Need suggestions, looking to start PZ

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ittybitty

ittybitty

Member Since 2021
Prior post: https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/post-dental.276530/

I’m looking for suggestions moving forward. Dental has been completed and other than severe tartar, no obvious reason for elevated glucoses so I’m assuming at this point we are just out of remission. I’m looking for suggestions for insulin schedule and feeding schedule. Vet will prescribe prozinc (and even mentioned lantus being the best option for cats which is totally opposite of first vet who started us on Vetsulin). My work schedule will not allow a 12hr dosing schedule. So, work days- the best and closest times I can do is 5:45AM/8PM. I work 3-4 days a week. I’m not sure if I should hold that schedule 7days a week even on my days off so that it’s routine and maybe even end up with differing AM/PM doses if needed (even though I know that’s not the normal recommendation). Or should I try to have an exact 12hr difference on the days I’m home. I also want to confirm that I shouldn’t try lantus with the schedule difficulties- (I know I’ve asked this before, just double checking before I pay for PZ).I don’t want to skip over a better option for him if that can be given on a non 12hr schedule, but I don’t think it can from what I’ve read.
As far as feeding… he eats FF pate. Right now I have him down to 3 cans/24hrs (it had been 4cans/day but I’m trying to get a little weight off of him). Vet did say he wasn’t obese and likely 14-15lbs is where he should be and he’s around 17 now. I have a scale and have been weighing him. Right now I feed him 1/2 can every 4 hrs during the day and 1/3 can every 3 hrs overnight. I’m not even sure how I got on this routine, but what’s the best way to space 3 cans out with insulin shots?
I will likely try to pick up insulin tomorrow (pending that I stay with prozinc) and start shots while I have a few days off work to watch him.
Tagging some of you that have been helping and adding Suzanne since I see you are very active on the PZ board.
Thanks so much for everything y’all do!!

@Suzanne & Darcy @JanetNJ @Sienne and Gabby (GA)
 
I can’t comment on prozinc but Bobo is also on 3 cans of FF a day. I give him 1 can at shot times, split into 1/2 and fed about 30 minutes apart. Then he gets the 3rd can split in 1/2, one 1/2 at around his +6 during the day and the other at his +6 at night (with auto feeder). He also gets freeze dried treats here and there. His ideal weight is also around 15 so I’m trying to keep him at 300 calories a day at the most. 3 cans of FF depending on the flavor are about 240 - 270 and if you’re aiming for him to lose weight, you might want to stay a bit under 300 and at around 250-260 a day
 
@Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)
Thanks for info! So you’re normal routine is one can at shot time in 2 separate feeder compartments 30min apart and then 1/2 can at +6 and nothing until the next shot, right? If this is correct, what’s the reasoning behind separating that first can 30min apart?

I also do freeze dried treats with testing. And I’m also trying to stay under 300calories. I’m torn sometimes because I don’t particularly like keeping parts of a can in the refrigerator and using later which is probably why I’ve fed him more in the past because I didn’t want a portion of a can leftover.
 
ittybitty said:
@Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)
Thanks for info! So you’re normal is one can at shot time in 2 separate feeder compartments 30min apart and then 1/2 can at +6 and nothing until the next shot, right? If this is correct, what’s the reasoning behind separating that first can 30min apart?

I also do freeze dried treats with testing. And I’m also trying to stay under 300calories. I’m torn sometimes because I don’t particularly like keeping parts of a can in the refrigerator and using later which is probably why I’ve fed him more in the past because I didn’t want a portion of a can leftover.
Click to expand...
I split the 1 can of FF because I’ve found he won’t finish 1 can at once if I feed it to him that way. So I let him finish 1/2 which takes about 30 minutes then I give him the other 1/2. I also think it makes him think he’s getting more food then he actually is by feeding him twice instead of one time. I do keep the unused 1/2 closed with a silicon air tight lid. Sometimes it will take him longer to finish the full can like closer to 1 hour and 1/2 but that’s okay for me because I’m still at home getting organized. I do give him treats between that and the other feeding at +6. And I do give him treats again between the +6 and the pm shot time. He’s in remission now so the feeding schedule is a bit more flexible but he would get too hungry if he didn’t have another meal until another 6 hours and would always ask for food earlier so I would give him a treat at about +8,+9 just before the cutoff time to withhold the food for testing.

everyone is different about storing food and also some cats don’t like cold food out of the fridge. I know this is not what most people would do, but I’d always just cover the leftover 1/2 can with the airtight lid and leave it out on the counter and never had issues with it going bad. Unless it was summer and super hot, then I would save it in the fridge and get it in the auto feeder before going to bed because it would have enough time in there to get back up to room temp again.
 
Last edited:
To clarify, I only use the auto feeder for when I’m gone during the day at work and overnight, basically for the +6 feedings. At his morning and evening feedings when I’m at home, I just go in the kitchen, put the food on his bowl and feed him
 
ittybitty said:
Prior post: https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/post-dental.276530/

I’m looking for suggestions moving forward. Dental has been completed and other than severe tartar, no obvious reason for elevated glucoses so I’m assuming at this point we are just out of remission. I’m looking for suggestions for insulin schedule and feeding schedule. Vet will prescribe prozinc (and even mentioned lantus being the best option for cats which is totally opposite of first vet who started us on Vetsulin). My work schedule will not allow a 12hr dosing schedule. So, work days- the best and closest times I can do is 5:45AM/8PM. I work 3-4 days a week. I’m not sure if I should hold that schedule 7days a week even on my days off so that it’s routine and maybe even end up with differing AM/PM doses if needed (even though I know that’s not the normal recommendation). Or should I try to have an exact 12hr difference on the days I’m home. I also want to confirm that I shouldn’t try lantus with the schedule difficulties- (I know I’ve asked this before, just double checking before I pay for PZ).I don’t want to skip over a better option for him if that can be given on a non 12hr schedule, but I don’t think it can from what I’ve read.
As far as feeding… he eats FF pate. Right now I have him down to 3 cans/24hrs (it had been 4cans/day but I’m trying to get a little weight off of him). Vet did say he wasn’t obese and likely 14-15lbs is where he should be and he’s around 17 now. I have a scale and have been weighing him. Right now I feed him 1/2 can every 4 hrs during the day and 1/3 can every 3 hrs overnight. I’m not even sure how I got on this routine, but what’s the best way to space 3 cans out with insulin shots?
I will likely try to pick up insulin tomorrow (pending that I stay with prozinc) and start shots while I have a few days off work to watch him.
Tagging some of you that have been helping and adding Suzanne since I see you are very active on the PZ board.
Thanks so much for everything y’all do!!

@Suzanne & Darcy @JanetNJ @Sienne and Gabby (GA)
Click to expand...
ProZinc is a good insulin and I like that it's a bit more forgiving with dosing time. My cat did well on it.
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
Insulin is given every 12 hours same time every day
Click to expand...

Yes, I understand that but due to my work schedule that is completely impossible as I indicated in the original message. I was just hoping for advice from experienced members on how to handle the dosing with my schedule.
 
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