Vet Office Glucose #s--my nondiabetic cat

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Howiesmom

Howiesmom

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Hello!
I have not posted on here much since my Howie Boy crossed The Bridge in August. His adopted sister Charlie just had her annual check-up a couple weeks ago (including blood work) and her BG came back at 185 which we know is high but could be stress-induced. When Howie would get his BGs checked at the vet office, their numbers were always high compared to what I would have for his tests at home. I gave away all of my diabetic supplies to members on here after he passed so don't even have my glucose monitor to check her with.

OTHER BACKGROUND: I have 2 other rescue kitties that I brought inside in September (so not long after Howie passed). It has been stressful around the house getting them acclimated and I am working with a cat behaviorist to try and calm things down. Charlie lost 2 pounds which I had been thinking was due to the stress of the other kitties and her not eating around them (I have since moved her food dishes into a separate room). I have her on Mirataz to try and boost her appetite and am trying to incorporate kitten food into her diet as well. YES, I am the bad mom who gives kibble as I CANNOT get her off of it as hard as I've tried. She has always been a water drinker but now I am hyper-sensitive to see how much water she is consuming right now knowing that her BGs were high at the vet. She is also recovering from an ear infection (just finished tresaderm). From what I read, ear infections don't raise BGs but diabetic cats are more prone to ear infections.

She gets some teeth extracted on Jan. 2 with my regular vet (Howie's old vet) and am hoping there might be an opportunity while she is there for him to do some other checking on her. Should I request a urinalysis? A fructosamine? Other test?? Or should I go out an reinvest in another glucose tester and try to test her at home? Howie was the dream patient and let me do anything I needed to. Charlie is a total other story...I can hardly even pick her up.

For those who lost a sugar kittie and found some more balance in your life (including finances), I'm hoping you can sympathize with what my prospects look like should I have another sugar kittie in my care.

I appreciate your thoughts. I miss connecting with folks on here!
@Wendy&Neko
@Suzanne & Darcy
 
I’m not a vet, just a human Dr but my take:
Charlie’s BG is in the normal range for a cats lab test. I highly doubt any vet would consider it DM and talk treating or even doing a fructosamine. It’s good that you’re being proactive but I’d save the $ and not do a fructosamine at least yet. I would test her thyroid and other basic labs. It’s what I’d do for a human at least.

trying to monitor her and get her used to the idea of home testing could be good—touching ears get some praise/treat etc. making sure food is as low carb as you can do, that sort of thing.

She’s been sick (ear) and has teeth issues so I’d wait for all that to be clear for a while before reading a lot into her labs. And again, it was normal. Also, tresaderm has a steroid and if you were applying it to her ear she adsorbed some, which can alter her BG. All these things to me say “do what you can to prepare but don’t worry yet” and “look at other things that can cause weight loss and drinking more—like hyperthyroid”

you sound like an amazing cat mom with a huge heart—good luck with her and your new saves

edit: if after she’s healed from her teeth and ear for several weeks, and it’s been at least 6 weeks since any steroids you wanted to ask the vet about fructosamine then might put your mind at rest or find something early, but since it’s a look-back at previous three weeks I’d give it plenty of time for steroid effect to clear and recovery from stress of illness and surgery. Just my opinion as an MD, I’m not well versed in cat diabetes. I just think testing that now would waste $ and have questionable use bc there’d be a steroid/illness asterisk
 
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SmallestSparrow said:
I’m not a vet, just a human Dr but my take:
Charlie’s BG is in the normal range for a cats lab test. I highly doubt any vet would consider it DM and talk treating or even doing a fructosamine. It’s good that you’re being proactive but I’d save the $ and not do a fructosamine at least yet. I would test her thyroid and other basic labs. It’s what I’d do for a human at least.

trying to monitor her and get her used to the idea of home testing could be good—touching ears get some praise/treat etc. making sure food is as low carb as you can do, that sort of thing.

She’s been sick (ear) and has teeth issues so I’d wait for all that to be clear for a while before reading a lot into her labs. And again, it was normal. Also, tresaderm has a steroid and if you were applying it to her ear she adsorbed some, which can alter her BG. All these things to me say “do what you can to prepare but don’t worry yet” and “look at other things that can cause weight loss and drinking more—like hyperthyroid”

you sound like an amazing cat mom with a huge heart—good luck with her and your new saves

edit: if after she’s healed from her teeth and ear for several weeks, and it’s been at least 6 weeks since any steroids you wanted to ask the vet about fructosamine then might put your mind at rest or find something early, but since it’s a look-back at previous three weeks I’d give it plenty of time for steroid effect to clear and recovery from stress of illness and surgery. Just my opinion as an MD, I’m not well versed in cat diabetes. I just think testing that now would waste $ and have questionable use bc there’d be a steroid/illness asterisk
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Thank you so much for your thoughtful response and perspectives!! It is what I needed to hear. I have a tendency to overreact. I will ask the vet office for her blood work report to see if her thyroid was checked. The vet that Charlie saw indicated that all the rest of her blood work looked good (so am hoping they did the T4 test which I think is for Thyroid???). The ear infection was diagnosed the same day that her blood was drawn, so she was not under the effects of the Tresaderm at the time her BGs were high. But I do think there is a lot going on her my poor girl's life (that I've brought on). I will wait to run any further tests unless I start seeing some other behaviors/symptoms that seem problematic. THANKS!!
 
Also I’m very sorry about Howie. He looks like he had a huge heart and even bigger personality. Losing them is so hard.
 
I am sorry you now have worries about Charlie. She is probably mourning the loss of Howie.
And I do understand your anxiety about having another diabetic cat so soon.
What type of dry food does she eat? If it is normal high carb dry, can you change it to the low carb dry?
And I think a fructosamine test would be what I would ask for. That will eliminate any stress influencing the test as it is an average of the past few weeks BGs.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
I am sorry you now have worries about Charlie. She is probably mourning the loss of Howie.
And I do understand your anxiety about having another diabetic cat so soon.
What type of dry food does she eat? If it is normal high carb dry, can you change it to the low carb dry?
And I think a fructosamine test would be what I would ask for. That will eliminate any stress influencing the test as it is an average of the past few weeks BGs.
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Thank you so much! I know she is mourning Howie in her own way. They shared a bed for more than a year and she wouldn't touch it after he died for a few montgs5. It had 2 heating pads so I moved it into the living room when it started getting colder here in MN, washed all the coverings I could and put a blanket on it that smells like me. It warmed my soul one night when I saw her climb into the bed one night with some coaxing of some freeze dried treats! Now she sleeps on it regularly!

I know Dr. Elseys makes low carb kibble. Are there any other brands? She is a picky one!
She's on the old standard Purina cat chow right now...I know...horrible! She gers wet food too (fancy feast gravy) but really doesn't touch it. I'm up for more options that don't break the bank. Howie ate Weruva but she won't eat it after he died.
 
Howiesmom said:
Iknow Dr. Elseys makes low carb kibble. Are there any other brands? She is a picky one!
Click to expand...

Young again on their web site
https://www.youngagainpetfood.com
Take a look at the young again zero or the zero mature. Some members have said the Young Again caused stinky poops

In the past I have used The Dr Elseys and had no problem

Dr Elsey's also at Walmart
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dr-Elsey...ViI3ICh0suwO_EAQYAiABEgJrOPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Dr Elsey's Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FCJHDPR/ref=twister_B09GHFJY65?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

the Dr Elsey's comes in different size bags
None of these can be bought in stores

Also
Wysong Epigen 90

If you call they will send you samples
Phone: 877-311-2287… Dr Elsey's

PHONE:
800.311.6646. Young Again

1-800-748-0188 •Wysong Epigen 90
 
Hi Tracy, good to hear from you. :bighug::bighug::bighug: I hope your kitty family calm down soon.

Neko's shadow, civvie Theo, once tested over 200 at the vet when there for a cystitis episode. It was also not his regular vet, and a male vet. BG 53 the next day at home. I wouldn't worry about one episode, but good idea switching her to a lower carb food.
 
Diane Tyler's Mom GA said:
Young again on their web site
https://www.youngagainpetfood.com
Take a look at the young again zero or the zero mature. Some members have said the Young Again caused stinky poops

In the past I have used The Dr Elseys and had no problem

Dr Elsey's also at Walmart
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dr-Elsey...ViI3ICh0suwO_EAQYAiABEgJrOPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Dr Elsey's Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FCJHDPR/ref=twister_B09GHFJY65?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

the Dr Elsey's comes in different size bags
None of these can be bought in stores

Also
Wysong Epigen 90

If you call they will send you samples
Phone: 877-311-2287… Dr Elsey's

PHONE:
800.311.6646. Young Again

1-800-748-0188 •Wysong Epigen 90
Click to expand...
Thank you!! This is so helpful!!
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Hi Tracy, good to hear from you. :bighug::bighug::bighug: I hope your kitty family calm down soon.

Neko's shadow, civvie Theo, once tested over 200 at the vet when there for a cystitis episode. It was also not his regular vet, and a male vet. BG 53 the next day at home. I wouldn't worry about one episode, but good idea switching her to a lower carb food.
Click to expand...
Oh Wendy, you know how to calm a person down with experience and expertise!! Thank you so much!!
 
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