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Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by wemo, Mar 22, 2015.

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  1. wemo

    wemo New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2015
    Hi. New here. My kitty Wemo, male, about 11-13 years old. Diagnosed with diabetes.

    He has always been a big kitty. Thinks he is a dog. Meows all the time, quite the talker. Multicat household. Never really noticed any problems. Had another cat with liver problems, and one with thyroid problems. A lot of water being drank, and always very wet litter boxes. Never really thought anything was wrong with him.
    Over the last few months, other cats have been pts or found homes. Wemo was left alone.
    Noticed he was having a very wet litter box. Crying a lot. Always hungry. Drinking a lot of water.
    Didn't go to the vet right away. Not sure how long this has been going on.
    BS at one vet was 480. That vet told me to feed a high quality dry food and try some supplements she was selling. I tried the food, didn't buy any supplements.
    A few weeks later, I tried a different vet. BS 570. This vet said canned food only, Fancy Feast Classics, 3 cans a day, try to get him to lose weight. Tried this a few weeks. Didn't really lose weight. Seemed like he was starving.
    Took dog to a different vet. Inquired about cost of insulin. Sure I cannot afford. This vet said try Royal Canin Diabetic, 1/4 c twice a day. It should do the trick. Well. Bag is almost gone. Still starving, no weight loss that I can really see. Drinks a lot still. Urinates a ton. Stools smell awful.
    I also tried Orijen 6 fish. To see if a good food, low carbs would help. Nope.
    It has been awhile. I am not sure what to do. I don't think I can afford what it will take to maintain a diabetic cat. I have had some major changes in the last 2 years, and major major in the last few months. I have had to make some tough choices that I would not ordinarily make.
    I called the vet that I adopted him from about 11 years ago, and asked if I could surrender him back so he could get the help he needs. They said they would pts. So I didn't take him.
    Meanwhile, he cries. Constantly. He is hungry. I am sure his sugar must be sky high. And I know the potential damage that has been or is being done. I am not sure what to do next.
    I don't think I can afford insulin, testing equipment, syringes, or 3 cans of food a day at this point.
    He will eat 6 or 8 if I let him. It really is down to making sure I can feed my child. I have already sold almost everything I have. No family.
    What is my cat feeling? Is he in any pain? I don't know how to check a cat's blood sugar at home, but will go read about it. I would worry about hurting him. Or, not being diligent enough and non compliant. I have a special needs son, and well, I can only do so much.
    About how much does it cost a month to maintain a diabetic cat, who is 12 lbs?
    Are there resources to get free insulin or syringes? A test kit? Supplies?
    I think I have covered everything. I welcome responses. Thank you. Wemo's mom, in Raleigh, NC
     
  2. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    Friskies pates in 13 ounce can are very economical. I use the poultry ones,

    Testing meters, strips, and lancets from WalMart (ReliOn Confirm), ADW (Glucocard 01), or Target (Up and Up) need not break the budget

    Compare insulin costs on cost per unit, not total cost. Examples here


    A post here for low cost Lantus.
     
  3. wemo

    wemo New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2015
    Thank you BJM. Looking at these. The insulin is higher than I even thought it would be. Is the insulin the same as human insulin? What if I found someone who has extra from a relative that passed?
     
  4. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    Lantus and Levemir are 2 human insulins you can use. Check the post I linked asap for the $25 Lantus pens plus shipping.

    Avoid Humulin/Novolin R ,N, or NPH; Vetsulin/Caninsulin. They don't last long enough.
     
  5. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2009
    N/NPH is still better than nothing.
     
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  6. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    N/NPH is pretty harsh and you may have to dose every 8 hours. Check out BCP PZI - they will send your vet a free 5 mg sample vial.
     
  7. Romeo's Dad

    Romeo's Dad Guest

    My cat is also 12 pounds and was diagnosed a few weeks ago with diabetes. First, I hope that you can find/decide on a vet that you trust to work with. The cat is likely crying because his sugar is high and he is hungry/thirsty rather than that he is in pain. Mine was crying like crazy in the mornings for about a month before I thought he was also losing weight and so decided to take him in for a check-up and received the diabetes diagnosis. He was peeing a lot too for months, but again I never realized the implications and also had two cats sharing the same litterbox. His stool never smelled awful though except for the day after they extracted blood during the check-up. Not sure if that means anything.

    Every place, situation, vet, cat, etc. is going to be different, but for what it's worth, I recently paid around $130 for insulin (supposedly a six-month supply of Humulin-N but seems more like three months to my eyes), $35 for a box of syringes (about a three-month supply), and about $8 for a biohazard container to put the used needles in that I will eventually have to return to my vet and replace when full (again, I am estimating about 2-3 months). I also picked up a bottle of corn syrup at the supermarket in case his sugar gets too low. My cat is eating about a can of wet food twice a day (Fancy Feast), and I administer the insulin about a half an hour after he finishes eating. Home testing should not be a major expense, but I do not have my hands around this enough yet to comment. The vet recently charged me twenty-something dollars for a blood glucose test though in comparison.

    If you are in need of assistance in terms of a local vet recommendation, supplies, or even actual ownership/care, then I would suggest looking online or calling your local animal shelter to see if they have any information to share about what (if anything) is available in your area. If Wemo is not suffering, then I hope you will not have to go with the other option. I am dismayed that the vet(s) would float that idea to you so early on, but my own vet told me that in his experience many vets are not exactly eager to treat diabetic cats.

    I hope that some of this helps give you some perspective, and wish you and Wemo the best of luck.
     
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  8. Mogmom and Goofus

    Mogmom and Goofus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2014
    I'm so sorry to welcome you here, it means you now have a sugar baby and it's kind of hard sometimes. It sounds like you have a pretty tough situation. I also thought at first that I'd not be able to afford this, and it isn't cheap, but the people here have some really good ideas to help save you money. There is a forum for people selling or giving away their extras. My vet charges me $90 for ProZinc insulin and it lasts about 3 months with the dose size I give. I suggest you call around to every vet in your area and ask the prices of these things and even the shelters, it may be possible to buy it through them and they might get it for a better price. If you're a Facebook'er, you might even try posting your situation and asking people to share it, you might find some cheapest/freebies that way. Good luck to you and your kitty.
     
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  9. jillmerg

    jillmerg Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2015
    Hello Wemo & mom, sorry for all you're going through. Its definitely a shock when seeing the prices for everything. My cat is currently on Novolin N, which is $25 at Walmart. I also use Relion syringes- box of 100 which was $12 if I remember correctly. The Relion BG meter is also walmart & fairly inexpensive compared to others. I know there is "better" insulin's out there but if this is what will work for you then it is what is is. Good luck
     
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  10. wemo

    wemo New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2015
    Thank you for the responses. I will check with my vet and see what she says. I can't afford a vet visit. I can't afford Pts! I thought about the shelter. But he doesn't deserve that. Maybe they would treat him. Maybe someone would fall in love with him. Maybe he would be scared and confused. I don't have the extra money for insulin and supplies. If it would be a one time purchase I could squeeze it out and figure it out. But to have to do it again in 2 or 3 nonths. I can't. I stopped taking my own medicine, Lyrica for fibromyalgia, because it is $60/month.
    He is a great cat. Just like a dog. Loves everyone. Even the dog and other animals. Washes the dogs head.
    Such a sucky dilemma
     
  11. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    What city, state/province, and country are you in. Maybe someone near you knows of local resources.

    As an FYI, most shelters will euthanize an animal with a chronic medical problem. Some shelters may provide that service for no fee if you explain your financial situation.
     
  12. Mitzelplik's Mom

    Mitzelplik's Mom Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2015
    So sorry you're in such a tough situation! Wemo sounds like a sweetheart. ADW always has deals for free meters, if that helps. And there are people out there who will adopt a diabetic kitty. It might be worth starting a new thread to ask here on the forum if you want to explore that option. Don't give up hope yet.
     
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  13. misty1477

    misty1477 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2013
    Hi ....
    I have a ReliOn Confirm meter and test strips (I know one pack of 50 is not opened). I will see what else I have tomorrow. Thought I would let you know about the meter if you want it...before you purchased one.

    Post back here or PM me if you like.

    You can do this...I did...just stay here with everyone on FDMB. They are the BEST.
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2015
    Reason for edit: misspelled word
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