New member 4/28, Kittenpoo diagnosed aug2019

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Julia Jones

Julia Jones

Member Since 2019
Hi peeps,
I’m having a really hard time getting my kitties diabetes regulated. And now, something is wrong with her mouth/teeth and my vet won’t sedate her to see what is wrong. She is 15 and the last few months she has regularly urinated outside the box. She urinates on the edge of the pee pad so it’s a mess everyday. Anyway, I took her to the vet 3 weeks ago and did a full panel of bloodwork, which was normal btw. Fluids and antibiotic injection just In case if uti, no ketones. She felt good for 2 days and started peeing outside the box again. I just attributed it to her unregulated glucose. She is on lantus. 3 days ago she quit eating. Oh she also sleeps with her chin in her waterbowl and has also been pawing at her mouth and shaking her head so I figured it is dental related. I took her back to the vet yesterday and the vet didn’t see anything wrong, so she gave her iv fluids antibiotic l. All the stuff. She’s back today getting more iv fluids antibiotics and pain medicine. I told the vet she pawed at her mouth again last night and I forgot she also wants to lick me on my mouth all the time. To me that tells me something is wrong with her mouth. Today my vet said she saw a tooth slightly inflamed but doesn’t want to sedate her because she is 15 and diabetic. I don’t know what to do. She is my only baby I’ve ever had and my heart is breaking for her. She doesn’t act like she’s at the end of her life.
Also, last July she had 5 teeth removed. That Is how we found out about her diabetes.
So much money is flying out the door and right now I’m on furlough and i work in retail and don’t make much to begin with.
i spending 200 a month on all her needs and it’s never enough.
She is also constipated.
HELP.
 
Welcome to FDMB the best place to help you help your kitty. With so much going on with your kitty I will let some of the veterans sort this with you. For now a simple question, Do you home test your cats blood glucose? Please go to the "SUGGESTIONS, TECH SUPPORT AND TESTING AREA" on the front thread page. I would link you but for some reason my links arent working. There a wealth of information there. I know you are going through a lot right now so lets wait and see what others think ok? ;)
 
Julia Jones said:
Hi peeps,
I’m having a really hard time getting my kitties diabetes regulated. And now, something is wrong with her mouth/teeth and my vet won’t sedate her to see what is wrong. She is 15 and the last few months she has regularly urinated outside the box. She urinates on the edge of the pee pad so it’s a mess everyday. Anyway, I took her to the vet 3 weeks ago and did a full panel of bloodwork, which was normal btw. Fluids and antibiotic injection just In case if uti, no ketones. She felt good for 2 days and started peeing outside the box again. I just attributed it to her unregulated glucose. She is on lantus. 3 days ago she quit eating. Oh she also sleeps with her chin in her waterbowl and has also been pawing at her mouth and shaking her head so I figured it is dental related. I took her back to the vet yesterday and the vet didn’t see anything wrong, so she gave her iv fluids antibiotic l. All the stuff. She’s back today getting more iv fluids antibiotics and pain medicine. I told the vet she pawed at her mouth again last night and I forgot she also wants to lick me on my mouth all the time. To me that tells me something is wrong with her mouth. Today my vet said she saw a tooth slightly inflamed but doesn’t want to sedate her because she is 15 and diabetic. I don’t know what to do. She is my only baby I’ve ever had and my heart is breaking for her. She doesn’t act like she’s at the end of her life.
Also, last July she had 5 teeth removed. That Is how we found out about her diabetes.
So much money is flying out the door and right now I’m on furlough and i work in retail and don’t make much to begin with.
i spending 200 a month on all her needs and it’s never enough.
She is also constipated.
HELP.
Click to expand...
Welcome! Others more experience will chime in as JT said, but it will be helpful to also tells how much Lantus she’s on and what type of food she’s eating. Is she having issues walking. I ask that as well because Minnie developed severe neuropathy, which is a common side effect of unregulated diabetes that affects the back legs, and it did cause her to pee everywhere because she couldn’t manage to go in and out of the litter box.
Hang in there!
 
Hi Julia and welcome.

When did your cat last eat, and how much? Are you hand feeding or assist feeding?

What is your medical emergency? Is your cat's blood glucose really low, under 50 on a human glucometer? or under 68 on a pet meter?

We get really busy, and we reserve the 911 prefix for low numbers or some other health emergency. I'll try to get back to you real soon, but have to take care of my own cat first.

While you are waiting for another reply, would you please set up a signature, so we can help you better?
Directions on how to do that are here. Editing your Signature, Profile, and Preferences
 
Hi Julia. What is your beloved cat's name?
Where in the world do you live? So we can give you country specific information to help you.

You disappeared on us, which has us concerned. We think we can help you get your cat feeling better. Won't you let us help you?

Would you please answer some of our questions, so we can help you better?

Constipation ideas.
1. Some plain canned pumpkin, no spices added, or some plain cooked squash, like butternut or acorn squash. Frozen squash, thawed and mashed up could be used. Start with 1-2 teaspoons at first. The extra fiber can help with the constipation. Pumpkin can help with both constipation and diarrhea, by "bulking up" the food and making it pass in the digestive tract better.
2. Miralax (generic is fine) or some psyllium husk fiber added to her wet food. Start with 1/8 teaspoon, once a day. Increase to twice a day if needed.
3. Add some water to her wet food. More water helps to get the food moving too. Think thick soup like consistency.

What kind of food does your cat eat right now? Can you put some in her mouth, to get her to eat it?
A cat that has not eaten in 3 days, is in danger of serious illness. Such as hepatic lipidosis or fatty liver disease.
Also, a cat on insulin needs to eat, so ketones do not develop from the breakdown of body tissues for energy and make the cat really, really sick.

p.s. If you have read our replies, click on the "Like" at the end of the post, to let us know that. Thank you.
 
Deb & Wink said:
Hi Julia. What is your beloved cat's name?
Where in the world do you live? So we can give you country specific information to help you.

You disappeared on us, which has us concerned. We think we can help you get your cat feeling better. Won't you let us help you?

Would you please answer some of our questions, so we can help you better?

Constipation ideas.
1. Some plain canned pumpkin, no spices added, or some plain cooked squash, like butternut or acorn squash. Frozen squash, thawed and mashed up could be used. Start with 1-2 teaspoons at first. The extra fiber can help with the constipation. Pumpkin can help with both constipation and diarrhea, by "bulking up" the food and making it pass in the digestive tract better.
2. Miralax (generic is fine) or some psyllium husk fiber added to her wet food. Start with 1/8 teaspoon, once a day. Increase to twice a day if needed.
3. Add some water to her wet food. More water helps to get the food moving too. Think thick soup like consistency.

What kind of food does your cat eat right now? Can you put some in her mouth, to get her to eat it?
A cat that has not eaten in 3 days, is in danger of serious illness. Such as hepatic lipidosis or fatty liver disease.
Also, a cat on insulin needs to eat, so ketones do not develop from the breakdown of body tissues for energy and make the cat really, really sick.

p.s. If you have read our replies, click on the "Like" at the end of the post, to let us know that. Thank you.
Click to expand...
 
Hi, thank you all for your replies. I kept checking back and didn’t see any replies so I stopped checking. Kitten is my baby’s name. She is 15 and we live in Austin, Tx, so if anyone has a vet recommendation, I’d love any suggestions.
Kittens blood sugar is high, hovering around 400. I check her glucose before each morning and evening lantus injection (3 units) and do glucose curves once a month. I’ve never seen it steadily so high like this. It is usually around 270 range before injection, more or less.
The vet treated her 2 days worth of IV Injections, antibiotic injection and I’m giving her gabapentin for assumed pain and Zeniquin for 10 days for her mystery illness.
She has NOT urinated outside of the litter box In a couple of days since returning from vet and she’s eating but won’t eat the RAWZ pate (or any pate) I had her on or the Steve’s raw food I was feeding her as well. So now, feeding her different high quality shredded canned foods with 1/4 tsp Miralax which is doing wonders for the constipation. Thanks for recommendation!! she likes the tiki tuna wiTh pumpkin the best so far, but I’m concerned about the mercury. Food recommendations would be great as well. In the beginning I fed her fancy feast and Sheba and she liked both of those.
There is so much involved with this, I’m trying to keep my spirits up for her because I know that my mood effects her as well.
Sorry for the 911, to me this is emergency because there is so much going on, I’m overwhelmed.
 
Aleluia Grugru & Minnie said:
Welcome! Others more experience will chime in as JT said, but it will be helpful to also tells how much Lantus she’s on and what type of food she’s eating. Is she having issues walking. I ask that as well because Minnie developed severe neuropathy, which is a common side effect of unregulated diabetes that affects the back legs, and it did cause her to pee everywhere because she couldn’t manage to go in and out of the litter box.
Hang in there!
Click to expand...
 
Thank you! She’s not having walking issues that I can tell. Im very confident she has arthritis just the way she hesitates when jumping and how slowly she gets into a laying position. She WAS urinating inside and outside the litterbox so, I put down a large black heavy duty trashbag under her litter box and pee pads, but for last 2 days she’s went in the litterbox.
 
Julia Jones said:
Hi, thank you all for your replies. I kept checking back and didn’t see any replies so I stopped checking. Kitten is my baby’s name. She is 15 and we live in Austin, Tx, so if anyone has a vet recommendation, I’d love any suggestions.
Kittens blood sugar is high, hovering around 400. I check her glucose before each morning and evening lantus injection (3 units) and do glucose curves once a month. I’ve never seen it steadily so high like this. It is usually around 270 range before injection, more or less.
The vet treated her 2 days worth of IV Injections, antibiotic injection and I’m giving her gabapentin for assumed pain and Zeniquin for 10 days for her mystery illness.
She has NOT urinated outside of the litter box In a couple of days since returning from vet and she’s eating but won’t eat the RAWZ pate (or any pate) I had her on or the Steve’s raw food I was feeding her as well. So now, feeding her different high quality shredded canned foods with 1/4 tsp Miralax which is doing wonders for the constipation. Thanks for recommendation!! she likes the tiki tuna wiTh pumpkin the best so far, but I’m concerned about the mercury. Food recommendations would be great as well. In the beginning I fed her fancy feast and Sheba and she liked both of those.
There is so much involved with this, I’m trying to keep my spirits up for her because I know that my mood effects her as well.
Sorry for the 911, to me this is emergency because there is so much going on, I’m overwhelmed.
Click to expand...
Hi Julia!

thank you for the update. Things can get busy here but we want to help you and Kitten. So happy to hear she’s doing better. And that she’s no longer peeing outside the litter box. If she’s walking fine too you shouldn’t have to worry about neuropathy and it’s good news all around!!!

Don’t forget to set up your signature as Deb suggests on her first post. It helps people see at a glance all your cats info. Also, since you’ve been home testing consistently, may I also suggest you set up a spreadsheet for Kitten? It will help experienced members like Deb advise you on the BG levels and insulin dose. Here are some helpful links for that:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/understanding-the-spreadsheet-grid.156606/

:cat:
 
Last edited:
Julia Jones said:
Hi, thank you all for your replies. I kept checking back and didn’t see any replies so I stopped checking. Kitten is my baby’s name. She is 15 and we live in Austin, Tx, so if anyone has a vet recommendation, I’d love any suggestions.
Kittens blood sugar is high, hovering around 400. I check her glucose before each morning and evening lantus injection (3 units) and do glucose curves once a month. I’ve never seen it steadily so high like this. It is usually around 270 range before injection, more or less.
The vet treated her 2 days worth of IV Injections, antibiotic injection and I’m giving her gabapentin for assumed pain and Zeniquin for 10 days for her mystery illness.
She has NOT urinated outside of the litter box In a couple of days since returning from vet and she’s eating but won’t eat the RAWZ pate (or any pate) I had her on or the Steve’s raw food I was feeding her as well. So now, feeding her different high quality shredded canned foods with 1/4 tsp Miralax which is doing wonders for the constipation. Thanks for recommendation!! she likes the tiki tuna wiTh pumpkin the best so far, but I’m concerned about the mercury. Food recommendations would be great as well. In the beginning I fed her fancy feast and Sheba and she liked both of those.
There is so much involved with this, I’m trying to keep my spirits up for her because I know that my mood effects her as well.
Sorry for the 911, to me this is emergency because there is so much going on, I’m overwhelmed.
Click to expand...
 
Julia Jones said:
Thank you! She’s not having walking issues that I can tell. Im very confident she has arthritis just the way she hesitates when jumping and how slowly she gets into a laying position. She WAS urinating inside and outside the litterbox so, I put down a large black heavy duty trashbag under her litter box and pee pads, but for last 2 days she’s went in the litterbox.
Click to expand...
Julia Jones said:
Thank you! She’s not having walking issues that I can tell. Im very confident she has arthritis just the way she hesitates when jumping and how slowly she gets into a laying position. She WAS urinating inside and outside the litterbox so, I put down a large black heavy duty trashbag under her litter box and pee pads, but for last 2 days she’s went in the litterbox.
Click to expand...
Gabapentin should definitely help then. What’s the dosage she’s getting? And you read my mind! I did the plastic thing too then realized I should get some pee pads because even with the plastic the urine would sip through. It saved my life and as another member put it, my sanity as well lol!
 
Aleluia Grugru & Minnie said:
Hi Julia!

thank you for the update. Things can get busy here but we want to help you and Kitten. So happy to hear she’s doing better. And that she’s no longer opening outside the litter box. If she’s walking fine too you shouldn’t have to worry about neuropathy and it’s good news all around!!!

Don’t forget to set up your signature as Deb suggests son her first post. It helps people see at a glance all your cats info. Also, since you’ve been home testing consistently, may I also suggest you set up a spreadsheet for Kitten? It will help experience members like Des advise you on the BG levels abs insulin dose. Here are some helpful links for that:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/understanding-the-spreadsheet-grid.156606/

:cat:
Click to expand...
Ok thank you. Yes I can work up a spreadsheet.
 
Julia Jones said:
Ok thank you. Yes I can work up a spreadsheet.
Click to expand...
And the food is tough, I’ll let Deb get into it as I’m still trying to find the right one for Minnie. She had the opposite issue with a touch of IBD so I’m actually going to try Rawz which you mentioned next. I have tried Hounds and Gatos, but again not sure if it’s right for her so let’s see what @Deb & Wink thinks :bighug:
 
Aleluia Grugru & Minnie said:
Gabapentin should definitely help then. What’s the dosage she’s getting? And you read my mind! I did the plastic thing too then realized I should get some pee pads because even with the plastic the urine would sip through. It saved my life and as another member put it, my sanity as well lol!
Click to expand...
Aleluia Grugru & Minnie said:
Gabapentin should definitely help then. What’s the dosage she’s getting? And you read my mind! I did the plastic thing too then realized I should get some pee pads because even with the plastic the urine would sip through. It saved my life and as another member put it, my sanity as well lol!
Click to expand...
Julia Jones said:
Ok thank you. Yes I can work up a spreadsheet.
Click to expand...
She’s getting .50 milliliter of 100mg gabapentin.
Also, back in 2006, kitten had 3 (kittens) on my ex’s belly while he was taking a nap, believe it or not. The only baby that survived we named Bobo. I thought you would appreciate that.
 
Julia Jones said:
Thank you! She’s not having walking issues that I can tell. Im very confident she has arthritis just the way she hesitates when jumping and how slowly she gets into a laying position. She WAS urinating inside and outside the litterbox so, I put down a large black heavy duty trashbag under her litter box and pee pads, but for last 2 days she’s went in the litterbox.
Click to expand...
Also, I tried adding green lipped mussels to her food for joint and omega 3 health. She ate it once and now want nothing to do with it.
 
Aleluia Grugru & Minnie said:
And the food is tough, I’ll let Deb get into it as I’m still trying to find the right one for Minnie. She had the opposite issue with a touch of IBD so I’m actually going to try Rawz which you mentioned next. I have tried Hounds and Gatos, but again not sure if it’s right for her so let’s see what @Deb & Wink thinks :bighug:
Click to expand...
Have you tried Nulo? It’s an Austin Company and looks really high quality. I like that they use probiotics which is great for IBS right? I think Chewy sells it, as well.
 
Deb & Wink said:
Hi Julia and welcome.

When did your cat last eat, and how much? Are you hand feeding or assist feeding?

What is your medical emergency? Is your cat's blood glucose really low, under 50 on a human glucometer? or under 68 on a pet meter?

We get really busy, and we reserve the 911 prefix for low numbers or some other health emergency. I'll try to get back to you real soon, but have to take care of my own cat first.

While you are waiting for another reply, would you please set up a signature, so we can help you better?
Directions on how to do that are here. Editing your Signature, Profile, and Preferences
Click to expand...
Hi thank you Deb.
I think I set up the signature right. I’ll get a spreadsheet with her glucose and insulin numbers going, as well. Sorry about the 911, I’ve had a little trouble navigating the site on my phone. Also, I’ve never seen kitten’s numbers below the 130’s since diabetes diagnosis in August. Hopefully, I’ll get the protocol down.
A girlfriend recommended y’all to me and said that this site invaluable for our diabetic animals, so I’m so glad y’all are here.
 
Julia Jones said:
She’s getting .50 milliliter of 100mg gabapentin.
Also, back in 2006, kitten had 3 (kittens) on my ex’s belly while he was taking a nap, believe it or not. The only baby that survived we named Bobo. I thought you would appreciate that.
Click to expand...
Awwwww of course I do!!! :bighug:I can only imagine you’re husbands face when he woke up :woot: that only shows how much she trusts him!!! :kiss:
 
Phew! Glad to see you again Julia.
A cat shouldn't need sedation, simply for a vet to look at her mouth. If Kitten J needs dental work, then sedation will definitely be required.

Is Kitten eating ok today? I sure do hope y'all have been able to get her to eat some food, or hand feed her, or syringe feed her. I see that you mentioned she is eating some of the Tiki cat Tuna and Pumpkin. That can help with the constipation also. If you don't want to feed too many fish flavors, how about trying the Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau (shredded chicken in broth). My nearly toothless cat can even eat that one. Or the Fancy Feast Roasted/Flaked/Chunky styles are lower in carbs (<=10%), and a different texture than the pates.

We use this food chart, for ideas. https://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf You want to look for foods that are <= 10 % carbs.

If your cat has kidney disease, there is another food chart I can link you to.

My best advice? Deep breath, hold, release, deep breath, hold, release, deep breath, hold, release. Helps me deal with stressful situations, and if dealing with feline diabetes and covid19 at the same time isn't stressful, I don't know what is. We completely understand on the overwhelmed feelings.

Nice start on the signature, but we'd sure appreciate it if you would "beef it up" a bit and add more information

You said you are using Lantus insulin, so that should go in your "signature" also.
Are you home testing the blood glucose? Then the meter you use should be the signature.
Also nice to see the diagnosis date, your cat's date of birth, diet and your SS(spreadsheet) link when you get that setup.
Think of it as some basic information that we can see at a glance, like a miniature vet record.
The "signature" can be updated, and the changes will appear "magically" through the powers of computer technology at the end of all your posts.

No worries. Thought you had an immediate emergency, but then you disappeared, so we got concerned. We take those 911 posts to heart, jumping in to help people as quickly as we can. You ran into a situation, where no one was on to help, but normally we think of those type posts the same as calling your local fire, police or ambulance for help.

Julia Jones said:
A girlfriend recommended y’all to me and said that this site invaluable for our diabetic animals, so I’m so glad y’all are here.
Click to expand...
Glad you knew someone that knew about us. We'll do our very best to help you and Kitten feel better, and get her blood glucose under control. We have money saving ideas on where to get the Lantus insulin too.

p.s. My writing style is very "just the facts ma'm", so please bear that in mind with my replies to you. It is what it is. Had 30 alerts since last night, and just getting around to answering them this evening.
 
Julia Jones said:
Have you tried Nulo? It’s an Austin Company and looks really high quality. I like that they use probiotics which is great for IBS right? I think Chewy sells it, as well.
Click to expand...
Darn, I just checked their grain free flavors and it has agar agar and guar gum which I’m suppose to stay from because it can irritate the GI tract, but many thanks for the suggestion friend!
Deb & Wink said:
Phew! Glad to see you again Julia.
A cat shouldn't need sedation, simply for a vet to look at her mouth. If Kitten J needs dental work, then sedation will definitely be required.

Is Kitten eating ok today? I sure do hope y'all have been able to get her to eat some food, or hand feed her, or syringe feed her. I see that you mentioned she is eating some of the Tiki cat Tuna and Pumpkin. That can help with the constipation also. If you don't want to feed too many fish flavors, how about trying the Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau (shredded chicken in broth). My nearly toothless cat can even eat that one. Or the Fancy Feast Roasted/Flaked/Chunky styles are lower in carbs (<=10%), and a different texture than the pates.

We use this food chart, for ideas. https://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf You want to look for foods that are <= 10 % carbs.

If your cat has kidney disease, there is another food chart I can link you to.

My best advice? Deep breath, hold, release, deep breath, hold, release, deep breath, hold, release. Helps me deal with stressful situations, and if dealing with feline diabetes and covid19 at the same time isn't stressful, I don't know what is. We completely understand on the overwhelmed feelings.

Nice start on the signature, but we'd sure appreciate it if you would "beef it up" a bit and add more information

You said you are using Lantus insulin, so that should go in your "signature" also.
Are you home testing the blood glucose? Then the meter you use should be the signature.
Also nice to see the diagnosis date, your cat's date of birth, diet and your SS(spreadsheet) link when you get that setup.
Think of it as some basic information that we can see at a glance, like a miniature vet record.
The "signature" can be updated, and the changes will appear "magically" through the powers of computer technology at the end of all your posts.

No worries. Thought you had an immediate emergency, but then you disappeared, so we got concerned. We take those 911 posts to heart, jumping in to help people as quickly as we can. You ran into a situation, where no one was on to help, but normally we think of those type posts the same as calling your local fire, police or ambulance for help.


Glad you knew someone that knew about us. We'll do our very best to help you and Kitten feel better, and get her blood glucose under control. We have money saving ideas on where to get the Lantus insulin too.

p.s. My writing style is very "just the facts ma'm", so please bear that in mind with my replies to you. It is what it is. Had 30 alerts since last night, and just getting around to answering them this evening.
Click to expand...
Deb to the rescue, she’s a food Wikipedia! :bighug:
 
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