Hello, my name is Clyde from Sterling Heights, Michigan. Today just a few hours ago we found out that our cat 10 year old male, Kyo (Nicknamed Cats Magoo) has diabetes. We took him to the vet because he was peeing a lot and drinking a lot of water. Aside from that, nothing in his behavior has really changed. He'd been to that vet about a month before this visit for a rather bad ear infection. He was given an antibiotic and steriod shot to reduce the swelling and itchiness in his ears while we were there, and we were sent home with a baytril eardrop mixture and veterinarian grade ear cleaner. After completing his antibiotics we took him back for a follow-up and the vet told us that his ear infection was pretty much cleared up. That week we brought him home we started to notice some strange changes in him. He started drinking a lot of water, and peeing more than usual. It wasn't an alarming amount, but it was enough for us to notice that something was up. Now we didn't think much of it, because he was still eating, still pooping the same amount, still full of energy. About a month later we noticed he lost some weight. When we took him to the vet for his ear infection he was about 13 pounds. He is now about 12 pounds. We also noticed that he had this ravenous hunger, and would beg with the might of a starving dog. Now he's always been a bit of a beggar. He loves chicken, and human food though we try not to feed him too much. He has always loved to eat so we didn't think too much of it other than the fact that he was just looking for attention or a tasty treat.
Well, that aside we do have some questions and concerns. Upon learning that he has diabetes, we immediately brought him home and started researching and educating ourselves. The vet sent us home with a low dose prescription of insulin, and told us to bring him back later in the evening so she could show us how to give him the shots however we're on a very tight budget this month. Going to the vet, we really only had about $200 to spend. The cost of the tests and the visit itself was around $150. We learned that the insulin would cost around $60 and we managed to scrape together enough money. When we went to the pharmacy (CVS), they told us the cost would be $230. We did not have that kind of money. We called the vet back and they suggested we head to Walmart as we could find cheaper prices there. Though we arrived 16 minutes too late and the pharmacy was closed. We decided to reschedule for tomorrow and while we were there we bought some cat food.
Kyo has been eating dry cat food (IAMs ProActive health Adult Indoor Weight Control and Hairball) and he has eaten it his entire life ever since he was a kitten to yesterday. We educated ourselves quickly on the reasons for putting him on a wet food diet. We were under the concept that wet food was not healthy for him, but after doing our research we realized that was not so. We brought home some wet food. Fancy Feast canned Liver and Chicken flavor. We made sure there was no gluten or plant-biproduct in it. And there is about 11% Carbs in it. Not perfect, but it'll have to do as we're still trying to figure out what kind of food we should feed him. Now he loves wet food. I don't know why, but he has always loved canned food and canned tuna when we bought it for him. So he snarfed that down tonight, and we won't have any problems starting him on a wet food diet, in all honesty he hates his dry food.
Now our questions, I'm so sorry for the long intro. Our questions were this. They want to give him insulin, but I'm concerned that after changing his diet, his BG levels will be different. When we took him to the vet, his BG levels were low 400's. The vet also told us to take into account that he was extremely stressed and nervous because he was surrounded by four big dogs in the lobby and he's an indoor boy, he has never seen dogs so up close before. I am afraid that feeding him this new food, will cause his levels to drop to a dangerous point where he will need the insulin. But I am also concerned that if they don't drop to that point, that if we do give him the insulin now and he doesn't need it, he could become needlessly dependent on it. I wanted to start him on his new low carb and high protein diet for a couple days to a week and take him back to the vet for another check to see if his levels changed at all. I am aware that I can monitor his levels from home, but we are still new to this and have yet to pick up a suitable reader, also strips are expensive and on top of everything else we're kind of in financial chaos right now trying to figure out how we're going to approach this and pay for everything. I just wanted to know if it would be too dangerous to start him on the diet and wait and see? Right now I fed him once, and gave him a very small amount of his regular dry food. He ate the canned food and turned his nose up at the dry food. It has been about two hours since I last fed him and he's still normal. He's walking around exploring the house, sitting in the windows, warming his bum by the vents, went for a number two, and generally acting the same no change in his behavior. I've been watching him carefully, seeing if he's lethargic, walking funny, or otherwise showing the danger signs but he isn't.
I also feel slightly paranoid. My kitty has always been healthy and strong and full of energy until we started him on that ear infection medications. I read up about it and it seemed to carry a lot of side-effects. Kidney failure, diabetes, nausea, weight loss, a plethora of side-effects. I can't help but feel like his antibiotics were what made him sick because the moment he finished his prescription was the moment he started drinking a lot and peeing a lot. I wanted to ask the vet that, but I knew they probably wouldn't give me a straight answer. They kept saying they didn't know what caused the diabetes, and even if they did I have a feeling they would still say they don't know because afterall, they are still a business. It's not that I don't trust the vet that we are seeing, I'm just concerned is all that we aren't doing the right thing for Kyo and I really don't want to make him sicker. As my partner keeps telling me, it could be a lot worse and I understand that. I'm grateful that this is manageable and that if we do it right he can live a long healthy normal life. I just really want to know we're making the right decision for him and after researching as much as I can, I'm not sure if starting him on the insulin right away is such a good idea. I also wanted to know is there a possible alternative to insulin? Like pills or something less harsh to help regulate his BG levels?
Thank you for reading and putting up with my massive paragraphs. Our family is deeply distressed because Kyo is the light of our lives and we would hate to lose him.
Well, that aside we do have some questions and concerns. Upon learning that he has diabetes, we immediately brought him home and started researching and educating ourselves. The vet sent us home with a low dose prescription of insulin, and told us to bring him back later in the evening so she could show us how to give him the shots however we're on a very tight budget this month. Going to the vet, we really only had about $200 to spend. The cost of the tests and the visit itself was around $150. We learned that the insulin would cost around $60 and we managed to scrape together enough money. When we went to the pharmacy (CVS), they told us the cost would be $230. We did not have that kind of money. We called the vet back and they suggested we head to Walmart as we could find cheaper prices there. Though we arrived 16 minutes too late and the pharmacy was closed. We decided to reschedule for tomorrow and while we were there we bought some cat food.
Kyo has been eating dry cat food (IAMs ProActive health Adult Indoor Weight Control and Hairball) and he has eaten it his entire life ever since he was a kitten to yesterday. We educated ourselves quickly on the reasons for putting him on a wet food diet. We were under the concept that wet food was not healthy for him, but after doing our research we realized that was not so. We brought home some wet food. Fancy Feast canned Liver and Chicken flavor. We made sure there was no gluten or plant-biproduct in it. And there is about 11% Carbs in it. Not perfect, but it'll have to do as we're still trying to figure out what kind of food we should feed him. Now he loves wet food. I don't know why, but he has always loved canned food and canned tuna when we bought it for him. So he snarfed that down tonight, and we won't have any problems starting him on a wet food diet, in all honesty he hates his dry food.
Now our questions, I'm so sorry for the long intro. Our questions were this. They want to give him insulin, but I'm concerned that after changing his diet, his BG levels will be different. When we took him to the vet, his BG levels were low 400's. The vet also told us to take into account that he was extremely stressed and nervous because he was surrounded by four big dogs in the lobby and he's an indoor boy, he has never seen dogs so up close before. I am afraid that feeding him this new food, will cause his levels to drop to a dangerous point where he will need the insulin. But I am also concerned that if they don't drop to that point, that if we do give him the insulin now and he doesn't need it, he could become needlessly dependent on it. I wanted to start him on his new low carb and high protein diet for a couple days to a week and take him back to the vet for another check to see if his levels changed at all. I am aware that I can monitor his levels from home, but we are still new to this and have yet to pick up a suitable reader, also strips are expensive and on top of everything else we're kind of in financial chaos right now trying to figure out how we're going to approach this and pay for everything. I just wanted to know if it would be too dangerous to start him on the diet and wait and see? Right now I fed him once, and gave him a very small amount of his regular dry food. He ate the canned food and turned his nose up at the dry food. It has been about two hours since I last fed him and he's still normal. He's walking around exploring the house, sitting in the windows, warming his bum by the vents, went for a number two, and generally acting the same no change in his behavior. I've been watching him carefully, seeing if he's lethargic, walking funny, or otherwise showing the danger signs but he isn't.
I also feel slightly paranoid. My kitty has always been healthy and strong and full of energy until we started him on that ear infection medications. I read up about it and it seemed to carry a lot of side-effects. Kidney failure, diabetes, nausea, weight loss, a plethora of side-effects. I can't help but feel like his antibiotics were what made him sick because the moment he finished his prescription was the moment he started drinking a lot and peeing a lot. I wanted to ask the vet that, but I knew they probably wouldn't give me a straight answer. They kept saying they didn't know what caused the diabetes, and even if they did I have a feeling they would still say they don't know because afterall, they are still a business. It's not that I don't trust the vet that we are seeing, I'm just concerned is all that we aren't doing the right thing for Kyo and I really don't want to make him sicker. As my partner keeps telling me, it could be a lot worse and I understand that. I'm grateful that this is manageable and that if we do it right he can live a long healthy normal life. I just really want to know we're making the right decision for him and after researching as much as I can, I'm not sure if starting him on the insulin right away is such a good idea. I also wanted to know is there a possible alternative to insulin? Like pills or something less harsh to help regulate his BG levels?
Thank you for reading and putting up with my massive paragraphs. Our family is deeply distressed because Kyo is the light of our lives and we would hate to lose him.
