Struggling with injections with new diabetic cat

[Seruthei]

Good evening all,

I'm really struggling and could use some help. I broke down crying tonight after a 12+ hour shift on getting home and trying to give my buddy his insulin, and he was not having it. At one point he bit at my hand (but didn't puncture it) because he was getting upset, and I backed off. He ran and hid from me at one point too. It's really making me sad because he's been feeling better and it's because of the shots but now he's going to feel worse and I feel like I'm just making everything worse for him. It doesn't help that I have a fairly severe chronic pain condition myself (have surgery in May).

I tried to "cocoon" him to give the injection, but that was difficult and didn't work. Eventually I had to give up because I was just stressing him out so badly.

He was recently diagnosed with diabetes, and he gets 2 units of vetsulin at U-40. He has tolerated it poorly so far, and it's been hit or miss. I let the vet know I was having issues and they had me bring him in and shaved off a patch of fur on each side of his shoulders, but I'm not even sure if they got the right spot. I had a couple of good "little-to-no issues" days where he took the injections great, and then it just gets difficult again.

Every time I try to touch where they told me to inject, his scruff on his neck so I can pinch/"tent" it, he tenses up. I also don't really understand the "tenting" thing. Every video I watch has a cat calm as day, and the person taking the video can easily touch the skin and "tent it". Meanwhile with him, he tenses his shoulders immediately (best way I can describe it is that while standing, he will push the scapula together, like if you were doing a seated row), minimizing the amount of skin accessible, and I can't get enough of his skin to "tent" it. He also has VERY dense fur, and because I'm new to injecting, I can't easily see his skin, which I know slows the process down and makes it worse for him.

I've tried touching him in that area during innocent times (like just giving him pets and scritches), trying to get him to realize I'm not always trying to "hurt" him when I touch there. I try to give him his injections every day in the same routine (at the same time, event, and area of the house) to get him used to the routine.

I don't have anyone else who can help by holding him.

I've tried to alternate where I'm injecting because I'm sure it gets tender and has to heal + scar tissue will build up over time, but that doesn't seem to be enough.

I feel like I'm failing my buddy and I just want him to be healthy and happy and this is putting so much stress and tension on our relationship and I have no idea where to turn to. I want to get better at this so he doesn't suffer as much.

Can you give me some advice? And maybe just some kind words, I could really use them. I just want him to be healthy and happy.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Can you inject when he is finishing eating? That is what I do.
I few caregivers use this
https://www.vitalitymedical.com/owen-mumford-autoject-2-self-injection-device-aj1300.html
It uses insulin syrnges that you preload and uinsert in the device. Thus wiuld work if you can fund an are when you you can inject without tenting the skin.

 

[CORKY]

Can you inject when he is finishing eating? That is what I do.
I few caregivers use this
https://www.vitalitymedical.com/owen-mumford-autoject-2-self-injection-device-aj1300.html
It uses insulin syrnges that you preload and uinsert in the device. Thus wiuld work if you can fund an are when you you can inject without tenting the skin.

I know exactly how you feel, I've cried close to breakdowns, from High BG's ( I still do) When I started the injections, I had my neighbor hold my Corky, a couple of time, but I realized she wasn't going to be there all the time, then once he ate and settled on the sofa I would come from behind, pass my hand all over his back and he didn't realize I had the syringe in my hand and before he knew it, the shot was made, now while he eats, I myself give both of my cats their food on top of the bed with placemats underneath, because I need to make sure my Corky doesn't eat his sister's Coco's food,
this way, as he eats, and has half eaten his food, "He never sees the syringe" ( I already have the syringe ready to use) I go behind him as he eats and insert the syringe, he does not even flints, actually he doesn't even stops eating, if you like try it this way it might work with your kitty and take that stress away, that I fully know what is like. best too you

 

[Seruthei]

Can you inject when he is finishing eating? That is what I do.
I few caregivers use this
https://www.vitalitymedical.com/owen-mumford-autoject-2-self-injection-device-aj1300.html
It uses insulin syrnges that you preload and uinsert in the device. Thus wiuld work if you can fund an are when you you can inject without tenting the skin.

I've tried doing it after, and the problem is he just recoils the MOMENT the needle touches his skin and flees. It was a nightmare tonight too and I wasn't able to give him his shots this morning or this evening. I have no idea what to do. I'm trying everything I can think of.

 

[Seruthei]

I know exactly how you feel, I've cried close to breakdowns, from High BG's ( I still do) When I started the injections, I had my neighbor hold my Corky, a couple of time, but I realized she wasn't going to be there all the time, then once he ate and settled on the sofa I would come from behind, pass my hand all over his back and he didn't realize I had the syringe in my hand and before he knew it, the shot was made, now while he eats, I myself give both of my cats their food on top of the bed with placemats underneath, because I need to make sure my Corky doesn't eat his sister's Coco's food,
this way, as he eats, and has half eaten his food, "He never sees the syringe" ( I already have the syringe ready to use) I go behind him as he eats and insert the syringe, he does not even flints, actually he doesn't even stops eating, if you like try it this way it might work with your kitty and take that stress away, that I fully know what is like. best too you

I've tried that, and the MOMENT it touches his skin, he flees. It doesn't matter if he see's the syringe or not, if he feels me touching any of the sites where I can inject, he tenses up. He doesn't usually like when I touch his neck in GENERAL, he mostly tolerates it. I've tried hiding it, warming it up a bit, and nothing is working.

I'm so frustrated and overwhelmed, I wish there was some kind of service or something that would come over and walk you through giving the shots and watch you and give advice and stuff, because this is absolutely awful. It's causing a rift in the household.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I'm so frustrated and overwhelmed, I wish there was some kind of service or something that would come over and walk you through giving the shots and watch you and give advice and stuff, because this is absolutely awful. It's causing a rift in the household

Where do you live? Maybe someone is near you can can give demonstration.

 

[CORKY]

I've tried that, and the MOMENT it touches his skin, he flees. It doesn't matter if he see's the syringe or not, if he feels me touching any of the sites where I can inject, he tenses up. He doesn't usually like when I touch his neck in GENERAL, he mostly tolerates it. I've tried hiding it, warming it up a bit, and nothing is working.

I'm so frustrated and overwhelmed, I wish there was some kind of service or something that would come over and walk you through giving the shots and watch you and give advice and stuff, because this is absolutely awful. It's causing a rift in the household.

I forgot to tell you that I do not inject my Corky where you do I inject on the side of his spi

I've tried that, and the MOMENT it touches his skin, he flees. It doesn't matter if he see's the syringe or not, if he feels me touching any of the sites where I can inject, he tenses up. He doesn't usually like when I touch his neck in GENERAL, he mostly tolerates it. I've tried hiding it, warming it up a bit, and nothing is working.

I'm so frustrated and overwhelmed, I wish there was some kind of service or something that would come over and walk you through giving the shots and watch you and give advice and stuff, because this is absolutely awful. It's causing a rift in the household.

I shoot Corky on the sides if the spine you know, the fatty part and I alternate sides, perhaps if you alternate and place your arm a bit tight next to where you are inserting the needle, but always wait till he's settled down, try that, I am so sorry you are going thru this, try everyone's idea one of them has to work, but if you do not hold him somehow he will, he will flee from you, good luck

 

[davidscat]

A lot of folks here know what you're going through as we've been there ourselves. My suggestion is to work with your vet as he/she can help you through this. Take your buddy to the vet and demonstrate just what you're dealing with, go through it just as if you were injecting at home and describe all the problems. A suitable cat treat after injection may help over time as your buddy will associate the injection with a treat. Like you, I have no one to hold my cat while injecting but I happened to have a cat carrier with a top I can open (PetNation Port-a-Crate 20 inch), so I put my cat into the carrier, open the top, reach in and inject. Just a thought.

 

[CORKY]

I've tried that, and the MOMENT it touches his skin, he flees. It doesn't matter if he see's the syringe or not, if he feels me touching any of the sites where I can inject, he tenses up. He doesn't usually like when I touch his neck in GENERAL, he mostly tolerates it. I've tried hiding it, warming it up a bit, and nothing is working.

I'm so frustrated and overwhelmed, I wish there was some kind of service or something that would come over and walk you through giving the shots and watch you and give advice and stuff, because this is absolutely awful. It's causing a rift in the household.

I forgot to tell you that I do not inject my Corky where you do I inject on either side of his fattiest. again as he eats. Once you are able to get the first shot without commotions it will be a breeze. I feel so bad for you and your kitty, keep trying don't give up, if he needs his insulin.

 

[Lisa and Angel]

Noticed nobody had posted this yet...

(Source: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...info-proper-handling-drawing-fine-dosing.151/)

I personally always inject in Angel's flanks, alternating sides, and she feels absolutely nothing about 95% of the time. I never "tent" as the name suggests, I just grab a fist full of skin and "roll" the fold of skin upwards a bit, part the fur till I see skin and then inject without making a little tent/dented area.

 

[CORKY]

I've tried doing it after, and the problem is he just recoils the MOMENT the needle touches his skin and flees. It was a nightmare tonight too and I wasn't able to give him his shots this morning or this evening. I have no idea what to do. I'm trying everything I can think of.

How did it go today with dosing??how about if you try to be very very fast inserting the needle, I wish I were there or in your neighborhood to help you, try a treat and shoot while he's eating it and another afterwards, so your kitty will see, its being rewarded for being good. I feel bad for you and your kitty, I know what is like that frustration you are feeling. just keep trying sweetheart you'll get it before you realize it.