6/15 Fred's Update

[Kathleen and Fred]

Hi! Back again for our weekly update.

I tried to get a few more tests in this week. Tiring to push things a little because I have an up-coming problem.

I have to be away from home at the beginning of August (1st weekend) from Thursday evening until Sunday night. I really don't want Fred to be locked away at the vet all that time. If I could get him OTJ my neighbor could just feed him. OR if I could get him to a point where I could pre-fill the syringes with a pre-set amount (mid range dose), she could just feed and shoot him and he could stay home with Bella. If he has to go in, it would have to be at the Emergency vet, because the regular one doesn't have staff on hand to give shots Sat and Sun.

That's what is facing me and I just don't know the best way to handle it. Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks from Fred & Kathleen

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

What beautiful blues! I think I'd stick with this scale a little longer and see if he drops lower.

You might see if one of the vet techs would be willing to come in twice daily and test, give shots. They don't get paid terribly well and sometimes appreciate a little extra money. It isn't a good idea to preload the syringes as the insulin can deteroriate . If you have to have your neighbor shoot, you could mark the syringe with a permanent marker or tape so she'd be able to pull up the insulin to the right spot?

 

[Kathleen and Fred]

Thanks, Sue. I like this scale, too. Also, I'm cutting out his 10pm snack. He now gets snacks at 2pm and 2am - that's +7 at both ends. (Yes, I'm up for a potty trip!). He only get a tablespoon of food each time, but cutting out that extra snack may help him to lose just a tad more (now 16 lbs) and help those preshot numbers. Plus, he won't get snacks while I'm away unless someone leaves him a Popsicle.

I think a little food throughout the day has helped him, but I don't want to overdo it. I may increase the two snacks just a little to keep his BGs more even. He pretends he's starving!!

Yep, the blues look good to me, too! Not too far back we were looking at a sea of red. He'll be 15 this summer and his back left leg is still stiff from that episode last February - wonder if nerves were affected from diabetes? His numbers were high then. But all in all - with the help of everyone here, he seems to be cranking along. Hope to get a few more miles out of the old boy before we both head over to the Bridge!

Thanks