christyaran
Member
Hi, let me introduce myself... my name is Christy & I live in Miami, FL. I have an 8yr old snowshoe Siamese. I found this beauty when he was just about 2-3 months old. I have had previous cats before, & knew I wanted to try to do everything right with this beautiful boy named Coco. I neutered him at 6 months old & made him a 90% inside cat. (Being young & living with the parents, my dad used to let him out every so often). I fed him ONLY the best foods & never spoiled him with daily milk or anything other than cooked shrimp every once in a blue moon along with boiled chicken.
About 6 months ago he started losing alot of weight very rapidly, I got concerned & took him to the vet, after a nice fight & mommy owner here being bit in the hand (which eventually was infected & had to do minor hand surgery), we finally got the answer- he's diabetic. I believe the 1st time we tested him he was in the high 500's... the doc almost fell back. We got started on the PZI which now is discontinued at 2 units 2x's a day. We went back 2 weeks later & no change this time we were in the mid 600's... up to 3 units a day 2xs a day. Eventually we stopped there. He would normalize & then he wouldnt, so the vet said keep him btwn 3 & 4 units 2xs a day. Breaking the news to friends was terrible, how many ppl knew how to tell me to put him to sleep, how that annoyed me, how can ppl b so cruel, but I was determined to do what I had to for my feline baby.
Jump forward til now... recently I started noticing that hes been walking funny... I didnt think anything of it, i thought he has litter caught btwn his feet & cleaned it up & went on with life. But now within the last week its goten to the point he looked like he was walking & couldnt keep his balance, he looked drunk. I looked online & found out it was neuropathy. I was devastated. Specially not know how severe it could be. We went to the vet on Monday & the blood was at 462. Vet says up it to 5 units a day 2xs a day til Thursday, if hes not better- up again to 6 units. Mind you this is a mighty big cat too... hes been about 12-13lbs all his life. Now he is at 10 lbs.
This morning it looked like he got worse & I took him back, this time the blood was 490 & we were upto 8 units a day 2xs a day. Im in total shock.. the vet says there is nothing we can do with the neuropathy til the blood is regulated. I have him on the Hill's W/d dry food only & give him 1% goat milk every other day or when he asks for it.
I dont understand why the insulin isnt working & the vet does say my case is "special", he hasnt seen a cat react to his insulin like this in a while. I just dont understand whats wrong, why it doesnt normalize? Anyone have advice? He also lost .5lb (250 grams) within a 4 day period & the vet says that his body isnt metabolizing the food hes eating, meaning this may be bad news. That eventually his body wont accept the food & he wont have energy & little by little he may give way & I may have to put him down. I am devastated. I dont know what to think. I thought my best support system would be forum/MBoard that knows what i am going through & can help me through this time. Any advice is appreciated. I would appreciate it.
I am sorry for venting but I wanted to give some insight on the history... thanks & hope to b chatting with you all more often.
About 6 months ago he started losing alot of weight very rapidly, I got concerned & took him to the vet, after a nice fight & mommy owner here being bit in the hand (which eventually was infected & had to do minor hand surgery), we finally got the answer- he's diabetic. I believe the 1st time we tested him he was in the high 500's... the doc almost fell back. We got started on the PZI which now is discontinued at 2 units 2x's a day. We went back 2 weeks later & no change this time we were in the mid 600's... up to 3 units a day 2xs a day. Eventually we stopped there. He would normalize & then he wouldnt, so the vet said keep him btwn 3 & 4 units 2xs a day. Breaking the news to friends was terrible, how many ppl knew how to tell me to put him to sleep, how that annoyed me, how can ppl b so cruel, but I was determined to do what I had to for my feline baby.
Jump forward til now... recently I started noticing that hes been walking funny... I didnt think anything of it, i thought he has litter caught btwn his feet & cleaned it up & went on with life. But now within the last week its goten to the point he looked like he was walking & couldnt keep his balance, he looked drunk. I looked online & found out it was neuropathy. I was devastated. Specially not know how severe it could be. We went to the vet on Monday & the blood was at 462. Vet says up it to 5 units a day 2xs a day til Thursday, if hes not better- up again to 6 units. Mind you this is a mighty big cat too... hes been about 12-13lbs all his life. Now he is at 10 lbs.
This morning it looked like he got worse & I took him back, this time the blood was 490 & we were upto 8 units a day 2xs a day. Im in total shock.. the vet says there is nothing we can do with the neuropathy til the blood is regulated. I have him on the Hill's W/d dry food only & give him 1% goat milk every other day or when he asks for it.
I dont understand why the insulin isnt working & the vet does say my case is "special", he hasnt seen a cat react to his insulin like this in a while. I just dont understand whats wrong, why it doesnt normalize? Anyone have advice? He also lost .5lb (250 grams) within a 4 day period & the vet says that his body isnt metabolizing the food hes eating, meaning this may be bad news. That eventually his body wont accept the food & he wont have energy & little by little he may give way & I may have to put him down. I am devastated. I dont know what to think. I thought my best support system would be forum/MBoard that knows what i am going through & can help me through this time. Any advice is appreciated. I would appreciate it.
I am sorry for venting but I wanted to give some insight on the history... thanks & hope to b chatting with you all more often.