the past couple of weeks though I'm starting to have to hold that two hour fasting window. Last night I forgot and fed him and his PS ended up being pink. Oops. :eek::p. Teddy is low enough that while it's still a good practice, it's not as critical as if he was still running above 200.
 
Djamila said:
I agree that it's a good opportunity to see what he does on his own. Since he has food out, you'll also be able to see if he starts to steer himself (Sam goes and eats if he starts to drop too fast or low). I think every hour should be fine, although if he does go lower at the next test you might want to monitor more closely after that.
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Ok sounds good! Well right now I'm won't put food by him because I think he would definitely eat it. Since he can't walk very well I always put the food right next to him. So this time I'm going to see what his numbers do and then next time I can stay home I will do the same with leaving food next to him all morning. I wish I could stay home from work tomorrow ;)
Ill definitely give him lunch though. I think by then his numbers should be going up? We will see.
Thank you xoxoxoxox
 
Djamila said:
Food particularly influences kitties who aren't regulated yet. For most of the last six months, I didn't care at all if Sam ate before a test because he was so regulated that he wasn't getting food spikes. With his numbers the past couple of weeks though I'm starting to have to hold that two hour fasting window. Last night I forgot and fed him and his PS ended up being pink. Oops. :eek::p. Teddy is low enough that while it's still a good practice, it's not as critical as if he was still running above 200.
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Ok that makes sense!!
 
Djamila said:
Food particularly influences kitties who aren't regulated yet. For most of the last six months, I didn't care at all if Sam ate before a test because he was so regulated that he wasn't getting food spikes. With his numbers the past couple of weeks though I'm starting to have to hold that two hour fasting window. Last night I forgot and fed him and his PS ended up being pink. Oops. :eek::p. Teddy is low enough that while it's still a good practice, it's not as critical as if he was still running above 200.
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+3 it was 60
And now at +4 it is 75

So now it wouldn't go down anymore, right, unless something strange happens? After it goes up it will continue to be on the upswing now, right?
 
It could wobble around a bit since 60 and 75 are both pretty close together, but it's unlikely he would dive at this point. If you're around today you could grab either a +5 or +6 to confirm the rise, but as far as safety goes, it looks like he's good.
 
Djamila said:
It could wobble around a bit since 60 and 75 are both pretty close together, but it's unlikely he would dive at this point. If you're around today you could grab either a +5 or +6 to confirm the rise, but as far as safety goes, it looks like he's good.
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Ok thanks :)
 
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