Grayson & Lu
Member Since 2012
It's been a long time since I've been around here, though I've been stopping in a little to see everyone on PZI. But I've got a new guy I need to tell you about!
Spartacus is an 11 yr old neutered male DSH, an orinch boy! He was left at a nearby shelter where he was fortunate to have a caregiver that is experienced with diabetic kitties, AND DCIN. Their shelter partnered with DCIN to post him, and the proximity caught my eye. That concept of "there's no room at the inn" STILL hasn't stuck in my head, so I went to visit and check him out - to see if there was a chance he would be able to "hang" with my crowd. At the shelter, he was maintaining his dose for the last 2 of 4 (diabetic) years of 9u NPH insulin BID. Thank God he was eating kibble - it's probably all that saved him!
So it was decided he would come home with me that (Monday) night, a week & a half ago. Right before we were leaving, the shelter brought out his insulin - he was due for a shot. I quickly grabbed my meter/strips, and did a poke. 100. ONE HUNDRED! I think we'll skip his insulin for the night, thank you!!! Actually, we let him go for a few days without insulin to clear any residual from his system and to help him remember what it felt like NOT to be overdosed!
His coat was rough and dandruffy. Lots of mats. He was pretty much a couch potato. The first night he slept in a kitty bed on the floor of the laundry room. Not jumping or climbing. He eventually found his way to a chair with a blanket on it. He let me trim mats and do pokies. He went with my dog to the vet to check FIV/Leukemia - a prerequisite for my house. Both negative. His appetite was pretty poor - I was giving fluids, testing for ketones, and offering up a buffet, including his old kibble - anything to get him to eat. I was unaccustomed to a kitty that wasn't food-motivated! I finally resorted to some assisted feeding. That must've been it. Or maybe the Lev. We started him on .5u Lev (from 9u - OMG!), and he responded!
He has his own tab on Grayson's SS (in signature) if anyone would like to follow him. He's been holding between .75 and 1u, and getting down even to a green (which earned him some gravy food!)! I'm hoping he, too, can be broken (so far I'm 2 (diet-controlled) for 4! His personality is starting to shine through. He's a love! His coat is getting shinier, and he purrs like a tiger! What a sweet boy - and what a shame his people were misguided about his care... part of the reason they gave him up. I do plan to speak with his former vet... maybe in a few weeks if he's OTJ! Lots of thoughts in my head that I want to say, but I need a little time to tone them down first!
So that's his story. He's already met some of the resident kitties, and seen the dogs through the window and crate. He's now jumping up to the soft bed and the window sills (13" deep - perfect for kitties!). Another one saved by the things we learn here - start low - good insulin - good diet - home testing. I can't impress upon anyone the value of these... He's thriving in just over a week due to such little changes as that.
Lu-Ann
Spartacus is an 11 yr old neutered male DSH, an orinch boy! He was left at a nearby shelter where he was fortunate to have a caregiver that is experienced with diabetic kitties, AND DCIN. Their shelter partnered with DCIN to post him, and the proximity caught my eye. That concept of "there's no room at the inn" STILL hasn't stuck in my head, so I went to visit and check him out - to see if there was a chance he would be able to "hang" with my crowd. At the shelter, he was maintaining his dose for the last 2 of 4 (diabetic) years of 9u NPH insulin BID. Thank God he was eating kibble - it's probably all that saved him!
So it was decided he would come home with me that (Monday) night, a week & a half ago. Right before we were leaving, the shelter brought out his insulin - he was due for a shot. I quickly grabbed my meter/strips, and did a poke. 100. ONE HUNDRED! I think we'll skip his insulin for the night, thank you!!! Actually, we let him go for a few days without insulin to clear any residual from his system and to help him remember what it felt like NOT to be overdosed!
His coat was rough and dandruffy. Lots of mats. He was pretty much a couch potato. The first night he slept in a kitty bed on the floor of the laundry room. Not jumping or climbing. He eventually found his way to a chair with a blanket on it. He let me trim mats and do pokies. He went with my dog to the vet to check FIV/Leukemia - a prerequisite for my house. Both negative. His appetite was pretty poor - I was giving fluids, testing for ketones, and offering up a buffet, including his old kibble - anything to get him to eat. I was unaccustomed to a kitty that wasn't food-motivated! I finally resorted to some assisted feeding. That must've been it. Or maybe the Lev. We started him on .5u Lev (from 9u - OMG!), and he responded!
He has his own tab on Grayson's SS (in signature) if anyone would like to follow him. He's been holding between .75 and 1u, and getting down even to a green (which earned him some gravy food!)! I'm hoping he, too, can be broken (so far I'm 2 (diet-controlled) for 4! His personality is starting to shine through. He's a love! His coat is getting shinier, and he purrs like a tiger! What a sweet boy - and what a shame his people were misguided about his care... part of the reason they gave him up. I do plan to speak with his former vet... maybe in a few weeks if he's OTJ! Lots of thoughts in my head that I want to say, but I need a little time to tone them down first!
So that's his story. He's already met some of the resident kitties, and seen the dogs through the window and crate. He's now jumping up to the soft bed and the window sills (13" deep - perfect for kitties!). Another one saved by the things we learn here - start low - good insulin - good diet - home testing. I can't impress upon anyone the value of these... He's thriving in just over a week due to such little changes as that.
Lu-Ann
Maybe 3 broken diabetics will be the charm? ;-)
