Pancreatic and insulin resistant diabetic

gordonsmom

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Greta is 11. Perfectly healthy until about 6 months ago. After much testing, diagnosed with pancreatitis and diabetes. The diabetes is proving to be insulin resistant. Started with Prozinc, worked our way up to 8 units with no success. Changed to Lantus and we are now up to 5 units twice daily. Her numbers have never dropped below 420. Numerous glucose curves. She now has neuropathy in her back legs and walking on her haunches. Regular vet visits to a great animal hospital with numerous vets consulted by my primary vet so we will keep working on this.
Questions while I await my next conversation with my vet - anyone have experience in a case like this with methylcobalamine (b12) for the neuropathy? Also litter suggestions? i changed to a softer litter and lower box but it gets stuck to her paws and legs like cement and painful to her when I clean her. The litter is changed numerous times a day but since she drinks and urinates so much, seems she can’t avoid stepping in a wet area. (Box is jumbo size) Someone suggested the paper pellets, but have used those before with another cat after PU surgery and the pellets hurt my feet, so I assume they would hurt hers also. Any suggestions welcome.
 

drustone

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Methylcobalamin is a form of vitamin B12 that has been used in veterinary medicine to treat neuropathy in cats. It can help improve nerve function and reduce symptoms of pain and weakness. However, it's important to consult with your vet before giving any new supplements or medications to your cat, as they may interact with other treatments or have potential side effects.
 

Furballsmom

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Also litter suggestions?
Hello - I might be able to help with this part. What about a corncob (not corn) or walnut litter? These aren't as dusty as wheat. I use either a corncob or walnut litter mixed with clumping clay as this combination seems to be less dusty, and I still get the clumping effect.
If you have the space, you could try adding more boxes. My angel Poppycat didn't have diagnosed kidney disease until he was about 17 but for literally years prior to that, he drank tons of water and of course pee'd a lot. I had multiple boxes of a couple different sizes for him.
 

silent meowlook

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Hi. For the litter, you can use shredded paper for the litter since you are dumping it several times a day.
Did they do an abdominal ultrasound? How is the rest of the bloodwork? What are her teeth like? Is there anything else going on? Are you working with the specialist to get the diabetes regulated? How long has the lantus been given? What about diet? Are you testing at home?
 
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gordonsmom

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Hello - I might be able to help with this part. What about a corncob (not corn) or walnut litter? These aren't as dusty as wheat. I use either a corncob or walnut litter mixed with clumping clay as this combination seems to be less dusty, and I still get the clumping effect.
If you have the space, you could try adding more boxes. My angel Poppycat didn't have diagnosed kidney disease until he was about 17 but for literally years prior to that, he drank tons of water and of course pee'd a lot. I had multiple boxes of a couple different sizes for him.
Since I have several cats, I have several boxes. She just uses this one the most as it is on the main floor and doesn’t do stairs much anymore. I only have one on the main floor because we also have a dog that likes litter a bit too much. She has used the other boxes, same issue, that litter also sticks to her legs. After a lot of reading and thought, I think the problem might be the clumping as it gets hard so quickly on her legs. Do you use a specific brand of corncob or walnut that I could look into? Thanks for taking the time to respond.
 
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gordonsmom

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Hi. For the litter, you can use shredded paper for the litter since you are dumping it several times a day.
Did they do an abdominal ultrasound? How is the rest of the bloodwork? What are her teeth like? Is there anything else going on? Are you working with the specialist to get the diabetes regulated? How long has the lantus been given? What about diet? Are you testing at home?
I thought of the shredded paper, but it is very difficult to find. I used to be able to get it at Petco, but they no longer carry it in any store within a 30 mile radius of me - believe me I looked and made the phone calls. what brand do you use? Maybe I can try another search.

Yes on all of your thoughts - teeth were cleaned about 4 months prior and are still good. Ultrasound done. The hospital I use is a large one with many specialists. I have used them for other cats with health issues and dropped over 15k there last year. Lantus now for about 6 weeks. Today she tested at 456, same range as when she was on the other insulin, and even upping the dose has not helped. They want me to stay on it a little longer and will do another full curve in two weeks. I have had other diabetic cats that we have always been able to regulate. One made it to age 18 before he went into ketoacidosis. Diet- she is on DM, tried Hills Gluco support and also Royal Canin glyco balance but she would not eat either. She barely tolerates the DM.
Thanks for your thoughtful reply. Sounds like you’ve been thru this before.
 
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gordonsmom

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You can always use the old school regular litter.
Very dusty. My grand baby spends a lot of time here and I’m afraid the dust will bother her even more than the rest of us. (She’s lower to the ground 😊)
 

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silent meowlook

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I think it is best to use non clumping litter.Playground sand should just brush right off.Other than that you can take white paper and put it through the paper shredder and use a ton of it instead of litter. It can make a mess, but a safe mess
 

silent meowlook

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Is she eating dry food? Some cats cannot tolerate carbohydrates at all, and all dry food is high in carbohydrates. Have you considered testing at home? Stress hyperglycemia is a thing with cats. Although it shouldn’t be going as high as that.
I would imagine you got the insulin from a pharmacy and are using the U-100 insulin syringes, and the vet, or tech has watched your technique.

They didn’t see anything with the ultrasound that they found abnormal? Was the blood sugar this high when they did the dental?
 
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