RASCAL Diagnosed 3 Weeks Ago On PZI Need Advice

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Hi All,

Have been off line fora few days. Thanks for all the advice. I think I have a better idea as to what I was doing wrong with the meter. Just have to get the testing down and should be ok. But am sure I will still be reaching out for help at some point.
Rascal was not himself on Sunday. I had left him alone as far as testing for the weekend. Was drinking quite a bit of water, but had an appointment for his weekly check today anyway. Turns out he had a very bad urinary track infection. My vet was going to run his blood through the machine and will call me tonight.
But we are expecting his count to be high.

I know the trip to the vet seems traumatic to most, but Rascal has been traveling for quite along time and is quite used to it. I lost another one of my kitties a year and a half ago from small cell lymphoma. Was very difficult, he was Rascals best friend. Of our five cats Rascal, because of his handicap and Cody being so ill and on special meds were very used to the car trips.

He received a 10 day antibiotic shot and some fluids and is eating and looking better already.

another question,are there any testing pens that are better then others. Mine are both the rite aid brand. Just wondering if there is another brand I can buy that may work better or is it just me not having the technique down yet?

Note to Donna, thanks so much for offering to come down and help me with Rascal. I do know where Kutzdown is but I am sure it is still a 2 hour ride. But if you are ever in the area please let me know as I would love to meet you.

If I get too desperate I do have a few friends who are vet techs and I am sure that they would come by to help if I ask them. They are both involved in heavy duty rescue, and take care of multiple feral colonies so would only do so if I just can't get a blood sample after a few days of trying. Just don't want to take advanage, as this is something I just need to learn to do myself.

Anyway thanks for the addtional advice. Am going going to try the pinkie technique the next time I test. I think that may work for me.
 
Totally up to you June, you just say the word and I can get there if you need. I have a client in West Berlin, that anywhere near you? Also have friends in Mount Laurel. And I get into Philly every so often. I have to escape the dutch ghetto occasionally :lol:

We use the CVS brand lancet pen that is exactly the same as the Relion one that comes with the Relion meter...but I find what gauge the lancets are is most important. 30 is a little thin for use on a cat, the 28 gauge works well for us.
Ulticare Vet RX makes 28 gauge ones, box of 100 at American Diabetes Wholesale is 4 bucks.
 
LOL Sue! Yes, I have to say you did make me a little nervous. After about 100 tries (or it seemed) of trying to get his sample. I was worried that it was at least 45 minutes off his time. I asked you what to do and you said SHOOT!. If you knew me and were here, you would have been hysterical watching me. Hands were sweating and shaking. Just giving him his shot. Used lancets and gauze pads all over the place. Looked like a war zone.

Meanwhile inexperienced as I am with this. It gets worse. He would not eat Sunday, was very lethargic. Wouldn't look at me when I called him. Since he does not walk around alot, I thought possibly he was hypo. I wasn't going to stick him. My vet said if in doubt don't give him his insulin, which I didn't. Meanwhile he is drinking more water then I have ever seen him do, which should have been a sign that he was not hypo. Duh! So what do i do? Rub Karo syrup all over his gums. Talk about inexperience!!! Poor guy. Dumb mommy!

He looks so much better today, actually even last night he was purring as soon as I called him and got up to come see me. Just giving him one and a half units per my vet for now We will speak this afternoon.

Donna,

I live very close to West Berlin and Mount Laurel. Would not ever ask you to make a special trip down, especially on the weekends. Not sure what we are doing from one weekend to the next. But if you know your going to be in the area. Let me know and if we are home would love to meet you and have you come over.

Thanks again for your generous offer!
 
LOL Sue! Yes, I have to say you did make me a little nervous. After about 100 tries (or it seemed) of trying to get his sample. I was worried that it was at least 45 minutes off his time. I asked you what to do and you said SHOOT!. If you knew me and were here, you would have been hysterical watching me. Hands were sweating and shaking. Just giving him his shot. Used lancets and gauze pads all over the place. Looked like a war zone.

Meanwhile inexperienced as I am with this. It gets worse. He would not eat Sunday, was very lethargic. Wouldn't look at me when I called him. Since he does not walk around alot, I thought possibly he was hypo. I wasn't going to stick him. My vet said if in doubt don't give him his insulin, which I didn't. Meanwhile he is drinking more water then I have ever seen him do, which should have been a sign that he was not hypo. Duh! So what do i do? Rub Karo syrup all over his gums. Talk about inexperience!!! Poor guy. Dumb mommy!

He looks so much better today, actually even last night he was purring as soon as I called him and got up to come see me. Just giving him one and a half units per my vet for now We will speak this afternoon.

Donna,

I live very close to West Berlin and Mount Laurel. Would not ever ask you to make a special trip down, especially on the weekends. Not sure what we are doing from one weekend to the next. But if you know your going to be in the area. Let me know and if we are home would love to meet you and have you come over.

Thanks again for your generous offer!
 
It sounds like things are better today. Sorry if I scared you. I was thinking you were completely stressed out with the testing and maybe if you just gave the shot, you could relax.

We repeat this all the time, but once you can consistently get a bg number, it instantly improves your life. No more worrying about his whether his symptoms are if he is too high or too low. You know where he is and can use that information to determine what to do about it.

Take Donna up on her offer. She can probably use a road trip. :mrgreen: This forum is built on paying it forward so a trip to help you will put her in the plus column. :-D
 
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