9/1 Gizzy... Looking for some encouragement

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pistull

pistull

Member Since 2011
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Hello Friends!

Gizzy's #'s continue to be on the high end...chalked up 2 more 500+ in the last 24 hours. I don't know what else to do for him. I started him on zennequin in case there was an infection, he got his adaquan shot in case the arthritis was bugging him...

I just really don't think it's a bounce. He's never bounced this high before or for so long. I think there is something else going on.

He's soooooo hungry and thirsty all the time because of the high #'s. Of course I don't want to feed him all day, because that will most likely keep his #'s high.... Yet, I don't want to deprive him either because it's what he needs.

He walks with his tail high, played with a string tonight with my girls and is pretty much following his usual routine. However, I can tell he's uncomfortable and tired and my mind is starting to go to a dark place. I can't even fathom the thought of losing him, yet I'm trying to do what's best for him (and not for my selfishness.)

But of course I keep thinking.....am I missing something really obvious and simple???? Anything else I should be checking??
 
I'm just grasping because I am by no means any sort of expert, but perhaps Gizzy is a high dose kitty...maybe acro or IAA??? Just something to consider testing for...

I hope you find the answers...

Amy
 
Lori -

If you think something is wrong, it's time for a vet appointment. I don't know that giving an antibiotic without a diagnosis is a good idea. It could end up masking the problem.

Gizzy may just need more insulin to break through and get to a good dose. One other thought, are you feeding only at shot time? If so, you may want to spread Gizzy's food out over the first half of the cycle.
 
I'm feeding at shot time and at +3.
Do you think I should move up to 2.25u in the morning?
As I mentioned, he had the sniffles a week ago, then our other cat broke his leg so he's been a little stressed about the goings on in our home (AS IS HIS MOTHER!!) I have 2 of them to worry about right now and I'm going a little nutty. nailbite_smile
 
It's early and I'm on my first cup of coffee, but I'm trying to send you some encouragement vines.
I see that he had a nice blue 174 a little bit ago. Perhaps he's coming out of a bounce.

I hope you see or feel something in your day today, that gives you hope that things will be okay.
 
Thank you Dyana!

I shot early last night and this morning to get back on schedule. Maybe that blue this morning means he does need more insulin? I'm going to go to 2.25u tonight and see what happens. Poor Gizzer....

With this blue # comes relief from all the crying for food and water. Thank Goodness....I forgot how difficult that is to endure 24/7!
 
Uh, it looks like you shot at +11 two cycles in a row. When you shoot early that's like a dose increase.
Are you going to be around today to monitor Gizzy?
 
Hey Lori, It can be really frustrating when you don't know what's going on. I'm having that now with Rusty, too (but not to the extent that you have with Gizzy). I think Sienne is right that you should have your vet check out Gizzy for any infections or whatever that might be keeping his numbers high. At least it will set your mind at ease if you know what the problem might be.
Anyway, I'm sending ENCOURAGEMENT!! Sorry to hear that your other kitty has a broken leg and sending healing vines that it will knit fast and well.

Try to have a good weekend!!

Ella & Rusty
 
how long since he's had a dental? perhaps there's some teeth issues that's causing an increase in his numbers?

i don't know, but i can send some encouragement. sounds like it is time to check in with the vet, or to increase his dose following the protocol til you get a breakthrough. seems like others have to do that occasionally, even with a long-term "good" dose. i also would not give an AB without knowing for certain what you're giving it for.

hang in there! i'm thinking how lucky gizzy is to have you as The Mom! cat_pet_icon
 
I truly do know how you feel right now. Champ and I are going through higher than normal numbers, too. He's had blood work drawn three times in a month and everything always comes back excellent so who knows what's going on?!! Sometimes the kitties just need more juice I guess. There's a saying that sometimes you need to increase the dose in order to decrease it and it does seem to work. You're way more patient than me when it comes to dosing. To be honest, with numbers as high as Gizzy gets, I would be very strict with following the protocol and raise his dose every three days (as long as he's not bouncing). The protocol says 3-5 days, but with numbers as high as he's throwing, I think I'd increase every three. Champ's been as high as 3.75u and then come all the way down to 0.5. We're now heading back up. It's frustrating, but I guess we just have to deal!! Good luck!!
 
He had a dental last October. (which is when all the "fun" began - when the feline herpes entered the picture)
He has the red line on his gums, so most likely it is something teeth related. How do you guys keep your cat's teeth clean when feeding wet food?
 
there are several people on here who brush their cat's teeth - i haven't tackled that one yet, though. i understand it's a myth that dry food "cleans" their teeth. most of them just swallow it whole. i was just reading something that said the high sugar in their mouths is what makes dental problems so common in diabetic cats.
 
:YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG: Gizzy may need more insulin or it could be stress or an infection. Infections can come on suddenly so the tests a month and a half ago would not necessarily have shon anything. What did they say about his teeth? The red line on the gums is gingivitis and that's an infection.

Tess used to need dentals every year. I am one who brushes teeth (although I admit I am not as diligent about it as I should be) and it does help. it's been a year and a half now and she may finally be due again. I'm not seeing the red gums, but I can see a little plaque. This site has a good step by step approach to brushing and a good video. http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/pet/fhc/brushing_teeth
 
Hi Lori
I could not help but post when I saw your subject line.
You have been given great advice and you are the only one that knows Gizzy the best so if you
think something is not right then a vet visit is a good idea.

How about you have a look at my Max's ss for some encouragment?? :-D
We went up to 6u and then we broke.
Max rewrote some of the rules over here on the board and so many times I just cried because he was
not getting better.
I was told by so many here that he just needed more insulin and whatever that number was, it was.
You are in a great place. Just hang in.
 
Thank you all so much!! Gizzy had a beautiful blue day today!!
I'll continue to watch him tonight due to the 2 pre-shots....but I'm currently loving this surf!
I do think it's his teeth. I chipped off some tartar today with my fingernails. I'm gonna get after a little more tonight. Giz is very excited about that! HA!
 
Lori: Just offering support and encouragement. And sending hugs.

I brush my kittys' teeth by putting some poultry flavored CET on a QTip and just rubbing it on their and gum line. They all tolerate it very well. Also, my Tobey has herpes...manifests in his eye but he also gets snuffly from it and has a red line along his gums even tho his teeth are clean. We had him tested for Feline bartonella and it came back negative. Vets think it's the herpes.....
 
Marjorie - I would love to talk to you more about the herpes and what you do to prevent flare-ups. Gizzy isn't as affected by it, but our other cat, Myles, is. Right now I'm doing 1000mg of Lysine/day. It really does nothing for him. I'm very intrigued by essential oils and I'm meeting with a vet that practices eastern "medicine" next week to discuss what herbs/oils may be beneficial to him. There is a local vet that put out this webinar today - very interesting! http://www.mywebevent.com/MxSH32R0MvzQ7SPA7vr5 She comes highly recommended by several of my cat friends!
 
Lori: Tobey does pretty well on 1000mg L-lysine (Viralys) a day. If we think he's going to have something stressful come up, I give him famvir oral anti-viral for a few days. I do have an holistic vet but Eastern medicine hasn't helped him and I'm always a little leery of essential oils with cats....they can be very toxic and so I just avoid them. But herbs....definitely if you can find one that helps. Also...perhaps acupuncture if it's bad?

I'll be interested in what the vet says if you go to her. Thanks for the link!!!
 
Marje - I have not tried the Viralys Lysine. I ordered it from Amazon yesterday. Do any stores carry it?? Myles is soooo bad today - he has it in both eyes today (goopy,red and runny)! Nice visual - huh? I feel so sorry for him and would like to get him on it asap! I just use a lysine I buy at Walgreens....I'm hoping the Viralys will pack more of a punch! Where do you get your famvir? I had him on Famcyclavir for a week and that didn't do anything. Is that the same thing? Sorry for all the questions!! Nice to "talk" to someone else who deals with this!! :) Happy Sunday!
 
One additional consideration is to not let Gizzy sit at a dose overly long. She was at 2.0u for some time. Cats can get "used" to being in higher numbers and it gets harder for the insulin to do it's job if the cat's body is interpreting higher numbers as normal. Please evaluate Gizzy's dose after 3 days if the numbers don't stay in the blues. If they are in the 100s or lower, re-evaluate after 5 days.
 
Yup, I sure will watch him more closely. I was a little reoccupied with my other meow over those days. Never a dull moment.
We are on a good ride right now - hope it keeps up!
 
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