A long introduction.

[Crazy Cat Lady]

Hey everyone. I was a member of this board a few months back when my kitty was newly diagnosed. It was so overwhelming mentally, financially and physically trying to get my little friend under control. Eventually I had to stop the round the clock testing, the back and forth with the money hungry vet, the financial strain that didn't have an end in sight in order to focus on my own health issues and take care of my body.

I stopped giving the insulin and started testing once or twice a week. Feeding decent quality low carb food, monitoring his weight and saw that he remained under 140 and the water bowl was hardly touched (where as before I was refilling an empty bowl at least three times a day but he would STILL constantly drink from the toilet). He also filled in nicely. Though not completely back to a healthy weight. I was happy that I didn't need to focus on him and stress him with what seemed like constant testing and injections. And I didn't have to stress myself worrying about him.

Boy was I wrong! Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I took in a litter of kittens as fosters. They had constant diarrhea and had to be put on medication and probiotics. This didn't help completely. I had to put them on a dry food temporarily as I transitioned them to soft which completely changed their bowel movements from liquid-y mashed potatoes (that tracked all over the apartment) to we'll formed solid poop. All was well.

One morning I woke up and it appeared as though my home was infested with rodents. The cabinet was opened, the bag of kitten kibble was on the floor with a huge hole and teeth marks all over it and there was crumbs every where. Suddenly it made sense. I went looking for the Kitty Crack addict and followed a trail of vomit to his favorite hiding spot. I checked his blood sugar and it was almost 400. But I knew, or at least I thought that after a few days on his regular food he would go back to normal. But he didn't. He stopped gromimg again. Drank water constantly again. Stopped chasing the laser pointer with the rest of the cats. Stopped laying in the window during the day aND just laid next to his water bowl ALL DAY LONG.

I knew that I would have to put him back on insulin. And find a way to balance his health care with my health care and my life. I knew that I could help him feel better.

He's back on the juice for 5 days now and I'm here for advice, comfort and perhaps forgiveness. I'm feeling rather guilty these days about his condition and watching him wither away in to skin and bones again isn't an option. I'm doing TR with Lantus. He seems to be responding well, but I'll post his last three days of tests if there's anyone who can take a look at it.

Thanks for reading my story. This is a wonderful place to come for comfort and to vent.

 

[Maggies Mom Debby]

No need to ask for forgiveness! You do what you can manage. And he sounds like he's good at finding contraband! I see a couple of possibilities going on here.

• Is he used to having fosters in the house? Could some of it be stress?
  
• Could he have caught whatever bug the kittens had? An illness can cause a higher bg.
  
• I think it can take a while for increases in bg caused by dry food to clear his system, though 5 days should be enough.

So, what can you do? Start testing and giving insulin, which you are doing. Get his stool tested if he shows signs of having what the kittens had. Lock up the dry food!

Others will be along with Lantus experience. Don't give up hope!

 

[Crazy Cat Lady]

Thanks! The dry food is kept in refrigerator now. He's used to fosters coming and going. It's what I have always done. He's feeling much better so far and I'm doubtful that he has an illness other than diabetes but it is a possibility. I posted his recent BG on the Lantus board. If anyone has time to take a look.

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

Thanks! The dry food is kept in refrigerator now. He's used to fosters coming and going. It's what I have always done. He's feeling much better so far and I'm doubtful that he has an illness other than diabetes but it is a possibility. I posted his recent BG on the Lantus board. If anyone has time to take a look.

We understand. Even though I do not have any sugar kitties right now, I have to keep the dog's dry food in the microwave to keep the cats from getting into it. They have already figured out how to open the pantry door and the refrigerator. So far the microwave door is the only one they have not figured out. They are just too smart for their own good.

 

[Maggies Mom Debby]

I know this is the Health Forum, not Community, but this You-Tube video says it all about not trusting your cat when they want a treat or dry food!

 

[Callie & Patches]

We have to keep the dog food in the oven. My DH keeps the big bags of cat food for the 3 civies in the garage. Our gang is really good at opening doors.