Newby needs

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peggy schaub

Member Since 2012
Hi, my name is Peggy and I am new to FDMB. I was introduced to this site by Gail Graham who has been so helpful with her guidance, she is my guardian angel. My 18 year old cat Nermal was diagnosed with diabetes in august and things were going pretty good in the beginning, but have now taken a turn for the worse. I'm trying to adjust her insulin and she feels miserable. Today was the first day for 2 shots a day, I hopehelp soon she starts to feel better because this is killing me to watch her. I feed her fancy feast classic cans. She hasn't had a bowel movement for a couple of days, I did try laxatone, and am thinking of trying small amount of mineral oil mixed in her food. If anyone has any suggestions or words of encouragement or if they went through this very same thing, please share them with me. thank you
 
Welcome Peggy- we'd love to help you and Nermal. Can you give us some more information? What kind of insulin? What dose? How long were you giving one shot daily?

I wonder if she is feeling so bad mainly because she hasn't had a bm. There are things we can suggest, but since it has been several days, I would have the vet check her out. It is possible that she could have a blockage and any kind of lubricant or laxative can make that worse.
 
I did take nermal to the vet yesterday and he did an examine and said he did not feel any bowel when he massaged her abdomine. So I'm just overwhelmed. Nermal, is taking Prozinc and today was her first day of 2 shots of 1/2 a unit each time. We decided to start her low and see how she does. before she was just getting one shot a day first starting in aug at 1 unit for a week and then 1-1/2 units a day per week and then 2 units a day per week all in the am. At first everything was going great and I thought maybe it would go smoothly but then about a week & 1/2 ago she just started not looking well one day and then the next she would be better, Her readings were all over the place either high or too low and only once in awhile were they looking normal, so I thought, because my glucose meter was very very off, so now we feel she's probabley been high readings the whole time. So I guess the answer to your question is she's been taking 1 injection a day for about 7 weeks. today is her first day for 2 shots a day. I feel so overwhelmed and confused and scared and guilty. I did receive a new glucose meter yesterday,
 
We don't do guilt here, Peggy. :mrgreen: what's important is that you are doing the best you can for your kitty.

Good that the vet didn't find anything wrong. I haven't had a kitty with constipation but lots of members use Miralax with success - 1/8 - 1/4 t mixed in the food. Mixing water with the food to make it soupy often helps too.

Giving a dose twice daily will really help. She may have been good one day and not the next because ProZinc only lasts 12 hours. If you dose once daily, she may have been comfortable for 12 hours after the shot and then high for the next 12 hours. .5 units will be a good starting dose and she should do much better with the two shots. It is fantastic that you are testing - you can tell right away how she does. Be sure to get a reading before each shot and then midcycle to see how the dose is working. If you come on with your numbers, we can help with the dosing.
 
Thank you so much for your help and words of encouragement. I will get the miralax tomorrow. Meanwhile should I give a small amount of mineral oil in her food for tonight or would it be best to wait until i get the miralax. When I tested her this morning at 7am her reading was 372. I fed her fancy feast and I gave her ist 1/2 unit dose at at 7:13 am. I tested again at 1pm and her reading was 216. When I tested her this evening at 6:28pm her reading was 287, then I fed her dinner (I feed her about 5, 1oz feedings a day) and gave her her second 1/2 unit shot at 7:20pm. I just now tested her again and her reading is 322. Yesterday we did give her IV fluids at the vets, I was hoping she would drink good on her own today but she hasn't. I do make her food soupy with water, but she's been drinking very little on her own for the past day or 2. I'm going to pick up IV fluids tomorrow for her. I do wonder if her age has anything to do with these complications too, she's 18, maybe this is too much for her system for her age?? :?
 
If you're feeding watered down canned food chances are she won't drink much - my 2 cats hardly ever touch the water bowl. I can't remember the last time I saw one of them taking a drink.

You're doing a great job, by the way! Those numbers aren't too bad :-D
 
Thank you Ry & Scooter, I appreciate your positive words. Nermal did eat real good this morning, her readings before she ate was 356 and after she ate I gave her 1/2 unit. She is still lethargic, wants to just curl up and sleep. I hope when her system gets used to the twice a day injections, she'll be more active.
 
Hi Peggy! It's good to see you here...lots of folks with good ideas to help with your beautiful girl. Sorry to hear she hasn't perked up though. What did the blood and urine test show?
 
Hey Gail, good to hear from you. The only blood he took was for her reading and and urine for keytones. We decided to see how she does with the twice a day injections and then go from there. Nermal did seem more awake today, but still looks pretty bad, I hope I see some improvement soon, it breaks my heart to see her like this. We're going to give the 2 injections a week and then do more blood tests if needed.
 
Re: Newby needs help

Ok just tested Nermals blood and the reading is 294. Now I've noticed she is walking strange. She won't straighten her hind legs! Does anyone know what this means?
:dizcat :?
 
It might be neuropathy. Is she walking on her hocks, the flat part of the back legs just above the paw? LIke in this picture:
eNrTT87PLUjMq9S3MNEvLcjJT0zRNzc2SzS1NDfTyypIB1wwpe0J8A,,.jpg


There is info about neuropathy here and how to treat: http://laurieulrich.com/jasper/
 
This is fairly common in the early stages and once you get her a little more regulated it will go away. Houdini had neropathy too I used methy B12 (not the same as regular B12) for a month and it's never come back. They are little tiny pills that you can crush up and mix into their food.

I used to get mine online from LifeLink and now they have a formula just for kitties.
 
Are you seeing some BMs in the litter box? I know you were concerned about this originally. If you haven't, the walking strange could be related and a problem. (it could also be neuropathy, but ongoing constipation is always a concern with any cat)
 
Good morning all and thank you for your help. As of right now, no new bm's in the box, I did get the miralax, but I haven't given it to her yet because it says on the warning label not to give if you have kidney disease ( I know it pertains to people, but I want to ask you all and see if any of your kittys have kidney problems and still give it to them and make sure it's safe for her)and I know from her blood work a few months ago she has the beginning stages, but now she doesn't want to use the litter box, she goes potty outside the litter box. Yes that is how she is walking on her hocks. She does seem to be alert this morning and she did eat pretty good, so maybe things are starting to look up. I will check out the methy B12. I really do appreciate everyones help, it makes this transition less stressful. :smile:
 
Peggy - I am taking Frankie to Dr B's this morning :roll: and I will ask about the Miralax. I've never used it on any of mine that had kidney problems and I don't remember anyone here commenting about it.

If she is peeing outside the box maybe it has to do with the neuropathy..... a lower sided box might help that. I've used cut down carboard boxes and plastic storage bins with a lower entry "door" cut in.
 
Hi Gail, I read about the miralax on Sue and Olivers post and I remember reading it on another post but can't remember who's, I have to go to dr burches today too to pick up IV water for nermal.
 
Well it is with a very heavy heart, but I had to put nermal down today. Her kidneys had shut down and she was a very sick kitty, I had a feeling that something else was wrong and I was right. I guess after 18 years you get to know your animals and I had a feeling something else was going on. Thank you so much to all of you for your help and advice and words of encouragement. I so greatly appreciate it.
 
Oh Peggy, I am so sorry to hear this. Clearly you gave her a wonderful, long, love filled life - what every kitty would want. I hope you'll be able to remember her antics and habits with a smile.
 
((((Peggy)))) I'm so sorry...such a beautiful girl. She had a good long life with you and knew how much she was loved.

She is well and free of pain at the Bridge with all of her friends that have gone before.
 
(((((Peggy))))) May you always feel you baby's love, as she will always feel yours. Fly free, Nermal. wings_cat
 
I'm so sorry to see this. I love Nermals name...18 Years...celebrate the love. My gosh 18 wonderful years. It's going to be hard. My prayers are with you.
Fly free Nermal you have well earned your wings. God, please kiss Little Nermals head and keep her safe, till they meet again.
jeanne
 
Dear Peggy,

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you're able to take comfort in the fact that Nermal is free of pain and will always feel your love, just as you will always feel hers. I forget who said this, but I've always liked it: "They aren't gone, you just have to hug them a little differently." I really do believe that.

Sending lots of hugs,
Elena
 
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