I have another cat with Diabetes. Cocoa was just diagnosed with a 348 blood count. My husband feels the vet is fudging the blood to read diabetic. I tried to explain to him that vets don't work that way. It would cause more harm to the pet to take insulin and not need it. He just finds it suspicious that Skye and now Cocoa. I just told him that we were lucky. Now, I tried to get my insulin at Wal-Mart and was told by the vet office that I had to buy from them as ProZinc was insulin for CATS only. It's $82 for just the insulin and $103 with the needles...anyone else heard of this?? Thanks so much for all the well-wishes for Skye, I miss him horribly, but at least he's not sick anymore.
Well, I'm back...
- Thread starter popposgrl
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jt and trouble (GA)
Member Since 2009
No I've never heard that one before but it's been a long time since I've used insulin. I understand your husbands concern...If the Vet says you HAVE to buy the insulin from them??? Sorry that just doesnt sound right. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope others will chime in on this.
jeanne
jeanne
rhiannon and shadow (GA)
Member Since 2012
Hello.
It's not odd to have 2 diabetic cats, especially if they were fed the same and it had been dry food during their lifetime.
I have 2 cats and they both are diabetic after a lifetime on high carb dry food.
I don't know about the Prozinc costs but I just bought syringes for $13. So I wouldn't buy those from the vet if that's what he's
charging.
I would say that you might be finding out about Cocoa at just the right time. 348 is probably a little inflated from stress at the vet's office.
See what your number is at home so you don't start at too high a starting dose. So many vets start cats off too high based on the
number they got in the office.
You were testing your other cat, right?
It's not odd to have 2 diabetic cats, especially if they were fed the same and it had been dry food during their lifetime.
I have 2 cats and they both are diabetic after a lifetime on high carb dry food.
I don't know about the Prozinc costs but I just bought syringes for $13. So I wouldn't buy those from the vet if that's what he's
charging.
I would say that you might be finding out about Cocoa at just the right time. 348 is probably a little inflated from stress at the vet's office.
See what your number is at home so you don't start at too high a starting dose. So many vets start cats off too high based on the
number they got in the office.
You were testing your other cat, right?
kse
Member Since 2011
Yes, Prozinc is sold by vets and some online pet pharmacies. In some states Costco carries it, but I always had to buy if from the vet. It is a Cat only insulin. It is a U40 insulin and the syringes are also sold by the vet. You can use a U100 syringe, available at Walmart and other pharmacies, IF and ONLY IF you use a conversion chart. If you post in the PZI forum, there are users that use U100 syringes and the conversion chart-- someone, I am certain will provide it for you.
The U40 syringes cost about .50 each from my vet and the insulin was $110 a vial. There is a vet school in my area, that did sell the Prozinc for $65 a vial, but you had to have your cat seen by them to purchase it.
Good Luck!
The U40 syringes cost about .50 each from my vet and the insulin was $110 a vial. There is a vet school in my area, that did sell the Prozinc for $65 a vial, but you had to have your cat seen by them to purchase it.
Good Luck!
hmjohnston
Member Since 2011
I would find another source for getting the syringes- even ordering 40u syringes from ADW was $25/100. I then switched to 100u Relion ones that are sold at Wal-Mart for $12-15/100 but you have to use a conversion chart- which we have :lol: .
Insulin- yes- you can only get it at the vet and mine costed me $115. There is also a small amount of available PZI due to a shortage of one ingredient. Do you have any left for your other cat (Or is Skye OTJ and you got rid of it)? Would you prefer a longer lasting insulin for humans like Lantus or Levemir?
Keep us informed!
Insulin- yes- you can only get it at the vet and mine costed me $115. There is also a small amount of available PZI due to a shortage of one ingredient. Do you have any left for your other cat (Or is Skye OTJ and you got rid of it)? Would you prefer a longer lasting insulin for humans like Lantus or Levemir?
Keep us informed!
squeem3
Member Since 2009
You will not find U40 insulin syringes (or U40 insulin) at any Human pharmacy, though I heard some Costo pharmacies may have ProZinc.
Some online pet pharmacies sell ProZinc. They will ask for a prescription or your vet's phone number so they can check to confirm that your cat does need ProZinc.
A 10 ml bottle of Prozinc is $114.99 at DrsFosterandSmith.com
$129.99 at 1800PetMeds.com
There are likely other online pet pharmacies that sell ProZinc. You can shop around for the best price.
U40 insulin syringes to go with ProZinc can be bought online as well. AmericanDiabetesWholesale.com has U40 insulin syringes for as little as $13.99 for a box of 100.
As others have said, you can use U100 insulin syringes with ProZinc BUT only if you use the conversion chart so you are giving your cat the correct amount of insulin. U100 insulin syringes can be bought at any Human pharmacy. A prescription may be required. You can also buy them online.
If you want to buy insulin from the Human pharmacy, then you will need a prescription for either Lantus or Levemir. Both of these insulins work well for diabetic cats. Did the vet say why he was prescribing ProZinc instead of Lantus or Levemir?
Some online pet pharmacies sell ProZinc. They will ask for a prescription or your vet's phone number so they can check to confirm that your cat does need ProZinc.
A 10 ml bottle of Prozinc is $114.99 at DrsFosterandSmith.com
$129.99 at 1800PetMeds.com
There are likely other online pet pharmacies that sell ProZinc. You can shop around for the best price.
U40 insulin syringes to go with ProZinc can be bought online as well. AmericanDiabetesWholesale.com has U40 insulin syringes for as little as $13.99 for a box of 100.
As others have said, you can use U100 insulin syringes with ProZinc BUT only if you use the conversion chart so you are giving your cat the correct amount of insulin. U100 insulin syringes can be bought at any Human pharmacy. A prescription may be required. You can also buy them online.
If you want to buy insulin from the Human pharmacy, then you will need a prescription for either Lantus or Levemir. Both of these insulins work well for diabetic cats. Did the vet say why he was prescribing ProZinc instead of Lantus or Levemir?
THANK YOU ALL for the info on ProZinc and syringes. Cocoa is still having trouble with Mom sticking her with a needle 2 times a day. She was a skittish cat to begin with and this isn't helping. MY Skylar is OTJ permanently, he passed away from an infection. BUT I still had his insulin and am able to use it for Cocoa. We have to buy her insulin 3-4 weeks in advance as it is on backlog...which is not good. My vet charges $103 for the insulin and syringes and a plastic container to throw the used syringes in so I guess I can't complain!!!
Now, about food...I have 6 other cats on this Purina One Sensitive Stomach dry food and Fancy Feast wet food....I thought those passed the "test" for food....
Well, time for the am shot...got to go FIND Cocoa since she knows that when the frig opens and Mom has a syringe in her hand, she's next...cat is too smart!!
Now, about food...I have 6 other cats on this Purina One Sensitive Stomach dry food and Fancy Feast wet food....I thought those passed the "test" for food....
Well, time for the am shot...got to go FIND Cocoa since she knows that when the frig opens and Mom has a syringe in her hand, she's next...cat is too smart!!
rhiannon and shadow...
SORRY, I just went back to reread and forgot to answer you!! YES, I do test and I have the scratches to prove it!! Cocoa is a scaredy-cat due to the treatment she received at her first house...my daughter took her from there and brought her to me. Even though it's been 11 years, she is very slow to trust and now the one person she trusted is sticking her with needles and poking her ears...so this has set me back 11 years in her eyes...sigh, it's never easy!!!!
SORRY, I just went back to reread and forgot to answer you!! YES, I do test and I have the scratches to prove it!! Cocoa is a scaredy-cat due to the treatment she received at her first house...my daughter took her from there and brought her to me. Even though it's been 11 years, she is very slow to trust and now the one person she trusted is sticking her with needles and poking her ears...so this has set me back 11 years in her eyes...sigh, it's never easy!!!!
Sue and Oliver (GA)
Member Since 2009
I can't find the Purina One Sensitive Stomach on the food charts, but the other Purina One dry foods are in the 30% category - way too high for a diabetic.
http://binkyspage.tripod.com/dryfood.html
I'd eliminate that and go to only Fancy Feast classics and see how the numbers look.
http://binkyspage.tripod.com/dryfood.html
I'd eliminate that and go to only Fancy Feast classics and see how the numbers look.
HOLY COW!!!!
I'm changing immediately...I don't need the other 6 cats becoming diabetic!!! My problem with food is that I have one cat who is allergic to 24 things and FISH is one of them!!!(Go figure) so anything with fish, fish oil, fish meal is out. I've tried feeding her by herself, but she will still try to eat the others food...So I have a fish free environment. She gets depo shots every 6-8 weeks for her allergies. Cocoa is REALLY having a problem with Mom hurting her, I've slowed down on testing her before her shots, it just doesn't seem to matter with the BC, it's always high, so I still have to shoot her and she goes ballistic and hides all day, no matter what I do. If she sits next to me as soon as someone comes into the room she runs away and hides...I feel horrible...
I'm changing immediately...I don't need the other 6 cats becoming diabetic!!! My problem with food is that I have one cat who is allergic to 24 things and FISH is one of them!!!(Go figure) so anything with fish, fish oil, fish meal is out. I've tried feeding her by herself, but she will still try to eat the others food...So I have a fish free environment. She gets depo shots every 6-8 weeks for her allergies. Cocoa is REALLY having a problem with Mom hurting her, I've slowed down on testing her before her shots, it just doesn't seem to matter with the BC, it's always high, so I still have to shoot her and she goes ballistic and hides all day, no matter what I do. If she sits next to me as soon as someone comes into the room she runs away and hides...I feel horrible...
popposgrl said:
Can you post the BG numbers you are getting when you test cocoa?
You can also record your test results in a google spreadsheet and others here can help you better if they can see your test numbers.
You need to test before shots.... how else will you know that she needs insulin? If her numbers are too low for a shot, but you don't test - just shoot blindly, you could create quite a problem and end up in the ER.
What meter are you using, and how are you testing Cocoa? Are you poking freehand with the lancets or are you using the lancet device that came with the meter? If you describe the problems you are having, many others here can give you tips. Just don't stop testing before shots because those are 2 most important times to test.
rhiannon and shadow (GA)
Member Since 2012
Please don't stop testing.
It's one of the most important things you are doing to help your sugarbaby.
And the fish problem shouldn't really be a problem because you aren't supposed to give too much fish
anyway.
If you haven't read this article, you should, more than once because there is so much info there.
http://www.catinfo.org/
She says the best diet for a cat will be primarily chicken or turkey so you will be able to accomodate
your allergic cat with all the others. You can avoid fish if you want.
We all know about cats that hate testing or hate shots. We can help.
It will be less confusing for you if you ask questions and maybe cover one area a day. When you feel
you've gotten adequate input, then you can start a new question , perhaps the next day.
You don't want to have too many posts on one day, it's too hard for you to track. The point is to ask for
help where you need it most and be able to sort thru it and not get overwhelmed.
And when you are learning everything at once, It is definitely overwhelming.
We've all been there , that's why we want to help you find your way too.
There are folks here who can tell you how to create a spreadsheet and if you have troubles, they will
even do it for you.
The spreadsheet and the bg testing are what the folks here will need to give you advice on dosing when
you need help.
My cat really hates the shots too. She'd be hiding under the bed except I shoved stuff under there where
she can only get under the edge and I can reach her.
She growls at me when I am giving them to her. But she cooperates because her most favorite thing
in the world to eat are raw shrimp. So she gets 2 cut up (no teeth) in her food every shot time.
So if you can find that one thing that Cocoa loves to eat and make it her special shot time reward,
she too will learn to cooperate even though she will still not like the shot part.
Without those shots, she will starve to death from the diabetes.
And if you don't test her before the shots, you could cause her to hypo and that also could kill her.
You are her special bean and her life is in your hands. She needs you to do this to get better.
It's one of the most important things you are doing to help your sugarbaby.
And the fish problem shouldn't really be a problem because you aren't supposed to give too much fish
anyway.
If you haven't read this article, you should, more than once because there is so much info there.
http://www.catinfo.org/
She says the best diet for a cat will be primarily chicken or turkey so you will be able to accomodate
your allergic cat with all the others. You can avoid fish if you want.
We all know about cats that hate testing or hate shots. We can help.
It will be less confusing for you if you ask questions and maybe cover one area a day. When you feel
you've gotten adequate input, then you can start a new question , perhaps the next day.
You don't want to have too many posts on one day, it's too hard for you to track. The point is to ask for
help where you need it most and be able to sort thru it and not get overwhelmed.
And when you are learning everything at once, It is definitely overwhelming.
We've all been there , that's why we want to help you find your way too.
There are folks here who can tell you how to create a spreadsheet and if you have troubles, they will
even do it for you.
The spreadsheet and the bg testing are what the folks here will need to give you advice on dosing when
you need help.
My cat really hates the shots too. She'd be hiding under the bed except I shoved stuff under there where
she can only get under the edge and I can reach her.
She growls at me when I am giving them to her. But she cooperates because her most favorite thing
in the world to eat are raw shrimp. So she gets 2 cut up (no teeth) in her food every shot time.
So if you can find that one thing that Cocoa loves to eat and make it her special shot time reward,
she too will learn to cooperate even though she will still not like the shot part.
Without those shots, she will starve to death from the diabetes.
And if you don't test her before the shots, you could cause her to hypo and that also could kill her.
You are her special bean and her life is in your hands. She needs you to do this to get better.
how can they starve? What about feeding them the lowest ash food? Can you not use food only to fix this??? I do know that she drinks a ton of water and voids just as much. She wakes me up to fill her water cup that is on my dresser for her alone...it just kills me to see her back at not trusting me or anyone else and hiding all day or running away if I come into the room...it took so long for her to trust me (8 years) and now I'm hurting her...jeez, water works....
I will start a new feed after this post. I took Rhiannon's advice and got a piece of ham as her treat for all the bloodshed and needles. She was still upset and hard to convince but her BG was 333. I use a ReliOnMicro. I will be heading for PetSmart and getting better food for all the girls and then stopping atthe seafood aisle and buying shrimp for Cocoa's treat....thank you Rhia...
rhiannon and shadow (GA)
Member Since 2012
I don't know if I gave you a copy of this so here it is again.
Here's my quick shopping list, it's too easy to pick up the wrong ones at petsmart. And petsmart doesn't have the higher end brands,
at least mine doesn't.
I empathize with feeling like you are mistreating your cat. Mine gives me the same kind of attitude but she does seem to be starting
to realize I'm helping her feel better. She has days where I have to chase her and hold her down to test and it's been 2 months for me.
Our relationship feels strained sometimes but if I can get her to remission then we will get back to it.
The hard part is knowing that remissions don't always hold out all their lives. IF they get sick or need steroids for any reason, the diabetes
will come back ( altho' you can get them back to remission again if you catch it early)
This is hard. We are all feeling it here.
Here's my quick shopping list, it's too easy to pick up the wrong ones at petsmart. And petsmart doesn't have the higher end brands,
at least mine doesn't.
I empathize with feeling like you are mistreating your cat. Mine gives me the same kind of attitude but she does seem to be starting
to realize I'm helping her feel better. She has days where I have to chase her and hold her down to test and it's been 2 months for me.
Our relationship feels strained sometimes but if I can get her to remission then we will get back to it.
The hard part is knowing that remissions don't always hold out all their lives. IF they get sick or need steroids for any reason, the diabetes
will come back ( altho' you can get them back to remission again if you catch it early)
This is hard. We are all feeling it here.
rhiannon and shadow (GA)
Member Since 2012
I feed at shot time so she is distracted while I give her the injection. she eats and growls at the same time to make sure I know she doesn't like it but at least she stands still. If I didn't put the raw shrimp chopped up mixed in with her canned food, I think she'd run off.
I give treats immediately after testing. She knows they are coming although sometimes she snubs the treat. I always tell her good girl
and stroke her to reinforce that she's doing the right thing by sitting still whether she eats her treat or not.
May I ask why you bought any dry food? I don't know the carb number on that dry but all the dry's are too high.
If I were going to get a new kitten and wanted to feed any dry, the ONLY one I would use would be Evo ( 9 %) and I would only use it sparingly.
It's the lowest one out there on the market but it's still too high for a diabetic cat.
It's also the most expensive one I know of.
I give treats immediately after testing. She knows they are coming although sometimes she snubs the treat. I always tell her good girl
and stroke her to reinforce that she's doing the right thing by sitting still whether she eats her treat or not.
May I ask why you bought any dry food? I don't know the carb number on that dry but all the dry's are too high.
If I were going to get a new kitten and wanted to feed any dry, the ONLY one I would use would be Evo ( 9 %) and I would only use it sparingly.
It's the lowest one out there on the market but it's still too high for a diabetic cat.
It's also the most expensive one I know of.
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