Thinking of switching vets??

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Lilducknquackers

Member Since 2013
Hi everyone. I posted this past weekend about my cat Roo usuing 7 units of Novolin twice a day. I don't like the dosage, I think it's too high. And she's still drinking and going potty like crazy. I do want to home test and change her diet. I like the current vet I have but don't like how things have been handled. I was thinking about seeing a second opinion from another vet I found that only treats cats. Should I spend the money and see what this vet says or what? Plus I signed up at the Lantus website for lower cost insulin and my computer won't let me print the card out at all. Help! How can I get it to print out? I heard the vet uses this insulin and any money I can save is helpful since I'm not working right now. Thank you.
Sandra
 
What happens when you try to print out a card?
Regarding another vet, it the current vet willing to work with you and change to a good insulin like Lantus and support home testing? If yes then staying with them you can educate the vent with the help of the caretakers on this board. Starting home testing is critical for a situation like yours.
 
It wouldn't let me print the card at all. I'd hit print and nothing would happen. Not to mention, the window closed on me. What do I do now?
 
I called my sister to see if she could do it. So far, so good. She got it to print. But getting back to my original thought, should I change vets? I don't think my vet I have now would do what I need. My cats eat kibble only and I've asked many times if I needed to change their diet. He said to keep them on what they have now. I don't have another appointment till September with him. He pretty much told me 7 units twice a day and sent me on my merry little way. Nothing about hometesting. I was going every week to have her tested there, but she'd get stressed out going and her numbers were high. In the 300's. From what I got over the phone talking to the new vet she would change her insulin to Lantus which I heard is much better then Novolin that's she's on. Should I go and have a consultation with her?
 
Lilducknquackers said:
I called my sister to see if she could do it. So far, so good. She got it to print. But getting back to my original thought, should I change vets? I don't think my vet I have now would do what I need. My cats eat kibble only and I've asked many times if I needed to change their diet. He said to keep them on what they have now. I don't have another appointment till September with him. He pretty much told me 7 units twice a day and sent me on my merry little way. Nothing about hometesting. I was going every week to have her tested there, but she'd get stressed out going and her numbers were high. In the 300's. From what I got over the phone talking to the new vet she would change her insulin to Lantus which I heard is much better then Novolin that's she's on. Should I go and have a consultation with her?
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I would run, not walk, to the new vet's office. Your vet is not up to date in feline diabetes treatment, and does not have you on the right course of treatment (N is NOT a good insulin for cats, he's giving you bad diet advice, dangerously overdosing your cat, and not encouraging hometesting). The new vet is suggesting an insulin that is fantastic for cats--84% of cats go into remission on Lantus with a low carb canned diet and dose adjustments via home testing when they start the recommended treatment within 6 months of diagnosis. The treatment your vet is recommending is harmful--7u of insulin is WAY too much for a cat and likely the only thing keeping your cat alive on that much insulin is the high carb dry food. The right treatment could be healing poor Roo.

Here's a link to the current AAHA guidelines: http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/AAHADiabetesGuidelines.pdf. I would let your current vet know exactly why you are leaving his practice--it might save the life of the next diabetic cat that shows up at his office.
 
Switching vets is the same thing as switching your own doctor. If you're not happy with the treatment or the bedside manner, then it's time to look elsewhere.

I have come to rely more on the people here than my vet honestly. Although my vet is totally on board with the Lantus protocol. She has a diabetic cat herself.

I would set up the appt with the other vet because even if you are not needing them so much with the diabetes treatment, there could be another issue that comes along and it's good to have a vet in place that you like.

7 units is very high, plus dry food won't help those numbers come down either. I would also start looking into the information and links here about transitioning from dry to wet, especially since kitty is already on insulin, you have to do it very gradually because it will have a real effect on the numbers.

Good luck :-D
 
Whatever you do, if you are continuing to give insulin, hold off on food changes until you are testing! The dry food is probably the only thing keep the cat from fatal hypoglycemia.

Once you are testing, any food change should be done gradually to reduce the potential for GI issues (diarrhea, vomiting, or refusal to eat) as well as letting you step down the insulin gradually with the food changes.
 
I would not remove the dry food until you have switched insulins--N is a very harsh insulin with very steep drops and rises in BG, and even trying to gradually transition to canned food without dropping the dose WAY down and without hometesting could cause a potentially deadly hypoglycemic incident. The first thing I would do is pick up a meter at the drugstore and learn to home test, and see how low Roo is dropping on 7u. It's most likely too much insulin. I would also see about getting the insulin switched to Lantus asap, and then transition to low carb canned only when the insulin is changed and lowered (Most cats on a low carb canned diet never need much more than 1u of insulin).
 
I made an appointment with the new vet for tomorrow morning. 7-18-13 at 10am. Hopefully all goes well. Will update tomorrow afternoon. Bringing all the paperwork I have from the current vet to the new one. Although, I don't have her numbers from the bloodwork. The only way to get those is to tell my current vet what I'm doing and I didn't want to do that. Not into confrontations. Thank you guys for all your help. I'll make sure to ask lots of questions tomorrow.
 
You just say you want the records so that if there's ever an emergency, you've got recent health reports.

Good luck with the new vet.

Did you see my Vet Interview Topics in my signature link? May be helpful.
 
How did things go with the new vet? If they prescribe Lantus, make sure they write the prescription for the pens and not the vials since the Lantus Savings Card only works on the pens. You use the pen the same as you would a vial: with a syringe, so make sure they don't try to sell you pen tips and you also might need a prescription for syringes (some states/countries don't require a prescription, but many do).
 
I've gotten lab work results for my kitties from my vet. I simply call the office and ask for copies for my files. Each of my cats has their own file in a drawer in my home.
 
I have all my kitties' records electronically on my iPad. Easy to access. I also have their spreadsheets for for their BGs and how much they eat and a spreadsheet for weight.
 
Evening all. So sorry I didn't post last night the results of the new vet. I went out shopping to get my mind off it for a lil bit. My new vet is wonderful. She explained things in detail to me. They clipped her nails back and cleaned her ears for me, something my other vet never did for me even though I asked. She has some ear drops now as well, her ears were a lil waxy. But she said that should clear up in a week. She changed her insulin to Lantus in the pen. I didn't have to go to the pharmacy to get it though, she had it in her office. So I don't know how to use the savings card I got cause I walked out of the office with the medicine in hand. She also sold me 12 cans of the wet diabetic cat food. Roo loves it, Tigger (non sugar kitty) isn't into it too much. I also fed them the fancy feast kinds and he seems to like that much better. I went and bought more stainless steel bowls so that I could wash one set while using the other set I already had. Makes it a lil easier to just switch out. She seems to be using the litter box a lil less and I noticed she's not drinking as much either. The vet was also impressed I had done some research online about diabetes in cats. I told her about this wonderful website, she knew about it and liked that I was a member. I also asked about home testing, which she said is a good idea. But we're going to wait a week cause she wants to see how this new diet and medicine is working out for her. She only needs 1 unit on this new medicine. She wants to do some more testing to make sure her organs are okay, my other vet didn't do these. She also saw that Roo wasn't walking on her toes, she was walking on her legs I believe she said? So we need to watch that she said as well. She seems to know her stuff and is super friendly and explained things so I could understand it better. Her vet tech also showed me how to give Roo her eardrops. It cost me close to $200 for everything (medicine, visit, food), but I feel better and more confidant that I went and did this. My husband went along, I needed help cause it's very hot where we live this week, and he seemed to like her as well. She has a very busy parking lot. Although I'm sure Roo didn't like the 30 minute car ride going and coming home. Lol. She cried the whole time. But she was an angel for the vet and vet tech. Thanks for all your advice guys. I appreciate it so much.
 
Sounds like you found a good, supportive vet there. She's a keeper.

She also saw that Roo wasn't walking on her toes, she was walking on her legs I believe she said?
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Did the vet talk about your cat walking on her hocks? Sort of like the area from your wrist to your elbow. Is that what your cat is doing? Walking on that part of her back leg? Methylcobalamin can help with that. As will getting the BG numbers under control.

It's diabetic neuropathy. Painful and takes time to reverse. Wink had it, severe case. He's 95% better now.

Which wet diabetic food did you get?
 
Thats great that your new vet sounds good! A few things though..

1. You dont need the prescription food - its expensive and many cats get sick of it fast. Fancy feast classic pates are just as good and your other cat might like those too
2. Testing - I am concerned about waiting a week on testing - with a food change and treating the ear infection ( which spikes blood glucose) the blood glucose can drop fast and even 1 unit of Lantus might be too much in a day or two. Can you get a meter ASAP? Better safe than sorry and I wont do any harm (shopping list below)


Getting started shopping list
1. Meter ie Walmart Relion Confirm or Micro.
2. Matching strips
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.
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

Wendy
 
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