Newly diagnosed

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

Jlfp

Member Since 2021
On Friday the 13th I took Harrh my 7 year old long hair to the vet. It was to be his checkup, shots etc. Let me just that Harry does not tolerate car rides very well. He either vomits or defecates in the carrier. (Did I mention he's long haired)

Okay a little background - 2 years ago Harry spent a week in the hospital with blocked urethra. Long story short he has been on special food since.

We have 1 other cat, Punkin who is only 2. Both eat the same dry food & graze all day.

Now a little about me. I'm retired & living on a fixed income. My Vet who I like has given me price quotes on insulin, food & needles. He stated that I would need to bring Harry in 2 weeks to check his glucose.

Here are my problems:
1. It is stressful on Harry & me to ride in the car. Yes we have tried medications but they don't work.
2. How do I keep the cats separate for feeding?
3. When Harry comes home from the vet the 2 cats fight which is not normal.
4. The overall cost is/will be outside my fixed income.
5. In reading posts I noticed that after starting insulin other issues may occur.

With his current kidney issue I'm conflicted as to what to do. I have had many loving pets that I have spent considerable amounts on which I don't regret, however my financial situation is not the same as before.

So am I a horrible person if I can't take on this?
 
Jlfp said:
On Friday the 13th I took Harrh my 7 year old long hair to the vet. It was to be his checkup, shots etc. Let me just that Harry does not tolerate car rides very well. He either vomits or defecates in the carrier. (Did I mention he's long haired)

Okay a little background - 2 years ago Harry spent a week in the hospital with blocked urethra. Long story short he has been on special food since.

We have 1 other cat, Punkin who is only 2. Both eat the same dry food & graze all day.

Now a little about me. I'm retired & living on a fixed income. My Vet who I like has given me price quotes on insulin, food & needles. He stated that I would need to bring Harry in 2 weeks to check his glucose.

Here are my problems:
1. It is stressful on Harry & me to ride in the car. Yes we have tried medications but they don't work.
2. How do I keep the cats separate for feeding?
3. When Harry comes home from the vet the 2 cats fight which is not normal.
4. The overall cost is/will be outside my fixed income.
5. In reading posts I noticed that after starting insulin other issues may occur.

With his current kidney issue I'm conflicted as to what to do. I have had many loving pets that I have spent considerable amounts on which I don't regret, however my financial situation is not the same as before.

So am I a horrible person if I can't take on this?
Click to expand...
Welcome Harry and caregiver!
I have a few resources for you to start with that may help your finances.
As for food, diabetic prescription food is very expensive and isn't necessary. What you should look for is a food with low carbohydrates, and there are plenty of non prescription foods that fit the bill perfectly. A lot of people here feed Friskies pates or Fancy Feast classics. Both are very affordable and good options for diabetic cats. EDIT: just saw that Harry has kidney issues as well. You will need a food that also has low Phosphorus. I'm not sure what good ones are but I'm sure someone else will know

I don't know how much your vet charges for syringes, but I had my vet write a prescription for me and I ordered them online from Chewy, which was less expensive than buying from him.

Lantus insulin can be bought through Mark's Marine Pharmacy in Canada at about $190 for 5 pens, which lasts most cats at least a year.

And you can test Harry's BG at home with the same supplies human diabetics use to test their BG. Much cheaper than doing it at the vet's, and it's actually better to do it at home so that you can frequently monitor his sugars.

And finally, there is a charity for low-income caregivers to diabetic cats that will help with the cost of supplies. https://dcin.dreamhosters.com/

I hope this helps!
 
Last edited:
First of all, hugs.
Someone will be here to help you shortly.
I have comments on each of your topics:
1. No idea where you live, but WalMart has ReliOn glucometers for under $10 and their test strips are inexpensive as well (like 100 for $18). If you test Harry at home, you will not need to make those vet visits. You can "call in" his blood glucose results. Then your vet will advise you about dose changes based on that info. (Your vet has to be open to this, of course, so I hope you have a great one with compassion for both you and Harry.)
2. In my home, the non-diabetic cats have access to food on a high table, cleared off for that purpose. With my cat's neuropathy, she can no longer jump up there. If Harry is an Olympic jumper, you will simply need to remove the food after meals (your other cat will get used to this.)
3. Actually, it is normal for cats to argue a bit when one of them returns from the vet smelling strange. Very common. Hopefully, Harry's vet visits will be minimal.
4. I am retired as well, on a limited income. CVS pharmacy was able to find a discount coupon so that my Lantus vial (which will last 5 months) was $99. Others on this message board buy from Canada to get a deal.
5. I am not sure what issues you are referring to. Insulin is a must to get your kitty well. Feeding the right foods will be more difficult for you because of Harry's kidney issues, but lots of members on this board can advise you on that.
You can take this on. You are already reaching out to find out how. People on this board are available 24/7 to assist and guide you on this new journey.
More hugs,
Ann
 
Ann & Sister said:
First of all, hugs.
Someone will be here to help you shortly.
I have comments on each of your topics:
1. No idea where you live, but WalMart has ReliOn glucometers for under $10 and their test strips are inexpensive as well (like 100 for $18). If you test Harry at home, you will not need to make those vet visits. You can "call in" his blood glucose results. Then your vet will advise you about dose changes based on that info. (Your vet has to be open to this, of course, so I hope you have a great one with compassion for both you and Harry.)
2. In my home, the non-diabetic cats have access to food on a high table, cleared off for that purpose. With my cat's neuropathy, she can no longer jump up there. If Harry is an Olympic jumper, you will simply need to remove the food after meals (your other cat will get used to this.)
3. Actually, it is normal for cats to argue a bit when one of them returns from the vet smelling strange. Very common. Hopefully, Harry's vet visits will be minimal.
4. I am retired as well, on a limited income. CVS pharmacy was able to find a discount coupon so that my Lantus vial (which will last 5 months) was $99. Others on this message board buy from Canada to get a deal.
5. I am not sure what issues you are referring to. Insulin is a must to get your kitty well. Feeding the right foods will be more difficult for you because of Harry's kidney issues, but lots of members on this board can advise you on that.
You can take this on. You are already reaching out to find out how. People on this board are available 24/7 to assist and guide you on this new journey.
More hugs,
Ann
Click to expand...
I thought he/she might be referring to hypoglycemia.
Yes, that is a potential problem, but if you are hometesting regularly you can prevent it from ever happening. That is probably something to hold off worrying about for now until you are ready to actually start insulin. For now I'd just get supplies and finances in order and read some of the stickies on this forum to learn more about feline diabetes.
By the way, Harry's caregiver, what is your name? It's nice to be able to call you something :)
 
I would consider getting Semglee, it is a generic Lantus, and was approved by the FDA last June. The cost is compatible with Lantus from Canada.
https://www.goodrx.com/semglee
Here is a coupon above
Just call any pharmacy to see if they have the 5 pens, they will last you a year or more
Let us know which insulin your vet prescribes , you don't want vetsulin , even though its cheaper it's actually used for dogs, not to say some cats do ok on it but Lantus is much more
gentle , vetsulin has a tendency to drop their BG hard and fast
We can tell you where to get syringes and what size lancets to poke Harrh's
ears with. No need to bring him to the vet to test him
 
Last edited:
As for kidney issues you want to feed loe carb and low phosphorus


Found this when I did a search in the search box
Posted by one of our members
For kitties with kidney problems



. First number is carb percentage, second is mgs of phosphorus/100 cals, all less than 10% carb and less than 250 mg phos:

Weruva Truluxe Steak Frites can 6% 118
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen La Isla Bonita can 3% 166
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Pates Meowiss Bueller pouch 7% 174
Weruva Truluxe Glam 'N Punk can 0.6% 180
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Fowl Ball can 4% 180
Weruva Classic Pates Jeopurrdy Licious pouch 4% 187
Weruva Classic Pates Family Food pouch 0% 191
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Pates Cattyshack pouch 9% 211
BFF PLAY Tuna & Salmon Shhh... pouch 3% 223
BFF PLAY Tuna & Turkey Totes! pouch 2% 226
BFF PLAY Tuna & Chicken Chill Out pouch 2% 226
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Pates Cat to the Future pouch 8% 235
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Pates The Breakfast Cat pouch 9.7% 235
Weruva Classic Pates Meal of Fortune pouch 8% 236
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Lamburgini can 8% 236
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Double Dip can 8% 248


Below is another food list done by one of our members
Tap on the link below and then go all the wayb to the top where where it says weruva/soulistic and tap on that

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...l1l7v10-GMbEw_vskUU_gSO-IOo4gjk0CPg5/pubhtml#
 
Last edited:
Welcome! We're so glad you found this place and we are here to help you and Harry.

  • The initial cost of treating a diabetic cat is steep, but many supplies will last you several months. DCIN - Diabetic Cats in Need - is a charity that helps people on fixed incomes get the supplies they need to take care of their cats.
  • Lantus/Semglee and ProZinc are the 2 good insulins for cats. ProZinc is cheaper than Lantus and comparable to Semglee in price. Both will keep in the fridge 5-6 months after you open them.
  • Testing blood sugars at home will save you the stress and cost of vet visits. Most of our resources were developed using human glucometers, so you do not need to buy an expensive pet-specific brand. The ReliOn Prime from Walmart is a favorite here for its price.
  • A diet that's good for diabetic cats is also good for healthy cats, so you could choose to switch them both over to the new diet at the same time.
  • The best diet for a diabetic cat is low carb wet food. Fancy Feast and Friskies pates are favorites here because they are relatively inexpensive and almost all low carb.
  • Cats with chronic kidney disease (not sure if this is exactly what Harry has) should ideally be on food that is low phosphorous. Weruva is a brand (Soulistic is their "budget" brand) that has a lot of options that are both low carb and low phosphorous, but the cans are 2-3x more expensive than Fancy Feast or Friskies. There are probably others, but I don't know about them. Depending on how serious Harry's kidney problems are, it might be doable to split the diet between low phosphorous foods and the cheaper low carb food to save some money.
  • Some people make their own food for cats who are dealing with diabetes and kidney issues, and that is generally cheaper than the canned route. @PerfumedCatMom is a user who is experienced in this area if that's something you want to explore.
  • Multiple meals/free feeding wet food is totally fine while treating a diabetic cat. It's actually preferred! I set food out twice a day for my cats, and refresh it with a little water if it starts to look dry. I pick it up about 2 hours before I give the shot so I get an accurate glucose reading and so that she's a little hungry when I need to give her insulin.
  • "Other issues" likely refer to hypoglycemia, which is when the cat has too much insulin in its system. While these events can be serious, they can also be treated at home with high carb food canned food (usually with gravy) and honey/karo syrup and home testing. Almost all of us have had to deal with a cat's blood sugar going too low and having to act quickly. If you are testing at home, you can often handle this without rushing the cat to the emergency vet and they are usually back to normal in a couple of hours. Members on the board are also here to help people through these events, so you will not be alone. Even if it's the middle of the night where you are, we have users here from all over the world.
 
Bree & Misty said:
Welcome Harry and caregiver!
I have a few resources for you to start with that may help your finances.
As for food, diabetic prescription food is very expensive and isn't necessary. What you should look for is a food with low carbohydrates, and there are plenty of non prescription foods that fit the bill perfectly. A lot of people here feed Friskies pates or Fancy Feast classics. Both are very affordable and good options for diabetic cats. EDIT: just saw that Harry has kidney issues as well. You will need a food that also has low Phosphorus. I'm not sure what good ones are but I'm sure someone else will know

I don't know how much your vet charges for syringes, but I had my vet write a prescription for me and I ordered them online from Chewy, which was less expensive than buying from him.

Lantus insulin can be bought through Mark's Marine Pharmacy in Canada at about $190 for 5 pens, which lasts most cats at least a year.

And you can test Harry's BG at home with the same supplies human diabetics use to test their BG. Much cheaper than doing it at the vet's, and it's actually better to do it at home so that you can frequently monitor his sugars.

And finally, there is a charity for low-income caregivers to diabetic cats that will help with the cost of supplies. https://dcin.dreamhosters.com/

I hope this helps!
Click to expand...
Thank you for the valuable information. We started insulin today so we shall see how everything goes. Unfortunately our Vet isn’t sure how all this will affect his kidney issue. One day at a time!
 
Bree & Misty said:
Welcome Harry and caregiver!
I have a few resources for you to start with that may help your finances.
As for food, diabetic prescription food is very expensive and isn't necessary. What you should look for is a food with low carbohydrates, and there are plenty of non prescription foods that fit the bill perfectly. A lot of people here feed Friskies pates or Fancy Feast classics. Both are very affordable and good options for diabetic cats. EDIT: just saw that Harry has kidney issues as well. You will need a food that also has low Phosphorus. I'm not sure what good ones are but I'm sure someone else will know

I don't know how much your vet charges for syringes, but I had my vet write a prescription for me and I ordered them online from Chewy, which was less expensive than buying from him.

Lantus insulin can be bought through Mark's Marine Pharmacy in Canada at about $190 for 5 pens, which lasts most cats at least a year.

And you can test Harry's BG at home with the same supplies human diabetics use to test their BG. Much cheaper than doing it at the vet's, and it's actually better to do it at home so that you can frequently monitor his sugars.

And finally, there is a charity for low-income caregivers to diabetic cats that will help with the cost of supplies. https://dcin.dreamhosters.com/

I hope this helps!
Click to expand...
Thank you for the information
 
Bree & Misty said:
Welcome Harry and caregiver!
I have a few resources for you to start with that may help your finances.
As for food, diabetic prescription food is very expensive and isn't necessary. What you should look for is a food with low carbohydrates, and there are plenty of non prescription foods that fit the bill perfectly. A lot of people here feed Friskies pates or Fancy Feast classics. Both are very affordable and good options for diabetic cats. EDIT: just saw that Harry has kidney issues as well. You will need a food that also has low Phosphorus. I'm not sure what good ones are but I'm sure someone else will know

I don't know how much your vet charges for syringes, but I had my vet write a prescription for me and I ordered them online from Chewy, which was less expensive than buying from him.

Lantus insulin can be bought through Mark's Marine Pharmacy in Canada at about $190 for 5 pens, which lasts most cats at least a year.

And you can test Harry's BG at home with the same supplies human diabetics use to test their BG. Much cheaper than doing it at the vet's, and it's actually better to do it at home so that you can frequently monitor his sugars.

And finally, there is a charity for low-income caregivers to diabetic cats that will help with the cost of supplies. https://dcin.dreamhosters.com/

I hope this helps!
Click to expand...
Thank you!!!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top