Poncho diagnosed diabetic 1/15

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Even though he's been eating a minimal amount Poncho was straining again. The clinic on Friday said the Hills ad and fluids would move things along and I gave him some Miralax Fri and Sat. I gave him 1/8 teaspoon each time in food and he passed a small piece Fri. Should I give a bigger dose (how much) tonight and just syringe feed the dose in water? He might be impacted due to previous dehydration. He's having such a bad time it's one thing after another. I'll probably have to take him to the vet tomorrow.
 
julie & punkin (ga) said:
Chris, I just want to add a little moral support. You sound tired and you're getting a lot of advice right now. I would find it overwhelming.

Please continue to work closely with your vet - whichever one will work with you, to help pull Poncho through this. I would continue testing a couple of times a day for ketones as well.
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Thank you!
 
While you wait, you might read up on this web site Feline Constipation. Great overview of the feline GI tract and options for constipation.
Putting the small amount of the Miralax in the food with water would be good. Might make the syringe feeding easier to get in by diluting it a bit, too.
 
BJM said:
While you wait, you might read up on this web site Feline Constipation. Great overview of the feline GI tract and options for constipation.
Putting the small amount of the Miralax in the food with water would be good. Might make the syringe feeding easier to get in by diluting it a bit, too.
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What would be an adequate dose for a cat.....I think I read somewhere 1/8 teaspoon, or 1/4?
 
1/8 teaspoon should be safe. When you see the vet, you can clarify the daily dose.
 
Hi Chris

Do you have a +4 for us yet?

I used to give remi 1/8 per day and sometimes twice a day. Without much food I wouldn't panic about not seeing much come out. Ofcourse always best to check with a vet.
 
Hi Sarah,
I posted the +4 BG in the reply box but I guess I forgot to click Post Reply. I was surprised to see 329. Poncho is constipated and maybe that's why.....I'll be taking him into the vet 1st thing this morning when they open. Next shot is 5am.....3 hrs from now.
 
Okay. So maybe that is a bounce from yesterday. You are only giving the critical care food aren't you?
 
We all posted at the same time. It did get posted. Me and @Elizabeth and Bertie both mentioned a bounce and yes if he is constipated it might also influence it. You mention he is straining? Trying to go? Then yes take him to the vet. A different vet than before? If so ask for the ondansetron or cerenia again.

When remi was constipated the vet put a liquid up there that made him go within minutes. It was quite stressful for him though.
 
Some of the problem might be that he doesn't have the energy to push. I noticed this when remi had lost energy and potassium levels when diagnosed with diabetes. If so the miralax will help keep it softer and therefore easier to push out.
 
phlika29 said:
Okay. So maybe that is a bounce from yesterday. You are only giving the critical care food aren't you?
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Yes he's been eating the Hills ad critical care. He ate a decent amount yesterday so until I get him unclogged should I hold off on the force feeding and hit it as soon as we get home? I just gave his antibiotics and more fluids and should I test @+6 or wait for pre shot @ +8? Am I strictly following the every 8 hrs dosing given the high bounce number.....do I give a shot an hr early if number is high? I need to get the upper resp. illness and this new digestive issue out of the way.....I think they're barriers to his stabilizing.
 
I think the general consensus was to stick with the 8 hour schedule and ride out the bounce. Ideally I would take a +6 so we can track what is happening. The bounce might start to clear and we can then compare the +6 with the +8.

Re the food I think it is still important to get those calories into him. When will you be seeing the vet? if its in a couple of hours I would hold off but much longer I think you should continue, you don't want those ketones getting higher again.

Does that make sense?
 
Yes....makes sense. BG @+6 428 He must be very uncomfortable. We're going to head for the vet in 3 1/2 hrs....+8 shot in 1 1/2 hrs I'll call my old vet in St Louis and ask for the cerenia if the clinic wont give it. I'll also need more fluids soon. I should never have told them I resumed the insulin.
 
Oh yes that is higher. I don't know enough about the insulin to advise about giving it early. Perhaps take a +7 and by then some one might be about to advise.

If he's eaten well then that might influence the numbers and so could the bounce.
 
Last meal was just prior to last shot. He's in a constant state of stress until I can get a vet to unclog him. If I feed him I'll drive the number up even higher....catch 22 here. Next shot 1 hr....then feed?
 
Tricky one.
Although the blood glucose is high at this point I would feel uncomfortable suggesting you shoot much sooner than +8.
We don't know what's causing the high numbers. And that previous unit is still in the system, even though it is not showing an effect (in terms of dropping blood glucose). My concern is that the doses may 'stack up in the system' and then suddenly come into effect. However, I am probably known here for being more cautious than most.
It would be good if someone with Prozinc experience could chime in here.
 
Elizabeth and Bertie said:
Tricky one.
Although the blood glucose is high at this point I would feel uncomfortable suggesting you shoot much sooner than +8.
We don't know what's causing the high numbers. And that previous unit is still in the system, even though it is not showing an effect (in terms of dropping blood glucose). My concern is that the doses may 'stack up in the system' and then suddenly come into effect. However, I am probably known here for being more cautious than most.
It would be good if someone with Prozinc experience could chime in here.
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I feel like waiting until his shot is due....50 minutes and get the +8 preshot BG, shoot then syringe feed. What do you all think? Once he gets unclogged his appetite should come back which was getting better until Friday.
 
You must be close to the +8 by now so I would just wait and give the 1 unit then. Yes feed just after but if you feel he is uncomfortable then perhaps just give a little until you get back from the vets.

If he is really blocked up then you will want the vet to give him something that makes him go soon. As i said before my vet gave remi something up his bottom that made him go within a few minutes. Don't know whether that is what others would recommend but it certainly helped.
 
christoph said:
I feel like waiting until his shot is due....50 minutes and get the +8 preshot BG, shoot then syringe feed. What do you all think? Once he gets unclogged his appetite should come back which was getting better until Friday.
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Yes I agree. Don't forget his ketones will make him feel crappy but getting him unblocked will help too.
 
I always got the blood test done 10 minutes before the next dose was due to make sure I didn't run late with the insulin
 
Just another thought....Was there talk of getting different syringes that could give more accurate measurements in case you need to give a .25 or .75 ? If so maybe see if the vet has some.
 
phlika29 said:
.Was there talk of getting different syringes that could give more accurate measurements in case you need to give a .25 or .75 ? If so maybe see if the vet has some
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Good idea, Sarah.
It's much easier to measure small doses of U40 insulin in U100 syringes (using a conversion chart). And easiest if you can get U100 syringes with half-unit markings.

Edit: The link to the conversion chart is here:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/insulin-conversions.htm
.
 
Yes, I think it would help also. Poor Poncho....I read where antibiotics can cause constipation in cats....on top of dehydration. Thanks for the conversion chart link, Elizabeth.
 
I thought you were using Miralax? Hopefully the increased fluid and food will also help things along. Yes I would add at least 1/8 of a teaspoon to his food per day.

Good luck at the vets. remi must have something like this -not sure if it was this exact product though but it worked in a similar way. The vet will be able to assess what is the best way to help poncho

MICROLAX® – Another micro-enema, made by Pharmacia & Upjohn, MICROLAX® contains sodium citrate dihydrate, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, glycerin, sorbitol, sorbic acid, and distilled water. Each little enema provides 5 ml of liquid. While not strictly a veterinary product, it is sometimes used in veterinary medicine. Remember that some of the action is triggered by irritation of the mucous membranes. These are not remedies which should be used frequently.
http://www.felineconstipation.org/acutetreatment.html#Enemas
 
I dont have any advice here, I just wanted to chime in and say great work and thank you for not giving up hope. I know it can be stressful and sometimes hope is hard to find, but all I can ever think of is "would you give up on your child?"

All I ever think of is when I was a child, I had a friend who had to be rushed to the ER in the middle of the night and was diagnosed diabetic, she was only 10 or 11. It's not a death sentence, just a lot of patience, love, and dedication...which you clearly have. Keep up the great work, and keep posting! There are great people here that can help you through the difficult times (as you clearly can see!)
 
I'm back but Poncho had to stay. Had to go to a new vet because the clinic wouldn't fit us in despite Poncho's condition....which was worse than I thought. The new vet has to run tests today and said after she gets him stable wants to test for Cushings. He definitely was clogged and was only 6.6 lbs where as he was over 10 lbs 2 months ago. The diabetes could be secondary but he is wasting proteins away. I'll know much more later today when I pick him up but he's got a ways to go. I've had maybe 4 hrs sleep since waking up Friday. I'll update later but I want to thank you all here for being truly good folks and guiding us along this darkening path. I'm really nodding out here. More later. God Bless You.
 
More hugs and prayers coming from here. I'm glad that you've found some decent veterinary support. I know you'll be worrying about Poncho while he stays at the vet, but I say from personal experience grab this respite with both hands and get as much rest as you can manage now so that you'll be better able to mind Poncho when he comes home. When you visit him, please give him some scritches from me.

(((Chris and Poncho)))
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Hugs and prayers from me too.
What a difficult day you've had, Chris.
I hope you get some good rest. And I'm praying Poncho's condition improves soon.

xxx
 
Am thinking of you and poncho. You have done such a good job with him. If they do keep him please make sure they will syringe feed him as much as you have been doing.
 
I'm glad you got him to the vet. I hope they will be able to balance his conditions and give you a realistic idea of what to expect. He does need to be under a veterinarian's care. ((((hugs))))
 
Chris

Will there be continuing giving him the prozinc and syringe feeding the same food? It will be worthwhile checking if you aren't sure. Hopefully they will also be able to address any low potassium levels,etc.
 
I'm really glad you got him to the vet's. He sounds very sick - we're all cheering you on and hoping for the best. We've had other kitties here with Cushing's, if that ends up being the diagnosis.

Get some rest - you've earned it.

:bighug:
 
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