Meet Abbie, my problem child.

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Allison Dubit

Allison Dubit

Member Since 2020
Hi Everyone,

I'm Allison and I have an 11 year old Gray Tabby named Abigail. She was originally diagnosed with diabetes in November, 2018. We went to the vet with a suspected UTI and found out she had UTI and was diabetic. She went on Lantus, we home tested, switched her food over to wet only low-carb food (mainly TikiCat), she got under control once we got dosing figured out, and went into remission in March, 2019.

As she switched over to not needing insulin, she also seemed to have a complete body chemistry change, resulting in her no longer tolerating fish or chicken. She was violently ill with vomiting and diarrhea for a few weeks (and about $5k in vet bills). We switched her to Instinct Rabbit wet food and learned through trial and error that she did best with small, round the clock feedings of wet food, and having to "hunt" for her very small amount of Instinct Rabbit dry food. She has auto feeders that are chilled that give her 1/6 of a can of food every 4 hours. Once we figured all of this out, she's been really good, other than some vomiting occasionally and we can usually pinpoint that back to something that upset her.

Abbie is very sensitive, so the littlest change can throw her for a loop. So my husband, 3 year old, and I being quarantined with her I'm sure has been stressful. Although she does have her boyfriend (my husband) at her service all day long, so I would think she would be really happy.

Sunday, Ben noticed that she peed more than her normal, so I checked her sugar...450. Vet appointment on Monday, she has a UTI, all bloodwork is normal, and we are waiting for the urine culture to come back. She's on Zenquin for the UTI.

We cut the little bit of dry food from her diet and upped the wet. Started back up with Lantus and testing every few hours. She's all over the place though. I'm also having trouble with shooting her between the shoulders as her fur is thick. Any tips? Where else can I shoot her? I'm really trying my best here and I want to make sure I'm doing all that I can. Thanks!!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hXBBWx9c-IYdlUvXsq-MfYvczFuSbNu3z1s_-zdZRtc/edit?usp=sharing
 

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WELCOME TO FDMB! Wow Abigail is giving you a ride isnt she? Poor baby. I cannot give dosing advice but there are plenty of people here that can. So hold on for more replies. '
I just wanted to welcome you and say that you have found the place for answers. You may need a little patience as our experts are usually busy with helping others but they find their way here trust me. ;)

One thing I see is remission is SUCH a good thing. One (what I feel ) mistake some people make, is the reintroduction of dry food. Its packed with carbs and even if some brands have less carbs its still carbs. If Abigail was walking a fine line in numbers during remission its probably the dry food that put her over the line. I know UTI do the same, but there again dry food isnt the best for cats that get UTI's. I'm NOT judging you. A lot of people think remission is a cure... sadly it is not. Once a diabetic always a diabetic.

We'll help you get this figured out. Theres a wealth of information here and people to help you decipher it.
jeanne
 
Hi Jeanne!
Thanks.
When she was so sick when she went into remission we had a consult with a veterinary nutritionist at University of TN and they suggested a bit of dry food to get the vomiting to stop, and it worked, so that’s why we kept her on it. Obviously, now that her numbers are high, we’ve stopped giving her the dry and so far she’s only vomited a hair ball once, so fingers crossed!

She’s a challenge for sure!
 
Allison Dubit said:
Hi Jeanne!
Thanks.
When she was so sick when she went into remission we had a consult with a veterinary nutritionist at University of TN and they suggested a bit of dry food to get the vomiting to stop, and it worked, so that’s why we kept her on it. Obviously, now that her numbers are high, we’ve stopped giving her the dry and so far she’s only vomited a hair ball once, so fingers crossed!

She’s a challenge for sure!
Click to expand...
Well you keep checking back here for more comments. If it should happen to get overlooked ,just post again to bump it to the top of the list. ;)
 
Hi Allison and Abbie and welcome.
Lucky Abbie having a boyfriend ;)
Are you feeding any dry at all now?

Looking at the SS Abbie is a bouncy girl. Bounces can happen if Abbie drops too fast, too low or lower than her body thinks is normal. Then she dumps stored glucose and regulatory hormones into her system and the BG zooms up. Bounces can last from 1 to 6 cycles and once one has happened there is nothing you can do but wait it out.

How often are you feeding her?

Its very good you are getting a test in during the pm cycle. That’s very important. If you get a test like the 83 ypu did a couple of days ago, always test again to see she is safe. And test again if the test is a lot lower than the Preshot
Bron
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Hi Allison and Abbie and welcome.
Lucky Abbie having a boyfriend ;)
Are you feeding any dry at all now?

Looking at the SS Abbie is a bouncy girl. Bounces can happen if Abbie drops too fast, too low or lower than her body thinks is normal. Then she dumps stored glucose and regulatory hormones into her system and the BG zooms up. Bounces can last from 1 to 6 cycles and once one has happened there is nothing you can do but wait it out.

How often are you feeding her?

Its very good you are getting a test in during the pm cycle. That’s very important. If you get a test like the 83 ypu did a couple of days ago, always test again to see she is safe. And test again if the test is a lot lower than the Preshot
Bron
Click to expand...


Hi Bron,

Not feeding dry food anymore. She gets 1.5 cans (8.25 oz) of wet food per day. She has a chilled auto feeder that gives her 1/4 can or 1/6 can every 3.5 hours round the clock.

I’m planning to do a curve on her tomorrow to see what’s going on. I think some of her high numbers could be bounce, but also I have this sinking feeling that I fur shot her. Like today... I don’t think her numbers came down at all, unless they were down when I wasn’t testing her.

Thanks!!
Allie
 
Allison Dubit said:
Hi Bron,

Not feeding dry food anymore. She gets 1.5 cans (8.25 oz) of wet food per day. She has a chilled auto feeder that gives her 1/4 can or 1/6 can every 3.5 hours round the clock.

I’m planning to do a curve on her tomorrow to see what’s going on. I think some of her high numbers could be bounce, but also I have this sinking feeling that I fur shot her. Like today... I don’t think her numbers came down at all, unless they were down when I wasn’t testing her.

Thanks!!
Allie
Click to expand...
You can smell the Lantus if you gave a fur shot. It’s quite distinctive.
I think the high numbers today are from the 83 last night...she could have easily gone lower than that. I wouldn’t bother doing a curve on her until she comes off the bounce. It won’t tell you anything and it will be a waste of test strips.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
You can smell the Lantus if you gave a fur shot. It’s quite distinctive.
I think the high numbers today are from the 83 last night...she could have easily gone lower than that. I wouldn’t bother doing a curve on her until she comes off the bounce. It won’t tell you anything and it will be a waste of test strips.
Click to expand...

Hadn't thought about smelling the Lantus. It does have a distinctive smell. Very sterile. Now I don't feel like such a failure.

Thanks for the advice. I'll hold off on the curve for a few days. Waiting on Neosporin for her ears too. I hate having to poke her so much!
 
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