My vet was so impressed!

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Jan D & Squeaky

Jan D & Squeaky

Member Since 2020
Hi Everybody, I owe all of you a resounding THANKS for helping us so quickly, so well, so efficiently, and so completely.

Heather came over yesterday and then again today, and calmed both Squeaky and more importantly, me, down. You guys (sorry I can't remember right now who it was) got my spreadsheet going and taught me to use it, someone sent me to Walmart with a shopping list, and I've had multiple coaching and support conversations on this site. Also I applied to DCIN for low income financial aid without a lot of trouble (it's a pandemic; I now have a negative cash flow) and am waiting to see what happens.

Today I had a phone consult with my vet. I had sent her the link to the spreadsheet and she was totally amazed and impressed at how quickly I was able to get up and running with all of this. I was able to talk to her intelligently about this AND guess what. Squeaky's glucose reading this morning was 194. It has come down from over 400. I already have to start watching to make sure his glucose doesn't go too low.

We're still not out of the woods (working with the IBD and pancreatitis for him and I'm still under a lot of stress and need further calming) but we are fast on our way to having the diabetes under control.

Vet wants me to give steroids every other day now with the hope of weaning him off completely and getting him into remission with the diabetes.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
 
Congrats! And I know everything, every poke, every injection, every meal... feels like a five alarm fire. It’s ok! You can do this and it is a bumpy ride for every person here.

My Cosmo (GA) was dx with diabetes via emergency vet visit where I discovered he was DKA, hepatic lipodosis, and CP. while I was in grad school. I was underfunded, sleep deprived, and chronically stressed. If I made it... you can too!

some things to consider:
1) keep a journal of squeaky’s behavior. Appetite. Pee. Drinking. Nausea/vomiting. And other common symptoms of an impending CP attack. I was able to predict Cosmo’s pancreatitis attacks cause his appetite would decrease, her vomit up some gastric juice (slimy slightly yellow stuff), and be uncomfortable (meatloaf). I would give extra SQ fluids (he also was CRF) and Pepcid. My vet also started giving me a few doses of anti-nauseant (I’d have to dig through old posts to find out which. I think Cerenia, which I administered via injection). Pro tip: keep these doses in the fridge. It stings more at room temp.

2) under 200 is a great number! As you get more confident with testing and the injections, you’ll gain confidence to consider the TR protocol. Do what you can do now (swap out treats and food, help decrease squeaky’s stress level by being as calm as possible, get him off those steroids!) and the rest will come.

3) this board was my safe haven 24/7 for weeks/months/years as we navigated all the medical hurdles... I’m glad you found this place. IMO, it’s your best chance of Squeaky going OTJ.
 
Cyn and Cosmo said:
Congrats! And I know everything, every poke, every injection, every meal... feels like a five alarm fire. It’s ok! You can do this and it is a bumpy ride for every person here.

My Cosmo (GA) was dx with diabetes via emergency vet visit where I discovered he was DKA, hepatic lipodosis, and CP. while I was in grad school. I was underfunded, sleep deprived, and chronically stressed. If I made it... you can too!

some things to consider:
1) keep a journal of squeaky’s behavior. Appetite. Pee. Drinking. Nausea/vomiting. And other common symptoms of an impending CP attack. I was able to predict Cosmo’s pancreatitis attacks cause his appetite would decrease, her vomit up some gastric juice (slimy slightly yellow stuff), and be uncomfortable (meatloaf). I would give extra SQ fluids (he also was CRF) and Pepcid. My vet also started giving me a few doses of anti-nauseant (I’d have to dig through old posts to find out which. I think Cerenia, which I administered via injection). Pro tip: keep these doses in the fridge. It stings more at room temp.

2) under 200 is a great number! As you get more confident with testing and the injections, you’ll gain confidence to consider the TR protocol. Do what you can do now (swap out treats and food, help decrease squeaky’s stress level by being as calm as possible, get him off those steroids!) and the rest will come.

3) this board was my safe haven 24/7 for weeks/months/years as we navigated all the medical hurdles... I’m glad you found this place. IMO, it’s your best chance of Squeaky going OTJ.
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Thank you! Do you think I need to test his BG every afternoon, every day? We are getting better at this, but I don't want to do it if not necessary. How about every other day?

What is CRF?

We had a rough day today, with vomiting and diarrhea. But, he is still eating a bit every once in a while (hand fed) and looks better than he did this morning. I feel for the guy.
 
Hi there you should
Jan D said:
Thank you! Do you think I need to test his BG every afternoon, every day? We are getting better at this, but I don't want to do it if not necessary. How about every other day?

What is CRF?

We had a rough day today, with vomiting and diarrhea. But, he is still eating a bit every once in a while (hand fed) and looks better than he did this morning. I feel for the guy.
Click to expand...
You should test every single day to make sure it is safe to give the insulin.
You should get some tests in during the night also.
Is there anyway you can get more tests in other than the @+6
It will show you how the insulin is working for Squeaky
Such as a +4 then a +8
Same thing at night.
One day you can do a +4. then a +6 then a +8
Next day a +3 then a +5 then a +7
The more data you collect the better it is in case you ever need advice on dosing.
CRF means chronic renal failure
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
Hi there you should

You should test every single day to make sure it is safe to give the insulin.
You should get some tests in during the night also.
Is there anyway you can get more tests in other than the @+6
It will show you how the insulin is working for Squeaky
Such as a +4 then a +8
Same thing at night.
One day you can do a +4. then a +6 then a +8
Next day a +3 then a +5 then a +7
The more data you collect the better it is in case you ever need advice on dosing.
CRF means chronic renal failure
Click to expand...

Good lord. We would both die from stress.
 
Jan D said:
Good lord. We would both die from stress.
Click to expand...

I know it feels like that now. Honestly, I thought I was never going to learn how to get blood from his ear and that I was going to fail him.

I learned to calm myself down (deep breaths, chanting “we can do this”, and maybe some soothing music is what worked for me) and as a result, Cosmo was calmer. I made a rice sock, which helped IMMENSELY. I also used a flashlight to look at the veins in his ears to give me an idea of the target area (I shined it from the pink side out.) I wish you could see our SS (it’s been so long it got deleted) because you’d see the struggle and how we became more and more successful.

My suggestion would be to try every 2-3 hours and if you’re not successful, then take a break and try again later. Unless it’s the poke right before it’s time for the insulin, of course. I have been out of the loop for 10 yrs, so maybe others have better ideas. (I got pinged in since I’m “local-ish.”)
 
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