New to FDMB - Home testing problems

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SoCalcoolcatt

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Hi everyone, My name is Melanie and my cat's name is George. He was diagnosed last February. He has been on Lantus since last April and we have been home testing since then. In July the vet added Humulin-Regular. I can explain why both insulins more fully in another post because I am beginning to question whether this protocol is working for us ( we do have an appointment with our vet on Wednesday). A more pressing issue tonight is that he has begun to resist his blood test. What I mean is- he won't sit still for it anymore. I usually put down a small dish with a small amount of Fancy Feast Turkey and Giblets (not his regular food) as a treat, and while he ate I would prick his ear and run the test. He's come to dread the ear prick and now bucks his head to shake off my hand and stops eating once and walks away after just a few licks of his treat. I just can't count on getting a test anymore. And pre-shot tests and at the peak of Humulin R are absolutely essential because his response to insulin varies from cycle to cycle. I've read everything I can find about doing a home test but can't find any advise on how to get your cat to sit still when he's become intolerant of testing. Does anybody have any tricks? I was thinking I"d try boiled chicken but he also has pancreatitis and IBS and I hesitate to give him anything that will upset his system.
 
There are a couple of tricks to use if he isn't letting you test. You can try wrapping him up in a large towel or blanket so just his head is sticking out. There is also the clothes pin trick where you basically put several clothes pins down his scruff to simulate how a mom cat carries her kittens.

Mel, Max & The Fur Gang
 
Obviously, you can't shoot R without a BG test.

I'm wondering if you should consider switching to an insulin that has
more duration and a better profile than N+R....like lantus, Levemir, or even
ProZinc.

Safer than shooting N and R with no tests.

Where are you, more specifically, in So. Cal.

We have members there....perhaps someone can give you some personal
pointers.

Does your vet insist on N and R ?
 
Your vet added R to Lantus? This sounds like a scary proposition and something I have never heard of. Please let us know more.

Have you seen our Lantus support group? They have some great info in the stickies on the way Lantus works in cats: viewforum.php?f=9

Here is the clothespin trick: Clothespin trick I has worked well for difficult cats. I used Mel's burrito method. We put a towel down on the couch next to the arm and set him on the towel. Then we wrapped him up so only his head was showing. I could gently press him into the arm of the couch so he couldn't get away while I did the test.
 
My big kitty started resisting after the first few days I was testing. (I wasn't very good at getting a good prick to draw blood and he didn't want to sit still as I fumbled around and stuck him several times.)

I used the kitty burrito method (snuggly wrapped like swaddling), lots of chin scratching while I slightly warm his ear with the warm rice-sock, and a single kibble treat for each time I pricked his ear. (My mis-attempts meant extra treats!) I also add a dab of neosporin after I've pinched off the poke. I don't know which piece of that routine worked, but now Checkers purrs and comes over happily for his ear pokes. In fact, now that I'm getting better at getting a good stick and blood right away, he seems to say "hey! why so fast? let's stay here longer. Checkers went from outright resistence to loving our blood test times.

Hope it gets better for you two!
 
From what you indicated, your vet is prescribing Lantus + Humulin R -- correct? While that is not unheard of, the combination of a long acting, basal insulin (Lantus) and a bolus insulin (R) is only typically used in cats who are experiencing very high blood glucose numbers, on larger doses of their basal insulin (i.e., Lantus in your case), and/or who have been diagnosed with acromegaly or insulin resistant auto-antibodies (IAA) and as a result are on larger doses of insulin and need a short-acting insulin to drive the numbers down and/or breakthrough the insulin resistance. The vast majority of cats are only on one insulin and not being given R. And you are absolutely correct, you can't give R without being able to test -- it would be far too unsafe.

It would be helpful if you could provide several days worth of your test data if you want feedback. There is a spreadsheet template we use if that is convenient for you. It will give us a better idea of what's going on with your cat.

As far as changing up the treats, plain boiled or steamed chicken should be fine for a cat with pancreatitis and IBD. Adding a probiotic, like FortiFlora, which most cats really like, should be safe, as well.
 
I was just reading on one of the links through FDMB that L-Carnitine (sprinkling it on the food) helps those cats with pancreatitis and hard to control BG levels. If I can find that link I'll enter another post with it.
 
Thank you everyone for giving me suggestions on getting George to sit still for his blood tests. I tried switching him to Fancy Feast Classic Chicken today (just for his blood test treat). He seemed to like the novelty of the flavor and he was a little easier to test. Which means I was able to get a pre-shot test and another test at the Humulin-R peak. But boy do I have to move fast before he changes his mind. Does anyone know where I can get Fortiflora? I asked our vet for it about a year ago and they told me they don't stock it. Can I buy it online somewhere?

I am so grateful that some of you questioned the insulin protocol our vet has us on. After about 9 months of shooting Lantus and Humulin-R, we are growing very concerned that this is not the best option for George. I would like to submit fuller details on George's numbers and why vet decided George needed 2 insulins. I have so many questions and after reading through FDMB I'm beginning to think you wonderful experts may be better able to help me and George than our vet.

Humulin - R is scary and I'd really like to get him off of it, if someone can guide us. I am afraid to do or say the wrong thing and inadvertently upset the members of this board. Should I start a new post to explain why George is on Lantus and Humulin-R or should I address it right here?
 
I think I would start a new thread with something like "Lantus plus Humulin " to attract eyes. You might also post on the Lantus support group forum to get specific Lantus advice.

Some people have been able to get FortiFlora from the vets at PetSmart. It is also available online.
 
Hi Melanie & George,

There are others who are using both Lantus/Levemir and R, but usually for certain reasons, maybe like very high BG or insulin resistance issues.

As has been suggested, filling out your BG results from testing onto a spreadsheet will help others to help you. It's tough to say much without knowing more info.

First, what dose are you giving of Lantus and what dose and frequency of R?
How were doses determined?
What is George's normal diet?

With a bit more info, and also some of George's BG numbers, you can get some good guidance here.
 
hey there, whereabouts in so cal are you? i'm in so cal too, work in orange county, live in riverside county. there's several others here too for that matter, alot in the LA area, a few in the high desert, and some further south around san diego.

as far as fortiflora locally, what about http://store.animalmedcenter.com/medications/fortiflora

i have some here at the house so if you turn out to be super close to me i can just share some with you so you can try it out.

otherwise yes, you can buy it online easily
http://www.google.com/search?q=fortiflo ... CAsQuw0oAQ
 
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