Espresso Update

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ettevyva

ettevyva

Member Since 2013
Espresso got his shot this morning (twice a day since Saturday) (8 am and 8 pm). (Up to the 2nd line - part way up to the 5). Today he's sleeping most of the day and not himself. No energy. I brought him to the living room a couple of times and he goes right back to his bed in the bedroom. He sounds like he is snoring when he breathes, even when he's not sleeping. Very noisy breathing. I noticed he's not drinking or peeing today. I did get a drop of blood just now. One meter I have (Freestyle) says 218 and the other one (Reli On) says 280. I don't think I should give him a shot tonight? What is normal blood sugar?
 
If he is that level now, he may been lower today and that means less drinking and peeing if he spent most day on normal numbers. The relion is more reliable than the freestyle.

Normal numbers are around 50-130. I would shoot but make sure you get a test in 2-3hours. If it is same or less than this preshot number you may be in for an active cycle so might want to set your alarm for a test at 5-6hours after shot too

Wendy
 
Freestyle meters had some problems -- I would trust the Relion more.

active cycle means a stronger drop than usual - might need to test during the night to make sure he is ok, and maybe feed him high carb food if he goes too low.
 
Dianna, if Espresso were mine, I would give him insulin tonight. 280 on the Relion is high enough to give at least 1U of the Lantus. Did the vet give you any guidance about giving less than 2Us? For example, did she say "Shoot XU if his preshot is under XXX"?

Lethargy is associated with too low a blood sugar, but in my experience it is more associated with high blood sugar. And if Espresso is not drinking or peeing today, that is a possible sign that he is developing ketones, which can turn into a life-threatening condition. Do you have the ketone strips to test his urine?

IMO, he needs to have insulin tonight.
 
hang in there dianna! People here will help you for sure!
hugs coming your way for Expresso!
 
As long as you test, and are prepared to test overnight if you have to, you should be fine. Shoot and test in 2 hours and let us know.

D you have extra test strips and a high carb gravy food, or syrup?


Wendy
 
I bought corn syrup last week, plus have some higher carb foods that my other kitty eats once in a while. I emailed the vet and she said she will check the noisy breathing when I take Espresso in to her for a recheck Tuesday.
 
Heavy breathing/panting can be a sign of any acidosis, diabetic or otherwise. It is the body attempting to normalise its pH balance.

Smell the breath; do you smell nail polish remover or fermented fruit? If yes, go to the vet now; as it could be diabetic ketoacidosis.
 
I'm new at this site and thought when I posted a new post, that's where all the posts are. I apologize because I just looked back here and there are more posts here for me to reply to. I'm brand new at a message board.
Espresso has severe diarrhea. His diarrhea is completely liquid. I could hear him in the litter box and afterward I saw it was completely watery. He's not peeing or drinking except for me making his Fancy Feist more liquidy since he's chocking so much the past 2 days. Today it was so bad he didn't make it to the liter box. (As I explained in another post, he would not swallow the liquid antibiotic a few days ago and was chocking on it the other day when he wouldn't swallow it or spit it out until he gasped for air. I hope he didn't inhale it but he's been chocking ever since. His favorite dried chicken treat (broken in to shreds) even got caught in his throat later after that and ever since his food is making him choke. I posted the information on "Espresso had a bad night". Espresso's breath smells rotten from his rotten teeth in back. His trying to purr sounds like it's gurgling. On the way to the vet today, he tried to meow but no sound coming out but air. Then he would pant several times. The vet couldn't see anything when she opened his mouth so she gave him aubuterol asthma inhaler three puffs . I'm only allowed one puff because of the effects of it, so this scared me. Then she insisted he was all better now. He wasn't. He came home. Tried to purr but it gurgled, and when he ate a little bit, he was chocking again.
 
Ok a few issues..

1. The diarrhea. When did it start? Dd you change his food recently? Or it could be the antibiotic I guess.

2. The choking. Are you sure it isn't coughing?

Still think you need a new vet ASAP.

Wendy
 
I'll call his "regular" vet to ask advice first thing in the morning! I don't think the regular vet knows a whole lot about diabetes since he tried to put him on a diabetes prescription "pill" Glipizide because he said insulin would make Espresso's blood sugar too unstable. But then everyone on the Feline Diabetes forum warned NOT to give the pills for diabetes. I'm going to call and get some feedback about Espresso's difficulty breathing and chocking though.
I'm upset that this new vet isn't taking this concern seriously when Espresso is struggling.
 
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