FRIEND'S KITTY

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ohbell

ohbell

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Hello everyone!

I hate to 911, but I have been working with my cousin for a month now to get me the information from her friend on her diabetic cat. She is an elderly lady with no internet.... I just breifly spoke with her and Peanut (13 yrs. old) has been on insulin for almost a year... She does not home test, however, I told her for under 35.00 she could buy the stuff and start...she seems excited about the idea...she has 4 kitties, switched to friskies but I dont know what kind yet...we are going to visit more tonite..... She ask me how I kept Bean out of the dry, which should mean that she is still feeding dry.... She says he has lost muscle weight, and sleeps alot and drinks & eats alot.... She shoots under .50 but dont know what kind of insulin yet....

The reason I have been bothering my cousin is because she said he acts drunk alot! eeeeeks!

She also mentioned something about the back leg problem - kinda dragging them some - that is why I - 911, I have seen post about the back leg problems but have no idea how to find the previous post or what that is from...just dont remember.... Wanting some help so when I visit with her tonite, I can let her know...

I am soo excited about getting her Peanut boy tested and perhaps not hypo!

I have sent my cousin information via email and plan to do it again so that Ms. Rita can help her Peanut! tytytyt for all the information, this is going to be hard without internet and this site readily available to her, but I have been wanting to help for a while and will not stop just because she cannot sign on herself.....

She does have a friend that has a diabetic cat as well and does have the internet... I am getting her email and # this week end so, perhaps she can be the go between....They all live over 5 hours away....Wish me luck!
 
the leg problem could be neuropathy. getting the diabetes under control and often with some B12 (methylcobalamin) supplementation too, that can improve or go away.
 
Cindy & Mousie
That was exactly what she said it was...so glad to know it can be reversed! She will be happy camper too!

Lana & YoYo,
She lives in Midland Tx and I am in DFW area! boooooo hisssss! Wish I was there, I would carry my happy hiney over there and offer my newbie experence to her with a quickness!

Hope & (((Baby))) GA,
Thanks for the site, I will review right now!

Gosh, I could not live without this site! tytytytyt :-D
 
ohbell said:
She lives in Midland Tx
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I live in Houston which is about 5 hours away . . . but, unfortunately 5 hours in the opposite direction.

I looked through the member's list and I found a person who might live in the Midland area. I sent her a private message asking her to take a look at your post.

Lana
 
Lana & Yoyo,

ty so very much, that would be nice to have someone be able to help her as I know that my cousin will meet with them too.... I did speak w/ Rita about Mr. Peanut last nite....He was dx at 200bg....he gets .50 of Lantus 2x a day..... She does still put out some dry and not for sure how much he eats of it....Yes, she wants to test and will get the stuff from walmart this week end with my cousins help....she usually feeds friskees and said the can read turkey & gib. classic...she says he likes the chunks, but I think most of this on the list that I get for Bean that is 10 or less is not chunk...I am looking thru the list today, and going to send some to my cousin via email....
Have you had problems neuropathy? and if so, any luck with the vit.? I did tell her about that and she is interested it that as well...
His lb is that she said he is not peeing alot but alot of times dont get in the box, just beside the box...wondering if that is due to the neuropathy problem? Can you get the vit. at walmart???

Dont know what Peanut weighs but I hope my cousin can find that out..as close as possible...maybe she could call the vet and find out how much of the vit.to give him. I told her that once she gets to home testing, and knows his #, he gets the vit., perhaps this would go away....
I am trying to get my cousin to sign on here and read and get the information to her...we will see.
She said that he would eat boiled chicken, and said that might be a nice treat for pokey poke time!

Hope all have a furry fun day! :cool:

I want to thank everyone that has helped me out, this is so frustrating trying to coach gently to someone when you cant even see the kitty, and she does not have the internet! URRRRGGG!
 
ohbell

this is different than what all others will say about the neuropathy - but Simba had it, and we didn't use any methyl B12 vitamins at all, just the insulin and getting his numbers under control and the neuropathy went away
 
Ann & Scatcats,
That is such good news! I feel so good about this and for Peanut....Ms. Rita sounds like a wonderful fur mommy too. She was a hoot on the phone last nite and I felt very positive about her testing and doing the right thing for her baby! Cant wait for Monday to see if she actually got the testing down....Hope the lady might be able to help in Midland...we will see! cat_pet_icon
 
ohbell said:
Lana & Yoyo,

ty so very much, that would be nice to have someone be able to help her as I know that my cousin will meet with them too.... I did speak w/ Rita about Mr. Peanut last nite....He was dx at 200bg....he gets .50 of Lantus 2x a day..... She does still put out some dry and not for sure how much he eats of it....Yes, she wants to test and will get the stuff from walmart this week end with my cousins help....she usually feeds friskees and said the can read turkey & gib. classic...she says he likes the chunks, but I think most of this on the list that I get for Bean that is 10 or less is not chunk...I am looking thru the list today, and going to send some to my cousin via email....
Have you had problems neuropathy? and if so, any luck with the vit.? I did tell her about that and she is interested it that as well...
His lb is that she said he is not peeing alot but alot of times dont get in the box, just beside the box...wondering if that is due to the neuropathy problem? Can you get the vit. at walmart???

Dont know what Peanut weighs but I hope my cousin can find that out..as close as possible...maybe she could call the vet and find out how much of the vit.to give him. I told her that once she gets to home testing, and knows his #, he gets the vit., perhaps this would go away....
I am trying to get my cousin to sign on here and read and get the information to her...we will see.
She said that he would eat boiled chicken, and said that might be a nice treat for pokey poke time!

Hope all have a furry fun day! :cool:

I want to thank everyone that has helped me out, this is so frustrating trying to coach gently to someone when you cant even see the kitty, and she does not have the internet! URRRRGGG!
Click to expand...
My Casey has problems with neuropathy as well, and also had trouble ...going inside the box (at least with one of the boxes), looking like she was drunk when she walked, trouble jumping and climbing stairs. I have not tried the vits yet, but I am noticing that since I started to give her insulin, it has gotten better. Another thing I noticed is that the neoropathy gets worse when she gets stressed out. Based on that, I would believe that getting Peanut's diabetes under control (with the home testing, etc) and reduce his stress would help inprove his symptoms. So I hope Peant, and my Casey, will be able to reverse the neuropathy.

Roberta
and Casey
 
When was the last time the cat was seen by a vet?

Have the common contributors to elevated glucose and litterbox problems been ruled out - dental, bladder infection, etc?

If its been more than a few months, it'd be a good idea to have a vet check done.
 
Just a note of caution

While diabetic neuropathy is a possible option considering nobody knows whether the cat is regulated or not, there other potential serious issues that may be causing the weak hind legs including a clot, low potassium, etc., so I would suggest that this cat might need to be seen by a vet.
 
Jen & Squeak said:
Just a note of caution

While diabetic neuropathy is a possible option considering nobody knows whether the cat is regulated or not, there other potential serious issues that may be causing the weak hind legs including a clot, low potassium, etc., so I would suggest that this cat might need to be seen by a vet.
Click to expand...


Excellent point, Jen. Low potassium is something I am somewhat familiar with.
I noticed the same symptoms in Bob, which finally let to the original vet visit where he was dx's with diabetes. I observed him having trouble getting into the litter box, and his back legs were obviously weak. Poor thing would get his front half in the box, but he couldn't lift his back legs high enough, so although he tried to use the box, he ended up peeing on the floor. After dx, I removed the upper half of the box making it a couple inches lower, and once the treatment started to help, he was able to get into the box. When diagnosed, it was discovered that his potassium levels were low, and he's been on a steady treatment of sub-q fluids with added potassium for weeks. His original bloodwork showed a K value of
2.6 I think. "Normal is supposed to be 3.5 to 5.8? Last test, he was at 3.6, but I have to use up the rest of the bag of fluids in the next couple of weeks at which time he'll be rechecked. Low potassium can indicate CRF, from what I've read, and potassium is needed for proper heart and muscle function (low K means muscle weakness and the heart is after all, muscle). I would (if he hasn't been checked recently) ask for a test of his potassium levels soon.
With Bob, as his insulin and sub-q fluid therapy has progressed, his muscle weakness has greatly improved. I can remember how totally happy I was several weeks ago when I was laying on the couch and for the first time in weeks, instead of crying to be picked up, Bob hopped up there with me. He still cries to get up on the bed, which is 8-10 inches higher, but I think that is more due to the fact that pre-diabetes, he was too fat to jump that high. After trying and failing so many times, he probably doesn't believe he can make it. One of these days I'll make him try!
This site (which I won't swear is completely accurate because I don't know what all this stuff means!) might give you an idea of what all those lab tests results mean. Can one of the more experienced board members take a look and point out anything that might not be correct?

http://www.assistfeed.com/BloodTestValues.htm

A visit to the vet is probably a really good idea if it's been a while since the last one.

Carl in SC
 
Carl, just a tip, but when Simba was paralysed I first carried him everywhere, and both up and down in bed. When he started to be able to walk again, I handicapped adapted the apartment for him. Put stools by cupboards and bed so he could jump up in small steps. And that worked just fine, and the apartment has remained handicapped adapted, even the rescue girls now 1 yr old and can jump high by themselves thought all these stools where a good idea :razz:
 
Ann,
Great tip! I've actually looked around the house for something "in between" the floor and bed height, but haven't found a suitable step (one that won't fall over, or that I won't trip over when I forget it's there). I'll probably just build something to suit and maybe cover it with low-pile carpet. Sounds like a fun project for this weekend!

Carl
 
I'm the person that was pm'd, but I just saw it. Sorry, wasn't on here for a few days. Unfortunately, I live in the DFW area too. My mom lives in Midland, but not only does she know nothing about cats, she is also allergic. I wish I could be of more help to your friend. It sounds like you're getting some good info to her for sure.

At some point in the next few months I'll be visiting my mom, but I can't say when. If she still needs help at that point I'd be happy to go see her on my visit. I'll let you all know when I have my trip planned. Good luck!
 
Terra & Peaches,
Thank you for the offer and yes, if you have time during your visit, pm me and I will see if they can use some assistance!
Where in dfw are you? I was thinking I am the only one on this side of the world! lol.... I am hoping with my cousins help, and the information that I sent her, they will be able to accomplish testing very quickly. I think the shopping will be tomorrow instead of today :sad: , but I know my cousin is expecting to help...we will see what happens.
 
I'm in McKinney in collin county. I think there are quite a few members in DFW. I just moved back here from Arizona, so originally when I joined the board I lived in the Phoenix area. We are originally from TX, though.
 
That is nice to know, I am in Euless. Lived in Grapevine forever, moved to Missouri for 6 months, and moved back! too much for 8 months time!
 
Re: FRIEND'S KITTY -- FOOD QUESTIONS

Ms. Rita is feeding Friskies but I dont see thess on the carb lists so I was wondering if someone could help...They are starting the home testing this week, getting the methyl B12 today. She has taken up the dry food alread! eeeeks
She is feeding Meaty Bits Variety Pak: Beef & Gravy, Chicken & Gravy and Gourmet.......needing to find out soooon what the carbs are on these if possible!
Thanks to everyone on here for your help!
 
The meaty bits carb count is as follows: Chicken & Gravy 13% carbs, Gourmet Grill 13% carbs, and Beef & Gravy 14% carbs. Still too high for a diabetic, but a step in the right directions over dry. With Friskies anything that says gravy...bad for diabetics, she needs the classic pates.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette & The Fur Gang
 
ty momma of muse, I thought it would be higher, just did not know how much higher than classics..... and she just took up the dry which was special kitty. And without testing, was afraid it might be too low....but still is riskey!
Cousin went during her lunch break to get all of the home testing items, and they were OUT! Should get tomorrow tho.
I will let her know that it is lower carb than dry too.
 
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