New on Vetsulin and it's not good....

RhymesWithJennifer

RhymesWithJennifer

New Member
Hello everyone, my Ozzy was started on Vetsulin, 2 units twice a day on Tuesday. His numbers are going down since his high of 500 on Tuesday--this morning before eating he was at 247 and two hours after his shot he was at 227. However, he is a hot mess. He is sluggish, grouchy, and goes to sleep almost immediately after the shot for a good four hours. A little while ago he tried to jump up on the couch and missed it!! He then took a swipe at our dog, who is his pal, and got him across the face and all the poor dog was doing was walking by! I did call the vet and he wants us to lower the dosage to 1.5 starting tonight.

Are behavioral changes normal? Do they get better? The vet originally wanted to start Ozzy on Lantus but the way that it was explained to us was that the prescription would be $304 every 25 days and we just can't afford that. Any advice is appreciated.
 
Sorry just now seeing this! The Vetsulin forum is pretty quiet.

High and/or large fluctuations in BG (which Vetsulin does) can make the kitty feel cruddy.

It sounds like your vet was expecting you to buy a vial every month, like you would for a person. Lantus lasts a lot longer than that, but since it's only labeled for human use it can't say it's safe any further past 30 days.

I would ask your vet for a prescription for Lantus pens, then use Marks Marine Pharmacy out of Canada. :) They are very familiar with us! Buy a 5-pack of Lantus pens, with overnight shipping they are around $270 last I checked. The pack of pens will last you 1-2 years. :) Makes it even cheaper than Vetsulin!
 
Oh yes, if they stay unopened they are good until the expiration date, usually a couple years later. With Lantus pens you can usually keep them for months and use them to the last drop. :) Just open only one pen at a time. And keep them refrigerated. Lantus can be carried around in purses etc for up to a month, so refrigerating it extends the lifespan. Most people go through a pen in a month but it would be a waste to toss then after 30 days for cats.
 
Hi there,

RhymesWithJennifer said:
However, he is a hot mess. He is sluggish, grouchy, and goes to sleep almost immediately after the shot for a good four hours. [...] He then took a swipe at our dog, who is his pal, and got him across the face and all the poor dog was doing was walking byAre behavioral changes normal? Do they get better?
Click to expand...
Sometimes a particular insulin may disagree with a particular cat. I've seen similar to what you describe in my own cat and in the cats of other FDMB members being treated with Vetsulin/Caninsulin on occasion.

Here's a recent post I wrote concerning this very subject:

https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/here-we-go-again.235498/#post-2638517

It can take a short while for a cat's body get used to a particular insulin - maybe a week or so? - but if it were to go on longer than that, I'd suggest considering treatment with a different insulin. As Elizabeth comments above, BG levels can go through quite wide swings during each 12-hour cycle and that can make a cat feel lousy. This is a characteristic of the insulin and will continue past any period of initial adjustment.


A little while ago he tried to jump up on the couch and missed it!!
Click to expand...
That might potentially be due to diabetic neuropathy. If it is, then better regulation and treatment with B12 methylcobalamin can be very successful in reversing such issues.

Please keep us posted. Keen to hear how Ozzy gets on.


Mogs
.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top