Hi! I am pet sitting a diabetic cat in 3 weeks that is on vetsulin. I am only familiar with Lantus. I also have used a ReliOn meter and this lady uses a alphatrak 2 meter. In the past I saw vast differences when I tested the cat with the 2 meters. He recently was upped to a dosage of one and a half. The vet switched him from one unit to one and a half. I thought it should only go up by 1/4. The last time I tested the cat on a relion meter it showed 202 and the alphatrak showef 354. Any advice would be most appreciated. Thank you!
New to Vetsulin need advice
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Kris & Teasel
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Yes, we'd recommend increases of only 0.25 u. What would the kitty's owner think of that?
Pet meters read higher than human meters and the difference is larger at high numbers but smaller at low numbers. The important thing is knowing that the "take action number" (BG is getting too low) is 50 on a human meter and 68 on a pet meter.
Vetsulin is very different in its action. It's an in and out insulin so there's no depot to carry over a dose's effect. It can drop some cats early, fast and low. Does the owner test at home to know her cat's responses?
How long will you be looking after this kitty? You can always post here or on the main health forum (lots more eyes there) for advice any time.
I am watching cat for 2 weeks. I thought I was posting on the main board. How do I do that?Yes, we'd recommend increases of only 0.25 u. What would the kitty's owner think of that?
Pet meters read higher than human meters and the difference is larger at high numbers but smaller at low numbers. The important thing is knowing that the "take action number" (BG is getting too low) is 50 on a human meter and 68 on a pet meter.
Vetsulin is very different in its action. It's an in and out insulin so there's no depot to carry over a dose's effect. It can drop some cats early, fast and low. Does the owner test at home to know her cat's responses?
How long will you be looking after this kitty? You can always post here or on the main health forum (lots more eyes there) for advice any time.
Kris & Teasel
Very Active Member
AlphaCat
Active Member
Does the pet owner have a tracking mechanism for their numbers that you are adding into?
If so can we get a couple days worth of numbers to help on dosing?
At 202 on your ReliOn, was that morning before shot or evening before shot or somewhere in the middle?
Also, did kitty have access to food before testing? What is kitty eating? How often?
We do tend to only go up in here by .25 unit, but I've heard vet's say to go up one unit at a time and I just cringe.
It is so easy to go up too fast and miss the optimal dose and just start the kitty bouncing so they just keep upping the insulin causing more problems than not.
I think it's great a diabetic cat mom has a concerned sitter for her kitty while she goes out of town! That's one thing most of us worry over!
If so can we get a couple days worth of numbers to help on dosing?
At 202 on your ReliOn, was that morning before shot or evening before shot or somewhere in the middle?
Also, did kitty have access to food before testing? What is kitty eating? How often?
We do tend to only go up in here by .25 unit, but I've heard vet's say to go up one unit at a time and I just cringe.
It is so easy to go up too fast and miss the optimal dose and just start the kitty bouncing so they just keep upping the insulin causing more problems than not.
I think it's great a diabetic cat mom has a concerned sitter for her kitty while she goes out of town! That's one thing most of us worry over!
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