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Nico & Nora

Nico & Nora

Member Since 2020
Hello! I've been busy reading up on the basics here, so much info to process! Very glad I found this site.

First question: what does the designation 'GA' indicate at the end of user names?

12 yr old Nico (Maine Coon) has been re-homed a few times, I've had him for a couple of months with zero plans to give up on him. Diagnosed ~4 years ago, on 1.5 units Prozinc twice/day, stable since then. Eats Purina DM wet and dry. Vet says his ideal weight should be 18 lbs, was 14 lbs when I got him. Have been supplementing with poached chicken, beef, pork, fish, now up to 16 lbs. My human companion has Type 2 diabetes so I have a spare glucose monitor for Nico though I haven't yet tried taking his BG. He is now settled in this new home and it's time I get up the courage to prick his ear, he's never been home tested so it'll be new for us both.
 
GA means Deceased Guardian Angel
cat_wings>o
:bighug:


Hello Nico & Nora.
Lucky Nico.

The Learning curve to take bg's is a delicate thing.
I & Simba has a method adapted to us.
You & Nico will find your way too in Your Partnership :cat:

Others will be around to help you out.
 
First off, thank you for caring. It’s devastating to learn how to care for our beautiful sugar fur babes. Watch some of the videos here & remember to keep your anxieties in check. Easier said then done, I know. Singing to my frightened cat did wonders for us both. Be sure to warm & massage the ear before hand. It is true that as time goes on, it gets easier. New capillaries form & routine is learned for you both. Then you will soon find that it is absolutely a must do before giving insulin. After 1 hypo, I knew I could not inject a medicine that could potentially hurt her without testing first. It does become “old hat” before you know it. Good luck & continue to ask questions. Also it’s one day at a time - you can’t possibly know it all on day 1. Doing the best I can.. it’s ok
 
Thank you Becky.
I'm sure I will have many questions. I do feel reassured seeing so many people really take control and had no idea there was even such a thing as remission for some until I came here.
 
Always aim for the sweet spot warm the ears up first, you can put rice in a sock and put it in the microwave, test it on the inside of your wrist to be sure it's not to hot, like you would test a babies bottle. You can fill a pill bottle with warm water and roll it on the ears also
c2b8079a-b471-4fa6-ac36-9ac1c8d6dcca-jpeg.57072
fec17d29-5ab4-44a8-912b-3a91944c3954-jpeg.57073

6. As the ears get used to bleeding and grow more capilares, it gets easier to get the amount of blood you need on the first try. If she won’t stand still, you can get the blood onto a clean finger nail and test from there
 
Most of us use the human meter from Walmart The Relion Prime 9 dollars
Test strips are 17.88 for 100 strips
Buy 26 or28 gauge lancets
Most of us test freehand just using the lancets
Some buy the lancing device
I find you have more control just using the lancet and can see where you are poking.
Get some cotton rounds to put behind the ear just in case you poke yourself
Then just press gently on the ear to stop the bleeding about 10 seconds
If his ears ever look sore you can put a thin layer of Neosporin Ointment with Pain Relief, make sure it's NOT the Cream
Have honey or Karo on hand in case he ever drops to low
 
The Purina DM dry is high in carbs 15.79%
Looks like the Wet DM is OK 1.78%
Is there any reason you are feeding the DM
Most of us feed Fancy Feast Classic Pate which 2 or 3 percent carbs
or Friskier Pate
 
Last edited:
ideal weight x 20 to figure out calories.
If his ideal weight is 18 lbs like you noted
18x20=360 is how many calories he should be eating
You said he's always hungry, most of us feed our cats multiple times per day
The bigger meal in the AM then smaller meals after that, maybe 2 or 3 times

Same thing for the PM
Just make sure you pick up the food 2 hours prior to testing in the AM and PM
So his BG is not food influenced
 
We have a spreadsheet we all use to track our cats BG numbers
It's a very useful tool
If you ever have questions about dosing or if you are not sure whether to shoot, or if
he ever drops too low we need to see these numbers in order to feel comfortable
giving advice

I will post the link for setting up the spreadsheet, if you have trouble setting it up
just ask we have 2 wonderful members that will set it up for you

I will also give you the link Understanding the grid ( spreadsheet)

Take a look at mine it will say Tyler's spreadsheet under my signature
 
Nico & Nora said:
Hello! I've been busy reading up on the basics here, so much info to process! Very glad I found this site.

First question: what does the designation 'GA' indicate at the end of user names?

12 yr old Nico (Maine Coon) has been re-homed a few times, I've had him for a couple of months with zero plans to give up on him. Diagnosed ~4 years ago, on 1.5 units Prozinc twice/day, stable since then. Eats Purina DM wet and dry. Vet says his ideal weight should be 18 lbs, was 14 lbs when I got him. Have been supplementing with poached chicken, beef, pork, fish, now up to 16 lbs. My human companion has Type 2 diabetes so I have a spare glucose monitor for Nico though I haven't yet tried taking his BG. He is now settled in this new home and it's time I get up the courage to prick his ear, he's never been home tested so it'll be new for us both.
Click to expand...
Welcome!!! I love that you took him in. I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC at home.
 
This is what you need to feed if he ever drops to low and you need to bring his BG up to safe numbers
Such as

You should always have a few can of these on hand in case you need to bring up


Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Gourmet Beef Feast in Gravy 20% High Carbs


Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Gourmet Chicken Feast in Gravy. 15% Med Carbs




Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Turkey Feast in Gravy. 15% Med Carbs


Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Chicken and Beef Feast in Gravy 15% Med Carbs

It's mostly the gravy that has the higher carbs in it
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
Most of us use the human meter from Walmart The Relion Prime 9 dollars
Test strips are 17.88 for 100 strips
Buy 26 or28 gauge lancets
Most of us test freehand just using the lancets
Some buy the lancing device
I find you have more control just using the lancet and can see where you are poking.
Get some cotton rounds to put behind the ear just in case you poke yourself
Then just press gently on the ear to stop the bleeding about 10 seconds
If his ears ever look sore you can put a thin layer of Neosporin Ointment with Pain Relief, make sure it's NOT the Cream
Have honey or Karo on hand in case he ever drops to low
Click to expand...
I already happened to have a One Touch Ultra 2 monitor not in use when Nico arrived and am planning to use it, also have several hundred test strips and a supply of 30 gauge lancets. Are the lancets too small? I can easily get 26s or 28s as you suggest. It makes sense to me to use the lancet alone for better aim. Luckily I only use the ointment version of Neosporin, never thought the cream worked as well .
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
The Purina DM dry is high in carbs 15.79%
Looks like the Wet DM is OK 1.78%
Is there any reason you are feeding the DM
Most of us feed Fancy Feast Classic Pate which 2 or 3 percent carbs
or Friskier Pate
Click to expand...
I've never been a big fan of dry food. Had lots of trouble with other cats and food colours especially red in them.
A little more of Nico's history as I understand it: he was found as a kitten dumped on a rural driveway and taken in. Eventually he grew bigger than the pre-existing tiny dog in the home who was intimidated by this exuberant adolescent Maine coon. Nico was rehomed to neighbours where he got fat and was eventually diagnosed diabetic. Was put on Purina DM wet and dry and insulin by vet, lost weight, is seen annually, same dose, same food, all good since. One human in the house became allergic, cat moved in with adult child, cat alone and lonely 12 hrs a day. Girlfriend moved in, she and Nico clash...now she's in and Nico is with me.
They warned me that if he eats anything other than the PDM food it will result in extreme diarrhea. I have not seen one episode like that with the poached meats I've been giving him and no constipation either, just normal poop.
I'd be very happy to get rid of the dry food and replace the canned with something a little less pricey and more variety.
Since I made all my child's baby food from scratch years ago, I don't see why I can't cook fresh food for both my cats if it will help, Fiona is getting fussy in her old age about all tinned foods anyway and I'm sure would be thrilled with more real food. I would want more info on necessary supplements, taurine, etc.
Since Nico has been stable for so many years, I wanted to concentrate on having him settle in for the first while and get comfortable being here before we go about seeing what could be done better. And now that he is and will lie across my lap for a snuggle and purr a few times a day I think it's time.

Apologies for my slow responses, I only have a phone at the moment for connectivity and am too old to be speedy on the tiny keyboard
 
Nico & Nora said:
I already happened to have a One Touch Ultra 2 monitor not in use when Nico arrived and am planning to use it, also have several hundred test strips and a supply of 30 gauge lancets. Are the lancets too small? I can easily get 26s or 28s as you suggest. It makes sense to me to use the lancet alone for better aim. Luckily I only use the ointment version of Neosporin, never thought the cream worked as well .
Click to expand...
It would be better if you could get the 26 or 28 gauge lancets , since you are just
starting out, they will make a bigger hole so he will bleed better,


As the ears get used to bleeding and grow more capilares, it gets easier to get the amount of blood you need on the first try.
 
Nico & Nora said:
I've never been a big fan of dry food. Had lots of trouble with other cats and food colours especially red in them.
A little more of Nico's history as I understand it: he was found as a kitten dumped on a rural driveway and taken in. Eventually he grew bigger than the pre-existing tiny dog in the home who was intimidated by this exuberant adolescent Maine coon. Nico was rehomed to neighbours where he got fat and was eventually diagnosed diabetic. Was put on Purina DM wet and dry and insulin by vet, lost weight, is seen annually, same dose, same food, all good since. One human in the house became allergic, cat moved in with adult child, cat alone and lonely 12 hrs a day. Girlfriend moved in, she and Nico clash...now she's in and Nico is with me.
They warned me that if he eats anything other than the PDM food it will result in extreme diarrhea. I have not seen one episode like that with the poached meats I've been giving him and no constipation either, just normal poop.
I'd be very happy to get rid of the dry food and replace the canned with something a little less pricey and more variety.
Since I made all my child's baby food from scratch years ago, I don't see why I can't cook fresh food for both my cats if it will help, Fiona is getting fussy in her old age about all tinned foods anyway and I'm sure would be thrilled with more real food. I would want more info on necessary supplements, taurine, etc.
Since Nico has been stable for so many years, I wanted to concentrate on having him settle in for the first while and get comfortable being here before we go about seeing what could be done better. And now that he is and will lie across my lap for a snuggle and purr a few times a day I think it's time.

Apologies for my slow responses, I only have a phone at the moment for connectivity and am too old to be speedy on the tiny keyboard
Click to expand...
Hi Nora I meant to tell you what a beautiful kitty Nico is.
I don't know much about feeding cooked fresh food.
I have never heard that if you took him off the PDM he would get extreme
diarrhea, who told you that the last owners or a vet.

I posted the link for the food chart above
Most of us feed Fancy Feast Classic Pates most of them are 2 or 3 % carbs
We try and stay under 10% carbs
Also Friskies Pate
If you do eliminate the dry food you will have to do it slowly
Each day reduce the dry food , how much dry food does he eat?
Taking it away all together can drop his BG by 100 points
So you really have to monitor him.
You can post and am about feeding cooked fresh food and about the supplements and the taurine.
Thank you for taking him in.
So happy to hear he gives snuggles and purrs
Have a good night :cat:
 
JanetNJ said:
Welcome!!! I love that you took him in. I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC at home.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the testing video. I tried watching last night but I think my other cat, Fiona, knew it wasn't about her and kept distracting me...they are so smart . I have now watched it carefully and for a start had Nico sit on my lap this morning while I gently rubbed his ears to warm them up and looked for the capillaries, he put up with it for 5 minutes. He's not yet the snuggliest kitty but is getting more accustomed to having people around all the time with frequent pats and scritches throughout the day.
 
98FA4776-BCB6-4FDC-9844-1FACCFE7DC6A.jpeg
Nico & Nora said:
Thank you for the testing video. I tried watching last night but I think my other cat, Fiona, knew it wasn't about her and kept distracting me...they are so smart . I have now watched it carefully and for a start had Nico sit on my lap this morning while I gently rubbed his ears to warm them up and looked for the capillaries, he put up with it for 5 minutes. He's not yet the snuggliest kitty but is getting more accustomed to having people around all the time with frequent pats and scritches throughout the day.
Click to expand...
Aim for the sweet spot
 

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