New and nervous

[doombuggy]

Hello! I took my 5 1/2 YO cat, Cedric, to the vet last night for his annual checkup and I metnioned that he has been drinking a lot of water over the past 2 weeks. I just bought my first house and we moved in last Thursday, but I felt that moving was not the cause. the vet is running some tests (and my pocket book is $300 lighter) and they will be getting back to me today. He did tell me that Cedric had a reading of 390 for glucose (I think). I did speak to a co-worker who has a diabetic cat last night and am trying to remain calm. I found you guys and felinediabetes.com this am, and think I will be spending some time here.

Cedric is doing well, but if he turns out to need injections, I do not look forward to that! My sister is graduating from college in 2 weeks, so Cedric will be kenneled at Best Friends at Walt Disney World (where I work part time), so I am hoping that they can handle the situation if need be. I am just really nervous and concerned for my sweetums.

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

Hi and welcome to the group. The good thing is you found us and there are many things you can do that will help your cat.

There are three main components for treating diabetes in cats: Food/nutrition, home testing and insulin

food/nutrition, you can start this immediately. The goal here is to feed low carb wet food. all dry food and treats (temptations, pounce, etc) must go. If the vet recommends prescription food, just say no. by switching to a low carb wet food diet, this may help bring the BG's down and will certainly work well in ensuring long term health of the cat.

Here are some links to help:

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=115

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=956


Next is home testing If indeed your cat is diabetic, then I can't stress enough the importance of learning how to home test. It sounds daunting, but the fact is, it is quite easy to do. Of course, the challenge is will the cat cooperate (and yes we have tricks for that), will you get blood (yes more tricks available) and are you willing to take these steps for your cat.

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=287


the third component is insulin: It's important that if your cat is diabetic that you start on insulin and there are several good insulin choices available. I suggest you take the time to familiarize yourself with the three most popular ones and decide which one will work best for you. All of the insulins have different protocols, however the common theme for all is:

1) start at a low dose 1 unit or less and slowly with home testing, our help adjust the dose as needed in small increments - typically .25 units at a time
2) dose twice a day (12 hour increments) and be consistent
3) start a spreadsheet to track the shots and BG's and attach to your profile
4) post in the insulin support group for dose specific help

The three main insulins are: lantus, levemir (the 2 L's - and they work in similar fashion) and prozinc.

viewforum.php?f=5

The other insulins listed on this link are harder to use, been recalled and not necessarily the best for cats. If you stick with one of the three mentioned above you will be good.

OK, that's enough to get started.

we are here and we can help. When you get more info, please let us know. But we can help put you in control and lower your vet bills as some of that may be unnecessary, once you get the hang of home testing.

 

[Anonymous]

Welcome to our sugar kitty family..justed wanted to mention, if you look at the bottom of my post you will see a link called 'newbie kits' check that out and see if it may help you.

 

[Deb415andNikki]

Hi doombuggy (interesting "name"...), and, of course, you too, maybe sweet Cedric (great name!)

Wow! He's young!

Congratulations on your new house! Does Cedric seem to like it? Moving is one of the top 5 life stress deals for people, and I imagine furries as well... Cats are such creatures of habit, after all...

Cedric is doing well, but if he turns out to need injections, I do not look forward to that! My sister is graduating from college in 2 weeks, so Cedric will be kenneled at Best Friends at Walt Disney World (where I work part time), so I am hoping that they can handle the situation if need be. I am just really nervous and concerned for my sweetums.

Dear doombuggy, I confess to being needle-phobic all my life. But, when Gizzie's vet asked me, "Why the tears? This is a very do-able disease! Can you give two shots a day?" (pretty much the moment she was diagnosed), I just looked at him and said, "Yes!" (Totally forgot the needle phobia part in the very second he said this was a very do-able disease...)

The first few days and nights, I wasn't really sure I even got any insulin into Giz, shaking as I was... (Was relieved to discover they are very small needles, however...) Some kind soul here suggested I practice "shooting" oranges, but I kept eating them... Did discover that one of my hot pads, when folded in half, bore a remarkable resemblance to Giz's scruff when "tented" (think very gentle kind of pinching...). So after every shot, morning and evening, would go back into the kitchen and practice shooting that hot pad. Somewhere within a week or two, noticed I was shooting Giz much more smoothly and swiftly... And, wasn't shaking!

My humble suggestion regarding boarding Cedric while you're away, is to make sure that their staff is prepared and knowledgeable regarding taking care of a visiting diabetic cat. This would include testing his BG (blood glucose) levels before each shot to make sure it's safe to give them. If not, you might have to consider boarding him at his vet's practice, if they do that... Also, bringing whatever food he's used to eating (either now, or by that time) at home, a couple of his favorite toys, as well as a t-shirt or something from home that has your smell on it, might cushion any boarding stress Cedric may feel missing his parent...

And, congratulations to your sister for her graduation! You both must be so proud and thrilled!



This is very do-able, dear doombuggy. I completely understand how daunting this seems right now... But (and sometimes buts are good!), you can do this for your sweetums. Just remember to breathe... It's most interesting and rewarding sharing life with a sugar cat...

Welcome to the place you never wanted to be; but, will be blessed for having found.

Love and encouraging hugs for you and Cedric,
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz, forever dancing in my heart...

 

[squeem3]

Cedric is doing well, but if he turns out to need injections, I do not look forward to that! My sister is graduating from college in 2 weeks, so Cedric will be kenneled at Best Friends at Walt Disney World (where I work part time), so I am hoping that they can handle the situation if need be. I am just really nervous and concerned for my sweetums.

Cats don't notice insulin injections :smile: The needle is really really thin. It will take a cat a little bit of time to get used to injections, though. Giving a yummy low carb treat after every injection will help. See http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9172 for a list of popular treats.

Does the kennel place have experience with diabetic cats and giving insulin? How do they respond to a pet in medical distress? Will they feed the food you provide? Check before you book your cat's stay.

Does your vet hospital or another one offer medical boarding? That might be something you can look into. A big plus is that the vet techs will know how to give injections and have a veterinary background and experience.

There are FL members on this board. Maybe someone lives near you and can pet-sit for you. You can ask :smile:

 

[doombuggy]

OMG, thanks for the warm welcome! The vet called and said that yes, Cedric is diabetic. I called both Best Friends and Happy Paws (the other kennel he goes to) and neither will do the injections. Looks like Cedric will go to the vet's while I am in Denver. I will either have to cancel staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge with my friends, or see if BF will let me come over for his daily shots.

We will be heading over to the vet in an hour or so (I am leaving work early) so we can be "trained." Cedric doesn't like to go there (shocker), but what can you do? It looks like it might take a couple of days to get this started - I work 7 days a week and right now cannot afford to miss work at my p/t job tomorrow (no work, no pay). Oh, I work at Walt Disney World on the weekends. My screen name (which I use is quite a few unoffical Disney message boards) comes from the Haunted Mansion attraction at Magic Kingdom. It's that thing you ride in.

Thanks again for the warm welcome and advice. Most of my family is back in PA - mom works for McKesson, but says can't sell me any supplies. Oh, we moved into our new house on 4/14, but he deosn't find moving stressful. I have moved twice already with him. I think he is a little daunted by the stairs, but other than that, he's good. Still hogs the bed, as usual. :lol:

 

[Deb415andNikki]

Hi doombuggy (starting to get used to your WDW moniker...), and, of course, you now, officially sweet, Cedric (still adore his name!),

OMG, thanks for the warm welcome! The vet called and said that yes, Cedric is diabetic.

You are most welcome! Just remember it's not the end of the world. It's very do-able! Trust us! Been there, are there, dancing that...

Looks like Cedric will go to the vet's while I am in Denver. I will either have to cancel staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge with my friends, or see if BF will let me come over for his daily shots.

Good move! And, thank you for calling ahead. Cedric will thank you too! Do still pack his little parental visiting bag as no cat I've ever been owned by relishes boarding... But, those precious items from home do help.

We will be heading over to the vet in an hour or so (I am leaving work early) so we can be "trained." Cedric doesn't like to go there (shocker), but what can you do? It looks like it might take a couple of days to get this started - I work 7 days a week and right now cannot afford to miss work at my p/t job tomorrow (no work, no pay).

Big hugs for you both! Training can be interesting... The fact that Cedric doesn't like to go there? No shocker, but what can you do? The thing is, dear doombuggy, you can work Cedric's shooting schedule (talking insulin, not acting/model head shots...) around your work schedule. If you and your work schedule simply can't imagine shooting every 12 hours, then request PZI or ProZinc insulin, as it allows a bit more schedule wiggle room. If your schedule can be lived and worked in 12-hour increments -- with a couple of minutes twice daily for home testing and shooting -- then, ask for Lantus or Levemir insulin. Only accept a scrip for one of these three insulins. Do not accept a scrip for Humulin N, which, for most cats, is not cat friendly... If you've already left with a nervous Cedric and don't read this until you return trained on N, we can still help you...

Oh, I work at Walt Disney World on the weekends. My screen name (which I use is quite a few unoffical Disney message boards) comes from the Haunted Mansion attraction at Magic Kingdom. It's that thing you ride in.

I ride in, and drive, a 1998 Ford Escort ZX2 with 136+K miles. At this point, with its original clutch, it should be named the newest WDW ride...

Oh, we moved into our new house on 4/14, but he deosn't find moving stressful. I have moved twice already with him. I think he is a little daunted by the stairs, but other than that, he's good. Still hogs the bed, as usual. :lol:

Still hogging the bed is great! It's his way of telling you, he's still a cat! And, at some point, he'll not even notice flying up and down the stairs is aerobic PT...

Please let us know how his vet visit goes.

Love and continued encouraging hugs for you both,
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz...

 

[doombuggy]

His visit yesterday went fine, for all his growling while there. As it turns out, the vet has his own diabetic pet (dog probably, since he's a dog lover), so is pretty up on that stuff. he's young and I have found him to be a great vet (recommended by a freind when we moved here in 2004; I had Midora then, who died about 8 months after we moved to FL). He gave me Lantus and Cedric gets 1 unit two times a day. I gave him his first injection and it went fine - he purred the whole time.

The syringe is a 3/10 cc for 30 units or less. Since he gets 1 unit, I counted back from the 5 hash mark to 1, then loaded the syringe. I hope that was correct! :?:

He will stay at the vet's for 4 days while I am away. I hope that Best Friends will let him stay the last 3 days of my vaca and I can just come over. I live 29 miles away from WDW property, so going back and forth can be costly!

We had a portrait session at Best Friends in January. I went a little crazy buying photos from the 10 minute session. The avitar I have of him that I usually use on all message boards is just a little too big for yours. I am going to try to reduce it today before I have to leave for work, so you can see his pic. It's of him when he was 7 mo old, but it's my standard.

Thanks again!

 

[squeem3]

He gave me Lantus and Cedric gets 1 unit two times a day. I gave him his first injection and it went fine - he purred the whole time.

Lantus is a great insulin to use :thumbup

There's a Lantus group here on FDMB. Check out the stickies at the top to understand how Lantus works for cats: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewforum.php?f=9

The syringe is a 3/10 cc for 30 units or less. Since he gets 1 unit, I counted back from the 5 hash mark to 1, then loaded the syringe. I hope that was correct! :?:

Yes, correct :smile: I always counted down from the 5 unit line. FYI, there is a zero line. These pictures may help:

http://steverapaport.com/jock/SyringeFineGradations/

Exactly 1 unit of insulin: http://www.petabit.com/steverapaport//jock/SyringeFineGradations/images/02260012_1.jpg

 

[doombuggy]

Yes, the ones I have are shown in your photo on the left.
Mom just called and told me she doesn't have a meter to send me, but maybe some other stuff - she'll check. I'm headed to Wal-mart tomorrow after work for some other stuff, so I will check out the metters when I am there. Vet wants me to do the curve later this week - probably Thursday as we are talking about going to the shuttle launch on Friday.