Advice on diabetic cat

[Sanity Claws]

My cat has been diagnosed with diabetes (blood sugar at 490) and dental problems. Per the vet, the diabetes must be brought under control before the dental issues are addressed. The only problem is that it will cost $1200 to do that, mainly because the cat has to be hospitalized to get his diabetes under control.
Of course, then that means more bills later to address the dental issues and then to monitor the diabetes for the rest of his life.

The cost is prohibitive. I would not have hesitated to pay that kind of money a few years ago but, unfortunately, I am one of the people who has been badly hurt by the economic collapse.
Anyone have any ideas on options?

The only thing I can think of is to make him comfortable, make sure he feels loved, and then have him put down tomorrow.

[glinda]

1. Is his health so compromised that you need to let him go? I know all about the finances thing. So

ask the Vet if you can do a payment plan or do you have something to sell off? I sell off some of my personal belongings that I would not miss for my furry loved ones. There are some good Yahoo Groups on feline health and feeding also. As well as some of them cover dental surgery and issues related. This is one site to start with:
http://www.catinfo.org/?link=felinediabetes
I know only you know what you are capable of but ask the Vet to help you work through this. Some cats need insulin for the rest of their lives and some do not. Ask a lot of questions and although I do not know your fur loved one's age or anything, if you feel that you have time and kitty has time, try this also:
http://felinediabetes.com/vetbills.htm
I am hoping for help for you and your loved fur kid in this tough time.

[Sanity Claws]

7. thank you for your kind words and links

I don't have anything left to sell off.

I have a couple of ideas to follow up on. If they don't work, I will check out the link regarding vetbills.
Thanks a bunch.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Can you get a second opinion? I once had a diabetic cat

and when he was diagnosed we never had to hospitalize him. The vet had a pretty good idea of how much insulin he would need based on his blood sugar, so we started out with smallish doses (at home) and adjusted them later. The insulin itself is not very expensive because the doses are so small; I got human insulin, available at any drugstore. Mornings and evenings, at mealtime, I gave him injections in the loose skin on the back of his neck, which he didn't seem to notice at all. He was fine for about 7 years, finally passed away from an unrelated cause at age 16.

Diabetes in cats is manageable - talk to the vet about the alternative of figuring out the dosage without hospitalization. Or maybe you can find another home for the cat if someone is willing to take him. Good luck.

[Sanity Claws]

8. I am going to talk to another vet tomorrow

I was referred to the ASPCA and told they could do the procedures for less. Not true.
I hope this other vet I'm talking to tomorrow will discuss options with me.

[glinda]

16. good advice

[hamsterjill]

3. Second opinion

I would, at least, seek out a second opinion. I know that second opinions don't necessarily come cheap, but if you could possibly do that, you might have some different options.

I work with a rescue and we had one cat that was diabetic. We are a small group and our funds are always very tight. One of our vets worked with us on that cat by simply giving him small amounts of insulin and monitoring the effects over time. It was not an ideal situation, but it gave this kitty a couple of years of good quality life that he would not have had otherwise. We had him put down at the point where his quality of life was starting to suffer. We were not able to afford the "higher end" parts of treatment like hospitalization.

I do not wish to give you any false hope, etc., but would strongly suggest that if you are able, you look into a second opinion.

[Sanity Claws]

9. thanks for taking the time to read my query and

write such a thoughtful response.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. Tell your vet about the cost issues first.

Most vets will work with you----finding a cheaper way of dealing with a problem. And if you vet will not do that, you should go somewhere else. A diabetic cat does not need to be put down. Be frank with you vet, tell him/her that you will be letting the cat die if it comes to that, but you cannot do that much expense. If she/he doesn't realize that they are asking for the impossible, you have the wrong vet.....but I bet they will be willing to start insulin at home, which is much better than putting your baby down. You will still have the expense of blood tests to make get the dosage right, but that is not unreasonable.

Then again, we don't know what the dental issues will bring----is this part of the reason you are ready to give up?

[Sanity Claws]

10. I did discuss finances

very frankly.

I explicitly raised the idea of monitoring his blood sugar at home with strips and giving him insulin but he said it was too dangerous. He said the cat needed to be stabilized first.

[Curmudgeoness]

14. And did you tell the vet that you would put the cat down?

I understand the vet's point, but I am not sure this vet knows this is all that you can do. I see that you are going to another vet tomorrow....make sure you are explicit about this.

[glinda]

17. more good advice!

[ginnyinWI]

5. I agree with the above posts.

I think vets, in general, want to offer you the "cadillac" version of treatment options assuming that you want to do everything possible for your pet. Which is a good thing, but when too expensive, there have got to be some second-best options out there too.

I have no first-hand experience with diabetic pets, but I've read how bad dry kibble is for cats because of the carbs--which they can't process very well. Cats derive their energy from protein and their systems are set up to digest that, not carbs from corn and such.

If you did nothing else but switch Kitty to wet food, you'd be making an improvement to his health. His blood glucose levels could come down some even without meds.

This is where I got the information: http://www.amazon.com/Your-Cat-Simple-Secrets-Stronger/dp/0312358024/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326484601&sr=8-1

Also here, especially about diabetes: http://yourdiabeticcat.com/

[Sanity Claws]

11. Thanks for the response

I actually took him off cat food a couple of months ago and have been cooking for him. He improved right away but apparently he already had diabetes and the diet was not enough to control it.

The immediate concern is his teeth --- abscesses have developed and he needs to have some teeth pulled. The vet can't do that until his diabetes is under control.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. These decisions are all very deeply personal.

Please take what I am about to say in as non-judgmental a way as it was intended. I can not and will not pass judgment on you for whatever decision you make.



Sparkly and I have five animals in our home. Each is very special to us. The cats are the current worry, but one of the dogs is getting up there in years, too.

Our oldest is a 15 year old cat who, the vet tells us, probably has thyroid issues. She's lost some weight, although now seems to have stabilized. She's also had a few instances of us seeing blood spots where she walks, but no evidence of her ever actually bleeding. Lastly, twice in the last 5 or 6 years she's had a red blood spot in one eye. None of these are signs of anything good.

On the flip side, her activity and disposition is pretty much the same as it has always been. She has nooooo problem jumping. She's still my chatty little buddy when I am in my office. She's very vocal and very affectionate - in her own way and within her own limits.

We decided, when we heard about the possibility of the thyroid issues, to refrain from intervention. We would deal with issues as they arose but not follow any "heroic" course. (I know that definition varies with each of us . . . . again, I am NOT being judgmental or dogmatic here.) When it is her time, when her quality of life is declined, when she shows pain or some other non reversible symptom, we will do whatever seems most humane - allow her to continue to live her life as long as it was tolerable for her, or help her across The Bridge.

We both share the notion that prolonging a pet's life - or a human's, for that matter - is often more about those not debilitated than those who are. We think that she will have given us her last full measure of love right to the end. We owe her nothing less than a peaceful, dignified passing.

And that holds for her brother who is only a year younger, and for her doggie sisters, too.

Would that the law allowed such compassion for humans.



Again, these are **our** beliefs. You have to find what is right for you. There are no rules. Just love.

I wish you great peace.

[Sanity Claws]

12. Thank you for your very thoughtful response

I appreciate your understanding.

[Sanity Claws]

13. What I'm thinking of doing

The immediate problem is his dental issues. The vet can't treat that until his diabetes is under control.

I'm going to get some herbal tinctures to see if they can alleviate the dental problems.
I'm also going to give him Chinese herbs for human diabetes. My online research indicates that this can done.

Thanks for all of your responses.

[Curmudgeoness]

15. My cat had dental problems, and I use a water additive.

It is supposed to reduce the bacteria in the mouth.

http://www.virbacvet.com/products/DentalHealth/RinsesandFoams/C.E.T.AQUADENTDRINKINGWATERADDITIVE.aspx

I don't know what the dental problems are, but if it is gum disease, this may help.

[frebrd]

18. This was posted early last month.....

by kestrel91316.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1161119

She's a vet specializing in cats. You mignt want to PM her.

[CC]

19. The price seems awful high for treatment.

Though maybe vet prices are higher where you are. When mine was diagnosed this site really helped and taught me to insist on doing the majority of blood test myself. http://www.felinediabetes.com/ My cat would not eat the prescription food so we ended up using Evo cat & kitten. It worked great and the cat/s lived fine for years after diagnoses. I will warn you to keep Karo around in case. One cat suddenly stopped being diabetic after about 6 months and never needed it again. It happens with cats though not always. The other cat was on insulin until he passed away from bone cancer years later.

BTW now I only feed my cats Evo as I feel the "junk" food was part of why the two ended up with diabetes. There are other good food brands, just pay close attention to the ingredients.

[Sanity Claws]

20. Update 2

The vet gave me antibiotics to clear up the mouth/gum infection. After the antibiotics are finished, Oliver will get a Chinese herbal formula used for diabetes and safe for cats.

This may work out!!!

[Curmudgeoness]

21. I was hoping that this vet would help you.

Good luck.

[glinda]

22. hoping all the best for kitty and you