? 9/03 Mačka AMPS 617, +3 534, +7 552 PMPS 536 Vacation dose?

[Penelope and Mačka]

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...-620-pmps-hi-on-new-dose.218766/#post-2434467

Hi everybody,

I hope you all had a nice weekend!

Here, we're still in the higher blacks. When you look at Macka's SS and zoom out, you can see that recently he's had more blacks at +3 (and in general) than ever before. Again, the more I increase, the higher he gets. It really feels like we're not going in the right direction (apart from two shy curves yesterday and the day before). There isn't any improvement, it just does not make any sense. No ketones as of today though. Appetite is okay-ish.

Anyway, we're leaving in 3 days, so I have to prepare for a vacation dose. I am not sure the pet sitter will be able to get a BG test at all, so we have to stay safe. What's an easy, safe dose? 2.5? 3? At 3, if he's bouncing and by miracle goes down a little, I am worried it might be too much?

Thanks in advance for the input!

 

[AmandaE]

I'm not a dosing expert but looking at Mackas spreadsheet I would say 3u might be a good dose for vacation, it is a whole unit so it is easier for a pet sitter to measure and you know from the other day that he doesn't go into a danger zone while on 3u.

You will probably get some more valuable insight from other members in a bit!

Where are you going on vacation to?

 

[Penelope and Mačka]

Thank you @AmandaE, yes, it's a whole unit, so easier to measure. He did not go into danger zone for sure :/

My husband is taking me to Santa Fe (New Mexico) for my birthday! Trip was planned before we had Macka at home... I'm totally terrified by the idea of leaving him though...!

 

[Justin & Sebastian]

Keep in mind he's on steroids now, which he wasn't before, and that can increase BG. When did the steroids start? I haven't been able to find in the notes when that happened. I also can't tell if you're still treating the infection or not.

When I look at this past week compared to the week before it looks like improvement to me. Way more purple than red in the middle of the day. So I don't think the blacks are a result of the dosage like you think but are a result of the steroids or some other underlying issue.

As far as dosage, I'm not seeing a whole lot of drop risk with the current circumstances. Steroid dose is staying the same and I'm assuming there's no infection anymore. I think 3 is probably a good bet, like Amanda said that'll be easy for the sitter to measure and should be safe from drops. Would the sitter be able to test for ketones? I can tell you're already nervous at this high of dosage as it is and I feel like you'd probably be more comfortable at a 2.5 vacation dose and it looks like so far ketones haven't been an issue so I think that would be safe also. I'd feel better if the sitter could check for ketones if going with that low of a dose though. And if there is still an infection at play I would go with the 2.5 since BG could drop if that clears up.

 

[Penelope and Mačka]

Keep in mind he's on steroids now, which he wasn't before, and that can increase BG. When did the steroids start? I haven't been able to find in the notes when that happened. I also can't tell if you're still treating the infection or not.

When I look at this past week compared to the week before it looks like improvement to me. Way more purple than red in the middle of the day. So I don't think the blacks are a result of the dosage like you think but are a result of the steroids or some other underlying issue.

As far as dosage, I'm not seeing a whole lot of drop risk with the current circumstances. Steroid dose is staying the same and I'm assuming there's no infection anymore. I think 3 is probably a good bet, like Amanda said that'll be easy for the sitter to measure and should be safe from drops. Would the sitter be able to test for ketones? I can tell you're already nervous at this high of dosage as it is and I feel like you'd probably be more comfortable at a 2.5 vacation dose and it looks like so far ketones haven't been an issue so I think that would be safe also. I'd feel better if the sitter could check for ketones if going with that low of a dose though. And if there is still an infection at play I would go with the 2.5 since BG could drop if that clears up.

I stopped antibiotics on 8/27. His abscess is totally healed, but the BG did not go down.

As for the steroids, I've decreased the dose by 2 (before totally stopping them) and will it keep that way until we come back. He could have stopped them a few days earlier than that, but that's another parameter I do not feel comfortable removing while we're away. I started Budesonide on 7/23 and for 2 weeks it did not change the BG that much, so I'm not sure they're influencing the numbers, but maybe they are and take 2 weeks to build in.

Another underlying condition could be the teeth (nothing really bad but a possible resorption and a broken canine, dating back from 2006, plus mild gingivitis) and he has his dental pre-visit the day after we return (Sept 11th). I could not get anything earlier than that.
I am not sure what else we could have going on here. Thyroid is fine, kidneys were fine the last time we checked (last month).

The pet sitter looked a little shocked when I explained to her how to test ketones with the urine stick. I don't know if she'll do it.... I really do hope so. We haven't had any issue so far with ketones as you mentioned, but of course I'm very nervous. It's so hard to trust someone else.

He is not as hungry as last week. I changed the raw turkey for raw beef since he seemed bored already.

 

[Justin & Sebastian]

Teeth can definitely do it too, I remember you mentioned that before. It sucks that you had to wait so long but honestly it's good that it's happening after your vacation. As we've seen with Sebastian, the dental can cause as many problems as it fixes, though hopefully shorter term issues.

Have you feed him beef before? If not I'd make sure to keep an eye on the poops and maybe switch back until after you get back. Sebastian got real bad diarrhea when I fed him beef and I know someone else had a similar experience. Where are you getting your raw food from? Check out Darwin's if you haven't already. They do chicken, turkey, and lamb and you can get a 10lb sample pack for $10 bucks so it's a really good way to try it out. I've been feeding Sebastian the lamb. Going to try turkey here soon. No chicken though, for whatever reason he hates chicken.

I remember when I first started using the ketone strips I was like "how the heck am I supposed to do that?". He uses a litter box and I was trying to figure out how to get it midstream. I read up on it though and found I could just dab it in the puddle afterwards so it wound up being really easy. I think I remember seeing you say Macka pees outside?

 

[Wendy&Neko]

If budesonide was going to change his BG, it did not for Neko, you would have seen the impact sooner than two weeks. Macka most likely has glucose toxicity keeping his numbers high. You just have to increase to get over it.

Since you are worried about ketones and have not even seen blue for a while, I would keep him at this dose while you are gone, if the pet sitter can do it. Lowering the dose will make the glucose toxicity even worse. We lower to keep kitties safe, and he is more than safe at this dose. Do you think he will eat fine while you are gone?

 

[Penelope and Mačka]

Do you think he will eat fine while you are gone?

He should eat fine, but I suspect the pet sitter won't be as much after him as I am. Sometimes I have to insist a little, pretend it's a new dish, pretend I add kibble on top of it, to trick him

 

[Penelope and Mačka]

As we've seen with Sebastian, the dental can cause as many problems as it fixes, though hopefully shorter term issues.

Yes, I hope Sebastian regains all his energy back very soon.

Have you feed him beef before?

So, I creeped into his bathroom and his poop looked perfect. Not sure if it's from this morning breakfast or yesterday lol.

Where are you getting your raw food from?

I buy Small Batch (they have turkey, chicken, duck, rabbit, beef) at the moment. Is Darwin ground meat? Because Macka will have difficulties eating morsels.

I remember when I first started using the ketone strips I was like "how the heck am I supposed to do that?". He uses a litter box and I was trying to figure out how to get it midstream. I read up on it though and found I could just dab it in the puddle afterwards so it wound up being really easy. I think I remember seeing you say Macka pees outside?

Haha! I get on my knees and get the stream!! He doesn't even notice. When he goes outside though, it's more crawling under the plants and through cobwebs. A new adventure every day!

 

[Justin & Sebastian]

I buy Small Batch (they have turkey, chicken, duck, rabbit, beef) at the moment. Is Darwin ground meat? Because Macka will have difficulties eating morsels.

Yes Darwin is ground meat. Have you checked the ingredients of Small Batch? I haven't looked myself but I thought I saw someone respond to one of their facebook ads saying they included vegetables, which are a no-no. I might be thinking of something else though.

Haha! I get on my knees and get the stream!!

Ha, that's pretty impressive