Getting Junior safely to the vet
Getting Junior safely to the vet
My 14 year old cat, Junior, has a terrible time in the car. Lately he is getting worse. This time, he had to go into an oxygen tank for a few minutes. Besides throwing up, vomiting, urinating, he is now panting by the time we get there. It is about a half hour ride. The vet gave him a shot of anti nausea medicine on the way home, and he was better until we were nearly home. I cover the carrier and try to keep him in the front next to me, but nothing helps. What are the best options for things (meds included) to calm him down? I've tried rescue remedy, and it didn't work. Other than that, he is doing well with his diabetes well regulated for now. Thanks.
What do you mean, the oxygen? Was this done at the vet's? There's no reason he should have been on oxygen unless his breathing were so distressed as to require it.
What exactly are the steps you're taking prior to getting to the vet? Do you fight with him while getting him in the carrier?
No need to cover the carrier, as a matter of fact by covering it, you could be increasing the heat inside the carrier (causing claustrophobia and hyperventillation and overheating resulting in panting). Plastic carriers are very contained and if there is a covering over it, it maintains and increases heat.
Try putting him/carrier securely in the back seat and try to remain calm yourself. Talk softly to him but don't overdo it.
Rescue remedy is useless for nearly everything. If it has any effect at all, it is due to the alcohol in the product, not something pets should be given anyway.
Since he needs regular glucose monitoring, you really need to get him acclimated to being in his carrier and acclimating him to car rides to the vet. Try going for short drives so he can get used to being in the car. Again, do NOT cover the carrier, just keep a light blanket or towel on the bottom of the carrier for his comfort, try to make your vet appointments first thing in the morning before he has eaten, and make sure his carrier is large enough to accomodate him comfortably. Make the experience as pleasant as possible, such as when you get home, give him a special treat or a special playtime activity, toys etc so he associates the car ride with something good when he gets home.
You don't really want to use medications for this purpose since they can interfere with bloodwork and some of them work in different ways: some can be sedating, others can make the cat nervous, neither is good for the cat prior to a vet visit. The best way would be to try to acclimate him by taking short trips around the block or so once or twice a week.
You can of course, ask your vet, but personally, meds should be avoided in cases like this. Try to make sure he urinates in his box at homebefore leaving for the appointment, and depending on the time of the appointment, (like first appointment of the morning), by not feeding him immediately, he won't have anything in his stomach to vomit. Most vets open at 7 or 8 a.m., so you can adjust his insulin/food an hour or so later.
What exactly are the steps you're taking prior to getting to the vet? Do you fight with him while getting him in the carrier?
No need to cover the carrier, as a matter of fact by covering it, you could be increasing the heat inside the carrier (causing claustrophobia and hyperventillation and overheating resulting in panting). Plastic carriers are very contained and if there is a covering over it, it maintains and increases heat.
Try putting him/carrier securely in the back seat and try to remain calm yourself. Talk softly to him but don't overdo it.
Rescue remedy is useless for nearly everything. If it has any effect at all, it is due to the alcohol in the product, not something pets should be given anyway.
Since he needs regular glucose monitoring, you really need to get him acclimated to being in his carrier and acclimating him to car rides to the vet. Try going for short drives so he can get used to being in the car. Again, do NOT cover the carrier, just keep a light blanket or towel on the bottom of the carrier for his comfort, try to make your vet appointments first thing in the morning before he has eaten, and make sure his carrier is large enough to accomodate him comfortably. Make the experience as pleasant as possible, such as when you get home, give him a special treat or a special playtime activity, toys etc so he associates the car ride with something good when he gets home.
You don't really want to use medications for this purpose since they can interfere with bloodwork and some of them work in different ways: some can be sedating, others can make the cat nervous, neither is good for the cat prior to a vet visit. The best way would be to try to acclimate him by taking short trips around the block or so once or twice a week.
You can of course, ask your vet, but personally, meds should be avoided in cases like this. Try to make sure he urinates in his box at homebefore leaving for the appointment, and depending on the time of the appointment, (like first appointment of the morning), by not feeding him immediately, he won't have anything in his stomach to vomit. Most vets open at 7 or 8 a.m., so you can adjust his insulin/food an hour or so later.
..........Traci
Re: Getting Junior safely to the vet
Junior's breathing was bad; his tongue was hanging out when I got to the vet. It was scary. He was put in the tank for a few minutes at the vet. I won't cover him anymore; I read that covering them is better because it eliminates the overstimulation of the visual, but it doesn't seem to matter for Junior; he gets so car sick. We are able to get him into the carrier without much fuss because we keep it in the garage and carry him in there. After 13 years of this problem starting when we took him home from the shelter, I am used to it and don't get too upset myself, but worry about him since the new vet is further away than our old one and Junior is older too. Thanks for the suggestions. He is going to the vet less frequently than before because the vet said the research shows that the blood glucose curve is not really accurate. Now, he mostly has to go for fructosomine tests which is not as often.
Re: Getting Junior safely to the vet
"research shoes the blood glucose is not accurate".
That statement in and of itself is not accurate. I don't know what "research" your vet was looking at, but glucose curves, when done correctly, consistently and with attention paid to timing, are good tools for managing diabetes.
When there is a problem with regulating insulin, then a one-day vet stay in the clinic for glucose testing/monitoring is pretty darn accurate.
Sporadic testing, on the other hand, is not accurate. Sporadic meaning, when the owner only takes the pet in for a quick glucose check and nothing further.
The fructosamine is extremely useful, however, since it gives the vet an idea of how the insulin has been regulated for the prior 2-4 weeks.
That statement in and of itself is not accurate. I don't know what "research" your vet was looking at, but glucose curves, when done correctly, consistently and with attention paid to timing, are good tools for managing diabetes.
When there is a problem with regulating insulin, then a one-day vet stay in the clinic for glucose testing/monitoring is pretty darn accurate.
Sporadic testing, on the other hand, is not accurate. Sporadic meaning, when the owner only takes the pet in for a quick glucose check and nothing further.
The fructosamine is extremely useful, however, since it gives the vet an idea of how the insulin has been regulated for the prior 2-4 weeks.
..........Traci
Re: Getting Junior safely to the vet
My vet said she will use the BGC if there is a problem, but otherwise, just use the fructosomine every 3 - 6 months. I used to take Junior in for a BGC periodically, and am glad not to put him through that The vet said that when they are so nervous and not at home, a periodic BGC doesn't show that much; fructosomine is a much better indicator. I know that sporadic testing is a waste of time; I learned that the hard way when Junior was going into insulin shock in the middle of the night 3 years ago, and I had just taken him to the vet 2 days earlier. The benefit of that trauma, though, was that we changed vets to a much more modern and comprehensive practice. Thanks again for all of your advice and information.