New to testing on my cat Wall-e

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Marcy

Marcy

Member Since 2021
Hello. I use fb mostly, but here is a run down on Wall-e. He is in novolin and had a hypo seizure and ended up in ER. My regular vet was overdosing him and I hadn't started home testing yet. This was a week ago.
It is very hard to test him, as he cares not for treats and doesn't care that he will be fed if he just does it. His ear looks horrible. I got a AMPS of 363 this morning. I didn't dose as I posted on FB( most convenient for me) and didn't get feedback. I put him into mild hypo myself, after testing and still giving too much. I'm terrified of doing this. It's just not for me. I love my bear so much, but I'm having to put all my body weight on him to test him. I have mobility issues and it adds to it all. I know I'm slowly letting him die if I don't use his insulin but don't know what to do. I don't trust my vet and can't go looking for a new one until I'm able to walk better. I live on the second floor and cannot take the stairs
 
Let's hope things get easier. Most cats like routine (vs change -- kinda like us!!) so we can try to get Wall-e used to a new routine.

I'm going to list out a few options that may help with testing.
  • The "burrito wrap" - this is what amounts to wrapping your kitty in a towel so he doesn't thrash around and then poking his ear.
  • Some people have found wedging your kitty between you (who is sitting on the sofa) and the arm of the sofa is a means of testing.
  • There is a device called "clipnosis" that was developed by a vet to help to calm cats. It's meant to replicate a mom cat holding a kitten by the scruff
When I first started testing, I established a routine. Initially, I would put Gabby on the kitchen counter (our testing spot) and scratch her ears and give her a treat. I didn't immediately try to test. I did this a good amount and then tried to test. I got more than a few dirty looks. Any test, successful or not, got a treat. Gabby was very food motivated so it didn't take long for her to associate a test with a treat. When I would grab her ear to test, I used a Vulcan death grip -- she wasn't going to go anywhere!! Also, some cats are easier to test on a paw pad than their ears. The majority seem to prefer ears, but that's not true for all cats.

Remember, most cats dislike being restrained. If you're having to hold Wall-e down, he may be trying to protest. The more he protests, the greater the chance that this becomes a negative experience for you both.

What constitutes a treat is entirely dependent on your cat. Some cats like freeze dried chicken (or other protein -- mine currently adore the very stinky freeze dried mussels). Some kitties prefer chicken breast -- raw, cooked, whatever. We've had members whose cats loved to be brushed so that was their treat. Whatever works!

What dose did your vet start you out on? We have a dosing guide to Novolin that I've linked. If Wall-e is on a low carb canned food diet, the starting dose should have been 0.5u. Are you making sure you have fed your cat and waiting about an hour before giving insulin? Novolin requires that you have fed your cat in advance of giving insulin.

I would also point out that Lantus and Prozinc are the two types of insulin that are recommended by the American Animal Hospital Assn for treating feline diabetes. Novolin is harsh and fast acting and doesn't last the entire 12-hour cycle. People have had success with it and it is less costly than the other insulin that I mentioned.
 
I've tried the towel. Doesn't work. He just doesn't like to be messed with. He was heavily abused by a former roommate, do he was constantly at the vet, as I had no clue what was going on.
I only have full unit marks on my syringes. I think she started him on 5, then upped it to 10 when I told her he was acting off. But that was the wrong move. She lowered it to 9, but I followed my gut and only did 8. Then he was in the er. Then my meniscus tore in the other knee. Do it's been very stressful here. I just started him on wet food about a week ago. He's not drinking much, not bawling for food and the pee doesn't seem to be too much.
If I can't get a test done, 2 units should be doable, right? I just don't know if it's going to work. My stress level for him and myself is terrible.nim crying and feeling like I'm slowly killing him.




Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
Let's hope things get easier. Most cats like routine (vs change -- kinda like us!!) so we can try to get Wall-e used to a new routine.

I'm going to list out a few options that may help with testing.
  • The "burrito wrap" - this is what amounts to wrapping your kitty in a towel so he doesn't thrash around and then poking his ear.
  • Some people have found wedging your kitty between you (who is sitting on the sofa) and the arm of the sofa is a means of testing.
  • There is a device called "clipnosis" that was developed by a vet to help to calm cats. It's meant to replicate a mom cat holding a kitten by the scruff
When I first started testing, I established a routine. Initially, I would put Gabby on the kitchen counter (our testing spot) and scratch her ears and give her a treat. I didn't immediately try to test. I did this a good amount and then tried to test. I got more than a few dirty looks. Any test, successful or not, got a treat. Gabby was very food motivated so it didn't take long for her to associate a test with a treat. When I would grab her ear to test, I used a Vulcan death grip -- she wasn't going to go anywhere!! Also, some cats are easier to test on a paw pad than their ears. The majority seem to prefer ears, but that's not true for all cats.

Remember, most cats dislike being restrained. If you're having to hold Wall-e down, he may be trying to protest. The more he protests, the greater the chance that this becomes a negative experience for you both.

What constitutes a treat is entirely dependent on your cat. Some cats like freeze dried chicken (or other protein -- mine currently adore the very stinky freeze dried mussels). Some kitties prefer chicken breast -- raw, cooked, whatever. We've had members whose cats loved to be brushed so that was their treat. Whatever works!

What dose did your vet start you out on? We have a dosing guide to Novolin that I've linked. If Wall-e is on a low carb canned food diet, the starting dose should have been 0.5u. Are you making sure you have fed your cat and waiting about an hour before giving insulin? Novolin requires that you have fed your cat in advance of giving insulin.

I would also point out that Lantus and Prozinc are the two types of insulin that are recommended by the American Animal Hospital Assn for treating feline diabetes. Novolin is harsh and fast acting and doesn't last the entire 12-hour cycle. People have had success with it and it is less costly than the other insulin that I mentioned.
Click to expand...
 
If he isn't eating and you can't test him, I would not recommend giving insulin. Take a peek at the link shared to you in a previous comment.

You may want to look into the Libre sensor with him being especially fractious, at least until things are easier for you.
 
He's eating. That isn't the problem. I'm not sure how much those cost, and my vet wasn't even telling me to test him. She said it wasn't needed.
majandra said:
If he isn't eating and you can't test him, I would not recommend giving insulin. Take a peek at the link shared to you in a previous comment.

You may want to look into the Libre sensor with him being especially fractious, at least until things are easier for you.
Click to expand...
 
The Libre can be expensive, but it will be cheaper than being hospitalized for hypo or dka.
It may be a good idea to look into a different vet clinic. I haven't been a regular here in a while, but a vet willing to continue such high dosages of an inappropriate insulin with little instruction sends red flags.
If you haven't, maybe post in the appropriate insulin forum for some dosing advice.
 
majandra said:
The Libre can be expensive, but it will be cheaper than being hospitalized for hypo or dka.
It may be a good idea to look into a different vet clinic. I haven't been a regular here in a while, but a vet willing to continue such high dosages of an inappropriate insulin with little instruction sends red flags.
If you haven't, maybe post in the appropriate insulin forum for some dosing advice.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I will. And I've been thinking about going to his old vet that moved further away. She's with Banfield, so it'll be expensive, but she is very trusted and does things for free for me
 
The Libre sensor costs approximately $60. It's good for 2 weeks then needs to be replaced.

You were giving 10 (ten) units! With all due (sort of) respect, your vet is nuts. You're certain it wasn't supposed to be 1.0u? I've been on FDMB for over 12 years and I've never heard of a vet starting a cat on that high of a dose.

Providing your cat does not have a history of diabetic ketoacidosis, I would cut the dose back drastically. For a cat that is eating dry food, 1.0u is the highest amount I'd would start with. You can eyeball 0.5u if Wall-e os eating low carb and you can't order syringes. Are you using a pen for injections or a syringe? The pens will only dispense in full units.
 
He's been on lower doses. He was diagnosed last year. She just recently said to do 10. I did it once and called her back to say no way, and she said to drop it to 9. This was all done after his yearly blood tests. I only did 8.
She's never said anything about ketones. But she does mention his kidney BUN. I have no idea what that is. But I'm more than likely going to start him back at 1 unit tonight. I gave him fasting right now. I hate the bloody mess the testing does. And not looking forward to two more testings tonight. I was told to test +2 after insulin
 
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