Does changing cat foods result in higher numbers? (Chloe)

Discussion in 'Prozinc / PZI' started by srk4cats, Dec 29, 2017.

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  1. srk4cats

    srk4cats Well-Known Member

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    Jan 19, 2017
    Hi folks,
    I hope your holidays were fun. I ran out of 9 lives the other day and began giving her Fancy Feast. Luckily, she's not picky about her food. But I'm wondering about the steady numbers in the 300's. What does that indicate? Her behavior and appetite are fine. With all the data I have, what do you think would be the best dose? Am I damaging her pancreas with all the high numbers?
     
  2. Djamila

    Djamila Well-Known Member

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    You have done a great job of getting consistent tests in before each shot. However, in order to determine what to do with the dose, we really need more mid-cycle numbers. You did two mid-cycle tests recently, so great job with that. Is there a day this weekend when you could do a few tests in the same cycle? Like maybe a +4 and a +6? Or a +5 and a +7? Once you've done that we might be able to have a better sense of what's going on.

    And unfortunately yes, the longer a cat is in high numbers, the more damage is done. That's one of the reasons why it's so important to get those mid-cycle tests so you can know better what to do with her dose and how to help her. You have to see how low she is going during the cycle in order to know what she needs.
     
  3. srk4cats

    srk4cats Well-Known Member

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    @StephG @Djamila I'm sorry, it's my winter break and trying to get rid of bronchitis, so I've been getting up later and later in the morning. The past couple nights, I've heard Chloe's stomach rumbling. I let her eat as much as she wants. If I don't, she yells at me. No matter how much I flick, I can't seem to get those big bubbles out of the syringe, so it seems she is only getting about 1 unit instead of 1.5. Should I be compensating for that?
     
  4. srk4cats

    srk4cats Well-Known Member

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    @Djamila I got a plus 4 and it's still very high. I think I'd better increase the dosage. Also, why is she vomitting? Is it an upset tummy? Tonight, I'll start her on 1.75 u.
     
  5. Djamila

    Djamila Well-Known Member

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    Is she vomiting food or just liquid? and yes, I think 1.75 is a good idea.
     
  6. Noah & me (GA)

    Noah & me (GA) Well-Known Member

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    I have some OCD issues and the air in the syringe made me nuts. That volume of air can't account for even 1% of the liquid volume.
     
  7. srk4cats

    srk4cats Well-Known Member

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    It drives me nuts, too. I'm very uncomfortable with her numbers in the 400's for so long.
     
  8. StephG

    StephG Well-Known Member

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    Have you tested for ketones?
    How's she doing today?
     
  9. srk4cats

    srk4cats Well-Known Member

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    @StephG I'm worried. She seems very lethargic today. She's not yowling for food and just nibbled. I haven't tested for ketones lately. Her BG numbers today were in the blue range. Can she have DKA with normal BG?
     
  10. Rachel

    Rachel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 25, 2013
    Yes. DKA can happen at any BG, though it is more common at higher numbers. Please test for ketones ASAP, it's very important.
     
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  11. StephG

    StephG Well-Known Member

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    I agree with Rachel. Chloe had ketones before in the 200s so it's very very important to get a ketone test done. Keep trying to get her to eat and drink too.
     
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  12. srk4cats

    srk4cats Well-Known Member

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    Okay, crisis over. She is eating and back to normal. I tried to isolate her in the bedroom with a bowl of food so I could get a urine sample, but somehow Cheddar got in, and Chico followed. I thought I latched the door and the knob is round. Little sneaks. So she followed me out to the kitchen and started crying for food. I then gave her 1 unit of Prozinc (after she ate). It's probably closer to the 12-hour mark anyway. I'll try again for ketones tomorrow morning.
     
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2018
  13. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    I suggst you try for a ketone test today if at all possible.
     
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  14. srk4cats

    srk4cats Well-Known Member

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    Chloe was kind enough to leave a urine sample for me in the empty litterbox in the bedroom. No ketones.
     
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  15. srk4cats

    srk4cats Well-Known Member

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    Nobody ever answered my original question about changing cat foods.
     
  16. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    The simple answer might be - it depends. Higher carb food would likely raise BG. Some cats are extremely sensitive to even small differences in carb content so even different low carb foods could raise BG. As is said so often here, ECID.
     
  17. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    Some cats are also very sensitive to certain ingredients in cat foods. For example, some cats spike if there's any beef in the food. Soy (sometimes listed as 'vegetable protein' in the ingredient list) can be another offender. Carrageenan can provoke an inflammatory response in the body.

    It's worth keeping an eye on the ingredient lists of all foods you trial with your kitty. :)


    Mogs
    .
     
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  18. srk4cats

    srk4cats Well-Known Member

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    Jan 19, 2017
    thank you. I'm amazed at how much she eats. About 6 oz per meal. It takes her an hour to finish eating.
     
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  19. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    A good appetite is a great complaint!


    Mogs
    .
     
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  20. srk4cats

    srk4cats Well-Known Member

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    Jan 19, 2017
    m
    most of the time clear liquid
     
  21. StephG

    StephG Well-Known Member

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    Sep 8, 2016
    That's a great appetite!
    You may have to adjust the dose to account for more food. Just do it carefully. Chloe responds very well to insulin so you don't want to go up too much at once.
    Getting a curve done on the cycle when you increase is important to make sure she's not going to drop too low. Then again a few cycles later.
     
  22. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    How many hours does she go between feeds? On the occasions when she has brought up the clear liquid had she fasted longer than usual?


    Mogs
    .
     
  23. srk4cats

    srk4cats Well-Known Member

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    Jan 19, 2017
    Hi Moggie,
    I'll get another midday today, but after that, I can only do curves on weekends because I go back to work tomorrow. Chloe only spits up at night. It wakes me up. Sometimes it's clear, but sometimes it's brown. I never see bits of food in it. She used to spit up before she got diagnosed, so I'm not too worried about it. We had another Fuzma night. That's when I sleep with just the girls and the boys are shut out. I hardly ever see Fuzma because the boys always chase her back into her room. I'm not sure that Chloe is keen on it, either, but she's more mellow.
     
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