Kitty's visit to the vet. Confused/Concerned.

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Sev

Sev

Member Since 2011
Best news is Kitty's weight is maintaining.

He still has a gum infection. No antibiotic prescribed.
Blood test.
It takes me 8 minutes to get to vet. I waited about 2 minutes.
I tested just before I ran out the door. 484. Kitty was at 537 @ +8.
The vets test came out at 356.
There is no way he had a 131 point drop in 10 minutes. If anything it should have went up.

I was told that the human testing equipment would not be accurate as it is not calibrated for felines.
I already was having concerns about the accuracy of the ReliOn I am using.

The vet is insisting on going to 2 units as based on his results .5 is doing nothing.

Now I am not sure what to do. confused_cat
 
What is the vet plan to do for the infection? Doing noting does not see m correct.
How is the vet determining Kitty has an infection.
I looked at your SS, Is Kitty eating the same amount before each shot?
Do you free feed or feed twice a day?
I would not go to 2 units BID. I would try 0.75.
 
Larry and Kitties said:
What is the vet plan to do for the infection? Doing noting does not see m correct.
How is the vet determining Kitty has an infection.
I looked at your SS, Is Kitty eating the same amount before each shot?
Do you free feed or feed twice a day?
I would not go to 2 units BID. I would try 0.75.
Click to expand...

I am scaling all meals. 12 hour feedings with a snack in between.
I am feeding him Wellness and Merrick as the canned foods. Freshpet Grilled chicken as a snack.

I asked if they were going to give antibiotics. He already went through a cycle about 2 weeks ago.
I was told the infection would not disappear until his teeth are cleaned.

Ergo I have to get his numbers down to do that.

Tomorrow I am going in to get a new meter and try again.
 
You might suggest to the vet that he won't get controlled UNTIL his teeth are clean.

Yes, anesthesia may be risky. If he doesn't have the necessary monitoring equipment to do it safely, you may need to check for another vet that does.
 
BJM said:
You might suggest to the vet that he won't get controlled UNTIL his teeth are clean.

Yes, anesthesia may be risky. If he doesn't have the necessary monitoring equipment to do it safely, you may need to check for another vet that does.
Click to expand...

True.
I didnt talk to the vet today but rather one of the lacky's. :shock:
 
Can you get the Alphatrak moniter?

I have a cat with very very difficult to control diabities and until he is well controlled I have the Alphatrak system. Its more expensive (the unit is $85 Can) But the strips are just the Abbott Freedom strips that I get off of ebay for $24.

When he is better controlled I will use a human meter since I am just maintaining.

Just an idea.
 
Meowsmum said:
Can you get the Alphatrak moniter?

I have a cat with very very difficult to control diabities and until he is well controlled I have the Alphatrak system. Its more expensive (the unit is $85 Can) But the strips are just the Abbott Freedom strips that I get off of ebay for $24.

When he is better controlled I will use a human meter since I am just maintaining.

Just an idea.
Click to expand...

I can sniff around on ebay or Amazon.
There is a site called "The Find." that finds just about everything once you become familiar with it.

This one?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alpha-TRAK-Bloo ... 2569f9e20e
 
I use an AlphaTrak and I love it. It only requires a teensy amount of blood to get a reading. The numbers will be 'higher' than what one gets with the other types of meters, but the general consensus is to subtract 30 points to get the equivalent of the other meters. At some point in the lower readings the subtract 30 changes, it's a sliding scale but I haven't figured it out yet. Boo had a couple of readings in the 30s, and obviously the results of subtracting 30 would have put in the range where he should have been in a coma or dead but he showed no signs of hypo.
 
Mystery said:
I use an AlphaTrak and I love it. It only requires a teensy amount of blood to get a reading. The numbers will be 'higher' than what one gets with the other types of meters, but the general consensus is to subtract 30 points to get the equivalent of the other meters. At some point in the lower readings the subtract 30 changes, it's a sliding scale but I haven't figured it out yet. Boo had a couple of readings in the 30s, and obviously the results of subtracting 30 would have put in the range where he should have been in a coma or dead but he showed no signs of hypo.
Click to expand...

I'll keep looking for one. The meter new is a bit expensive.
Unfortunately the budget is limited at the moment.
 
Sev said:
I'll keep looking for one. The meter new is a bit expensive.
Unfortunately the budget is limited at the moment.
Click to expand...

It is expensive. When I bought it, I didn't know there were other good options. My vet told me that human meters could be used but the AT would be the one that most consistently tests closest to her equipment, so it sounded like the best option. I don't know if that is true or not. The AT marketing materials that came with the kit say it's almost 40% more accurate than 'other meters' but doesn't say what those meters are...and again, I'm not sure I believe them. They're marketerrs, after all. The strips are expensive too - the cheapest I've found them is $55 at ADW. But, I do otherwise love it.
 
I'm not sure what you have been using for a meter but I got the Relion Contour from Walmart and am happy with it. I haven't been testing for long but I really like it, its cheap and only uses a tiny bit of blood. I think the meter was $9, the lancets were $4 for 100 (30g) and the strips I think were $20 for 50.
 
harrysmom said:
I'm not sure what you have been using for a meter but I got the Relion Contour from Walmart and am happy with it. I haven't been testing for long but I really like it, its cheap and only uses a tiny bit of blood. I think the meter was $9, the lancets were $4 for 100 (30g) and the strips I think were $20 for 50.
Click to expand...

I am using the ReliOn Micro.
I am going in to exchange it as I am getting all sorts of wild readings from it. Over 130 point differences when double testing.
 
Have you checked the meter either by using the control solution or testing yourself with it? I have a Relion Micro that I love for Maxwell and have tested it against my Vet's meter on several occassions and have always been within just a few points different. I've also compared it to my Bayer Contour and again both readings are very close together. In fact if you would like I would be happy to go in and test both meters right now and give you the results.

It may be that you have a just a bad neter and if that is the case contact the company and they should replace it for free, just don't tell them it is for a cat. I know they replaced my first micro when Musette decided to shove it off the counter and into the dog's water bowl, I just told them what happened and that I was a caregiver for a diabetic child...just left off the part about that child wearing fur...lol

Mel, Maxwell, Musette & The Fur Gang
 
Yes Sev that is the Alphatrak I use.

I use the Freedom test strips when I run out of the Alphatrak ones. But the AT takes much less blood then the freedom ones.
 
No returns on testers here by state law.
Something to do with bio hazard I would imagine.
Picked up another ReliOn as well as a OneTouch Ultra/Mini. Price roll back was 10.48.

We'll see what happens.
 
I would still contact the company to ask for a refund; it's not your fault they sold you a bad meter. From their website:

Please Note – blood glucose testing products cannot be returned to the store. Please call us at 800.631.0076, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for exchange/refund information.
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Hope the new meter(s) are more reliable for you.
 
bookw0rm said:
I would still contact the company to ask for a refund; it's not your fault they sold you a bad meter. From their website:

Please Note – blood glucose testing products cannot be returned to the store. Please call us at 800.631.0076, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for exchange/refund information.
Click to expand...

Hope the new meter(s) are more reliable for you.
Click to expand...

Hey thanks.
Didnt think to read the package. :shock: :roll:
 
a few thoughts:

you are testing via ear, where did vet test?

I wouldn't be too quick to change to an "animal" meter just yet. They are way more expensive than the human meters and not necessarily better. Have you tested the meter you have on yourself? It is possible that you have a bad meter and need a replacement. Most of the meter companies will take care of replacing free of charge. I would try that before getting an animal meter and having to deal with the added cost and difficulty getting strips (as you can only get them from a vet).

do you have a dental specialist in your area - someone who is board certified? I take all my cats to the dental specialist and she knows just what to do for each of their medical issues. While it will cost more than the regular vet, to me it's worth the peace of mind knowing they are in the best possible hands, a facility that is 24/7 so if there is an emergency, I can get in without issues.
 
Just a suggestion for an alternative--I use the Aviva AccuChek, and I love it. It's very precise, and while the strips are expensive in the store, you can get them nearly as cheap as the relion on amazon or ebay. I got my meter at Target for $10. I agree about not changing to the vet meter--It's questionable on whether or not it's more precise, and than are many precise meters (like the AccuChek) out there that are still less expensive than the AlphaTrak.

However, I had a Relion Micro before and while it was not as quite as precise as the AccuCheck, but nowhere near as off as you say yours is. I would have Relion replace the meter, and definitely get the control solution or use your own blood as a control. It's only supposed to have a +/- 20% variance, and if your meter is giving you more than that than it's likely faulty.
 
Hillary & Maui said:
a few thoughts:

you are testing via ear, where did vet test?

I wouldn't be too quick to change to an "animal" meter just yet. They are way more expensive than the human meters and not necessarily better. Have you tested the meter you have on yourself? It is possible that you have a bad meter and need a replacement. Most of the meter companies will take care of replacing free of charge. I would try that before getting an animal meter and having to deal with the added cost and difficulty getting strips (as you can only get them from a vet).

do you have a dental specialist in your area - someone who is board certified? I take all my cats to the dental specialist and she knows just what to do for each of their medical issues. While it will cost more than the regular vet, to me it's worth the peace of mind knowing they are in the best possible hands, a facility that is 24/7 so if there is an emergency, I can get in without issues.
Click to expand...

I picked up a new Relion and a OneTouch UltraMini. I am trying the OneTouch out.

Had not thought of looking for a board certified cat dentist. Didnt know they existed. I'll take a look around. Thanks for the heads up.
 
I didn't realize it either, until I went to the regular vet and they told me that well they don't do dental xrays, but they will do extractions. :o

About 30 minutes from where I am is a 24/7 emergency and referral place as I've been there before, I figured they must have someone there who knows how to do a dental and sure enough they do.

And yes, I pay a premium for this, but I also know my cats are getting premium care.

I have the OTU meter and it works great, takes more blood than some, but still a good meter. Another good is the bayer contour and that takes a tiny drop of blood.
 
Hillary & Maui said:
I didn't realize it either, until I went to the regular vet and they told me that well they don't do dental xrays, but they will do extractions. :o

About 30 minutes from where I am is a 24/7 emergency and referral place as I've been there before, I figured they must have someone there who knows how to do a dental and sure enough they do.

And yes, I pay a premium for this, but I also know my cats are getting premium care.

I have the OTU meter and it works great, takes more blood than some, but still a good meter. Another good is the bayer contour and that takes a tiny drop of blood.
Click to expand...

I'll def have to check it out.
By the way the teeth cleaning here is 105.00.

Consumers just rated the OneTouch UltraMini as the most accurate and consistent meter out there.
Now. How much do we trust Consumer Reports is another matter.
 
Consumers originally rated the Fast Take the same way before it became the OTU which then also rated high for consistency, etc. We used to have to roll the blood onto the strip till the meters finally came out with sipping strips. Man, that was a ***** to have to do all the time.

http://www.avdc-dms.org/dms/list/diplomates.cfm?CFID=9963990&CFTOKEN=59348915#US_TN

I also use a Board Certified Dental Specialist of which there are only 2 in the state of MI. Safest way to go but definitely not the cheapest.
 
I just got the Freedom Lite. I hated the Freedom. Figured it would be a good back up for my Alphatrak.
 
Hope + (((Baby)))GA said:
Consumers originally rated the Fast Take the same way before it became the OTU which then also rated high for consistency, etc. We used to have to roll the blood onto the strip till the meters finally came out with sipping strips. Man, that was a ***** to have to do all the time.

http://www.avdc-dms.org/dms/list/diplomates.cfm?CFID=9963990&CFTOKEN=59348915#US_TN

I also use a Board Certified Dental Specialist of which there are only 2 in the state of MI. Safest way to go but definitely not the cheapest.
Click to expand...

I have nothing near me under 2-3 hours.
 
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