Newly diagnosed

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LaFawnda

Member Since 2017
my cat , Small Cat was diagnosed yesterday, he is a great cat, 16. He got initial insulin at the vet, and I gave him another at 10 pm after he ate. Today I cannot give the shot as he will not eat. I have tried everything and now off to the vet to get feeding syringe. How long can cats go with out eating. Hw is drinking a bit but seems weak and not himself.
 
Glad you are getting a feeding syringe... Cats can develop fatty liver after a day of not eating. Try putting tuna juice, or Parmasen cheese on it.
 
Thank you for responding, I get panicky when i try everything and he is not eating. He is a fairly large cat , not been over weight and not a picky eater so this is new. He is weak so I am worried.
 
Welcome, glad you found us, we can help. The feeding syringe is good. A couple more things that can help are ketone test strips (from any pharmacy) and, if you’re not already home testing, a glucose test meter also found at any pharmacy.
 
LaFawnda said:
Thank you for responding, I get panicky when i try everything and he is not eating. He is a fairly large cat , not been over weight and not a picky eater so this is new. He is weak so I am worried.
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You may want to bring him in and ask them to test for ketones and if that's negative then test for pancreatitis.
 
Yes thank you. His ketone level were good yesterday at the vet, and will take him back to vet on Monday if no improvement. The glucose meter is a good idea, I will get one.
 
LaFawnda said:
Yes thank you. His ketone level were good yesterday at the vet, and will take him back to vet on Monday if no improvement. The glucose meter is a good idea, I will get one.
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do you have a walmart near you? if so go there and get...
1. Relion micro or confirm meter
2. box of extra test strips
3. box of 28 gauge lancets (the ones that come with the meters are too thin for cats)
4. cotten rounds
5. neosporin ointment with pain relief.

I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat.
 
I watched your video on how to test bg levels and I will search for the glucometer that you suggested as well as strips and lancets. You made me feel that I might actually be able to do this. Thank you so much
 
We are in Winnipeg, Canada so hope to get the similar products you suggested. Small Cat is looking a bit better, I had to feed him earlier with the feeding syringe but at least he let me. He is still weak and has wobbly back legs, poor guy.
 
LaFawnda said:
We are in Winnipeg, Canada so hope to get the similar products you suggested. Small Cat is looking a bit better, I had to feed him earlier with the feeding syringe but at least he let me. He is still weak and has wobbly back legs, poor guy.
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Hi from a fellow Winnipeger. Walmart in Canada does not have the Relion meter or strips. Most pharmacies here will give you a free meter when you buy a box of 100 test strips. The best prices I have found locally are through Shopper's Drug Mart. Every Thursday they have 20% off for seniors (55 or older) with the Optimum Card. This applies to the test strips and the syringes, but not insulin. Every 5 weeks or so they also have a senior's discount day plus get a $10 card for each $50 you spend. I just stocked up on Thursday and saved an extra $30 plus the 20% seniors discount. Plus with the Shopper's OPtimum card you get points on each purchase. In one year I am able to get about $200 free.
 
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Thank you so much, I am so glad to have found this site, everyone has given so much help as this is my first time exposed to pets having diabetes. I really hope my kitty will improve and be relatively well in his final years. I will try Shoppers and I am sure I have enough points for some of it.
 
LaFawnda said:
Thank you so much, I am so glad to have found this site, everyone has given so much help as this is my first time exposed to pets having diabetes. I really hope my kitty will improve and be relatively well in his final years. I will try Shoppers and I am sure I have enough points for some of it.
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Check out the prices. Different Shoppers have different prices on the syringes and test strips. For insulin ( lantus and levemir)I have found that Walmart has better prices where I am...in the Grant Park area.

ETA I use the AT2 pet meter but also have the Free Style Lite meter as a backup. Both use a very small blood drop. Regular price on the FS Lite strips is $89.99/100. On Thursday, seniors day you can get them for $71.99 and on the extra $10 seniors day it brings the price down to $61.99.
 
LaFawnda said:
I watched your video on how to test bg levels and I will search for the glucometer that you suggested as well as strips and lancets. You made me feel that I might actually be able to do this. Thank you so much
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If they don't sell the relion in Canada, just look for a meter that takes a small (0.3) sample size.
 
JanetNJ said:
If they don't sell the relion in Canada, just look for a meter that takes a small (0.3) sample size.
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The Freestyle Lite meter takes a very small drop...same size as the AT2 pet meter. I have used it as a back up human meter for 3 years and have found it to be quite reliabel
 
Ok good to know. I have another question. I am just now going to feed kitty with the syringe. Then give the insulin. Is it ok to feed him 3x / day or more if he wil let me? He gets insulin only every 12 hours. Morning and night. He hasn’t been eating so I thought trying to give a bit more would help? In other words, can he eat a bit without having insulin.
 
When syringe feeding it is better to give smaller meals more often. What insulin as you using? Insulins such as Lantus ,Levemir and Prozinc do not require a lot of food before the shot, since they take longer to start acting. Insulins such as Caninsulin or Novolin N are faster acting insulin and you should make sure that there is a decent amount of food on board before giving the shot...usually advised to feed about 20-30 minutes before the shot. Since you are syringe feeding you can continue to give food after the shot as well.
 
Ok thanks, it is Lantis and a very small dose 2x/ day. I will continue the syringe feeding until he wants to eat from his dish on his own. He will drink from his bowl but not eat. We’ll see how he is tomorrow
Thanks again for all the advice
 
I have been reading about tracking sheets, my vet has not suggested these yet but we go back Friday. These are to record dates , times and bg readings, right?
 
The spreadsheets are a wonderful visual tool for tracking glucose readings. After I "fired" my first vet and hired a new one I showed her the spreadsheet and she was very impressed with the set up. Sometimes seeing the readings with the colour coding makes the picture look much clearer. Plus it is the first thing that members look at when they are giving information and advice.

Since you will be using the Canadian measurement system with mmol this is the spreadhseet you would use if you use a human meter:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JQ136YHkxNhhku9AML_OKGHkrg3Ixe27BWAdWONlnP0/edit?usp=sharing

More information on the spreadhsheets can be found here:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

And here:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/understanding-the-spreadsheet-grid.156606/

Personally after home testing the spreadsheet is one of the best tools to use to keep your kitty safe and have a realtime picture of how well the insulin and dose is working.
 
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