Posted on 01/04/2010 5:16:56 PM PST by Battle Axe
Miss Peach has been a Viking Kitty since I have been on Free Republic, but tonight she is in the hospital with severe diabetes.
Is there anyone else how has come across this problem?
What did you do and what was the outcome?
The sugar reading was 417. She will be 15 years old in 7 weeks.
Prayers up. 417 is way high...
I gave one of my cats (from 8 thru 10 years old.) a shot a day of insulin for 2 years. Have to kind of guess at dosage, unfortunately.
If the blood sugar can be stabilized, she can be ok. Still, not a good prognosis
(cat didn’t like that needle, for sure)
Some friends had a kitty with diabetes and one was a nurse. She was able to do the insulin shots right before meals to keep Colonel Kitty fairly happy. The shot is really very simple and he did not have a problem with it, especially when he knew he was getting the good food, right after.
It is a very small needle, and I even did it when I was cat sitting, so it really was easy. I can email more if you like but it was very simple.
DK
I don’t know about cats, but we have a diabetic Gordon Setter dog, and has been for 4 years. Cats get it more than dogs. Our baby has lived a full life, it’s just a pain in the butt for us. We check her with a human monitor 4 times a day, we’re lucky I can come home for lunch break. Carefully monitor what she eats and she gets 2 shots a day, one at 7 am and 1 at 6 pm, that’s about it.
I’ve had two cats and a dog with diabetes. The cats were getting insulin injections twice a day. We found out that if we split the dose, it was easier to control the blood sugar. Both cats and the dog lived to an old age and amazed the vet.
My husband is really good at giving shots and he would grab the back of the neck and give the shot there.
Diabetes seems to be fairly common in older cats.
I think it is kinder to put a cat down than give it shots every day.
I know, y’all get attached to a particular special friend. I am not trying to be cruel or insensitive.
You can get a doomed cat from the pound for far less money in honor of your late friend, and do a lot more good that way, I believe.
RULE #1 -— DON’T PANIC!!! Your cat has been diabetic for a while already, acting perfectly normal except for the increased water intake and the wet cat litter. Now you know, so you can do something about it.
I’m sorry to hear about your kitty. Second, really listen to your Vet -— this is important, and ask for handouts or further explanation if you have any questions. There are things that can be done and sometimes work very well.
Changing to an all meat canned cat food can’t hurt. Actually, it does seem to help more than you might expect for many cases of diabetes in cats. Discuss this with your Vet and see what they think:
http://www.catnutrition.org/catkins.php
Insulin injections are probably in your kitty’s future as well. Most cats tolerate these tiny injections quite well. A few cats even recover well enough to get off insulin.
I wish you the best. And 15 isn’t too old, my brother’s cat is a feeble 23 years old, but she’s still chugging along.
I do not think the shots will be a happy thing. Testing today and set nailed me real good on three fingers.
I don't heal real well anymore.
There are some crystals that you can put in the litter box that will give a range of readings. Has anyone used that?
The vet said that she had used up a lot of her lives when she swallowed all that string TEN YEARS AGO and had to have a huge operation on her intestines. But she survived that!!
hang in there & also have your vet check her kidneys & urine . prayers up here for your kitty
I gave a good ol’ cat with kidney failure subcutaneous saline for about a year. He was a good cat, and was worth the trouble. He didn’t much like the needle, either.
I had a cat with diabetes and she went on well for 3+ years after being diagnosed. The shots are a snap (just be sure to vary the injection sites), and the cat doesn’t even notice. Best of luck to you and Miss Peach.
My sister used standard diabetic strips to test the litterbox urine with one of her rescue cats. I don’t know how well that worked. Cats can’t tell ya they haven’t eaten lately or ate just 5 minutes ago. ( the cat I had died of insulin shock finally.)
Ping for kitty advice.
Thank you all so very much for the kind words of support. It is most comforting to know that you are out there.
Ping.
Once again I am reminded why I have no pets and refuse to be overcome by those cute little kitties and puppies.
It is extremely rare for someone to be what is called a brittle diabetic...that is one who's body cannot use the insulin that is injected or the pill...
In my years nursing I had only seen 1 brittle diabetic and his blood/sugar would sometimes go over 1000....it did much damage to his body, but there was nothing at the time that could be done for such people...
I am just guessing but I think at 15 it will probably be insulin...the injections are what is called sub Q, and are not painful. Not like getting a shot of penicillin with those big needles...
2 of my 4 sons has mature onset of diabetes, they both take pills, but if they lost some weight, it might help...diet is important in a diabetic. Your family will need lots of teaching on the subject. Don't be afraid to ask questions. If she is in the hospital, she will probably be seen by a dietitian and specialist in endocrinology..
hope this helps. Diabetes is not cured, its controlled..
I found this site years after we had a diabetic cat, who we cared for, for about three years before he was diagnosed with cancer.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/
We found that giving him his shot when he was eating worked great; just gently pick up the scruff of his neck, skin and fur, and inject there.
I look back and wish I had known about catkins, but I don’t know if it was around back then.
Here is a link at the feline diabetes site that has a list of gluten free cat food by Fancy Feast. I now feed my two maine coons this food. http://www.felinediabetes.com/glutenfree.htm
I can usually get it at PetCo for about .50 a can on sale. In fact, it is on sale from Sunday until Jan 13th I think.
It seems really scary at first, but it can be done.
Prayers and well wishes.
My mother has an aging cat with diabetes. She loves the cat very much. She gives the cat shots everyday, twice a day I think. She would never stop doing this for her cat. It could go on for years and the cat is not very mobile anymore.
Neither of them seems very happy. I have a feeling it would be better to let the cat slip away humanely but my mother will not even consider it for a moment. She says she would be very lonely, in addition to not being willing to put the cat down for other obvious reasons.
You will have to decide for yourself whether you are more like me or my mom, I’m afraid.
Best wishes.
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