What would you like your vet to know about you & your cat?

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Re: What would you like your vet to know about you & your ca

I guess you can see there is a common theme here. Our pets are diabetic. Some are type 1 and some are or were type 2. Insulin can cause a type 2 to be come a type 1 (insulin dependent). Home testing is necessary but, most of us have never used a glucometer or given shots until our pets became ill unless we are diabetic ourselves. Many Vets are like us - ignorant or as mine phrased it "a simple country vet" who know next to nothing about treating diabetic pets today. Some are willing to learn - mine is - but, they don't know where to go for the information. I took my Infinity meter with me today and did a test in his office - they were fascinated by it (it's autocode and capillary action strips).

Most of us cannot afford the high price of pet (or many human) specific meters and strips. I am on Social Security which does not allow much flexible income. If I had known about this site when my cat was diagnosed, he would not be on insulin today. These are our "babies" but, the cost of the supplies for them has to be within our reach or we cannot afford it.
 
Re: What would you like your vet to know about you & your ca

As many have said, thank you so much for coming here and asking the question you did. First and foremost, it would be wonderful for your group to educate vets about the importance of hometesting, and not just spot checks but regular curves. Also, literature about this idea placed in the vet's office (and not just a brochure for your product and what it can do) would be wonderful as well - kind of a welcome packet. Cost of your meter is prohibitive (I've heard upwards of 100USD) to most people especially after shelling out 200-500 or more in diagnosis fees, $110 in insulin, and $15-35 for the first case of syringes. This is compounded by the fact that ReliON has a very good meter for $9. and boxes of strips $9 for 20 or $20 for 50ct. This meter reads about 20-30 pts below numbers at the vet (I have data on this) which leaves us with a window of safety anyways. I'm not suggesting your company beat out Wally World, especially because your product is superior in the fact that it is calibrated to measure cat's BG. I think I've gone a little off topic here.

Back to vets and my cat. I would like the vet to know that the fact that I want to hometest means I'm involved in my cat's health, that I love my cat dearly, and that my cat must love me dearly as well. For us, our cats are true companions, not just a pet that runs around and we play with when we feel like it.

Tony and Buddy

Purrrr
 
Re: What would you like your vet to know about you & your ca

It's probably too late, but here it is anyway...

First, with no offense intended to you or your employer, the glucometers you produce are cost-prohibitive for most people. Although there certainly are ways to make diabetes more economical to treat, the fact is giving our sugar cats all the care they need is not inexpensive.

Second, and relating to expense, please know the food from Hill's and other vet providers is not the best food for our cats. Many are high carb and others, while low carb, have other ingredients that make them less than optimal. In short, the cost of that food is extraordinary and the benefit to our cats is not. Food that is much better for a diabetic cat can be had from Friskies, Fancy Feast, etc., so long as the right variety is used.

Third, when you are advising patients regarding the dose of insulin to administer, please remember the BG numbers you got in your office are inflated because of vet stress. It is far better to "start low and go slow," than it is to overshoot (perhaps even past the amount of insulin necessary for regulation).

Fourth, please remember to tell the owner of your patient about hypo's (what to look for, what to do, and the supplies that need to be on hand) and ketones (how to test and how fast a cat throwing ketones can become critically ill).

Lastly, please know that a diagnosis of diabetes is not a death sentence or the end of the world and your attitude toward this disease often sets the tone for how the care of the cat will progress. I'm always saddened when people come here and tell us about a cat that is clearly ill and in need of vet care, yet the owner is reluctant to take the cat to the vet because 'they know the vet will say PTS.' Of course, none of us can know the specific circumstances in these cases and in some that recommendation may be what is best for the cat. However, too many times I've heard people say the basis for their concern stems from the vet's first reaction to the diagnosis (i.e., it would be better to just PTS now).
 
Re: What would you like your vet to know about you & your ca

Hello Dr. Bragdon, I also am probably too late, but here is my input anyway.

I love my vet. She is has a large and small animal practice. She is kind, affordable, accessible and she listens. But what I love the most is that she is willing to learn. When I told her many people here have vets who won't consider what we learn online, she said "I don't know everything. I'm always happy to learn something new." Give that woman a gold star! She picked Levemir from the information I printed out for her from this site. She did not mention home testing, but when I brought it up, she gave me her mother's old meter to try.

So here is what I want all vets to know:

1. home testing should be highly recommended. If they can't afford your meter, encourage them to buy a human meter. (you have already heard the disadvantages of the Alpha Track.)

2. they should start with a low insulin dose and move up gradually.

3. they should know about human insulins, as well as those made for pets.

4. inform clients about hypos and how to treat them.

5. work WITH their clients

6. they are not god.


Thanks for asking our opinions!
 
Re: What would you like your vet to know about you & your ca

Hi Everyone!

Again thank you for taking the time to repond to my post. I read ALL of the posts - even the ones that came in recently.

And more importantly THANK YOU all so very much for all you do to help diabetic cats and their people!

What have I done with this feedback?
1. I will submit the responses to our marketing department
2. I have incorporated the responses into a presentation for veterinarians and their technicians. I will post the presentation here, if I can - can anybody help me with that? This presentation will be delivered by 7 Abbott Animal Health veterinarians to veterinarians all across the country.
3. I recommended to our marketing department that we advertise on this site and that we consider donating meters and supplies.

What is Abbott Animal Health doing to help train and educate veterinarians?
1. Abbott Animal Health sponsors many veterinary conferences that provide continuing education (NAVC, ACVIM, IVECCS, Western States, to name a few).
2. Abbott Animal Health employs 7 of us veterinarians who travel around the country educating veterinarians and staff about home monitoring of diabetic dogs and cats.
3. Abbott Animal Health supports veterinary research.
4. Abbott Animal Health has on line education in diabetes management available to veterinarians and their staff 24/7.

Why did I post on FDMB?
1. I posted because I was curious about your experiences. I can share these first hand experience with veterinarians, who may not be aware.
2. I do work for a company that sells a glucose meter. I am paid to educate and train people. I am not paid to sell or promote Abbott Animal Health products.

Why do veterinarians recommend animal labeled products first?
1. The group expressed concern about veterinary recommendations about insulin, glucose meters and food.
2. Off label use of products is permissable. However, veterinarians are legally bound to recommend veterinary labeled treatments first.
3. Veterinarians must gain informed consent from you the client, to use a product or medication off label.
4. Most veterinarians understand cost is always a concern for pets and their people. I think most of us try to balance cost with quality care. I applaud you for discussing these issues with your veterinarians.

Is there a benefit when you use veterinary labeled products, despite the cost?
When you use a product labeled for animals, you can be assured...
1. Many government bodies, including the FDA, CVM, FTC, etc., regulate the manufacture and advertisement of the product to protect your pet.
2. Technical support is available to assist with problems or issues surrounding its use. We have a technical services veterinarian and several consulting, boarded veterinarians that are available to support all users (pet owners and veterinary staff).
3. Abbott Animal Health returns some of the revenue generated from sales back to the veterinary profession - we invest in research and development, as well as education and training for veterinary professions.

I appreciate your willingness to share your thoughts with me. I hope I addressed your concerns. Please feel free to contact me regarding any issues surrounding Abbott Animal Health products.
 
Re: What would you like your vet to know about you & your ca

Thank you Dr. Bragdon for your well-presented and informative response. Three things I wish to comment on:

Abbott Animal Health Vet said:
2. I have incorporated the responses into a presentation for veterinarians and their technicians. I will post the presentation here, if I can - can anybody help me with that? This presentation will be delivered by 7 Abbott Animal Health veterinarians to veterinarians all across the country.
Click to expand...

If you post the presentation on another site, you will be able to link to it from here. You would want to use this coding in your post. You can create that coding by highlighting the text of the URL and clicking on the URL button above the post screen.

Code: 
[url]Target URL Address[/url]

3. I recommended to our marketing department that we advertise on this site and that we consider donating meters and supplies.
Click to expand...

Certainly those are issues that you will need to speak about with Rebecca Price, the webmaster and owner of this site. Also to let you know that there are two people here who organize the provision of meters and strips to diabetic cat owners. Lori and Tom manages "Newbie Kits," where she sends a meter, a starter number of strips, and other necessary supplies to people new to the FDMB or feline diabetes who request the kit. I manage Diabetic Cats in Need, which usually has about 15 cats on average that it is helping with diabetic supplies, including for some meters and strips. Both the Newbie Kits and DCIN are primarily supported by donations from people on this Board. Either or both Lori and I, I am sure, would be delighted to help distribute any supplies your marketing department decides to donate.

2. Off label use of products is permissable. However, veterinarians are legally bound to recommend veterinary labeled treatments first.
3. Veterinarians must gain informed consent from you the client, to use a product or medication off label.
Click to expand...

I hadn't thought of that, and it is possible that others here hadn't either. That is good for us to keep in mind.
 
Re: What would you like your vet to know about you & your ca

Dr Bragdon you said:
"3. Veterinarians must gain informed consent from you the client, to use a product or medication off label."

I really do not see that in practice. For example I was given oral Metacam on more than on occasion with no discussion that it is not approved for felines. Also, isoflurane anesthesia is only approved for dogs and horses but I have never been offered a consent to use it for my cats.
 
Re: What would you like your vet to know about you & your ca

Forgive if repetitive.
I'd like vets to request and welcome any home testing results, emld to them maybe weekly. Saves a phone call, a trip, and can be sent and read at relative leisure.
 
Re: What would you like your vet to know about you & your ca

Hi,

Thanks for the continued responses.

Unfortunately, I don't have a website where these presentations are posted. I added 3 slides based on this discussion:
1. One slide with about 30 cat pictures from your responses -
2. One slide with a list of recurring concerns
3. One slide - a summary slide. Do you want to be part of the solution or not?

My recommendations to advertise and donate - if the marketing department considers my recommendations, they of course would contact the appropriate people to determine whether we could develop those relationships. I spoke with a marketing manager and she indicated marketing has interest in working with pet owner groups but that would likely not occur until 2011. There are still a few barriers to marketing following up on my recommendations.

So there may or may not be a response to my recommendations.

If you have specific needs or requests, please let me know. Thanks again!
Dr. Bonnie
 
Re: What would you like your vet to know about you & your ca

I did not read through all the replys, but will add some comments of my own. Overall I thought our Vet(s) did a good job. Its a good sice clinic and each time I ended up seeing a different Vet.

One thing I did not like is that a BG curve was never mentioned to me, if not for this site I would of had no idea its the proper way to determine what is really going on. I should of been told what they are and then I could decide if I wanted to do them. I was never even offered to have the clinic do a curve and charge me. When I went in for a check up and said I wanted to compare my human meter to their animal one the techs looked at me and asked how I intended to do home testing. I said I learned how to do with ear pricks, they were very skeptical.

Other than that, my main complaint is that I was told that the Prescription DM food was the last food I could ever feed my cat again. NO human food, no other cat food. Then I come here and learn that the DM is better for him but certainly not the best. There are lots of quality alternatives to the DM, and they are better for him than the perscription food.

One big compliment to my Clinic is that they never charged me a dime for phone consults. For the past two and a half days my cat started to show low consistent numbers and I was on the phone with a tech or the doc every two hours getting advice. I went in and spoke to that same Vet the day before and she did charge me a mild fee for the office consult which I fully expected. I will now request her when taking him in for a visit.

Not all pet owners are willing/able to do what a lot of us here do, but all Vets should at least explain the care options to the owner and let them decide which route they might want to go.
 
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