Merfles
Member Since 2025
Hey everyone, the struggle continues...
I've been slowly slogging through trying to get Bee's IBD figured out (my vet isn't very useful), and it's still not going great. He wasn't eating well for months, and now he's eating again (and drinking a lot), I assume because his glucose has been so high. He abruptly went from usually being mid 100's to 200's early Jan, and I have no explanation other than his bowels. He had been doing poorly for a while, but his glucose hadn't changed until then. He's had bloodwork, an ultrasound (showed slightly inflamed pancreas, they didn't specifically say he had intestinal thickening), B12 injections (weekly for a month, then monthly after today). I did try him on a low dose of gaba for a week to see if he was in pain, and that made no difference. Some days he's going UP after his insulin. He has been happy enough with his FF pates again, I've been rotating flavors hoping he won't get bored, but that may not be helping his bowels? I also tried to start adding some Duck Dr. Elsey's kibble into his usual chicken, to get him on a more novel protein, and that may also be causing poop/vomit issues. I can't afford a new bag of chicken kibble until tomorrow. I can try him on Tiki pates again if needed, but the cost of his meds and everything, things are tight.
I started him on budesonide 3/14 (1mg every 24hrs), and I'm probably being impatient, but there's been no positive change to his stool, it actually seems worse in the evenings. It's still horrible smelling, soft serve consistency, but has been liquid the last few evenings. I've been extremely cautious with raising his insulin, since he used to react VERY strongly to miniscule doses, but now it seems like it isn't hardly doing anything anymore, with the budesonide it's going to be worse. He tested 322 this morning, and I can't be there to monitor him, so I couldn't raise his dose. He's been up to 1u for a few days, and I hoped he would level out a little, but I'm assuming he won't now due to the steroids. I don't know how much to expect his glucose to change due to the budesonide, it's probably different for each cat? I know a lot of cats are on way more insulin than him, but with how he used to respond to very small doses, I'm worried. Is it just insulin resistance? Is it something else? Is this his new normal? I've seen people say it can take a couple weeks for the budesonide to make a difference, but also that it should help after a few days. I'm going to test his ketones after work today, since he's been so high continuously. I've given up hope of him ever being in the low 100's-double digits again, but this constant 200's stuff can't be good for him, and I really want to get him back into the 100's.
I'm doing everything I can, but he doesn't seem to be improving. I can't do raw/home cooked food, but maybe there's something else I can try? Probiotics, something? Any suggestions or experiences are appreciated.
I've been slowly slogging through trying to get Bee's IBD figured out (my vet isn't very useful), and it's still not going great. He wasn't eating well for months, and now he's eating again (and drinking a lot), I assume because his glucose has been so high. He abruptly went from usually being mid 100's to 200's early Jan, and I have no explanation other than his bowels. He had been doing poorly for a while, but his glucose hadn't changed until then. He's had bloodwork, an ultrasound (showed slightly inflamed pancreas, they didn't specifically say he had intestinal thickening), B12 injections (weekly for a month, then monthly after today). I did try him on a low dose of gaba for a week to see if he was in pain, and that made no difference. Some days he's going UP after his insulin. He has been happy enough with his FF pates again, I've been rotating flavors hoping he won't get bored, but that may not be helping his bowels? I also tried to start adding some Duck Dr. Elsey's kibble into his usual chicken, to get him on a more novel protein, and that may also be causing poop/vomit issues. I can't afford a new bag of chicken kibble until tomorrow. I can try him on Tiki pates again if needed, but the cost of his meds and everything, things are tight.
I started him on budesonide 3/14 (1mg every 24hrs), and I'm probably being impatient, but there's been no positive change to his stool, it actually seems worse in the evenings. It's still horrible smelling, soft serve consistency, but has been liquid the last few evenings. I've been extremely cautious with raising his insulin, since he used to react VERY strongly to miniscule doses, but now it seems like it isn't hardly doing anything anymore, with the budesonide it's going to be worse. He tested 322 this morning, and I can't be there to monitor him, so I couldn't raise his dose. He's been up to 1u for a few days, and I hoped he would level out a little, but I'm assuming he won't now due to the steroids. I don't know how much to expect his glucose to change due to the budesonide, it's probably different for each cat? I know a lot of cats are on way more insulin than him, but with how he used to respond to very small doses, I'm worried. Is it just insulin resistance? Is it something else? Is this his new normal? I've seen people say it can take a couple weeks for the budesonide to make a difference, but also that it should help after a few days. I'm going to test his ketones after work today, since he's been so high continuously. I've given up hope of him ever being in the low 100's-double digits again, but this constant 200's stuff can't be good for him, and I really want to get him back into the 100's.
I'm doing everything I can, but he doesn't seem to be improving. I can't do raw/home cooked food, but maybe there's something else I can try? Probiotics, something? Any suggestions or experiences are appreciated.
Budesonide doesn't work magic in 4 short days. That said, Leroy's been on budesonide for 2 years or so now and he's still a hot mess 
His poop is firm at least, just still super stinky
, and the IBD is mostly under control. His bgs are affected by budesonide but other cats may not see the same effect.
