Healing purrs for Hobo on the way. Keep us posted.

No excuses necessary, this is a big thing to get your head around.
Incidentally, it's not my cats who are diabetic, it's me. My cats just have
hyperthyroidism. But anyways, lots of purrs from the cats and vibes of
sympathy from me to Hobo and you. Let's hope it's not too difficult to get
the insulin dosage right. The needles nowadays are so small that he might
not even notice he is being pricked. (You should have seen the ones in use
when I was diagnosed in 1970!)

Purrs heading Hobo's way - yours too

helen s

--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
to get correct one remove dependency on fame & fortune
h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$

Jeanne,

Please check your email.  I sent some information there.

MaryL

You'll get used to it very soon, you only have to stick the needle under the
skin, so you don't have to search for veins or muscles. It's really worth
it, I kept a diabetic cat alive for 6 years (from his 7th to his 13th year).

Nanny

Purrs for Hobo and you. You can do this!! I think everyone feels overwhelmed
at first. There is a good yahoo feline diabetes group out there though I
don't have the address right now. I'm sure someone else does and will
provide it. I hope you are BOTH feeling better about this soon.

Karen

...  Hobo is diabetic.  One symptom is

As soon as you mentioned the weakness in the back legs, I was thinking
diabetes.  This, along with really big puddles in the litter box, was the
symptoms we noticed in Josh (RB).  I was really concerned about the needle,
too.  The vet showed us how to pull up the skin to make a little tent and
inject the needle just under the skin.
I remember vividly the first day I had to do it at home.  I carefully filled
the syringe, pulled up the tent of skin, injected the needle, pulled out the
needle, and depressed the plunger, releasing the insulin into the air.
So I had to poke him twice!  I think it was harder on me than on him,
because he didn't seem to notice.  I was surprised how easily the needle
went in.
There are a couple of gauges of needles.  I don't remember the numbers, but
I bought the smallest one available and used a fresh one each time.  I
bought the needles and his insulin at the pharmacy.
Josh was about 14 when he was diagnosed. Except for the progressive weakness
in his hind legs, he did well for a little over a year, until the diabetes
finally caught up with him.
When Josh got too weak to climb into the litter box, I got some hospital
pads and put them on the floor next to the box.  I carried him in, and he
did his business on the pad.
Now you can monitor the glucose levels every day at home.  Back then it was
pretty much hit and miss at home with periodic visits to the vet for a blood
check.
Also, ask your vet about potassium supplementation. It might help his legs.
I read about this after it was too late for Josh, so I don't have any
first-hand experience with it.
I'm sure you will do fine with Hobo.
Annie

Hi there:

I'm so sorry that you and Hobo have to go through this.  I'm glad you've got
it diagnosed and that there's something that you can do for him.  How old
is?  It must be scary to imagine giving needles though I'm sure that you and
Hobo will quickly do get the hang of it.  Please keep us posted.

Susan M
Otis and Chester

Jeanne, I haven't had to do insulin injections, but I have had to
administer sub-q fluids and they're done about the same way. I don't
think you guys will have a problem.

The insulin is injected subcutaneously, which is MUCH less uncomfortable
for the kitty than intramuscular injections. It's very simple to do,
once you establish a routine. When miss DD required sub-q fluids, we had
to do it every day and allow the fluid to flow for a couple of minutes.
By comparison, the quick injection under the skin ought to be no problem
for you or for Hobo.

Take a look at the web page at
http://diabetes.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.felinedia
betes.com%2Finjections.htm

{{{Jeanne}}} I'm so sorry about Hobo.  But at least diabetes *is*
treatable.  I can imagine how scary this is right now, but I'm sure
you will figure it all out and do what you need to do to help Hobo
feel much better.

Ginger-lyn

Purrs and healing thoughts for Hobo, and for you.  I'm glad that his
diagnosis isn't worse, but sorry about the diabetes.  It's not a fun
disorder to have.  Marina is an inspiration to us all with how well she
handles her condition.  

FWIW, I gave my father his insulin shots after my mom died.  It's easy,
just remember to follow the instructions given for you, and remember
that he needs his medicines at the same times daily.  If I could do it
as a fifteen year old, you can do it too.  Hobo is an intelligent cat.
He'll figure out quickly that those shots make him feel better and will
adapt, as will you.  

Pam S.

I'm sure you'll do great, Jeanne!
Lots of purrs and best wishes for Hobo and gentle calming hugs for his
worried slaves,

Hobo is diabetic.  One symptom is

lots of purrs from you and Hobo.

Cati

Hi Jeanne,

Our cat, Ted, has been diabetic for several years and has been
successfully treated.  There are also several other people on RPCA
whose cats are diabetic.  It's a shock to begin with (I cried when
they told us that Ted was diabetic, even though I'd already figured it
out), but it's amazing how quickly you get used to it.  They use the
same kind of needles that are used for people and they are so
fine/slim that they don't hurt the cats at all.  I found that knowing
that Ted wasn't being hurt by her twice-daily injections made me feel
a lot better about treating her.  We got used to it really quickly and
after a day was injecting her just fine.

If you would like to ask questions or talk about it, feel free to
email me a tsilberb at bio dot mq.edu.au (replace the "at" with @ and
"dot" with .)

There are also many excellent information resources on the 'net.

Purrs,
Tish

sending purrs,
Brenda

Purrs that Hobo will accept the treatment and be fine in no time.
Although the idea of daily shots is scarry, I'm sure you'll be able to
get the hang of it. Let us know how things go.

Hey, that's what we're here for {{{{Hugs}}}

My cat Sheba was diagnosed with diabetes last March. She had the same
trouble with her legs plus excessive urination. The vet started her
off on 1/2 unit isulin twice a day. Then a glucose test. We kept
upping the dose slowly and carefully until we reached a good level for
her blood sugar--between 100 and 200.

Right from the first the vet put her on DM--Diabetic Management cat
food by Purina. It can only be gotten at a vet. It cost me $22 for 24
cans. And a small bag of the same kind of dry food for $17.  She could
have nothing else to eat but that and had to be fed at about the same
time morning and evening with the insulin about half hour later.The
dry food can be free fed. Important!! If the cat does not eat a meal
do not give the shot!! My cat weighs between 11 and 12 pounds. I feed
her 1/3 of a can twice a day plus a tablespoon of the dry. She is not
very active. A larger or more active cat will need more.

Sheba eventually was able to walk and run and jump again. But some
cats don'r recover that well. I am not sure why. Ands now she is not
even taking insulin. Just maintaining her sugar level with the
diabetic food. Although we will do another glucose test soon and every
month.

You can get the tiny needles and insulin from Walmart pharmacy. Get
walmart's own brand--Relion. It is about half the price of brand
names. $12+ for a box of 100 needles and again for a bottle of
insulin. The bottle of insulin should last for months.

The shot should be given in the scruff of the neck. The cat doesn't
feel it there. Anywhere else can be felt. At first you will be clumsy.
But you will get better. If you give a shot and are not sure it went
under the skin (one time it went through the tent of skin), it is
better NOT to give another shot at that time. Just in case some of the
insulin did go in. You don't want to take the chance of driving the
sugar level too low.

Keep some Karo handy. If the cat becomes lethargic and falls over and
has a small seizure or makes odd sounding howls; that is probably very
low blood sugar. Put some Karo in a syringe and squirt 10cc's in the
mouth. That happened to Sheba. I didn't know what happened and rushed
her to the vet. he gave her the Karo and told me what to do,

If this is the only cat you have, it is easy to manage the food
dishes. But if you have another cat, you have to make sure the
diabetic cat cannot get any regular catfood. Or treats. And you have
to see that another cat doesn't steal the diabetic cat's food.

I worked it out at my house and I have 4 cats and a dog. It is just a
little change in your lifestyle that seems overwhelming at first. But
in a week or two, it will seem almost normal. You will get into a
routine. And rigid routine is important for a diabetic cat. Needless
to say, the cat can't go outdoors. There too many opportunities to
cheat on the diet; not to mention getting into an unequal fight.

Plan your activities so that you are home at feeding time. For a
vacation, take the cat with you or leave it at the vet. A sitter
cannot be relied upon for this.

I hope my experiences have helped you. Write me anytime. Best of luck.

CATherine and Sheba

<>  Hobo is diabetic.  One symptom is

Loads of purrs for Hobo from Thea & Bono
Best wishes for you all - please let us know

-------------------------------------------------------------
lewemi at yahoo dot se || cat pics: photos.yahoo.com/lewemi

<SNIP>

{{{{{{{Jeanne}}}}}}}
Never apologise for worrying about a cat. Sending healing purrs for Hobo.

I'm sorry to hear about Hobo's illness.  Purrs for the treatments to be
easily administered and for him to get better soonest.
--
Britta
Check out pictures of Vino at:
http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album

Awww -- poor Hobo -- sending concentrated kitty purrs his way. Jeanne, if
you do have to give him insulin, you'll have a lot of people supporting you
through it from rpca!  I never thought I could give sub-q fluids but found I
could do it after all because I had to.  Thinking of you and Hobo.
Hugs,
Christine

Purrs for you both.
Sam

Thats the thought you've got to hold on to , it's NOT cancer,
and it's not earth shattering, well, not like the big C would be,
sticking a needle in a cat is not like a human, dogs and cats
dont seem to feel needles like we do,believe me I know,
Maybe cats being smaller need to have their insulin as close
to  time as possiblebut the other cat had different cicumstances
I think he was travelling in a car and had gone a fair time after
his insulin was due. when I go on a long journey, I take a small
eski for my insulin, cheer up.  hugs for you and Hobo  Jean P.

[Snip]

Purrs and prayers to you all. I'm sure that you will cope because you know
it's what you have to do to help Hobo.

Judith