Search Results for: blog learning to give injections

How to Give Injections to a Cat

Today at the cats only boarding facility, one of my coworkers from the veterinarian side showed me how to give an injection. Why do I need to know this sort of thing? Well, sometimes we have guests at the boarding facility who are diabetic, and need insulin injections before they eat. Sometimes, guests arrive and are in need of vaccinations — if the owner wants the cat to stay in the main part of the boarding facility, the cat must be up to date on his or her FVRCP. Today, we happened to have two guests who were in need … Continue reading →

Should You Vaccinate Your Own Pets?

Are you a do-it-yourself sort of person? Veterinarians are often asked if owners can administer vaccinations at home. But this is usually not a good idea. For one thing, the written instructions that come with over-the-counter vaccines may not be enough to educate an owner on the proper way to administer an injection. At the cats-only boarding facility, I was trained to prepare and give certain vaccines and supervised until the vet techs were confident that I could do it correctly. I don’t think I could have figured it out just from reading instructions! (The same with giving insulin injections … Continue reading →

When it’s Time to Stop Being a Caretaker

Everyone has their own personal limits. Their own measuring stick, with a point where they just can’t take any more. My mother — who is now the primary caretaker for my grandmother, who has Alzheimer’s disease (and a host of other health issues) — chose her stopping point a long time ago. She decided that it would be time for my grandmother to go into a nursing home if my grandmother couldn’t recognize members of the family anymore. As long as my grandmother can recognize her children and grandchildren, mom is willing to jump through hoops to keep my grandmother … Continue reading →

Insulin Pumps: The Basics

Insulin pumps — devices that can mimic the insulin delivery of a normal, healthy pancreas — were developed in the late 1970s. An insulin pump delivers insulin under the skin in two different doses: a low background dose given every few minutes to fulfill the body’s general insulin needs and a larger dose given to deal with meals and snacks. The pump holds a reservoir of insulin and uses a needle or a plastic infusion catheter to deliver the insulin. The needle or catheter needs to be replaced every few days. Why use an insulin pump? Diabetics who use an … Continue reading →

Diary of a Cat Care B&B: Syringe Feeding

My new part time job — working at a cats-only boarding facility — has been quite the experience so far. I’ve met all sorts of interesting cats and I’m learning a lot from my coworkers. Today, I learned how to syringe-feed a cat. Let me back up a little. Every other day, we weigh each guest to make sure they aren’t gaining too much weight or losing too much weight. When your total body weight is less than twenty pounds, even a tenth of a pound change can be a big strain on the system. If a cat loses more … Continue reading →

“My Son Has Juvenile Diabetes and Autism.” A Mother’s Interview

The following interview is with Ammey, a mother whose children have multiple medical and cognitive conditions. Of particular interest to me is her situation with her oldest son, Khy, who has both juvenile diabetes and autism. Ammey responded to my blog, Do You Have BOTH Juvenile Diabetes and Autism in Your Family? Here is her story. 1. Tell us a little about your family. My name is Ammey, and I’ve been married for thirteen years to my husband Mikel. We have three children: Our son Khy is 14, Kaine is 11, and Lilli is four. Khy has autism, asthma, type … Continue reading →

Caretakers: Role Reversal

Serving as a caretaker is a difficult and often unrewarding task. But have you ever tried to put yourself in the shoes of the person you are taking care of? I haven’t. For the last two years, I have been living with my grandmother and serving as one of her primary caretakers. Since I was about eight years old, she has been living with Type 2 diabetes. Within the last few years, she’s had to start taking insulin injections to help manage her blood sugar levels. The last few years have also seen a mental decline. My grandmother has changed … Continue reading →

Striving for Independence: Kids and Juvenile Diabetes

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After a long six-hour drive, I walked past the familiar fountain at the Children’s Hospital of San Diego. Was I really back at this place? Was history truly repeating itself? I checked in at the front desk, and rode the elevator to the second floor. In room 219 was my precious Riley. A wide smile spread across his face as I opened the door. “Hi R.J.!” I said. “If you wanted me to come for a visit, all you had to do was call. This is a bit over the top.” He giggled. Education is the Foundation for Treatment Spread … Continue reading →

What is Gastric Banding?

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I told you yesterday that I would discuss gastric banding later in the day, I need to stop using that phrase. Every time I do, it turns out I don’t discuss it until the next day! So you have my apologies for the delay. So as mentioned in Weight Loss News Bites yesterday, gastric banding seems to be gaining popularity as a less invasive surgical procedure for individuals who are only moderately obese. So What Is Gastric Banding? Gastric banding is a surgery that restricts the size of a person’s stomach so they need only consume small amounts of food … Continue reading →