Nervous about first shot since no testing

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Rockpea

Rockpea

Member Since 2013
I'm really scared to give my cat his first shot because I haven't tested him. I posted earlier about I don't think he would let me because he's sort of an aggressive cat. Doc wants to start him out on 2 units of Lantus. He had been eating dry food most of his life. He's 13 and weighs 16.5 pounds. I know that I wouldn't know without testing him but I can't afford the meter right now, but is this a normal amount to start with and anyone start out without testing their cat?
And do I need wait any certain amount of time between feeding and giving shot?
 
I think you can get a ReliOn meter from WalMart for like $9 and the test strips that go with it are very inexpensive, too.
 
With Lantus, typically no, because the onset of Lantus is about 2 hours after the shot, so you have about 2 hours for the food to affect his BGs before the insulin starts to lower them.
If you can not get a glucometer tonight (you can ask for one to be sent to you by clicking on the image above for Home Testing Kits - Need one? Donation?).
We do not recommend switching from dry food to all wet food until you can start testing, as just that change can lower your cat's BGs quite a bit.
 
So should I not give the shot tonight? I wouldn't be able to get a meter until I get kids off to school and what's the guarantee he'll let me. He's not the nicest kitty. I'm so nervous about all of this. I don't even want to do it.
 
I think BJM provided some secondary monitoring tools in your other post. Really its much much safer to test first. How does he feel about having his ears touched? Or his feet?
Maybe watch this video on testing difficult cats http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXyrKSJTlYA

If you do decide to shoot anyway - make sure you know what hypos look like and have a kit ready to treat one:

N CASE OF EMERGENCY - YOUR HYPO KIT
Put together NOW the following items and put in an easily accessible place!
Phone number of your vet
Phone number, address and map/directions to your nearest emergency vet (or phone number of the cab company and some cash/credit card)
Karo syrup, honey or corn syrup
High carb canned food with gravy – 2-3 cans
Some favourite treats
Spare pack of 25 blood glucose strips


Wendy
 
Thanks you guys. I just decided to wait until tomorrow night after I look at videos and read more info here. I'm going to buy a testing monitor and attempt to take blood. I've had my kitty for 13 years and I would hate for my mistake to cause something to happen to him.
 
Ok great. Let us know how you get on.. And what the readings are like. You should test before every shot, and then if you can manage it with your schedule, a reading 5-7 hours after to see how low he is going. It's that low number that tells us about dose adjustments.
 
Which type of ReliOn is better? I looked on the website and say there's about four different ones.
 
I have 2: Confirm and Prime.
I started with the Confirm and I'm very happy with it - easy to use, very small blood drop, seems reliable.
I bought the Prime as a backup and because the strips are very cheap - a big bonus as we do go through a lot of strips in this game ;-)

If I was starting again, I'd buy the Prime, simply because of the costs - but the blood drop size is slightly larger.

Testing is very scarey at first - we have all been there and it does get easier. It doesn't hurt the cat although they sometimes pretend it does :-D - mainly they don't like being held still during the process. But, its for there own good. I had to hold my then 2 year old son's arm while he had blood drawn from his vein - he screamed and fought me but it was for his own good - its a no brainer, really.

Its harder for us than for the cat as we have all the guilt and worry to deal with :cry:
 
As a newbee, 3 weeks in, I will chime in on the testing.

It was the hardest thing I had to master! (cussed, cried, threw stuff!! :-x :cry: :-x )

My ReliOn Prime was $17, 50 strips are $9 at Walmart. You cannot find cheaper strips! The ones to my personal meter are over $1 each. :shock:

Now with testing....I have a cat that is not cooperative too, but found the easiest way is to bundle him in a towel, or 'kitty burrito' as they call it. Mine seems to fight less when he knows he can't do anything, every cat is different (ECID) as they say. I have him in a sitting position, in my lap, laying him down like a baby won't work for him. I guess he feels more in control sitting up? Since the first few times, he quit squirming and rarely does it now. :-D

Getting the ear to bleed for you can take time. Be sure to warm the ear well, don't burn him. I use an old sock with about 1/2 cup rice inside, tied up. Nuke it for about 20 seconds and hold to the ear until warm. Feel the heat on your body, your face, whatever to be sure it isn't too hot, your hands are tougher and won't feel the heat as well as your face or belly. I hold it on his ear for about 10 seconds, I'm sure that varies with other cats. Some people use an empty pill bottle with hot water in it, tried that, didn't work for us.

Now to poking :o .......I used a lancet device that came with a meter and had a terrible time with it! I would poke 4-6 times and nothing! I was frustrated and he was frustrated! After about a week, I threw it and started free hand poking, just holding the lancet at an angle and never looked back. Always have something inside the ear flap, like a cotton ball, folded piece of tissue, folded gauze pad, because their ear leather is tougher than you think and it gives a firm surface to poke. If you are piercing the ear, you are doing it too hard or have the device set too high. Some people have no problem with the device and have used it for years, it didn't work for us, although I may try again, now that I have some experience. By far, the hardest part for this newbee, was the testing. :o Also, whether you get a test or not, always give a treat! ALWAYS. Even if not successful. That is the only thing that keeps him allowing me to do this, I'm sure. :lol: The new meters only need the tiniest speck of blood, with practice you'll know when you have enough. Be sure to hold the test spot firmly for a few seconds after the test, this stops the bleeding and helps prevent bruising. At this point, I'm sure you think you will never get it, but you will! :-D I think I cried more in 10 days than I have in 10 yrs, I have never been so frustrated!! In a couple weeks, the frustration becomes a bad memory. :-D

As for dosing, I have no input, being a newbee too. But I would most certainly not shoot without testing 1st. Wouldn't do that to a human, why with an animal? :?: :?:

There is a ton of experience on this board that will walk you thru whatever you come across, you will not be alone in this! :-D Having the support here, is the only way I/WE made it thru those tough first couple weeks. You may not feel it right now, but you WILL get thru this and have a happier, healthier Kitty! Although I did NOT believe it when I was told...It DOES get easier! :-D

Hey Ya'll, if I left out anything please add your advice. :-D

Best wishes to you and your furbaby! cat_pet_icon
 
NcKitties3 - Thanks. I'm so stressed about testing him. I just know he's going to try to bite me which is what I'm most afraid of. He may fool me if I can get it done quick enough. I bought him some new treats which he just looked at and walked away from. I went back and bought a different flavor. I hope he'll eat them. They're the freeze dried ones. I think he'll like a more meaty type but my pet store didn't have any. :? . I'll probably drive out a little further this weekend to find some. So do you test, treat and then feed, then give insulin?
 
If he likes the meatier type treats will he eat human food? Since I have 14 cats and only 2 are diabetic and 1 of those has been in remission for over 2 years now, I just boil up some plain no spices added chicken breasts for mine then when they cool, cut them into bite size pieces and store them in a tuperware container, one good sized chicken breast will last Autumn several days. Some other treats that are favorites around here are Shrimp, (popcorn works great) Sardines packed in water, and even tiny bites of human tuna.

Mel, Maxwell, Autumn & The Fur Gang
 
Well alright MommaofMuse - Now he loves human tuna. As soon as I open the can he comes for it. I'll use that as his treat tonight if the ones I just bought don't work.
 
Just make sure the tuna is packed in water and nothing else, be sure to read the label. But yeah if I want to open a can of tuna around here for myself I have to go either in the bathroom and shut the door...or outside....lol

Mel, Maxwell, Autumn & The Fur Gang
 
Hi Hon!
Check your tuna label, most that are in water will say Vegetable Broth, this may not be a good idea because it could contain onions or so I've heard, so I don't take a chance. I also heard that the low sodium tuna doesn't have this, but I looked and it's 3 times the price.
Personally, I buy freeze dried liver bits for Lucian, he loves them, they are kitty crack for him! I tried chicken and fish and he wouldn't touch either one. If your cat likes the liver, you can get bigger bags for much less $$ per ounce, by getting the one for dogs and breaking the pieces. At my Petsmart, they have cat size bags for $3 for 0.85 oz and dog size bags for $9 for 5.0 oz, much cheaper that way.
'
You asked how I do it.....I give him a couple little pieces, pick him up and 'burrito' him, test him, put him down, give a couple little treats, feed and shoot. For me, it takes about 15 - 20 min, depending on how long it takes him to eat, so I start about 20 min before shot time. I prepare his syringe while he's eating, so it has a couple minutes to warm up. The shot is by far the easy part for us. I put him up on my table, give him a couple treats and shoot while he's eating them. I can't get down on the floor due to physical limitations, so on the table is easiest for us. Same reason I test him in my lap, can't get down on the floor.

There are a lot of different ways to do all of this, read as much as you can and try different ways until you find what works for you. :-D
 
Hello Rockpea,

I am very very close to you and would LOVE TO PAY FORWARD.....my Sugar Bean has been in remission this July will be 2 yrs. I still ck her about every 2 months or if something stressful is happening in the home.

I could meet you any time. Please give me a call. I have a meter, strips, rice bag and treats! Just let me know.

Hang in there, it will get better! Promise promise!

Shellie and : Bean (sugar baby), Ittle Sista, and Gizzi MoMo!!!

Private message and I will share my number and you can call me ANYTIME!

Look forward to hearing from ya

I can get you a meter and strips tomorrow. The syrup I have and I am sure some other goodies that you could use.
 
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