13 July - Sam - AMPS 122, +3.5 67, +5.5 81 / PMPS 108, +4 99

[Djamila]

Yesterday

Tummy seems to have settled down today. He was very hungry this morning and ate a lot more than his usual three bites - finished a full helping and asked for more!

This morning he would eat raw venison and rabbit, but is refusing anything with chicken or turkey. I'm wondering if that's giving a hint at what is causing the stomach issues, or if that's just the mood he's in?

Trying again with a teeny dose this morning. If anyone has thoughts on what I should have done last night, I would really appreciate hearing them! I have a feeling that scenario is going to repeat at some time in the future since he's had those numbers before.

Hope everyone is well today!

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

Hey Djamila! I missed your first day in Lantus Land

I think you did the right thing skipping last night since it was his first day on Lantus and you haven't shot that low before. But, on Lantus, after you get some more data on how he will do, you will get comfortable shooting a 78. Lantus is known for it's nice flat curve with a regulated kitty. Maybe even just a drop last night would have been enough to keep him green this morning. But, like you said, skipping last night was certainly not messing up any depot.

What is the dose 0.143 you shot today? Is that a drop?

Sorry about the diarrhea. In between bouts is his poops normal or does he vacillate between dry and diarrhea? I have used SEB in the past when Bubba had a bad GI upsets and had lots of diarrhea and stopped eating. It seemed to help very quickly and after the diarrhea stopped I did a maintenance dose for 3 more days.

I forgot that Sam eats raw and I need to pick your brain of how you manage putting raw out while you work? I am hoping to go away the end of Sept and I don't know how to manage it safely for his 6 mini meals a day with the pet sitter. Bubba gets an ounce of raw 6 times a day and I would think that an ounce would thaw out in no time and then could be spoiling in the feeder. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Djamila]

Hi Bobbie!

I spent a lot of time pulling up water and counting drops and half drops, and the 0.143 is just a silly calculation of the amount of insulin. It's what is typically called a 0.1 around here. @Kris & Teasel is a science teacher and we were just being precise about it based on my 7 half-drops when I pull a one unit dose and then count the drops.

In between his diarrhea, Sam usually has regular poops. He does get a little pumpkin every day though to help make that happen. Left on his own, he would vacillate between dry and diarrhea.

Sam has only recently stopped eating canned food. Like in the last two weeks. My civvie has been on raw forever, but Sam has only snacked on it up until now. He's pretty much refusing canned food lately though, which is fine with me. I think the raw is easier anyway.

Bearing in mind that I live in a cool climate (a really hot day might hit 80), I usually just leave the raw out. If I'm home, I'll put out food periodically, but when I'm at work all day, I just put out the food in the morning and they eat whenever they want. Atticus honestly seems to prefer the raw after it's been out for a number of hours. Kind of gross, but he's been eating that way for years and doesn't seem to have any trouble with it. On warmer days if I won't be home, I do put one plate out for them to eat, and another one surrounded with ice packs to keep it cool longer. It will still thaw, but a little slower. So ice packs in a round shape, towel around the ice packs, food dish nestled in the bowl shape made by the ice packs.

Is your pet sitter coming once or twice/day?

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

Hi Bobbie!

I spent a lot of time pulling up water and counting drops and half drops, and the 0.143 is just a silly calculation of the amount of insulin. It's what is typically called a 0.1 around here. @Kris & Teasel is a science teacher and we were just being precise about it based on my 7 half-drops when I pull a one unit dose and then count the drops.

In between his diarrhea, Sam usually has regular poops. He does get a little pumpkin every day though to help make that happen. Left on his own, he would vacillate between dry and diarrhea.

Sam has only recently stopped eating canned food. Like in the last two weeks. My civvie has been on raw forever, but Sam has only snacked on it up until now. He's pretty much refusing canned food lately though, which is fine with me. I think the raw is easier anyway.

Bearing in mind that I live in a cool climate (a really hot day might hit 80), I usually just leave the raw out. If I'm home, I'll put out food periodically, but when I'm at work all day, I just put out the food in the morning and they eat whenever they want. Atticus honestly seems to prefer the raw after it's been out for a number of hours. Kind of gross, but he's been eating that way for years and doesn't seem to have any trouble with it. On warmer days if I won't be home, I do put one plate out for them to eat, and another one surrounded with ice packs to keep it cool longer. It will still thaw, but a little slower. So ice packs in a round shape, towel around the ice packs, food dish nestled in the bowl shape made by the ice packs.

Is your pet sitter coming once or twice/day?

If you knew how much time I spent figuring out carbs and calories and timing of meals and tests etc. Well, I am singing to the choir, aren't I?


Great idea with the ice packs forming a bowl and the dish nestled in. I do have an auto- feeder and another challenge is that I can't find ice packs to fit so I will probably have to make my own with ziplock baggies and put inside the food slot with the food on top.

The sitter comes twice a day so he will feed the 6 AM and 6 PM meals and leave the 10AM and 2 PM meals in the feeder.

Glad that Sam is preferring the raw because it sounds like he has IBD as Bubba has mild IBD and the raw is helping with that. Plus, you don't have to worry about food formula changes and carb count, etc.



Thanks for the input with the raw.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

My girl Neko was on raw too. I found I had to add extra water to the food to up her water content to help things moving. Pumpkin also helped.

@Bobbie And Bubba - what autofeeder are you using? I used the Petsafe 5, and bought some really small soft side Cryopacks, which I folded in half, wrapped with an elastic, and froze. They were the perfect size for the small compartment under the tray. Apparently this freezer pack fits too. Or you can put an ice cube in with the food which will keep it cool and add water as it melts.

Given how well Sam is responding to the Lantus, and the depot isn't built yet, I might spend some time practising smaller doses.

 

[Djamila]

That's a good idea to put an ice cube in with the food. I've added water to his canned food, but haven't tried adding water to the raw before. That's a great way to manage it.

I'll keep practicing with my teeny-dose-and-drop-counting! It is not easy to get such a small amount!

Sam was a bit higher tonight because he didn't get his +9 snack. I was planning to be home earlier, but we accidentally got lost in the woods and took a couple of extra miles to find our way back out again. Oops.

So I got home just before shot time. I felt bad for missing his snack, but it did make it a lot easier to shoot tonight!

 

[Djamila]

He was a little high tonight, but he was also super mad . His feral side was out in full force and he did NOT want to be tested. I let him run off for awhile, but he used his time to attack Atty and leap all over everything. Tried again and got bit. Let him run off for a bit more, tried to engage him in play to no avail. He stood on the windowsill and sang for awhile. Finally managed to get the test done. Sigh. Bless his sweet, wild little heart! Thank goodness this mood is rare anymore!

 

[Kris & Teasel]

He was a little high tonight, but he was also super mad . His feral side was out in full force and he did NOT want to be tested. I let him run off for awhile, but he used his time to attack Atty and leap all over everything. Tried again and got bit. Let him run off for a bit more, tried to engage him in play to no avail. He stood on the windowsill and sang for awhile. Finally managed to get the test done. Sigh. Bless his sweet, wild little heart! Thank goodness this mood is rare anymore!

View attachment 29695

OMG! I can see all that in my mind's eye! What a little wild man full of beans!

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

My girl Neko was on raw too. I found I had to add extra water to the food to up her water content to help things moving. Pumpkin also helped.

@Bobbie And Bubba - what autofeeder are you using? I used the Petsafe 5, and bought some really small soft side Cryopacks, which I folded in half, wrapped with an elastic, and froze. They were the perfect size for the small compartment under the tray. Apparently this freezer pack fits too. Or you can put an ice cube in with the food which will keep it cool and add water as it melts.

Given how well Sam is responding to the Lantus, and the depot isn't built yet, I might spend some time practising smaller doses.

I use the Petsafe 5 also. I will look into the freezer pack you link thanks! As of now, I have not found one that fits. Good idea to just put an ice cube in ( I add a tbsp. of water to every ounce of raw)

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

He was a little high tonight, but he was also super mad . His feral side was out in full force and he did NOT want to be tested. I let him run off for awhile, but he used his time to attack Atty and leap all over everything. Tried again and got bit. Let him run off for a bit more, tried to engage him in play to no avail. He stood on the windowsill and sang for awhile. Finally managed to get the test done. Sigh. Bless his sweet, wild little heart! Thank goodness this mood is rare anymore!

View attachment 29695

Maybe just go ahead and feed him when he is in "a mood" and test after he eats. He might be a bit more "civilized" then, LOL. @Kris & Teasel , I pictured the scenario too! Oh boy.......... I thought of the Tasmanian Devil, LOL.