? 6/27 - Lovie is a newly diagnosed cat with history of DKA -need help for tonights shot?

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Lovie's Mom

Member Since 2018
This is my first posting. I've only been testing for a few days and am just learning what the numbers mean.

I'm on the phone with my sister who is the mom of Radar and she is talking me through taking care of Lovie. I just tested her and she had a reading of 34. I gave her a little chicken with honey on it and tested her 20 minutes later and now she is at 41. i will test her again in about 10 minutes.
 
Just been through this with Truffles today. It’s scary. I did the same honey and food. Tested 20 mins later. Still too low gave friskies in sauce. Started to come up. More food. Hang on in there. I’m sure someone with more experience will pipe up. Just wanted to lend support.
 
Do you have any karo syrup, honey or maple syrup? If so, give her some to help raise her BG. Or if you have any food with gravy or dry food, that also will help.
 
Keep testing - try feeding a higher carb food along with the honey, if you have it. It will stay with her longer than just honey. Not too much food as you need her to stay hungry. How many hours since the insulin as it starts to level out around 6 hours in. Stay calm...hoping this helps.
 
Lovie is not going for the honey. I'm searching for Karo and or maple syrup. I found some vanilla ice cream and gave her some on the chicken. I'm going to test her again now
 
We normally syringe a little or rub the honey, Karo in her mouth & gums. Most will not eat it on their own. I’ve used a medicine syringe & also force fed mine - high carb food?
 
I gave her a dime sized amount of honey and put it in her mouth. She won't eat the chicken with ice cream. I'm going to try heating up the DM and see if she'll eat it. She's not being very cooperative with the eating
 
Good... keep feeding, testing & keep up the good work! I know it’s messy to slather honey everywhere but it’s what’s needed. Do you have any medium carb food she likes in the house? It’s good to keep a few cans handy for this. Doing great & I hope she continues to rise!
 
Even some can tuna water poured over to help her eat it. Some like Parmesan cheese sprinkled on. You can water down the dm & syringe too as it’s pretty high in carbs.
 
There is honey everywhere. hahaha She does not want to eat. I don't have anything in the house thats high carb. I'm so new at this and I don't have the right supplies. She is not showing any symptoms at all.
 
They usually don’t show symptoms...but if left at 30’s some go into seizures- etc... not good. a tbsp of honey & checking. Wish you could get food into her. How long ago was the insulin given?
 
There is a petsmart near the house. My sister has suggested that I go quickly and pick up some friskies or fancy feast with gravy.
 
Some dry food at this point would be helpful. Any amount of carbs that would stay with her for a while. She's coming up slowly and your late in the cycle so that's good. Keep testing until her numbers are in a safe spot.
 
We’ve all been where you’re at. Don’t feel alone. What number is she at ... the insulin should be wearing down. You’re doing great.. any dry food?
 
I have scooped food in with my fingers, force feed. Will she swallow or spit the dm out? Give that a try but don’t choke her. Little at a time.
 
This is Michelle's sister, Jan, typring for her. Michelle went to the Petsmart to get higher carb foods for Lovie. She'll be home again in a few minutes and then will test Lovie again.
 
Depending on what sort of syringes you use, some have needles that just twist off. You can use that to shoot some honey or sugar water into her check pouch. As long as her numbers are headed up you should be good though.
 
This is still Michelle's sister, Jan. She should be calling me any minute to tell me that she's home. She will need to reduce the dose to 1.75 but she doesn't have syringes with half unit markings so that's going to be difficult. I am thinking of telling her to give 1.5 units because that will be easier to "eyeball". What do others think?
 
I am concerned about skipping a shot when Lovie has only recently recovered from DKA - as in she came home from the hospital just 7 days ago. My Radar has never had ketones so I don't know how to help Michelle with Lovie in this area. Would it be wiser to give a token dose? or is there something else she should do?
 
It will be shot time in about 1 hour. I need help deciding what to do about the dose... should I skip it completely? or should I give a little insulin? After the really low reading this afternoon I don't want to deal with low numbers all night too. help!
 
One of the Lantus protocols says don't shoot under 200. Another one says low numbers can be given a token dose. Hopefully someone more experienced will chime in on this matter.

No matter what you decide to do tonight, a reduction is in order tomorrow after today's incident and last nites number. I think it's been earned by both of you. :)
 
Jan Radar said:
@LizzieInTexas
This is my sister's cat... I don't have experience with ketones and Lovie has recently had DKA.... which concerns me a bit. Could you share an opinion about what we should do about tonight's dose?
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I don't have any first hand experience with DKA either, just from what I have learned here.

Plenty of strips? HC food? Honey/karo? Able to stay up and monitor? The depot will be in play regardless of the dose given so you need to look at what the numbers might be tomorrow based on the dose given tonight. I would shoot 1.75 as best as possible without syringes with 1/2U marks (error on conservative).

Is kitty eating good (I.r., getting enough calories)? Testing for ketones?
 
LizzieInTexas said:
I don't have any first hand experience with DKA either, just from what I have learned here.

Plenty of strips? HC food? Honey/karo? Able to stay up and monitor? The depot will be in play regardless of the dose given so you need to look at what the numbers might be tomorrow based on the dose given tonight. I would shoot 1.75 as best as possible without syringes with 1/2U marks (error on conservative).

Is kitty eating good (I.r., getting enough calories)? Testing for ketones?
Click to expand...

I'm waiting to hear from my sister about what Lovie's number is right now.... She has plenty of testing supplies. But I think she has to work tomorrow so can't be there to monitor. I don't know if she has the strips to test for Ketones....

thanks for you opinion. I'm feeling a bit out of my league...
 
Jan Radar said:
I'm waiting to hear from my sister about what Lovie's number is right now.... She has plenty of testing supplies. But I think she has to work tomorrow so can't be there to monitor. I don't know if she has the strips to test for Ketones....

thanks for you opinion. I'm feeling a bit out of my league...
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My concern is the PS bring influenced by foo and not give us an accurate number to judge by.

1.5 would probably be ok.

Need to get thus over to L&L. I think 2U is too much. Should have started much lower and worked the dose up. There are much more experienced peeps that can give better dosing advise than me.
 
LizzieInTexas said:
My concern is the PS bring influenced by foo and not give us an accurate number to judge by.

1.5 would probably be ok.

Need to get thus over to L&L. I think 2U is too much. Should have started much lower and worked the dose up. There are much more experienced peeps that can give better dosing advise than me.
Click to expand...
Excellent thoughts! I'll post in L&L for help
 
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