We have 4 cats. Max (Maxmilion San Queue - no tail) has diatebes and has had for 3 years. He's now 12.
I monitor his blood glucose usually monthly, more often depending on how he's feeling or behaving.
4 days ago I tested at 10am and it was 450! Youch! at 2pm it was only down to 420!.... So.. I up his insulin from 9.5 units to 10 units in the morning, 9.5 units at night. I checked him yesterday at 11:00 and he was at 53. OMG that's way too low. Anything below 60 is serious. He's lethargic but aware and mobile, So I give him cornsyrup in a bit of canned milk. I test him at 1:00 and he's at 57! better, but not good enough. So more Karo in milk. I tested at 3 and he's at 87. Good. I test him at 8pm shot time and he's at 225. For a cat, that's a good high point. So I give him 6 units instead of his usual 9.5.
This morning I test him at 8am and he's at 425. Damned feline diabetes.
According to his vet Cats are far more difficult to regulate than dogs. So, this is actually quite normal.
He's back at 9.5 units and I'll just monitor him a little better.
Poor Max. He hates it when the "tray" comes out - it means I have to prick his ears to get blood for the glucometer. He doesn't mind his shots at all. But the ears hurt! Poor thing his ears have these little hematoma's all along the edges.
Feline Diabetes - Hisss Snit Grrrr
by BrendaCloutier 6 Replies latest jw friends
-
BrendaCloutier
-
Sad emo
Ouch! Poor, poor Max and Brenda!
I'm glad none of my cats need jabs, I don't think I'd be able to do it, no matter how easy the vet says it is.
Do you have to be strict about what times of day you feed him at to help control his levels? That's a job in itself, especially if he's an outdoor cat and a good mouser!
-
ButtLight
Speaking of that, I just got back from the vet! I had to get boosters, cause my cat got out, and the pet motel got him. I had to go to the cop shop, pay 23 bucks to get him out, and then they said if I didnt get him licensed, I would get a 103.50 dollar fine! WTF!
-
Nathan Natas
Brenda,
What are you feeding him for his regular meals? How active is he? Is he overweight?
One of the WORST things for our feline friends is the soft chewy "treats" - loaded with carbs, and cats are not herbivores - the need meat protein. Wet food and dry food are fine, but those moist foods are not.
Probably you know 'way more about this than I do, but just in case you didn't; it makes a difference.
-
BrendaCloutier
Nathan, thanx for the suggestions
Since we have 4 cats, isolating Max's eating is not possible. He is mildly overweight and fairly inactive. He was horribly overweight (by his standards) when we returned from Hawaii, but he has slimmed down. I try to take him outside for a walk in the yard regularly, and play with him regularly. He's running about 19 pounds now. 17 pounds is svelt for him. He's just a big cat! That's why he requires so much insulin!
I feed a mixture of quality dry food with high meat protien and moderate fat and reasonable carbs. I make sure the food has limited or no wheat. corn meal and corn gluten isn't as bad as wheat is on glucose. They get Nutro's Max Cat Roasted Chicken light, Purina high-end all natural mix, and Science Diet's tartar control (really works!) in a party mix. Then they get a can of Friskies (I know it's far from quality but they don't like the quality canned!) in the morning divided 3 ways. Princess doesn't like canned. SHE likes the cheap costco cat food we buy to feed the crows! It's not bad nutritionally either.
I read labels on cat food as much or more than labels on human food!
He also gets treats at dinner if we're having roasted/grilled meat - chicken, pig, or beef. AND he loves RAW beef. I'll give him raw beef but not raw chicken or pork.
Max gets non-fat yogurt milk in the evenings with his shot - about 2 tablespoons. The live yogurt helps his digestive system big-time!
I also make sure I have fresh water available throughout the house, and I pay attention as to how much he and the others are drinking.
Diabetics need lots of water and it helps the body flush the excess glucose through the kidneys. If he is drinking too much, tells me his glucose is running high.... time to test.
I just dread the day when his hind legs go, or his eyesight, or his kidneys. I know it will come, but if we keep him as healthy as possible..... hopefully he'll live a long and healthy diabetic life.
It's just that feline diabetes is the most difficult to control....
I just had to vent my frustrations. errrrr
-
kazar
Brenda,
I am an animal lover and I have a cat. Although he is 12 years of age, he seems healthy, but slowed down. I sure hope he doesn't get diabetes. By the way, you are commended for your humanitarian treatment of your pets.
-
VM44
I am late in responding to this post, but it might be useful info for the problem of monitoring a cats glucose levels.
If you can get a urine sample from your cat you can use Keto-Diastrix strips (available at Walgreen's) to monitor the Glucose/Ketone levels.
Using the proper amount of insulin, the cat's levels for glucose and ketones should both read as negative.
This would be a less painful way (for the cat) than taking blood samples from the ear.
Now, how to get the urine samples? There is special inert cat litter you can buy, vets use it to get uncontaminated urine samples, but it is somewhat expensive, and the cat might not like to use it.
Or, and this has been done successfully, you can get a 3oz dixie cup and wait until the cat has started to go, and then quickly collect a sample then.
Hope this helps.
--VM44