? New 6 Oct – Pumpkin – questions.

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Bandit's Mom said:
Hi Susan, let me know if you need help setting up the spreadsheet once you are ready to start home testing. Here are the instructions for setting one up:
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

If you find it too overwhelming/confusing, I will be happy to set it up for you :)
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I appreciate your offer for help. Just brought pumpkin to a new vet today. This one really seems good. My last one was horrible. I’m already impressed at how much better and thorough she is. I know a lot of this needs to be my responsibility though. I feel so helpless when something goes wrong. I need to know how to do this. I can’t run to emergency every time I need a glucose reading .
 
Critter Mom said:
You found a friend to help you. You found FDMB. You addressed the constipation Rx with the vets. I'd say you're doing quite well in the advocacy stakes, Susan.

When we all started out we knew zero about feline diabetes (and most of us probably knew zero about diabetes in humans, other than that too many carbs are a problem and insulin is involved somewhere along the line).

When we start out, we don't even know which questions we need to ask a vet. For example, I would never have know to ask about Lantus insulin for my Saoirse's diabetes or ondansetron for her pancreatitis were it not for people here sharing their knowledge and experience. If not for that, I'd never have heard about these treatments so I'd never have known to ask my vet about them.

As you learn more from the members here and at other reputable cat health sites, your advocacy skills will keep getting better and better. :)

(BTW, I've updated the suggested signature line in my earlier post with the food info, ready for you to copy/paste.)


Mogs
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Thank you for the kind words. I was really beating myself up yesterday. My friend interviewed vets for me. Everything has to be done over the phone here in my area because of Covid. She found me a really good vet. Her exam was so thorough. She didn’t miss a thing. I realize I need to take responsibility for much of this. I can’t go running to emergency or the vet every time I need a glucose reading. I’m learning.
The news is not great. I found out pumpkin has kidney disease which the other vet never explored. I kept telling my old vet that he’s so underweight and she said he was getting the right amount of food for his amount of insulin. This vet says he’s very underweight. Anyone can look at his picture and see that he’s underweight. I felt negligent but I wasn’t. I wished I could’ve given him more food.
Things are going to change right now. She is changing his diet. Thank you again for all your help. I keep checking here. I am no help to anybody right now because I’m no expert.
 
Susan Fentz said:
Thank you for the kind words. I was really beating myself up yesterday. My friend interviewed vets for me. Everything has to be done over the phone here in my area because of Covid. She found me a really good vet. Her exam was so thorough. She didn’t miss a thing. I realize I need to take responsibility for much of this. I can’t go running to emergency or the vet every time I need a glucose reading. I’m learning.
The news is not great. I found out pumpkin has kidney disease which the other vet never explored. I kept telling my old vet that he’s so underweight and she said he was getting the right amount of food for his amount of insulin. This vet says he’s very underweight. Anyone can look at his picture and see that he’s underweight. I felt negligent but I wasn’t. I wished I could’ve given him more food.
Things are going to change right now. She is changing his diet. Thank you again for all your help. I keep checking here. I am no help to anybody right now because I’m no expert.
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Pumpkin also got his second enema this week. My old vet did it Monday. This vet had to do another one today. She got 4 inches of poop. 4 inches in his little tiny body.
 
Nan & Amber (GA) said:
There is one other option you might look into, the Freestyle Libre. It's a patch that is glued onto the skin (with I think some tiny probes?), and then BG can be read any time you want with a separate reader (no pokes necessary).

Pros: incredibly convenient when it works! And if the paw pad thing doesn't work, may be the only realistic option for you guys

Cons: expensive and not always reliable. Under ideal circumstances, one patch is supposed to last 10-14 days (and must be put on by a vet each time), but there are special challenges with cats as you can imagine. It's not uncommon for cats to figure out how to tear the patches off within hours or a couple days of application. And then sometimes, even if they stay on, they don't work well for mysterious reasons.

So, it's a mixed bag. When they work, they're fantastic, but we've heard a lot of stories of frustration too. Still, might be worth asking your vet and getting a price estimate (you have to buy the reader which I think is something like $65, and then the patches and their application are an ongoing cost, not sure about that price).

I just hope the paw pad testing works for you. Crossing fingers that Pumpkin turns out to be one of those cats who is OK with it!
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I never heard of that patch. I wonder how well it works. Thanks for the information. That’s very interesting
 
Nan & Amber (GA) said:
There is one other option you might look into, the Freestyle Libre. It's a patch that is glued onto the skin (with I think some tiny probes?), and then BG can be read any time you want with a separate reader (no pokes necessary).

Pros: incredibly convenient when it works! And if the paw pad thing doesn't work, may be the only realistic option for you guys

Cons: expensive and not always reliable. Under ideal circumstances, one patch is supposed to last 10-14 days (and must be put on by a vet each time), but there are special challenges with cats as you can imagine. It's not uncommon for cats to figure out how to tear the patches off within hours or a couple days of application. And then sometimes, even if they stay on, they don't work well for mysterious reasons.

So, it's a mixed bag. When they work, they're fantastic, but we've heard a lot of stories of frustration too. Still, might be worth asking your vet and getting a price estimate (you have to buy the reader which I think is something like $65, and then the patches and their application are an ongoing cost, not sure about that price).

I just hope the paw pad testing works for you. Crossing fingers that Pumpkin turns out to be one of those cats who is OK with it!
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I never heard of that patch. I wonder how well it works. Thanks for the information. That’s very interesting
 
Roberta and Chloe said:
Ask them straight out how much do they know about cats and feline diabetes.
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I have that friend is much more knowledgeable than I. She interviewed vets and provided me with a phone number. She set it all up.
I am very grateful. This vet is already so much more thorough than my old vet.
It was uncomfortable because the new vet's office called the old vet's office, asking for Pumpkin's records.
They know they were fired today.
jt and trouble (GA) said:
Ugh Sorry I got a call from my neighbor. Shes elderly and needs help
Hope this video helps!
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Thank you. Yes I’m watching all of them. It’s nice of you to take care of your neighbor.
 
Absolutely NO apologies necessary! I just HOPE the video helps you get more comfortable doing the tests. Remember always reward with a treat. Even if its a failed attempt. You want Pumpkin to associate all these new things with good things to follow!

KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT!
You'll get there.;):bighug:
 
Susan Fentz said:
It was uncomfortable because the new vet's office called the old vet's office, asking for Pumpkin's records.
They know they were fired today.
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You can't 'fire' a vet but I know what you mean. I'm sure all vets are used to this. It's like getting a second opinion. I'm glad you found someone you can trust and talk to. It's so important.
 
jt and trouble (GA) said:
Absolutely NO apologies necessary! I just HOPE the video helps you get more comfortable doing the tests. Remember always reward with a treat. Even if its a failed attempt. You want Pumpkin to associate all these new things with good things to follow!

KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT!
You'll get there.;):bighug:
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*** big sigh ***
Hope so. Giving it my best.
 
Roberta and Chloe said:
You can't 'fire' a vet but I know what you mean. I'm sure all vets are used to this. It's like getting a second opinion. I'm glad you found someone you can trust and talk to. It's so important.
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The new vet called the old vet for Pumpkin's records. I didn't know they were going to do that at first.
The old vet's staff usually checks on Pumpkin after a visit. They did not this time.
That's why I said that.
 
Susan --

It it's not too much trouble, could you start a new thread. As you observed above, this thread has gotten rather long and it's time consuming to read through everything to insure your questions have been answered. Generally, you don't want a thread to run too much over 50 posts on this board.

Also, it would be extremely helpful if you would get your signature set up so we don't keep plaguing you with the same questions and get a spreadsheet set up/start home testing. I would be extremely reticent to offer any assistance with dosing without being able to see your cat's test results. We could easily provide you with information that would harm your cat without knowing how a particular dose of insulin is effecting your cat.

The information for the signature and spreadsheet are in this link.
 
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