SpecklesandMe
Member Since 2015
How's Warren?
(Anti-jinx vibes in place while waiting for an update!
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(Anti-jinx vibes in place while waiting for an update!
I agree, it doesn't always follow. But I do think it might still be worth investigating in this case. Comparing his 2014 results to his 2015 ones, his BUN has gone from 28 (well within normal range) to 42 (above normal range by around 17%). That's a 50% increase in BUN in a year - that's pretty significant. I don't see either Phosphorus or Potassium levels on the 2015 blood work so there's no way of knowing if those have moved without additional tests. And although his glucose hasn't changed much, his USG has dropped from 1.03 (within normal range) to 1.014 in just the last few months. The creatinine looks fine, but that was the last thing to start moving with my Rosa - and hers is still within normal range, though higher than it was. Yet we're having real problems regulating her kidney issues which we might have avoided if the initial increase in BUN hadn't been put down to her kidneys being overworked by the diabetes (and she's still only Stage 2 on IRIS - I honestly dread to think what we're in for as it progresses, and it's progressing fast). While DI is of course also a possibility, kidney problems can be a nightmare and personally, I'd try to rule that out first simply on the basis that kidney disease can kill but is also easier to control for longer the earlier you catch it. I'm not trying to start an argument, just giving my reasoning for why I'd investigate further in this case.Just a quick rant: It's annoying to me that kidney disease is the "go-to" diagnosis for any cat with dilute pee, sometimes even in the absence of supporting labs. I feel like 99% of vets do this. That's what we were told was going on when my kitty first started having dilute pee and we had to push hard to get real answers because the numbers just didn't make sense. I understand that CKD is common, but that doesn't mean that's what every single cat with dilute pee has. (ECID!) Ironically, when we lost my sweet kitty to cancer, his kidneys were still completely healthy according to his labs and U/S.
I totally agree. I would do a new BUN and creatinine, and/or a urine protein: creatinine. If they come back normal (or BUN and creatinine have not increased further), then I would start looking into DI. Sorry if I didn't make that clear before.While DI is of course also a possibility, kidney problems can be a nightmare and personally, I'd try to rule that out first simply on the basis that kidney disease can kill but is also easier to control for longer the earlier you catch it.
I use DE too Rob. It is excellent. If you do get some, go ahead and spring for the applicator! I though I could rig something up myself. Ha! It is a super fine talc like powder, and you need the applicator!!You can get Capstar from WalMart which is a pill you can give daily (if necessary)..it kills all the fleas on the cat within 6 hours
The problem is that the fleas are becoming resistant to the same active ingredients, so you might try something other than Frontline, like Advantage
Follow up by treating the house...Diatomaceous Earth is cheap, safe and non-toxic for pets and children....and very effective too!!
Just make sure you get "food grade" diatomaceous earth! Non-food grade DE is not good to use in that capacity, as it is a carcinogen.You can get Capstar from WalMart which is a pill you can give daily (if necessary)..it kills all the fleas on the cat within 6 hours
The problem is that the fleas are becoming resistant to the same active ingredients, so you might try something other than Frontline, like Advantage
Follow up by treating the house...Diatomaceous Earth is cheap, safe and non-toxic for pets and children....and very effective too!!
You are doing a great job Rob! It's good news that there is harmony in the house. Continued success to you and Warren.Dyana thanks very much for your note. First off, I screwed up. I cut/paste the 0.5 all the way down when I was playing spreadsheet catchup last night. I did not dose him when he was reading that low.
As you've read, it's also very very hard to give an accurate dosage when you're dealing with 0.5u (even with a micrometer) . A dosage change of even 0.1u make a huge difference in his numbers. I'm just trying to do my best with his dosing. On the days he dropped very low, it likely means he got an extra 0.1u. But I will try to do better with measuring before dosing.
Probably uti and the smell of it in the rug.my civie sable when she is sick she will poop on the floor.she never does it any other time just when she feels really bad.her way of letting me know how she feels I guess?cats are very strange.lolI desperately need help. I will refer you to a couple of threads and then summarize where am at:
Intro forum:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/meet-warren-again.136271/#post-1424641
Lantus forum:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/5-4-warren-amps-518.137335/
Warren was diagnosed with diabetes a bit over a year ago. He was on Vetsulin for a couple of months and went into remission for almost a year. When he started having problems again, I had a full lab workup done, urinalysis, blood, physical, etc and my vet said the only health issue Warren has is his diabetes. In Warren's 15 years, he has NEVER had issues with behavior.... problems using the litter box, etc.
I put him back on Vetsulin but it did not last more than 8 or 9 hours. After perhaps a month of Vetsulin, I switched him to Lantus (a month ago). In that month I have not been able to regulate him. 1 unit pushes his blood sugar too low (40s) and the Lantus can last as long as 16 hours. 0.75 (approx, no way to measure exactly) doesn't seem to be enough. You can examine the spreadsheet, I have probably 150 data points over the month and a couple of curves.
He has been peeing on the kitchen rug, so I placed a litter box about 5' away in the bathroom. When he is locked in the bathroom, he uses it 100% of the time. When I let him out, he uses the rug too often. My wife has sentenced him to living in the bathroom and wants me to have him put to sleep. She will not tolerate any more peeing outside the litter box. The ultimatum is coming and I feel like I'm just about out of things to try.
I believe the peeing problem is related to his diabetes being unregulated. His levels looked reasonably stable the past 48 hours (200s-300s - not great numbers but first time I've seen him out of 400s and 500s for this long of a stretch), I was hoping we were finally starting to stabilize, then he peed on the floor and I checked and he had bounced (556. First time he'd been over 400 in 48 hours).
My wife feels his peeing is behavioral since he has an option of a litter box 5' away from where he is going.
Warren does not seem stressed in any way. He's happy, purring, playful, sitting in laps, he's his normal self.
I need a plan I can communicate to my wife and be able to tell her 'if x,y,z doesn't work, I will have him put to sleep'. I don't know if he'd do better with Lenevir, that's one option, but from what I've read it seems when Lantus doesn't work, it's because it's not bringing down the glucose levels, which is not what I'm experiencing. I'm not in a position to throw a lot more $$ at shots in the dark, again my wife feels I have spent enough $$ already on an "old cat" (an awesome old cat) but I can probably get away with a few hundred. I just lost my Mom in March and really hate the idea of saying goodbye to another close friend when there may be a straightforward solution. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks everybody.
I desperately need help. I will refer you to a couple of threads and then summarize where am at:
Intro forum:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/meet-warren-again.136271/#post-1424641
Lantus forum:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/5-4-warren-amps-518.137335/
Warren was diagnosed with diabetes a bit over a year ago. He was on Vetsulin for a couple of months and went into remission for almost a year. When he started having problems again, I had a full lab workup done, urinalysis, blood, physical, etc and my vet said the only health issue Warren has is his diabetes. In Warren's 15 years, he has NEVER had issues with behavior.... problems using the litter box, etc.
I put him back on Vetsulin but it did not last more than 8 or 9 hours. After perhaps a month of Vetsulin, I switched him to Lantus (a month ago). In that month I have not been able to regulate him. 1 unit pushes his blood sugar too low (40s) and the Lantus can last as long as 16 hours. 0.75 (approx, no way to measure exactly) doesn't seem to be enough. You can examine the spreadsheet, I have probably 150 data points over the month and a couple of curves.
He has been peeing on the kitchen rug, so I placed a litter box about 5' away in the bathroom. When he is locked in the bathroom, he uses it 100% of the time. When I let him out, he uses the rug too often. My wife has sentenced him to living in the bathroom and wants me to have him put to sleep. She will not tolerate any more peeing outside the litter box. The ultimatum is coming and I feel like I'm just about out of things to try.
I believe the peeing problem is related to his diabetes being unregulated. His levels looked reasonably stable the past 48 hours (200s-300s - not great numbers but first time I've seen him out of 400s and 500s for this long of a stretch), I was hoping we were finally starting to stabilize, then he peed on the floor and I checked and he had bounced (556. First time he'd been over 400 in 48 hours).
My wife feels his peeing is behavioral since he has an option of a litter box 5' away from where he is going.
Warren does not seem stressed in any way. He's happy, purring, playful, sitting in laps, he's his normal self.
I need a plan I can communicate to my wife and be able to tell her 'if x,y,z doesn't work, I will have him put to sleep'. I don't know if he'd do better with Lenevir, that's one option, but from what I've read it seems when Lantus doesn't work, it's because it's not bringing down the glucose levels, which is not what I'm experiencing. I'm not in a position to throw a lot more $$ at shots in the dark, again my wife feels I have spent enough $$ already on an "old cat" (an awesome old cat) but I can probably get away with a few hundred. I just lost my Mom in March and really hate the idea of saying goodbye to another close friend when there may be a straightforward solution. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks everybody.



for Warren. Tummy rubs, too!