Cat not eating, give reduced amount of insulin?

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Pringles

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Pringles over the last few days seemed to be eating less. This seems to have started about 3-4 days ago and seems to progressively be getting worse. I gave her a shot this morning, but now this but after leaving for work I got concerned because I didn't see her actually eat any solid food. I did give her some tuna juice this morning, which she drank. I actually came home from work at lunch time because I was concerned her blood sugar would be low, but she was at 287 and then ate some baby food - this was at +6.... She is on Humulin. She looks like she has lost weight and I can feel her spine on her back. She is drinking plenty of water. She was just fine 2 weeks ago when she went to the vet, so I'm not sure what is going on. She seems weak and her back legs seem stiff. Any advice if I should continue to give her a smaller dose that I know would be safe, or should I skip?

I do plan on taking her to the vet tomorrow.

*Note - Pringles did get a dental and 2 tooth extractions approximately 2 weeks ago and they gave her Covenia. I know it was mentioned that this could cause serious problems, but wasn't sure if this was maybe just due to tooth pain from the extractions, or if it could related to the Covenia?

Thanks,
Amanda
 
Hi Amanda,

I'm not sure I can offer much except keep monitoring BG levels and perhaps cut that dose in half if your cat isn't eating much. When you see the vet tomorrow, I'd also ask (or insist) on trying a different insulin. The one you're on now hits hard and fast, and as a result, it's going to be difficult to find a nice, steady curve throughout the dosing cycle. Please ask your vet for a scrip for Lantus - many cats here have gone into remission as a result of following the protocol here and feeding an ultra-low carb diet. I hope your cat starts eating again soon - I am sure some of the experts will hop on and advise you better than I can.
 
Here is Dr. Lisa's discussion on Covenia. I hope that is not the problem. She does discuss symptoms. http://www.felinediabetes.com/phorum5/r ... 168,page=1

I don't know if this will help, but here are some ideas on getting a cat to eat: http://www.felinecrf.org/persuading_cat_to_eat.htm and a liver shake for kitties who are not eating:

THE '~LIVER SHAKE~' FOR SICK CATS
This liquid food is appropriate for cats suffering from conditions where they are eating very little or not at all such as anemias, leukemias, deficiency states with symptoms of lethargy, listlessness, and weakness.

1 cup RAW LIVER (BEEF, or CHICKEN)
1 cup FRESH CARROT JUICE or V-8, or Tomatoe Juice
1/4 cup *FRESH FILTERED WATER
1 RAW EGG YOLK
1 tsp.KELP POWDER OR SPIRULINA
COMBINE AND MIX IN A BLENDER UNTIL LIQUEFIED. (Note: it will be frothy)
Dosage: Administer 10cc daily 3-6 times a day. (6Occ per day max)
Some cats will need to be force-fed with a syringe, while others will drink it out of a bowl.

Hope some of that is helpful.

I also urge you to try a different insulin. Those roller coaster rides up and down must make her feel awful.
 
Hi Amanda,
We had really similar problems with our cat Lulu. It turned out that one of the pockets where a tooth was removed was not healing and there was still and infection. I think eating hurt, the infection made him feel worse as well as raise his bg. Our vet went back in, cleaned out that pocket, and he did a month of antibiotics... that was actually 2 more shots of convenia. So far in the past 2 months he's had 3 of these shots... but he's doing well, gaining weight.. etc.

We have also been using the Humulin. Are you testing bg's at home? We have found that Lulu's bg dips low and rises back up on this insulin, but for him, we have reduced the dose and the curve has lessened. There have also been a few times I have discovered his bg was too low to give him insulin before I went to work. We wouldn't know all this if we didn't test at home.

Hopefully resolving his teeth problems will help.

Amanda
 
I would be testing for ketones immediately, I would be syringe feeding food, I'd be getting her off of humulin N and if this continues I'd get her into the vet again and checked for pancreatitis and other possible causes.

Good luck!!!
 
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