update on Jackie

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

jackiesmom

Member Since 2012
I dont know if you remember Jack or not.

He is doing a lot better. Still on 5 of PZI but his BG's are WAY down. Just a little over 200's and hard any dry food anymore. Still has the neuropathy though. Can not walk on slippery floors. But hes chillin on the couch with his Chesire grin and when I visit he musters all he can to jump up and lay on my stomach for petting. I can tell hes a lot better.

Dont know how Im going to pay for his PZI when he runs out. I think I may call the vet and have her keep on eye out for a donation. I kind of went off the deep end with DCIN but it was hard. My mom was dying at the time. Not to excuse it but I was very emotional. I keep thinking he only has four shots left but then Im like duh..theres 40 units per ml and theres 10 ml a bottle so hopefully Ill have enough for another months worth. Dad and I had to come up for money up from for moms cremation and it was very expensive. Not that I wouldnt do it in a heartbeat but were maxed for a while.

I think Ive come to the conclusion that I cant ear test anymore. Hes had sensitive ears as a kitten and just hates it. Ive gotten maybe 5 good pokes out of about 20 and I feel like crying because he scratches his ears after. I have a lancet pen so I tried pad testing and that doesnt bring up enough blood. Any ideas? And how long past the expiration date can you use strips and get an accurate number? I have like ten bottles a year old. Just wondered if I could use those at all because we are about out of strips.

Sorry about all the questions. With stuff going on with mom, things kind of got put on the back burner. Any insight is appreciated.

Oh yah..Still wont take methyl b12. Anyone have any success with hiding them in those pocket treat thingys?
 
I don't think we have met... Sorry to hear you are having issues though.

BGs being down is a good thing isn't it? Do you have a SS we could look at? Be interested to see what is going on there. If not your meter may store old records for a while.

Have you tried all the usual methods for getting blood from the ear... Ie

- warming the ear..heating a rice sock (2 tablespoon uncooked rice tied in a sock, microwave 15-20secs), plastic pill bottle with warm water or massaging the ear? - using different sized lancets see link below
- using a flashlight to better see the veins (sometimes I prick the vein to get more blood)
- medium pressure on the wound for 15 secs afterward to stop the bleeding and help prevent bruising
- neosporin afterward to ease the pain, sometimes people use it before to help blood pooling.

Some ideas here too.http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=85113

Old strips. I think manufacturers error on the safe side but you could test them on yourself to see if they are within range and if they are then you are probably ok (70-130 or so)

My boys love the pill pockets but get the allergenic ones so they don't spike his BG. I only use a bit of one for the pill and break the rest up for him to eat so he doesn't know which one its in, and doesn't learn to dislike them cos they taste bad (given only 1 has the pill in the rest will taste fine)

Hope that helps
Wendy
 
how about mixing the b12 in his food - if it is capsule form - open the capsule and add water and mix in food, if it is tablet - then melt it in water and mix in food.

if you check in supply closet or go to the pzi forum, you may find someone has pzi to donate.
 
I have tried everything on ear testing. He scratches his ears when I dont test. I dont know what to do.

Hillary whats the supply closet? or the PZI forum. Is it on this site or somewhere else? Anything would help.

I tried mixing his b12 in his food. He will not touch it. Thats why I was thinking pill pockets.

And what do you mean by SS?
 
Sorry, by SS I mean a spreadsheet like in my signature below.

Also you said he scratches his ears even without testing? Could he have mites or an allergy or something?
 
hey had ear mites when he was a kitten but they were treated. And our cats dont go outside. Could he still get them or could it be an allergy?

I havent gotten a good reading on him in a few days because he makes such a fuss when I test his ear. He squirms and runs away. Tried the paw pad and cant get enough blood.

last numbers I got. I tested right in between shots.

460
346
262

I really want to curve but I cant get this testing situation under control. its frustrating.
 
I might not be looking in the appropriate spot but does anyone have good info on paw testing? Im going to try it this weekend when I visit dad
 
would Jackie let you pawpad test this is what I do for Do Lou when he was first dx 3 yrs ago I just simply gave up hometesting at first since he could not stand his ears touched we were on Novolin insulin at this time but he kept getting worse so I came back to this board with him on lantus and found the pawpad testing links. Its just a thought wish I could help with the prozinc I agree check out the PZI board for help on that if you can here is pawpad testing link...


http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=76856&p=830806&hilit=pawpad+testing#p830806
 
That makes sense...I think it might be a seafood allergy.


Im gonna try paw testing because I simply cant do the ears. Thanks for the link
 
A lot of cats are allergic to seafood surprisingly. My vet said to try a food based on a protein he had never had before like duck or venison or rabbit. But with no chicken in it, no eggs and no wish. (Low carb of course.. It's amazing how many flavours have chicken in them even if its not listed as chicken flavour) Then after a week or two gradually add back the stuff to see if he has a reaction.

Food list FYI http://www.catinfo.org/docs/Food Chart Public 9-22-12.pdf
 
jackiesmom said:
Watched the paw pad video..Seems simple enough...I dont seem to get enough blood when I do it..Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

are you using the lancet injection device I find just holding the lancet in my hand works better for me anyway as for not bleeding you do have to squeeze sometimes a bit and I use some neosporin cream each time after since I was always afraid of infection since they get in LB but Do Lou had been Fd 3 yrs now and never have any feet issues you might try massaging the food a bit to warm it too I am lucky as much as my cat hates his ears touched he has always loved his feet being massaged so pawpad testing works great for us you may just have to try a couple of times for you and your cat to get used to it...
 
Ill try a different food thanks! He really seems to like chicken ones so well feed him more of the others and see if he scratches less

Im about done with the BG testing. Tried the paw with pen and without and he yeowed and bit me. The vet charges 12 for a simple BG so Im just going to bring him in. He has improved a lot. Acts like himself, still drinks a lot of water but doesnt walk on his hounches so bad so I think the BGS just need a fine tweeking
 
Can I suggest you PM nckitties3? She is on the lantus board. She was having horrible problems doing the testing on her cat but finally managed it ...

Here is her thread to read with the problems she had ... Followed by lots of advice and suggestions.. http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=87224#p934136

And this was her today... http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=87284 .. She eventually ditched the lancet device and went freehand and that seemed to work..not sure what else she did but you should ask!

Also once her allergy is treated (if that's what it is) her ears might not bother her as much.

Wendy
 
Both my cats scratched their ears a lot and did the head shake thing, also held their ears a bit low, when they had ear infections last year. They are both indoor cats.
I had a lot of trouble getting Akbah to allow ear testing, but eventually he decided the treats afterwards and the patting was worth the trouble. I ditched the lancet device and went freehand, otherwise I never got a drop of blood out of him.
 
I tried PMing her but it said something like her inbox was full.

So he might have an ear infection? I think Im going to try the allergy concept first and see if that works. I guess things like these are a process of elimination i guess
 
Sure I live in Battle Creek MI which is about an hour south of lansing. Jackie lives with my dad in Charlotte which is about 20 minutes from lansing..Thats an awesome idea!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top