ChrisFarley is OTJ, but his pancreas is doing cartwheels

[Melanie and Smokey]

Chris has been CRAZY hungry lately, so last night I tested him since it has been a couple of weeks and found him at 104. Not bad, but higher than he's been in quite a while.
So being the worry-wort that I am I tested again this morning just to see if he was back into his normal morning numbers, and he gave me a 124 Still ok, but really not something he has had in a while.
I tested him an hour after that test (and feeding) and found him to have dropped back to the 90s - good.
And because dad is a bigger worry-wort than mom, we tested him again another 1.5hrs later and he was at a 68 Also not a normal number for Chris, he doesn't really get that low.
We've had everyone in the house on Doxycycline for almost a month. Because the pills can be dangerous if not swallowed really well I coat them with a pill wrap that is a bit stickier than pill pockets so he's been getting that twice a day. Could be the meds or the non-diabetic-friendly pill wrap doing funky things on him. The big drop this morning came after giving him the pill with some food.
We have been trying to reduce his calories. He's not too impressed with us and always seems crazy for food. He is still getting 200-220 calories in a day split between 6-8 meals depending on if we get meds timed right. He is still gaining weight and is up to 19.1 pounds.
I don't want his pancreas working harder than it has to. Any ideas on what might be making him flux like this all of a sudden? He has a vet appt for next Tues. Since we just adopted the boys I set up Wellness exams to get a baseline look at them with our vet. I think Chris will need a dental sooner rather than later. Though we are not so comfortable sedating our cats anymore so hopefully not too soon.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

What's the doxycycilne for? If there's an infection/inflammation, that could be contributing to higher numbers. Also, if the doxy isn't getting to the specific bacteria, it may be doing only a partial job. The pill wrap is certainly a possibility.

 

[Melanie and Smokey]

The doxy is an ophthalmologist's shot in the dark. Our Mittens has had an eye that tears for no good reason. Lately it doesn't stop with the meds that have worked in the past. Other guesses have been herpes and calici in our cats, but we've eye-swabbed, blood tested both Avie and Mitt multiple times before mixing fosters with them, all with negative tests. This time we went to an ophtho to see if we could get any more ideas and he said because all but one of our cats come from a shelter - herpes or chlamydia infection - and we had to treat everyone in the house for 28 days with doxy for the possible chlamydia infection. So its not necessarily believed Chris had an infection he had no symptoms of anything, just got caught in the possible exposure and could re-expose Mitt to something.

I'd bee 100% sure it was the pill wrap, if he didn't promptly drop so low right after I gave it to him today.

 

[BJM]

Any signs of dental issues - reddened gums? tartar?

 

[Melanie and Smokey]

He won't let me look in his mouth. But his breath stinks so I am sure he needs them at least cleaned. One of the reasons we are getting the boys in for wellness exams, have the vet give a looksee on what is going on in there. Been trying to get him to let me brush his teeth. Its been less than a year since Tiger died coming out of anesthesia so I don't know if I can bear to put another one of my babies under yet Getting a 19lb cat to cooperate takes some work (and he's not just fat, he's build like an ape).

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

If his breath stinks, I'd be suspicious of his teeth.

If he's gaining weight, he probably needs fewer calories.

I'd be suspicious of the pill wraps too. Can you get the Dog Duck & Pea? Those are safe for diabetics.

 

[Vyktors Mum]

I started seeing higher numbers in Vyktor when he needed dental work done, even up to 150 a couple of times. All back to normal after the dental. I have lost a fur baby under anaesthetic too, you'll never get over it, ie you'll always worry more when an anaesthetic is needed but it's something that just has to happen sometimes so you just have to bite the bullet, so to speak - and try and make sure you've got something to keep your mind occupied while it's happening or you'll drive yourself nuts and completely turn yourself inside out.