Finally Switched to ProZinc-10/25/14

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Kimmied

Kimmied

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Hi,
I've finally switched Hank from Novolin N to ProZinc last Saturday, Oct. 25th. The vet started off on 1u. 2x/day. I give the injections at 6:30am and 6:30pm. I usually feed Hank at 5-5:30 2x/day (about a half a cup ea. feeding). Hank is eating Wysong Epigen dry kibble. I have tried, with no avail, to get Hank on wet food. Hank is 11 years old and very set in his ways. Hank is my grand kitty from my son. Hank has been living with us since 9/18/14. It was too much for my 26 yr. old single, workaholic son. We all go to the same vet but it was like starting all over with his treatment when I took over. I'm not giving up on switching Hank to wet food but am in need of more suggestions to help me. And yes, I have read and printed off Dr. Lisa Piersons, Transitioning your Dry Food Addict to Wet Food.

Also, I need some help and guidance to dosing of ProZinc for Hank. What do I need to do?

Thanks,
Kimmie

PS His numbers on the ProZinc weren't that great over the weekend. His first dose was Sat. morning. Then we went out to our campsite for an overnight. We left at 1pm on Sunday to come home, a 45 min. drive, which Hank meows all the way home. Just a heads up to circumstances that may effect his BG numbers.
 
Hey Kimmie. I just replied to your general health forum post but I'll jump in over here too. Are you testing before feeding at 5-5:30am/pm? I think most people here generally say to take up food two hours before giving the insulin shot so that the pre shot test number isn't influenced by food and you can get better at determining the proper dose.

And as for getting Hank switched to wet food, my Bailey was very set in his ways too but he used to only get canned food occasionally as a treat. When I first switched him over to almost all wet food (he gets a little dry still, the Young Again Zero Carb formula), he loved it but now the novelty has worn off. I've found though that if I offer him enough variety he'll eat better (having chicken every day got boring fast). I printed out this shortcut list that was put together from Dr. Pierson's list and highlighted the ones I knew Bailey liked for sure and made note of new flavors to try. It makes for easier shopping at the pet store too.

I'm still learning on the ProZinc dosing stuff but I'm sure someone more experienced will jump in with advice for that!

With hugs and purrs,
- Kellie & Bailey
 
Welcome Kimmie and Hank,

He has given you all kinds of cycles since starting! It may be that he needs more insulin. If he were mine, I'd give it another 2 cycles or so, at home, in normal conditions, to see if you get any kind of patterns. If he is still higher, then I'd raise by .25 or .5, depending on how pink his numbers are. Raise on a cycle where you will sure be around.

Everyone here has experience with ProZinc or PZI. It might be helpful to read some of the threads and check out the spreadsheets. Everyone, except Rachel (whose Gyspy is gone) and Cindi whose Merlin has finally settled in after months of bouncing, is fairly new and trying to figure out what kind of music the cat is dancing to. :mrgreen: This is a small forum so if you ever have an emergency, post on Health where there will be more eyes.
 
BTW, with ProZinc, there is no need to feed him before shooting. It's best if he does not eat 2 hours before testing. If he has been eating early, the pre shot numbers may be off. You want to test, feed and shoot
 
Ok, that's what I needed to know. I knew it was different from using the Novolin N. Can I still feed him around 5-5:30, just test first? Then use that number as pre shot #, then feed and give shot at 6:30? Now tomorrow I work till 6. So I'll test when I get home, feed and then shoot around 6:30pm? I did raise him at PM injection to 1.25u instead of 1u.. I'll check him before bed. Thank you.

Kimmie
 
You could feed and test him then but it is not ideal to wait an hour+ for the shot, as you are dosing based on a number an hour or more before. Is there a way to gradually tighten things up? Maybe gradually move the feeding up closer to 6/6:30 am? You could try giving him a treat at the earlier time and then test and shoot and give him breakfast at the later time? Or if you have an automatic feeder, he could eat part of his breakfast at 4/4:30am and then have the feeder close. Then at 6/6:30, test and shoot and feed the rest of the breakfast?
 
See I'm used to the way I was doing it with the N. Hank had to eat 30 min-1 hour before shot. I get up in the morning at 5am and he's ready for breakfast. Can I leave a little down before bed for him to snack on overnight? I'll try tomorrow morning to test at 6am, shot at 6:30am and then feed. How about this...move shot time up an hour to 5:30? Can the times change if necessary as long as it's 12 hours apart? 6&6 or 7&7? Is there leeway?
 
A timed feeder, such as the Pet Safe 5, might be helpful. You can set it to feed 2-3 hours before the morning test and shot.
 
I will second the petsafe 5. It has been a life saver in my house lol. I have it set for 7 am, 7 pm, and 1 am. Hidey's numbers get higher if he doesnt eat every few hours.

If your used to feeding him at 5 then I would aim to make that time your shoot time. Pick the best time for you & Hank and pick that....test, shoot, feed. That way your getting a more accurate bg number. Also, if you can try to get a +5 and a +6 for nadir that way we can see how low he's going.
 
Yes, thank you. I'll check into the feeder. This morning was rough. I got up at 4:30am and Hank wanted to be fed. I guess I could have fed him since it was 2hours before but didn't think about it. So I did test, shoot and feed about 6:25am. Hank was hungry but still isn't eating as much as he used to when he was on the high carb kibble.

So I'm not sure if the feeder would work. I'm worried that if he doesn't eat all when it dispenses that the food will pile up and he's going to be free-feeding all day. Hmmmmmm.

Hank's still not wanting to touch the wet food so am thinking about syringe feeding him a little wet food to get him to try it. I want to do this as a last resort so am holding off. How does the small meals work? Do I pick up all food after +6?

Maybe I should change his shot time to 5 and 5? The only thing is, sometimes I don't get off work till 6pm so the soonest he could get his shot would be 6:30pm. Would that be ok? But other than that, the 5 and 5 would work. How do I change just do it or gradual?

Kimmie
 
You've tried the things that might make the wet more tempting? Adding warm water, sprinkling with Parmesan or tuna juice, FortiFlora?

The timing is up to you. It would be best if the shots were 12 hours apart but 30 minutes isn't awful. Seems like it might be easier to move the feeding rather than the shot....i'd keep playing with the timing and the food and hope for small improvements. :-D
 
Hi Sue,
Yes, I've tried the warm water, dry food crumbs, forti-flora and parmesan cheese. You should have seen Hank eating all the parmesan that wasn't touching the wet food! He loves it!! The other stuff, he sniffed and then walked away. My only guess is I haven't found a wet food that smells good to him yet. I'm going to get another round of varieties. Dr. Lisa hasn't met my grand kitty yet! :lol:

Yeah, I like the 6:30 and 6:30 shot time. It really does work best for me but not if Hank is so hungry till then. His meal alarm clock is set for 5. :smile: What to do, what to do...

Kimmie
 
Well, maybe test and feed him 15 minutes later every time until you get him where you want him. They really are creatures of habit. And giving him a small low carb treat at 5am isn't a big issue if you test and shoot and give the bigger meal at 6. Would he settle for a small snack to take the edge off?

Or try the automatic feeder at 4. With the time change this weekend, he should think 4 is 5 anyway, right?
 
Because you are giving insulin, which lets him use the food he eats, his appetite may have reduced. (Though if he is losing weight, then he really isn't eating enough.)

There are a very few low carb dry foods - Young Again 0 Carb (5% calories from carbohydrates as we calculate it), Stella and Chewey's freeze-dried (doesn't crunch), and Epigen 90. You might try baking a canned low carb food until dry, possibly crunchy, too, and see if you can dry successive batches less and less. (Yes, the house will smell of baking cat food du jour!)
 
Oh, great the time change!! I forgot about that! How does that work with injection times. Sorry, I'm past trying to think about this one. I'm getting too tired. It's past my bedtime.

No, I don't think Hank is losing weight. I don't have a scale to check, yet.

Goodnight,
Kimmie
 
Just shift your shot times 15 minutes per shot or 30 minutes total per day.

So Friday and Saturday, you might shoot 15 minutes later AM and PM, then Sunday, shift back the time the 1 hour.
 
Thank you BJM.

Ok, let me see if I get this; Right now my times are 6:30 and 6:30. Friday will be 6:45 AM ± Saturday will be 7 AM & PM. Then Sunday will be...at 6:30 AM & PM, new time? Is this right? Have I got it?

Kimmie
 
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