I'm new. Is it time to let my cat go?

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

brandonb87

Member Since 2014
My male cat Moe Moe is 4 1/2 years old and got diagnosed with Diabetes a couple weeks ago. He declined very quickly in a matter of weeks, so that's when I took him in. His level was at 450 and weight about 6 pounds. The vet and I decided to change his diet to see how that worked first. I made him homemade food (chicken thighs and chicken liver). He loved it and his excess urination and water consumption slowed dramatically. However, he still became very lethargic and his hind legs have gotten very weak. He just lays around. I took him back for his check up yesterday. His levels were down to 380 but he lost another pound. I started him on PZI shots once a day at 1U. The vet thought he was too underweight to go more. He seems to just get a little worse every day with walking and just laying there and whines a lot (though he is very vocal anyways). This is breaking my heart seeing him like this. I know I have tried everything but how long do I give it to see if the insulin works? The vet thought it was strange he lost a pound after his new diet and he eats a lot. I don't want him to suffer at all, as of now the vet says he just doesn't feel good. She thinks there might be an underlying problem like a tumor or something with the pancreas since he wont put on weight. His thyroid test came back fine but his white blood cells were down. The vet didn't seem very optimistic. Its just odd that he is so young and this hit quick. Im so stressed not knowing whether to let him go or keep trying, ive never encountered anything like this regarding pets. Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated.
 
Welcome to FDMB.

Feline diabetes is a controllable disease in most cases, when you have all the right information and tools. Your veterinarian may be somewhat inexperienced with feline diabetes as they usually don't see it very often in clinics.

No insulin lasts 24 hours, so that's part of the problem. You'd be better off giving 0.5 units every 12 hours. Its likely he needs a bit more, but for now, start there.

The difficulty standing and walking may be diabetic neuropathy caused by uncontrolled diabetes. Proper insulin dosing, methylcobalamin (a form of Vit B12), and some time can correct that.

Are you home glucose testing? That'll help you help your cat. Pick up an inexpensive human glucometer such as the WalMart ReliOn Confirm, Confirm Micro, or Prime, matching test strips, and 26 to 28 gauge lancets. We'll coach you through it.

Also, just chicken and liver isn't a balanced diet. You got the low carb part correct; to learn more about good feline nutrition, pop over to vet written Cat Info
 
Your kitty is so young... he could well have a very long life ahead of him if you're willing to do the legwork!

And yea, Welcome to FDMB! (great place to be for help with this)
 
See if your kitty will eat Fancy Feast or Friskies pate style canned foods. They have balanced nutrition and higher in fat than his current food, that'll help him gain weight and still be low carb to help control his diabetes. It doesn't look like your dosing correctly and you need to home test his glucose to get him controlled. Read up and ask questions on the this forum. There's lots of info here to help you.You can do it, we were all in your shoes at one time. It all seems so hopeless and overwhelming but it's really not. Do it for your kitty's sake and yours so you can both enjoy many more years together.
 
Hello Brandon and extra sweet kitty Moe Moe and welcome to the message board.

Yes, the food change will help and adding some insulin is good but you have seen some suggestions for getting your cat feeling better.

1. twice a day dosing is needed with any insulin for cats.
2. more balanced diet
3. home testing

I'd like to add that unregulated diabetic cats may need up to 50% more food. Spreading the food out into mini-meals 4-6 times a day can help to take the load off the pancreas and help the pancreas to heal.

A couple of weeks is a very short amount of time to see changes. This is a marathon not a sprint. It took time for your cat to become diabetic, it will take time for regulation and then hopefully diet controlled remission.

Hang in there, there is lots of day to day experience here with helping a diabetic cat.

Your kitty Moe Moe is too young to think of putting him to sleep yet, you need to give it more time. We can help you. Please ask all the questions you need to. We love to help.
 
Hi Brandon and welcome to FDMB. You have already received great advice about the insulin dose, food and hometesting, so I am not going to repeat it. I just wanted to let you know that Moe Moe's health can significantly turn around with the proper treatment and time.

A few years ago I adopt Spot. When I received her, she was on a poor diet and instead of insulin, she was receiving glipizide (which does not work for most cats). She was extremely underweight and also had such severe neuropathy that she could barely walk. Within a few weeks of the proper treatment (diet, insulin and hometesting) she had gained weight and was beginning to walk. Within 3 months, she was running and jumping on things and by 6 months, you would have never thought it was the same cat. She had gained all of her weight back and did not even have a limp. I just wanted to give you encouragement and let you know, with the proper care, you can have many more years with Moe Moe.
 
Thank you everyone! It is just so hard to seem him like this and not knowing if he is really suffering. It seems he isn't getting any better even though its been a short time period. He hasn't pooped in two days even though he goes to his box and tries. He is only urinating maybe once a day. His eating is slowed a little, so I haven't been able to give his shot tonight yet and today was day one of splitting his dose into two shots instead of one.
I'd really like to know any thoughts on when he is too ill to get better or too far gone so to speak. Like my vet mentioned, besides the diabetes, she thought there might be something underlying that is more serious causing the inability to gain weight.
 
He could be constipated and need an enema. Read more here: Feline Constipation

Also, home testing will identify if he is too high or too low during any part of the shot cycle.

We share our glucose test numbers in a Google drive spreadsheet grid. Instructions are here.
 
Hi Brandon and Moe Moe!

Brandon when I came to this board last year my Scooter was on his last legs so to speak. I came here as a last resort and to find out if I should put him down. Just like you.

I was greeted by the same wonderful folks greeting you. They guided me to the right insulin a spread sheet and home testing as well as food just like they are guiding you. I can tell Moe Moe is a special kitty to you so don't give up. Please do the spread sheet and keep it up to date. It is the most useful tool for other folks to help you both. From experience I can tell you there are times when I can barely think when Scooter is sick. The bonus is you will also make some nice friends who know everything your Vet doesn't. :-D

Also when someone sends a link to a sticky note take the time to read it. Those sticky notes have answers to questions I didn't even know I had.

Today my Scooter is off insulin and controlled by diet. This happened because I logged on everyday and posted his information and my spread sheet. You can do this!! Moe Moe is just super sick diabetic cat right now. You can help him.

Welcome and I am glad you found us!

Linda
 
Welcome Brandon and Moe!

I echo what everyone one else has said with one addition: Give yourself a chance.

You've Got This.

:)
 
Welcome to the FDMB Brandon and Moe!

I won't repeat what you've already heard, but I would give Moe a chance (with the guidance of these wonderful people)

If there's something else going on with Moe, you'll have to cross that bridge when you come to it, but our diabetic kitties can really look like death when first diagnosed. My own cat, China, looked like a walking skeleton and weighed half what she does now.

Give Moe the benefit of some time on the right food, the correct insulin, and the support of the people here. You may be very surprised at how much better he can be!
 
Get him some cat grass for his constipation. He's constipated from being dehydrated due to the diabetes. You can also add more water to his food.
 
Thank you again everyone for your thoughts. With a heavy heart I write that buddy Moe Moe passed away in his sleep last night. I like to think that I did try everything possible for the short time I had since his diagnosis a couple weeks ago. I feel a little guilty I did not catch this earlier. However, I do feel I did try all I could. He wasn't getting any better and just seemed miserable, so even though it hurts very much, I am glad he passed here at home and on his own terms. It is strange because I basically had the goodbye talk with him last night and thanked him and told him it was ok if he needed to let go. Corny I know, but he is Gods creature and was my best buddy. Thanks again everyone.
 
I am so sorry for your loss.
We always feel guilty and think we could have done more, but you did everything you could, and it sounds like there was something else going on. I lost Angel's sister last year to sudden renal failure, she had always been a thin cat but I thought she was getting a bit thinner, and blame myself for not taking her to the vet. She had no symptoms until it was too late.
Not at all corny that you had the goodbye talk, been there, done that, and I really believe that they hold on to life for our sakes and we need to tell them it's ok. He passed away peacefully, knowng he was loved.
Cassandra x
 
So sorry to hear that Moe-Moe had to leave you.

I also believe very strongly that sometimes they need to hear from us that it's OK for them to go.

Fly free sweet Moe, and land softly. There are many at the bridge to welcome you and show you around wings_cat
 
I am so sorry for your loss. Praying for your peace and comfort at this sad time
Terri & Chicken Little
 
So sorry to hear of Moe's passing. Be comforted in knowing you did the best you could for him.
 
So sorry for your loss. At home, on our own terms, is the best any of us could wish for ourselves.

Peace to you.
 
I am so very sorry to hear that you lost your best buddy Moe Moe. Thoughts and prayers are with you as you grieve your beloved friend.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top