Michelle & Dusty
Member Since 2012
Hi all,
My cat Dusty has been on the juice for about four months. I'm still struggling to get her regulated. We're up to three units of Lantus and we still need another increase. (Though before increasing the dose, I'll be getting a new vial of Lantus, to make sure that the bad numbers aren't the result of some ineffective insulin.)
For the last several days, Dusty has been quite off. She's sleeping on the bed basically all day and much more resistant to purring...basically wanting to be left alone. She IS eating well and is peeing. I'm pretty sure she's pooping, though I've got two other cats so it's a bit of guesswork. I checked for ketones today and it was negative.
She's also showing some signs of neuropathy. She's been walking a bit strange lately, sitting frequently, and having a hard time getting up on the bed. She's also had some pretty clear muscle wasting in her back hips. I ordered some Zobaline and will start administering it to her when I get it.
I took her to the vet yesterday to have her looked at because her high numbers aren't really budging, despite the fact that I've increased the dose three times in the last couple of weeks. The vet didn't see terribly concerned about things, just suggesting I get a different vial of Lantus and to keep increasing the dose (following the tight regulation protocol) until her numbers get under control. She said I should bring Dusty in in about a month or so to get a full panel of bloodwork done (her creatinine levels were on the outside edge of normal when they were checked in February).
My questions:
Will cats with neuropathy also feel a bit down from it? Could it explain her lethargy and lack of purrs? Or are cats with neuropathy typically in an otherwise fine mood? (I know, I know...ECID!)
Reading on the internets, I see that a potassium deficiency could explain the walking and the the feeling down. (Dusty has also been twitching quite a bit. She's always been a bit twitchy, but not any time she's relaxing she'll have facial twitches or the odd paw spasm.) Should this be something I get checked pretty immediately? She had a complete panel taken at the time of her diagnosis (at the beginning of December) and things were normal then. But could these numbers drop pretty quickly?
Finally, I'm leaving in just a few hours for a conference. I'll only be gone for a few days, but I'm worried about going because of how Dusty is acting. (Unfortunately, I *have* to go. Definitely a mandatory thing.) I'll have a housesitter watching the cats and she's done this before and has tested and dosed Dusty without any problems. Is there anything in particular I should tell her to keep an eye out for? Is there anything I should check before I leave?
Thanks for the help, the insight, the sheer wonderfulness of everyone on here. I really do appreciate it.
My cat Dusty has been on the juice for about four months. I'm still struggling to get her regulated. We're up to three units of Lantus and we still need another increase. (Though before increasing the dose, I'll be getting a new vial of Lantus, to make sure that the bad numbers aren't the result of some ineffective insulin.)
For the last several days, Dusty has been quite off. She's sleeping on the bed basically all day and much more resistant to purring...basically wanting to be left alone. She IS eating well and is peeing. I'm pretty sure she's pooping, though I've got two other cats so it's a bit of guesswork. I checked for ketones today and it was negative.
She's also showing some signs of neuropathy. She's been walking a bit strange lately, sitting frequently, and having a hard time getting up on the bed. She's also had some pretty clear muscle wasting in her back hips. I ordered some Zobaline and will start administering it to her when I get it.
I took her to the vet yesterday to have her looked at because her high numbers aren't really budging, despite the fact that I've increased the dose three times in the last couple of weeks. The vet didn't see terribly concerned about things, just suggesting I get a different vial of Lantus and to keep increasing the dose (following the tight regulation protocol) until her numbers get under control. She said I should bring Dusty in in about a month or so to get a full panel of bloodwork done (her creatinine levels were on the outside edge of normal when they were checked in February).
My questions:
Will cats with neuropathy also feel a bit down from it? Could it explain her lethargy and lack of purrs? Or are cats with neuropathy typically in an otherwise fine mood? (I know, I know...ECID!)
Reading on the internets, I see that a potassium deficiency could explain the walking and the the feeling down. (Dusty has also been twitching quite a bit. She's always been a bit twitchy, but not any time she's relaxing she'll have facial twitches or the odd paw spasm.) Should this be something I get checked pretty immediately? She had a complete panel taken at the time of her diagnosis (at the beginning of December) and things were normal then. But could these numbers drop pretty quickly?
Finally, I'm leaving in just a few hours for a conference. I'll only be gone for a few days, but I'm worried about going because of how Dusty is acting. (Unfortunately, I *have* to go. Definitely a mandatory thing.) I'll have a housesitter watching the cats and she's done this before and has tested and dosed Dusty without any problems. Is there anything in particular I should tell her to keep an eye out for? Is there anything I should check before I leave?
Thanks for the help, the insight, the sheer wonderfulness of everyone on here. I really do appreciate it.
