New 24/3/21 UK any help/advice/questions to ask vets

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Xaviera

Xaviera

Member Since 2021
Hi everyone we have Tilly booked in at the vets for 2pm. We only got told yesterday she has diabetes so we’re completely clueless and of course shocked and worried also about what’s going to happen now. Tilly doesn’t like being handled or stroked often. She’s 15 and was a stray we took in years ago so she’s still a bit feral and scared of humans. We aren’t sure how she’s going to take to 2 injections daily and we’re worried about her health going forwards. We initially took her to the vets due to her back legs and the way she was walking and they’ve since diagnosed diabetes. She’s also lost 1.5kg since October (5 months)
 
The injections is the least of your worries. You need to take her BG several times a day, and that done by poking with a needle.... in her ear... or paws!

Still, it's something you'll get used too sooner than you know.
Do you know witch insulin you'll get?

I'll tag Karen for you. She's a lovely lady, and she's in the UK too!
@Hercule's mum
 
SashaV said:
The injections is the least of your worries. You need to take her BG several times a day, and that done by poking with a needle.... in her ear... or paws!

Still, it's something you'll get used too sooner than you know.
Do you know witch insulin you'll get?

I'll tag Karen for you. She's a lovely lady, and she's in the UK too!
@Hercule's mum
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Hi thank you. We aren’t sure yet. We have the appointment today to discuss everything. I’m guessing that will include which insulin?
It’s all so overwhelming and I have no clue where to start with any of it in such a panic and no clue what I’m asking the vets today
 
Xaviera said:
Hi thank you. We aren’t sure yet. We have the appointment today to discuss everything. I’m guessing that will include which insulin?
It’s all so overwhelming and I have no clue where to start with any of it in such a panic and no clue what I’m asking the vets today
Click to expand...
We can help you with everything, you just hang in there :bighug:
I'd ask for prozinc since its a vet insulin, you probably can't get lantus or levemir first. You need to pick up a meter, for humans. No need to do the expensive pet meter. When is your appointment?
 
Hi and welcome.
It all will seem overwhelming in the beginning....we all felt like that, but you have come to the best possible please to get help and support.
I agree, ask for Prozinc or Lantus. If they offer vetsulin, ask for one of the others....better for cats.
1 unit is the usual starting dose. If the vet suggests more, question it.
You don’t need your vets permission to hometest the blood glucose.....I agree get a human meter, much cheaper to run.

Its not unusual for cats to loose weight when diagnosed with FD. She will put it back on.

I would ask the vet if Tilly has any ketones in her urine when diagnosed....important information.
You will need to look for low carb wet / canned food to feed her. I’m sure someone from theUK will post information.
Good luck....you will be fine and we will help you:)

I have found the UK info page. Here is the link
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...-vit-b12-and-other-need-to-know-stuff.137376/
 
SashaV said:
We can help you with everything, you just hang in there :bighug:
I'd ask for prozinc since its a vet insulin, you probably can't get lantus or levemir first. You need to pick up a meter, for humans. No need to do the expensive pet meter. When is your appointment?
Click to expand...
Appointment is today at 2:15pm. I’ll try pick up a meter from the chemists
 
Hi! Welcome to the forum, and sorry you have had to discover us!
As Sasha sais, I am in the Ukand reccomend the gluco navii glucometer because it works fine and has the cheapest strips. You can get them from amazon.

In the Uk,prozinc should be the recomended insulin for cats. If they try to prescribe caninsulin or vetinsulin fight tooth and nail! The royal vet coleege reccomends lantus or prozinc. Here is a link in case you need to argue....
https://www.rvc.ac.uk/Media/Default/small-animal/documents/feline-diabetes-guide.pdf

Once you know which insulin you will be using, let me know and I can give you some links of where to get lancets and syringes.


Also, not sure what kitty is eating at the moment, but switching to lower carb food is sometimes enough to bring BG down. Do not get sucked into buying prescripted diet! they are high in carbs. You can get a wide choice of low carb food from the supermarket (Butcher's choice is a good one), or from Zooplus. I will link a food guide soon!
 
I think for shooting and testing, is important to create a routine which involve lots of treats and strokes. Whatever she likes best. I shoot Hercules while he is eating, because he is quite distracted when eating.

We have a few members with retired feral cats, @Mariette might have some suggestions?
 
Sorry you have a difficult kitty. Buddy was feral when we took him in a year ago, but he was more of a blank slate. Didn't know human touch before and he loves being brushed and petted now. Maybe Tilly was abused before she met you and has trust issues with people?

Buddy still has his issues but he's trusting with us. That said the tests and especially shots were still very stressful and difficult in the beginning. I would start getting anxiety a full two hours before shot time. The crappy thing is that you need to give the shots at specific times and that didn't correspond with Buddy's lifestyle. We didn't really have any fixed routines at first. He free fed and there was always food available. So part of the initial difficulty was transitioning into a routine for him.

Our vet also suggested giving the shot while he eats, but that wasn't possible. He doesn't like being touched while eating and is very aware of it. Some cats are distracted while eating. It will take a while to find when the best time is for Tilly. It might be when she's napping. Buddy barely notices a test or shot when he's sleeping.

I think at first it will be good to at least just get a test in whenever possible. It's best to go by the book and get a fasting one at shot time, but if you're starting on a low dose just grab the tests when possible. And she'll hopefully start getting used to it.

We also had to experiment a bit with the shot technique. The tenting tchnique didn't work for me so I do the wrist roll technique. You grab some fur between the shoulders (or flank etc) and pull it up rolling your wrist back. It creates a separation of the fur and pulls the skin up at the same time. But the tenting might workk for you.

Don't be too hard on yourself and think you have to switch to being a pro at this off the bat. It takes time to find what works for you and Tilly. If you have to let time slide a little to have her calm down before attempting another shot or test it's better than getting both of you into a fully stressed out state.

Best of luck. You can do this!
 
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