Kathleen Einwich
Member Since 2018
My 14-year-old cat, Bet, began losing weight over the last month and then in the last week began refusing to use his own catbox, just peeing everywhere. He still eats but was drinking excessively. I also noticed a possibility that he could not see well. I am in an area where I don't know or trust the vets (the ones I knew passed away) and made 3 appointments (cancelling two) before settling on one vet in the state of Louisiana. Years ago I had many great experiences with vets from Louisiana State University, who I met through cat show people.
Yes, expensive diagnosis! And what a run-around! Though the first vet diagnosed diabetes with the first test ($145), he sent me to an emergency vet in a city 40 miles away because he said it would be necessary to monitor my cat's first 24 hours on insulin to check for reactions. He didn't have the time, he had a previous engagement. To cut to the chase, $435 later, those vets said monitoring would not be needed and sent me home with a prescription for Lantus, 1 unit injections twice per day and instructions to see the other vet towards the end of next week. No instructions on how or where to give the injection (I called them back to ask and they were shocked). No ketones or other damage, and it appears we caught it early, they said. No real instructions on food etc. Unfortunate this happened right before a weekend or I might have gotten more instructions.
I don't mean to complain about the costs - my cat Bet is the best cat I've ever had in my life and I will do what's necessary to bring him back to health. But I'm on a pension...right now my sisters are helping with the costs (ha, after they yelled at me).
No one has told me anything about what to expect in the future but I am seeing some reaction in Bet from the insulin. He is walking better, not drinking so much or having accidents, as far as I can tell. He isn't staring into space. It's hard to inject him through his short but thick fur and I worry that I really get it in... But after his first shot at 715pm last night, he was washing himself after 90 minutes (wow!) and about 330am Saturday morning he came upstairs to my bed and poked me in the face with his paw, as he does...
I have learned a lot just reading the forums here. I am terrified of all of this and especially the prospect of using a blood meter with my cat (watched your videos). He's handling the shots fairly well - 3 so far with no complaint - but I wonder about the lancets on his ear for the meter several times per day. I'm also confused about what foods I will be expected to feed him in the future. I heard that at one of the vets that "high fiber" foods are what are fed, but read elsewhere that high protein and fat foods are the current thing. Bet's eaten specialty mail order high protein dry dog food all of his life (they didn't make cat food), supplemented by a half can of 9-Lives chicken to add taurine. I'd like to know what people with experience use for this condition.
I also need advice on what I could possibly feed my cat as a treat or something....they told me he needs to have something in his stomach before his shot, something for the insulin to work on. Bet has never been a cat to like treats, has never been overweight and is very fussy about his food in general. Doesn't like fish.
Anything you folks could do to direct and/or help me with all of this I would greatly appreciate. This is a terrible thing for me to go through. This cat has been through everything with me, even Hurricane Katrina and six weeks on the road afterwards. Thanks a lot.
Kathy
Yes, expensive diagnosis! And what a run-around! Though the first vet diagnosed diabetes with the first test ($145), he sent me to an emergency vet in a city 40 miles away because he said it would be necessary to monitor my cat's first 24 hours on insulin to check for reactions. He didn't have the time, he had a previous engagement. To cut to the chase, $435 later, those vets said monitoring would not be needed and sent me home with a prescription for Lantus, 1 unit injections twice per day and instructions to see the other vet towards the end of next week. No instructions on how or where to give the injection (I called them back to ask and they were shocked). No ketones or other damage, and it appears we caught it early, they said. No real instructions on food etc. Unfortunate this happened right before a weekend or I might have gotten more instructions.
I don't mean to complain about the costs - my cat Bet is the best cat I've ever had in my life and I will do what's necessary to bring him back to health. But I'm on a pension...right now my sisters are helping with the costs (ha, after they yelled at me).
No one has told me anything about what to expect in the future but I am seeing some reaction in Bet from the insulin. He is walking better, not drinking so much or having accidents, as far as I can tell. He isn't staring into space. It's hard to inject him through his short but thick fur and I worry that I really get it in... But after his first shot at 715pm last night, he was washing himself after 90 minutes (wow!) and about 330am Saturday morning he came upstairs to my bed and poked me in the face with his paw, as he does...
I have learned a lot just reading the forums here. I am terrified of all of this and especially the prospect of using a blood meter with my cat (watched your videos). He's handling the shots fairly well - 3 so far with no complaint - but I wonder about the lancets on his ear for the meter several times per day. I'm also confused about what foods I will be expected to feed him in the future. I heard that at one of the vets that "high fiber" foods are what are fed, but read elsewhere that high protein and fat foods are the current thing. Bet's eaten specialty mail order high protein dry dog food all of his life (they didn't make cat food), supplemented by a half can of 9-Lives chicken to add taurine. I'd like to know what people with experience use for this condition.
I also need advice on what I could possibly feed my cat as a treat or something....they told me he needs to have something in his stomach before his shot, something for the insulin to work on. Bet has never been a cat to like treats, has never been overweight and is very fussy about his food in general. Doesn't like fish.
Anything you folks could do to direct and/or help me with all of this I would greatly appreciate. This is a terrible thing for me to go through. This cat has been through everything with me, even Hurricane Katrina and six weeks on the road afterwards. Thanks a lot.
Kathy
