Feeding within 2 hrs before shot question
- Thread starter christoph
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bsmith
Member Since 2015
That's an excellent question. For the entire time I was giving insulin I never seemed to get it through my head that I needed to pick up the bowl 2 hours ahead of time (my cat is free fed). So, umm, I never have. Even now when Edwin seems to be going OTJ I keep forgetting.
Plus, I'm generally sleeping 2 hours before the AMPS test and the PMPS test. (I need a lot of sleep, and sleep is often elusive, so I have gotten into a strange divided sleep schedule to be able to sleep enough for me and to be awake during the hours that Edwin needed to be monitored. Now I'm trying to pop myself out of that schedule and into a slightly more normal one. It did help, at the very beginning of Edwin's diabetic odyssey, that I had started a new medication that made it impossible for me to sleep between midnight and 5:00 am.) I'm not sure how other people handle sleeping and monitoring and testing. It's definitely easier with a second person to help. (In the words of comedian Jim Gaffigan, "what are those people who don't need sleep called? Oh yeah, 'successful.'")
I'll be interested to see what you find out.
Vyktors Mum
Member Since 2011
The answer to that is ECID - every cat is different.
You can remove the food at +10 without getting up though - put the food in a timed feeder compartment and set the feeder to rotate round to an empty space at +10
You can remove the food at +10 without getting up though - put the food in a timed feeder compartment and set the feeder to rotate round to an empty space at +10
bsmith
Member Since 2015
Darn those different cats. Is there some sort of factory refund that I can get?
Unfortunately, I don't own a timed feeder. Since Edwin seems to be going OTJ and I'm not currently giving insulin, I guess a good compromise could just be picking up the food at the PS time (when I wake up) and then testing 2 hours later. I'll try that tomorrow. My sleep is so goofy right now that I don't want to screw with it anymore than I need to. I would definitely consider investing in a timed feeder if Edwin was still on insulin.
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Vyktors Mum
Member Since 2011
@bsmith not necessary for you since you're not giving insulin at the moment (keep up the good work Edwin 
) but for a cat getting insulin it's not such a good idea a) it's best to feed in the early part of the cycle (except perhaps with levemir) and with some insulins (not sure what Poncho's having - it would be really helpful if that info along with the fact that an AT is being used could be added to your signature @christoph along with any other health issues if they exist) it is necessary that they eat with their shot b) with a cat getting insulin I expect the food spike effect would be different depending on where they are in their insulin cycle.
LOL on the factory refund!
) but for a cat getting insulin it's not such a good idea a) it's best to feed in the early part of the cycle (except perhaps with levemir) and with some insulins (not sure what Poncho's having - it would be really helpful if that info along with the fact that an AT is being used could be added to your signature @christoph along with any other health issues if they exist) it is necessary that they eat with their shot b) with a cat getting insulin I expect the food spike effect would be different depending on where they are in their insulin cycle.LOL on the factory refund!
Meya14
Member Since 2015
Chris, Max's food spikes can last several hours, but we're on a different insulin, and he's a funny cat. Also, I see you're still having a lot of swings with the sugars. I think it's time to give up on prozinc. It's just not working. Please ask your vet to switch you to a longer acting like lantus or levemir before you make any major decisions. It's very frustrating when you are doing everything you can and no improvement, but sometimes, it's just a treatment change and suddenly they begin responding (for Max, it was his teeth). Diabetes isn't always as stressful as what you have been going through, you are just in the worst of it. So again, please as your vet. There may be someone on here willing to donate some to you as well so you don't have to pay to try it.
christoph
Member Since 2015
I should make an appt with this other vet I was referred to and it could be the last effort to get Poncho regulated and back on his feet. He had another bout of constipation, but this time the vet said his muscle tone is compromised from wasting so it's getting difficult to expel waste.....said the consistency of his poop shouldn't have caused him to back up. His back legs are so weak he only gets up to use the litter box. I'm increasing his Miralax dose and she wants me to increase his potassium supplement (beef flavored granular). The other day she didn't think it was necessary to check blood level for low potassium. So far, since he has gotten rid of the URI, she hasn't once tried to do a BG curve. I thought that was standard procedure. I can't seem to get him the care he needs. The vet's office I called today said a curve would be done after blood work and they get Poncho's records, also they have food designed for diabetes.....not Hills, which I read is bogus. I don't feel qualified at this point to do a curve with confidence so really need a pro on this. I fear they will say he's beyond fixing, but have to try.....time is running out.
bsmith
Member Since 2015
If you can get Poncho's poop to not be constipated you may be able to help him in expelling it. I've only done this on a baby raccoon with malfunctioning bowels, but it should probably work on a cat too. You lay the animal on their back (or you could probably do it with him standing up, though it's easier if he's on his back) and then massage their bowels in downwards strokes with your thumbs to help move the poop down and out. However, this will only work if he is not currently constipated and his bowels are a bit loose.
If he's still constipated you can try the ILU (I Love You) massage that is often used on babies and adult humans to help relieve constipation and gas. A set of instructions for doing this massage can be found here. You can do this massage with him on his back or standing up and you don't need to use oil.
If neither of these work, at least Poncho will get a nice belly rub. I'm thinking good thoughts for you two and hope something will help Poncho soon. Getting a good vet and an insulin that works for your cat would definitely be a blessing.
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