Hello everyone. Cathie and Shaak here!

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA), Feb 2, 2016.

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  1. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    Shaak, my cat was just diagnosed today. This has been a major happening in our lives to be sure. I am so glad to find out there is a forum for feline diabetes. I feel so much better knowing I am not alone.

    Quick rundown. Shaak Ti (Shaak) is almost 11 yrs old. I brought her home from the humane society when she was about five weeks old, She was spayed the night I picked her out and I brought her home the following afternoon. She is a Shorthair Tortishell. We named her after Shaak Ti, a female jedi in the Star Wars prequel movies. From the start her favorite place is to lie has been on my chest, still to this day that is where she goes most nights to get ready for bed [imagine 22lbs on top of my chest (her heaviest)]. She loves to snuggle and purr and chase laser lights, she can't turn flips anymore but who knows what the future holds.

    She is a very loving and gentle cat. She has always been a big cat, weighing in at 22 lbs. Back in October we became a one cat household, down from a four cat household. At that point I began putting out less food as there were less cats. Shaak alwaysl eats all her food so when she started losing weight (she now weighs 11 lbs) I thought it was because she no longer felt the need to overeat because of the other cats taking her food. I also had noticed she was walking on her hind legs rather than just her paws, I say I noticed this, I did, but for whatever reason though I knew it was odd I did not think it was something bad, just different. This took us through January with her weight loss and odd walking. Then about a week ago the bottom fell out, Shaak began having loss of bladder and bowel control. It has been a rough several days, thank goodness now I know what is wrong with my baby girl and we can begin to get her diabetes under control.

    Thank you for accepting us here. Feel free to ask questions about whatever and I will do my best to answer, once I go to the pharmacy and pet store tonight I will post what insulin and food we are on. I am going to search for best places, and reasonably priced places to get our food and insulin. Any thoughts on that I would love to hear.
     
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  2. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    Welcome to FDMB Cathie and Shaak. I'm sorry you have the need to join us but so glad you found us. This board is a treasure trove of information and support with a great group of people more than eager to help you get Shaak on the road to better health. The amount of hands on experience here is nothing short of amazing so ask any and all questions you might have!

    Maybe later tonight or tomorrow after your trip to the pharmacy and pet store, you can set up a signature with a little more information about you and Shaak. Things like where you are located (that helps us point you to the best buys for supplies and foods), Shaak's new diet, the type of insulin and the dose, any other health issues Shaak has if any, and whether you are home testing ( we strongly advocate home testing here) would help us give you the most help. If you set up a signature, it will be easier on you because otherwise folks providing assistance will keep asking the same questions over and over. The signatures are the lighter text at the bottom of most of the posts. To set this up, you can click on your screen name up in the right hand corner of the screen. This will bring down a menu and you select "Signature" from the left hand column. That opens up a text box for you to put all the details you would like to share. It only allows 3 lines of text but that's enough to put all the pertinent frequently asked information mentioned above.

    We can certainly help you with where to get supplies and food, testing, injecting etc. There is a product called Zobaline available from the US that many folks here have used for the neuropathy. The good news is that cats improve as their diabetes gets better controlled and using the Zobaline helps the healing process a lot.

    Looking forward to getting to know you and Shaak! We're here to help you in any way we can!
     
  3. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    Thank you for responding so quickly. I just already fixed up our signature with the information you mentioned. I guess I might have to add more as time goes on. I used your signature as a guide, hope that is okay. I noticed in your signature that Menace also does not like to eat wet cat food. I have been trying for years to get Shaak to switch but nothing doing, through the years she has let me switch brands of cat food but she has always walked away from canned cat food, and people food as well, she rakes it up with her paws to cover it up like she just went to the bathroom.

    I have been looking at everyone's different stories and finding so many similar things that Shaak has had, such as having cat litter stuck to her hind legs like cement, and hair loss. It boggles my mind that things that were happening would have told me what was up, but I never thought to enter (cat litter hind legs cement) into google. I did finally enter ( cat has weak hind leg, weight loss, hair loss, and loss of bladder and bowel control) and up popped cat diseases and I began to pour over the list and as soon as I read diabetes I knew without a doubt that was what Shaak had. I called and made an appointment, told the vet I think my cat has diabetes, the vet convinced me to do a whole series of blood tests, which I did. End result... Diabetic.

    I feel ashamed I did not realize sooner she was really sick, the things I just thought were quirks were signs of illness and things I thought were because we had gone from a four cat home to a one cat home were actually signs of serious problems.

    I am going to go now, time for feeding and our first shot, which I am terrified of, have the whole family here to watch and help me get it right, such a small amount of liquid and suck a small line to go by on the syringe. scares me to death, one unit on a thirty unit syringe, my eyes are not that good and how on earth does that small amount travel through the needle and get where it needs to go. The vet said behind the hip but the things I have been reading say the side, is the hip the side, oh gosh, so many nerve wracking thoughts going through my mind.

    Will check back in about 15 minutes to see if anyone posted anything to help with this first injection.
     
  4. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    Jun 16, 2014
    Welcome, Shaak! (The Force is strong in this one ... ) And welcome, Cathie.

    When you go to the pharmacy be sure to pick up some urine test strips for monitoring ketones. Sometimes they get lost in the rush to sort out stuff for blood testing.

    I note that Shaak has been walking on her hocks. There are two things that may be a cause: diabetic neuropathy (due to B12 deficiency - and the most likely cause) or low potassium levels. Your vet would be able to run blood tests to check B12/folate levels and potassium levels and advise on any supplementation Shaak may need.

    If it is neuropathy then it can be treated with B12 methylcobalamin supplementation. Zobaline is a diabetic-friendly methyl B12 supplement (doesn't contain sugar - available online). Here's an encouraging video to show you what's possible:




    Mogs
    .
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2016
  5. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    Jun 16, 2014
    It's no bad thing that your vet did comprehensive diagnostic testing: some of the clinical signs of diabetes are also present in other conditions. The blood work will have helped your vet to perform differential diagnosis. Hope that eases the wallet pain a little. ;)

    Here's a forum sticky to help you with injections:

    Testing and Injection Tips

    It helps to get a spare syringe and practice on an orange. :)




    Mogs
    .
     
  6. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    next question if she does not want to eat right when I put the food down I know I have to wait to give her injection until she does finally eat. does that mean she can't eat again for 12 hours because of insulin injection right after eating or could she eat again in 10 hours and get her shot right after in order to stay on a set schedule. Saying putting food down at 9am (she eats it at 10am gets shot at 10:10am) would she then have to wait till 10pm to eat again or could she eat at 9pm and have shot at 9:10 pm basically 11 hours later rather than 12.
     
  7. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    oh jeesh, she would not eat more than a few bites, what do I do, just wait for her to decide to eat, or take the food away till morning. if she doesn't eat I can't give the shot, if she doesn't eat she will get low blood sugar right, which could be bad, but can't give her shot or she will have too much insulin on top of no food. What am I supposed to do. Jeesh, it seems so simple but I am so scared of hurting her.
     
  8. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Feb 18, 2015
    Oh Cathie we have all been where you are and understand completely. As for the injection, sides over the rib cage are good, flanks (what I think your vet was referring to) and the scruff is OK too although some will tell you not to use it. Many folks do use the scruff successfully. The trick is to alternate sites to prevent any scar tissue. I have my fingers crossed for you and I'm confident it will go just fine.

    On the food front...... Yes I am dealing with a kibble addict that cannot be convinced that wet food is even edible so I can relate to your frustration there. My Menace buries wet food like it's her waste too and the scratches on my kitchen wall from her burying her step brothers food are a testament to her disdain for anything that doesn't crunch. The problem with kibble is that it is too high in carbs. The good news is that you are in the US and have access to some low carb kibble I cannot get. EVO Cat and Kitten and Wysong Epigen 90 are available at specialty pet stores and Young Again (definitely the lowest carb wise) is available online. All of these are lower in carbs that the RC Glycobalance and a far better choice for a diabetic cat. Prescription diets generally are not the best choices and this is good news since they are also very expensive. The retail selections above are not cheap but I think they are less expensive that the Rx stuff.

    Just saw your question about feeding/ shooting times. Given that you are using Novolin, which is a quicker acting insulin than some others, the routine should be to feed at 9am and inject insulin at 9:30am for example so you have carbs working on board when the insulin starts working. You can certainly give her some food in between injections but when testing before insulin shots, we withhold food for 2 hours beforehand to ensure we are getting a reading that is not food influenced. While the schedule is generally to shoot every 12 hours, I think the Novolin may be a little more flexible as it doesn't always last the full 12 hours in cats but I wouldn't give shots early unless you are testing and know it's safe to do so with any insulin.

    I'm assuming you are not currently testing. We strongly advocate home testing to keep kitty safe and if you decide to switch to any of the lower carb kibbles, it's really important to be testing before doing so because less carbs can mean less insulin is needed. The change from one kibble to the other may not be as dramatic as it would be going from kibble to canned, but all changes in carbs need to be monitored to keep kitty safe if you are giving insulin. Most folks here use a human glucometer and a popular brand is the Relion meter available at Walmart. If you would like to learn to test Shaak we can help you do that.

    Not sure if I covered everything....it's late here and I am fading. Hope this helps and keep the questions coming and we'll get you feeling much better about this in no time. It seems daunting at first but I promise, it gets much easier with time. :)

    Ok just saw your note that she won't eat. Did you put down a different food tonight that she is not accustomed to? If so, give her some of her usual diet and see if she will eat that. RIght now you just want to make sure she eats. I'll hang on till I hear back from you.
     
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  9. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    thick skin or thin skin orange?
     
  10. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    she has climbed under the bed and won't come out, she is I am sure reacting to my upset vibes.
     
  11. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    I have put out a mix of her old and new food, so far she won't come back out to nibble. I should not have so much stuff under my bed, but if I try to grab her she will only get upset.
     
  12. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Feb 18, 2015
    Ok Cathie. Deep breathes. First rule of diabetic cat motherhood is a cool head! Our kitties are remarkably attuned to our stress so if you can approach her with a "can do" attitude, she will stay calmer and not get spooked. We've all discovered this the hard way so now you've learned lesson one. :) Grabbing her out from under the bed is not going to make for a co-operative cat. If need be, leave her for tonight and regroup in the morning. She has to eat or no insulin so leave her food out and check and make sure she eats something tonight but she may just not like the addition of the new food. If necessary, give her just her favourite stuff. You don't have to change everything tonight! This is going to take some patience given she is a fussy girl like mine!
     
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  13. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    will I need a prescription to get test strips, meter and lancet or can I just buy OTC? I am reading about the ear, do I put something behind her ear so the needle will not accidentally poke me. I think she is going to react much worse to this than the shot.
     
  14. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    thank you for being so helpful and understanding.
     
  15. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Feb 18, 2015
    No you don't need a prescription for the meter, strips or lancets. All are available OTC. Most of us use a folded makeup pad, tissue or even a small piece of papertowel behind the ear to protect our fingers.
     
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  16. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Feb 18, 2015
    Walked this path myself so I know how it feels although I think I might have one of the most co-operative cats on the planet. Nevertheless, I had mypanties so bunched up over testing, shooting etc. it was horrible. And to make it worse (and embarrassing), I am a retired R.N. so who knew poking my cat could bring on such anxiety that my hand was shaking so badly I thought I'd never be able to master treating her. That's the nice thing about this board. Everyone understands and can relate to what you are going through!
     
  17. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Feb 18, 2015
    On the orange front, any orange/grapefruit should do. You just need to get the needle into the fleshy part of the fruit and the skin on the fruit gives you a way to understand the resistance you will feel when injecting and allow you to figure out the amount of force to use.
     
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  18. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    okay, that helps, gonna go buy oranges tonight and start practicing after I sleep some tonight. going to go for first shot in the morning after eating. Thank you again.
     
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  19. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Feb 18, 2015
    Get a good rest Cathie and tomorrow will go much better for you. You are still reeling from getting the diagnosis and a whack of info thrown at you. Second rule of diabetic cat motherhood.....be patient with yourself as well as kitty! I'm off to get some shuteye myself. I'll check to see how you are doing tomorrow.
     
  20. Andy & Pimp

    Andy & Pimp Well-Known Member

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    Oct 18, 2015
    Hi Cathie just wanted to pop in and let you know THIS GETS EASIER!

    I PROMISE!!!
    :):)

    It was exactly 4 months ago today that Pimp had his first injection. He had probably been diabetic for a year already, and had lost half his body weight. He was peeing, pooping, and puking everywhere. The vet had us try prescription food for 2 weeks and it only made Pimp worse. I was scared to death. I actually broke down crying on the kitchen floor trying to get him to eat one night.
    Then I found this board. I saw that there was hope, and the wonderful people here helped lift me up and gave me the guidance to understand Pimp's insulin therapy.

    Today Pimp can be considered well-regulated, he is back over 10lbs, and he is overall a healthy kitty again. This is all so overwhelming in the beginning so take your time, read everything, and most importantly ask questions!

    Welcome to the best place you never wanted to be:)

    PS: post in the morning before shot time, if you need someone to "talk" you through it!
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2016
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  21. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    I am trying to figure out from your signature what food you use, what did you do when the prescription food just made matters worse?
     
  22. Andy & Pimp

    Andy & Pimp Well-Known Member

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    Oct 18, 2015
    Currently, Pimp eats Merrick Purrfect Bistro. There are many low carb options for sugar kitties. Check out this food chart and look for anything under 10% carbs.

    When the food change didn't help, it was time to start insulin. Many vets recommend trying diet change first, because some cats can be diet controlled without insulin (doesn't require prescription food). I think this was a mistake on my vet's part for Pimp. In Shaak's case it sounds like insulin right away is also best. If you plan on home testing a diet change is easy to phase in along with insulin.

    I see you're in Tuscon...I think we have one or two members in Tuscon.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2016
  23. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    I am going to get supplies to home test tomorrow, I can only imagine how Shaak is going to take that... She has really long claws, I used to keep them trimmed but she became too difficult to get it done, kind of worried she is gonna make me bloody when I go to take her blood. :arghh:

    I would love to talk to or see a member from Tucson. hopefully they will see me on here, I guess I could post a thread asking for anyone from Tucson to say hello.

    So good to know I am not alone in the pooping and peeing everywhere area. Have not had any problems with puking yet.
     
  24. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    if Shaak is allowed to eat up to 5/8 of a cup every day then I divide that up to 2.5/8 of a cup for each meal, how much of it should she have to finish in order for me to give her the injection do y'all think?
     
  25. Andy & Pimp

    Andy & Pimp Well-Known Member

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    Oct 18, 2015
    I know of one for sure, who has lots of experience. I'll see if I can get you on her radar tomorrow ;)
    Sometimes the high blood sugar causes them to overeat...they can't process the glucose from their food, so, the brain tells them that they are hungry even if they're full. Overeat and pukus.
    That I'm not sure about, we use Lantus and I have no experience with the fast acting insulins. My thought would be that you want her to eat some wet food before shot time if possible. Dry food takes a long time to be processed into the body and might not get the carb load up in time for the insulin to work on.

    Edit to add: On that note, dry food takes a long time to leave the system, so that might effect the whole "shoot 30 minutes after shot" deal. It might be a good idea to post your feeding query as its own question in the feline health forum. The vetsulin/humilin/novalin forum is inactive, fyi.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2016
  26. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    unfortunately I have tried for years to get her to eat wet food, she just covers it like poop and walks away though. funny yes, frustrating , more so now.
     
  27. Andy & Pimp

    Andy & Pimp Well-Known Member

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    Oct 18, 2015
    I see you mentioned that earlier, sorry I missed it and sorry I don't have an answer:oops:

    Please read added info in my last post.
     
  28. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    okay great, I just posted a question in the health forum. thank you
     
  29. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Feb 18, 2015
    The carb load in that food is a minimum of 20% (how they can pass that off as diabetic food blows my mind!) so I'm guessing if she will eat 1.5-2/8 you should be more than OK to go. What concerns me is that my girl is almost 18lbs and she won't eat much more than 1.5/8 at a meal and that's when she is really hungry. Dry food fills them up faster so I'm not sure you'd be able to get her to eat anymore in one sitting. It's Ok to give her a couple of small snacks throughout the day and night between shots but she should get the majority of her food in her two main meals before her shots. Is that the food (RC Glycobalance) she will normally eat or is that the new stuff she turned her nose up at tonight? Did she finally eat tonight? Doing a rough calorie calculation, 5/8 of a cup is more than she might need calorie wise at an ideal weight of 11 lbs. I presume the goal though is to get her to gain a bit given she has lost so much and that would explain the extra calories.

    This is a good point so I'm wondering if it might be a good idea to feed her maybe 45 minutes to an hour before her shot instead of 30 minutes to allow for some extra "processing" time.
     
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  30. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    Thank you so much, she came out and ate a couple of bites around midnight, however I could not start the shots because in order to be on a set schedule for what time she has her injection given, I have to be home at the same time of the day and evening and can't be home except for a two hour window between 8 -10 am, amd 8-10 pm each day. I am back and forth throughout the day but just not always guaranteed to be home except for those windows of time. That is also based on her past usual feeding time of 8 am and 8 pm. I think part of the problem may be that I am just going by what the bag of food says, her old food said a half cup of food at each sitting on the bag. I will go with 1.5/8 cup to start with and see how that goes. I may just be expecting too much out of her, after all she has been losing weight for a few months.

    I read up on Novolin N since last night and what it said was,
    1. Novolin N is an intermediate-acting insulin. The effects of Novolin N start working 1½ hours after injection. The greatest blood sugar lowering effect is between 4 and 12 hours after the injection. This blood sugar lowering may last up to 24 hours.
    Now I am assuming that is different from a way a cat processes the insulin though, I am still trying to find insulin absorption rates online to get a better idea. Must run to the store now. Will check in before injection.
     
  31. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    I have been practicing on an orange, I can't really tell too much difference between skin and flesh though, however needle is very short so I am assuming it will be long enough and shouldn't go any farther in once inserted. I am more worried it won't be long enough to go through the skin. I am also working on my 45* angle.
     
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  32. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Feb 18, 2015
    With an orange the skin is right on the fleshy part so you don't get a "tent" area to inject into. Needless to say, the cat skin won't feel exactly the same but the resistance of the needle piercing the skin is similar. The needle will be long enough you don't need to go that deep. Most of us use 5/8 inch needles while some use needles a tad shorter and some a little longer. You should be fine. You will get the hang of this very soon.

    Since Novolin is a human insulin so I'm pretty sure that info re: onset and duration applies to humans. Cats metabolize insulin differently and quicker so that timeline may be speeded up somewhat in your cat and it may not last the full 12 hours. That's why it's important to get a good bit of food into kitty before shots. The insulin needs something to work on to slow down that early BG drop.
     
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  33. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    I am watching cat injection videos. I am feeling more comfortable.
     
  34. Andy & Pimp

    Andy & Pimp Well-Known Member

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    Oct 18, 2015
    This is so true. The Lantus we use is also a human insulin. It's a once-daily injection for people, but for kitties they get a shot every 12 hours (because of the faster metabolism).
    I use 8mm needles- put them through the skin until they won't go any father, and make sure to keep a little bit of pressure there while depressing the plunger. It really helped with fur shots when I started using that technique.
    That is great!!! Once you do it a few times it gets SOOO easy!
     
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  35. Andy & Pimp

    Andy & Pimp Well-Known Member

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  36. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 2, 2016
    great, reading it now. Shaak has just eaten all her food, it was the entire 2.5/8 cup. she was asking for more but I told her no go. Most info I am finding says to give shot around one hour after eating.

    I have however decided I should really get a first bg reading before giving first injection don't you think, I should have arranged for this earlier but Pharmacy only just opened and I did not see the post to get meter till after pharmacy closed last night. I am going to run to pharmacy right now and get meter and strips and lancet.
     
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  37. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Feb 18, 2015
    Ok good to know she will eat that much but it may be that she is extra hungry just now (diabetes symptom) and that may decrease with time. What worries me is that if they gorge, they sometimes spit up the food shortly after which is not a good combination either so watch her for a bit to make sure she keeps it down.
     
  38. Marje and Gracie

    Marje and Gracie Senior Member Moderator

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    May 30, 2010
    Cathie

    I am in Tucson and would love to come help you get started with home testing. We did the FD dance for over five years with our sweet baby girl, Gracie.

    I'm not sure why the vet put your kitty on Novolin N. That is really old school and there are so many better insulins for cats these days which are not nearly as harsh and which can give a much better chance of remission.

    I will send you a PM with my telephone number. I am more than happy to come help you learn to hometest and also give injections...whatever I can do but all dosing advice stays on the board :)

    If you look in the upper right corner of the page, you will see "inbox" and if you click on it, it will take you to your private messages where you'll see one from me. I can also get a spreadsheet started for you if you like. I know the early days are overwhelming and it will only take me a minute to do the SS.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2016
  39. Andy & Pimp

    Andy & Pimp Well-Known Member

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    Oct 18, 2015
    Thanks Marje :bighug:
    Cathie, if you're interested in trying Lantus, it's available in the supply closet at much less then pharmacy costs. I and others have bought from Alan Hamman and been extremely satisfied. He has Levemir as well but I think it's recommended to try Lantus first.

    Lantus pens from Alan Hamman
     
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  40. Marje and Gracie

    Marje and Gracie Senior Member Moderator

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    May 30, 2010
    Cathie

    You will need to discuss any insulin changes with your vet first. While you might be able to buy them from someone on the supply closet, your vet needs to be on board. We can give you a lot of literature to take to him/her on why the long lasting insulins are better.

    I do need to add that the best insulin is the one that works for your cat but the shorter acting insulins are just typically so harsher and it's harder to get those nice, long, flat curves in normal numbers. For some cats, they can have longer durations but we find many caregivers who started with N switch to Lantus or levemir which are really outstanding insulins with less chances of hypoglycemia especially if you are home testing.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2016
  41. Marje and Gracie

    Marje and Gracie Senior Member Moderator

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    May 30, 2010
    Cathie has joined the Vampire Club!!!! She got her first drop of blood this afternoon. :):):)

    She is going to try and test/shoot tonight for the first time. I got to meet Shaak Ti and she is a lovely, lovely kitty. She was very good for her pokeys. She is really a sweet girl and even though she’s a torti, I saw absolutely no evidence of the typical tortitude. Her mama loves her very much and really wants to help her.
     
  42. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Marje, you are an absolute star! :bighug::bighug::bighug:


    Mogs
    .
     
  43. Marje and Gracie

    Marje and Gracie Senior Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2010
    @Critter Mom (((Mogs))) just paying it forward, my friend. We all remember those early, scary days and trying to get blood for the first time :nailbiting::nailbiting::nailbiting: I’m sure we all remember our first shot and wondering where the numbers would go. I know I do.
     
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  44. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    I too want to thank you for helping Cathie out! I think she feels SOOO much better about things now after your "tutorial"! She says Shaak liked you a lot. A sign of a real "kitty" person!
     
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  45. Marje and Gracie

    Marje and Gracie Senior Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2010
    Ahhhh...you're welcome, Linda.

    Cathie...here is a post on Testing and Shooting Tips that might remind you of some of the things we did this afternoon.
     
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  46. Jeanne & Dottie

    Jeanne & Dottie Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2016
    Hi Cathie, and welcome :)

    Don't feel too bad about not knowing Shaak was sick. :cat: You're a good CatMom. Cats are programmed to hide any discomfort or illness...in the wild, looking like you're ill will get you killed and eaten. Shaak just hid her illness well.

    I have a cat who is stubborn about food. :banghead: We had all her teeth pulled. For a long while she's held out, and had a poor opinion of the wet....but I just figured out how to get her on wet food. I added an ounce of water per 5.5 oz can of food, and pureed it. If you call it a treat, and offer it on your finger, like you would offer sour cream or butter, (No, Dottie doesn't get either any more, folks :p)...she may go for it. But if not, just feed her whatever she'll take in. Right now you need to get a bit of that weight back on her.

    There's a product called Forti Flora..it's animal digestives... the same stuff that the cat food companies spray on the kibble to make it taste good. Most cats really love it. Parmesan cheese works wonders, too.

    You can order the Forti Flora from Amazon, and sprinkle a bit on the wet food, then touch a finger-full of the FF to her nose. She just might surprise you.

    Welcome to Shaak Ti too! :woot:The Force be with you both!
     
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  47. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2016
    thank you everyone for your kind thoughts and advice, I feel amongst friends here. I know it will be a long night tonight. Scared, but gonna make it through, I guess having her first shot be at night was not the best planning but that's the way it worked out. She gets her shot in about 25 minutes. Wish me luck and say a prayer.
     
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  48. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2016
    MTFBWY as well.
     
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  49. Marje and Gracie

    Marje and Gracie Senior Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2010
    You got it!!! You can do it.
     
  50. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    Fingers and paws crossed here for you and Shaak! You got this! The FORCE IS WITH YOU!
     
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  51. Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)

    Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2016
    I am going to change my thread on Novolin in the main health forum after I give Shaak her first shot and use that thread to ask questions and let folks know how everything is going.
     
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