8/03 TOEBY - AMPS 137, +3=79 +4=95 PMPS 140, +3 34, recheck 29, gravy FF +4=76 +5 158

Yesterdays's thread (not much to see here): https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...44-drop-of-insulin-given.233081/#post-2605022

 

He really seems to be feeling good today - he zoomed out of the box this morning, down the hall.
And they've decided the Ziwi Peak dry is not worthy... ate just enough the first time I opened the bags (I bought 2 kinds) to make a fool out of me.
Today I have 2 projects: 1) see if I can find FortiFlora here - we've given them human probiotics for years, but I read this stuff has that animal digest flavouring and that might help get Toeby to eat more of the low carb food he's not happy about. When I read @Chris & China (GA) write that her cat might eat sawdust with this stuff on, I was sold!
And 2) teach this old dog new tricks - see attached photo

 

So, it doesn't look like the caliper is going to be a big help at this time, because the measurements I am making are so small, but I could certainly see that if I didn't have syringes with half unit markings they would be very useful.
For clarity, I have changed his spreadsheet to reflect 0.1 units instead of the word "drop".
I think 0.1 most closely approximates what I am giving him, and it will be easier for the vets to deal with IF they ever get around to reading his chart.
I don't think they will be very warm and fuzzy around me using the word "drop", but who knows, they have to return my call for me to know.

He was playfighting a bit with his brother this morning, and just tested at 95 after eating some Fancy Feast pate, so I feel good about him so far today.

 

With the BD syringes, I used the smaller arms of the calipers. The ones you have touching the syringe in that picture. I needed to find a pair of calipers with really thin arms to fit under the lip of the ring around the top of the syringes. The biggest thing I found with the BD's is that the zero line was often really out of whack, sometimes had as much as 1/3 of a unit of insulin under the zero line. So I pushed the plunger up hard to start, to see where the real zero was, then used that for the one arm of the caliper.

It's great to see you've been able to keep at this same dose for several days now. Sometimes, for an experiment, you might want to fill a syringe, then spend some time figuring out how many drops that is. Start with a used syringe and coloured liquid to start. Twist the plunger to try to get uniform sized drops. Then do the same with a syringe loaded with insulin and count how many drops you are giving. If you ever need to give less insulin, you can then load to your 0.1 units, and squeeze out drops to get a smaller dose. There's a whole science to fine dosing!

Ziwipeak air dried lasted one feeding here too. Fortunately the store took it back and gave me a refund.

As for probiotics, human are better. Fortiflora is not great as a probiotic, though some use it as a food enticer. Page on probiotics for cats.

 

I would have skipped the insulin on the PMPS 130 reading last week, but tonight I think I am going to stick to the tiny dose and see how he goes.
As long as I am home for hours 2-4, when he has gone low on me before, I feel more confident.

Ren's Pets here in Canada offers that money back guarantee, and I may take them up on it for the Ziwipeak.
I will never give up on the human probiotics - they love it, and to me it makes sense, if it's good for my digestion, I figure who has a worse, more processed diet than our pets?
I buy the same brand for both of us, kept refrigerated in our local health food store - I swear by them, the kitties just get ones that are a little lower in count, and cheaper.
So I will keep them on that, but if I can find the Fortiflora I may see if it will make him eat more.
I checked 3 local pet stores here today and they have nothing even similar... I'll make a trip into the city this week and check there.
Thanks for the link!

 

As far as the Fortflora goes, I know there are different regulations in Canada than in the USA regarding some pet food ingredients and/or labeling, and I know the animal digest is the tasty ingredient.
Brewers yeast has never excited my 2 cats, but dry food is their jam, and it is invariably loaded with animal digest.
Perhaps Purina only sells it to veterinary clinics, like their prescription diets.
Canada is a tiny market in size compared to the USA, so maybe they don't sell it for retail sale.
I will do my best to find out.

 

I have seen Fortiflora for sale on line. Plus I think you can buy it at the vets. I crumble freeze dried all meat treats to get some interest in meals. What also works is dried catnip.

 

Toeby just scratched on our coffee table where his interactive toys on wands are kept - we just played a little "mousie" and it did my heart good to see him play.
The moon is big, bright and full - perhaps that has a bit to do with it, but it is nice to see him ask for a toy and to play.

 

Holy crap...
Just checked his blood at +3, he was 34 (1.9 mmol/L), rechecked in a few moments and he was 29 (1.6 mmol/L).
He was purring, and seemed content in the window - no signs of distress.
I almost went to bed without checking because he was having such a good evening.
Gave him a can of FF chicken in gravy which he dove into.... will check him again shortly.
Sigh.

 

I might add something a little stronger than just gravy, maybe a topper of a drop of syrup or honey.

So much for that dose.

 

Gave him a little bit of Karo (corn syrup) and rechecked and he is now 76, and still interested in playing, the bugger...
Jumped down out of the window after a couple sticks and some Karo in the yap....
Now interested in his polar fleece string.
Oy... what a cat.
I will test him one more time before I hit the hay, but, @Wendy&Neko is it fair to say I should probably skip the morning insulin no matter what, so that he can level back out from this little escapade?
I have to go out tomorrow and will not be around for the 2-4 window.
Laura

 

Given the size of dose he's on (tiny) and how low he went tonight, and you will be away part of the day tomorrow, a skip to drain the depot is an excellent idea.

 

Okay, almost 2 am... I checked him again and he is back up in the blue - 158.
I think he is fine, still looking bright, two kinds of gravy food down - one FF with the gravy mostly licked off, and one Royal Canin in gravy that he didn't seem to like much.
I think I am safe to turn in.
I emailed his vet clinic for a third time, this time with a live link to his spreadsheet as a read-only that hopefully any of the vets can read.
I asked them to have a look and give me their take on what is going on.... I feel I should keep them in the loop but I am extremely annoyed with this big clinic.
Reminds me of Bruce Springsteen - "57 Channels and nothing on".... they have like, 10 vets on staff, and not one has answered my emails or phone call.
They blame the pandemic for a lot of lacking in customer service, and while some of that is true, ignoring a phone call and 3 emails is BS, no matter who is on vacation.
Anyway... *****, *****, *****.. does me no good.
I am thankful for those of you who so kindly help strangers like me.
Good night.