OTJ and Stress

[AbyResq]

I have 2 foster cats who are going to their new home next week. Callie had steroid induced diabetes which has been in remission for a few weeks. Tuck should officially be OTJ on Monday. They are going to their adopter on Tuesday. They will travel in the car for about 3 hours.

I don't think I need to worry about Callie. I wouldn't be surprised if the car ride and stress of a new environment causes Tuck's numbers to rise. I'm looking for suggestions on what to tell his adopter about testing and insulin if his number gets out of the remission range.

She will be picking them up late afternoon. I don't think she should test either of them until sometime the next day after they've settled in a bit. Their new mom has never had a diabetic cat. I don't want her to overreact to a stress number that may resolve. Tuck bounced a lot so I also worry that a little too much insulin will make him bounce and look worse than he is.

Has anyone been through this and if so what advice did you give? I will be asking their new mom to join FDMB even though both cats are in remission.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

I'd be totally honest with the adopter....and tell them what they need to know to deal with a diabetic cat, including testing info, insulin info, etc.

Hopefully they will both remain OTJ once settled in, but one thing you don't want is for either one to fall out of remission (for any reason and at any time) and not have the new beans know everything they need to know to treat them correctly.

 

[AbyResq]

No worries about that! Tuck was listed as a diabetic. I screened her as if she was getting a cat with active diabetes. She understands that either one could fall out of remission.

My worry is about how to properly handle the stress numbers I assume they will have with the transition. I realize there isn't much experience here with this exact situation.

I guess I'm wondering what the experience is with vet stress for OTJ cats. How long does it take for the blood sugar to return to normal? When would you test after a visit to make sure there's no lingering issue? The adopter may be nervous and test them soon after arrival. I wouldn't want her to jump to the wrong conclusion.

 

[Wulfwin]

I guess it would partially depend on how quickly they settle in. Of my two OTJ diabetics, one's never really had vet stress hyperglycemia (even though he gets really ticked at the vet after a short time) and the other hasn't been back to the vet since going OTJ. I think my non-diabetic cat and Rain before her diabetes were back to normal numbers usually within a day (or even hours) of a vet visit, but they were obviously coming back to their home environment (ie no stress). If after a day or two, Tuck or Callie is still hiding/stressed out/dilated pupils/etc., I would think stress would likely still be impacting the numbers.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

I wouldn't want her to jump to the wrong conclusion.

I'd just explain that it's possible that the stress of a new home could temporarily raise the numbers, so don't worry about it for a few days....If they seem to be settled in nicely (not hiding, running, eating well, otherwise being social) and the numbers don't return to normal, give you a call to discuss it