Skipper Update

[skippersmom]

I spoke with the vet a few minutes ago. Skipper is off IV fluids and is eating, peeing and pooping normally. At 5:00 his fever was normal. She will check his fever in the morning and if it is an okay range then he can come home tomorrow! She will call us around 9:00.
I think I have everything I need. I thought a glucose meter was all in one...it poked you, took the blood and tested it. I bought the Relion Ultima and then I also had to get a kit for poking him right?
I have the Friskies turkey and giblets which is around 8 carbs to feed him for now. I have to wait until after christmas and I will go get the fancy feast. Of course the vet is pushing the "Diabetic cat food." I might take some of the hard for now just because he seems to prefer that. At the same time, they are having a hard time regulating him (tonights reading was above the numbers... it just said high). I'm hopeful that being home and more scheduled will help him out.

Any last minute advice. I have the spreadsheet for recording readings and have read about the food. I also bought him some low carb snacks for when I test him. I think it is like dehydrated salmon or something.

Thanks!
Rae Ann

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

PLEASE just tell the vet, thank you but I'd like to try switching him over to wet low carb food for now and don't let him convince you that you need the "special diabetic dry". Tell him if you don't think Skipper is doing well after awhile, you will think about it then, but you want to try one thing at a time for now

These are the things you'll need to get started

1. Meter ie Walmart Relion Confirm or Micro. ...not sure about the Ultima..most of us the Confirm, Micro or Prime (the meters are all about the same price)
2. Matching strips ...the strips are where the money is....the Confirm and Micro are a little more expensive, but take the smallest blood sample, so are good for "new testers" whose ears aren't "used to bleeding yet", but the Prime doesn't take much more of a sample, and they're only $9 for 50 strips...the Confirm/Micro are about twice that.
3. Lancets - little sticks to poke the ear to get blood . new members usually start with a larger gauge lancet such as 28g or 29g until the ear learns to bleed. Optional - lancing tool....I "freehand" with just the lancet, but some prefer to use the lancing tool. Some cats do object to the "click" that the tool makes though. This is totally up to you
4. Cotton balls to stem the blood
5. Neosporin or Polysporin ointment with pain relief to heal the wound
6. Mini flashlight (optional) - useful to help see the ear veins in dark cats, and to press against
7. Ketone urine test strips ie ketodiastix - Important to check ketones when blood is high
8. Sharps container - to dispose of waste syringes and lancets.
9. Treats for the cat - like freeze dried chicken
10. Karo syrup/corn syrup or honey if you dont have it at home - for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast
11. A couple of cans of fancy feast gravy lovers or other high carb gravy food- for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast

You can use plain Friskies pate's from WalMart...they're cheap, readily available and in several flavors. Just watch for only the "Pates"...the "with gravy" and "grilled", etc. are too high in carbs.

Please just try to get the dry out of the picture completely. There's more than one reason dry is no good, not just for our diabetic kittys, but for cats in general. We have lots of hints and trick to help transition the hard core dry addicts too!

If you're just starting to go to low carb food and haven't started insulin yet, please wait a short time while you see the effect of just the diet change. Sometimes, just a good low carb diet will mean they don't NEED to go in insulin!

As long as he's at the vet, he's going to be harder to control...the stress of being at a vets office can raise the numbers up to 180 points, and then you take them home, they relax, and a dose that might have been required at the vet is an overdose at home.

As soon as you can, put the spreadsheet link into your signature here, along with some other information like your name, Skipper,age/sex, Date of diagnosis... The brand of glucometer you're going to use, They type of insulin (If you're not using it yet, just say "Pro zinc soon if needed after food transition" or something like that) along with any other health problems Skipper might have (You'd want to add that he'd been in DKA from "when to when"
The link to your spreadsheet goes into the signature box too.

To get to the Signature box, go to the top left of this page and find the "User Control Panel". Go to the Profile tab. Then along the right, you'll see "Edit Signature" so choose that.
Add the information you want to add inside the signature box and hit Submit....that's all there is to it

Good luck to both you and your extra sweet Skipper!! Ask questions as you think of them! We're always happy to help

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Another option on food is the 9 Lives pates...they come in the bigger 5.5oz cans and are (on average) about 4% (the specifics are on the food chart, page 14)

Gives you some variety of flavors as well as reasonable price and good carb values

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

The Relion Ultima is a good meter. It just requires a larger drop of blood than the Confirm or Micro. I used the Ultima for several years and it works well.

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

Usually when you buy the meter it may come with a few test strips and lancets (the things you poke with) (maybe 10 of each) you typically need to purchase a supply of them cause what comes in the kit is just for starting.

You have a choice in using the lancet (pokies) you can use the device that comes with the meter (putting on deepest setting, removing the cap are two suggestions) or freehanding - meaning holding it between thumb and forefinger and poking on the ear.

If freehanding, you want to poke at an upward 45 degreeish angle - not straight on. Here is a pic of what I mean:



Also aim for the sweet spot - which is the area between the vein and ear edge, if your cat has dark ears like Maui did, then you may want to get a hand held flashlight to put in your mouth and use like a spot light. It helps trust me and keeps your hands free to hold the cat and do the testing.



Regarding the prescription food - just tell the vet, thanks but no thanks. You can say that it's too expensive and you can't afford it (which is true) and that you are going to get him off dry food and onto a low carb canned diet. Of course he may try to sell the canned prescription and you can just say, that if you find he is not eating you will come back and buy it. I know it's difficult to say no, but if you practice saying it at home, you will be stronger and able to say it to the vet.