Fluffy and his blood test

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Fluffmiester

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I tested Fluffy blood last night and he was great. I had to stick him three times and he was no problem. His level was 438 before i gave him his insulin. I have the best cat in the world. I bought him some chicken livers today would like to know how much I should give him at one time? Thanks
 
You're not supposed to give them too much liver as it has an excess of vitamin A, I believe. Sorry I can't remember the whole deal on that. Maybe someone else will stop by with that info. Congrats on getting the test done!
 
Great job on your first test! Welcome to the vampire club! I don't know how many pieces of liver to give him either, but a couple little cut up chunks is probably ok. I use freeze-dried chicken chunks as treats (Charlie loves them, but my civie won't touch them! She is sure they're not really food). I give him 3 or 4 chunks after a poking. Gator knows all that nutrition-y stuff, hopefully he'll be around to tell you more about if too much will be a problem.

Edit: I sent gator a pm to take a look at your liver issue.
 
Kristen is 100% right - liver is high in vitamin A. But it is a good food in moderation.

The general advice I've seen here is to not feed any unbalanced food as more than 10% of their diet.

For liver or organ meat in general I would be even more cautious.

If you are cooking the liver then it can further change the nutrients - turine is one important feline nutrient that is affected by cooking.

I think this link talks about Vit A:
http://maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.htm

Also this one talks about too little:
http://maxshouse.com/Tuna_and_Cats_Nutr ... _Facts.htm

The AAFCO guidelines state that cats should get no more than 750,000 IU/kg Vit A [one of the few nutrients with a max value]:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm ... 99&aid=657

And this link has a little more in detail about Vit A levels:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm ... 48&aid=709
Interestingly it states:
Of the four fat soluble vitamins, only A and D seem to have a potential toxicity, and this only experimentally. We do not believe that in today's foods and supplements it would be possible to have a vitamin toxicosis.
Click to expand...
If you want to know how much Vit A is in a given amount of chicken liver you can look it up here:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/
 
Congratulations on getting your first test. Way to go! It will start to get easier from now on.

Come back to post your bg's for us as you get them.
 
I started testing Fluffy last Friday at 7:30 pm it was 438, Sat at the same time it was 473, Sunday I did not do a test, and this morning 7:30 am it was 540 I gave him today 2u instead of 1 1/2u I hope this is right. Should I use the same meter all the time i bought 2 one is one touch and the other is relion. When I got this high number this morning we tested ourselves and both were a little high but we had sugar with our coffee. What is the best time to check his blood. Should he not have anything to eat before. Thanks
 
I think your dose increase is fine. You want to test before each shot, to make sure it is safe to give the amount of insulin you are planning on. And then around 4-6 hours after the shot to try to find his nadir - the lowest place the insulin takes him. This helps you figure out how the insulin is working. It is best not to have food for the hour or two before the shot, if possible. Food can raise bg levels so you can get a number that isn't "true" but is influenced by food.

Time to get a spreadsheet going so you (and we) can see the numbers you are getting with the doses you are giving. If you are computer savvy, it isn't hard: Setting up a spreadsheet If you aren't, just send me a private message. (Choose the little pm button at the bottom of my post.) I can help you get it set up.

Edited to add; Yes, use the same meter for your tests with the other one as backup. Maybe the ReliOn since its strips are the least expensive?
 
You're testing @ 7.30 AM and PM, right? 12 hours apart?

You need to at least get his BG before each shot. ... and, as Sue said, whenever possible, at +4 +6.

Sue and Oliver said:
If you are computer savvy, it isn't hard: Setting up a spreadsheet
Click to expand...
.... I've got a degree in computers and I couldn't get it! :lol: Just put it in Sue's very capable hands!
 
I have only been testing once a day. Also someone mentioned + 2 +4 what does that mean. I printed up a copy of the spreadsheet and keeping track on that. Is that ok?
 
+2 means two hours after the a shot, +4 means four hours after and so on. If you can keep track on a SS that everyone can see via Google Docs, it would make it easier for folks here to see what's going on and help you.
 
I can put your spreadsheet into your signature so that every time you post, your latest numbers are right there in your post.

It will be good for you to have a printed copy for yourself, but it won't help you explain to us what his patterns have been, what your numbers have been for the last two weeks, etc. We need that info in one place when you are asking for help on a dose amount.

I have done it for lots of newbies. It will only take me a few minutes. Just send me a message. I can guide you through it on the phone or I can just do it for you.
 
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