Conference misery::feline_v1

    How did you know?
    

Diabetes, whether in humans or animals, exhibits the same symptoms:  
acute thirst, urinating a lot, and eating a lot but losing weight.  
There are other notes on diabetes in this conference, but I'm not sure 
what the numbers are.  Try dir/keywords=diabetes for a list.  Munchkin, 
who has been diabetic for 2 years, had a direct line from the water bowl 
to his box for about 3 days!

Regards,
J.

    Well, I am now one very worried mommy - my Gypsy is now at the vet
    getting a glucose test for diabetes.  All the signs point to it, with
    a minor infection as well (high blood sugar, and slightly elevated 
    white blood cell count).  She has lost a lot of weight recently, and
    has been seeming weak, so I took her in for tests.  She's almost 13, 
    and has been with me since her birth (she was born in my living-room!
    her Mom, Midnight, liked company!)  I can't stand the thought of losing
    her, but the thought of giving her daily shots scares me.  
    
    I've read all of the notes keyworded with "diabetes", but still have a
    couple questions.  How fast will we see an improvement after the 
    insulin is started?  How do I recognize the early signs of insulin
    shock in time to get karo syrup into her?  Do you delete the syrup,
    and how much?  She is so weak, and yet so trusting and good, even the
    vet was surprised at her lack of protest at the testing.  I know she
    will have less problems with the daily shot than I will, but how
    difficult is it at first?
    
    Please pray for her.  
    
    Linda

	There was a long article in one of the recent CAT FANCY magazines
	about caring for a diabetic cat.  If I can find it at home, I'll
	copy it for you if you'd like.

	Sandy

    Linda,
    
    I do not have the answers to your questions...but just wanted to
    let you know that your in in my thoughts and prayers. 
    
    I have heard many stories that kitties with Diabetes can live a
    long long life if taken care of.   I am petrified of needles
    myself...but if it happened to me...I'm sure I would find a
    way to overcome my fear if I could help my cat as long as he
    was not suffering.  I'm sure you'll make all the right decisions.
    
    Thoughts and prayers to Gypsy.
    
    Sandy
    
    
    
    

    i rememebr when I used to think that giving a pill to a cat
    was a Major Horror.  Now I can pop a pill into a cat in the twinkling
    of an eye, with almost no feline or people fuss.  I think you will
    find that giving a cat a shot soon becomes routine, believe it
    or not.  Be sure you ask your vet to answer all your questions,
    and don't hesitate to call his office and ask any subsequent questions
    that occur to you.
    
    When my cats were getting their innoculations last week, I asked the
    vet if the shots hurt them, and he said he thought that the
    area where vaccinations are given ("the shoulders") was fairly
    insensitive -- note that mother cats pick up their babies
    there.
    
    I'm sure this must be alarming to you, but I think things will
    be quite okay once you and your puss are over the initial
    adjustment.  I remember the magazine article too, and that lady and
    her cat settled in very well.
    
    Please let us know how things are going.
    

    I'm sorry to hear about Gypsy. At least veterinary medicine has progressed
    to the point where owners of diabetic cats and dogs now have a choice.

    I had a diabetic cat (Junie, RIP) two years ago. I'll try to answer some 
    of your questions from my experience.

    >How fast will we see an improvement after the insulin is started?

    I think it will take a little while (a week or two) to get Gypsy's 
    blood sugar level down, and it will be gradual. When she starts to feel 
    better she will show it. 

    First, the vet has to determine how much insulin she should get. Junie 
    had to stay at the vet's for 10-11 days so they could regulate him on 
    insulin. They figured the amount by body weight but it was a matter of 
    trial and error to get it just right. Then, for the next 10 days he went 
    to the vet's twice a day so they could check his blood sugar level and 
    see if the amount of insulin he was getting was correct. They would give 
    him insulin if he needed it. They finally decided on one unit of insulin 
    twice a day. At this point I started giving the insulin shots at home 
    and brought him in once a month for blood sugar checks.

    Junie never really returned to "normal" after being diagnosed with
    diabetes, but then he was almost 18 and also had some kidney failure and 
    other problems of old age. He lived for another 1 1/2 years and appeared 
    to enjoy his life until the end. Geez, I miss him.

    >How do I recognize the early signs of insulin shock in time to get 
    karo syrup into her? Do you delete the syrup, and how much?

    With Junie, the low blood sugar came on pretty fast and there were not 
    many signs before it happened. Fortunately, it didn't happen often 
    because he knew when he needed to eat and would do so. Since I had other 
    cats who would eat his food, when I went to work I put him in his room 
    with enough food to last until I got home. If I was at home and Junie 
    started acting weak and wobbly, that was a clue to me to either give 
    him some food if he didn't have any available, or give him some Karo 
    syrup. He would also ask for food if he was feeling weak but not yet 
    showing any signs. Sometimes he would get a low blood sugar attack 
    during the night and would just start to YELL. This was pretty scary 
    for me. I would wake right up, leap out of bed and grab the Karo. I 
    only had to give him about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon and he would be fine 
    within minutes. No, you shouldn't dilute it. My vet gave me a fat 
    plastic syringe to feed him the Karo with and that worked great. 

    If you know what is and is not normal behavior for Gypsy and you pay 
    careful attention to her, you will be able to tell when she's not acting 
    normally and, therefore, suspect her blood sugar is getting low. Also, 
    your vet may have you test her urine daily at home so you have an idea 
    of where the sugar level stands. It's not as accurate as the blood test
    but it does help.

    >I know she will have less problems with the daily shot than I will, 
    but how difficult is it at first?

    I felt awkward at first, but I was really motivated to do it, considering
    what the choices were. Junie was very patient. I didn't have a problem 
    with sticking him with a needle (no, I'm not sadistic, the vet said cats' 
    skin is less sensitive), but until I got used to it I was afraid of either 
    giving too much insulin or not enough. 

    One thing that helped me was knowing that the animal hospital (Bedford 
    Animal Hospital, Bedford N.H.) had 24 hour emergency service, in addition 
    to regular office hours 7 days a week, so I knew I wouldn't be stuck with 
    no one to turn to if an emergency arose at any time. The vet encouraged 
    me to call if Junie was having a problem even if it was 2 a.m.  

    Your vet should tell you everything you need to know, but it may be 
    confusing at first. Do ask the vet your questions. Ask them as many 
    times as it takes to nail down an answer that makes sense to you. It 
    took me a while to get a good feel for the whole situation but once I 
    got used to it things went pretty smoothly. I got to be *real* good 
    friends with my vet.

    I would think Gypsy has a good chance of returning to a pretty normal
    life once she is regulated on insulin. If you want have any questions
    you'd like to ask or just want some moral support, feel free to send 
    mail or call (DTN 381-0710).

    Wishing you both the best of luck and crossing all our fingers and toes,

    Linda, Misty, Cubby, Toby, Tweetie, Peanut

    Linda -
      When I first started giving my own vaccinations I was quite concerned
    about hurting the cats/kittens too, but in my experience they don't
    even notice the needle.  I don't think it bothers them at all.  I
    think when you see that Gypsy is so much better with the daily insulin
    shots you'll feel a whole lot better about giving them.
    
      My in-laws had a diabetic dachsund for many years.  I'll say my 
    prayers for Gypsy and you.
      Nancy DC

    Thank you all very much.  I appreciate the info, and support (one of
    the things I like most about this conference!).  Gypsy is back at the
    vets today, to begin the insulin regulation.  They are saying it will
    probably take 5 days.  I just hope she picks up weight and strength
    fairly quickly, she is SO thin, especially scary as she always tended
    to be somewhat chunky. 
    
    Also, I'd love a copy of that article, please.  Thanks for the offer.
    
    Linda

    I am glad to hear Gypsy is at the vets and having her insulin
    regulated.  One of the things my vet told me is to watch the
    weight of my older himmie as it might tend to turn into diabetis.
    I guess weight gain and keeping it on are one of the things that
    worries vets most. (Mings main food is IAMS dry and that tends to
    put weight on. Wish it would work with my boys.)
    
    Keep us posted on Gypsy and we know you will do fine with her
    treatment and will someday be encouraging someone else to
    treat their cat.
    
    Barbara & her 3M's

    Unfortunately, we lost the battle.  Gypsy was put to sleep this
    morning, and oh how it hurts.  But it was the right move for her.  She
    had become like a skeleton, and had a number of additional problems, 
    including hypo-thyroid, and kidney failure.  The vets have had a great
    deal of trouble trying to regulate the insulin, as she was not eating 
    right, partly due to arthritis in her jaw.  It seems as if her body was
    just shutting down.
    
    We will miss her tremendously.  I hope she's meeting up with my
    Cinnamon.  Nancy, please add her to the SLM.
    
    Linda

    Linda,...my thoughts and prayers are with you and Gypsy.   I'm sure
    she will meet up with Cinnomon and all the other loved ones we have
    lost.  (And Pat Brody will take care of all of them.)
    
    So sorry..
    
    Sandy

I am sorry.

Jo

         My deepest condolences.
    
    					- Andrea

    We are very sorry to hear this.. we send hugs and prayers..
    Kate, Happy, Preschie

	Oh, Linda - I'm so sorry to hear about Gypsy, but it sounds like 
	you made the right choice for her.

	Sandy et al.

    We're sorry to.
    
    -Roberta, Kelsey, Murdock, TK and Nikki
    

    We all share your pain with you.
    
    Barbara, Mocha, Ming, & Mr. Miyagi

    We're very sorry about Gypsy.  Bless you for being brave enough
    to give her peace.  I'm sure she is with Pat in heaven.
    
    Karen, Sweetie, Holly, and Little Bit
    

    Linda,
    
    I am so very sorry.
    
    Lisa plus Pookie, Rolf and Florence.
    

    Linda -
      I have added Gypsy's name to the Silver Lining Memorial List
    and she'll be part of the memorial we send to the Pat Brody Memorial
    Animal Shelter. 
    
    I'm very sorry that you lost her.
      Nancy