New member - need some help giving my cat her insulin

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Josefine

Member Since 2023
Hi.
This monday I took my cat Iris to the vet to check two wounds on her head. The vet did a bloodtest and found out that Iris has diabetes. Thursday we went back to the vet to learn how to give Iris her insulin. They gave me a insulin pen (not a syringe) and showed me how to use it (pinch the skin in the neck to a tent). I was able to give Iris her first unit by myself friday evening. Saturday morning I gave her a second unit, but I think I put the needle in wrong on my first attempt this time since she did make a little noice and flinched a bit. The same thing happend saturday evening, but I managed to give her a unit. This morning she did not want me to come close to her, so after 40 minutes I gave up since I just felt that I was stressing her out and gave her a negative experience.

I've been crying half day and I'm so scared that I won't be able to give her the insulin or that I will give her a negative experience if I more or less force her to take her insulin. I'm also really scared of needles so giving Iris her insulin gives me anxiety. When I've given her the insulin I've either picked her up and put her in my lap, scratching and petting her to make her relax or sat down besides her when she's been lying on the floor, scratching and petting her. Afterwards I've given her a treat (sugarfree). As you understand I'm in desperate need of help on how I approach her when it's time to give her the insulin! What's your best advice?
 
I’m so sorry this has been challenging for you. Just to clarify, you’re using a syringe to draw the insulin from the pen and injecting her with the syringe correct?

what gauge is the syringe and are you making sure the bevel side of the needle is up when you’re injecting? I always used a light source like a flashlight to make sure I could see the skin and the needle going in. It’s the best way to prevent fur shots too.

petting and calming her is great and giving a treat afterwards is also a good way to build positive association. You want low carb treats and food. You can also try singing. What insulin are you using and what’s the dose? You can try to warm the insulin up a bit before the shot by rolling the syringe with your fingers after you draw from the pen. Sometimes cold insulin can sting. Some people also do it while their cats are distracted eating. Bobo never got used to to and it was always a struggle. I had to wrap him around my legs and shoot while he was trying to get away. He always got food immediately after so he forgave me.
 
I give Marair a few treats (low carb of course) and shoot while he eats them. The irony is, any time he hears me get the insulin out of the fridge, he comes running. He even stands perfectly so I can pick him up and put him on the counter so he can eat the treats. It's actually kind of hysterical. LOL
 
If I understand correctly, you're dispensing insulin directly from the pen.

We don't recommend using the pen for a couple of reasons. First, you end up wasting a fair amount of insulin given that the pen needs to be primed every time you want to give a shot. Even more importantly, pens dispense insulin only in full unit amounts. Cats are much smaller than humans and as a result, we suggest dose adjustments be made in 0.25u amounts.

I have no idea what the gauge of the needle is on an insulin pen you're using. Pens can range from 29 to 32 gauge (higher numbers are thinner). A 29 gauge needle may be painful. I typically used a 31 gauge syringe. We strongly recommend using a syringe to draw the insulin out of the pen and use that to inject your cat.

Mel's suggestion is a good plan. Giving a treat after a shot helps your cat to associate an injection with something positive. The more Iris makes that association, the easier the process will become.
 
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