Question on fur shots

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Alyssa & Marbles

Alyssa & Marbles

Member Since 2017
Hi. I'm just getting started with administering insulin shots on my newly diagnosed Marbles. In an older post that I was reading, the topic of fur shots came up. A member said that you know if you gave a fur shot if you can smell the insulin on the cat's fur. That makes me wonder if I'm fur shotting him because each time I give him a shot, he smells like Band Aids. Funny thing is, he's shaved at his scruff so there's no fur! Since he's crazy fluffy and we're just getting started, the vet shaved a 3x3 patch for us to give the shots. But he always smells like Band Aids after (which his brother hates and sometimes hisses at him). He is getting such a small dose (1U of Lantus) that it doesn't feel like the plunger even moves when I administer the shot but I can see that the needle is in. Should he not smell like Band Aids? Do you think I'm actually giving it to him? I have seen an improvement in his appetite and overall demeanor so I assume all is well. Just a worrying mama.
 
It could just be a residual amount that was left on the needle from clearing out bubbles and such. Are you home testing yet? (I see he was just dx'd.) Once you get a feel for his numbers, furshots become more obvious... And trust me, they happen. :bighug: :bighug: :bighug:

Are you using longer needles or the short ones? I know when I first started, the Vet gave me 1/2 inch needles for his Vetsulin. Well, I discovered that I kept shooting through the tent I was making and just dispensing insulin on his fur.
 
No, not home testing yet. When I asked the vet last week (when we went to learn how to administer the shots), she said not to worry about home testing, that we would not need to do that. I have an appointment on Friday for a BG curve and plan to ask again. Especially since I want to transition Marbles onto a low carb diet eventually.
I am using 1/2 inch needles. I don't think I am shooting through the tent but will be on the lookout for that. It must just be residual like you suggest.
Thanks. I am just sick with worry (about everything!!!!) for my fluff ball.
 
My sense of smell is almost gone but in 5 years and 2 cats I've never noticed a smell with Caninsulin. I always rub where Noah got shot to feel for any wetness. I've twice seen a vet shoot a vaccination clear across the room!
Sorry to be the first of many to tell you this, you have to home test. Being sick with worry is a symptom of love, no vaccination for that.
 
Alyssa & Marbles said:
No, not home testing yet. When I asked the vet last week (when we went to learn how to administer the shots), she said not to worry about home testing, that we would not need to do that. I have an appointment on Friday for a BG curve and plan to ask again. Especially since I want to transition Marbles onto a low carb diet eventually.
I am using 1/2 inch needles. I don't think I am shooting through the tent but will be on the lookout for that. It must just be residual like you suggest.
Thanks. I am just sick with worry (about everything!!!!) for my fluff ball.
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Hometesting is definitely best (as I am sure you've read), so hopefully your vet gets on board. But you dont need their permission to do it.

Those 1/2 needles are killer. Next time you get needles, I'd look into 3/8 inch ones. The difference is asounding.

Worrying is normal!
 
Alyssa & Marbles said:
No, not home testing yet. When I asked the vet last week (when we went to learn how to administer the shots), she said not to worry about home testing, that we would not need to do that.
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my vet also said it wasn't necessary so i did the Smile, Nod, Ignore as recommended by others here then watched videos on how to home test and started right away. I was very lucky because the amount of recommended insulin was too high and Smokey bounced all over the place. As strange as it may sound, Marbles will eventually become accustomed to the testing and so will you. Humans never inject insulin without testing so why would we do that to our fur babies?!
if you haven't yet started testing and need to see some videos, ask and i will post links to some that helped me the most.

BTW after i took Smokey to a vet who was more experienced with feline diabetes, i was back at my old vet for vaccinations and he asked how she was doing. I told him how well it was going doing home testing and he told me that it was good that i was testing and that he had been doing some reading and realized it WAS important. he thinks that most people will not want to do this so i told him to encourage them and said i would help if they lived nearby.
 
FelineFriend said:
i took Smokey to a vet who was more experienced with feline diabetes, i was back at my old vet for vaccinations and he asked how she was doing. I told him how well it was going doing home testing and he told me that it was good that i was testing and that he had been doing some reading and realized it WAS important.
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Almost makes you think feline diabetes is something they should teach in veterinary college, almost....
 
Yes, after diagnosis in Oct., my vet sent me home with needles and prozinc and his recommended dose, and two days later Java was in the vet ER with severe hypo glycemia. (Very expensive stay, and terrifying - he could have died). I winged on my own with a meter and testing for months before finding this message board and beginning to stick to the protocols recommended here. It's been a wonderfully positive experience for me and stabilized Java's treatment and food.

Edit to add, I continue to see the same vet, but I did take him a copy of java's spreadsheet and a printout of the FAQ page and recommend he advise all his diabetic kitty clients to get involved here.
 
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Lois and Java said:
I winged on my own with a meter and testing for months before finding this message board .
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I can't even remember how I got here, I wasn't having any particular problems. Is this not the #1 site on the planet? I've been on a few other sites that were pathetic. And still no one at my vets office knows or even cares when I tell them.
 
Noah & me said:
And still no one at my vets office knows or even cares when I tell them.
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+1 to this.

It's like most vets don't want to know that there are sites like this. While there is a lot of misinformation floating around in the web on various topics, there are great sites with info from those who DO KNOW what they are talking about. This site being on of them. It's sad that the vets can't be more open minded. But that's for another topic.

As for fur shots. The vet shaved 2 small areas on my little one just at the shoulder so I could see the skin better. Now I was lucky in that I never had a "hit and miss" shot but because I was using a Lantus Pen that requires you to waste a couple shots there was always a slight smell of the insulin on her body due to a little residue that was left on the base of the needle. Even when I would dab that area of the needle with some tissue paper to remove the excess.
 
Leilanikon said:
I'm a super sensitive smeller, get migraines frequently from it
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I know people are liars when they say "migraine headaches" instead of just migraines. Those stupid commercials where you take 2 of these and 20 minutes later you roll up the blinds! Did they run that past a focus group first? My wife and I both Take Imitrex nasal inhalers. I don't use the words Miracle Drug very often but this stuff is a gift from God. Maybe that's why it's so expensive but worth every penny!
We have a little mutated cat named Daniel, just walked into our house one day. He always smells like baby powder!
 
Noah & me said:
I know people are liars when they say "migraine headaches" instead of just migraines. Those stupid commercials where you take 2 of these and 20 minutes later you roll up the blinds! Did they run that past a focus group first? My wife and I both Take Imitrex nasal inhalers. I don't use the words Miracle Drug very often but this stuff is a gift from God. Maybe that's why it's so expensive but worth every penny!
We have a little mutated cat named Daniel, just walked into our house one day. He always smells like baby powder!
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LOL Imitrix was a lifesaver for me too but only the inhaler. it used to drive me crazy when people would say 'i had a migraine yesterday so i took two aspirins and napped and it went away'. :mad:
now unfortunately it doesn't work on my chronic migraine but now i only have optic effects plus light/sound/smell sensitivity - the pain is bearable.
 
Just for fun I also have Raynauds syndrome, Tinnitus, the migraines (yes, the inhalers only), a brain aneurysm in the Circle of Willis (fixed with coil and stent), it took eight neurologists to figure out I had Trigeminal neuralgia AND Chiari malformation, some degree of PTSD, signs of PseudoBulbar Affect and have had so many transient ischemic attacks no one knows why I can walk and talk. And because boys will be boys whenever I had a concussion I just rubbed some dirt on it and kept on playing hockey and baseball. My sister's kid wears a little BMX helmet on his dirt bike. Some people just don't get it. Going to bed now.
 
For some reason, many vets seem to not want one to home test. I pushed to do it anyway, and am so grateful for this group -- I know I'm doing the right thing and not being a freak.
I've noticed Angel smell like insulin (what you're calling bandaids, I assume :) -- I use lantus, which has a remarkably strong smell and I have a sensitive nose) only when I've given a partial fur shot or the needle had a tiny drop on it 'cos I squirted some insulin out before shooting or was trying to get rid of air bubbles or something. Most of the time I sniff him after shooting (I feel such a perv, lol) and there's no smell. I'm very glad insulin smells so strongly as it is a good indicator of whether the shot went into kitty or not. I used to also rub with my fingers to see if his fur was a bit wet and also 'cos I thought that would dull any prick he felt, but have stopped doing that (or now do it very lightly) since I think I read one should not massage the area on the instructions for lantus (or some such official instructions).
 
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