Hello, my 12 yr old kiity just diag, so I am slightly overwhemled by it ALL, but I think she is somewhat better, however i just noticed over the weekend That the PZI I got from the Vet is expired, the date is 06/ 2010, I will be going back today< I'm thinking this is not so good! as I have spent $400.00 already.I asked about a change in her diet, she only eats Royal Canin hypoallergenic, due to previous stomach issues which of course is quite $$$ & not going to work with this condition I'm thinking? she loves moist food, so any reccs. would be helpful & I will search around these boards as well. Thanks for any help at all, i think I'm depressedLOL
I'm joining the club
- Thread starter Marsha
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Rob & Harley (GA)
Very Active Member
Hi & Welcome,
Yes the learning curve on this is very steep in the beginning but within a few weeks you will settle into a routine. We were all in your shoes at one time so ask whatever questions you have.
On the Health board there is a sticky that says "Newbies start here", there is a ton of great information you will want to know, also be sure to check out Janet & Binky's food chart, she has gathered all of the nutritional info on wet canned food to help you decide what to feed and why. Also check out the catinfo link about feline nutrition.
What kind of PZI are you on. What dose are you giving.
I sounds like kitties previous condition was allergies? A food switch might help that too. Most people here feed low carb wet canned food or raw. It's best to stick to something under 10% carbs. For a kitty with allergies you might want to try to the Fancy Feast Gluten Free cans or look into the raw diet.
Don't want to overwhelm you.
Welcome aboard!
Yes the learning curve on this is very steep in the beginning but within a few weeks you will settle into a routine. We were all in your shoes at one time so ask whatever questions you have.
On the Health board there is a sticky that says "Newbies start here", there is a ton of great information you will want to know, also be sure to check out Janet & Binky's food chart, she has gathered all of the nutritional info on wet canned food to help you decide what to feed and why. Also check out the catinfo link about feline nutrition.
What kind of PZI are you on. What dose are you giving.
I sounds like kitties previous condition was allergies? A food switch might help that too. Most people here feed low carb wet canned food or raw. It's best to stick to something under 10% carbs. For a kitty with allergies you might want to try to the Fancy Feast Gluten Free cans or look into the raw diet.
Don't want to overwhelm you.
Welcome aboard!
Thanks for your reply, It is PZI Vet, 1 m 2xa day, I took the expired vial back & they have to order one, so I am using expired PZI, I'm really ticked at the Vet for giving outdated medsI looked up diet & food choices here & bought some on the list Fancy Feast, nothing has been mentioned about me doing home monoriting,but will go to wal Mart & get the Reli-on brand I guess. I will stumble through this,the more I read the more confused I get, but that;s just me.. thanks
Rob & Harley (GA)
Very Active Member
I don't blame you for being mad about the expired insulin. There is alot to learn in the beginning here but soon it will be old hat. Keep asking questions, questions, questions.
Sorry I didn't mention the home testing. We all home test before every injection so that we know it is safe to give it. I use the Walmart Relion Micro meter and strips (get extra strips you only get 10 in the kit). You will also want to pick up some lancets 28-39 guage to start, also some ketostix for testing the urine for ketones.
On food, try to keep the carbs under 10%. Walmart Special Kitty has a few that are lower like 3-4%. I have been feeding Friskies but they are around 7-8% carbs and I wanted to experiment with lower carbs, Sophisticat also has some lower.
You will also want to put together a Hypo Kit just incase kitty's bg goes too low. Stock it with Medium and High carb foods to bring up a lower bg and Karo Syrup or Honey for an emergency.
In the Tech forum there are directions for setting up a spreadsheet and attaching it to your signature. You will want to do this and keep it updated so people can see where kitty is bg wise, this is a great tool for you to keep a record of bg's, food fed and any other notes you want to add and will be invaluable for us in an emergency.
Sorry you didn't get the proper welcome. I'll chime in more after work.
Robin
There is not alot of traffic in this area sometimes. If you have an urgent question please post it on the Health section, there are many more people over there all day and night long.
Sorry I didn't mention the home testing. We all home test before every injection so that we know it is safe to give it. I use the Walmart Relion Micro meter and strips (get extra strips you only get 10 in the kit). You will also want to pick up some lancets 28-39 guage to start, also some ketostix for testing the urine for ketones.
On food, try to keep the carbs under 10%. Walmart Special Kitty has a few that are lower like 3-4%. I have been feeding Friskies but they are around 7-8% carbs and I wanted to experiment with lower carbs, Sophisticat also has some lower.
You will also want to put together a Hypo Kit just incase kitty's bg goes too low. Stock it with Medium and High carb foods to bring up a lower bg and Karo Syrup or Honey for an emergency.
In the Tech forum there are directions for setting up a spreadsheet and attaching it to your signature. You will want to do this and keep it updated so people can see where kitty is bg wise, this is a great tool for you to keep a record of bg's, food fed and any other notes you want to add and will be invaluable for us in an emergency.
Sorry you didn't get the proper welcome. I'll chime in more after work.
Robin
There is not alot of traffic in this area sometimes. If you have an urgent question please post it on the Health section, there are many more people over there all day and night long.
Joanna & Bix (GA)
Very Active Member
Hi & welcome!!! From what I have heard, PZI Vet is good well past the expiration date. They don't manufacturer it anymore and supplies are running out, that's why you got one that's expired. I think everything that has been made may expire this fall, at least those are the latest dates I've seen mentioned. As far as I know it's not like it goes bad or anything past the expiration, if anything it would be that it's less effective, which you'll know sooner or later if you aren't getting a good response from the insulin. I'll be surprised if they can get you a new vial, as far as I've heard there's no where left to order it from. Maybe they will order ProZinc for you, that is the one that's more or less replacing PZI Vet.
Bix has stomach issues, and has done on the Wellness Chicken & Turkey flavors, which are 4% carb. The FFs (and everything else) made him sick. ECID (every cat is different) so you may want to try some things and see what works. If the food she is on works well for her you may need to stick with that though, and if it means she needs more insulin that may just be what you have to live with. Some cats don't tolerate the food changes well, and sometimes if it's working... don't touch it! I don't know the Royal Canin, but the prescription foods usually aren't really the best it turns out, so you may find she does great on something else. A lot of kitties have tummy issues, so there are threads you can search for on Health (or post a new one if you want) with people asking questions about what foods are best for stomach issues.
Bix has stomach issues, and has done on the Wellness Chicken & Turkey flavors, which are 4% carb. The FFs (and everything else) made him sick. ECID (every cat is different) so you may want to try some things and see what works. If the food she is on works well for her you may need to stick with that though, and if it means she needs more insulin that may just be what you have to live with. Some cats don't tolerate the food changes well, and sometimes if it's working... don't touch it! I don't know the Royal Canin, but the prescription foods usually aren't really the best it turns out, so you may find she does great on something else. A lot of kitties have tummy issues, so there are threads you can search for on Health (or post a new one if you want) with people asking questions about what foods are best for stomach issues.
Rob & Harley (GA)
Very Active Member
Hi,
Please come back and let us know what the vet said.
Robin
Please come back and let us know what the vet said.
Robin
Food list for you:
http://binkyspage.tripod.com/index.html
Check out the pages and make a list of foods to get and try.
http://binkyspage.tripod.com/index.html
Check out the pages and make a list of foods to get and try.
Joanna & Bix (GA)
Very Active Member
Hi Marsha, thanks for the update! Curious why you have a different dose AM & PM? Most cats do well with the same dose at both times, and I can tell you it makes it a lot easier to interpret their #s!!! If it's 3u total for 24 hrs, I'd rather see you give 1.5 at AM and again at PM, instead of different doses.
If you want, post a new thread each day (or whatever days work for you) with updates on her #s and how she is doing. 265 isn't too bad, so hopefully she is feeling pretty good!!! On the cycle where you are giving 2u (if you stay with that plan) I would try to get in a spot test if you can, anywhere from maybe +3 to +5, to be sure the dose isn't giving you too much action.
Hope she is feeling well today!
If you want, post a new thread each day (or whatever days work for you) with updates on her #s and how she is doing. 265 isn't too bad, so hopefully she is feeling pretty good!!! On the cycle where you are giving 2u (if you stay with that plan) I would try to get in a spot test if you can, anywhere from maybe +3 to +5, to be sure the dose isn't giving you too much action.
Hope she is feeling well today!
Jennifer+Spunky(GA)+Peake
Member
Welcome!
Are you home testing yet?
It would be really great if you can dive in there with the home testing...daunting at first but there are a lot of links to get you help. Especially since you are upping the dose. It is very important that you get kitty to eat. Like Joanna said...sometimes if it is working don't touch it. It's more important for a kitty that is receiving insulin to have food on board than NOT having enough low carb food on board, make sense?
I know it is absolutely overwhelming right now. This feeling will pass :razz:
I can't get the hypo information to print from the website link listed in the post below but it is all on this post. Print it out if you haven't already. Forgive me if you have gotten all this info in another board section. I'm coming back on the board to help a friend...I've been gone for a bit.
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1122
Links for home testing under this post:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=287
If it was Royal Canin Sensitivity rice and duck it's 20% carb according to janet and binkys charts... don't see any others that look like hypoallergenic on the newer list.
Keep us posted! What is her name?
Jen
Are you home testing yet?
It would be really great if you can dive in there with the home testing...daunting at first but there are a lot of links to get you help. Especially since you are upping the dose. It is very important that you get kitty to eat. Like Joanna said...sometimes if it is working don't touch it. It's more important for a kitty that is receiving insulin to have food on board than NOT having enough low carb food on board, make sense?
I know it is absolutely overwhelming right now. This feeling will pass :razz:
I can't get the hypo information to print from the website link listed in the post below but it is all on this post. Print it out if you haven't already. Forgive me if you have gotten all this info in another board section. I'm coming back on the board to help a friend...I've been gone for a bit.
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1122
Links for home testing under this post:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=287
If it was Royal Canin Sensitivity rice and duck it's 20% carb according to janet and binkys charts... don't see any others that look like hypoallergenic on the newer list.
Keep us posted! What is her name?
Jen
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