Crying all day

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LittleNino

Member Since 2013
Hello..I am new to the boards...it's comforting to see a forum like this...my 15 yr old cat Nino was diagnosed 5 days ago...I followed the vet's instructions for insulin and diet...yesterday I came home from work & he had not eaten nor drank water...he was walking in circles & his eyes were glossed...I went to ER where they gave him fluids & also told me not to give him anymore insulin for a few days...the original vet tested his urine but not his blood....I also noticed the original vet was kinda guessing as to what I should do with Nino...so I have been crying a lot the past few days wondering what I should do next. Thanks for listening~
 
I'm sorry for what you are going through. What I would do next if this were my kitty is I'd buy a glucometer and learn to test my cat's blood sugar myself.

You can pick up a human glucometer at any drug store. If you have a WalMart nearby you'll get good prices on the WalMart Relion brand meters.

This link has some information on how to test sugar yourself. http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=287

Next, I'd be looking at food. I don't know what you are feeding now, but a low carb, high protein diet is great for all kitties. I feed my own cats Fancy Feast pate classic variety canned food. Mine can't have any dry food at all, I have two that have belly issues and can't digest it.
 
Hi Nino's Mom,

All the information that tucker's mom has given to you is great! One thing I would be concerned about, though, is whether your cat really does have feline diabetes, if the vet did not test his blood, that is not a very thorough way to come up with the diagnosis of diabetes by only using urine.

Has Nino been peeing a lot and drinking at other times a lot? What prompted you to take him to your vet's to begin with?

Even so, it would be good to learn how to test his blood glucose at home, where he is not stressed out, and also, feed him canned food as tucker's mom suggested. It does not have to be prescription wet food, either. The Fancy Feast, or even the Friskies are reasonable to feed, and not so costly.

You could also test your own blood, just to make sure the meter is working well. I have used the Relion meter, and I really like it.

Has Nino had a decent bowel movement each day? There are so many variables, and it is best to keep a record in a little notebook of his symptoms, no matter how minor they might seem.

What kind of insulin did the vet sell to you?

How much does Nino weigh?

I sure hope you will be able to get the meter, learn to test yourself, and perhaps, you might find that the insulin could have been the cause of his glossy eyes, and the circling. But, he could have something else going on at the age of 15.

Take care, and I will send lots of good wishes that you are able to get this figured out for poor LittleNino.

Hugs,
Jean and Charcoal (GA) p.s. the GA after cat's names means they have passed away, and are guardian angels. cat_pet_icon
 
Definitely need a blood test to be sure its diabeties.
If its not, giving insulin could be very dangerous and if it is, giving insulin without knowing his before-shot blood glucose number can also be dangerous.

Has Nino eaten today?
 
I have no kind words for this Vet. I'm so sorry you and poor little Nino are going through this. I'm praying he comes through this unharmed.

Prescribing insulin without a CONFIRMED positive blood test is...is..wrong.

My prayers are with you,
jeanne
 
How is he doing now?

You are totally correct to have stopped the insulin. Now we need to find out for sure if he is diabetic. You need to find a new vet, where do you live and maybe someone here can recommend one. Or call around a few and discuss this.. https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1BqrojKe9oBVAoexL59pUWidEd7viNmxSqW5l2IBTWjY
You want them to do bloodwork including fructosamine test to know for sure.

Now you can find out yourself at home by testing his blood, or by testing his urine. we can give you tips for both. Let us know.

Also changing his food to a low carb canned is a good idea whether he has diabetes or not.

Wendy
 
Oh honey, I hope things are going better with Nino. I too had a horrifying experience with my vet. So I understand what you're going through. Everyone is here to help you and Nino.

Please let us know how you and Nino are doing. Sending "better days ahead" healing vines for both of you. Big hugs too! :smile:
 
Thanks so much for the responses...I was feeling so alone in this battle~ To answer some of the questions, I started recognizing problems with NIno when he stopped having bowel movements but still continued to eat...he was drinking and urinating as normal...so 24 hrs passed, no bowl movement, then on to the next day, still no bowl movement....I gave him so hairball relief mixed in with his food which helped a little but for only a short period...then one day he ate a bunch of dry food very fast and then drank his bowl of water very fast...within a matter of minutes, he threw up the water and the food soon followed...the food was not chewed, only whole pieces...after that incident he began going off to corners or under the futon and hiding...I then said ok it's time to take him to the vet.

I picked a vet that was down the street from me, they didn't have too many reviews on the web except that they were a bit on the expensive side compared to the others in the surrounding area. So, I went and Nino was very upset because he hates going to the vet so he put up a big fuss once we got there. He hissed at the vet but not at the vet assistants...he hisses at males all the time but not females...I think this is the reason why the vet didn't want to pull blood from Nino, he just decided to take a urine sample (Nino had urinated in his carrier)...so he came to the conclusion that it was diabetes based on 1) the symptonms I told him about that had occurred over the past few days 2) Nino's hine legs were down (kinda flat-footed) 3) the urine sample
Me not knowing too much and taking the vet for his word I believed him. He gave me some antibiotics, motion sickness pills and a prescription for Lantus. Nino also weight in at about 11.5 lbs so they told me he needed to gain weight. He also gave me dry food Purina DM which I bought but never gave to Nino. I read online later on that day that this was not the best thing to give to diabetic cats, so I stocked up on Wellness canned food. He loves it but only the pate not the chunky style. So the instructions for the Lantus was .5 of insulin twice a day. The first day I gave it to him it was at 5 am and then again at 5:30pm...I then went to work...He had eaten before the shots and because I was working 12 hrs, I sat some food out for him...when I got home, there was fecal matter by the kitchen (very far from litter box). The food had not been touched nor the water and he just looked like he was doped up to be honest. I got scared and started crying because he had gotten so small in that amount of time and he wasn't even meowing. So, to the ER I rushed him off to and they gave him some fluids.

As of today, he is eating the Wellness canned food but still not drinking the water. His bowl movements are about every 35-40 hrs...he urinates about 2 times in a 24 hr period. His behavior is better but he tends to sleep all day and at night seems to have a little more energy but just a little. It seems he just can't wait to lay down...he looks so tired. I play with him and call him nicknames I have given him over the years and his tail wags a little at times. He hasn't had insulin since this past Saturday so it has been 2 full days. I want my Nino to get better and I will fight for him as long as he wants me to. I live in Atlanta, GA so if anyone knows a vet there or in the metro Atlanta area that can steer me in the right direction with Nino I am open to any suggestions. Thanks again for all of your repsponses...I think I can sleep a little better tonight~
 
He might not be drinking much because the wet food is giving him the fluids he needs.. My cats drink less now they are getting wet instead of dry. Plus my non diabetic cat only has a bowel movement every two days but every cat is different.

To be honest though I am not 100% sure this is diabetes and if it is, there might be something else going on which is why you need that blood panel. What were the antibiotics for?

As for the vet not wanting to take blood because niño was too upset, you should see Tiggy at the vets! He has claws and howls and bites and hisses so much they wear thick rubber gloves and wrap him in a towel and make him wear this mask that looks like something out of silence of the lambs. I will find a pic. Any experienced vet should be used to an uncooperative cat. I had one wee girl vet who stood three feet from him and was too scared to get close and I paid for his annual exam and she barely looked at him. She didn't last long I mean how can you examine the cat if you are too scared too touch him!!? ;)

Wendy
 
See my signature link for some Secondary Monitoring Tools for supplemental methods of evaluating your cat.

You can check yourself for dehydration (which may ocurr with diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and renal disease, among other conditions).

If you gently pull up the scruff of fur at the neck and release, does it stay tented up or snap back down?
If it stays tented up and only slowly flattens, the cat may be moderately to severly dehydrated.

If you lift a lip, press your finger on the gums and release, does the blood flow return quickly and pinken the gums, or do the gums seem to stay whitish and only slowly pink back up? If the latter, the cat may be mildly dehydrated or more.

For constipation, many folks use Miralax, 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon once or twice a day. Discuss this with your vet.
 
Just got a message that you were looking for a vet in the Atlanta area...

I use a feline only practice in Roswell (north side of ATL) called The Cat Clinic. It is run by Dr. Michael Ray and I really, really like him. You can find their info here: http://catclinicofroswell.com.

They see a number of diabetic cats and seem to have very good success with treating them. I have also found them very respectful of owners who want to be hands-on and involved in their cat's care.

Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help.

Susan
 
I am new to this forum,so can't really offer you advice. However, I live in Marietta, Georgia. I'm sure you know where that is and use a vet in Cobb County. It's called Cat Clinic of Cobb, 770/973-6369. I know this isn't close to you, but perhaps if you called them, they could recommend someone in your area. It's worth a try.

I sure understand about the crying. I've done quite a bit of that lately too. Here's hoping things will improve for you both! :smile:
 
Thanks everyone for their advice..Nino was doing very well for the past week...then yesterday, after he ate, he had about 5 seizures clustered together...it was like he was trying to get something off his tongue, then he fell and his front paw went over his face and his body shook...he had another cluster of seizures today after eating....so definitely back to the vet we go~
 
It very much sounds like something neurological is going on. When you take hm to the vet, discuss epilepsy as a candidate diagnosis - why it would or would not be possible.
 
Sorry to read about poor Nino. I hope you have found a vet in your area that you like. What did the vet say about the seizures? My non FD cat started having seizures this fall and is on phenobarbitol twice a day now. I'd be happy to talk more about it with you if you'd like. I hope the new vet can figure out just what's going on with Nino and set you up with the right treatment.

Sending my best wishes for you and kitty.
Hang in there,
KJ
 
Hi everyone....these past few months have been horrible to say the least....I took Nino to a different vet and found out that he was misdiagnosed the first time...he never had diabetes. He has a tumor that eventually bulged out of his mouth pushing his lower jaw very far out. I have been told this is squamous cell carcinoma and it is in the advanced stages. He would have to have his entire lower jaw removed and then the survival rate after the surgery is about 7 months, maybe a year, depending on the individual cat. So, in the end, perhaps it would have been caught early in April when I first went to the vet and maybe we could have done something to keep the cancer from spreading. Angry and sadness has overtaken me. But I had a good 15 years with Nino and he has lived a good life...he is in his last few weeks. Thanks to all of you for checking up on Nino and I hope all of you have healthy kitties and keep up the fight~
 
My deepest condolences to you. There is a grief forum on this board if you need to talk. We all have been where you are at one time or another and sometimes it helps to talk about it with others.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. rb_icon
 
I am so sorry for you and Nino. Is there such a thing as Vet malpractice? If so, then I would sue that vet for this. I know it won't make a difference for Nino in the end, but it might keep this person from making "shoot from the hip" diagnosis like he did. I am incredulous that the vet would say the cat was diabetic based on "symptoms" and some urine.

Huge hugs to you and little Nino and my his final days be peaceful and loving. You did the best that you could given the situation. :YMHUG:
 
I'm sorry to hear that Nino had oral cancer that was not caught early. Cats are so good at hiding pain.

Angry and sadness has overtaken me. But I had a good 15 years with Nino and he has lived a good life...he is in his last few weeks. Thanks to all of you for checking up on Nino and I hope all of you have healthy kitties and keep up the fight~
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Give him hugs and plenty of loving until it is time to say goodbye. Then, take him to the vet and give him that snot halo and final cleansing bath of tears.

Grieving here with you. Even when you know the time is near, it's hard to let go. We have all been there and understand.
 
I am so sorry to hear of the recent sad news with Nino.

I know you will cherish the precious time you have left with him & the bond between you will be closer for that.

We have a number of ferals in our family who are terrified going to the vet. When their time has come, we have a wonderful vet who comes out to our house, sits with them and gives them a little something to let them sleep peacefully first, before the final injection, so there is no pain. They are able to be in their own beds, or outside, wherever their special place is, with us right beside them talking to them the whole time. It has always been peaceful and supportive. There is probably a vet in your area who makes house calls. If this sounds like a good option for you, you can call them first, ask questions, & see if you like their manner and procedures. You might even have some members here in your area who can recommend a house-call vet.

I read that oral cancer can be very challenging, even when caught early. In spite of that the community needs to be warned about the treatment you received from your first vet. It is absolutely unpardonable.

My thoughts are with you & little Nino,

Suzanne
 
I'm so sorry to hear this. My heart breaks for you. Cherish these precious moments you have with him and know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. rb_icon
 
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