HappyPlatypus
Member Since 2012
I'm brand new to pretty much everything, so I wanted to introduce myself. I'm new to feline diabetes, to this message board in particular and to message boards in general, and while I've read the FAQs, I'm still reeling from what's happening, so please forgive me if I'm making any faux pas or netiquette errors. I apologize in advance.
My name is Todd.
I'm here because my baby girl, a 9-year-old domestic long-hair named Aviendha after the fierce and beautiful character in the Robert Jordan Wheel of Time series, has been tentatively diagnosed with diabetes. She is on death's door, and I'm terrified and seeking all the advice I can.
I rescue cats, and because I suddenly was diagnosed with a progressive form of MS last year, I had to start adopting out my babies while I still had the faculties to do so and make sure they had good homes. Aviendha, AKA Little Little, was the first to find a home. Three weeks ago, the young couple brought her back to me while they went on vacation. She had dropped from 12 pounds to 4.5. She was emaciated, lethargic and her rear legs were locked up and weak and her third eyelids were out. The kids are good kids, but they didn't know what they were doing.
I took her to the vet fearing the Big Four: Kidneys, Hyperthyroid, Liver and Feleuk/FIV. But she checked out fine. That vet diagnosed her with an autoimmune disorder and said that though her blood sugar was 289, he thought it was elevated because her white and red blood cells were fighting.
After a week on antibiotics and prednisone, we went back. I thought she had gained a pound, but she had in fact lost a half a pound and her weight had shifted to her belly. A different vet at the same hospital said he thought it was either the auto immune disorder or cancer, so we stayed on the same treatment.
After five days, she had stopped moving. I resigned myself to the end. We went in Saturday morning, and I saw a third vet, and I mentioned to him that she HAD been peeing lakes that were like concrete in the litter box. I'd never seen that with my other cats. Ever. He immediately got excited, ran more bloodwork, ID''d Diabetes. Gave her fluids and insulin. We were there six hours. After two hours, her third eyelids receded, her eyes began twinkling, she began grooming for the first time in the two and a half weeks since I've gotten her back. Little Little was coming back to life!
So four days have passed. Littles is alive and active, talking and excited. Bright eyed and bushy tailed. And FAMISHED. I'm giving her insulin twice a day, carefully, and I've switched to canned food.
But she still seems to be drying up! I need to IV infuse her at least once a day. And her neck bones are prominent! It's like she has no meat on her neck any more. I can't get to the vet again til payday on the 30th, so I'm just following his advice until then, which seems to be fighting a holding action. Is there anything more I can do?
Complicating everything is that she has crystals.
And she has developed dandruff, which I read is a bad sign.
Any advice or just friendly support would be appreciated. I hope I'm doing this right. If not, I'm sorry.
Thanks,
Todd
My name is Todd.
I'm here because my baby girl, a 9-year-old domestic long-hair named Aviendha after the fierce and beautiful character in the Robert Jordan Wheel of Time series, has been tentatively diagnosed with diabetes. She is on death's door, and I'm terrified and seeking all the advice I can.
I rescue cats, and because I suddenly was diagnosed with a progressive form of MS last year, I had to start adopting out my babies while I still had the faculties to do so and make sure they had good homes. Aviendha, AKA Little Little, was the first to find a home. Three weeks ago, the young couple brought her back to me while they went on vacation. She had dropped from 12 pounds to 4.5. She was emaciated, lethargic and her rear legs were locked up and weak and her third eyelids were out. The kids are good kids, but they didn't know what they were doing.
I took her to the vet fearing the Big Four: Kidneys, Hyperthyroid, Liver and Feleuk/FIV. But she checked out fine. That vet diagnosed her with an autoimmune disorder and said that though her blood sugar was 289, he thought it was elevated because her white and red blood cells were fighting.
After a week on antibiotics and prednisone, we went back. I thought she had gained a pound, but she had in fact lost a half a pound and her weight had shifted to her belly. A different vet at the same hospital said he thought it was either the auto immune disorder or cancer, so we stayed on the same treatment.
After five days, she had stopped moving. I resigned myself to the end. We went in Saturday morning, and I saw a third vet, and I mentioned to him that she HAD been peeing lakes that were like concrete in the litter box. I'd never seen that with my other cats. Ever. He immediately got excited, ran more bloodwork, ID''d Diabetes. Gave her fluids and insulin. We were there six hours. After two hours, her third eyelids receded, her eyes began twinkling, she began grooming for the first time in the two and a half weeks since I've gotten her back. Little Little was coming back to life!
So four days have passed. Littles is alive and active, talking and excited. Bright eyed and bushy tailed. And FAMISHED. I'm giving her insulin twice a day, carefully, and I've switched to canned food.
But she still seems to be drying up! I need to IV infuse her at least once a day. And her neck bones are prominent! It's like she has no meat on her neck any more. I can't get to the vet again til payday on the 30th, so I'm just following his advice until then, which seems to be fighting a holding action. Is there anything more I can do?
Complicating everything is that she has crystals.
And she has developed dandruff, which I read is a bad sign.
Any advice or just friendly support would be appreciated. I hope I'm doing this right. If not, I'm sorry.
Thanks,
Todd
