Hi there,
My foster cat Dutchess is about 2 months in after being diagnosed. She is 12 years old.
I have another thread on here – Newbie with recently diagnosed cat -starting insulin so that you get background a few BG figures before I started the spreadsheet.
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=82404
I also have a brief synopsis of Dutchess attached to my signature, and her spreadsheet is attached to my signature (just started it a week or so ago, but her figures since being diagnosed is attached to my first post.)
I am really frustrated lately.
Please understand that I almost recently had a nervous breakdown from the stress and responsibility in my life for the past 3 months, and having a foster cat returned to me after being adopted, then having her diagnosed after a $500 vet bill for her is almost too much for me to handle.
So, I’ve been struggling with trying to get food donations, and all the supplies donated to me, and to minimize the stress that this is causing me, on top of 2 jobs and 3 children and other animals in my house and a full time job.
I am really frustrated lately – because Dutchess is not eating very much, if anything – for the past 3 days. We put the food out, mix a bit of water with it (that’s the only way she drinks) try to entice her (I even put gravy on it once!) and she hasn’t been eating – hence the very low BG numbers.
With the low BG numbers, she’s had NO symptoms of this. She is acting normal.
I have NOT switched food brands.
I haven’t given her insulin in a few days, and even when I did when her numbers dictated that I should, it was like 0.5 – 1 unit.
Her pancreas seems to be trying to come back “online” so she hasn’t needed much insulin.
I thought of ketones – but don’t they show up with the OPPOSITE problem – too much insulin with BG numbers high? Besides, I’m concerned with the cost of the strips AND trying to collect urine from the cat – how the heck do you do that ? We’ve never witnessed her on the litter box, and us holding her while she pees is completely unrealistic.
I thought of fatty liver disease – of which I don’t know enough. Would this apply in this situation ?
I simply cannot take her to the vet and be subjected to another $300 or more vet bill (geriatric blood work plus I’m sure they’ll want to keep her for observation etc…), plus I’ve not gone back there since Dutchess was diagnosed because I was so upset at the $500 bill, plus another $300 they wanted me to spend to buy Caninsulin and the syringes - of which I did NOT buy. I left with the notion of trying to control this at least first with switching her food.)
I think that I am in quite the pickle with this cat!
Please don’t judge me – I’m trying to do the best I can for this foster cat, but my resources are low, both emotionally and financially.
If someone has any thoughts that could help, I’d appreciate it. @-)
My foster cat Dutchess is about 2 months in after being diagnosed. She is 12 years old.
I have another thread on here – Newbie with recently diagnosed cat -starting insulin so that you get background a few BG figures before I started the spreadsheet.
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=82404
I also have a brief synopsis of Dutchess attached to my signature, and her spreadsheet is attached to my signature (just started it a week or so ago, but her figures since being diagnosed is attached to my first post.)
I am really frustrated lately.
Please understand that I almost recently had a nervous breakdown from the stress and responsibility in my life for the past 3 months, and having a foster cat returned to me after being adopted, then having her diagnosed after a $500 vet bill for her is almost too much for me to handle.
So, I’ve been struggling with trying to get food donations, and all the supplies donated to me, and to minimize the stress that this is causing me, on top of 2 jobs and 3 children and other animals in my house and a full time job.
I am really frustrated lately – because Dutchess is not eating very much, if anything – for the past 3 days. We put the food out, mix a bit of water with it (that’s the only way she drinks) try to entice her (I even put gravy on it once!) and she hasn’t been eating – hence the very low BG numbers.
With the low BG numbers, she’s had NO symptoms of this. She is acting normal.
I have NOT switched food brands.
I haven’t given her insulin in a few days, and even when I did when her numbers dictated that I should, it was like 0.5 – 1 unit.
Her pancreas seems to be trying to come back “online” so she hasn’t needed much insulin.
I thought of ketones – but don’t they show up with the OPPOSITE problem – too much insulin with BG numbers high? Besides, I’m concerned with the cost of the strips AND trying to collect urine from the cat – how the heck do you do that ? We’ve never witnessed her on the litter box, and us holding her while she pees is completely unrealistic.
I thought of fatty liver disease – of which I don’t know enough. Would this apply in this situation ?
I simply cannot take her to the vet and be subjected to another $300 or more vet bill (geriatric blood work plus I’m sure they’ll want to keep her for observation etc…), plus I’ve not gone back there since Dutchess was diagnosed because I was so upset at the $500 bill, plus another $300 they wanted me to spend to buy Caninsulin and the syringes - of which I did NOT buy. I left with the notion of trying to control this at least first with switching her food.)
I think that I am in quite the pickle with this cat!
Please don’t judge me – I’m trying to do the best I can for this foster cat, but my resources are low, both emotionally and financially.
If someone has any thoughts that could help, I’d appreciate it. @-)
