Vacation dosage for Thelonius

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Thelonius, Dec 3, 2019.

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  1. Thelonius

    Thelonius Member

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    Nov 15, 2019
    I am taking a month long out-of-the-country trip in about a week and my cat Thelonius has recently been diagnosed. I've been keeping pretty decent records the past week or so, and I have trusted people that are willing to come by and give him his injections (some are willing to take glucose readings as well).

    My question is what might be a good vacation dosage to give him? The vet originally prescribed 2 units, but dropped me to 1 after two weeks and an in-office glucose curve. She then said I could bring him up to 1.5 after I started home testing, but I talked her down to 1.25. His readings have been getting better, but the 92 I got +4 PMPS tonight has me worried that I might want to lower the dosage, especially if they won't be around during the whole cycle.

    Any advice much appreciated!
     
  2. Bron and Sheba (GA)

    Bron and Sheba (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2015
    I would get another test in after getting the 92 to see low low Thalonius goes.
    Experienced people will help you decide the holiday dose, but much closer to the time you leave.
    Keep testing and recording the data on the SS.
    Could you set up your signature please as that will give important information to others and it will appear at the bottom of all your posts.
    I will get the link for you.

    http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/editing-your-signature-profile-and-preferences.130340/
     
  3. Thelonius

    Thelonius Member

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    Nov 15, 2019
    Unfortunately I wasn't able to get another reading last night as I fell asleep. He was pretty high this morning, I am assuming from a bounce?
     
  4. Noah & me (GA)

    Noah & me (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 3, 2016
    A month is a long time for a recently diagnosed cat and a lot of things can change in that time. Without knowing more about Thelonius or who is looking after him this is all I have for now:
    - "some are willing to take glucose readings as well" It's never a good idea to give insulin without testing first, each and every time.
    - "what might be a good vacation dosage to give him?" This can change from day to day depending on the cat, the insulin, his diet and his stress level. In other words just about anything including which way the wind is blowing.
    - "Any advice much appreciated!" This is so much easier said than done. I've been a stay at home papa since our first diabetic cat and my hair turned white when we had to board our second sugar cat for a week. Taking care of a diabetic cat can change everything, most people here cannot remember what a vacation is.
    The very last thing I want to do is to sound like I know something you don't and then you never come back. It's just a lot more complicated than a suggested dose. Keep gathering info and keep your spreadsheet up to date.
    - Another idea is to allow someone you trust access to this site, you can always change your security settings later. It's been done before.

    One last thing. I had it easy with two low maintenance cats and in all those years never once had a real emergency. Our last sugar cat passed last year and I'm out of the loop as far as medical advice goes. There is so much to know, I just want you to be prepared. :)
     
  5. Thelonius

    Thelonius Member

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    Nov 15, 2019
    I understand and am managing Thelonius as best as I currently can. If he had been diagnosed before I made any of these plans, they would likely be very different, up to this point he was an easy cat to care for.

    I'm having my roommate do about two weeks of the injections, another friend doing several days (who has experience working with shelter cats), and a vet tech that I am hiring for the remainder of the trip. I don't want to make it overly complicated for them, but I also want to avoid any dangerous situations. I looked into other options, but the only boarding location that would do insulin injections had never done glucose readings, and wasn't sure they could. My vet office said it would be difficult for them to board him as they don't typically have someone there for the start of each cycle.
     
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  6. Bron and Sheba (GA)

    Bron and Sheba (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 21, 2015
    Thanks for setting up your signature!
    Can we know your name please?

    Yes he may have dropped lower last night and bounced.

    When during the month is the person who is going to test the BG levels going to be coming in? Could they pop in at other times to check the BG?
    Needs for insulin can change over the period of a month so it would be better if there was some way to have the BG checked at regular intervals.

    I am going to tag @Wendy&Neko about the holiday dose. It is too early yet but she will guide you as to when to reduce the dose and by how much.
     
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  7. Thelonius

    Thelonius Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2019
    My name is Steve.

    Both my roommate and the vet tech have agreed to take blood readings, I haven't asked my other friend yet for sure but I think she will also be willing. So potentially, there will be readings for the whole time (as long as Thelonius isn't too difficult).
     
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  8. Bron and Sheba (GA)

    Bron and Sheba (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2015
    Hi Steve!
    Do you have an automatic feeder that you could get your friends to fill up each day when they are not there?
    Ideally if you had one for the am cycle and one for the pm cycle they would not have to reset them each time.
    You would get them to feed him before the shots them if you had the feeders set for say +3 and +5 and +7 each cycle with some low carb food, that would help keep him safe.

    Do you also have some high carb food and some honey at home in case of very low numbers? Make sure your friends know what to do if they get low numbers or notice him acting wobbly or unsteady or suddenly starving.
    Here is the link to a hypo and what to do. Print it off for your friends.
    http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-treat-hypos-they-can-kill-print-this-out.15887/
     
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2019
  9. Thelonius

    Thelonius Member

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    Nov 15, 2019
    I don't have an automatic feeder, is there one recommended that will handle wet food?

    I have honey on hand.
     
  10. Bron and Sheba (GA)

    Bron and Sheba (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 21, 2015
    not sure where you live. I live in Australia so they would be different. I’ll ask someone for you who lives in the US
    Most feeders take wet food.
    @Red & Rover (GA)
    @MrWorfMen's Mom
    @Chris & China (GA)
    Do you have any recommendations for auto feeders for Steve please.?
     
  11. Thelonius

    Thelonius Member

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    Nov 15, 2019
    I live in the US, I just worry about auto feeders getting nasty with the wet food.
     
  12. Chris & China (GA)

    Chris & China (GA) Well-Known Member

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    May 10, 2013
    The PetSafe 5 is a favorite here....and the tray is washable.
     
  13. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Feb 18, 2015
    You can add more water to the food to keep it moist or even freeze it into cubes so they gradually thaw during the day in the feeder or even in a bowl.
     
  14. Thelonius

    Thelonius Member

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    Nov 15, 2019
    I've tried the freezing trick, he typically starts eating it as soon as it starts to thaw. I'll look into that auto-feeder. Thanks for the advice!
     
  15. Bron and Sheba (GA)

    Bron and Sheba (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 21, 2015
    Ha ha! Sounds as if he likes his food which is great!
     
  16. Sarah and Blaze

    Sarah and Blaze Well-Known Member

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    Aug 16, 2019
    I’ve used the Petsafe 5 for the last few months, every single day, for am and pm cycle. Blaze gets a LC snack at +3, 6, 9 during the day and the evening. I put wet food in it and have had no problems. I take the tray out and wash it in between am and pm cycles. And I got it on amazon.
     
  17. Wendy&Neko

    Wendy&Neko Senior Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2012
    There is also a little spot below the Petsafe 5 tray where you can put a mini gel pack, to help keep food cool.

    I'm afraid that I don't know enough to suggest what to do as a vacation dose at this point. Do you know if Thelonius will eat as much while you are gone? As you have heard above, a lot can change with a newly diagnosed cat. Typically we suggest people ask about petsitter dosing a couple days before they leave. Things can change between now and then.

    You will also need to write extensive instructions on what to do based on what blood sugars they see. Whether they should reduce, or maybe skip or give a reduced dose if they see a particular preshot value. We have had people go on holidays before and leave their cat with others to care for them.
     
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  18. Thelonius

    Thelonius Member

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    Nov 15, 2019
    From my 8 years of experience with Thelonius, he will eat anything put in front of him. This hasn't changed since diagnosis (in the week before I took him in, he was knocking over the trash can/getting on the counter). I figured I might need to wait to decide his dosage, just wanted to get an idea on what the month might look like.
     
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