Hello my big kitty "Oscar" was diagnosed six or 7 months ago.

Oscar is a big Maine Coon at 30 plus pounds we found him about 10 years ago on our driveway. He was judged by the vet to be a young Cat, he was in pretty bad shape and after several interventions and approximately 5000 thousand dollars for surgery, vet bills, medicine and specialist we had a healthy cat - until the Diabeties.

My questions regards his food. At this time Oscar is eating Fancy feat Classic cat food( found out about it on this site). He is also on 10.13 of vetsulin!

Oscar eats every morsel he is fed which is 2 of the tiny cans in the AM and 2 in the PM. Problem is he acts like he is starving all the time. He tries to take our food from the table and would if permitted devour the dogs dry food. (We have 4 little rescue dogs). So we keep them separated during feeding time.

I'm wondering if there is any filler food that is good for him that can be fed between meals?
I would appreciate any help. We are on SS so all of his care is expensive, that's why we chose the wet food. Plus I had to revert to giving his insulin once a day instead of twice, as it cost Fifty dollars for the little bottle? This could account for the hunger. But expense is a problem.

In the beginning the Vet had him on the dry diabetic food ID - he was losing his hair looked awful but with the change to the fancy feast he improved tremendously but still urinates quit a lot. He looks better acts better but is hungry all the time. Please reply with your suggestions. The Vet is too expensive to take him every week for testing!

 

You said "He is also on 10.13 of vetsulin".
What is 13.13?
Dose is measured in units. Vetsulin is a U40 insulin. Are you using u40 syringes?

How is Oscar's weight doing? When the diabetes is not regulated more food is required to maintain weight.Most of us here test our cat's BG at home using a human hand-help BG meter. We test before each shot and then periodically between shots to see how the insulin is doing so the does can be adjusted.

 

Welcome to FDMB, the best place you never wanted to be.

There are 4 things you'll need to manage your kitty's diabetes:
- You - without your commitment, the following won't work.
- Low carb over the counter canned or raw diet, such as many Friskies pates. See Cat Info for more info. If already on insulin, you must be home testing before changing the diet.
- A long-lasting insulin such as ProZinc, Lantus, BCP PZI, or Levemir.
- And home blood glucose monitoring with an inexpensive human glucometer such as the WalMart Relion Confirm or Target Up and Up (the pet ones will break your budget!).

Here is our guide for using Vetsulin/Caninsulin.

 

So sorry I meant he was on 10 units now it's at 13units his weight is stable around 27 Lbs he has lost from 34 lbs when he was first diagnosed about 6 months ago.( I'm using the correct syringes.)

The Vet said they don't make Insuline for cats everything they use is produced for dogs and adjusted for cats?

 

13 units is a lot of insulin! Most cats here are getting 1-2 units. And no insulin works once a day in cats. They have a faster metabolism than dogs, which often can get one dose daily.

So, your dose once a day means he drops low early in the cycle and then is in high ranges for the next 16 hours. Not only does that feel lousy, but it will be impossible to regulate him. If you would test him at home, you can see how the dose is working and not working.

To save money - test at home. You can get an inexpensive ReliOn meter and strips from Walmart. This eliminates any vet visits for testing. Friskies pates are usually cheaper than Fancy Feast.

 

I will go tomorrow and get the Relion meter and strips. I was really scared to give him the insulin injections , but found it to be very easy and Oscar often sleeps through it.

I'm a bit overwhelmed with the 4 babies (doggies that I have had for years) and Oscar who I love as much as my doggies if not more. I have never been without a cat and I'm 77 years young so not likely to change. Unfortunately I have health issues and a husband that has dementia and can barely get around! So yes I'm overwhelmed.

I do not want to lose Ossie and want to get comfortable with doing what is best for him.
My Vet tested him pretty frequently which I thought was not working as Oscar hates the car and the Vets office - so not surprised his levels were high but he just kept adjusting it upward to the 13 units!

Where do I find the diabetic insulin you are using here. I asked my Vet about a different Insulin -but he wasn't very enthused with change - I have been most impressed with what I'm reading here , Just need time to take it all in and get going!

Thank you so much for you help, Oscar and I appreciate it
One other thing that troubles me is oscars eyes that have eye goo in the corners. I have to use a wet cloth to remove. Eyes look watery, doc says it's the beginning of Cataracts and allergy?'any comments.

 

It's possible that you can make the Vetsulin work. Since money is an issue, I would concentrate on getting a meter and learning to test. Then you can see what the insulin is doing - is he dropping from his pre shot number. How much? What are his levels in the middle of the cycle? How soon does he start back up? Once you get that information, you will know how to adjust the dose.

Here is a thread with all kinds of info on home testing.

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

 

Welcome to FDMB, the best place you never wanted to be.

There are 4 things you'll need to manage your kitty's diabetes:
- You - without your commitment, the following won't work.
- Low carb over the counter canned or raw diet, such as many Friskies pates. See Cat Info for more info. If already on insulin, you must be home testing before changing the diet.
- A long-lasting insulin such as ProZinc, Lantus, BCP PZI, or Levemir.
- And home blood glucose monitoring with an inexpensive human glucometer such as the WalMart Relion Confirm or Target Up and Up (the pet ones will break your budget!).

The goopy eyes could be feline herpes. Giving 500 mg of l-lysine (an inexpensive supplement) is helpful for many cats. If that is the problem, the l-lysine will help.

 

Hello and welcome. My kitty Neko was on Vetsulin (Caninsulin) to start. It only lasted 8-10 hours and then she'd be starving by dinner time. Getting a meter and testing will help tell you how well Vetsulin works for Oscar.

My Neko also got eye goo (weepy eyes) a little while before being diagnosed with diabetes. Turns out for her it was caused by a condition called acromegaly. It is a condition that is caused by a benign tumor that sends out excess growth hormone. This growth hormone can block the eye ducts, causing eye goo. And it causes diabetes, most often requiring higher doses of insulin.

For filler food, you can do something like freeze dried chicken breast (best prices are in the dog section of pet stores), or you can cook up a chicken breast and cut it into small pieces. What I found really helped Neko's focus on food was to get an automatic feeder. Once it's on the floor, she pays attention to it, instead of me eating.

 

Some cats requires a high dose. My MurrFee is on about 20 units of the human Levemir twice daily

 

Yes, a few cats here are on high doses like Larry's. But the vast majority are on much smaller doses. I don't want you to get discouraged or scared so early in this sugar dance. There are lots of things you can do to find out how much your kitty needs and the first is to start testing; the second would be to give less insulin twice daily. Then, after getting your testing data at home, we can help you see just how the insulin is working for your cat.

One step at a time.

 

Here you are I'm trying to get use to how to use the site so you will see other post related to last evenings conversation! I purchased the Relion Meter and strips today and watched the video on how to test using the Meter but haven't done it yet.

Can you please lead me through the steps I need to begin: when to test before or after I feed? How to read the meter. What to look for on the read out? And should I continue to feed twice a day, even though Oscar is always hungry? Someone suggested giving him little bites of boiled chicken between meals?

I admit that I'm still a bit intimidated with all the information on this site but I appreciate finding it and look forward to a better and healthier Kitty. One other thing Oscar is not fond of having his ears touched, when we found him one of his issues was polyps in his ears that we treated for weeks before finding he would Need surgery (rare surgery) lots of antibiotics and many trips to the Vet.

Oscar also hates the car throws up and gets the runs. And does not like the Vet. After all he has been through. Can't blame him.

What insulin do you recommend If not the Vetsulin which cost Fifty Dollars for the small bottle. I asked my Vet about human Insulin from Walmart but he said it does not work as well at Vetsulin? Said it does not mean it would Not work??
Will greatly Appreciate your reply!

 

Everyone will have tips that helped them. Here are my ideas:

First, I'd read the directions and try the lancet and meter on myself. That'll give you good insight into how to use it, how to put the strips in etc. then start with the kitty. Find a treat he really likes. Take him to the spot you want to test. Some people use the kitchen counter, some put a towel on the floor. We had him on the couch next to the arm. I'd sit next to him and gently push him into the arm so he couldn't leave. Some people use the kitty burrito - wrap him into a towel with only his head showing. Sit him there, give him a treat and praise, and let him go. The next time, add warming his ear. That's easiest with a rice sack. (Thinnish sock filled with uncooked wild rice and then knotted. Heat it in the microwave until very warm. Hold it next to his ear and warm it up for a minute. (You want to heat up the capillaries so they pump up with blood). After you do that, praise, treat and let him go.

If he absolutely won't let you mess with his ears, you can try a paw.

Finally, take him to the testing place, warm his ear and poke. You're aiming for the capillaries that run off the main vein that runs along the side of his ear. (You can see this by putting a flashlight behind his ear.). Don't be tentative. It takes a firm poke. When you get blood, put the strip up next to it and leave it till it bleeps and gives you a number.

This may not be successful the first try. We poked Oliver for a whole weekend before we got a drop. Try three times. If unsuccessful, you and Kitty get a treat. Try again later.

 

Ok I'm not sure this particular Meter uses lancets I haven't opened it yet but the Video showed meter with the tiny pins ? Will look tonight and begin in the morning.

So I test feed and then give him his Insulin? Or reverse?

 

You will probably have to buy lancets separately along with a lancet pen. You do want to buy 25-27 gauge lancets so they make a big enough "hole".

With Cannisulin, it's test, feed and shoot. You want a test not influenced by food (which raises the number). And you then want something in his tummy before you shoot as it can be harsh,

 

Sue sorry to be a pest so you are saying to still give him the 13 units ? And then start test or feed first I'm confused And Old so forgive me.

 

Ok got it except for the amount of Insulin when do I reduce it ? And when do I test after he eats in the am?

 

I just don't know what to tell you about the dose.

Without a test, we don't know how safe the dose is. I guess, if you are going to give insulin twice daily, you could split the dose you were giving to 5 units twice a day. It seems like too much, but without any levels, there really is no way to know. And it could be that he needs that much.

I'll be relieved when you get a test and we have some idea where he really is, level wise.

 

Test, feed, and shoot. For short acting insulins (NPH, Vetsulin), wait 30 minutes before shooting. Otherwise, do all 3 withing about 10-15 minutes.

See my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools for some other assessments you can make to evaluate your cat, especially food and water intake and output, plus dehydration checks.