? Internal Medicine Appointment - Fasting for Ultrasound?

Briana + Binx

Briana + Binx

Member Since 2024
Hi Main Forum!!

I have an appointment with a new internal medicine specialist on Friday with Binx and after a bunch of tummy (and liver) issues recently, I'm considering an ultrasound.

The appointment is at 9am and his regular meal/insulin time is 7am. They've advised me to do half the dose and half the food for the preceding 8 hours (so his meal time, 2 hours before). I'm wondering what other experiences have been? Especially for an "unplanned" ultrasound.

Thanks!! Safe surfing 🤗
 
squeem3 said:
It's typical to withhold food after 9pm or so and give half a dose of insulin before a procedure. I've never had to feed the morning of.
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Connie & Moonie said:
When we did our stomach ultrasound with Moonie we had the same pre-procedure protocol that squeem is describing - no food after 10pm, half dose of insulin in the morning.
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Thank you both! It was seeming weird to me too that he'd eat just about 2 hours before something like that and I called them twice to clarify. I wonder if I need to make a judgement call on this one.
 
Neko never fasted for her ultrasounds at the specialty vet, and she got her full dose of insulin. And they still managed to see what they needed to. A couple of those ultrasounds were unplanned. None of my cats undergoing ultrasound have needed anesthesia. You know best Binx's attitude at the vet. Neko did sometimes have attitude and did need light sedation (not anesthesia) for her cardio echos.

For Neko's dental vet visit, planned, she was allowed 1/3 of her food before hand and half insulin dose. But that's where she was having anesthesia.

Take a look at this link, second post tells you the modern protocols for food/insulin. Info on Dental Procedures (including pictures)
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Neko never fasted for her ultrasounds at the specialty vet, and she got her full dose of insulin. And they still managed to see what they needed to. A couple of those ultrasounds were unplanned. None of my cats undergoing ultrasound have needed anesthesia. You know best Binx's attitude at the vet. Neko did sometimes have attitude and did need light sedation (not anesthesia) for her cardio echos.

For Neko's dental vet visit, planned, she was allowed 1/3 of her food before hand and half insulin dose. But that's where she was having anesthesia.

Take a look at this link, second post tells you the modern protocols for food/insulin. Info on Dental Procedures (including pictures)
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Thanks, Wendy! Good to know the opposite is possible, no fasting at all. I was a bit worried with his CKD/stomach acid bile incidents, but had it in my mind how important fasting was because of what the first internist shamed me for. That’s how it goes!

I’m hopeful we won’t need any sedation too but let’s see what happens.
 
Briana + Binx said:
Hi Main Forum!!

I have an appointment with a new internal medicine specialist on Friday with Binx and after a bunch of tummy (and liver) issues recently, I'm considering an ultrasound.

The appointment is at 9am and his regular meal/insulin time is 7am. They've advised me to do half the dose and half the food for the preceding 8 hours (so his meal time, 2 hours before). I'm wondering what other experiences have been? Especially for an "unplanned" ultrasound.

Thanks!! Safe surfing 🤗
Click to expand...
Like Wendy, I’ve never fasted my cats for an U/S and there have not been any issues but my cats also are very compliant.

The radiologist usually will say they can get better images but we’ve had no issues. I just try to not feed within a few hours if the U/S.

I will also say I’ve had cats that had to have them on an emergency basis and had had food recently and it didn’t seem to affect the results.
 
Marje and Gracie said:
Like Wendy, I’ve never fasted my cats for an U/S and there have not been any issues but my cats also are very compliant.

The radiologist usually will say they can get better images but we’ve had no issues. I just try to not feed within a few hours if the U/S.

I will also say I’ve had cats that had to have them on an emergency basis and had had food recently and it didn’t seem to affect the results.
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I see, but unless it was Gracie, your other kitties weren't diabetic, so no biggie.

If I feed Ivy her snacks before the U/S, it's 3 hours prior to the procedure, so probably not great (since they said no food 6 hours prior.
 
Staci & Ivy said:
I see, but unless it was Gracie, your other kitties weren't diabetic, so no biggie.

If I feed Ivy her snacks before the U/S, it's 3 hours prior to the procedure, so probably not great (since they said no food 6 hours prior.
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Yes but your concerns in not feeding her were to be sure the doctor could clearly see her intestines and anything else.

Insofar as not feeding for her diabetes, Gracie also had U/Ss that I didn’t fast her for mostly because my vets (including the anesthesiologist) don’t support fasting animals especially diabetic ones unless it is really crucial like for the GI Panel. I did have to fast Gracie six hours for that.

If she is higher at shot time, feed her about her half portion as they have suggested. If she starts coming down at +1, +2, or +3, give her a tsp of food. The other option is to reduce her dose a little bit Monday night and Tuesday morning so you drain her depot. That way she will most likely stay high and you don’t have to worry about controlling the insulin with food.

Does that sound doable? I know you just increased her dose and so it will make it a little wonky for the next few days but that’s ok.
 
Marje and Gracie said:
Yes but your concerns in not feeding her were to be sure the doctor could clearly see her intestines and anything else.

Insofar as not feeding for her diabetes, Gracie also had U/Ss that I didn’t fast her for mostly because my vets (including the anesthesiologist) don’t support fasting animals especially diabetic ones unless it is really crucial like for the GI Panel. I did have to fast Gracie six hours for that.

If she is higher at shot time, feed her about her half portion as they have suggested. If she starts coming down at +1, +2, or +3, give her a tsp of food. The other option is to reduce her dose a little bit Monday night and Tuesday morning so you drain her depot. That way she will most likely stay high and you don’t have to worry about controlling the insulin with food.

Does that sound doable? I know you just increased her dose and so it will make it a little wonky for the next few days but that’s ok.
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Yes, I think the best move is to reduce her dose a bit and hope that will work and feed her less at her meal.
Hope she won’t dive lower and then it will be ok.
Thank you 🥰a
 
Marje and Gracie said:
Yes but your concerns in not feeding her were to be sure the doctor could clearly see her intestines and anything else.

Insofar as not feeding for her diabetes, Gracie also had U/Ss that I didn’t fast her for mostly because my vets (including the anesthesiologist) don’t support fasting animals especially diabetic ones unless it is really crucial like for the GI Panel. I did have to fast Gracie six hours for that.

If she is higher at shot time, feed her about her half portion as they have suggested. If she starts coming down at +1, +2, or +3, give her a tsp of food. The other option is to reduce her dose a little bit Monday night and Tuesday morning so you drain her depot. That way she will most likely stay high and you don’t have to worry about controlling the insulin with food.

Does that sound doable? I know you just increased her dose and so it will make it a little wonky for the next few days but that’s ok.
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Do you think if I take her down to 2 units (down from 2.5 units) is enough to drain the depot the night prior and the morning of the ultrasound?
Or would you suggest a lower dose?
 
Staci & Ivy said:
Do you think if I take her down to 2 units (down from 2.5 units) is enough to drain the depot the night prior and the morning of the ultrasound?
Or would you suggest a lower dose?
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Depends on where she is by Monday night. If she’s really responding to the dose increase, you can take her to 2u but if she’s not, try 2.25u. If you take her to 2.25u on Monday night but feel on Tuesday morning that you need to drain the depot a little more, decrease to 2u.
 
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