Lynn and Kitten/DKA newbie

Status
Not open for further replies.
K

Katlyn

Member Since 2012
Hi all. I find this website confusing to use. I have also had technical problems. My 11 year old sweet cat almost died of Diabetes DKA about a week ago. She was hospitalized for four nights costing over $4,000. Her potassium was very low and she had a high calcium level which has caused a mass in her lungs to grow . She got Diabetes from a too high dose of Prednisone(12.5 daily for a few months) to control her asthma dx in Sept 2012. She was also on inhaled meds. Kitten had to have an etube put in because she would not eat. Kitten has been home since last Saturday night. The feeding tube has been a nightmare to learn. And I am trying to focus on her Diabetes. She is on insulin 1.5 twice a day along with other meds. The vet prescribed DM food and is supposed to be getting at least 150 cc's a day. She has lost 1/2 pound so far because she seems to be queasy and it takes all day around the clock just to get half her cc's in her. She eats a bit on her own. I use the BG and ketones urine strips. Her glucose usually runs on the very high end. Her ketones have been about negative and sometimes bordering on trace. She used to like the wet DM but now she will not touch it. I bought the dry and she is nibbling on that now at about 3 am in the morning.She has started drinking alot of water which concerns me. I bought the Relion BG meter but am cannot get any blood. I did once from her shaved leg four days ago and it was 114. Her BSL was 560 when she was hospitalized. She has an appt on Tuesday for that Fructosamine test because she cannot handle an all day blood curve. She is very agitated at vet. The vet said her insulin will have to thanbe adjusted. I want this feeding tube out and to cure the Diabetes. I cannot afford another hospital stay if the ketones come back. Kitten is on Ondansetron now and some Pepcid. I have been battling vets since September and they have all failed Kitten. I need help to get her through this. . I had to reregister using my husband's email. Lynn and Kitten. RI
 
Re: Lynn and Kitten/DKA

Hello Lynn and Kitten,

I hope you can figure out the site better. It gets easier over time especially if you have a little time to browse and learn.

First of all, The flame candle is what we use when a cat has passed.
So , it's a relief to see Kitten isn't gone.

Everyone here can help.
You don't say what insulin you are using, but the most eyes are over in the Tight Regulation Lantus forum.
There is often someone on over there almost 24 hours a day.
I think you should come introduce yourself over there.
It sounds like you could use some help with testing as well.

the www.felinediabetes.com has several information links all down the right side, and you should go read them. There is one for monitoring and one for glucose testing.

As we get you to successfully test, you can do your own curve.

Be sure to tell us other foods you are using.
There are many here who use Fancy feast classics , here's my personal shopping list for options.
carbs in % . . phosphorus ( FKD cats need under 250)
4% - fancy feast CLASSICS chicken feast- 546 - stay away from any that are not classics
4%- fancy feast chopped grilled feast pate -569
2%- fancy feast cod, sole & shrimp feast pate – 787
4%- fancy feast Ocean Whitefish and tuna pate 823
1% -fancy feast Savory Salmon feast pate – 369
5%-fancy feast Tender beef feast pate -637
5%-fancy feast Tender beef and chicken feast pate -502
5% - fancy feast Tender beef and liver feast pate – 525
4% -fancy feast Tender liver and chicken feast pate -598
3%- fancy feast Turkey & giblets feast pate – 355

8% - Friskies flaked with tuna and egg 415
9% - Friskies Poultry platter – 438
5% - Friskies Special diet Turkey and Giblets dinner pate 189
5% - Friskies Special diet Beef and Chicken Entree pate 242

5% - Merrick Cowboy cookout 202
8% - Merrick Grammy's pot pie 237
3% - Merrick Surf n Turf 229
4% -Merrick Southern delight -328 this one has crawfish in it.
8% -Merrick Ocean Breeze 420
9% -Merrick Turducken 219

1%- Merrick Before Grain cat 96% beef – 163
2% - Merrick Before Grain cat 96% chicken – 341
2%- Merrick Before Grain cat 96% turkey – 178
2%-Merrick Before Grain cat 96% quail and chicken – 506
2%- Merrick Before Grain cat 96% salmon 439
2% Merrick Before Grain cat 96% tuna 450

4% - Wellness chicken 219
4% - Wellness turkey 201
5% - Wellness turkey and salmon 299
4% - Wellness Beef and chicken 226
6% - Wellness chicken & herring 303
6% - Wellness beef & salmon 207

8% - Wellness Core chicken/turkey/chicken liver 215
5% - Wellness Core Turkey & Duck 265
5% - Wellness Core Beef , Venison & Lamb 171

0% - TikiCat Koolina Luau 421 ( chicken with egg)

3% - Nature's variety Instinct Grain free Chicken – 302
3% - Nature's Variety Instinct Grain free Beef – 248
2% - Nature's Variety Instinct Grain free Lamb 262
1% - Nature's Variety Instinct Grain free Duck 191
0% - Nature's Variety Instinct Grain free Venison 330
? - Nature's Variety Instinct Grain free Rabbit ?

0% - Natura Evo chicken and turkey 155
5% - Natura Evo 95% duck 251
6% - Natura Evo 95% venison – 416
4% - Natura Evo 95% beef – 234

8% Holistic Select chicken & lamb 222
8% Holistic Select Salmon & shrimp 264

6% Nutro Natural Choice Mature Health Chicken & Turkey Formula chunks in gravy 204

8% Soulistic Shrimply Divine 270
4% Soulistic Double Happiness 262
3% Soulistic Polynesian Picnic 239
4% Soulistic Celestial Feast 250
7% Soulistic Upstream Dream 234
9% Soulistic Surf n Earth 255
8% Soulistic Nautical Nirvana 228

2% Purina One chicken pate 438
3% Purina One Turkey pate 469
5% Purina One Beef pate 530
2% Purina One Whitefish pate 734

9% ProPlan Turkey and Giblets 382
4% ProPlan Chicken & Liver entree 509
5% ProPlan Chunky Chicken Entree 639

9% Max Cat Chicken Supreme 173
8% Max Cat with savory duck 197
8% Max Cat with Savory Venison 214

8% Avoderm Chicken Chunks/gravy (??) 234
0% Avoderm Salmon in consumme 469
1% Avoderm Swordfish in consumme 271
0% Avoderm Tuna & Prawns 278
2% Avoderm Tuna % chicken w/ veggies 241

6% Artemis Chicken 320
4% Artemis Turkey & giblets 409

5% Halo Spot's Pate Whitefish 466 my cat does not like Halo.
4% Halo spot's Pate Chicken 303
9% Halo Succulent Salmon 227

1% Eukanuba kitten entree with gourmet chicken 253
1% Eukanuba adult with gourmet chicken 239

7% Evolve -chicken 214
6% Evolve turkey 244
6% Evolve seafood 265

4% Natural Balance Catatouille (stew) 274
0% Natural Balance O'Fischally Scampi 244
2% Natural Balance Sea Brulee 297

5% Pinnacle Chicken and Ocean fish 175
5% Pinnacle Chicken and Tuna 221
4% Pinnacle Ocean Fish 231
Click to expand...

There are many vets out there who don't have real experience with FD. The folks here are the ones with all the experience and will walk you thru much better than a vet.
I hope you can come post.

We'll help you get a spreadsheet started and deal with all the basics including syringe feeding.
I'm going to send you an email too in case you can't get this spot working.
 
Re: Lynn and Kitten/DKA

And the one thing you will need help from your vet for certain is dealing with the low potassium levels, that has to be monitored and treated with supplements.
You can't do that one by yourself because too high causes probems and too low causes problems.
 
Re: Lynn and Kitten/DKA

Is this your earlier post, Lynn? http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=84706

I would suggest you stay on Health until you get help with hometesting and until we know what insulin you are using.

Have you posted your city/state? Maybe we have someone who lives nearby and could help you.

If you are not getting a big enough blood sample, it may be because the ear needs to be warm or because the lancets are too small. You can fill a small prescription bottle with very warm water and hold it next to her ear for several minutes. It can also serve as something to poke against. We suggest 25-27 gauge lancets for new diabetics as the 31 gauge ones often do not make a big enough hole at first.

If you are the Lynn and Kitten from the earlier post, it sounds like you are getting help on the site for assisted feeding also?

Let us know how we can help you use the site. It is tricky at first but maybe we can help. I would take the email address off your post. We did some scammers sometimes and you don't want them to be able to contact you. We communicate via private message. You can sign up for it using the Control Panel above. Then we can send you messages and you can reply all on this site without using a private email.
 
Re: Lynn and Kitten/DKA

Lynn

Can you let us know where you live? Do you have any MaxCal available to feed through the tube? I understand you are in the FAF Yahoo Group.....that's the best place for help with the etube.

Sue is right...first we need to get you testing and we need to get a Spreadsheet going so we can help with the insulin.
 
Re: Lynn and Kitten/DKA

Hi Lynn,

I'm glad you have the glucometer. As soon as you start testing her numbers at home, you will no longer need to go to the vet for a fructosamine test as you can just give a copy of your spreadsheet with all the numbers to the vet.

My cat is a DKA survivor and he came home from the vet with a feeding tube and it was hard for me to get the food in.
Luckily, my cat started to eat on his own soon after being hospitalized for 8 1/2 days.

The IAMS MaxCal that Marje mentioned is low carb and high in calories. I would try to find that.

It is important that she get enough calories and enough insulin and enough fluids to keep ketones at bay.

Is the Ondansetron and Pepcid because the vets think she has Pancreatitis?

Keep posting and keep asking your questions and answering ours.

We can help you.
 
Here is a rely from Lynn.
She and I have been emailing and I'm trying to help her figure out this board and how to post messages.



I was just on the forum catching up on all the replies from my first post. I am using my iphone, so the screen is a bit smaller. I am reading the current replies too. How do I respond to each post separately? I am asked several questions in different posts that I would like to answer. I only see a post button at the bottom of the page. Am I supposed to post one big reply? This cannot be right... I am missing something. Kitten is on Lantus. I think that is how it is spelled. I will post again. I live in Rhode Island.

Lynn & Kitten
RI
Click to expand...
 
... How do I respond to each post separately? I am asked several questions in different posts that I would like to answer. I only see a post button at the bottom of the page. Am I supposed to post one big reply? ...
Lynn & Kitten
RI
Click to expand...

Click on the Quote button in the upper right of a post to reply to it.

Delete any part that you don't want to keep - I use ellipses - and optionally, you can break up the quoted section by copying the blocks and deleting different parts.
 
Hi. I am
Marje and Gracie said:
Lynn

Can you let us know where you live? Do you have any MaxCal available to feed through the tube? I understand you are in the FAF Yahoo Group.....that's the best place for help with the etube.

Sue is right...first we need to get you testing and we need to get a Spreadsheet going so we can help with the insulin.
Click to expand...
I live in North Kingstown, RI. The FAF group helped me out ALOT with the etube.. Now, I am ready to start focusing on the Diabetes. I will call petstores today for the MaxCal. I bought the mini Relion at Walmart. I bought the ultra thin lancets. I use the pen. I think the lancets are too fine. At the highest pen setting, on my finger, I just get a tiny drop of blood. Kitten's veins are easy to see and she has holds still, but we cannot get blood. Can someone do a spreadsheet for me.. I would appreciate the help. I will make a donation to this board to show my gratitude.Kitten has a vet appt tomorrow at the hospital for an initial consult with an IM doctor. I will be busy today getting all her info ready and presentable for the doctor. And trying to get the MaxCal. Thankyou.
 
Re: Lynn and Kitten/DKA

Is the DM food garbage to her system then? I had tried switching her to Wellness Core when she just had asthma. She snubbed it unless it was mixed with the classic FF. I thought all FF was junk. I am glad to hear I can use the classic. She likes that. I am very overwhelmed. I just want her to eat and not be in pain or want to vomit.. Etc
Lynn and Kitten
Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
Is this your earlier post, Lynn? http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=84706

I would suggest you stay on Health until you get help with hometesting and until we know what insulin you are using.

Have you posted your city/state? Maybe we have someone who lives nearby and could help you.

If you are not getting a big enough blood sample, it may be because the ear needs to be warm or because the lancets are too small. You can fill a small prescription bottle with very warm water and hold it next to her ear for several minutes. It can also serve as something to poke against. We suggest 25-27 gauge lancets for new diabetics as the 31 gauge ones often do not make a big enough hole at first.

If you are the Lynn and Kitten from the earlier post, it sounds like you are getting help on the site for assisted feeding also?

Let us know how we can help you use the site. It is tricky at first but maybe we can help. I would take the email address off your post. We did some scammers sometimes and you don't want them to be able to contact you. We communicate via private message. You can sign up for it using the Control Panel above. Then we can send you messages and you can reply all on this site without using a private email.
Click to expand...
yes... We are the Lynn and Kitten from my first post.
 
I would be glad to set up the spreadsheet for you. I'll send you a private message so I can get some information from you to do it. Be sure you have allowed private messages. (Go to User Control Panel at the top of this page. Click on it. Then choose Board Preferences from the list on the left. On the next page, go to the third choice: Allow users to send you private messages. Choose yes.)

To see your messages, look at the top of the page. It should say "1 new message" Click on that and you will send a list of messages. Choose the one you want to read. To reply to it, go to the bottom of the message at the right and choose Reply. Write in your reply and then choose Submit.
 
Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
I would be glad to set up the spreadsheet for you. I'll send you a private message so I can get some information from you to do it. Be sure you have allowed private messages. (Go to User Control Panel at the top of this page. Click on it. Then choose Board Preferences from the list on the left. On the next page, go to the third choice: Allow users to send you private messages. Choose yes.)

To see your messages, look at the top of the page. It should say "1 new message" Click on that and you will send a list of messages. Choose the one you want to read. To reply to it, go to the bottom of the message at the right and choose Reply. Write in your reply and then choose Submit.
Click to expand...
Thankyou. I did not see your message. My inbox says 1 and there is a message that says spreadsheet. I tried to click on it but I am gaving some difficulty opening it. I will try on my computer after I tend to Kitten. I am glad your cat was OTJ . Sorry, he passed.
 
I'm glad you are set up to get messages. The "spreadsheet" message is mine. So go back, click on the new message line. When you see the message "spreadsheet" click on that title. It should come up.

Thanks. Oliver was a wonderful cat and I will always be grateful for the extra time I was given with him, thanks to this forum.
 
Lynn

The MaxCal is prescription only so you'll have to get a script and find someplace that carries it.....do you have PetsMart? Sometimes they carry quite a bit of the prescription foods. The MaxCal is high in calories but not high in carbs so it is a good choice.

The ultra fine lancets are too fine for a newly dx kitty. You need 28 or 29g lancets to start until her ears learn to bleed. If you looked at the link I sent you on testing, please note that you do NOT want to hit the vein. It is painful and it will bleed like crazy....while you need a nice drop of blood for the meter, too much blood can cause the results to be off, too. So you want to aim for sweet spot as is shown in that link.

I'm glad Sue is doing the SS for you; she beat me to the offer but it doesn't matter as long as someone is able to do it. Because Kitten is coming back from DKA, it's really important that you get insulin, food, and water in her. You want to give her 1.5 times the number of calories she normally would eat. The MaxCal is high in calories but not high in carbs so it is a good choice. We can adjust her insulin dose to start getting numbers down but you need to be able to get the tests so we can see where we are with adjusting her dose.
 
Re: Lynn and Kitten/DKA

Marje and Gracie said:
Lynn

Can you let us know where you live? Do you have any MaxCal available to feed through the tube? I understand you are in the FAF Yahoo Group.....that's the best place for help with the etube.

Sue is right...first we need to get you testing and we need to get a Spreadsheet going so we can help with the insulin.
Click to expand...
MaxCal is by prescription only it seems when I googled it. I can ask for a script tomorrow at Kitten's appt. Sue is doing the spreadsheet for me soon. She just had me complete the first step which is creating the google account.
 
You'll want to keep an eye out for ketones, so see my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools for information on how to do urine ketone testing.
 
Re: Lynn and Kitten/DKA

Marje and Gracie said:
Lynn

Can you let us know where you live? Do you have any MaxCal available to feed through the tube? I understand you are in the FAF Yahoo Group.....that's the best place for help with the etube.

Sue is right...first we need to get you testing and we need to get a Spreadsheet going so we can help with the insulin.
Click to expand...
Is there anyone from RI on this board? it is such a small state, I probably know you.lol
 
Lynn,
"Tuckers Mom", Jennifer is in CT, and I know there are some other members that live in CT and MA, but not sure about RI. Post another message with the subject of "Need help in Rhode Island" and you can catch their eyes.

Carl
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top