Thom lives!

[dellzeqq]

(with apologies to Thom the six foot two inch cyclist)

Our Thom, the three kilo bundle of sweetness, is home. A bit smelly, very skinny, a bit dopey, and filled up with insulin that I stuck in him. I'm absolutely overjoyed despite being £687 poorer.

If he were a sentient being, possessed of emotions and a sense of his place in people's affections, he'd be thanking those of you who have texted and e-mailed. Since he isn't, it falls to me. Thankyou.

 

[dellzeqq]

There will be dancing in a street in SW2 tonight

it's like A Chorus Line in winceyette!

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Good news dell

 

[Sara_H]

Blummin pets, they get you right here <3

 

[Flying Dodo]

Excellent.

Have a smilie.

 

[BrumJim]

We have a diabetic cat too.
Watch out for those hypoglycemic moments. Make sure that she/he has access to food at all times - ours went hypo when we had guests round and she was too scared to visit her food bowl. And if he/she does go hypo, it is followed by a period of depression, so you will be unpopular for a day or two.
Other than cattery fees (can't leave a scared cat for neighbours to inject twice a day when we are away), its all good.

 

[StuAff]

Excellent news, saw it on AH's Facebook feed

 

[GaryA]

Is this a fleabag mutt or a fleabag moggie?

 

[BrumJim]

Does this all have a downside in the form of more wet?

Usually, yes.

 

[BrumJim]

I looked after a neighbour's diabetic cat once - it was so used to the injections that it used to come and lie down flat on the back of the sofa in readiness. The injection was so minuscule anyway that I don't think it felt anything and probably just thought it was getting very special attention that only it deserved - animals are a bit thick like that. Injecting penicillin into a horse though, that's a whole other matter. Thank god I'll never have to try and do that again.

I think that cats like the routine of a twice-daily jab. Particularly when it is linked to a filling of the food bowl immediately afterwards, which is generally a good call anyway to reduce the risk of going hypo. Ours only feels it if we are using a particularly blunt needle. A wince as it goes in is a strong indication that the syringe has reached the end of its operational life, and a new one is required next time.

 

[velovoice]

.. strong indication that the syringe has reached the end of its operational life, and a new one is required next time.

I did twice daily injections for five years with a diabetic cat (as good as gold she was and then she went hypo one night... which caused her kidneys to fail).
Anyway, I was told to always use new (sterile) needle to minimise risk of infection. The vet surgery would order them in boxes and set aside one for me every 2 weeks for me to collect. Really cheap - especially in the context of all the other stuff related to diabetis management e.g. insulin, 6-monthly blood tests, etc.

 

[velovoice]

Dell and Agent Hilda - sooooo relieved to hear about Thom. Hope this is the beginning of steady improvement towards stable management of his diabetes.

My heart jumped into my throat when I first heard the (bad) news - I've been there, done that - it was heart breaking but worth every minute and every penny to give my moggie Maddie another five almost-normal years. Best of luck. Please give Thom a hug and chin tickle for me.

 

[dellzeqq]

I use disposable needles that are so fine that he doesn't feel a thing. And I have a neighbour who is quite happy to come up and give him a jab when I'm away. So.......that's ok.

He's still really weak. We're going back to the vets on Monday for another check-up.

 

[Hotblack Desiato]

I looked after a neighbour's diabetic cat once - it was so used to the injections that it used to come and lie down flat on the back of the sofa in readiness. The injection was so minuscule anyway that I don't think it felt anything and probably just thought it was getting very special attention that only it deserved - animals are a bit thick like that. Injecting penicillin into a horse though, that's a whole other matter. Thank god I'll never have to try and do that again.

Do tell us about the horse!

 

[Hotblack Desiato]

Thank you. I shall bear that in mind next time I am asked to inject some horse.