Hi all,
Just looking for some advice on what to do with my cat. I've searched the internet & found a few different articles regarding neuropathy etc but I can't find one that directly relates to my cat.
My cat (Spazz) is 12 1/2 years old & was diagnosed diabetic in September last year. She has been on insulin shots & diet since the beginning of November. Her initial dose of insulin was 3 units twice a day, but that was reduced almost immediately to 2 units twice a day (because she had lost her appetite completely on 3 units). In the beginning of April I took her back to the vet for a check up & he increased her dose to 4 units twice a day because her blood sugar was still too high. This was going well & no real problems that I could see, until very recently. I noticed her having a bit of a harder time jumping onto our bed and the couch in about the last two weeks or so. But this weekend I noticed that she was sitting differently, and her feet were sliding out from under her once in a while. She also can't walk very far without having to lie down, and she also lies with her back legs to the side. Today I've been investigating what this could be & I see that it is most likely neuropathy.
What I'm not sure of is the fact that her insulin/blood sugar has been regulated in some way for 8 months, and this is suddenly happening now. There has been no change in her diet, or her water consumption. Any ideas on why this may be affecting her now & what I can do to help her? She is on Lantus (glargine) insulin & her current bottle is almost empty - could it be that her insulin isn't potent anymore? I see that the form of vitaminB12 is suggested, but I'm unsure of where to get the capsules/how to get her to take them (she's awful with pills). I'm also somewhat hesitant to take her back to the vet for another appointment, as she gets very stressed now & vomits (and also poops) on her way to the vet. I also have a husband that doesn't see the "point" in spending a lot more money on a cat that is sick.
Thanks in advance for any advice & suggestions.
Just looking for some advice on what to do with my cat. I've searched the internet & found a few different articles regarding neuropathy etc but I can't find one that directly relates to my cat.
My cat (Spazz) is 12 1/2 years old & was diagnosed diabetic in September last year. She has been on insulin shots & diet since the beginning of November. Her initial dose of insulin was 3 units twice a day, but that was reduced almost immediately to 2 units twice a day (because she had lost her appetite completely on 3 units). In the beginning of April I took her back to the vet for a check up & he increased her dose to 4 units twice a day because her blood sugar was still too high. This was going well & no real problems that I could see, until very recently. I noticed her having a bit of a harder time jumping onto our bed and the couch in about the last two weeks or so. But this weekend I noticed that she was sitting differently, and her feet were sliding out from under her once in a while. She also can't walk very far without having to lie down, and she also lies with her back legs to the side. Today I've been investigating what this could be & I see that it is most likely neuropathy.
What I'm not sure of is the fact that her insulin/blood sugar has been regulated in some way for 8 months, and this is suddenly happening now. There has been no change in her diet, or her water consumption. Any ideas on why this may be affecting her now & what I can do to help her? She is on Lantus (glargine) insulin & her current bottle is almost empty - could it be that her insulin isn't potent anymore? I see that the form of vitaminB12 is suggested, but I'm unsure of where to get the capsules/how to get her to take them (she's awful with pills). I'm also somewhat hesitant to take her back to the vet for another appointment, as she gets very stressed now & vomits (and also poops) on her way to the vet. I also have a husband that doesn't see the "point" in spending a lot more money on a cat that is sick.
Thanks in advance for any advice & suggestions.