Louie acting a bit off, but bg levels are normal (for him)

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horselo285

Member Since 2011
Hey guys,

My mom just called me and asked me to come check on Louie. He had been lying on the table asleep for a while, had not gotten up to beg for food while my mom was eating lunch and had not tried to get at my mom's dog's food.

This all seems out of character for him-- I tested his levels right away and he is in the 200's (I don't remember exact number as I came down to post and 4got to bring meter with me) which seems pretty normal for him at this point- def not ultra high (he has been up in the 500's and even above what the meter will read without acting abnormal).

Should I be concerned? Is it possible that he is just regulating and feeling better and that normally he is so hungry from the diabetes (he was literally starving to death b4 I took over his care) that him feeling better seems abnormal?

Will check bgs in an hour or so.

Advice is appreciated!!!
 
Re: Louie acting a bit off, but bg levels are normal (for hi

By off, do you mean just not begging for food?
If not, let's get a Peeing, Pooping, Playing, Purring and Preening report? Are those all normal?
Next, is he laying in the meatloaf position? That is all limbs, including the tail, tucked under him and his head maybe a bit lower, or dejected looking?
How bout vomit? Any? Look around for spots of clear bile vomit.
Finally, pull his scruff skin up between thumb and forefinger and see if the skin snaps back or slides back. If it slides back, he's dehydrated.
 
Re: Louie acting a bit off, but bg levels are normal (for hi

also, do you or your mom test for ketones? if so, or even if not, i'd consider trying to get that done soon too. if you don't have the test strips for it at this moment, can you smell his breath and see what it smells like? food? nail polish remover?
 
Re: Louie acting a bit off, but bg levels are normal (for hi

Carolyn and Spot said:
By off, do you mean just not begging for food?
If not, let's get a Peeing, Pooping, Playing, Purring and Preening report? Are those all normal?
Next, is he laying in the meatloaf position? That is all limbs, including the tail, tucked under him and his head maybe a bit lower, or dejected looking?
How bout vomit? Any? Look around for spots of clear bile vomit.
Finally, pull his scruff skin up between thumb and forefinger and see if the skin snaps back or slides back. If it slides back, he's dehydrated.
Click to expand...

Hi,

Thanks for the reply! It just seemed off that he was laying on the table sleeping and not acknowledging that there was food in the room. Normally he is a giant mooch...trying to get whatever he can lay his paws on. It seemed strange that he was sleeping through my mom eating and the dog being fed in the same room- but he now is acting pretty normal. He came to me just now when I called him.

I have never been able to test him for ketones as my parents have other cats and we can separate him to get a urine sample, but I smelled his breath and it does not smell like nail polish remover.

I don't see any sign of vomit, but it is a big house-- he also does not appear to be dehydrated.
 
Re: Louie acting a bit off, but bg levels are normal (for hi

Excellent! Keep an eye on him for any of the above-mentioned things, but it could just be that he's feeling pretty darn good. :D
 
Re: Louie acting a bit off, but bg levels are normal (for hi

if you are able, maybe you can stalk him and when he heads to the litter box, grab the ketostix and see if you can stick the strip under the urine stream or if not, you can lay the strip in the puddle of urine for a reading.

When you say he is lying on the table, is he all stretched out or curled up?
 
Re: Louie acting a bit off, but bg levels are normal (for hi

I can try to find some time to stalk him- but typically he won't go to the l. box in front of me- I also need to study for my math final tomorrow- so I need to figure out how to juggle everything.

He seems ok now. When I can up b4, he was sleeping again (curled up, not straight) but came to me for bg levels and treats.
 
Re: Louie acting a bit off, but bg levels are normal (for hi

Well his numbers seem to be stabilizing. Give it another day, and let's see where he's at. If the BGs are still in the same range, you might want to add just a touch more insulin. Can you maybe place a small plastic cup (that's what I use) like the little ketchup containers they give you at McDonald's or an empty FF Appetizer container, near the litter box, and ask all your family members to try to get a sample if they happen to see him in the litter box?
Eating his treats is good. Is he eating his other food, okay?
Good luck with your math exam, by the way.
 
Re: Louie acting a bit off, but bg levels are normal (for hi

Hey Dyana!!!

He ate his food fine this am and has eaten his low carb treats during the day. I will let you know if there is any issue tonight.

The cup idea is a good one! I will def leave one and hope someone catches him peeing!

As for my math test-- depressingly enough...it is not looking good right now-- I am HORRIBLE at math to the point that I am in a remedial class this semester and I don't know if I am going to pass the test tomorrow. The only good thing is that if I don't pass, the remedial classes get a 2nd chance. But hopefully I will pass tomorrow. I am really stressed out about it- can't seem to keep all the different rules in my head. aaah
 
Re: Louie acting a bit off, but bg levels are normal (for hi

Morning :)
I'd like to see a couple night numbers if you can get a before bed check? I know with school you're probably pretty tight on time, but I am getting ready to recommend an increase in the next day or so and I don't want to do it without seeing where he's going at night, at least a little bit ;)
..C
 
Re: Louie acting a bit off, but bg levels are normal (for hi

Getting night numbers are very hard (as are day numbers...but they are a bit easier).

I have two children and we live in a basement apt. Louie lives up two flights of stairs in my parents house- there are a variety of issues w/ testing at night ranging from me having no time (I am often racing the clock to get work done when the boys go to sleep) to the fact that walking around upstairs (even if your tiptoeing) can sound like a mac truck down stairs and wake up the boys. Even more important than that, Louie is often asleep i various areas of the house and unless I yell his name, he doesn't know I am looking for him and does not come. Obviously, I cannot yell his name at night. If he is nearby, I can call him quietly and he will come- I do try to do that some nights- it just doesnt always work out.

I will try to get more numbers but I dont know if it will happen.

My gut is telling me the dose decrease is not working well for him- his numbers have been steadily increasing and he was in the 500's this am. I am desperately studying for my exam tonight (my mom offered to watch the boys so I can work without distractions) but I will go up and check him in a few. I don't remember the exact numbers from last night and this am- but I am putting in my spread sheet what I *think* they were. When I go up to check him in a while, I will bring down the meter and fill in the correct numbers.

Thanks!
Laura
 
Re: Louie acting a bit off, but bg levels are normal (for hi

Come on down, Louie..
 
Re: Louie acting a bit off, but bg levels are normal (for hi

AMPS 502 and +4 317. Is that right?
A 200 point drop in 4 hours (about 50 points per hour) is actually kind of a fast drop. He may possibly bounce from that.
How'd your test go? I hope it was multiple choice, at least :razz:
 
Re: Louie acting a bit off, but bg levels are normal (for hi

Hey Dyana!!

He was back up into the high 400's when I fed him. :-/

It did seem like quite a big drop from this am number, but I double checked both numbers, so I figure they were acurate.

I'm working tomorrow so I won't be home to test him in the AM/during the day. I measured at the .75 for my dad, cause lord knows he can't do it (hope the pre-measuring is ok)

On a VERY HAPPY note! I passed (with a good grade!) my exam today! It was a computerized exit exam so I got the results right away. I so relieved because if I failed it, I would need to take the class again (its a pass or fail test). Now I only have 2 more finals before the semester is over and I get a break! YEAH!!! :-)
 
Re: Louie acting a bit off, but bg levels are normal (for hi

I'm glad you passed your test.

How is Louie acting and feeling, today? Is he eating normally?

Regarding Prefilling syringes: From the sticky above: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=151
"Aventis Pharmaceuticals does not recommend
prefilling syringes with Lantus and
storing for any period longer than needed
for application. In addition BD states the
following (9): “BD does not recommend
that any of our syringes be prefilled more
than a few minutes in advance of the injection.
There are no conclusive studies to
determine the safety or risks associated
with this practice.”

Maybe once in a great great while, you could get away with prefilling, but for the most part I wouldn't recommend it.
Can you make an "Example Syringe" using colored water (like maybe kool aid or grape juice, or something nice and dark) measured to 0.75 units and tell your Dad he must compare his dose to the Example Syringe (by holding them both up to the light, next to each other) to make sure the dose he gives to Louie exactly matches the Example Syringe, every time?
 
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