Diabetes specialist in Brooklyn?

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and so hope I'm posting correctly.

My cat, Moritz, was diagnosed with diabetes in March 2010. Recently, due to a change in diet, I've been able to decrease his insulin dosage (Lantus) from 3/3.5 units to just 0.5 units! I began the new diet only a few weeks ago, so I'm still hopeful that remission is on its way.

I currently live in Berlin, Germany, but due to personal reasons will most likely be moving back to the States in about 3 months. I can't imagine not having my Moritz with me, and so he'll be making the move with me. I'm very nervous about this, but my Mom will be traveling with me, and I'm hoping that her presence will keep me calm and in turn that will keep Moritz calmer.

My two questions are:

1) Can anyone give me advice regarding moving with a diabetic cat? Particularly plane travel with a diabetic cat? Will any high blood sugar levels due to stress mostly likely regulate by themselves once he's calmed down?

2) After an initial period at my Mom's in Pennsylvania, I'll be moving to Brooklyn, New York (traveling by car). In the interest of being prepared, I'd like to start researching diabetes specialists in the area. Is anyone familiar with a diabetes specialist in Brooklyn?

Thank you so much! And greetings from Berlin to all of the kitties!
Elena

 

I travel across the country each year for vacation in California, with J.D.
I bought a Sherpa carry on bag, and I have to get a health certificate and note from my vet that I need to carry insulin and syringes with me on the plane. J.D. rides under the seat in front of me. I bring a bag of treats for him and give him a couple every 30 minutes or so, to break up the boring plane ride, and I bring some small plastic bowls for food and water (I ask for ice from the steward and give that to him). I also bring extra pee pads and a gallon sized plastic bag to put the soiled ones in, and a small bottle of Febreeze air freshener, just in case. I do not give insulin the day of travel, as it is about 12 hours in the carrier (car, airport, plane, airport, car), as some cats will go lower with stress. I test him right before we get on the plane. He wears a good fitting harness and leash from the time we leave our house, until we are inside the house in California, along with 6 bells and id tag with my cell phone number and "diabetic" on his collar. He is also microchipped, which I think is important for both the airport chaos, as well as when he is at my dad's house in California. I give him a squirt of Rescue Remedy in his mouth before we leave the house, and put a drop or two on top of each front paw, and put drops around his carrier and pee pads (usually a stack of about four pee pads, on top of each other). I have my dad bring a small litter box to put in his car when he picks me up in San Francisco, just in case J.D. really really has to go after all that time, as it's another 2 hours car ride to his house.

I bring appetite stimulants, plenty of treats, and J.D.'s favorite foods, for while at my dad's house, as he usually does not eat as well, in a strange place (although, he's been there, like 5 times :roll: ). I bring Miralax, as J.D. also has had problems in pooing in a strange place
I used to bring J.D.'s bed with me, but he pretty much just sleeps wherever I sleep. My whole carry on (the one stored in the overhead storage compartments) is pretty much filled with J.D.'s stuff that he will need (insulin in a small cooler with a sealed and frozen ice block), syringes, strips, lancets, food, treats, ketostix, medicines, extra pee pads, air freshener, maybe, a book for me, oh, and my purse. Everything else I bring for myself is checked baggage.

I always research all the airlines in advance to read up on their pet rules, as they do differ slightly, and choose the airline that best fits for J.D. I've never flown international, only across the United States, so don't know what restrictions they have.

Good luck in finding a vet. I can't help you with that one.

 

Thanks so much, Dyana! It helps to hear about your experience flying, and the Sherpa carriers look great, too.

I may have more questions for you as the travel date approaches (end of April), but for now, I'm feeling more reassured.

Thanks again!
Elena

 

Hi Elena,

I live just outside NYC on the New Jersey side. There is a 24/7 hospital in NYC called Blue Pearl Vet. http://newyork.bluepearlvet.com/ They also have a location in Brooklyn. Recently Jack had a major hypo and spent several days in their NYC location. I was very happy with the way they treated both him as a patient and me as "Mom". Depending on where in Brooklyn you'll be living either location may work for you.

Additionally there is the Animal Medical Center of NYC. It's a teaching hospital on the upper East side. They are great as well, but pricey. http://www.amcny.org/

If I think of any others I'll let you know.

Natalie & Jack

 

A friend just moved with her cat to Ecuador, and she made her reservation early, because most airlines limit the number of animals in the cabin and she wanted to be absolutely sure he could be in the cabin with her. She received some great advice from a some of the people here, including Dyana. viewtopic.php?f=4&t=59178.