Java, elder cat

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Hi Lois,
Go to the first page where all the forums are listed and look in the upper right corner under your name and avatar. You'll find the names of people who are online. However, if they, like me, stay signed in all the time they'll show there but might not be at their computer.
His 270 is not low enough to warrant a stall but you could reduce the dose to 1 u because you have no experience shooting at this low a PS. It's a good PS though.
Okay just confirming, go ahead and give him one unit now.
If I gave him 1.25, I would be visiting him with a bowl of FF and encouraging him to eat.
With one unit, it's going to go up because he now has FF on board, but it would be counteracted by the insulin, so should I encourage FF, withhold FF and test..?
Edit Thank you Kris! And Steph and Djamila
 
Okay just confirming, go ahead and give him one unit now.
If I gave him 1.25, I would be visiting him with a bowl of FF and encouraging him to eat.
With one unit, it's going to go up because he now has FF on board, but it would be counteracted by the insulin, so should I encourage FF, withhold FF and test..?
Edit Thank you Kris! And Steph and Djamila
Worry less about the FF and more about what the dose can do with normal feeding. You should always withhold food for at least 2 hours before preshot tests. Other than that feed normal meal times or allow grazing, whatever is Java's routine. The time you want to hover with food is when you've got a precipitous drop in BG in the hours after a shot and you want to control that or if he's diving too low and you want to carb him to keep him safe.
 
Well it's already twenty minutes later, so why don't I go test him and see what I get. I'd like to get insulin in him quickly if/when he's getting it, if you know what I mean.
 
533, R ear. 541 was L ear.
So the 270 was flawed. I had to kind of milk that ear to get enough blood.... I guess that was the difference, not eating the Fancy Feast? That's a crazy difference in well now it's 30 minutes.
 
533, R ear. 541 was L ear.
So the 270 was flawed. I had to kind of milk that ear to get enough blood.... I guess that was the difference, not eating the Fancy Feast? That's a crazy difference in well now it's 30 minutes.
Yes, it looks like the 270 was the outlier. You can't be certain that the 500s are bounces from the 270 because it might be a dud number.
 
Well 1.25 seems to be not at all dangerous.
I'm going to go do that now, it's really unsettling when there are mechanical issues like that. I still haven't figured out what happened with the fur shot because something else went wrong it wasn't a fur shot. You know how I tend to be a worry wart and I just worry that I'm doing it all wrong! Okay insulin now.
 
Well 1.25 seems to be not at all dangerous.
I'm going to go do that now, it's really unsettling when there are mechanical issues like that. I still haven't figured out what happened with the fur shot because something else went wrong it wasn't a fur shot. You know how I tend to be a worry wart and I just worry that I'm doing it all wrong! Okay insulin now.
He'll be fine with 1.25 u.
 
This is why I can't go away and leave him in someone else's care. Which I'm actually fine with now after stressing about it for a while. My friend is coming into town tomorrow night, and she's had to change the day she's going to the burn area to Thursday, when I can't go anyway. Makes it easy! But I'd really rather spend time with Java anyway. I don't know how much time with him I'll get.
Edit, okay I've got to go chill out. Goodnight everybody thank you so much.
 
Hey Lois! What an interesting night you have....yeah you can see who is on, but I often sign in and have it show me as not signed in if I'm going to be around for awhile because, like Kris, I walk away sometimes and am not really here . ;)

It's understandable that you'd rather spend time with Java. Just remember that if you want to step away for a few hours sometimes, that's okay too! We all need time away.
 
Hey Lois! What an interesting night you have....yeah you can see who is on, but I often sign in and have it show me as not signed in if I'm going to be around for awhile because, like Kris, I walk away sometimes and am not really here . ;)

It's understandable that you'd rather spend time with Java. Just remember that if you want to step away for a few hours sometimes, that's okay too! We all need time away.
Thanks. I do, I see a lot of live theater, or try to - having to change all my eve tickets to matinees, which I am liking actually. I have chorus, and try and usually succeed in a yoga class once a day. Overnight, or evening for hours, not so much.
 
It's really high again, 604 AMPS, I'm about to go outside with him for his water and rounds, he's had some FF. He didn't have FF last night during night, only ya, so, FF pre shot and some right away post shot.

Go up to 1.5? Some if it is the meter, AT reads higher than HS, but not by that much, 25-45 pts or so.
 
Thinking about to this some more, maybe I should not be withholding any FF, because he will eat more of it, I do not want him to lose weight. Could losing even tiny amounts of weight affect the BG?
 
Thinking about to this some more, maybe I should not be withholding any FF, because he will eat more of it, I do not want him to lose weight. Could losing even tiny amounts of weight affect the BG?
Other experienced people on here have said that it can be harder to regulate underweight cats. FF is a good low carb food. If Java likes it and he needs to gain weight, why not feed him as much of it that his tummy will tolerate. As long as you have 2 food free hours before pre shot tests, he can graze on it all day or be fed multiple small meals.
 
Okay. Stick with 1.25?
There are three steep steps from the middle deck to the upper deck, and Java's hind legs gave out on the second step and he tumbled down to middle deck. It took me a minute to put down what I was doing and get over that way, by then he had picked himself up and got up the steps. Aww bunny.
 
Okay. Stick with 1.25?
There are three steep steps from the middle deck to the upper deck, and Java's hind legs gave out on the second step and he tumbled down to middle deck. It took me a minute to put down what I was doing and get over that way, by then he had picked himself up and got up the steps. Aww bunny.
Poor baby! Is he OK?
 
He's fine. He's blissfully in his favorite spot in the backyard in the Sun.
I still haven't given him any insulin and I just realized it's an hour after I tested him. Should I stick with 1.25?
 
Okay. Stick with 1.25?
There are three steep steps from the middle deck to the upper deck, and Java's hind legs gave out on the second step and he tumbled down to middle deck. It took me a minute to put down what I was doing and get over that way, by then he had picked himself up and got up the steps. Aww bunny.
I think you could try 1.5 u today. The blues he had on 1.25 u weren't too low and the greens on the fat 1 u are history now. He's "stuck" in high numbers right now at 1.25 u and needs a nudge.
 
I think you could try 1.5 u today. The blues he had on 1.25 u weren't too low and the greens on the fat 1 u are history now. He's "stuck" in high numbers right now at 1.25 u and needs a nudge.
Thanks, that's what I was wondering. Change the photo to him 5 minutes ago now he's trying to come down the hill I need to go help
 
Okay, this is nuts, it's happening again!
626 at +2.5.
I'm making it part of my protocol to examine the needle before I inject him to make sure it has insulin in it.
My theory on the prior "fur shot" was that I somehow accidentally ejected insulin while I was carrying the needle to where he was sleeping.
I did carry the needle to him, but I checked before injecting, 1.5 U were in it, I felt the needle go through his skin, I felt after and there was no moisture.
I don't understand this and I'm alarmed that he might have another 12 hours of super high numbers. Isn't this what hurts his legs more than anything?
Edit, he ate FF right after his a.m. PT, and again an hour later when I brought him inside to run out to my class, and I just gave him some more after getting home from class. He's getting one pill pocket divided in half with a Zobaline split into each half. Could it be the food?
I know that Occam's razor says it's a fur shot, I don't think it is.
More edit, could it be where I'm injecting him? In both cases it was kind of along middle of his belly where I could get a tent. It wasn't closer to his armpit it wasn't closer to his groin.
 
Okay, this is nuts, it's happening again!
626 at +2.5.
I'm making it part of my protocol to examine the needle before I inject him to make sure it has insulin in it.
My theory on the prior "fur shot" was that I somehow accidentally ejected insulin while I was carrying the needle to where he was sleeping.
I did carry the needle to him, but I checked before injecting, 1.5 U were in it, I felt the needle go through his skin, I felt after and there was no moisture.
I don't understand this and I'm alarmed that he might have another 12 hours of super high numbers. Isn't this what hurts his legs more than anything?
No, I don't think that one cycle of high numbers will hurt his legs. High numbers over time aggravates neuropathy. Why not try taking your supplies to where he's sleeping and draw up insulin right there so you don't have to transport it?
 
No, I don't think that one cycle of high numbers will hurt his legs. High numbers over time aggravates neuropathy. Why not try taking your supplies to where he's sleeping and draw up insulin right there so you don't have to transport it?
Kris I added a bunch of edits, trying to keep the thread length down a little bit.
I guess I could. I have a counter right next to the refrigerator, so it's convenient to load it right there and then put the PZI back in the fridge. I just need to a tray or something to carry it around.
I'm having a big DUH, I should at least wait 20 minutes and check again in case it was a flaw in testing.
 
Another thought: how old is your insulin? Does it have any unusual clumping, etc.? Is it compounded PZI? New batch?
It's the same cloudy suspension as always. It gets stored on its side, so whether or not I rotate it consciously, it's tipped upright to come out of the refrigerator and then tipped upside down to fill the needle. So even if I don't specifically tip it to be sure of mixing, it gets tipped anyway.
Edit, about 1/3 left in bottle.
 
You have to consciously roll it gently to disperse the suspension properly each time before use. If you got it in October, it might well be petering out. I think it's worth buying a new bottle ASAP.
 
You have to consciously roll it gently to disperse the suspension properly each time before use. If you got it in October, it might well be petering out. I think it's worth buying a new bottle ASAP.
Photo changed to one place where I can frequently get a tent. Demo of tent only.
I'll call the vet, see if they have PZI in house.
Oh that reminds me, when I was there getting the Gabapentin, I was talking to a man who is picking up PZI, he said he gives his cat eight units twice a day. I kept myself from gasping but, isn't that an awful lot?
 
Photo changed to one place where I can frequently get a tent. Demo of tent only.
I'll call the vet, see if they have PZI in house.
Oh that reminds me, when I was there getting the Gabapentin, I was talking to a man who is picking up PZI, he said he gives his cat eight units twice a day. I kept myself from gasping but, isn't that an awful lot?
That's one of the areas I use for Teasel.
 
Essentially the same range, both high. New insulin has to be on your list. :)
The vet has it in stock, and Dave the vet said that it's only good for about forty two days after opening. (The vet tech or whatever she is, asked me, is there anything on the label about how good it is after opening. I did *not*say, Well if there is, I wouldn't be able to read it thru the enormous RX label that you slapped on it from your office!! And why didn't you ask me about it when I was there picking up HS test strips and Gabapentin last week?)
 
Yep, IAA and acromegaly are conditions that cause kitties to need much higher doses. Very few acro kitties or IAA kitties are on PZI...a lot of them are on Lev as it is thought to sting less at higher doses. It's something we suggest looking into if you get to 5 units or higher and it doesn't seem to be working.
 
My friend with the arm surgeries and amputation lives over near the vet, and I am guessing that I stick with the protocol of not injecting him with any additional insulin, right? , so that gives me the time/opportunity to ask her if she needs any help with grocery shopping or anything else.
 
Yep, IAA and acromegaly are conditions that cause kitties to need much higher doses. Very few acro kitties or IAA kitties are on PZI...a lot of them are on Lev as it is thought to sting less at higher doses. It's something we suggest looking into if you get to 5 units or higher and it doesn't seem to be working.
Maybe I'll suggest that to Dave the vet.
 
My friend with the arm surgeries and amputation lives over near the vet, and I am guessing that I stick with the protocol of not injecting him with any additional insulin, right? , so that gives me the time/opportunity to ask her if she needs any help with grocery shopping or anything else.
Are you picking up new insulin before this evening's dose? Be aware that most of us reduce the dose a bit when a fresh vial is started and do some extra monitoring too.
 
Are you picking up new insulin before this evening's dose? Be aware that most of us reduce the dose a bit when a fresh vial is started and do some extra monitoring too.
Sorry phone calls etc. Yes I am picking up a new Prozinc before this evening's dose. I'll be here, so I can monitor. Stay with 1.25? Go down to 1.0? What kind of monitoring, how late into the wee hours of the night?
 
You're still in low doses. I don't think you're looking at IAA or acro yet...I wouldn't even worry about it until you work your way up to 5 units slowly and methodically.

I'd reduce to 1 and then get a +2 and +4 maybe...from there you should be able to tell if you'll need to monitor further or not.
 
You're still in low doses. I don't think you're looking at IAA or acro yet...I wouldn't even worry about it until you work your way up to 5 units slowly and methodically.

I'd reduce to 1 and then get a +2 and +4 maybe...from there you should be able to tell if you'll need to monitor further or not.
Oh Rachel, IAA etc. came up simply because another cat owner that I was chatting with at the vet last week told me his cat was getting 8 units of prozinc twice a day, and I was asking here, yikes! isn't that an awful lot?
Reduce tonight's dose to 1 unit, monitor every 2 hours starting with +2.
I normally test around 8 p.m. my time and shoot 15 to 25 minutes later after FF.
I'd like to advance that to 7 pm., Should be okay?
Kris?
 
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