FozzyBear2009
New Member
Hi all,
I've just found this forum, so want to introduce myself and my wonderful diabetic boy, Forrest, also know as Fozzy Bear! We're in the UK.
I hand-reared Forrest from a couple of days old, and he's now 16 years old. He had a full dental extraction ages about 7, but eats/drinks fine. He was diagnosed hyperthyroid about 6 years ago, and then about 4/5 years ago, diabetic. He's been stable on Caninsulin twice a day, eats very well, and thankfully, we're had very few issues. He has his regular bloods to monitor his diabetes and thyroid.
Last year he had a wobble, being that we woke to find him not wanting to eat, dehydrated etc. He went into the vets on IV fluids and he balanced out beautifully, home the next day acting fine. I do regular full glucose curves at home, and ad hoc shorter ones at 4/5/6 hours (he's always at his lowest at 5hrs).
On Saturday he had a random hypo, and I was out. My other half called, so I went through the syrup on gums, feed a small amount, and he did that until I got home an hour later. I tested him as soon as I was home, and he was at 4.4mmol. I tested again an hour later, and he was at 6.6mmol, so going in the right direction. He ate fine after, and recovered great.
Yesterday (3 days post hypo) he had diarrhoea, so I ensured he went onto a bland diet of chicken with extra water, gave a Fortiflora sachet, and since then his appetite has been reduced for him (he usually eats like a horse). Typically I've run out of glucose strips, so I ordered them Saturday and they're arriving tomorrow. He's eating small meals with encouragement, but in himself he's fine. Happy, content, active as usual, asking for food just not eating as much. With any other of my cats (I have a few - former vet nurse!), I wouldn't be as concerned, but being diabetic I'm watching him like a hawk. On the odd hypos we've had, I always give him a small amount of soft pate to get his sugars up, and a change in diet often does bother his tummy, so I'm not surprised I'm seeing loose poops.
He had a slight skin tent, so he's had subcutaneous fluids this afternoon, and he'll have them again tonight. I've stopped his insulin after Saturday's hypo with a view to doing a curve tomorrow when the sticks arrive (using the Alphatrak3) then speaking to my vet (who is wonderful). He's not due bloods (had them recently) but I have urine strips so an check for ketones. His poops this morning were slightly more formed.
I suspect the diarrhoea has put him off balance, so I'm ensuring bland wet foods, along with his SQ fluids, and no insulin until I've done his readings. I'm a bit skint at the minute due to our dog recently being unwell and costing a lot of money, and also the vets I use do have out of hours, but only night checks, so no staff in overnight, so I figure I can monitor and manage more thoroughly myself.
Anyone with any other advice or experience in this area, I would appreciate it. Photo of said ginger ninja attached. in his favourite place, a box.
Many thanks.
I've just found this forum, so want to introduce myself and my wonderful diabetic boy, Forrest, also know as Fozzy Bear! We're in the UK.
I hand-reared Forrest from a couple of days old, and he's now 16 years old. He had a full dental extraction ages about 7, but eats/drinks fine. He was diagnosed hyperthyroid about 6 years ago, and then about 4/5 years ago, diabetic. He's been stable on Caninsulin twice a day, eats very well, and thankfully, we're had very few issues. He has his regular bloods to monitor his diabetes and thyroid.
Last year he had a wobble, being that we woke to find him not wanting to eat, dehydrated etc. He went into the vets on IV fluids and he balanced out beautifully, home the next day acting fine. I do regular full glucose curves at home, and ad hoc shorter ones at 4/5/6 hours (he's always at his lowest at 5hrs).
On Saturday he had a random hypo, and I was out. My other half called, so I went through the syrup on gums, feed a small amount, and he did that until I got home an hour later. I tested him as soon as I was home, and he was at 4.4mmol. I tested again an hour later, and he was at 6.6mmol, so going in the right direction. He ate fine after, and recovered great.
Yesterday (3 days post hypo) he had diarrhoea, so I ensured he went onto a bland diet of chicken with extra water, gave a Fortiflora sachet, and since then his appetite has been reduced for him (he usually eats like a horse). Typically I've run out of glucose strips, so I ordered them Saturday and they're arriving tomorrow. He's eating small meals with encouragement, but in himself he's fine. Happy, content, active as usual, asking for food just not eating as much. With any other of my cats (I have a few - former vet nurse!), I wouldn't be as concerned, but being diabetic I'm watching him like a hawk. On the odd hypos we've had, I always give him a small amount of soft pate to get his sugars up, and a change in diet often does bother his tummy, so I'm not surprised I'm seeing loose poops.
He had a slight skin tent, so he's had subcutaneous fluids this afternoon, and he'll have them again tonight. I've stopped his insulin after Saturday's hypo with a view to doing a curve tomorrow when the sticks arrive (using the Alphatrak3) then speaking to my vet (who is wonderful). He's not due bloods (had them recently) but I have urine strips so an check for ketones. His poops this morning were slightly more formed.
I suspect the diarrhoea has put him off balance, so I'm ensuring bland wet foods, along with his SQ fluids, and no insulin until I've done his readings. I'm a bit skint at the minute due to our dog recently being unwell and costing a lot of money, and also the vets I use do have out of hours, but only night checks, so no staff in overnight, so I figure I can monitor and manage more thoroughly myself.
Anyone with any other advice or experience in this area, I would appreciate it. Photo of said ginger ninja attached. in his favourite place, a box.
Many thanks.
