When I Can't Be Home

[calicocutie]

Hey everyone,

So my cat's diagnosis came just about right after I asked for a divorce. I am self employed with a very varied schedule which makes being home every 12 extremely challenging (even with a 2 hour window). Recently divorced with no family or close friends in this town...basically it's just me and her and my hard work to keep her in the expensive food/meds/doc visits that her condition now requires.

I have to leave for long weekends for trade shows, it is not unusual to work early morning then be around in the afternoon then gone significant portions of the late afternoon into the evening. I am finding it very challenging to give her her shots like she needs. I honestly do not know what to do.

She is difficult to gvie shots, is a very finicky eater and is challenging on the whole with me; with anyone else, that just gets more difficult. I am not sure I can afford someone coming in on the regular to give her a shot on top of everything else. It is truly just a very challenging time.

How bad is it, really to skip a meal/dose every couple of weeks if I just cannot make it back in time? Any other ideas here? I all the sudden feel like this single mom who is 'doing what she got to do'. It sucks.

 

[Lisa and Smoky]

I don't know if it would hurt anything to miss a shot every few weeks. It's probably more important to test BG before each shot. It's really the only way to tell if it's safe to give a shot. If you are home in the afternoons maybe you could test her then.
We will help you with learning to home test. Just ask any questions and someone is usually around to help out. I would also suggest posting to the Lantus forum as well. There is a large group of members there who can advise you.

 

[Myrtlesmum]

I have the occassional erratic work schedule as well - my vet tells me it won't hurt her to miss a shot every now and then.

 

[Susan G & Jimmy G]

Along those lines...I'm going away this weekend for 4 days. I have a sitter coming in twice a day. Jimmy tends to hide when strangers come over. Unlikely she will be able to give him his shot. Even more unlikely able to test. Boarding him is not an option as he gets very stressed at vets. I sympathize with your dilemma. We do the best we can. Hang in there. You will figure out what works for both of you.

 

[Kris & Teasel]

Missing a shot every few weeks shouldn't be a problem. Lantus is a really good insulin but is less forgiving of fluctuations in schedule. If it turns out that you can't keep the 12/12 schedule you can think about trying ProZinc. It's not a depot insulin and you have a little more flexibility in dose timing.