Dear Amy, and, of course, you too, sweet Carl,
RyanAmy02 said:
I went to buy a monitor and everything but the only ones I could find were like $40 so I ordered one online, once I get the stuff we will start home testing to get the vet that curve so we can see if we need to change anything.
Do you have a Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, or Walgreens near you? Many times they offer meter kits basically free after rebate. The kits usually come with 10 strips and lancets to get you going until the meter and strips you ordered online arrive. Do have Vaseline around (helps bead that tiny precious drop of blood on that wafer thin ear) and a sock with maybe a handful of uncooked rice (not instant) that you can nuke for maybe 20 seconds (depends on the sock and your microwave). (I usually knot the sock a bit above the rice bulge...) Just remember, Amy, a warm ear is a giving ear...
RyanAmy02 said:
Im also picking up a new bottle of insulin since my husband and children informed me that they have ALL knocked it out of the fridge several times. The vet is afraid this could have damaged it and maybe thats why Carl isnt responding to it.
This could definitely be a problem, although I admire their honesty...
Tip: Don't put the insulin vial on the fridge door. Keep it in its box (with maybe a little bubble wrap around the vial for padding) and stick it way back on a shelf in the fridge. It's been my experience with a husband, my dad, and a live-in beau, that anything way back on a shelf in the fridge will probably never be found, and, is therefore safe. I imagine it's the same with children... ;o)
(This phenomenon also works with cupboard shelves, in case you want to stash some chocolate or cookies you just don't feel like sharing... You know, when it's late and they're all asleep...)
I'm liking the new vet at Carl's vet office, by the way...
RyanAmy02 said:
Hes also addicted to his dry food, which I have taken away, but our other cat Kitka will only eat dry food. So I have trouble with trying to keep Carl out of it.
Hmmm... Cat food harmony... You could try weaning both Carl and Kitka off the dry food by mixing in a little canned food. Every meal or so, add a little more wet food to a little less dry food. It can take a couple of weeks or so depending on the size of the spoon you use (teaspoon vs tablespoon), and, of course, the cats!
RyanAmy02 said:
I was also never told anything about only feeding his twice a day. As Ive been reading I see that can be more beneficial. He begs all day for food and I feed him, but now Im going to try just at meal times. Hes going to get grumpy Im sure. Is your cat loosing weight? Since Feb. Carl has lost over 2lbs. This is one of the vets biggest concerns and another reason we need to get this regulated. In August he was 22lbs, we went through the hepatic lipidosis drama and he was down to around 14 after all of that and he was healthy again. Now he is at 11.9 as of last thursday. I just hope this meter and stuff comes fast so I can get started with home testing and get a curve.
Yes, "timed" feedings can be more beneficial. However, I'm going to humbly suggest, given his dramatic weight loss and HL drama, that you let him free feed for a while. Especially given his diet change... Carl's got a lot going on right now with changing insulin doses and food... You'll know more, Amy, when you start home testing; and, can then make better informed judgment calls regarding what feeding schedule would be best for Carl.
Love and continued encouraging hugs for you and Carl -- and Kitka, hubby, and children too!
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz, forever dancing in my heart...
Dear Kim, and, of course, you too, sweet Kitty,
kse said:
My vet thinks Kitty is going to become anemic due to my testing (lol).
ROFLMAO!!!!! Long ago and far away, I took my meter and test strips for Gizzie's weekly Sunday +6 BG test with her wonderful ER vet, who I will forever love and be grateful for. (But, we'd had our home testing dialogue moments... It was 2003, after all...) She did the dreaded leg draw and I just whipped out my meter, stuck in a test strip, and asked for a bead of blood. She looked at me like I was nuts. Told her, I'm only asking for one bead of blood. What are you going to do with the rest of that tube you just filled? She responded by dropping one bead of blood on the examining table. Her meter read 495. Mine read 487. That was such a HUGE day dancing with Giz... HUGE!
Love and hugs for you and Kitty...