5/8 Garfield Arggggg

Chris/China (GA)/Garfield

Chris/China (GA)/Garfield

Member Since 2013
Yesterday's condo about my fundraiser

One of the heart medications Garfield is on contains lactose and starch, so his numbers are all out of whack and as those of you that have been around for awhile, you know that drives me nuts! (and not knowing if he really needs to be on this med doesn't help)

Some cycles are OK, some are lousy, but none are what I want to see! He does still have some nice nadirs....once in awhile.

I messaged the vet last weekend and asked if there was something other than the Vetmedin chewable that would do the same job but without the inert ingredients but still haven't heard back (going to try to call tomorrow and ask why I haven't heard anything).

Anyway, hope your kitties are doing good and don't go crazy when you occasionally get wonky numbers! You'll become nuts like me!....LOL
 
What is the significance of the light blue numbers on the SS? I'm used to seeing patterns in certain colours, and the light blue gets my brain confused.

We did have one kitty whose numbers were increased by going onto Lasix.
 
Sorry you and Garfield are going through this, Chris.:bighug:

Felix took pimobendan (Vetmedin) in the form of TinyTabs from Wedgewood pharmacy. I wasn't aware of it affecting his BG at all, although he was generally kind of bouncy so I suppose it may have. Just seems likely that something called "TinyTabs" would have less carbs than something called "chewable."

At that time, it was $100 for 180 tabs plus around $15 for tax+shipping. I don't remember now which of his meds he took once a day and which twice, but I think this one was twice, so that would be a 90-day supply.
 
Mary & Jude said:
I'm sure you've considered this, but is there no way to get it compounded without the sugary ingredients?
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So far, I can't get the vet to answer me, but they also have a "prescription policy" where they don't work with outside pharmacies. He did however agree to give me a written script for the Lasix so I could get it at Walmart since Lasix is Lasix.

"We understand this may be an inconvenience however, due to the high number of requests by online pharmacies that consume a large amount of staff time we will not be communicating with online/discount pharmacies. These requests require staff to review your pet’s records, a doctor to review and approve the request and prepare a written prescription. Unfortunately, we do not have the staffing to manage the constant interruption that online pharmacies place on our veterinary practice. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding."

The really stupid part if this is that even if I use THEIR pharmacy, when I've called to get a refill, they have to get the vet's OK, so they still have to pull my record, have the doctor review it and approve it and then fill the script so I don't understand how they're saving any time.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
What do you use that for? When following TR, we are looking for numbers under 100.

Poor guy sure is coughing a lot. 😿
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I started using that back with China, just because I wanted to see when she was between 50-120, although my goal was always to keep her under 100.

And the coughing is better than it was! He was doing it 8-12 times a day, so 2-3 times a day is better, but I sure was hoping that (if the heart truly was the problem), we'd be down to zero by now. That's what really worries me....are we really dealing with cardiomyopathy? Or lymphoma? Or a little of both? No way to know without a much more detailed workup at the University.
 
Susan&Felix(GA) said:
Felix took pimobendan (Vetmedin) in the form of TinyTabs from Wedgewood pharmacy. I wasn't aware of it affecting his BG at all, although he was generally kind of bouncy so I suppose it may have. Just seems likely that something called "TinyTabs" would have less carbs than something called "chewable."
Click to expand...

I'll see what I can find out about Wedgewood. They may not like writing scripts for outside pharmacies, but legally, they have to if I ask. They just won't deal with refills or authorizing stuff over the phone. (see above comment about their "prescription policy")
 
Chris/China (GA)/Garfield said:
I'll see what I can find out about Wedgewood. They may not like writing scripts for outside pharmacies, but legally, they have to if I ask. They just won't deal with refills or authorizing stuff over the phone. (see above comment about their "prescription policy")
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Our vet started this policy recently too. I had thought it was a backlash against being undercut by Chewy specifically, but maybe it's a more general thing being taught at Veterinary Practice Management seminars! Sounds like it's time for all of us to ask for Rx printouts at each visit whether we're planning to use them or not.
 
Chris/China (GA)/Garfield said:
So far, I can't get the vet to answer me, but they also have a "prescription policy" where they don't work with outside pharmacies. He did however agree to give me a written script for the Lasix so I could get it at Walmart since Lasix is Lasix.

"We understand this may be an inconvenience however, due to the high number of requests by online pharmacies that consume a large amount of staff time we will not be communicating with online/discount pharmacies. These requests require staff to review your pet’s records, a doctor to review and approve the request and prepare a written prescription. Unfortunately, we do not have the staffing to manage the constant interruption that online pharmacies place on our veterinary practice. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding."

The really stupid part if this is that even if I use THEIR pharmacy, when I've called to get a refill, they have to get the vet's OK, so they still have to pull my record, have the doctor review it and approve it and then fill the script so I don't understand how they're saving any time.
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Our last vet had that policy too. The vet I have now works with a pharmacy (it's like an in-house pharmacy) that compounds. Also, I live in a fairly rural area but we somehow have the great good luck to have a compounding pharmacy. So, between the two, I'm able to get things compounded. I hope you can find something that will be suitable for Garfield!
 
I live in a very rural area too. The only vet close by is a mixed practice vet. They see as many cows and sheep as they do dogs and cats. (and they're the ones that when I took China in and she was diagnosed with diabetes, told me "insulin is a hassle. Just feed her this WD kibble and she may live another 4 months, but she'll go blind and be disabled before that. Are you sure you don't want to just put her down today"?

Thanks to this board, I got 5 1/2 years of extra love.

The current vet is about an hour away in Sedalia (also not a huge town, but a heck of a lot bigger than Versailles is).

Hmmm....I wonder? We do have some human compounding pharmacies around but I don't know if pimobendan is something they carry. Worth a phone call though!
 
Susan&Felix(GA) said:
Our vet started this policy recently too. I had thought it was a backlash against being undercut by Chewy specifically, but maybe it's a more general thing being taught at Veterinary Practice Management seminars! Sounds like it's time for all of us to ask for Rx printouts at each visit whether we're planning to use them or not.
Click to expand...

Just talked to Wedgewood. Their "tiny tabs" also contain lactose. Even their capsules contain lactose! They did say they may be able to make capsules using vegetarian ingredients that wouldn't include lactose, but they'd have to have the script first specifically saying "Pimobendan with vegetarian capsules" and it could take up to 5 days to compound them. They couldn't give me a price without a script, and since I'd have to get a written script and mail it to them, then they'd have to make them and ship them (another up to 5 days), looks like if I'm going to try it, I'd have to get the written script early next week to get it to them, have them made and shipped and back to me before we run out again.

I'm also wondering if there's another drug that would do the same thing as the Vetmedin, without the lactose complication. (that's what I messaged and asked the vet but haven't heard back)
 
Chris/China (GA)/Garfield said:
I live in a very rural area too. The only vet close by is a mixed practice vet. They see as many cows and sheep as they do dogs and cats. (and they're the ones that when I took China in and she was diagnosed with diabetes, told me "insulin is a hassle. Just feed her this WD kibble and she may live another 4 months, but she'll go blind and be disabled before that. Are you sure you don't want to just put her down today"?
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OMG! My situation wasn't quite that bad. When Jude was diagnosed, the vet tech showed me how to give him shots (no mention at all about tests), and after she finished I said, what can go wrong, because if it can go wrong, it will with me. She said, well, he could pass out when you give him his injection or at some point in the 12 hour cycle, and if he does, just rub a little honey on his gums. Something about that didn't settle well with me, so I left, started researching, and ended up here. Thank God!

Chris/China (GA)/Garfield said:
Hmmm....I wonder? We do have some human compounding pharmacies around but I don't know if pimobendan is something they carry. Worth a phone call though!
Click to expand...

Ours is a human pharmacy. The only thing is that I have to be super-duper careful with them to make sure none of their ingredients have any sugar. They are on the compounding page (making the ingredients into a liquid or transdermal, etc., but have a little problem with no sugary ingredients, and I have to stay on top of them about that.
 
Mary & Jude said:
OMG! My situation wasn't quite that bad. When Jude was diagnosed, the vet tech showed me how to give him shots (no mention at all about tests), and after she finished I said, what can go wrong, because if it can go wrong, it will with me. She said, well, he could pass out when you give him his injection or at some point in the 12 hour cycle, and if he does, just rub a little honey on his gums. Something about that didn't settle well with me, so I left, started researching, and ended up here. Thank God!



Ours is a human pharmacy. The only thing is that I have to be super-duper careful with them to make sure none of their ingredients have any sugar. They are on the compounding page (making the ingredients into a liquid or transdermal, etc., but have a little problem with no sugary ingredients, and I have to stay on top of them about that.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I couldn't get her out of there fast enough! Joined the board, started reading and asking questions. Switched her to low carb canned for a week or so and started testing but the diet change wasn't enough so I knew I needed insulin. Had already decided I wanted to use Lantus, so started calling around to different vets and found one willing to write the script (although he knew nothing about Lantus....they used Prozinc in their practice). Once I had that piece of paper in my hand, I didn't waste any time though! Knew I could get all the support I needed here. Back then, a vial of Lantus was $180 (a big hit to my budget) and it just got worse every time I needed a refill. Last time I got it locally, I got pens, but they were $380! That's when I found Marks Marine Pharmacy in Canada and started buying from them. Now with the Lantus Savings Card and the cooperation of my local town pharmacy, $35 is a whole lot better!

Called Walgreens (since they are open and although their website says the do compounded meds, the only one they do is Magic Mouthwash.. I don't think that'll help Garfield!...LOL) Asked if Pimobendan was even available and they said no. Evidently it's only available/approved in Japan for human men so if we continue on it, looks like Wedgewood is the only option....but again, not knowing for sure what we're dealing with makes it a tough decision whether to even bother or just titrate his insulin up to counter the lactose (but with his nadir's being generally OK, I'm hesitant to do that....but I will. I've gotten over any fear of low numbers between China and Garfield, especially knowing that as long as I'm testing, I can control it)
 
What an uncooperative vet. Will he/she write a script that you can send to the online pharmacy? Sorry he’s dealing with all this.
 
tiffmaxee said:
What an uncooperative vet. Will he/she write a script that you can send to the online pharmacy? Sorry he’s dealing with all this.
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Yes, but then we run into the problem that most online places call to confirm (even if you send them the written script) and so far, he's only written scripts for 30 days at a time.

From what I've heard, a lot of vets are doing these "prescription policies" now. Seems stupid to me (at least the reason mine is using)
 
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