GA My baby Oliver and I need your help!!!

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BrittanyC

BrittanyC

Member Since 2016
I don't know if my vet checked his ketone and I don't have a meter yet.. but Oliver found out today he is diabetic and has his mommy and daddy really worried tonight. I gave him his insulin 3 units of novbolin (what the vet told me to give him) and nothing has changed except he seems worse. He won't eat and won't drink. We have been give him electrolytes and he threw it up. I don't know what else to do I have done nothing but cry tonight.

P.s.
I am feeding him friskies pate.
 

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Do you have any idea what his blood glucose was at the vet's? Three units is a lot of insulin. Did he eat at all before he got his shot?
 
Hi Brittany. 3 units of Novolin is very large dose for a newly diagnosed cat. Did Oliver eat before he got the insulin? How long ago (how many hours ago) did he get the insulin? Did the vet check him for ketones today?

ETA I just saw your other post and you mention Oliver has been throwing up for a few days and is now hiding. This definitely sounds like it could be ketones and possibly DKA which is a medical emergency. If Oliver has no food in his system the 3u of Novolin is also very dangerous and he may need a glucose drip to bring his blood sugar back up.

My suggestion is that you take Oliver to the nearest vet clinic (emergency clinic) available to you ASAP. Both of these possibilities if not treated could be fatal.
 
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You mentioned in your introductory thread that Oliver was dehydrated. Do the "tent test." Pick up a fold on skin on the scruff of the neck. Let go. If it snaps back down fairly quickly, your cat is not dehydrated. If the fold of skin stays tented, then your cat is dehydrated.
 
I don't know if the vet checked his ketone and no he didn't eat before his insulin he hasn't had much to eat in the last 3 days and I gave him his insulin 5 hours ago.
 
Brittany, rub some corn syrup (karo syrup) or maple syrup on Oliver's gums if he won't lick some off your finger and take him to the nearest emergency clinic ASAP because what you are saying sounds like it's likely his BG is low and that ketones are a real possibility.
 
The vomiting started 3 days ago I took him to the vet this afternoon. The vet said his kidneys were fine and that he was dehydrated and he had a high temp but didn't tell me how high.
 
If there's any way you can get Oliver to an emergency veterinary clinic I would go as soon as possible - immediately if you can. He seems to be developing problems that will need medical care and monitoring. You probably can't do what's necessary at home. Vomiting and not eating for a few days can cause serious illness in a diabetic cat. He's also had a recent high dose of insulin which adds to the complicating factors.
 
Please do as Linda suggests and take him to an emergency clinic ASAP. I agree with her 100%, this sounds like his BG may be too low, and he needs medical care.
 
Brittany, is there not an emergency clinic in a nearby town. Where are you located?

In the meantime, you need to get Oliver's BG up so keep rubbing syrup on his gums or if he will lick it off your fingers give him whatever he will take.
 
I agree. Try calling nearby vet offices to see if they're open or if they have an automated message for what to do in an emergency. You might have to drive elsewhere ASAP to get Oliver treated.
 
Good. You may need to do that every few minutes or so. Please try calling around to any of the vets even remotely near you. I really think Oliver needs more help than you can give him at home.
 
The syrup will bring his BG up temporarily but it wears off quickly so give it liberally. Novolin's effect should have peaked already but with no food in his system, Oliver could have gone critically low and still be low because he doesn't have reserves from not eating. If you can get a bit of water into him that would be good too. Do you have a baby syringe that you could use or a small baster? If you do this, you have to be careful to only give tiny amounts at a time and put it into the side of his mouth so as not to choke him or get it down his windpipe.

I still think it would be best to get him to a vet because it will be difficult to get his glucose up and keep it up when he is not eating.
 
MrWorfMen's Mom said:
The syrup will bring his BG up temporarily but it wears off quickly so give it liberally. Novolin's effect should have peaked already but with no food in his system, Oliver could have gone critically low and still be low because he doesn't have reserves from not eating. If you can get a bit of water into him that would be good too. Do you have a baby syringe that you could use or a small baster? If you do this, you have to be careful to only give tiny amounts at a time and put it into the side of his mouth so as not to choke him or get it down his windpipe.

I still think it would be best to get him to a vet because it will be difficult to get his glucose up and keep it up when he is not eating.
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Linda, I am concerned about DKA, too, since he has a high fever and hasn't eaten much in several days.
 
Brittany, I hope the reason we haven't heard any more from you is that you're on your way to the vet with Oliver. Please keep us posted, we will worry if we don't hear from you!
 
Squalliesmom said:
I am concerned about DKA, too
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I know! That was my first thought but 3 units of Novolin on a BG of 235 taken at the vet sounds like hypo is likely at play and possibly the most urgent issue right this moment. The poor cat doesn't have any reserves to bring his BG up himself if he hasn't been eating for days. I too hope the silence is because they have found a vet .....hopefully one more savvy about diabetes, insulin and DKA if the cat has diabetes at all! I'm wondering how the diagnosis was reached because if Oliver had a fever that suggests an infection. That and vet stress alone could cause a reading of 235 calling the diagnosis of diabetes into question unless a fructosamine and urine test for glucose were done.
 
MrWorfMen's Mom said:
I know! That was my first thought but 3 units of Novolin on a BG of 235 taken at the vet sounds like hypo is likely at play and possibly the most urgent issue right this moment. The poor cat doesn't have any reserves to bring his BG up himself if he hasn't been eating for days. I too hope the silence is because they have found a vet .....hopefully one more savvy about diabetes, insulin and DKA if the cat has diabetes at all! I'm wondering how the diagnosis was reached because if Oliver had a fever that suggests an infection. That and vet stress alone could cause a reading of 235 calling the diagnosis of diabetes into question unless a fructosamine and urine test for glucose were done.
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Yes, I agree. Three units is a huge starting dose. We seem to be seeing this type of thing more and more lately. What are these vets thinking?!? Praying that Oliver is on his way to the vet!
 
Yes. I'll keep checking for an hour or so but then I have to get some shut eye. On the other hand I'll have a hard time sleeping for wondering what happened. Hope we hear something soon!
 
No luck in finding a vet I did the syrup thing and have 2 bowls of food in front of him hoping he will eat something. I'm not getting any sleep tonight.
 
Can you call Animal Control...ask where the nearest emergency vet is and their phone number...if animal control is closed call 911 and explain the situation...there is always an animal control person on call and 911 will be able to put you in touch with them; call you nearest hospital emergency room and ask where they refer animal emergencies (they get this kind of question all the time); call any near by friend, family or coworker who is diabetic and explain the situation...they might be willing to let you get a spot BG with their meter. Remember this is a CRITICAL SITUATION and a REAL emergency. Please keep posting....
 
Ann and Murphy said:
Can you call Animal Control...ask where the nearest emergency vet is and their phone number...if animal control is closed call 911 and explain the situation...there is always an animal control person on call and 911 will be able to put you in touch with them; call you nearest hospital emergency room and ask where they refer animal emergencies (they get this kind of question all the time); call any near by friend, family or coworker who is diabetic and explain the situation...they might be willing to let you get a spot BG with their meter. Remember this is a CRITICAL SITUATION and a REAL emergency. Please keep posting....
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All great ideas! Is there a Walmart or any 24-hr store near you that might have a meter? As Ann has said, this is a real emergency. I'm so afraid that Oliver needs more help than you can give him at home! How is he now, any change?
 
Brittany, how did your vet diagnosis Oliver? Did he check his urine for glucose or run a test called Fructosamine?

I agree with Ann. Keep giving syrup. There must be some services available somewhere in your vicinity and that is your best choice for treating him.

You could also try watering down the bit of food to make a soup and see if Oliver will take that? Do you have any cat food that has gravy on it? You could try syringing a bit of the gravy into his mouth or some of the watered down cat food.
 
Brittany , I too live in a small town..my emergency vet clinic is 45 minutes away and we have made a midnight run there many times over the years. I beg u to follow what these wonderful people are saying and get Oliver to the emergency clinic now...google for the nearest one and go now. Will be praying for u and Oliver
 
He isn't eating or drinking on his own but I have been giving him water and watered down wet food with a syringe and he seems to be doing better he is holding his head up and walking around still sluggish but seems to be okay for now. I am still watching him like a hawk. I live in the boondocks where every town around me still lives in the 50's I can't get him in anywhere. I plan on watching him all night. Thank you everyone whose has helped me. I'll keep y'all posted.
 
BrittanyC said:
He isn't eating or drinking on his own but I have been giving him water and watered down wet food with a syringe and he seems to be doing better he is holding his head up and walking around still sluggish but seems to be okay for now. I am still watching him like a hawk. I live in the boondocks where every town around me still lives in the 50's I can't get him in anywhere. I plan on watching him all night. Thank you everyone whose has helped me. I'll keep y'all posted.
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If he is still sluggish his BG is probably still very low. It's critical that you keep trying to get his BG up. The syrup is great but only lasts a little while. As Linda said, if you have any cat food that has gravy with it try, syringing some gravy, it is loaded with carbs (which is what Oliver needs right now). In the interim keep putting syrup on his gums.
 
I have been doing that and still am. We are playing a deadly waiting game tonight. It is killing me inside and I hate not being able to do more. I feel like its my fault for not taking him sooner... we thought the reason he was throwing up was because he ate a bug or something that didn't agree with his stomach. He is the first baby we ever got and his other 2 brothers and definitely his sister is worried about him. My baby nova hasn't left our side. Yall just pray for us tonight and hopefully everything will be okay. Thank Yall so much for the help.
 
Is there any people food that Oliver likes? For instance ice cream, whip cream, or sandwich meat that might entice him to eat something? It's vital to get food into him to get his BG up and keep it there and if you can get him started, he might try to eat himself.
 
Believe I wish ha he is the only cat that doesn't like people food he hates it. Oliver since day one was always a special cat.
 
Ok so keep giving him syrup for now. And don't beat yourself up. You're doing your best and you took Oliver to the vet when you concluded the problem wasn't just a bug. Has Oliver eaten at all in the last 3 days? Did the vet run any liver tests on Oliver? I'm sorry to say this but I seriously question your vet telling you to give any insulin much less 3 units to a cat that is not eating.
 
I tried all of that nothing. As far as I know he hasn't eaten much in 3 days I work a full time job so it's hard to know exactly and no I don't think he did.
 
Keep up with the syrup for now, and keep trying to syringe small amounts of food and water. Please take him to the vet as soon as they open tomorrow morning! (Although you might want to consider a different vet with more knowledge of Feline Diabetes!)

ETA: You are probably in for an all-nighter. :coffee::coffee::coffee:
 
Brittany, please do keep us posted....otherwise we worry and wonder. I'm going to call it a night but will check back in the morning. Will keep you and Oliver in my prayers.
@Squalliesmom @Ann and Murphy and Tom Are you going to be around for awhile or should we tag April on the west coast to see if she can keep an eye on things here? I hate to leave Brittany on her own all night.
 
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