Lab results in Hyperthyroidism?

Hi all, probably looking for people to tell me what I'm already going
to do! Anyway, I'm quoting here from Max's House (www.maxshouse.com -
thanks Phil P.!): "The most common clinical signs of hyperthyroidism
in cats are weight loss, ravenous appetite, vomiting, excessive
drinking and urinating, hyperactivity, and diarrhea. Often the
haircoat looks unkempt and dull."

I've got a 9.5yo Balinese male, whom I've posted about before
regarding possible renal failure. Subsequent bloods showed normal
renal function. The problem was that he eats like a horse, yet over
the past 6-9 months has gradually lost weight and is now as skinny as
a rake (when he first came to me in 2003 he was a little underweight,
but this is much worse). He does vomit occasionally (which I was
worried about when thinking about renal failure, as it runs in his
family), has diarrhoea and his coat has been unkempt ever since he
came to me. The problem with that is that I thought the coat problem
was due to bad teeth and gums and therefore a reluctance to groom
himself, but it hasn't improved since all his bad teeth were taken out
(yet he eats chicken necks and dry food now which he wouldn't before).
Behaviour-wise, he is as bright as a button, always happy and sparky,
and trots about the place looking self-important.

My problem is this: I took him in to my vet, who did the "elderly cat
screen" and agreed that yes, there is something seriously wrong with
him but he is unsure what. He did however worry about FIP as I had
had a teenage kitten die of this within the past 6 months (but that
kitten had no contact with this cat). I mentioned thyroid function
tests, but he didn't want to test that on the first pass. Bloods came
back, and he was NOT in kidney failure as I worried he might be; but
his white cell count was elevated (I think 22 from memory; vet didn't
give me a differential either). So he ran a coronavirus titre and
that was apparently sky-high, raising the index of suspicion for FIP.
In fact that is what this vet thinks my cat has, full stop. He hasn't
yet advised euthanasia but advised us to isolate him, and use
precautions against transmission, etc (even though from what I have
read a cat with active FIP is not actually infectious).

All this was about 8 weeks ago. Since then, no change in Harry's
condition at all. Still emaciated, still eating like a horse (2 cans
Hills a/d per day, plus lots of raw meat with a vitamin supplement and
he only weighs less than 3kg!), still some diarrhoea and vomiting.
Still very much interested in life and socialisation too.

So could he be hyperthyroid? Can that cause an elevated white cell
count? (He was tested for FeLV too, recently and 12 months ago (and
FIV tested 12 months ago) and has never been an outside cat since I
had him, anyway). Could a "sky-high" coronavirus titre be a red
herring? (Or even, a result of his system being stressed by another
general medical condition).

I wanted him tested for toxoplasmosis but they didn't have enough
blood for it; he gets so stressed when travelling I didn't want to
take him back for that test alone. But I think I'll have to get his
T4 tested for my own piece of mind, if nothing else...

Has anyone had a similar experience?

Asking for thoughts...
Cath

"Schroedinger's Cat" wrote in message
om...
Hi all, probably looking for people to tell me what I'm already going
to do! Anyway, I'm quoting here from Max's House (www.maxshouse.com -
thanks Phil P.!): "The most common clinical signs of hyperthyroidism
in cats are weight loss, ravenous appetite, vomiting, excessive
drinking and urinating, hyperactivity, and diarrhea. Often the
haircoat looks unkempt and dull."

I've got a 9.5yo Balinese male, whom I've posted about before
regarding possible renal failure. Subsequent bloods showed normal
renal function. The problem was that he eats like a horse, yet over
the past 6-9 months has gradually lost weight and is now as skinny as
a rake (when he first came to me in 2003 he was a little underweight,
but this is much worse). He does vomit occasionally (which I was
worried about when thinking about renal failure, as it runs in his
family), has diarrhoea and his coat has been unkempt ever since he
came to me. The problem with that is that I thought the coat problem
was due to bad teeth and gums and therefore a reluctance to groom
himself, but it hasn't improved since all his bad teeth were taken out
(yet he eats chicken necks and dry food now which he wouldn't before).
Behaviour-wise, he is as bright as a button, always happy and sparky,
and trots about the place looking self-important.

My problem is this: I took him in to my vet, who did the "elderly cat
screen" and agreed that yes, there is something seriously wrong with
him but he is unsure what.

Hi Cath,

The geriatric panel normally includes a T4 test for thyroid function since
hyperthyroidism is primarly a disease of older cats. I don't understand why
your vet left it out.


He did however worry about FIP as I had
had a teenage kitten die of this within the past 6 months (but that
kitten had no contact with this cat).


I never ceased to be amazed whenever some vets can't reach a diagnosis they
throw FIP into the pot. Suggesting "FIP" is like baggy clothes - it covers
a multitude of mistakes. If the cat dies, the vet can't be blamed; if the
cat survives, the vet is a hero. There are even some vets who would let a
cat die rather than be proven wrong.


I mentioned thyroid function
tests, but he didn't want to test that on the first pass. Bloods came
back, and he was NOT in kidney failure as I worried he might be; but
his white cell count was elevated (I think 22 from memory; vet didn't
give me a differential either). So he ran a coronavirus titre and
that was apparently sky-high, raising the index of suspicion for FIP.


Almost *every* cat from a multicat enviorment (cattery, shelter) will have a
high coronavirus titer. Titers cannot distinguish feline enteric
coronavirus infection from FIP. In fact no test can - other than
histopathology of affected biopsy tissue samples.

Were your cat's total protein and/or globulin levels elevated? If neither
one was elevated, the odds against your cat having FIP are 98.8% regardless
of the FCoV titer according to Colorodo State.


In fact that is what this vet thinks my cat has, full stop. He hasn't
yet advised euthanasia but advised us to isolate him, and use
precautions against transmission, etc (even though from what I have
read a cat with active FIP is not actually infectious).


You are correct. No two cases of FIP are caused by the same virus because
FIP viruses are mutations of FeCV viruses that are generated within the cat.
Horizontal transmission (cat-to-cat) is the *exception* rather than rule.

Please do not even remotely consider euthanasia based on some uninformed and
misinformed vet's flippant comment.



All this was about 8 weeks ago. Since then, no change in Harry's
condition at all. Still emaciated, still eating like a horse (2 cans
Hills a/d per day, plus lots of raw meat with a vitamin supplement and
he only weighs less than 3kg!), still some diarrhoea and vomiting.
Still very much interested in life and socialisation too.

So could he be hyperthyroid? Can that cause an elevated white cell
count?


Aboskalootly!!! Hyperthroidism affects every cell in the body and produces
a *stress* response with leukocytosis. Hyperthyroidism coupled with the
epinephrine surge from the "white coat effect" will send the WBC count
skyrocketing. I'd wager his blood glucose was high also - or didn't the vet
bother to check that either as part of the geriatric workup.


(He was tested for FeLV too, recently and 12 months ago (and
FIV tested 12 months ago) and has never been an outside cat since I
had him, anyway). Could a "sky-high" coronavirus titre be a red
herring?

Yes. To put your mind at ease, the *hallmark* symptoms of FIP is a
nonresponsive, fluctuating fever, elevated protein and globulin levels.


(Or even, a result of his system being stressed by another
general medical condition).

I wanted him tested for toxoplasmosis but they didn't have enough
blood for it; he gets so stressed when travelling I didn't want to
take him back for that test alone.

That's the main cause of his high WBC.


But I think I'll have to get his
T4 tested for my own piece of mind, if nothing else...

Wise decision. Just to be on the safe side, along with a routine T4, order
a free T4 by equilibrium dialysis (fT4ED) assay (about $20 additional) just
in case his T4 is supressed by something else. Its best to send both
samples to the lab together at the same time.



Has anyone had a similar experience?

Asking for thoughts...


The first order of business is find a different vet. The second is follow
your plans to have his T4 tested (by both assays).


Best of luck.

Phil.

Phil P. wrote:
"Schroedinger's Cat" wrote in
message
om...
Hi all, probably looking for people to tell me what I'm already
going
to do! Anyway, I'm quoting here from Max's House
(www.maxshouse.com -

snippage

Hi Cath,

The geriatric panel normally includes a T4 test for thyroid function
since
hyperthyroidism is primarly a disease of older cats. I don't
understand why
your vet left it out.

I've just called them and they're faxing the results of what they
tested. But I'm fairly sure they don't do T4 (be happy to be proved
wrong though!)...

He did however worry about FIP as I had
had a teenage kitten die of this within the past 6 months (but that
kitten had no contact with this cat).


I never ceased to be amazed whenever some vets can't reach a
diagnosis they
throw FIP into the pot. Suggesting "FIP" is like baggy clothes - it
covers
a multitude of mistakes. If the cat dies, the vet can't be blamed;
if the
cat survives, the vet is a hero. There are even some vets who would
let a
cat die rather than be proven wrong.

It's a good catch-all, especially if one has a recent history of it as
I did...there was another girl I took in who had the FIP question
raised; nothing specific on bloods apart from elevated globulin
(hadn't done a FeCV test at that point); but after a 2 week course of
antibiotics she rapidly recovered from whatever was ailing her. He
also has me on the lookout with one of my others, who presented with
bloody diarrhoea, anorexia and dehydration and had to go on a drip for
a few days; he says to watch out for abdominal swelling down the
track!!

I mentioned thyroid function
tests, but he didn't want to test that on the first pass. Bloods
came
back, and he was NOT in kidney failure as I worried he might be;
but
his white cell count was elevated (I think 22 from memory; vet
didn't
give me a differential either). So he ran a coronavirus titre and
that was apparently sky-high, raising the index of suspicion for
FIP.

Almost *every* cat from a multicat enviorment (cattery, shelter) will
have a
high coronavirus titer. Titers cannot distinguish feline enteric
coronavirus infection from FIP. In fact no test can - other than
histopathology of affected biopsy tissue samples.

That was my understanding...

Were your cat's total protein and/or globulin levels elevated? If
neither
one was elevated, the odds against your cat having FIP are 98.8%
regardless
of the FCoV titer according to Colorodo State.

The problem is his globulin may have been elevated. I'll confirm that
one way or the other when I get this fax...

In fact that is what this vet thinks my cat has, full stop. He
hasn't
yet advised euthanasia but advised us to isolate him, and use
precautions against transmission, etc (even though from what I have
read a cat with active FIP is not actually infectious).

You are correct. No two cases of FIP are caused by the same virus
because
FIP viruses are mutations of FeCV viruses that are generated within
the cat.
Horizontal transmission (cat-to-cat) is the *exception* rather than
rule.

Please do not even remotely consider euthanasia based on some
uninformed and
misinformed vet's flippant comment.

No chance of that - although he looks dreadful he is plainly still
enjoying life very much...

All this was about 8 weeks ago. Since then, no change in Harry's
condition at all. Still emaciated, still eating like a horse (2
cans
Hills a/d per day, plus lots of raw meat with a vitamin supplement
and
he only weighs less than 3kg!), still some diarrhoea and vomiting.
Still very much interested in life and socialisation too.

So could he be hyperthyroid? Can that cause an elevated white cell
count?

Aboskalootly!!! Hyperthroidism affects every cell in the body and
produces
a *stress* response with leukocytosis. Hyperthyroidism coupled with
the
epinephrine surge from the "white coat effect" will send the WBC
count
skyrocketing. I'd wager his blood glucose was high also - or didn't
the vet
bother to check that either as part of the geriatric workup.

I think that was normal 8-)! But yes, he gets *extremely* stressed
with travel, even though this was a 15 minute car ride. If he were
already stressed from another medical condition then that would
compound things. I was also wondering if stress from a general medical
condition such as hyperthyroidism, might cause a concomitant elevation
in corona titres if that was opportunistically affecting him as a
result of general unwellness (if that makes any sense!)

(He was tested for FeLV too, recently and 12 months ago (and
FIV tested 12 months ago) and has never been an outside cat since I
had him, anyway). Could a "sky-high" coronavirus titre be a red
herring?

Yes. To put your mind at ease, the *hallmark* symptoms of FIP is a
nonresponsive, fluctuating fever, elevated protein and globulin
levels.

I think he was afebrile at the vet visit; and a febrile cat would not
have such a great appetite, would he?

I wanted him tested for toxoplasmosis but they didn't have enough
blood for it; he gets so stressed when travelling I didn't want to
take him back for that test alone.

That's the main cause of his high WBC.

Yes - I forgot that I've seen that many times in elderly human
patients, if they've been acutely injured, etc...

But I think I'll have to get his
T4 tested for my own piece of mind, if nothing else...

Wise decision. Just to be on the safe side, along with a routine T4,
order
a free T4 by equilibrium dialysis (fT4ED) assay (about $20
additional) just
in case his T4 is supressed by something else. Its best to send both
samples to the lab together at the same time.

snippage

The first order of business is find a different vet. The second is
follow
your plans to have his T4 tested (by both assays).

I'm thinking that I'll go to another vet I know who seems to be very
thorough, armed with a copy of the results thus far; and request the
above!

Best of luck.

Phil.

Thanks very much! I've learned *heaps* from your postings...!

Cheers,
Cath

Further to that...!!!! They DIDN'T do a T4... and they didn't do a
blood sugar (but I think they didn't do that because he was negative
for glucose on a dipstick urinalysis).
His WCC was *37.3* (x 10 to the ninth) (ref range 5.5-19.5); this was
mainly as a neutrophilia of 82% (count of 30.6, ref range 2.5-12.5) but
he had a very mild monocytosis of 1.1 (3%, with ref range being 0.9).

His PCV was mildly elevated at 0.49 (normal = 0.24-0.45)
MCV = 58fl (ref range 39-55)
His MCHC was 280g/l (ref range 300-360)
Red cell count and Haemoglobin were in the upper half of the normal
ranges.

* His total protein was 86g/l (ref range 56-80)
* His Globulin was mildly elevated at 54g/l (ref range 28-48)
ALT was 85u/l (ref range 5-80)

SO, I think I'm going to take him to this other vet, and get the gaps
filled! (It was interesting that what he described to me as an "old cat
screen" was merely a full blood picture, liver and renal function
test...). At least the travelling time is about the same... I could
offer to take the blood myself to save the poor cat the trip (I'm a
human doc), but they might not come at that! (And I don't know if I
could do that to my boy, to be honest - although I have given subQ
fluids to sick cats before, and it's still sticking them with a needle.
But I think I'd rather have the vet do it!)

Cheers,
Cath

wrote in message
ups.com...
Further to that...!!!! They DIDN'T do a T4... and they didn't do a
blood sugar (but I think they didn't do that because he was negative
for glucose on a dipstick urinalysis).


Dipsticks are *very* unreliable for testing cats' urine glucose because cats
have a very high renal threshold -- could be as high as 200 mg/dL to 290
mg/dL. So, urine that tests negative for glucose doesn't necessarily mean
the cat isn't hyperglycemic. Dipsticks aren't even reliable for home
monitoring. The urine in the bladder accumulates over several hours in
cats, so, the reading at the time of testing may not reflect the actual
urine glucose . This can result in insulin overdoses.




His WCC was *37.3* (x 10 to the ninth) (ref range 5.5-19.5); this was
mainly as a neutrophilia of 82% (count of 30.6, ref range 2.5-12.5) but
he had a very mild monocytosis of 1.1 (3%, with ref range being 0.9).

Hyperthyroid cats tend to produce a stress response with leukocytosis and
neutrophilia.


His PCV was mildly elevated at 0.49 (normal = 0.24-0.45)

Yep, the PCV is usually normal in hyperthyroid cats or it could be elevated
slightly.


MCV = 58fl (ref range 39-55)
His MCHC was 280g/l (ref range 300-360)
Red cell count and Haemoglobin were in the upper half of the normal
ranges.

That could be from thyroid hormones stimulating erythropoietin.


* His total protein was 86g/l (ref range 56-80)

+protein and + PCV is also an indication of dehydration. Hyperthyroid cats
usually look like they're dehydrated but they usually aren't. Weight loss
usually causes a loss of skin elasticity and turgidity, so, the skin doesn't
snap right back after a pinch test making the cat look severely dehydrated.



* His Globulin was mildly elevated at 54g/l (ref range 28-48)

Could be has some mild inflammation going on somewhere. If it was FIP, glob
would and protein would be much higher.


ALT was 85u/l (ref range 5-80)


About 75% of hyperthyroid cats have elevated ALT. 90% have elevated ALT
or SAP or both.



SO, I think I'm going to take him to this other vet, and get the gaps
filled! (It was interesting that what he described to me as an "old cat
screen" was merely a full blood picture, liver and renal function
test...).


Amazing isn't it? He didn't test for two of the three most common diseases
in older cats! ;-(



At least the travelling time is about the same... I could
offer to take the blood myself to save the poor cat the trip (I'm a
human doc), but they might not come at that! (And I don't know if I
could do that to my boy, to be honest - although I have given subQ
fluids to sick cats before, and it's still sticking them with a needle.
But I think I'd rather have the vet do it!)

Cat's can be a real problem drawing blood. I'm a little shaky about your
vet now, but since you know what you're doing, make sure your vet uses a
vacutainer instead of a syringe so he can draw the blood directly into the
tube; or if he doesn't have a vacutainer, make sure he takes the needle off
the syringe when he fills the tube so he doesn't damage the RBCs by shooting
the blood back through the needle into the tube. Once I get nervous about a
vet, I start to worry about everything.

Just in case he does have something else going on that might falsely
surpress his T4, order a Free T4 by Equilibrium Dialysis assay at the same
time as his T4 assay. The fT4ED isn't affected by other problems as much as
T4.

Keep the faith!

Phil.

"Schroedinger's Cat" wrote in message
om...
Hi all, probably looking for people to tell me what I'm already going
to do! Anyway, I'm quoting here from Max's House (www.maxshouse.com -
thanks Phil P.!): "The most common clinical signs of hyperthyroidism
in cats are weight loss, ravenous appetite, vomiting, excessive
drinking and urinating, hyperactivity, and diarrhea. Often the
haircoat looks unkempt and dull."

snip
I mentioned thyroid function
tests, but he didn't want to test that on the first pass.
snip
I wanted him tested for toxoplasmosis but they didn't have enough
blood for it; he gets so stressed when travelling I didn't want to
take him back for that test alone. But I think I'll have to get his
T4 tested for my own piece of mind, if nothing else...

Has anyone had a similar experience?

Asking for thoughts...
Cath

Get a copy of all of your cat's tests/lab work, then go to another vet. It
is alarming to hear that a vet would refuse to do something as routine as T4
(and important) as a, and even more alarming that he even suggested
euthanasia at this early date. It would have been easier and cheapter --
and a much better diagnostic tool -- if this had been done along with other
blood work. Changing vets would mean more travel for your cat, but that's
better than going back to this vet over and over again for a series of tests
that could have been done in one visit.

MaryL

MaryL wrote:
Get a copy of all of your cat's tests/lab work, then go to another
vet. It
is alarming to hear that a vet would refuse to do something as
routine as T4
(and important) as a, and even more alarming that he even suggested
euthanasia at this early date.

Oh no, I think I said he *didn't* suggest it at this point... but he
wanted me to keep him isolated, and almost use "barrier" precautions -
a footbath at the door of his pen, etc (we can isolate him because we
have a large boarding cattery). But I do feel that euthanasia was in
his mind, as he seemed more or less to have made up his mind that it
was FIP. He said he is a "very sick" cat. But yes I was uncomfortable
(and now even more so given the lack of FIP-like progression) with him
saying he didn't want to do a T4.

It would have been easier and cheapter --
and a much better diagnostic tool -- if this had been done along with
other
blood work. Changing vets would mean more travel for your cat, but
that's
better than going back to this vet over and over again for a series
of tests
that could have been done in one visit.

I am planning to go to a different vet and the travelling time is about
the same. The only snag is the new "good" vet is away for 2 weeks I
think, about now; but we used one of their other vets at that clinic
for an emergency recently and I think they are all pretty thorough, so
I'll book an appointment anyway (and I have a copy of his blood test
results now, apart from the FeLV and FeCV tests, but I know those
results anyway).

Thanks! (and of course I'll be posting when I know more!)
Cath

Phil P. wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
Further to that...!!!! They DIDN'T do a T4... and they didn't do a
blood sugar (but I think they didn't do that because he was
negative
for glucose on a dipstick urinalysis).
Dipsticks are *very* unreliable for testing cats' urine glucose
because cats
have a very high renal threshold -- could be as high as 200 mg/dL to
290
mg/dL. So, urine that tests negative for glucose doesn't necessarily
mean
the cat isn't hyperglycemic. Dipsticks aren't even reliable for
home
monitoring. The urine in the bladder accumulates over several hours
in
cats, so, the reading at the time of testing may not reflect the
actual
urine glucose . This can result in insulin overdoses.

Very interesting - thanks! So that was a bad thing, not doing the
blood glucose level too! (tears hair!!)

His WCC was *37.3* (x 10 to the ninth) (ref range 5.5-19.5); this
was
mainly as a neutrophilia of 82% (count of 30.6, ref range 2.5-12.5)
but
he had a very mild monocytosis of 1.1 (3%, with ref range being
0.9).

Hyperthyroid cats tend to produce a stress response with leukocytosis
and
neutrophilia.

Thanks - that's exactly what I needed to know, that that could be
consistent with hyperthyroid. I know it could be something else but
it's reassuring to know I might be barking up the right tree...

His PCV was mildly elevated at 0.49 (normal = 0.24-0.45)

Yep, the PCV is usually normal in hyperthyroid cats or it could be
elevated
slightly.
MCV = 58fl (ref range 39-55)
His MCHC was 280g/l (ref range 300-360)
Red cell count and Haemoglobin were in the upper half of the normal
ranges.

That could be from thyroid hormones stimulating erythropoietin.

Funny how so much of it is fitting together, really...

* His total protein was 86g/l (ref range 56-80)

+protein and + PCV is also an indication of dehydration.
Hyperthyroid cats
usually look like they're dehydrated but they usually aren't.
Weight loss
usually causes a loss of skin elasticity and turgidity, so, the skin
doesn't
snap right back after a pinch test making the cat look severely
dehydrated.

He does look that way... his skin turgor is increased and I think if he
had been that dry all this time he wouldn't still be the same cat he is
right now...

* His Globulin was mildly elevated at 54g/l (ref range 28-48)

Could be has some mild inflammation going on somewhere. If it was
FIP, glob
would and protein would be much higher.

I did think that too - it didn't look like a vast elevation to me.

ALT was 85u/l (ref range 5-80)

About 75% of hyperthyroid cats have elevated ALT. 90% have
elevated ALT
or SAP or both.

More bits fitting together!

SO, I think I'm going to take him to this other vet, and get the
gaps
filled! (It was interesting that what he described to me as an "old
cat
screen" was merely a full blood picture, liver and renal function
test...).
Amazing isn't it? He didn't test for two of the three most common
diseases
in older cats! ;-(

Disturbing, really...!

Cat's can be a real problem drawing blood. I'm a little shaky about
your
vet now, but since you know what you're doing, make sure your vet
uses a
vacutainer instead of a syringe so he can draw the blood directly
into the
tube; or if he doesn't have a vacutainer, make sure he takes the
needle off
the syringe when he fills the tube so he doesn't damage the RBCs by
shooting
the blood back through the needle into the tube. Once I get nervous
about a
vet, I start to worry about everything.

I'm going to be taking him to a different vet to get to the bottom of
this; I have a printout of his bloods, apart from the serology results
which I know anyway. Unfortunately the vet I really want to see is
away for 2 weeks, but the others at the same clinic seem to be pretty
thorough (we had to use one of their branches for an emergency recently
and I was favourably impressed). But I'll mention that about the
vacutainer or removing the needle. They actually tell us to do that
with the needles for human blood too, although not everyone does it(!).

Just in case he does have something else going on that might falsely
surpress his T4, order a Free T4 by Equilibrium Dialysis assay at the
same
time as his T4 assay. The fT4ED isn't affected by other problems as
much as
T4.

Will do!

Keep the faith!

Phil.

Thank you so much for your amazingly helpful information and advice!
I'll let you know when I have more information; of course it would be
the weekend now, but I can probably get an appointment tomorrow or
Monday.

Thanks again!
Cath

wrote in message
ups.com...


Very interesting - thanks! So that was a bad thing, not doing the
blood glucose level too! (tears hair!!)

Cath


It would be very easy for you to use a glucose meter and do a test at home,
especially since I think you mentioned in another post that you are an MD
(hope I am remembering correctly). The ear is usually use for cats --
sounds painful, but friends who have diabetic cats tell me that it is
apparently painless and easy to do with most cats.

Here is some information on using a meter to do home-testing for glucose
levels in cats:
http://tlb.best.vwh.net/bg_punkin/test_bg.html

....and here is some basic information on diabetes in cats:
http://community-2.webtv.net/getcathelp/diabetes/

Incidentally, I have never treated a diabetic cat, but I do have diabetes.
I use the FreeStyle meter and like it very much -- it is fast and requires
only a pin-drop of blood for testing. Many also like the OneTouch Ultra.

MaryL

MaryL wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...


Very interesting - thanks! So that was a bad thing, not doing the
blood glucose level too! (tears hair!!)

Cath


It would be very easy for you to use a glucose meter and do a test at
home,
especially since I think you mentioned in another post that you are
an MD
(hope I am remembering correctly). The ear is usually use for cats
--
sounds painful, but friends who have diabetic cats tell me that it is

apparently painless and easy to do with most cats.

Here is some information on using a meter to do home-testing for
glucose
levels in cats:
http://tlb.best.vwh.net/bg_punkin/test_bg.html

...and here is some basic information on diabetes in cats:
http://community-2.webtv.net/getcathelp/diabetes/

Incidentally, I have never treated a diabetic cat, but I do have
diabetes.
I use the FreeStyle meter and like it very much -- it is fast and
requires
only a pin-drop of blood for testing. Many also like the OneTouch
Ultra.

MaryL


Thanks for that! I wouldn't have access to a glucometer where I work,
but my husband does 8-). We'll give it a go! But he still has to have
the T4, I think, as soon as I can get him in. But if we can rule out
diabetes before that, it would help.

Thanks!
Cath