09/22 Blaze AMPS 5.2/94

Discussion in 'Lantus / Levemir / Biosimilars' started by Blaze and Paola, Sep 22, 2020.

  1. Blaze and Paola

    Blaze and Paola Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2020
    https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/09-21-blaze-amps-6-2-112.235672/

    @Critter Mom @tiffmaxee

    Good morning,

    Blaze is still not well, he wants to eat, he gets hungry, but last night after he did, he threw it up about 3 hours later and had diarrhea 3 times.

    I found watery vomit downstairs this morning, I have to check the camera to see whose is it. Blaze slept with me for most of the night but when I woke up this morning he was downstairs already...i think the watery vomit is his.

    He ate this morning, I am home from work, took a sick day. I emailed the current vet to send all medical records this morning to the old vet. He is waiting for the records and as soon as he sees them he is going to call me and let me now next steps. I hope he has a spot so that Blaze and I can go see him today since I am home.
     
  2. Blaze and Paola

    Blaze and Paola Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2020
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  3. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Hi Paola,

    I'm so sorry that Blaze's GI upset is continuing. :(

    The 'hungry but can't eat' is usually due to nausea. Also, the watery vomit is usually due to stomach acid build-up after having had nothing in the stomach. If the vet agrees that nausea is the issue then ondansetron and Cerenia can both help with that. In my experience ondansetron worked better for both of my little ones but it can take 24-48 hours to build up to full effect. To provide some interim relief our vet would give a Cerenia injection and that allowed some time for the ondansetron to get going.

    As a precaution I'd ask your (better!) vet if they can run a Snap fPL test just to make sure it's not pancreatitis. (Buprenorphine would be needed for pain in such a circumstance.)

    If the vet thinks it's just a temporary GI upset then a kaolin and probiotic paste can help soothe the digestive tract and resolve diarrhoea (e.g. Pro-Kolin).

    On the dental side of things, even if there is no problem with the teeth themselves it would be worth asking about whether there's any sign of gingivitis in the gums. Such inflammation can adversely affect BG levels, but a dental cleaning can treat it effectively.

    Keeping fingers and paws crossed in the Shire for you.

    (((Paola, Blaze and Ash)))


    Mogs
    .
     
  4. tiffmaxee

    tiffmaxee Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2013
    I very much think it could be a bad case of pancreatitis although Max would become inappetent. Symptoms are not always the same. He will likely benefit from sub-q fluids as well as all that Mogs wrote. Ondansetron worked for both Max and Tiffany and a Cerenia shot first is an excellent idea. Don’t get the shots for home though because they sting! The pills are okay. :bighug:
     
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  5. Blaze and Paola

    Blaze and Paola Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2020
    Ok, my old vet just called me.

    This is the plan:
    1) he is very pleased with Blaze's glucose readings which are normal. Goal is to keep everything under 9 like they have been.
    2) change his food to Purina diabetic diet. He said that my (our) decision to switch the food to low carb might actually have done the trick with him so now I just have to continue that but he prefers the Purina diabetic diet and he said to just remove dry food from his diet all together. He suggested I feed them in separate rooms, so that Ash can eat his low carb dry as well which he enjoys. Blaze stopped eating it anyways.
    3) He said he had seen these spreadsheets before and he knows about this forum and I bragged about how you saved me and Blaze. He said this forum is an incredible resource and he was happy that I found you considering the let down from the other vet.
    4) For now, switch to Purina but hold on the insulin. He told me to continue to test him to see if the levels start rising again, in that case we will go back to the insulin but having seen his numbers he is hopeful that the numbers will stay low the way have been thanks for the food switch. Also he said to monitor his peeing and water intake if they start to go overboard again.
    5) Diarrhea and vomit. Blaze has not vomited yet this morning. He kept his breakie down but he has had diarrhea again. He will give me an antibiotic (he said it's best to treat the diarrhea before he could have blood in it etc...occasional spurs of diarrhea are normal, like once, but he keeps having it now, since Sunday) and probiotic combo to give to him to fix his diarrhea problem before it gets worse, he has had it for too long now. I am going to pick it up today. He will also give me Ondasenron.

    I am glad i took the day off so I could talk to him. He called me immediately after receiving the records. I feel so much better knowing that I have him again as my vet.

    Thank you so much for all your help. I feel good about the plan we have now and I will follow it. I will continue to post here and update the spreadsheet as we go.

    I truly love you girls :bighug::bighug::bighug: I feel hopeful that the diarrhea is going to get under control now. Gonna get ready to go get the meds.
     
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  6. tiffmaxee

    tiffmaxee Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2013
    I wonder what he will give you for the diarrhea. If you switch food I would add some chicken thighs gently cooked to it so he gets some real meat.
     
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  7. Red & Rover (GA)

    Red & Rover (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2016
    I'm not sure I'd try a food switch until the diarrhea and upchucking is resolved. And even then it would have to be a very gradual transition so as not to upset the digestive system. I'd out and out disagree with the Purina DM but I do want you to keep this vet. If Blaze does not like the DM (quite a few cats tire of the taste very quickly) or the price of feeding him (nuf said), you can always return any unopened cans for a full refund. Purina guarantees that. The Purina DM must be the pate. The Purina DM Savoury Selects is higher carb.

    Glad your old vet is on board and glad you and Blaze did not have to endure a car trip. Bonus!
     
  8. Red & Rover (GA)

    Red & Rover (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2016
    Paola, after you pick up the meds, you then have the rest of the afternoon to yourself. Get a bit of sun, then have a long bath and a nap.:bighug:
     
  9. Blaze and Paola

    Blaze and Paola Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2020
    I just picked up the meds. He gave me metronidazole 50g for diarrhea and purina pro plan multi flora.

    The DM food is the pate...gonna wait to introduce this food when his tummy settles...i agree 100% with that too. And uf he gets tired of it, i will go back to FF...i am so stacked that I could open my own store.

    And yes :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:....the rest of this afternoon is for rest...i feel a huge burden got lifted off my shoulder the minute I got rid of the idiot and ignorant vet...sorry for the labeling but that's how I feel.

    :p
     
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  10. tiffmaxee

    tiffmaxee Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2013
    I’ve used metronadozole but at the lowest dose. My vet had me stop the minute Max had a normal stool and warned me at that point he might skip a day. What directions were you given and what dose?

    We have held off until now but I think it’s time to call this an official OTJ trial. I would call this Day 1 since he started with a green test this morning. We will get you the directions but you only test an AMBG and a PMBG. If either is higher than normal grab a test 2-3 hours after eating. If the BG goes down, the pancreas is doing its job. Good luck. You have this Blaze and Paola! Happy day 1. :D
     
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  11. Blaze and Paola

    Blaze and Paola Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2020
    :otj:!!:D:D
    Day 1...here we go.
    That's exactly what the vet said about the testing from now moving forward.

    The direction for blaze are take 2 pills a day, one morning, 1 evening with or without good but i will give with food. He gave me pills for 5 days (10 pills total). He said to give until finished.

    Attaching the photo of the container...
     

    Attached Files:

  12. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Thank you so much for asking after Lúnasa (aka The Noodle). :bighug:

    Yesterday's experience at the vets was not an all-time high. I didn't get to speak to the vet (and I needed the consult). For some unexplained reason they failed to perform the cystocentesis. The person I was dealing with then told me analysis of a free-catch sample would be fine and a cystocentesis would only be necessary if they thought there was a problem with that sample. This is not accepted best practice for checking that a UTI has cleared - doubly so when the cat has CKD. This suggestion went down like a lead balloon with me. I insisted on the cystocentesis and so the Noodle has to be fasted again tonight ready for another trip to the vets in the morning. This isn't doing her digestive system any favours, but we are where we are. <sigh> At least they managed to do the blood draw without sedating her for a change. Small mercies, eh?

    Got the key blood test results over the phone from the vet today, and we had a very productive consult on how her treatments are going and discussion of other areas of concern. Lúnasa's phosphorus levels are better, creatinine worse, but the best news is that her red blood cell markers are much better and she's currently not anaemic. Her haematocrit results have gone from 21% up to 33% - a really big improvement (and back up into the middle of the normal reference range). Our vet is really pleased with this result, and also that the Noodle's blood pressure is lower now that I've managed to find a way for her to take the meds without throwing them back up again.

    It's a real biggie that Lúnasa's blood pressure is better, and it's HUGE that the anaemia was regenerative. She's still IRIS stage III, but not as IRIS stage III as she was 6 weeks ago. I am very grateful for that.

    (((Noodle)))


    Mogs
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    Last edited: Sep 22, 2020
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  13. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    Jun 16, 2014
    I am so, so glad you had such a productive consult with your (better) vet today, Paola. He sounds so much more caring and competent than the ones closer to you. Here's hoping that the treatments he's prescribed will sort out Blaze's GI upset in double quick time.

    I hope that you've had some refreshing R&R this afternoon.

    Day One of Blaze's OTJ trial started well. Fingers and paws are well and truly crossed in the Shire... :nailbiting:


    Mogs
    .
     
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  14. Blaze and Paola

    Blaze and Paola Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2020
    I will pray for Lunasa and Blaze tonight before falling asleep, I actually had a long nap and woke up right at feeding time. Blaze's PMBG was still good. Praying that the OTJ trial works well.

    I am happy I have this vet again with us, the other vet was just a mess. I am sorry to hear that poor Lunasa has to fast again tonight. It is hard on them and their tummies. But at least you also had some positive news.

    Blaze already took his second antibiotic pill for the day, tomorrow one at breakie and one at din din. He also had a full meal with appetite and I was able to sprinkle a full packet of the flora he needs and he ate it all. My fingers are crossed. Today I had to clean diarrhea 3 times out of the litter box and on his fur. I just really hope this antibiotic works.

    I am feeling a little less anxious about everything. I am so grateful to you and the girls for helping me through this new reality with Blaze. I am forever grateful and I will continue to share everything here because I feel like we are like family now.

    (((@Critter Mom @tiffmaxee @Red & Rover (GA) Lunasa aka noodle Blaze Ash Paola ))))

    Family hug
     
  15. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    And ...

    (((Ash))) :)

    :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:


    Mogs
    .
     
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  16. Blaze and Paola

    Blaze and Paola Well-Known Member

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    Aug 29, 2020
    Yes!!! I realized I forgot to add him and I edited the hug....bad mom :confused:
     
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  17. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    Jun 16, 2014
    I beg your pardon? You're a wonderful mom, Paola. :)

    :bighug:

    .
     
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  18. Blaze and Paola

    Blaze and Paola Well-Known Member

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