12/15 Tubbs AMPS 326 +5 182 +7 254

[Mandykins]

Hi all! I've been around the forum previously, but primarily have used the FB group for support.

Some history - Tubbs was diagnosed with diabetes and started insulin late June/22. She was OTJ at the beginning of August/22, and did well for a few months, when her numbers started spiking - unsure if due to an infection or other, but we did go through the antibiotics in case it was a tooth infection. Started back up on insulin at the end of October / beginning of November, and she's currently still unregulated.

I did get Tubbs in for bloodwork, which was a struggle, and I will be using this weekend to do a full curve as well as take a urine sample. She's currently eating per usual (she's always been food driven, but she gets 2x 3oz cans of FF in the AM and 2x FF in the PM mixed with addtl water, along with a very small amount of Dr. Elsey's Clean Protein Chicken kibble and usually still wants more), drinking additional water on top of this from the sink (she wasn't doing this when she was regulated as she must have felt she was getting enough through the food before), still peeing a bit more than usual and her stool right now is usually soft serve style (not quite diarrhea but not quite formed).

Looking for some advice - based on her spreadsheet, as well as her blood test, other than the urinalysis, is there anything else I can do or should be doing or asking for from the vet? As I mentioned, I'll be doing a full curve as I realized today that her nadir seems to be earlier than it was when she was regulated (looks to maybe be around +5 or earlier as opposed to the +6 it was previously), plus the urinalysis (would love advice on what exactly I need to ask for with the UA, unless the standard one includes everything I need for pancreatitis/CKD/any other things I should be looking for). I'd also like to get some advice on whether or not I'm doing the right thing with her dosing based on her #'s. I'll certainly post again once I do the full curve, but really want to handle the vet items and make sure I'm on the right path.

Thank you all!

 

[tiffmaxee]

Welcome to the forum. Because cats often have lower bg at night, I would get a before bed test at a minimum at least once in awhile. Why are you wanting to test for pancreatitis? It sounds like she’s eating well and not acting ill. You only test for pancreatitis if there are symptoms such as loss of appetite, loose stool, lethargic etc. if no symptoms nothing will be gained by testing. If she’s showing symptoms you want the SpecfPL Is she at her ideal weight?

 

[tiffmaxee]

The standard urinalysis will give you all the info you need. Lipase is not a good indicator of pancreatitis in cats like it can be for dogs.

 

[Mandykins]

Welcome to the forum. Because cats often have lower bg at night, I would get a before bed test at a minimum at least once in awhile. Why are you wanting to test for pancreatitis? It sounds like she’s eating well and not acting ill. You only test for pancreatitis if there are symptoms such as loss of appetite, loose stool, lethargic etc. if no symptoms nothing will be gained by testing. If she’s showing symptoms you want the SpecfPL Is she at her ideal weight?

Thank you! I've done a few of the tests at night, but will focus again on trying to get more in. I forgot to add, but the reason I was concerned initially about the pancreatitis or potential for it was due to a few days of her struggling to eat, however, there's also a good chance she got into a bunch of Dr Elsey's that was left out so I wasn't sure if there was a test that can confirm whether or not she has it. She has been having loose stools too (soft serve ice cream consistency), but not really lethargic, but I wanted to ask here as I'm fully willing to get the tests done to ensure she doesn't have it. Based on your response, it seems like it really isn't necessary unless that happens again (the uncertainty was in whether or not she got the dry, but her appetite has returned to normal). If it happens again I'll ask for that test. Yes, I feel that she's at her ideal weight for her body structure - approx 14lbs.

The standard urinalysis will give you all the info you need. Lipase is not a good indicator of pancreatitis in cats like it can be for dogs.

Perfect, thank you!

 

[tiffmaxee]

The test for pancreatitis might be negative if it’s resolved so best to test for it when symptomatic. There is an in house Snap Test vets can do for pancreatitis but it just gives a positive or negative result and so if in the gray zone where she might have it, it won’t help. The other test is sent to the lab and you get a number. We have a primer that explains a lot about pancreatitis. I’ll give you the link.

 

[tiffmaxee]

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/a-primer-on-pancreatitis.79693/

 

[Mandykins]

The test for pancreatitis might be negative if it’s resolved so best to test for it when symptomatic. There is an in house Snap Test vets can do for pancreatitis but it just gives a positive or negative result and so if in the gray zone where she might have it, it won’t help. The other test is sent to the lab and you get a number. We have a primer that explains a lot about pancreatitis. I’ll give you the link.

Perfect, that's comforting to know - I'll read over the info in the link you provided so I have a better understanding.

My main goal is to ensure that I have the right tests performed to make sure something doesn't fly under the radar and become a bigger problem later, I'd rather accidentally have a test performed that wasn't needed than not test for something and find out later it could have prevented something. Again though, if no symptoms means it won't be useful, it makes sense not to do that one Thank you for your help!