1/25 Max still on a bounce; Neuropahty getting worse

Giomax

Giomax

Member Since 2018
I think Max is coming off of his bounce. I haven't been home during the day to do frequent tests so I don't know how low he went, but his pre preshot numbers are looking better. His poor legs are getting worse though! He's been on Zobaline (6mg) for nearly a week. I know it takes months and lower sugar to improve neuropathy, but it makes me nervous watching him struggle more and more!
 
Max's Neuropathy might be getting worse because he's been in High BG for a long time now. Who's giving you dosing advice?
Is he still getting any dry food?
 
Giomax said:
I think Max is coming off of his bounce. I haven't been home during the day to do frequent tests so I don't know how low he went, but his pre preshot numbers are looking better. His poor legs are getting worse though! He's been on Zobaline (6mg) for nearly a week. I know it takes months and lower sugar to improve neuropathy, but it makes me nervous watching him struggle more and more!
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Depending on how bad It is. You might start seeing very slight improvement in another week to ten days. Hopefully numbers will be more steady by then also. How many tabs are you giving?
 
You guys are giving me dosing advice.

No further testing yet. I thought I read on here that at 6 units and beyond is when I should start testing for insulin resistance. He had some really good numbers the other day, but I think it sent his body into a bounce, which is why they're so much higher right now. No dry food in the house.

He gets two 3mg tablets of Zobaline a day.
 
Giomax said:
He gets two 3mg tablets of Zobaline a day.
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12 hrs apart? It helps the nerve pain so you would want even intervals like the insulin. I'm told but don't know for sure it feels like when your leg or arm falls asleep and you get that tingling. We can shake it awake but kitties don't seem to be able to.

It really does work so give It time.
 
Yes, 12 hours apart. One with each shot. Nerve pain SUCKS. I had a pinched nerve that went down my arm last summer. I was in constant horrible pain. I hate to think of him having the same pain I was having.
 
Today is six cycles after the blues, he should be over the bounce. If you don’t see green tonight, you can increase to 6 units tomorrow.

Six units and beyond is when we suggest testing for “high dose” conditions, including acromegaly and IAA or insulin auto antibodies. You don’t to wait for six units,some kitties with those conditions are on smaller doses than six units. But at six units, most of the other reasons for getting up to that dose can be ruled out, as long as kitty is eating all low carb wet or raw. One in four diabetic cats has acromegaly. My girl had both it and IAA.

Sending healing vines for Max’s little legs. I hope you can find a dose soon that will help his blood sugar and his legs.
 
Wondering if it's beneficial for Max to be on paid meds or something to make him comfortable while you find that dose. I give Ming bupe whenever I think something's off with him even just vomiting because I'm hypersensitive to him possibly having another p'titis attack and rather him feel comfortable than in pain.
 
I don't want to do an increase when I'm not here to monitor. It makes me so nervous! But half a unit can't bring him that much lower, can it? Would it be safe to increase to 6 and then go to work for 8 hours?
 
Crista & Ming said:
Wondering if it's beneficial for Max to be on paid meds or something to make him comfortable while you find that dose. I give Ming bupe whenever I think something's off with him even just vomiting because I'm hypersensitive to him possibly having another p'titis attack and rather him feel comfortable than in pain.
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Is that a prescription? Is it a pill? Giving him pills is rough but I hate to see him in pain!
 
Buprenorphine is an oral liquid for cats and you'll have to get it from the vet. It masks pain and you can be quite liberal with it sometimes often doubling the dose safely in times of great pain. Ming is prescribed 0.2 mL every 12 hours as needed but my vet said I can give up to twice that amount and even more frequently (every 8 hours). You draw it up in a syringe and squirt the liquid in the cheek pocket. It works best if absorbed in the gums.

There are other pain meds out there too. Maybe someone with a cat with neuropathy can recommend other meds to help make Max comfortable.
 
You could always increase tomorrow night if you are home then. Typically though, the depot takes a while to build and you night not see action until later cycles. Last couple increases, Max has responded on cycle two. However, cats are notorious for not being predictable!

Buprenorphine is most commonly given as a liquid that you squirt against the cheek. You can get it in single doses from the vet, or get a vial. I got a vial compounded chicken flavour. Gabapentin is alternative pain med some use. It's normally a pill, but I think I've seen people get it compounded as tasty liquid too.
 
If he nornally goes down on cycle two, do you think I should increase tomorrow morning and go to work, that way I can monitor his second cycle tomorrow evening?

Definitely making an appt for the vet on Tuesday to see about running those tests and getting some pain meds!
 
Giomax said:
Definitely making an appt for the vet on Tuesday to see about running those tests and getting some pain meds!
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Might have to convince the vet to get those tests run and it might be costly but if I remember correctly, your vet suggested those diagnoses instead of diabetes a while ago? So that's good!

Ming saw an IM specialist and when I suggested it, they were sure Ming didn't have acro. His regular vet as well. Then I was talking to a different vet who is curious by nature and we "sneakily" did the test even though Ming's main vet didn't think it was necessary lol I work at a hospital with multiple vets btw. Acro test came out with a number that was negative for it (I can't remember the number right now) but dumbly I didn't do the IAA test at the same time since blood samples are sent to MSU (Michigan) and both tests are done there. So if I want to do the IAA test, I'll have to send the test to MSU again and pay for that again.

Edit: I don't give dosing advice but I sort of know Ming will not react much the first cycle of an increase so depending on my family's schedule, I'll increase even though I have work 11 hours the next day AND my family is not at home. But Ming has a full staff, you see and he's never left alone for more than 4-5 hours haha. But do what you're comfortable with and what's safest for Max.
 
Cats are not always predictable when they show what a dose can do, so it may or may not be cycle two next time. However, given that all he has seen so far is upper blues, you are probably safe increasing tomorrow morning. Also, it seems his nadir is later in the cycle, so if you are home after 8 hours, you should be able to see close to the lowest point in the cycle.

Do you leave food out for him or does he have an autofeeder you can load for some mid cycle snacks?
 
Olive gets bupe. The vet gives it to me in 10ml bottle. She gets 0.2 every 12 hrs. She started at 0.27 when p'titis was at its worst. And I was giving every 8 hrs for for a while.

She also gets gabapentin 12.5 mg every 12 hrs at the +6 hr. She started at 25 mg and got it every 8 hrs if needed. I get the gourmed tabs from Wedgwood. She eats them whole right up, off floor or bowl, out of my hand or they can be crushed easily and mixed in food.

Now she will always stay on these.
 
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