Help needed asap please

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Sugarpegger, Oct 30, 2017.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Sugarpegger

    Sugarpegger New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2017
    Hi there - I am new to this - my lovely 13 year old cat Jake was diagnosed this past Friday with a glucose level of 600. This after a pancreatitis diagnosis 2 weeks ago for which he is on cerenia and also an appetite stimulant.
    I have been giving him insulin injections - it is called Lantus U-100 3ml and I am only giving 1 unit twice a day. I have done this exactly as instructed since Friday. 7.45am and pm. Friday he wolfed down his new diabetic food (yey) and Saturday he ate some too. But yesterday he hardly at that much and today he has hardly eaten at all. I gave him an insulin shot this am (it is a very small dose) - should I give it tonight? Help.

    I am due to go to the vets again in 10 days so they can see what 10 days of insulin does to his sugar levels. I do not have a home meter - it is coming in the mail but not here yet. Not sure what to do. He is ok, but very tired and has spent most of the day in the basket. Ugh.

    Any help so much appreciated.

    Lucy
     
  2. Tanya and Ducia

    Tanya and Ducia Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2017
    Hi again,

    I'll tag people experienced with Lantus but 1st I wanted to let you know that it is ok to be a bit late with Lantus injection - up to 15-20 min would not make much difference. Let's hope they'll see the tag before that and advise you.
    @Marje and Gracie
    @Bobbie And Bubba
     
  3. Bobbie And Bubba

    Bobbie And Bubba Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2015
    Hi there, can you give us some more info? Does you kittie have any other health issues? Is there any history of DKA? How much insulin did you give tonight?
     
    Tanya and Ducia likes this.
  4. Tanya and Ducia

    Tanya and Ducia Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2017
    There are several tricks people use to entice kitty's appetite - sprinkle some Parmesan cheese or FortiFlora (probiotic) on top of the food; some use dry oregano, some warm up their regular food to enhance the smell. Have you tried any of these?

    Have you been given any pain killer for pancreatitis?
    What dose of Cerenia and appy stimulant have you given and how long ago?
     
  5. Sugarpegger

    Sugarpegger New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2017
    only the pancreatitis which was diagnosed 2 weeks ago. He only got the 1 shot at 7.45am - not sure what to do abut tonights.
    he just ate a small amount of wet food - do you think I should give him the shot?
     
  6. Sugarpegger

    Sugarpegger New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2017
     
  7. Sugarpegger

    Sugarpegger New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2017
    thanks - he just ate a small amount of wet food. He is on half tab of cerenia which he had this am. App stim was on sunday.
     
  8. Marje and Gracie

    Marje and Gracie Senior Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2010
    You are rather on a slippery slope either way if you aren’t hometesting. If you give a shot and he doesn’t eat, the BG might fall lower than you want. On the other hand, a sure fire receipt for diabetic ketoacidosis is Infection, not enough insulin, and not enough food/water.

    Can you get to a pharmacy tonight and grab some urine ketone strips? If you can, and you can get him to pee, you can see if he has any ketones can be a predecessor to DKA if not caught and controlled. You just need to get some urine on the strip, let it sit for exactly 15 seconds, and then read it next to the chart on the bottle.

    If he is eating, I would at least get a half dose of insulin into him. Try to push the food and water as much as you can. And I would also suggest you get a meter tomorrow at Walmart (Relion Micro, Contour, or Prime) and come back here. We can teach you to hometest.

    Good luck.
     
    Tanya and Ducia likes this.
  9. Sugarpegger

    Sugarpegger New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2017
    thank you. i got him to eat some treats and gave him the shot but it was 20 mins late. I will call the vet tomorrow. It is so hard to see my old friend suffering like this. We are both very stressed.
     
  10. Tanya and Ducia

    Tanya and Ducia Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2017
    :bighug: it is very stressful and frightening ETA: in the beginning. Then it gets better. We all know just too well:bighug:. Hang in there.

    Did you give the full dose of 1 Unit or half of it?

    In any case try making him to eat more - Lantus won't start working until approximately 2 hours after the injection so there is time to get more calories and carbs into him.

    What kind of wet does he eat? Do you know how many carbs?

    The best thing to get control over FD and to ward off stress and worries is to start home testing (easy). I use Walmart brand Relion human meter - neither meter nor the testing strips are expensive and available OT at any Walmart.

    Good luck tonight!
     
  11. Sugarpegger

    Sugarpegger New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2017
    thanks so much. Will try more treats now. I gave 3/4 - and yes will test tomorrow -my nerves can't take the 10 days the vet suggested. Thank you so much for everything everyone.
     
  12. JanetNJ

    JanetNJ Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2016
    Lantus does not last 24 hours in cats. It's supposed to be dosed every 12 hours.
     
  13. Bobbie And Bubba

    Bobbie And Bubba Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2015
    Can we encourage you to learn to home test to keep your little buddy safe? And to set up a Spread sheet so we can help you with dosing. Knowledge is power. We are here to help you so please ask all the questions you need to learn to help your little friend the best you can. :bighug:
     
    TempestsMum and Tanya and Ducia like this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page