Getting on the home testing bandwagon - still heavy urine output

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Audrey's Mom

Audrey's Mom

Member Since 2014
I don't specifically have any questions here that I can't find on the forums. Maybe just venting. My first attempts at home testing didn't go well, so I've put it aside, but I NEED to get cracking on this. There is so much good advice and tutorial help here. Thank you all.

Anyone who may remember Audrey pilfering a family sized cooked beef roast while I was on a lengthy and important evening phone convo and my letting it cool on the counter (I thought I'd lost my mind and maybe I was brilliant in multi-tasking and had carved and bagged the slices mindlessly while talking on the phone), only to find the cul...errr., cat-prit knawing it down to about the size of a bran muffin by morning. It was just slow cooked to have roast beef slices in the freezer and hubby was away that week. We're empty-nesters. She sure had a wonderful all-night feast! Our old girl dog was sleeping. Lol.

The urine output of Audrey is still a major concern and I find puddles on our hard surface flooring almost every morning or 2nd morning. She's also taken to sometimes using our carpeted bedroom as her toilet. Ugh! We also have a beautiful 17 year old Shih-Tzu starting to have the odd accident, so my husband thinks the puddles are from the dog, and he loves her to pieces. He doesn't have quite the same affection for Audrey-cat. When he's home, I scramble to get up early to clean up the messies and my mop and pail is always at the ready. Her litter box is always kept clean and I am doing nothing different. Same routine. Same litter. Major problem. Husband works away a lot, so he doesn't see or smell half of what I do. Maybe I'm thankful he has minor sinus issues!

The other weekend when we took Audrey to our lake place (she loves it there), I was leaving and about to put her in the carrier for the short highway drive home (she tolerates the drive well), I picked her up outside where her carrier was waiting, and she unusually started urinating as I held her up, then out! I could not believe the urine output that hit the ground and the amount of time that passed while she voided. It probably wasn't, but it felt like a full minute of her voiding. Ever hear the term peeing like a racehorse?

When she does void in her box, which she also does with regularity as well, it's like picking up the size of that family sized roast beef she pilfered. Heavy, huge and the scoop is groaning. Her favourite out of box spot is mere feet away from the main floor laundry room litter box which has been in the same place since she's been a kitten. Of course the urine is in the back hallway entrance and I'm sure is seeping under the baseboards and hitting the drywall.

I'm going to attempt to home test BG again without having a panic attack. Lol. Her black rimmed ears make it a challenge to find the sweet spot. Hello, flashlight this time! I am a very calm sort normally and I think I remained very steady and chilled the last time I attempted. Maybe not. I am also going to invest in some keto testing at home. Should be easier with morning puddles (sometimes seems like a lake of urine). If I dare mention taking her back to the vet to hubs, he doesn't take hundreds of dollars spent on the cat very well. She's my baby and I want her back to normal... or at least manageable. Love her to pieces!

We are replacing all of our flooring (hard surface through main areas and possibly low pile berber carpeted bedrooms for our cool climate) through the winter as it was a planned project anyway, but I really need to get this nipped in the bud. I live with all our bedroom and family room doors closed in the day as I work from home. I value a fresh, clean home and I value my baby.

Thanks for letting me vent. I know this isn't Dr. Phil, but sometimes a good vent is therapeutic. Febreeze (light room sprays) and Nature's Miracle Company are loving the surge in sales right about now from Audrey's Mom. :)
 
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Venting is fine here! I am wondering if you have sure checked her for a UTI. Some times they void in places besides the litter box because they have urinated in the litter box and it hurt.

The things that helped us most in testing was to have a large enough gauge lancet (25-27 gauge may work best at first) and be sure his ear was very warm. We held the rice sack next to his ear for at least 15-30 seconds at first. Heating the ear helps the capillaries grow fatter.

Are you having a specific issue - not enough blood or uncooperative cat or?
 
She's a good girl, Sue. I just felt bad poking and prodding in my search for the sweet spot. . She gave it a good go, then ran off as if to say "Ok! I've had enough!" I gave her a lean chicken bite or 3 for her troubles. The 26-29 gauge lancets might be a better choice rather than 30 gauge I picked up during a whirlwind visit to the States... She's got a tolerance level that's to her schedule, and I respect that. When we cuddle now, I rub and warm her ears and she quite likes that!

I will have to check into a UTI. I so appreciate your helpfulness. :)
 
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I find singing helps before I poke. It calms CJ and me down and my singing often puts her into a trance. When I do the actual poking, however, I stay quiet.

Another tip is applying a very tiny dab of ointment such as neosporin, polysporin or vaseline with a q-tip on your cat's ear before you poke. The ointment helps bead up the blood, making it easier to collect it on the strip. The key is to put just a very tiny amount. Too much will result in an error message on your meter.

I've been using the 26 gauge lance. The lower the # of the gauge, the easier it will be to draw blood. Alternatively, you could try poking several times with a higher # gauge.

When aiming for the sweet spot, the key is to aim for the area between the vein and the outer ear. If, despite using a flashlight, the sweet spot is hard to see, perhaps gently shaving off a bit of hair on the ear would help. However, you have an advantage with Audrey having black-tipped ears. Just aim for the middle area of her black-tipped ears for poking.

I agree with Sue to have Audrey tested for an UTI.
 
Thanks Cat Ma.
Are you singing the Hokey-Pokey song to CJ? I want to know what song! :) I'll never make American Idol, but thankfully my pets don't judge me. Thank goodness. My singing voice would put any pet in a trance. Lol.
 
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You work from home, right? I'd just use my own paycheck and take your baby to the vet, since you are not home testing.
Sounds like out of control diabetes to me, and possibly a dosage adjustment is needed. Which we could gladly help you with here!
Heavy urine output is awfully hard on the little ones.
 
I never could do the ear poke and make it work, for either of us. After poking a hole right thru Goof's ear, I had to find a better way. My vet suggested trying the paw pad, worked like a charm. (Well, mostly ). It still took a few tries, but he didn't mind having his paw messed with nearly as much. I used a different one each time and never had any infection issues because the hole is so tiny and closes very quickly.
 
Tucker&Me said:
You work from home, right? I'd just use my own paycheck and take your baby to the vet, since you are not home testing.
Sounds like out of control diabetes to me, and possibly a dosage adjustment is needed. Which we could gladly help you with here!
Heavy urine output is awfully hard on the little ones.
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Giving a cat insulin daily requires daily home monitoring. Taking a cat to the vet daily would mean twice a day at minimum, a big chunk out of your poccketbook and inflated BG #'s, especially if the cat is stressed.

I was one of those people who said I would never ever poke my cat's ears and now I appreciate the ability to do that. I appreciate not having the hassle of taking a miserable cat to the vet and wasting needless time and money. Poking doesn't hurt the cat at all because cats' ears have few nerve receptors and the more you poke, more capillaries are formed, making it easier to draw blood. The day I learned how to home test was the day I learned CJ was hypo. Had I not been home testing, CJ would have ended in the ER and I would have been sent an expensive bill. There have been times when I've poked CJ so many times in a day, her ears were red and "pierced" but her ears healed quickly. I even poked her veins a few times and thought I had wounded her for life. Not a chance.

@Tucker&Me, the urine issue may be an UTI or another medical issue.
 
As you can see, Saoirse's got black ears and there's no hope of seeing the marginal ear vein. I use the following method to get a blood sample and it works really well. Perhaps it might help you and Audrey.

1. Smear thin film of Vaseline over sweet spot area.

2. Warm the outer edge of the ear well. (I use warm water drawn up into a plastic pipette with a food bag clip to clamp it.)

3. Support the edge of the ear under the sweet spot with a 3/4" strip of folded kitchen paper.

4. Position the lancet tip (bevelled side up, at a slight angle) close to the ear in the sweet spot area and approximately 1mm in from the edge of the ear, then give the ear a quick tip of the lancet - a bit like one might give something a pin prick. (I use an Alphatrak lancet device to hold the lancet, but I remove the clear cover and freehand the actual poke.)

Hope something above might help. :)


Mogs
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When I got the ReliOn Confirm on a quick shopping trip to the States (I live in Canada) I tried poking my own index digit. Hurt like H E double hockey sticks. Maybe I am too analytical. I'm thinking she's feeling that pain too.

You're all so wonderful with great advice. The song I might sing is "The Cat came Back" (the very next day)..the Cat came back, we thought she was a goner...but the Cat came back....just couldn't stay away, away, away, away....

She's a good one!
 
I do what @Critter Mom does, only I start out with #2 first and then #1. For #3, I use a cosmetic pad, fold it over the ear to keep it steady and gently blot up any blood afterwards. For #2, I put a small, damp wash cloth in a ziplock bag, microwave it for about 15 seconds, test it on my arm to make sure it's warm, never hot, and apply it gently and briefly to CJ's ear to warm it.

You'll find a technique that works for you and Audrey. It will get easier!
 
Audrey's Mom said:
When I got the BG ReliOn Confirm on a quick shopping trip to the States (I live in Canada) I tried poking my own index digit. Hurt like H E double hockey sticks. Maybe I am too analytical. I'm thinking she's feeling that pain too.

You're all so wonderful with great advice. The song I might sing is "The Cat came Back" (the very next day)..the Cat came back, we thought she was a goner...but the Cat came back....just couldn't stay away, away, away, away....
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Nope, the poking doesn't hurt cats. They have few nerve receptors in their ears to feel pain. Cats just don't like having their ears played with or being restrained but with low carb treats and heaps of praises and singing, they will get used to it.

Ahhh, The Cat Came Back! Singing it now and guess who came downstairs to greet me? :smuggrin:
 
While you work on blood testing, take a look at my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools. The key ones for right now are water drunk, dehydration checks, plus urine ketone and glucose monitoring.
 
Cat Ma said:
the urine issue may be an UTI or another medical issue.
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Yeah that's exactly what I meant by the vet visit. Of course no one would want to take their cat to a vet twice a day, everyday for glucose checks and dosage.
Just saying w/o home testing, you wouldn't know what it could be without going to the vet.
 
Tucker&Me said:
Yeah that's exactly what I meant by the vet visit. Of course no one would want to take their cat to a vet twice a day, everyday for glucose checks and dosage.
Just saying w/o home testing, you wouldn't know what it could be without going to the vet.
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Good point, Tucker&Me :)
 
Thanks to everyone. Last evening I made an attempt at a BG reading. The meter was put away for awhile after the first drastic attempt awhile back. I found she doesn't like the lancet pen as it is designed to be used. I was having troubles with the right depth indicator setting, so just freehanded it in the pen like many suggested. Burned up several lancets, but finally had success. I had to use bribery of course and unfortunately, all I had on hand was 'Temptations' treats - not recommended, I'm sure! I was determined not to give up. Her PMPS was 405 (after a treat or 3). Much smoother going this morning as I'm slowly getting the hang of tips and tricks of having everything prepared, test strip halfway in, Polysporin applied before, etc. She was quite co-operative this morning staring at the treat bag in front of her, and did not receive a couple of nibbles until after the poke this time. She was at 366 this morning. I'll be home for a good part of day, so will continue testing as the day goes on.

She was prescribed 1 unit Levemir every 12 hours, but to be honest, for the longest while I've been drawing a hair or 2 over that. I'd say she's been getting closer to 1.25 - 1.5, but never anymore than that. She is being fed a can of FF Pate during morning insulin shot, a can midway through the cycle, and a can during PM Insulin. If I don't have an eagle eye, I sometimes catch her horning in on the submissively calm dog's supper (usually lean poultry or lean hamburger/rice - no dog food) but she doesn't get away with much as I try and keep her away.

Today, I shall bake or broil some lean b/s chicken breasts and cut those up for tiny frozen treats and will hold back on the Temptations treats, I promise. I set up a spreadsheet last night. This Google doc thing is so foreign to me, but I'm sure in time, I'll get the hang of that as well!

PS: I forgot to sing... :(
 
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Tucker&Me said:
Sounds like out of control diabetes to me
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Agree with Tucker&Me- even with our kitty being on a med that concentrates his urine (for a different condition he has), I have noticed pee size and dilution level being directly proportional to how well the diabetes is controlled. As long as there's no UTI, my guess would be that you'll see smaller and more concentrated pees as her BG gets under better control. ;)
 
THAT IS FANTASTIC PROGRESS AUDREY!!!
I am very HAPPY FOR YOU! :bighug:
Isn't it a great feeling to know you have these skills to help your sweetheart??!
You have made my day!:)
Great job!!
 
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