Vet recommendations please? Bonita Beach Rd/Vanderbilt - Naples, FL

[Sue and Luci]

Hello, We're seasonal residents - for the 3rd ever season - and now we have our little Luci cat who was diagnosed with diabetes one week before we had planned to leave Michigan to drive to Naples. The vet recommended euthanasia! He said, if it was my cat, he'd just put her down'.

Luckily she's not his cat and after researching the internet I've found this wonderful group. We've been testing Luci's BS at home with a Relion meter and her numbers have never been as high as they were at the vet (372 there)...

If anyone knows of a supportive vet in this area who is supportive/caring for your diabetic cat - and encouraging you to do the testing and insulin administration at home - I'd love to hear about them. I'm nervous about proceeding to give Luci insulin since her numbers continue to fall with her fairly new (a few weeks now) grain free, all meat diet. I'd love to have her diet controlled....but just to be on the safe side, would like to find a reliable, supportive, caring vet - who thinks my pet is worth my efforts to keep her healthy and well...and not send her to an early death...

Hoping to find a good vet in the Bonita Springs or North Naples area.

Thank you!

 

[Karen & Lily]

Hi Sue! I live in Naples Florida. I have been using Dr Jeanette Sisco at the Cat Care Clinic in Naples for years. She is on board with me testing Lily and dosing on my own. My Lily also has acromegaly, which, honestly, I do believe that Lily is the only cat at her practice who has been diagnosed with that condition. Good luck to you and your beautiful kitty!

 

[Sue and Luci]

Hi Sue! I live in Naples Florida. I have been using Dr Jeanette Sisco at the Cat Care Clinic in Naples for years. She is on board with me testing Lily and dosing on my own. My Lily also has acromegaly, which, honestly, I do believe that Lily is the only cat at her practice who has been diagnosed with that condition. Good luck to you and your beautiful kitty!

Thank you so much for the recommendation! Good luck with your pretty baby as well...acromegaly...wow...

I see that you're also using the Relion meter - and her BG comes in very low at times...I presume that's a very good thing. Looks like you're doing a lot of checking - way more than I do...poor little babies and my fumbling...I hate to do it...she seems to feel the prick of the lancet every time - although they say they don't...she always flinches...

 

[Karen & Lily]

The only way to know for sure that Lily is on the correct dose is to check her frequently, especially at her low point, which for Lily, is usually at the +8 hour after her shot. I am lucky that Lily is such a cool kitty and doesn't mind the ear poke. Quite frequently she actually comes to me looking to be checked because she knows she will either get a treat or her meal afterwards.
With Luci, it might not be the prick that she is flinching over, but the sound of the lancing device. Some people actually just use the lancet without the device to draw blood. I wasn't very good in the beginning either getting blood from Lily, but now she has learned that there will be treats or a meal afterwards so she is totally ok with it.

 

[Sue and Luci]

The only way to know for sure that Lily is on the correct dose is to check her frequently, especially at her low point, which for Lily, is usually at the +8 hour after her shot. I am lucky that Lily is such a cool kitty and doesn't mind the ear poke. Quite frequently she actually comes to me looking to be checked because she knows she will either get a treat or her meal afterwards.
With Luci, it might not be the prick that she is flinching over, but the sound of the lancing device. Some people actually just use the lancet without the device to draw blood. I wasn't very good in the beginning either getting blood from Lily, but now she has learned that there will be treats or a meal afterwards so she is totally ok with it.

Hi there! That's so cute that Lily comes to you for a check! Luci likes the treat afterwards - but doesn't care much for the poke. We gave up on that little pen/holder thing because we felt we couldn't see the exact area - just on that upper edge of her ear with that device...so my husband holds the lancet in his fingers an gives her the poke right there on the edge...so it's not the clicking. She's not really bad about it...just gives a little squeak - I really thought she wouldn't feel it...but maybe for her, she is feeling it? We do what we must - and she gets a spoonful of tuna afterwards...doesn't seem to scare her off for the next time though. She seems to enjoy the warm sock and the ear rub - she's ok for that part...just that darn little poke...squeak!!
I'm sure hoping she'll lose a little weight - I'm very careful not to overfeed her - if she's not interested in eating I take it up and either store it (if it hasn't been long) or discard it...she's been pretty picky lately. I'd like to get her some grain free kibble - but will have to do some research before purchasing to make sure it won't impact her apparently lowering numbers on her diet alone...tomorrow we'll be checking her number again in the morning.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Lily!

 

[Karen & Lily]

Lily sure does come to me for her glucose checks. She is smart enough to know that I keep her meter in our guest bathroom. When I go in there she will come in with me and sit down and look at me like she is asking "are you going to check my sugar?". Or if she hears me zip open the case that her meter is kept in, she will come to me. I have never had to chase her down. She really is a sweet kitty.
I would be careful with feeding any dry food to a sugar cat, or any kitty for that matter. Even if it is low carb,no carb. Have you ever looked at the website cat info.org. That website is run by Dr Lisa Pierson, a veterinarian, who will explain to you why no kitty should be on dry kibble. I don't mean to preach but I truly believe that kibble is not that good for cats.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Luci. Let me know if and when you make an appnt with Dr Sisco.

 

[Sue and Luci]

Lily sure does come to me for her glucose checks. She is smart enough to know that I keep her meter in our guest bathroom. When I go in there she will come in with me and sit down and look at me like she is asking "are you going to check my sugar?". Or if she hears me zip open the case that her meter is kept in, she will come to me. I have never had to chase her down. She really is a sweet kitty.
I would be careful with feeding any dry food to a sugar cat, or any kitty for that matter. Even if it is low carb,no carb. Have you ever looked at the website cat info.org. That website is run by Dr Lisa Pierson, a veterinarian, who will explain to you why no kitty should be on dry kibble. I don't mean to preach but I truly believe that kibble is not that good for cats.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Luci. Let me know if and when you make an appnt with Dr Sisco.

I’m actually glad you responded about the kibble.. I’ve seen some dry foods at Petco that are grain free.. but you may be right about this food thing.

Her BG was 179 today.. it continues to decline.. still the only thing I’ve changed is her diet.. grain free wet food only.. treats are tuna and sardines. She gets 1/2 of a small can in the morning and the other half at night.. if she leaves it I toss it out..Happy Thanksgiving to you and Lily too!!

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

I’ve seen some dry foods at Petco that are grain free..

"Grain-Free" are just the latest buzz words the pet food companies use to convince us humans that the food is somehow better

All they did was substitute the cheap corn, wheat and rice for cheap potatoes, sweet potatoes and peas....so yes, they're "grain-free" but they aren't low carb!

 

[Sue and Luci]

"Grain-Free" are just the latest buzz words the pet food companies use to convince us humans that the food is somehow better

All they did was substitute the cheap corn, wheat and rice for cheap potatoes, sweet potatoes and peas....so yes, they're "grain-free" but they aren't low carb!

Ah ha!! I knew there was something about that food! So glad I haven’t bought any for Luci!

She’ll be getting her all meat/fish diet - grain free with none of those fillers.

thankful for another save from the group!!

 

[JanetNJ]

Glad things are going well for you and Luci.