Buster update 120625 (Acro & ProZinc)

Madm4444

Madm4444

Member Since 2024
Wow. It's been a little over a year since Buster's crazy started (11/18/24). 1 year since his liver surgery (12/4/24). And almost 1 year since DKA hospitalization for 8 days (12/15/24).

Through all the pinks & reds, acro/IAA diagnoses, SRT radiation, constipation, neuropathy, fur shots, cerenia, ondansetron, many Libres, endless bouncing, a max of 17 units every 12 hours, and a year of tear-filled days & sleepless nights, I never thought I would write these words:

Buster's fructosamine blood test result = 263 (good control = <300).

Buster's glucose blood test result (at vet) = 185.

Buster's current dose = down to 3.5 units every 12 hours (and we will prbly be going lower soon).

Buster can run up and down the stairs & jump up on the couch.

I would never be able to write any of this without the FDMB. This community saved Buster's life. This community gave us hope and guidance. This community supported us at all hours from all parts of the world. There are no words that can convey the gratitude we have for this community.

I must specifically thank @Suzanne & Darcy, @Wendy&Neko, and @Sienne and Gabby (GA) for their guidance, advice and support to this crazy cat mom. They will never know how much they help me. And a special thank you to @Tim & Pookey for keeping this board going so we could stay in communication.

Obviously, Buster is still an acro, post-DKA, post-SRT, diabetic kitty so we do not know what the future holds but we are in a good place right now and I have learned that I can only take it day-by-day. I'm also hopeful that all we've been through can help and give hope to others.

Buster's story, however, is not without other issues. He still has HOCM (hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, likely genetic - no medication needed). He still has pancreatitis. A new small liver tumor revealed itself in the latest ultrasound. His long, challenging journey in the high numbers has stressed his body that his kidney numbers are in the high normal range and trending upward. Yes, these are all significant concerns and we will do everything we can to address them.

But, today, right now, I am grateful for where we are and to all those who helped us get here. BG in blues and greens, no Libre, a boy who can jump - who woulda thunk it?

I have to go now because Buster is climbing on the bench, yelling at me that he wants to do his exercise on the stairs & get some treats... I know. Amazing.[/USER]
 
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I just wanted to check in on Buster because I was thinking about y’all and remembering this happy update that I had intended to respond to! So I look at his spreadsheet…. so wonderful! Look at all the great blues and some greens and such a small dose! I bet you are happy! Besides the pretty numbers I see, how is he doing? How are you?
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
I just wanted to check in on Buster because I was thinking about y’all and remembering this happy update that I had intended to respond to! So I look at his spreadsheet…. so wonderful! Look at all the great blues and some greens and such a small dose! I bet you are happy! Besides the pretty numbers I see, how is he doing? How are you?
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Hi Suzanne! It was so nice to hear from you! I was hoping that you saw the update on Buster. I know you've had a lot going on. I hope things are going okay with your babies.
No Libre anymore! Can you believe it? It's really like a miracle - a miracle that couldn't have happened without you and your guidance. Thank you so much.
He's doing well. He's on a good eating/peeing/pooping/sleeping schedule. He comes to get me when it's time to do his exercise (up/down stairs & running around chasing treats). He can jump onto the kitchen chair then the table without help. It warms my heart every time.
Going without the Libre was difficult. That thing was a godsend. But once he was in lower numbers, it just wasn't accurate. There was no need to have it b/c we had to prick him anyway. But it was tough giving up the binky. I had to have faith that I knew my cat & would notice any issues.
Oh! And I learned how to prick his ear by myself! He still hates it & struggles but if I'm fast enough, I can at least get a bg. I can't get both a bg & a ketone yet - he won't sit still long enough to switch meters.
This good cycle started in late Oct/early Nov. We've chosen to stay in the blues (with some greens) for now. I feel comfortable with running errands & going out to dinner for the first time in a year.
As I said in the update, he does have some other concerns, particularly the new spot on the liver. He's having another check next week. I'll keep you posted.
Thank you again for all you've done for us. :bighug:
 
Hi!! This is just the best news ever. Thank you for that! What a milestone for you and Buster …. no Libre! His spreadsheet looks so nice and steady! I just looked at the 2025 tab again….. what a wild ride. I’m so happy for you being able to go out to do things and enjoy dinner out, etc. No regrets about the SRT! And the neuropathy is gone 🙂 I just feel like I can’t stop with the exclamation marks and smiley faces! How about some hearts too 💕💕

Now refresh my memory about the liver. He had a liver lobectomy at one point. What did the pathology on that show?

Thank you for sharing this wonderful update on Buster. I am sure @Wendy&Neko will be pleased to read this as well.
 
Thanks for tagging me Suzanne, definitely happy to read this update.

Good for you on getting a handle on the home testing now. Buster's numbers are looking quite flat and definitely less stressful than last year!
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Now refresh my memory about the liver. He had a liver lobectomy at one point. What did the pathology on that show?
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The biopsy from the Dec 2024 liver lobectomy was benign. In that case, the mass was at the lower part of the lobe so removal was relatively simple.
Unfortunately, the mass seen in Nov 2025 is at the top of the liver. I'm not sure what our options will be if the ultrasound shows it's larger...
 
I have a cat with a pancreatic cyst, we are currently just monitoring. When it gets large enough it might be drained by fine needle aspirate. Not sure if they treat liver cysts the same.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
I have a cat with a pancreatic cyst, we are currently just monitoring. When it gets large enough it might be drained by fine needle aspirate. Not sure if they treat liver cysts the same.
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Something to ask about. Thank you for the info!
 
@Suzanne & Darcy
@Wendy&Neko

Update: Buster had his Internal Medicine checkup with abdominal ultrasound, xrays, & bloodwork. Bloodwork is pending.

Good news: The spot on his liver is unchanged from Nov 2024. No growth is encouraging and we will continue monitoring.

Bad news: The images showed a large stone in his bladder. We are waiting on the test results to see if it is struvite (possibly dissolvable) or oxalate (requiring surgery).

Coincidentally, he did start to have slight changes in his urination the day before the checkup. Peeing slightly more often but smaller amounts. However, since being home from his checkup, he has peed less often but large amounts. BG & ketones remain stable.

His primary vet said that Hills c/d can dissolve stones quickly but would affect his bg & he would need more insulin. We obviously do not prefer that option.

He hardly drinks water so I'm always adding it when I can but it tends to dilute the smell and flavor & it can be 50/50 on whether he'll eat.

Are there any diabetic-friendly foods and treats that we can try?
I've been reading that D-mannose can help. Does anyone have experience with that?
 
That is excellent news about the liver spot being unchanged — very encouraging. I am sorry to hear about the bladder/possible stone problem. I hope that whatever happens it will not require surgery! How will they diagnose the type of crystal or stone it is specifically? I assume they sent his urine out for examination of the type of crystal? Do you know what his urine pH was? It’s my understanding that different levels of pH are associated with different types of stones.

With regard to D Mannose, it’s used to prevent some bacterial adhesion (especially E. coli) to bladder wall, so it is used to help reduce simple bacterial cystitis in where E. coli is the pathogen present, but it doesn’t help dissolve or prevent the formation of urinary crystals/stones. There are other supplements that can be soothing to the bladder mucosa like marshmallow root (sometimes slippery elm bark) N Acetyl Glucosamine, omegas, etc. I would research it and also ask my vet about it.

Let us know how he is!
 
I wonder if Purina Hydra Care would be beneficial for hydration? Darcy would never lick it. I assume you have a fountain? With some cats you just need to leave a faucet dripping somewhere! Cats!
 
C/D and S/O are definitely high carb. It is possible you could feed it for a couple week to break up the stone, then stop feeding it and go back to LC. You'd have to temporarily increase the dose, but sometimes cats need medications that impact their blood glucose. In those cases we just work the dose around it.

My other kitty was on C/D when Neko was diagnosed, but he didn't have the large stone problem, "just" cystitis. In his case, diet change did help. So did omega, glucosamine, and hyaluronic acid - we used brand Hyaflex. In the latter, we used the medium sized dog version which was the same product in a more economical container. It was a recommendation from his vet.

Have you tried giving Buster meat broth? I used to boil chicken bits in broth and give that to Neko. There are some broth products out there for pets, but I don't know if they are diabetes friendly.
 
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