Hi All,
I apologize in advance for the length of this, but I want to give the important details.
I have a 12 year old cat named Abby that was recently diagnosed with diabetes (I brought her in for a bladder infection). The doctor started her on 2 units of Vetsulin, however, because Abby is a “grazer” when it comes to eating, she lowered it to 1 unit. I had her back last week for a glucose check and she was at 385 about 4.5 hours after, so the doctor wanted her at 1.5 units twice a day.
The vet also suggested switching her dry food the Purina D/M, as well as giving her canned D/M before her injection. Abby is an extremely picky eater and doesn’t tolerate change well. She did eat the dry DM, but it seems to have upset her stomach. Her stools became very loose. I thought perhaps I didn’t switch her over slowly enough (although my other cat tolerated it fine). I backed off the D/M and continued to leave our her normal mix of Science Diet Healthy Weight and N&D Chicken and Pomegranate. Before her insulin injection, I give her either the Fancy Feast Appetizer or Wellness Core Shreds. She will not eat anything pate and she doesn’t eat the D/M chunks in gravy. She does eat most of the wet without issue and then I give her the insulin. I thought we were moving in the right direction.
Friday night, Abby was terribly lethargic and literally did not move for over 7 hours. I actually picked her up and made her walk just so I knew she could move. At about 5am yesterday, she had terrible explosive diarrhea. It was like water (sorry, I know that’s gross). I called the vet and she was able to see her. When I brought Abby in, her fasted blood glucose was 466. She gave her something for nausea, fluids and sent me home with a probiotic and Mirataz (an appetite stimulant). She told me to keep her on a bland diet until the diarrhea resolves. She also gave me Science Diet I/D for digestive issues to see if she’ll eat that. She instructed me to give her the 1 unit of insulin regardless of whether or not she ate because her number was high. I did. As the day progressed, Abby still wouldn’t really eat anything. I tried boiled chicken breast, baby food, her normal food, the I/D The one thing she did eat was the Inaba Churu Lickable Purée cat treat. It was something at least.
As of this morning, she still is refusing food and she still has bad diarrhea. I did give her 1 unit of insulin this morning. She got the probiotic (I mixed with water and put in a syringe) I gave her the appetite stimulant and waited 2 hours. I brought down some of her food. She ate a few bites. I didn’t want to keep pushing it on her because of her stomach upset. She did drink a little water this morning, so that’s good.
I’m worried about her not eating. I am uncertain of the cause of the diarrhea. The vet seemed to suggest it could be the effects of changing her food, but it’s been over a week since I stopped giving it to her and it went from loose stool to water. She was also eating her other food without issue. She’s gotten worse.
I guess if there is a question in all this, short term, I’m not sure how to handle tonight. She is due for her insulin at 7pm, but if she continues to not eat, I don’t want to keep giving it to her.
Also, as much as it scares me, I am resigning myself to the fact that I need to get a home glucose monitor to keep an eye on her. She is very testy and I know it will be difficult for me to test her. I have read up on the different options but still could use some guidance. I would like one that uses a small amount of blood - what are the best test strips for that? Also, I would probably freehand the stick. Which lancet would you recommend? I don’t want to hurt her and use a super thick needle but with starting out, I don’t know if the baby needles would be ideal either.
I apologize again for being long winded. I’m kinda at a loss. I’m very overwhelmed and this has completely stressed me out. The fact that she is sick on top of the diabetes has me beyond worried. I find myself losing sleep and being sick to my stomach nervous . I work full time and worry about her being home alone all day tomorrow. What is she doesn’t start eating? How long should I wait to call the vet if her diarrhea doesn’t stop?
I apologize in advance for the length of this, but I want to give the important details.
I have a 12 year old cat named Abby that was recently diagnosed with diabetes (I brought her in for a bladder infection). The doctor started her on 2 units of Vetsulin, however, because Abby is a “grazer” when it comes to eating, she lowered it to 1 unit. I had her back last week for a glucose check and she was at 385 about 4.5 hours after, so the doctor wanted her at 1.5 units twice a day.
The vet also suggested switching her dry food the Purina D/M, as well as giving her canned D/M before her injection. Abby is an extremely picky eater and doesn’t tolerate change well. She did eat the dry DM, but it seems to have upset her stomach. Her stools became very loose. I thought perhaps I didn’t switch her over slowly enough (although my other cat tolerated it fine). I backed off the D/M and continued to leave our her normal mix of Science Diet Healthy Weight and N&D Chicken and Pomegranate. Before her insulin injection, I give her either the Fancy Feast Appetizer or Wellness Core Shreds. She will not eat anything pate and she doesn’t eat the D/M chunks in gravy. She does eat most of the wet without issue and then I give her the insulin. I thought we were moving in the right direction.
Friday night, Abby was terribly lethargic and literally did not move for over 7 hours. I actually picked her up and made her walk just so I knew she could move. At about 5am yesterday, she had terrible explosive diarrhea. It was like water (sorry, I know that’s gross). I called the vet and she was able to see her. When I brought Abby in, her fasted blood glucose was 466. She gave her something for nausea, fluids and sent me home with a probiotic and Mirataz (an appetite stimulant). She told me to keep her on a bland diet until the diarrhea resolves. She also gave me Science Diet I/D for digestive issues to see if she’ll eat that. She instructed me to give her the 1 unit of insulin regardless of whether or not she ate because her number was high. I did. As the day progressed, Abby still wouldn’t really eat anything. I tried boiled chicken breast, baby food, her normal food, the I/D The one thing she did eat was the Inaba Churu Lickable Purée cat treat. It was something at least.
As of this morning, she still is refusing food and she still has bad diarrhea. I did give her 1 unit of insulin this morning. She got the probiotic (I mixed with water and put in a syringe) I gave her the appetite stimulant and waited 2 hours. I brought down some of her food. She ate a few bites. I didn’t want to keep pushing it on her because of her stomach upset. She did drink a little water this morning, so that’s good.
I’m worried about her not eating. I am uncertain of the cause of the diarrhea. The vet seemed to suggest it could be the effects of changing her food, but it’s been over a week since I stopped giving it to her and it went from loose stool to water. She was also eating her other food without issue. She’s gotten worse.
I guess if there is a question in all this, short term, I’m not sure how to handle tonight. She is due for her insulin at 7pm, but if she continues to not eat, I don’t want to keep giving it to her.
Also, as much as it scares me, I am resigning myself to the fact that I need to get a home glucose monitor to keep an eye on her. She is very testy and I know it will be difficult for me to test her. I have read up on the different options but still could use some guidance. I would like one that uses a small amount of blood - what are the best test strips for that? Also, I would probably freehand the stick. Which lancet would you recommend? I don’t want to hurt her and use a super thick needle but with starting out, I don’t know if the baby needles would be ideal either.
I apologize again for being long winded. I’m kinda at a loss. I’m very overwhelmed and this has completely stressed me out. The fact that she is sick on top of the diabetes has me beyond worried. I find myself losing sleep and being sick to my stomach nervous . I work full time and worry about her being home alone all day tomorrow. What is she doesn’t start eating? How long should I wait to call the vet if her diarrhea doesn’t stop?
