riebejamen
Member Since 2020
Hello Everybody,
My name is Marie, and my diabetic kitty is Oliver. Oliver Henry. (because he can be VERY helpful) Oliver is one of a pair, his brother is Simon. Simon Henry. For the same reason). Oliver is an all black 13 year old big "fraidy cat. I mean that literally. He and Simon came from an abusive home, where I am fairly sure the husband beat the wife. It usually starts with the animals. He & Simon are terrified of men, and most interaction, outside mom and dad, sudden sounds, sudden movements. He weighs in at 15 lbs. He is not fat, he's big. He & Simon were a solidly bonded pair, until COVID. Husband now working from home.Without going into detail, Simon has been mostly hiding, starting mid-March. Which primarily left Oliver w/o a snuggle buddy, play buddy, hanging out buddy. At the time, I had 5 cats. Penny was diagnosed with lung cancer and had to be put to sleep Easter weekend. She was a mostly reformed resource guarder. Household dynamics have drastically changed.
Oliver went into vet when I found a loose tooth in late April. Loose, as in had fallen out. Vet feels Oliver needs to have complete teeth removal. Bad gingivitis. Made sense, he's had bad breathe for a while. As part of pre-op procedure, his blood-work showed diabetes. We're now at four glucose curves at the vet, and a dosage of 2.5 units of Pro Zinc, twice a day. He is definitely stressed at the clinic; he has a prescription for gabapentin that I give him 1 1/2 - 2 hours before appointment time for curves. His numbers range between 66 to 689. Last curve, vet felt we were getting closer to correct dosage. She also acknowledged that his values could be stress related, and is considering a fructosamine test.
I've read, maybe too much, the info sheets she sent home, and various websites; taking consideration that some are borderline quackery. After the first glucose curve, he came home wobbly, lethargic, like he was drunk and one of his back legs dragged occasionally. I'd given him some kibble on the way home, and he rebounded. I didn't think anything of it, only that he hadn't eaten in 9 hours. I free feed my critters. Oliver's diet has been a combo of Hill's Weight Management, Oral Care, Youthful Vitality and when he can steal it, Royal Canin s/o (dry kidney - for sibling). Occasional Fancy Feast pate flavors. Oliver has been very good at letting me giving him shots. To help facilitate his cooperation, when I started injections, I gave him a dozen of the Royal Canin kibbles. Vet suggested I needed to feed him before insulin shot. Considering his teeth/gums, I switched to Fancy Feast pate flavors. He's share half a can with a sibling. Vet says the Fancy Feast is not good for him. Gave us a prescription for glucose Hill's m/d dry or wet. I've been including it in the mix of the dry flavors. He seems to like it. However, I've researched the FF pate, and several studies indicate that it is good for diabetic cats.
I've ignored the Vet's "no Fancy Feast'. Last few days, Oliver got a different flavor: Beef and liver. He'd primarily been on fish flavors, no preference on my part. Sunday morning he was wobbly, like after the first glucose curve. Gut feeling that he didn't need insulin, so I skipped his dosage. He seemed fine by evening, so I fed him FF and he got his shot. This morning, he was wobbly again, fed him FF beef/liver and did not give insulin shot. Several hours later, he was worse, he'd fall over, walk and fall over. Shake his head and fall over. He was not vocal (he tends to be a talker). I gave him 1/8 cup of the Royal Canin s/o. Two hours later, he comes to get me. Is walking much more normal, and vocalizing. I give him more food, he takes a nap. Two hours later, he is talking at me, and wanting to be fed. I have not given him his insulin tonight. Based on my research, what is happening is low blood sugar. I don't have a glucometer, yet. Vet didn't feel it was necessary. Yet. She has concerns that results may not match those at the clinic and doesn't think we are at "that point."
I am confused and frustrated. I will email his vet (the easiest way to communicate with her), about the last few days behavior/events. Oliver's recent drunken/wobblyness really scares me. It triggers my biggest fears about my critters: That I waited too long for medical intervention and I indirectly/directly caused it. I still feel guilt about a cat I had to put to sleep in 2004.
How likely is it that he would be in remission after not-quite two months of insulin? Is it possible the glucose reading from original blood-work is incorrect? That he was stress diabetic? I am also wondering if the minor change in diet (Hilll's w/d) is enough to send him into remission? Could the infected gums (and not eating enough) cause a diabetic diagnosis? I feel like I am missing something.....maybe I need more education......Where do Oliver and I go from here?
Thanks for any advice!
My name is Marie, and my diabetic kitty is Oliver. Oliver Henry. (because he can be VERY helpful) Oliver is one of a pair, his brother is Simon. Simon Henry. For the same reason). Oliver is an all black 13 year old big "fraidy cat. I mean that literally. He and Simon came from an abusive home, where I am fairly sure the husband beat the wife. It usually starts with the animals. He & Simon are terrified of men, and most interaction, outside mom and dad, sudden sounds, sudden movements. He weighs in at 15 lbs. He is not fat, he's big. He & Simon were a solidly bonded pair, until COVID. Husband now working from home.Without going into detail, Simon has been mostly hiding, starting mid-March. Which primarily left Oliver w/o a snuggle buddy, play buddy, hanging out buddy. At the time, I had 5 cats. Penny was diagnosed with lung cancer and had to be put to sleep Easter weekend. She was a mostly reformed resource guarder. Household dynamics have drastically changed.
Oliver went into vet when I found a loose tooth in late April. Loose, as in had fallen out. Vet feels Oliver needs to have complete teeth removal. Bad gingivitis. Made sense, he's had bad breathe for a while. As part of pre-op procedure, his blood-work showed diabetes. We're now at four glucose curves at the vet, and a dosage of 2.5 units of Pro Zinc, twice a day. He is definitely stressed at the clinic; he has a prescription for gabapentin that I give him 1 1/2 - 2 hours before appointment time for curves. His numbers range between 66 to 689. Last curve, vet felt we were getting closer to correct dosage. She also acknowledged that his values could be stress related, and is considering a fructosamine test.
I've read, maybe too much, the info sheets she sent home, and various websites; taking consideration that some are borderline quackery. After the first glucose curve, he came home wobbly, lethargic, like he was drunk and one of his back legs dragged occasionally. I'd given him some kibble on the way home, and he rebounded. I didn't think anything of it, only that he hadn't eaten in 9 hours. I free feed my critters. Oliver's diet has been a combo of Hill's Weight Management, Oral Care, Youthful Vitality and when he can steal it, Royal Canin s/o (dry kidney - for sibling). Occasional Fancy Feast pate flavors. Oliver has been very good at letting me giving him shots. To help facilitate his cooperation, when I started injections, I gave him a dozen of the Royal Canin kibbles. Vet suggested I needed to feed him before insulin shot. Considering his teeth/gums, I switched to Fancy Feast pate flavors. He's share half a can with a sibling. Vet says the Fancy Feast is not good for him. Gave us a prescription for glucose Hill's m/d dry or wet. I've been including it in the mix of the dry flavors. He seems to like it. However, I've researched the FF pate, and several studies indicate that it is good for diabetic cats.
I've ignored the Vet's "no Fancy Feast'. Last few days, Oliver got a different flavor: Beef and liver. He'd primarily been on fish flavors, no preference on my part. Sunday morning he was wobbly, like after the first glucose curve. Gut feeling that he didn't need insulin, so I skipped his dosage. He seemed fine by evening, so I fed him FF and he got his shot. This morning, he was wobbly again, fed him FF beef/liver and did not give insulin shot. Several hours later, he was worse, he'd fall over, walk and fall over. Shake his head and fall over. He was not vocal (he tends to be a talker). I gave him 1/8 cup of the Royal Canin s/o. Two hours later, he comes to get me. Is walking much more normal, and vocalizing. I give him more food, he takes a nap. Two hours later, he is talking at me, and wanting to be fed. I have not given him his insulin tonight. Based on my research, what is happening is low blood sugar. I don't have a glucometer, yet. Vet didn't feel it was necessary. Yet. She has concerns that results may not match those at the clinic and doesn't think we are at "that point."
I am confused and frustrated. I will email his vet (the easiest way to communicate with her), about the last few days behavior/events. Oliver's recent drunken/wobblyness really scares me. It triggers my biggest fears about my critters: That I waited too long for medical intervention and I indirectly/directly caused it. I still feel guilt about a cat I had to put to sleep in 2004.
How likely is it that he would be in remission after not-quite two months of insulin? Is it possible the glucose reading from original blood-work is incorrect? That he was stress diabetic? I am also wondering if the minor change in diet (Hilll's w/d) is enough to send him into remission? Could the infected gums (and not eating enough) cause a diabetic diagnosis? I feel like I am missing something.....maybe I need more education......Where do Oliver and I go from here?
Thanks for any advice!
