8/3 Pumpkin/need dosing expert

[KAC]

Ok, I'm back to work tomorrow after 6 months at home. Pumpkin seems to have leveled out from his bounce this weekend..............Now this is where I need the experts........My vet is great, I even have his cell number..............but he has not had a cat react the way Pumpkin has so he is at a little bit of a loss with what is going on.

Here is my question to the experts........When I talk to him today.................
Looking at the SS and numbers, should we stay at 6 units a little longer or go up in dosage.
If we should go up, by how much is the best suggestion.......... .25 or .50.
His numbers are still high but I don't want to make him bounce as bad as he did this weekend.....
Wes (vet) is open to information and suggestions.
I don't have syringes that measure that small, I'll have to find some.
Thank you so much for the help

 

[Wendy&Neko]

First step is to get some syringes with 1/2 unit markings. Since you are in the US, take a look at the list of available brands in the Syringe Info Sticky Note. At short notice, you can get the Relion brand from Walmart. I have no idea if you need a prescription from the vet for syringes where you live - I don't. That's a question for your vet.

It is time for a dose increase, as you've had six cycles at this dose so the depot is established, and from your testing we can tell he's not diving low somewhere - so he needs more insulin. I would suggest 6.5 units next, but obviously you'll need the half unit markings on the syringes. The other option that might work, depending on the syringes you are using is to use calipers. Here is a post on how people use calipers for dosing.

I'm trying to remember, is he on just the Fancy Feast or other low carb wet or raw food now? If so, I would strongly recommend you try following the Tight Regulation Protocol for dosing. For cats on higher doses, it allows you to increase faster and in larger amounts to get to better numbers faster. Yet more reading, a useful post on doing Tight Regulation with a full time job.

And finally, once a cat gets up to six units, we do strongly suggest they get their cat tested for a couple of secondary endocrine conditions that can cause a cat to need higher doses. The two conditions are acromegaly and IAA (insulin auto antibodies). My girl cat had both conditions, some have one or the other. One in four diabetic cats has acromegaly, which is caused by a benign pituitary tumour that sends out excess growth hormone. Tests for both conditions involve getting a blood draw sent to Michigan State University. Once you know if there are one of those conditions present, it can change dosing strategies and there are some ways to treat acromegaly if present.

Here is the link to yesterday's post here, for continuity.