Need dosing advice!

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Jennifer and Spot (GA)

Jennifer and Spot (GA)

Member Since 2012
Spot's at 141 this morning. No shot. Should I wait an hour after breakfast and see if it goes up and then shoot if it does? Last time I didn't give him a shot (not long ago) it jumped way up by noon. Don't want that to happen again.

Thanks!
 
Are you going to be around to watch him today? If so go ahead and shoot his normal dose. Its what we call shooting low to stay low, but you want to be around to monitor the first time you do it, just to make sure he doesn't drop too low.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette, Autumn & The Fur Gang.
 
its always scary when you first shoot low to stay low, so that is why it is good to do it on a day where you will be around to watch him and test to see how he is doing, if you can try to grab a +3 and +6 test just to see how low that is dose is taking him.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette, Autumn & The Fur Gang
 
He's looking good, got a nice yellow surf going on there so not bouncing really high off that low preshot. :thumbup Now hopfully he will settle nicely into that dose and his numbers will just keep getting better and better as he gets more use to feeling those lower numbers.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette, Autumn & The Fur Gang
 
Keep in mind that shooting early is like a dose increase and shooting late is like a dose decrease.

Since you shot late, you will need to gradually get back on your regular times. This can be done with a maximum of 30 minutes of adjustment in 1 day and given his sensitivity, I'd go with 15 minutes per shot to sneak back to the original shot times until you are there. For additional safety, you could also slightly decrease the amount of insulin ("skinny" it). This will cause some wobbling of the numbers, so have patience. You'll need roughly 5 days, give or take a day, to settle.

Because you have been collecting glucose test data, you now see that it can be safe to give him insulin when he is lower than 200. I think I would set your new "no shoot" number to 150, so long as you see him behaving normally. If you can, get +3, +6, +9 tests (mini curve) to watch the pattern emerging.

Also - are you testing for ketones? ketoacidosis may cause breathing changes.
 
I don't know how to check him for Ketones since he shares a large litter box with my other cat.

His eyes do look sunken, he looks thin and is so bony at 11.5 lbs. I suppose that's normal for this disease, but it concerns me. He is breathing heavy it seems.

His numbers at least today so far have been pretty good. He can go up and down the stairs but he goes a little slower.

He is so hungry.

I think I'll take him in to the expensive vet. At least she has experience with Lantus. She advised not to shoot under 200 but I listened to you guys instead.
 
Urine Testing

Obtain Keto Diastix or similar product from pharmacy.
You will be looking for glucose and/or ketones in the urine.

Use a long handled spoon to obtain fresh urine sample while the cat urinates, or hold a test strip under the cat.
OR - place some strong plastic wrap over a section of the box frequently anointed and
dip into a fresh puddle less than 30 minutes after deposit.
OR - Pick up some aquarium gravel and put it in a clean litter box.
Wait for the cat to use it.
In under 30 minutes, push the gravel aside, tip the pan, and dip the strip.
Compare test strip to color chart (this is an imprecise measure)
 
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