pre filling syringes

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pentom

Member Since 2014
Quick question. Is it safe to pre fill a week's supply of syringes for cat sitter while I am on holiday? Thanks
 
There is lubricant inside the syringes. It can diffuse into the insulin. We suggest you not do that.

Better to take a syringe and mark it with the reference dose.
 
pentom said:
Thanks, I do trust her it's just my OCD kicking in !
Click to expand...
:lol:

Some folks fill a sample syringe (to the correct amount) with coloured liquid to use as a comparison.
For folks unused to filling syringes, the process can seem a tad scary (especially when you're looking after someone else's cat nailbite_smile )
So a pre-marked or filled 'sample' syringe can offer reassurance to the pet-sitter and to you. ;-)

Eliz
 
I may just mark a red line round just for my own piece of mind. She my best buddy and she's always injected her own animals, horses etc but like I said I'm just so over cautious as he's doing so good. We don't go til July so still hoping he will be in remission by then. Thanks
 
Ok well lets work on that!

keys to remission

1. Food - what is he being fed?
2. Home testing - are you? Its key in dosing
3. insulin - what kind?

Wendy
 
He's on 1unit caninsulin bid. (Recently reduced down from 2) he's on low carb wet food, Felix jelly and encore. He is randomly hometested ( does not cope emotionally) so we take readings at different times of day on different days. His pre shot pm numbers have been coming down steadily on new diet. Highest 16.6 mmol and now he is at 9.9 mmol. He has fructosamine checked every 4/6 weeks and those numbers are now in the good bracket. :-|
 
Ok great then the one suggestion I have is on testing. The best way to know if a dose is working, is to see how low it is taking him.. If it's under 2.8 then the dose is too high and you should reduce a little. Every time he does drop under that, you reduce, and every reduction is a step towards no insulin at all!!

I usually recommend 3-4 tests a day

- always before the shot - this is mandatory as you don't want to shoot when too low. As a newbie this too low number is 200 but is reduced over time once you have the data to know if its safe.
- mid cycle - 4-7 hours after morning shot depending on your schedule. This is to see how low the cat’s blood sugar is going. The low point "nadir" is what you base dose changes on since you don't want the cat dropping too low (under 50).
- before bed (2-3hours after Pm shot) to get an idea of what the cat's overnight plans are. If this number is less than the pre shot test number you may want to set the alarm for a test a few hours later as this implies an active cycle. Cats prefer to go low at night

Wendy
 
Thank you, we are slowly working with Tom to accept homestesting more often buts it's a slow process so we don't loose his trust all together, and have him lose the good trust we have built with accepting his shots. This is a cat who was feral and shot at on an army base so I am very proud of him so far :-D :RAHCAT :RAHCAT :RAHCAT
 
If he likes any kind of low carb treat, a specific toy, or being petted or groomed, those can be used as positive reinforcements for shaping desired behaviors.

You start by rewarding a small step towards what you want him to do, then make small extensions to the behavior every week or two.

Ex
- allow his ears or paw to be massaged; give low carb treat
- allow his ears or paw to be massaged and held for a minute or two; give low carb treat
- increase the time; give low carb treat

Etc
 
That's what we are doing, he gets freeze dried chicken or a little tuna, the ears are a no no but am making progress with the paw. I do need to change my meter thou to one that will take the tiniest amount of blood. Mine requires too much I feel and adds to time testing takes.
 
Take it slow and he will come to enjoy it. Have you managed to get any midday tests at all? Also I would work on rubbing those ears too. he might come to like it.


What kind of meter do you have? Another Brit might be able to recommend one that needs less blood.

Wendy
 
Yes, Eliz & Bertie have helped me choose a new meter, Yup, we have done a few mid day tests and he averages 7-10 mmol. He has had poorly ears and had to be having drops so maybe once they are better he'll allow me to poke there!
 
If it's insulin that is refrigerated, then the whole thing, including the needle, is going to be cold when you do the shot. The cat might notice that.
 
7-10 isn't bad at all. I would try and give him mini meals through the day to see if you can help support his pancreas even more.

Were any of those tests overnight? Many cats drop even lower at night..and if he drops under 2.8 then he earns a dose decrease.
 
No test through the night. The medication I have to take at night knocked me clean out for 6 hours. Unfortunately bg is on the rise. Vet visit booked for next week to take a fructosamine blood and check teeth. :sad:
 
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