Fed up with Vet!

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Fazatti

Fazatti

Member Since 2016
My Vet that has been wonderful with my other fur babies has me completely upset with my Lizzie. I got her in Dec. I knew she was an older girl but did not know she had diabetes until she was brought to me. I have been using the prescription food and taking her in for bg monitering. They said her numbers are all over the place . Telling me one week to give her 3mg and the next its 5 then the next it s 4 . Up and down but never explaining anything about diabetics. I picked up her inSulin last week and told the vet tech I was going to try home testing. Yikes! I thought her head would expload! She said there is no was the Vet would approve of it . It is too complicated and you are going to kill your cat. I asked to speak to one of the vets . She went in the back and when she came back she said the vets were busy and would not sell me any more insulin untill I bring Lizzie in. I asked her why should I feed her food that has corn in it . She said because birds eat corn . How dumb !. Most people eat beef but they don't go out and eat grass.She just stared at me while I was laughing... although I was steaming on the inside. So here I am . I have the Sheba canned food and I'm ready to do this. How will I know how much insulin to give her when I test? I have looked at a lot of videos I have the meter . Testing strips etc. And I've made a little rice sock. I might have to find a separate vet just for her. Don't know yet. Prozinc
 
How in the world would testing at home kill your cat? that makes absolutely no sense. If their child was diabetic, would they give insulin without testing first? rediculous. good for you for being an advocate for your pet's health! PS, 5 U is a HIGH HIGH dose. holy cow. I mean it happens that a few cats will need a dose like that, but it's rare, and they would need very careful monitoring. what kind of meter did you get? can you set up a spreadsheet with her numbers? that would help the prozinc experts on here to give you good advice. what have her numbers been at the vet so far?
 
OH and I would agree... time to find a vet on board with you testing at home.... it's not complicated at ALL, although can be tricky getting a sample that first 7-10 days as their ears aren't quick to bleed at first.
 
Your vet and the tech sound exactly like mine at my old vet's!!! And that's almost word-for-word what they told me, including the part about killing my cat! I had used her for years for all my pets, but left after that little set-to. I found an awesome new vet that I have a great relationship with; I'm glad I left the old vet, best decision I could have made. :cat:
 
JanetNJ said:
How in the world would testing at home kill your cat? that makes absolutely no sense. If their child was diabetic, would they give insulin without testing first? rediculous. good for you for being an advocate for your pet's health! PS, 5 U is a HIGH HIGH dose. holy cow. I mean it happens that a few cats will need a dose like that, but it's rare, and they would need very careful monitoring. what kind of meter did you get? can you set up a spreadsheet with her numbers? that would help the prozinc experts on here to give you good advice. what have her numbers been at the vet so far?
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The meter is true metric. Vet will not release any information to me on her numbers until I bring her in. I was able to get a bottle of insulin from them . I hate to leave them they saved my dogs life . Every one has always been so nice until this. Even allowed me to make payments with them. I have been going there for twelve yrs.@
 
Fazatti said:
My Vet that has been wonderful with my other fur babies has me completely upset with my Lizzie. I got her in Dec. I knew she was an older girl but did not know she had diabetes until she was brought to me. I have been using the prescription food and taking her in for bg monitering. They said her numbers are all over the place . Telling me one week to give her 3mg and the next its 5 then the next it s 4 . Up and down but never explaining anything about diabetics. I picked up her inSulin last week and told the vet tech I was going to try home testing. Yikes! I thought her head would expload! She said there is no was the Vet would approve of it . It is too complicated and you are going to kill your cat. I asked to speak to one of the vets . She went in the back and when she came back she said the vets were busy and would not sell me any more insulin untill I bring Lizzie in. I asked her why should I feed her food that has corn in it . She said because birds eat corn . How dumb !. Most people eat beef but they don't go out and eat grass.She just stared at me while I was laughing... although I was steaming on the inside. So here I am . I have the Sheba canned food and I'm ready to do this. How will I know how much insulin to give her when I test? I have looked at a lot of videos I have the meter . Testing strips etc. And I've made a little rice sock. I might have to find a separate vet just for her. Don't know yet. Prozinc
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I tested her on the third try wooptie do! It was 251. I fed her but didn't shoot. Should I? I read that under 200 don't shoot. Vet had her on 3.5 . Should I test her again in six hrs or wait until 12 .
 
I'm sorry you're having this trouble with your vet about home testing - it's not an uncommon reaction, unfortunately. It's crazy but all you can do is look for a vet who will support you. Could you ask if there is anyone in the practice who has a special interest in feline diabetes, as you have done a lot of research and have learnt that you can do a lot at home to help your kitty? I can understand that you don't want to leave the practice completely as they have been so good with other things, but you do need a vet you can trust and work with when it comes to FD.

Oh and well done for keeping your sense of humour! It's ok to feed food with corn because birds eat corn... really?!

Good luck - you have a great attitude and you will get there.
 
Fazatti said:
I tested her on the third try wooptie do! It was 251. I fed her but didn't shoot. Should I? I read that under 200 don't shoot. Vet had her on 3.5 . Should I test her again in six hrs or wait until 12 .
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That 3.5 is a high starting dose. 251 is shootable but I would be VERY cautious about giving so much insulin. Most vets would prescribe a 1u starting dose until some kind of pattern emerges. If you could start a spreadsheet with the numbers you're getting on what insulin dose, it will help people here see what's happening and be better able to advise (we can help you set this up, just ask). Meanwhile, I'm not a dosing expert myself so hope others will be along soon... but as I said, I'd be very wary about giving 3.5u.
 
Fazatti said:
I tested her on the third try wooptie do! It was 251. I fed her but didn't shoot. Should I? I read that under 200 don't shoot. Vet had her on 3.5 . Should I test her again in six hrs or wait until 12 .
Click to expand...
Honestly if it were me I'd start the dose over at 1 unit and test. Can you start a thread over on the ProZinc board? That way people there can advise. 3.5 is a high dose and while 251 is a higher than normal number, it may not require such a high dose. The problem is that you don't have data yet. I would start from scratch with the dose and if you can do a curve tomorrow or sat then do that. If you can not do a curve tomorrow try to get readings when you can mid cycle.
 
Diana&Tom said:
That 3.5 is a high starting dose. 251 is shootable but I would be VERY cautious about giving so much insulin. Most vets would prescribe a 1u starting dose until some kind of pattern emerges. If you could start a spreadsheet with the numbers you're getting on what insulin dose, it will help people here see what's happening and be better able to advise (we can help you set this up, just ask). Meanwhile, I'm not a dosing expert myself so hope others will be along soon... but as I said, I'd be very wary about giving 3.5u.
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My thought exactly
 
Yes -
JanetNJ said:
Honestly if it were me I'd start the dose over at 1 unit and test. Can you start a thread over on the ProZinc board? That way people there can advise. 3.5 is a high dose and while 251 is a higher than normal number, it may not require such a high dose. The problem is that you don't have data yet. I would start from scratch with the dose and if you can do a curve tomorrow or sat then do that. If you can not do a curve tomorrow try to get readings when you can mid cycle.
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Yes thanks Janet. 1u sounds good to me too but I hesitate to actually give dosing advice so glad you have suggested this. I have posted to this effect on the other thread on Health, and tagged Mogs and Eliz, who I suspect will concur.
 
Diana&Tom said:
Yes -

Yes thanks Janet. 1u sounds good to me too but I hesitate to actually give dosing advice so glad you have suggested this. I have posted to this effect on the other thread on Health, and tagged Mogs and Eliz, who I suspect will concur.
Click to expand...
 
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