Away from home and stressed about sick sugar kitty

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lovetheduns

lovetheduns

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Hello

I know I have not posted in awhile but I am sitting in a hotel in Boston and just worried sick. My work has me traveling ALOT domestically and internationally. My mother lives with me so she gets to take care of my Little boy while I am away.

Tonight she called and said at 2pm DoDo (Little Boy) was at 292. Then when she tested him before dinner he was at 57 :shock:

She said around an hour before dinner he threw up a freeze dried chicken treat. He asked for supper but as soon as she out it down he decided he didn't want it. She then gave him some Hill's AD (kitty crack) and he sniffed and refused.

I told her to rub some Caro in his gums--- he fought her so no telling how much he actually ingested. He did test at 64 45 minutes later.

She said he has some lighter colored diarrheas and some darker color in his litter box. He also just threw up a few minutes ago. I have asked her to take his blood but she is working (although she works from home so she is in the room with him).

DoDo had a bought of DKA months ago and has been doing well. Super healthy appetite. He eats canned Mixed Grill Sophisticat (as do my other kitties no other illnesses). I am so worried he is having a bout of pancreatitis or something else aka the dreaded DKA. It seems just like how he acted when he had to go into the hospital the last time although he his blood sugars were over 400 then.

I don't leave until 7am tomorrow so I'm just highly anxious.
:cry:
 
Hi,

Still processing your post, but want you to know that I am here....take a deeep breath and let it out...

Ok, what insulin has DoDo been on?

Roberta
 
Mom just checked him. He is now at 230. Still not eating. Although he came to her twice when called.

We normally dose around 7pm. He gets a very skinny 3G of Prozinc.

She is going to check him in another hour. If he is higher (assuming he has had a sugar spike) should we give him any insulin?
 
my Casey bear said:
Hi,

Still processing your post, but want you to know that I am here....take a deeep breath and let it out...

Ok, what insulin has DoDo been on?

Roberta
Click to expand...

Prozinc skinny 3.0u twice a day.

This morning he was normal with pre shots in the high 200s.

Ate his breakfast no signs of anything wrong. He is a tough one. Usually goes down to shy of 150 for his nadirs, pre shots usually mid 300s and every once In awhile he will throw a BG in the 60s 70s at nadir.
 
I do not know anything about prozinc, but I am sending a link of your post to the ProZinc ISG to get you some help.
 
Thanks.

I tell you we have been sailing along and if he could have just held out until I get home at around 11am tomorrow morning. I wish I could have changed my flight to get home to him. :-|
 
I know it is tough to be away, especially when they are not feeling well. I have linked this thread to the PZI ISG, so more eyes will be on this post. Hang in there...
 
Thank you. You are right it is very stressful to be away. I worry about him constantly and I think my mom and I talk about him more than anything else. Our text messages are always about his BG and eating. Lol

I just want to hurry and be back home in case we need to run to the vet.
 
my Casey bear said:
I think you could use a few of these right know, while waiting for answers... :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:
Click to expand...

You are too kind!!

I am going to have my mom call our vet in the morning. Unfortunately even though the clinic is 24 hours as it has an ER component, they can not view the specialist calendars (my boy sees the internist who got him through his DKA and other issues post DKA). I will be on the plane but hopefully she can see him tomorrow if we are going through another bout of pancreatitis.

My mom is scared to give him any insulin to tonight without him eating but I just remember how that started the downward spiral of his DKA episode.
 
Hi! Sorry DoDo is having problems. I got a little confused on the numbers - where in the cycle was the 57? You are thinking that is because he is not eating? Especially with a DKA history you do want to go ahead and give a shot even if they are not eating, but possibly not the full dose. One thing I have heard is to give 1/2 dose, but I'm not sure that is optimal, just a guideline in the absense of knowing what else to do. It looks like your SS is from last year? I am hesitant to give much dosing advice without knowing more, but roughly I would consider maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of a regular dose? I don't have any DKA experience.
 
Joanna & Bix (GA) said:
Hi! Sorry DoDo is having problems. I got a little confused on the numbers - where in the cycle was the 57? You are thinking that is because he is not eating? Especially with a DKA history you do want to go ahead and give a shot even if they are not eating, but possibly not the full dose. One thing I have heard is to give 1/2 dose, but I'm not sure that is optimal, just a guideline in the absense of knowing what else to do. It looks like your SS is from last year? I am hesitant to give much dosing advice without knowing more, but roughly I would consider maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of a regular dose? I don't have any DKA experience.
Click to expand...

The sheet is not up to date. I travel extensively (home two weeks out of the month sometimes less) so we keep a tracker on my mom's IPhone and fridge.

The 57 BG was prety much at 12 hours. It was his PMPS

The 292 was at +7 hours. So he went down to 57 in the remaining five hours which is really strange.

He would normally get 3u although a very skinny 3u. I was thinking that if he is still in the 230s or higher that we give a healthy 1u even if he hasn't eaten. One thing that his specialist cautioned with his DKA episode last year was that the going the almost 48 hours (I was away) with no insulin and a zooming BG put him over the edge during his pancreatitisc attack last year. She said even if not eating he should have gotten some insulin although maybe not the full dose.
 
I'm glad Joanna checked in. I also tried to look at your SS but there is no recent history. I don't have DKA experience either, but my cat has pancreatitis. I've seen yellowish stools when she's had attacks in the past, though usually they are more when her IBD is involved too and I don't think she's digesting food as well as she normally would. I'd think though given the past history of DKA that as long as DoDo's blood glucose is rising it would be good to give at least some insulin. Normally when my cat's pancreatitis is kicking up her appetite goes off and her glucose gets pretty high or at least very unpredictable. It really is hard to say what could be going on with DoDo, but if you'll be back tomorrow morning I'd definitely suggest taking him in to the vet if he's still not eating or at least get your mom to take him to the clinic.

Can your mom try giving him something else to perk up his interest in food? When Shaikha is having pancreatitis, she gets really nauseated. Do you have any meat baby food (no onions!) or other type of food to give him? If your mom is willing (and DoDo is cooperative), she can take the a/d and put it on her finger to try to get him to eat. I sometimes hand feed Shaikha small bits by finger when her appetite is off by either putting it in her mouth directly or letting her nibble it off my hand directly. It takes a long time, but at least you get food in. Sometimes just getting a little bit of food in their mouth is enough to get them interested in eating.
 
wombat88 said:
I'm glad Joanna checked in. I also tried to look at your SS but there is no recent history. I don't have DKA experience either, but my cat has pancreatitis. I've seen yellowish stools when she's had attacks in the past, though usually they are more when her IBD is involved too and I don't think she's digesting food as well as she normally would. I'd think though given the past history of DKA that as long as DoDo's blood glucose is rising it would be good to give at least some insulin. Normally when my cat's pancreatitis is kicking up her appetite goes off and her glucose gets pretty high or at least very unpredictable. It really is hard to say what could be going on with DoDo, but if you'll be back tomorrow morning I'd definitely suggest taking him in to the vet if he's still not eating or at least get your mom to take him to the clinic.

Can your mom try giving him something else to perk up his interest in food? When Shaikha is having pancreatitis, she gets really nauseated. Do you have any meat baby food (no onions!) or other type of food to give him? If your mom is willing (and DoDo is cooperative), she can take the a/d and put it on her finger to try to get him to eat. I sometimes hand feed Shaikha small bits by finger when her appetite is off by either putting it in her mouth directly or letting her nibble it off my hand directly. It takes a long time, but at least you get food in. Sometimes just getting a little bit of food in their mouth is enough to get them interested in eating.
Click to expand...

When your baby is having a bout does her poo have a horrendous odor? My mom said the smell will knock you out. She tried to put some AD in his mouth and he wasn't feeling it. She said he is also walking like his rear is sore (I am thinking he has a full on belly ache). She said she will try again and she did get his freeze dried chicken out but he spit it out.

She is due to test him in another fifteen minutes. If he is higher or the same, I'm going to say to give him a nice solid unit maybe even slightly over. I do plan on getting him to the vet in the morning. I think it makes the most sense in case he has a UTI or sthg else going on too.
 
You said he threw up a chicken treat before dinner, then wouldn't eat dinner, then she tried Kitty Crack, which he also refused.
What would the "normal" dinner have been? And did he eat a good breakfast (and what would that have been). I'm hoping it is something as simple as there was something wrong with what he ate for breakfast, and he can't keep anything down so won't try. And maybe that also caused the problems with the "other end" and the smelly poop.

Carl
 
carlinsc said:
You said he threw up a chicken treat before dinner, then wouldn't eat dinner, then she tried Kitty Crack, which he also refused.
What would the "normal" dinner have been? And did he eat a good breakfast (and what would that have been). I'm hoping it is something as simple as there was something wrong with what he ate for breakfast, and he can't keep anything down so won't try. And maybe that also caused the problems with the "other end" and the smelly poop.

Carl
Click to expand...

Hi

Dodo ate his normal breakfast. It is the advised amount of the Mixed Grill Sophisticat wet food. We chose it off of the Binky chart. We also mix warm water in it always to give him extra fluid.

He gets a chicken treat after every blood test.

Dinner would have been the same. We feed the same to all kitties by mixing the cans with the water. No one else is sick.
 
Another thought...
Anyway your Mom can get a look inside his mouth? Like maybe swollen or iritated gums, or maybe a cut inside his mouth that's just making it painful to try to eat? I had a kitty that got a sand spur on his paw, cleaned it off with his tongue, then it got imbedded in the roof of his mouth. Took up a couple hours to figure out, and he put up a fierce fight when we managed to extract it.
Carl
 
carlinsc said:
Another thought...
Anyway your Mom can get a look inside his mouth? Like maybe swollen or iritated gums, or maybe a cut inside his mouth that's just making it painful to try to eat? I had a kitty that got a sand spur on his paw, cleaned it off with his tongue, then it got imbedded in the roof of his mouth. Took up a couple hours to figure out, and he put up a fierce fight when we managed to extract it.
Carl
Click to expand...

I will ask her when I talk to her. She is working and can only take a few breaks.
 
I know that doesn't explain his numbers, but I'm looking for a reason he won't eat that doesn't include pancreatitus...
Carl
 
He was at 292 at +7, dropped to 57 at +12, but is back up to 230ish at +14, right? Could the 57 just be a fluke, bad test strip, or other sort of glitch?
Carl
 
So maybe we are improving somewhat.

Mom called and said he was at 340.

So she is going to give 1.5 units just to be safe and conservative.

She said he asked for his chicken treat after this test and ate it!

She is going to try and feed him his sophisticat meal and if he refuses that she will try his kitty crack AD food (small serving).

She will call in another hour or so although she may wait when she gets off of work at 1am since she has been taking so much time off of the phone (she works at home customer service for an airline).
 
carlinsc said:
He was at 292 at +7, dropped to 57 at +12, but is back up to 230ish at +14, right? Could the 57 just be a fluke, bad test strip, or other sort of glitch?
Carl
Click to expand...

No I dont think so. When she gave him a little bit of Caro he went up to 64 on another strip within 30minutes or so.
 
Another update.

Mom gave him his regular meal he acted excited then took about five licks and then decided he was done, she tried Hills AD (his kitty crack food) and he was not interested, she said he then went and laid down and preened a little.

She is trying to get off work early so we can keep watching him with an eagle eye.

She said she gave him just a little more than 1.5units it was definitely less than 2.
 
lovetheduns said:
When your baby is having a bout does her poo have a horrendous odor? My mom said the smell will knock you out. She tried to put some AD in his mouth and he wasn't feeling it. She said he is also walking like his rear is sore (I am thinking he has a full on belly ache). She said she will try again and she did get his freeze dried chicken out but he spit it out.

She is due to test him in another fifteen minutes. If he is higher or the same, I'm going to say to give him a nice solid unit maybe even slightly over. I do plan on getting him to the vet in the morning. I think it makes the most sense in case he has a UTI or sthg else going on too.
Click to expand...

That smell is pretty typical of IBD. When my cat's poo turns puddly or odd colors and starts smelling a lot I know we've got a problem. It sounds like DoDo may be having some GI issues given what you describe. IBD is pretty common with pancreatitis cats, so it would not be out of the question. Your vet should be able to do an evaluation that will let you know for sure.
 
Well. I guess in this case you can call a 340 welcome news. That's just a bizzare "curve" between +7 and +15 or so. She didn't happen to test between AMPS and +7 by any chance did she?

You have a good night's sleep so you can get up at the crack of dawn and fly home. Of course, as soon as you get there, everything will be perfect, and he'll look at you like "see what happens when you go to Boston? You better have brought me some treats!"

Keep us posted on your numbers once you get home, and especially if you find out if there's an issues.

Carl in SC
 
carlinsc said:
Well. I guess in this case you can call a 340 welcome news. That's just a bizzare "curve" between +7 and +15 or so. She didn't happen to test between AMPS and +7 by any chance did she?

You have a good night's sleep so you can get up at the crack of dawn and fly home. Of course, as soon as you get there, everything will be perfect, and he'll look at you like "see what happens when you go to Boston? You better have brought me some treats!"

Keep us posted on your numbers once you get home, and especially if you find out if there's an issues.

Carl in SC
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I am not sure what they were. She didn't touch base with me until he vomited the chicken treat and was so low at his PMPS.

I won't be able to sleep much tonight. My mom said she won't be able to either.

I will make a trip to the vet just in case and it would be my luck that I will get home and he is perfectly normal!
 
lovetheduns said:
I am not sure what they were. She didn't touch base with me until he vomited the chicken treat and was so low at his PMPS.

I won't be able to sleep much tonight. My mom said she won't be able to either.

I will make a trip to the vet just in case and it would be my luck that I will get home and he is perfectly normal!
Click to expand...

A thought just occurred to me, you said he was eating fine until he threw up the freeze dried chicken treat. Did it have any sharp edges when it came up that could have scratched his throat or something??

And as for the dip in the curve... Had it been during that time of the decent that he was not eating, eating less food than normal my cause the BG to be lower too, the start to rise again do to the insulin waring off?

Roberta
 
my Casey bear said:
lovetheduns said:
I am not sure what they were. She didn't touch base with me until he vomited the chicken treat and was so low at his PMPS.

I won't be able to sleep much tonight. My mom said she won't be able to either.

I will make a trip to the vet just in case and it would be my luck that I will get home and he is perfectly normal!
Click to expand...

A thought just occurred to me, you said he was eating fine until he threw up the freeze dried chicken treat. Did it have any sharp edges when it came up that could have scratched his throat or something??

And as for the dip in the curve... Had it been during that time of the decent that he was not eating, eating less food than normal my cause the BG to be lower too, the start to rise again do to the insulin waring off?

Roberta
Click to expand...

Hi Roberta

Usually the freeze dried chickens are not hard they are semi firm and more flaky than anything, but I won't say that it could not have been sharp. My mom said he threw it up after about 15-20 minutes,

We do t feed him throughout the day except for chicken treats when he is tested. So he was low just before dinner and had not eaten since 7am.

Hope that helps.

Btw my name is Christina, :)
 
Oh, well...It was an idea....

I am not coming up with any other ideas that my explain what may be going on, but then again...we are talking about cats, they can just be fickle like that. lol

Have faith that all will be well and you with be home with your baby before too long. I know sleep is difficult to find right now, but as long as you try to rest; you will need the energy for DoDo in the morning.

You, DoDo, and your mom will be in my thoughts and prayers...

Roberta
and Casey

And here are a feew more of these until you can hug your baby... :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:
 
my Casey bear said:
Oh, well...It was an idea....

I am not coming up with any other ideas that my explain what may be going on, but then again...we are talking about cats, they can just be fickle like that. lol

Have faith that all will be well and you with be home with your baby before too long. I know sleep is difficult to find right now, but as long as you try to rest; you will need the energy for DoDo in the morning.

You, DoDo, and your mom will be in my thoughts and prayers...

Roberta
and Casey

And here are a feew more of these until you can hug your baby... :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:
Click to expand...

My mom called and said he nibbled some more food and it is staying down so far.

I'm going to nap and speak to her in another hour or two..

Thanks again.
 
Christina, I remember you and DoDo from the PZI ISG. I'm sorry you're going through this and being away doesn't help at all. I hope DoDo feels better today. Keep us posted.
:YMHUG: cat_pet_icon
 
So I just landed on my phone right now. My mom said DoDo was AMPS 454 and he fussed for breakfast though could not be bothered to eat it. When she fed the others he thought he had eaten some but hard to tell. She said he eats his freeze dried chicken and wants more of that. Last time once he had a flare up of pancreattist he hated that other food so on my way home I will pick up a new flavor
 
UPDATED: Little DoDo

So-- when I checked him about an hour ago he was 300.

I stopped by Pet Smart and got some different canned foods Sophisticat Turkey and Giblets, Blue Spa canned chicken, Wellness Chicken, and Innova Low Calorie Chicken (I didnt have the Binky list handy but read these ingredients to make sure they were not very scary carb laden foods).

When I got home he gladly ate about 2 tbsp of the Blue Spa and a freeze dried chicken. He has continued to have some loose stools-- will NOT eat his former canned food-- but this happened in his last flare up-- he associated that flavor with hurting him.

He is up in his cat tree napping--- and he will ONLY get up there if he is not feeling so bad since he has to jump and climb a pole. Tonight I will be buying more ketostix (mine i feel have been opened too long to be valid) and trying to get a sample.

Other than that-- I will check him in the next hour for another BG reading.
 
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