Intro to Mrow

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Mrowzers, Jun 24, 2020.

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  1. Mrowzers

    Mrowzers New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2020
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    Good morning!
    My name is Jen. I'm from Ontario Canada, and my diabetic cat's name is Birthday Kitty, but usually is called Mrow. We have two other cats in the home who are not diabetic.

    Mrow is an 11yo domestic shorthair, with tortoise shell markings. We have had her since the age of roughly 6 weeks. She is spayed, and lives exclusively indoors. She used to play outside, but we no longer have a yard or balcony.

    Mrow was diagnosed around Jun 8 2020.
    I took her to the vet for having litterbox issues, lethargy and decreased appetite, weakness in the hindquarters and walking on hocks, excessive water consumption, and being withdrawn and not vocalizing with humans as usual. She also suffered weight loss.

    She used to be free-fed Royal Canin dry kibble, we mixed the senior and indoor formulas.
    We now feed all of our cats a scheduled, wet-only diet of friskies and fancy feast pates and chunks with gravy, three times daily (still adjusting to the schedule, one of the other cats is less than impressed‍♀️)

    Her first bg spot check with the vet was yesterday, and they told me she read 11.6, but I am awaiting a phone conversation with the vet for further explanation and instruction.

    She has been treated to this point with one unit of Lantus in a 0.5ml/cc u-100 ultrafine veterinary needle twice daily, at 7am and 7pm.
    We have seen some improvement in energy, attitude, and vocalization, she is much more alert and engaged. Her appetite seems to be back in force, as she gets very excited for meals now, lol. She's regained a small amount of weight, as well. She is drinking less excessively, and is no longer eliminating outside her litterbox, but still has waste in the fur from being unable to use the hind legs well. I've been using some waterless cat shampoo, and occasionally having my son help me give her brief wet-baths to keep up hygiene (she's his cat, and will do almost anything for him, even bathe).

    I ordered an Alphatrak 2 as it is what my vet uses. On suggestion from Sugarcats, I will be picking up a more affordable meter for dailies, and use the AT2 for vet reporting, as finances are a consideration.
    I'm very new to the intricacies of this disease and managing it, but will be starting the bg monitoring/learning process tonight.

    I've joined the sugarcats facebook group, also.
    This is a LOT to learn and manage, and I won't deny feeling overwhelmed. I also feel pretty hopeful; I have recieved a great deal of support from other caregivers of diabetic cats so far, and am relieved to know such support exists.

    Hopefully I've included all the relevant and important information. I'm relieved to get started here and hopefully one day achieve remission for Mrow!
     
  2. Nan & Amber (GA)

    Nan & Amber (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Mar 19, 2016
    Hello and welcome! Sounds like you are doing all your homework to get extra-sweet Mrow back on track!

    Home testing has a bit of a learning curve at first, but soon becomes routine. It's the best thing you can do to keep Mrow safe and make sure that you are dosing properly to get her feeling better.

    I do have one comment:

    That's a reasonable starting dose, so that's great. If you can, though, you should look for 0.3ml/cc syringes, with half-unit markings. The 0.5ml syringes have a wider barrel, which makes measuring small doses more difficult-- 1.0U is just about do-able, but it's not uncommon for cats to need less than that. The half-unit markings are also really helpful-- around here we change doses by 0.25U. It's a tiny, tiny amount, but cats bodies are also pretty small, and it can make a real difference!

    Anyway, welcome again to you and Mrow!
     
  3. Mrowzers

    Mrowzers New Member

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    Jun 20, 2020

    Thank you! I'd noticed the needles you mentioned when shopping online, so I will be sure to remember them when I need to reorder.

    Can I just say: Thank goodness for this support tool (group, site?), and for all the reassurance and kindness. It really does seem like a lot of overwhelming information and practice to adjust to. Having a place like this to seek help and support is already making a huge impact on how I feel regarding my ability to care for our family member.
     
  4. Red & Rover (GA)

    Red & Rover (GA) Well-Known Member

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    May 18, 2016
    Welcome. Waving to you from the Kawarthas.
     
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  5. Lisa and Witn (GA)

    Lisa and Witn (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    Welcome Jen & Mrow. So far you are off to a great start. Everything you are doing is what we would recommend. I do have one suggestion for the food. If possible, try to get your cats to eat mainly the pate flavors. Anything with gravy in it is usually higher in carbs. By feeding Mrow pate foods, that will also help keep her glucose levels under control.

    There is a lot of great info on this site. If you have any questions, please ask. We are here to help you learn how to provide the best care for your kitties.

    Also, kudos to your vet. So far, everything you have been told has been good advice.
     
  6. Butters & Lyla

    Butters & Lyla Well-Known Member

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    May 30, 2020
    Hello Jen and Mrow! Another Ontarian here waving to you from Toronto.

    I use the 0.3ml/cc syringes that Nan & Amber (GA) mentioned, and I have been able to get them at the local drugstores, at the pharmacy counters. In bags of ten or a box of 100. So depending on what stores you have in your part of the province, when you need syringes again, you may not need to order online.

    You can also buy Lantus at the drugstore pharmacy counter, no prescription needed. Might be less expensive than getting it from the vet, depending on what they charge.
     
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  7. JanetNJ

    JanetNJ Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2016
    Welcome! In regards to the hind leg weakness, Better bg numbers will help, but what may also help is adding b 12 methylcobalamin supplements to the food. Not sure if you can get the brand zobaline in Canada, but you can use ones intended for people too.
     
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  8. Teresa & Buddy

    Teresa & Buddy Well-Known Member

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    Jan 2, 2017
    This beautiful kitty does not look like a short hair to me, hope she gets to feeling better sooooon.
     
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  9. Bron and Sheba (GA)

    Bron and Sheba (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2015
    Hi and welcome Jen and Mrow!
    Just wanted to add one thing to what others have said. With the food, we test the BG first, then feed then shoot.
    Most of us also feed snacks during the cycle as well such as +3and +5 (as an example) for both cycles. It is better for the pancreas to have several smaller meals than just a couple of larger ones and the cats like it better because they don’t feed deprived of food.
     
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  10. Mrowzers

    Mrowzers New Member

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    Jun 20, 2020

    I have looked into Zobaline, as it was mentioned in Sugarcats! My vet has been great, and Sugarcats has really helped fill me in on some more of the at-home intricacies.

    I read up on how to "make" zobaline equivalent, to avoid some of the undesirable ingredients in the human version.
    I'm not sure where I'm at with that just yet, as there are financial considerations. Ideally, I'm hoping to include zobaline or equivalent as soon as it is feasible.

    I feel awful for her over the weakness, as it's affected her hygiene, and she does not enjoy the requisite baths we give to remove excrement. I'm really hopeful and determined to restore her dignity and strength.
     
  11. jt and trouble (GA)

    jt and trouble (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2009
    Methyl B12 is not the silver bullet alone. Bring down BG numbers to a more normal level is imperative for the ethyl B12 to work its magic. Apologies in advance if you are already aware of this.
    jeanne
     
  12. Red & Rover (GA)

    Red & Rover (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2016
    Just about every brand you can buy in Canada contains sweetener.
    @Wendy&Neko in Vancouver found a New Roots brand but it may be local to the west coast.
    Then there is Vitacost Vitamin B-12 Methylcobalamin -- 5000 mcg ($10US to ship to Canada).
    Zobaline has high shipping costs if I remember correctly.

    A few things that helped Rover.
    A memory foam pillow that he could really sink his front legs into and help haul himself up on the small table in front of the bedroom window. (He still needed to use his back legs for the jump up but the memory foam pillow did not slide and was a great help).
    Running down the hill in our backyard. Gravity and momentum kept the back legs going past the bottom of the hill. Getting up the hill again was arduous.
    These things, I think, helped Rover keep what muscle mass he had left and maybe helped make his hind legs a bit stronger. It's worth a try.
    With what your have available during these difficult times, try to make a bit of an exercise plan. Flying toys that make a cat use his hind legs might help.
     
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  13. JanetNJ

    JanetNJ Well-Known Member

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    Jun 8, 2016
    I've used vitacost brand with another cat. If you get one in a capsule you can just open it and pour the powder on the food. Non of the sugars of the melting tablets.
     
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  14. Mrowzers

    Mrowzers New Member

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    Jun 20, 2020
    No need of apology, I understand this will be a long road, and not easily accomplished. I'm excited that things seem favourable, that's all.
     
  15. jt and trouble (GA)

    jt and trouble (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    Youve found a safe place to land here.;)
     
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  16. Mrowzers

    Mrowzers New Member

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    Jun 20, 2020
    Thank you for this tip. Her bg just before dinner was 16.2 she was a bit stressed, as it was my first time, and I didn't get enough blood for the first strip. She was growing annoyed with me by the time I got her reading. But, she ate her dinner happily, and had her injection.
    I will begin feeding all the cats more frequently, in smaller portions, to help their adjustment.
    Above, another member mentioned the bits and gravy.
    I'd bought that for days the bg is low, as well as to help with the transition from kibble to wet. Mrow is beginning to be more agreeable with the pate, but my other two girls are not impressed. I'm giving them bits and gravy with a few pieces of kibble mixed in to appease.
     
  17. Lalkabee

    Lalkabee Member

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    May 1, 2020
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2020
  18. Mrowzers

    Mrowzers New Member

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    Jun 20, 2020
    I had trouble doing it from my phone, but I got her sheet up and running after switching to the laptop. Thank you!
     
  19. Teresa & Buddy

    Teresa & Buddy Well-Known Member

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    Jan 2, 2017
    What a cute kitty!
     
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  20. thebigfuzz

    thebigfuzz Well-Known Member

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    Mar 9, 2012
    Welcome!!! We are also from Canada (Vancouver). Mrow is beautiful :bighug:
     
  21. Lalkabee

    Lalkabee Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2020
    My vet said the same thing. Alpha track strips are really expensive so i bought some FreeStyle strips. I did a lot of test with the Alpha Track with AT vs FS strips and did the same for the Freestyle meter (using the same drop of blood). I won't discuss the results, but i do not trust the human meter. Freestyle lite strips used in the AT meter give similar results...for me. (did my own testing)
     
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2020
  22. Teresa & Buddy

    Teresa & Buddy Well-Known Member

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    Jan 2, 2017
    So are you.
     
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