6 Days to Go!

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moof86

moof86

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Everything is in place and I am bringing Morky home on Thursday the 22nd of September. I've already got my test strips and my new Accu Check Aviva Nano is in the mail. Now I'm just trying to figure out how to coordinate him coming home and starting up our dance routine as it were.

I am planning on switching him over to a low carb wet food diet (gradually of course!), but after my conversations with the shelter and the vet he's currently with, they are absolutely sold on Hills MD for him and I am definitely not (in both their words, this is the only food he's allowed to have for the rest of his life. Nothing else!). With previous kitties, I could ignore their reccomendations for food, as they didn't have on-going medication that a change in food would drastically affect the dosing of. I don't want to do the switch over on my own, as that would be foolish, but I have absolutely no intention on carrying on with the Hills, when I know there's better stuff out there that is far kinder to my pocket book.

Which rather brings me to where I'm at at the moment. Because Morky has been in the shelter for nearly 2 years, I don't want to seem cheeky by stepping on toes with either them or the vet in regards to his present care. And on the phone with the vet today, I struggled to get a word in edgewise and when I was trying to describe my schedule for the next week, she heard what she wanted to hear and disregarded me attempting to correct her. Small things, but maybe I'm over sensitive.

Through my research here, I know that he can be treated more effectively by changing his diet and starting home monitoring. It might be easier to look for a vet who hasn't been involved and who I know will work with me without any previous history with Morky, but on the other hand, 2 years experience with him is not to be discarded either.

Ack, I'm rambling. Long story short, any tips of working with vets and how to handle sticky situations. I would be firmer if it were my exisiting cat who was then diagnosed, but because I'm coming at this from a slightly different angle, I'm worried (worried also they'll decide I'm not managing him in the way they would prefer and take him off me . . . but that's me being paranoid, I'm sure).

This is coming up quick and I want to do the very best I can by this kitty, he absolutely deserves it. Just trying to figure out the best way to handle this. Sorry if this is making little sense. :/
 
I understand wanting to be diplomatic. Is there anything in the adoption agreement that would give them the right to take him back if you don't do it their way? If not, one option is to just smile, nod your head, and when you get home do it your way, starting with home testing, then adding in the dietary changes slowly.

Another option is to educate the vet, tactfully of course! "I was wondering if you'd seen this article by feline diabetes expert, Dr Janis Rand?" and then hand it to the vet.

Lantus/Levemir testing & dosing protocol Roomp & Rand
 
Thanks BJM! I've not signed anything just yet, so I'm not sure, though nothing has been mentioned, probably me worrying, but I suppose these sorts of things have happened! Those are some great articles as well, I'll read through them tonight and get them printed for when I visit the vet.

I can't wait to get him home, I'm the kind of person where I can only cram in so much information before it's time to start putting it into practice to get the actual flow down. Bit disappointed, had rather hoped to have him home over the weekend to start building a routine, but nope, go day is thursday, right after work, baptism by fire as they say!
 
The way I would approach the food issue is the same way I did with my vet. When Bob came home after his dx, I got some Hill's M/D dry and wet from the vet. Pretty expensive. Bob would eat the dry, but only ate the wet for a couple days, then didn't want it anymore. At the same time, I was shown Janet and Binky's canned food lists (see my sig for a link to those), and learned here about the importance of a low-carb all canned diet for diabetic cats. I printed the charts out, and when I had to bring Bob back to the vet a few days afterward because he wasn't eating, I brought the lists with me.
First, ask your vet why DM is best for Morky. He will most likely tell you it is because it is "high protein low-carb" food, and that is what sugarcats need. Tell him thank you for explaining that. (oh, before you go, find the DM food on the lists and highlight the protein and carb numbers.)
Then take out your list, and show him the dozens of less expensive, easily available canned foods that are actually higher in protein and lower in carbs than the DM is. Using the vet's logic, ask him if it would be better to feed Morky THOSE foods? He'll probably tell you that the DM "has higher quality ingredients", or maybe he'll do what my vet did, which was to look at me, and the charts, and the M/D numbers, and say "wow, I think that would be a great idea to try".
I highly doubt that after you take Morky home, they are going to check up on you to make sure you're feeding him what they insisit upon. Nor do I think that they will stop you from home testing if you show him the information BJM linked you to.

If worse comes to worst, you don't have to tell them anything. The next time Morky is due for a checkup (they'll probably want you to bring him in to have his BG checked), bring a printout of your spreadsheet from hometesting with you, and tell them, "I don't need you to check him, these are his numbers for the past week(s)." and "oh, and he wouldn't eat that DM food, so I bought him ___________ instead, and he loves it! And could I please get my money back for the food he refused to eat?"

When they see the proof that he has improved, and that you are doing perfectly fine hometesting and treating him, they'll probably be overjoyed, and perhaps the next person who takes in a sugarcat from them,they'll suggest a "new way "(that you have shown them works.)
I have seen lots of people post here that the easiest way to handle a vet who is not telling you something you want to hear, or isn't hearing what you are saying, is to nod your head a lot, say "uh-huh" "ok" and "great" a lot, then go home and do it the way you want to. That way you don't make the relationship antagonistic. You will eventually probably need their help with some kind of issue, and trying to preserve an ongoing two year relationship would be the best way to go if at all possible.
Best of luck and I know you are counting the hours till Morky gets to his furever home!
Carl in SC
 
Someone told me this when I was tussling with my original vets and I have heard it so many times since here .... smile, be pleasant BUT you have the cat! no one can make you do anything. Research, learn and do it the way you feel will work for your kitty, not the vet ....

I know that had I listened and done what our original vet wanted us to do my Payne would have been dead long ago. Feed dry, don't test, don't learn .... what stupid advice and anyone who gives it? I have had four vets tell me Payne would not survive, but what I have learned here .... has been so illuminating! that I finally figured it out with a lot of help!! Keep fighting for your kit and you are a good person for taking him in!

Nancy and Payne
(who finally found the forever vet :)
 
I like BJM's just "smile, nod your head" comment.
I hate it that the vet doesn't seem to listen to you. I guess they are used to being overbearing.
When dealing with vets, please remember that they are being paid to serve you and your cat.
But, I wouldn't advise risking the adoption of the cat. Just "smile, and nod" :-D If the vet seems interested in learning, then you can help him/her to learn.

We are excited for you. :razz:

Who is the cat in your avatar?
 
I'm definitely leaning towards smile and nod at this point. I think they're sending Morky home with some food (and they mentioned stocking up on insulin for him before he goes, wahoo!) so I'll just use that while I'm getting him switched over, the proof of course is in the pudding and I would love to go back to the vet with my numbers and hopefully a thriving kitty and bring him round. As I've recently moved to Belfast, I'm still in the market for a vet for my other kitty (Mrs Treacle) so if they're willing to work with me, they'll have a good client.

But agreed, the best approach for the moment is just go with the flow and once he's home, start testing/tracking and getting him onto some better food. I like that approach with the food Carl! It's hard to argue the numbers, I just wish vets didn't benefit from selling food through their practice! But that's a rant for another day!

Wow, thanks again for the input, this is the first of many little panics I've had regarding this adoption. No doubts in my mind or heart though. And everyone at the CP and the vets are really excited to see him being adopted, I think they're equally as nervous as they really do want a forever home for him.

And that's Morky him self in the avatar, went and visited him the other day and he came out for a play. He's a bit hesitant about walking around, quite happy to sit most of the time (shelter mentioned his back legs have been giving him a bit of trouble, but will be keeping an eye on that.) But despite his age, still wants to play and is just a sweetie (in more ways than one!) The sooner he's out of that pen the better! But genuinely, from the bottom of my heart, this forum has really put my mind at ease.

And cause she hasn't been getting much attention, the apple of her daddy's eye, Mrs Treacle :)
 

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Back legs giving a bit of trouble ?!?!? Walking on his hocks ?

Could be due to diabetic neuropathy...from poor regulation and
letting the BG be too high.

Glad you will be taking Morky under your wing.

GET HIM HOME....then get all the help you can handle, here.
 
Karen & Smokey(GA) said:
Back legs giving a bit of trouble ?!?!? Walking on his hocks ?

Could be due to diabetic neuropathy...from poor regulation and
letting the BG be too high.

Glad you will be taking Morky under your wing.

GET HIM HOME....then get all the help you can handle, here.
Click to expand...


I had a feeling that could be the case when it was mentioned to me and when I saw him moving about. Poor wee thing, Thursday is the earliest I can go get him (CPs orders, not mine, I would have picked up today if I could), but hopefully nothing worsens. I'll go pay him another visit this weekend and see how he's getting on.

If it is diabetic neuropathy, how can I be certain and what can be done to improve it? To be honest, for as long as he's been in a shelter, he's doing remarkably well, he's a fighter, that's for sure. And the Cats Protection in Belfast are brilliant, certainly can't downplay the hard work they have to do.
 
A lot of times, just the control of the diabetes will lessen or erase the neuropathy. I think Methyl B-12 is something used by many to help with that condition too.

Carl
 
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