5/6/2015 Dosing Advice

[Michaellh33]

I am beginning to question my how well this is going. He doesn't seem to be improving on the numbers ever since that one low 76 I got and the missed shot after that. I think that screwed everything up. I take it that I need to start giving 1.5 or maybe 1.75 units? It is like there isn't even a change. I was over an hour late and I jumped the gun and gave him is shot tonight anyways . If anyone could offer some help I would really appreciate it.

 

[manxcat419]

It looks to me as though he needs an increase - probably to 1.5 unless others think you should go higher.

That one missed shot isn't going to mess up getting him regulated - we all have to skip shots from time to time and cats do recover from a skipped shot quickly. It looks more as though something happened that day that kept him lower - maybe he just didn't eat as much as he has been on other days. He has trended a little lower on the 1.25 dose - down from mostly pinks to mostly yellows. I think he just hasn't quite got to his ideal dose yet.

 

[Chris/China (GA)/Garfield]

I'd go up to 1.5 at your next shot

It's best not to hold a dose that's not getting them where we want them too long. If the numbers aren't getting him where you want him, you don't want to hold the dose more than 6 cycles.

Increasing the dose:

• Hold the dose for 3 - 5 days (6 - 10 consecutive cycles) if nadirs are less than 200 before increasing the dose by 0.25 unit.
  • if your cat is new to numbers under 200, it is recommended to hold the dose for at least 8-10 cycles before increasing.
  • when your cat starts to see nadirs under 100, hold the dose for at least 10 cycles before increasing.

• After 3 days (6 consecutive cycles)... if nadirs are greater than 200, but less than 300 increase the dose by 0.25 unit.

• After 3 days (6 consecutive cycles)... if nadirs are greater than 300 increase the dose by 0.5 unit.

Holding the dose too long can set them up for glucose toxicity

 

[Michaellh33]

I don't understand what this means,
" if nadirs are less than 200 before increasing the dose by 0.25 unit.".
Can you reword this in a more simple form?

 

[manxcat419]

" if nadirs are less than 200 before increasing the dose by 0.25 unit.".

Of course. It means that if the lowest number he gets to during most cycles is under 200 then you should hold the dose for 3-5 days before increasing it. In Brody's case, he's still getting low points above 200 during most cycles. So, to move on to the next part of the explanation - his nadirs (or lowest points) are greater than 200 but less than 300. Until those lowest readings start to drop below 200, you should increase by 0.25 unit every 3 days.

 

[Michaellh33]

I see, very clear explanation, thank you.