DKA/FHL/ETUBE- Garland Updates

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Violet and Garland

Violet and Garland

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HI. Ive been a lurker here. My cat was diagnosed with diabetes at the beginning of the year. After we switched her food to canned and started her lantus she was her old self again. Last month we went through some really hard money times (could barely put food on the table for our kids) and so we had to buy the cheap dry food for her. So its been about 4 weeks of no cans. I was finally able to start buying the cans again today. Yesterday I noticed she was really lethargic. Today she could barely move, wasnt eating. I took her to the vet, they said she was dehydrated. I couldnt afford all the blood testing they wanted to do , but went ahead and did their hydration therapy. When I got home I bought some ketone sticks (bc he had mentioned ketones) and I tested her urine. It was as red as red could be. It was the "large" on the color scheme. So that HAS to be the problem... Her glucose levels right now are 177

What do I do???? She drank a little water and threw it right up... she is still just laying there.... help!!!

She was fine and normal 2 days ago. I first noticed something was up yesterday... I cant afford a long ER stay.... Is there anything I can do here? Fluids, helping her eat??
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

I'm sorry, but large on the ketone test strips is not good. I would say that you need to take her to the ER, now.
This is life threatening. Sometimes, people can bring their cat home after going to the ER, and then treat their cat at home, especially if the cat has not yet gone into DKA. I hope others will be along to help you, more.
My cat is a DKA survivor. It was tough, but he made it through.
I wish you and your kitty all the best.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

I hope you are still on? I'm sorry to say you need to take her to the Emergency vet. I really can't believe your vet just sent her home like that. It sound like she has Diabetic Ketoacidosis & it will kill her if you don't get her some help. There's nothing else you can do at home to help her. You really need to get her to the emergency vet. Surely they will treat her & let you work out a payment plan? I'm sorry but she needs help.....please don't leave her suffering like that.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

I absolutely agree with Dyana. This is an emergency situation provided that you followed the instructions on how to test. Ketones can kill and from what you're describing, it sounds like your cat is throwing ketones. My cat is a DKA survivor, as well, and hopefully you have caught this early that fluids and ER treatment will turn it around.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

We physically do not have the money. It just doesnt exist. We already had to use the money we saved for my daughters 3rd birthday next week for the vet stuff today. Im heartbroken and lost at what to do... she is walking, but is soooo lethargic. I did some research and its estimated at 1500-3000 for an ketone treatment stay in the ER. I dont even have 100. Im soo lost...

Im in DFW, Texas
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

My cat, Kitty, is a survivor of DKA only because we got quick vet intervention. With high ketone levels you need vet assistance immediately.

She can survive DKA, but she needs to be on IV fluids.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

Take her to the vet anyway, maybe they will help you or provide a payment plan for you.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

Did the dry food for 4 weeks cause this?

How much was your ER Ketone vet treatment? Do they do payment plans? Although... I dont think we can even afford a monthly payment.. I dont want her to suffer. I have had this cat 12 years. I love her sooo much... But what do you do when the money just isnt there??
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

If you are not able to take him in, then here are some suggestions for doing the best you can at home. An ER vet is always best, but I do understand that it isn't always an option.

1. Get as much water into him as possible. Find a needleless syringe (you can sometimes find them in the children's medicine section) and syringe feed water into him every few hours. What you are trying to do is add water to help the kidneys flush the ketones from his system.

2. Make sure he stays eating. If he doesn't want to eat, then try all meat baby foods.

3. Keep the glucose levels down as much as you can. Which insulin are you using right now? I can give you better suggestions for this once I know what you are using.

Do you have any subQ fluids to give at home? Did the vet send you home with any? This will also help in flushing the ketones. Hopefully someone on here lives in your area and has some they can give you. Maybe try editing your subject line to include "need help in DFW" or something similar.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

The dry food increased the carbohydrate load on the system. If you didn't appropriately increase the insulin dosage at the same time, it is quite possible that his numbers have been very high for the past month. Sometimes kitties are just ketone prone, and this could have been inevitable. It is just not something anyone can say with any certainty.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

Using lantus

She was dehydrated when I took her to the vet, so they did a fluid treatment on her. They pumped some water under her skin in several spots around her body. They puffed up, and over the last few hours, have now disappeared.

They didnt send me home with anything. Once I told them I couldnt afford the 250 they wanted for a blood draw, they sent me home. I had to ask for the dehydration treatment
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

When we were doing the dry food, I upped her insulin from 1 unit 2X a day to 1.5 units 2x a day... I didnt want to go any higher than that.... But her numbers have been high this whole time. Its never really been under 250 until today.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

Ok, well it sounds like they gave her a good amount of subQ fluids and they have been absorbed by now. One thing about urine ketone tests is that it shows you what the blood levels were hours ago and not what they are right now. See if you can test them again this evening before you go to bed and again tomorrow morning. Hopefully they will be slightly lower after the fluids. Get as much water in her as you can - by syringe feeding it and also watering down her food. She is throwing up because ketones at this level make her feel nauseous. Ketones are naturally flushed by the kidneys but when things go out of balance with the insulin, they can start to be generated faster than the kidneys can flush them, which is what you are experiencing right now. If you have it in the house, try giving a 1/4 tablet of pepcid AC with your next meal for her to help calm her stomach. It might help her feel not so nauseous.

What dose of lantus are you giving her right now and what time do you usually give it? Do you have a glucose meter to test with?

edit - you just wrote what your dose is :-D
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

Dear Violet -- is that you or your sugar cat? I'm a name girl...

I understand physically not having any money. But, darling girl, if she's throwing ketones, you're going to have to bite the ER bullet. She needs emergency treatment.

I have a friend in Houston, who is all too familiar with ketones. I'll contact her. Also, you should look for a DCIN post here. Cr*p, I need to find a proper link. Just look. Also contact www.imom.org as you might qualify. Both organizations might be able to help you help your furry sugar girl.

Giz was DKA at diagnosis. I completely understand your financial issues. My mom came through with a 2 grand loan because I said I believed in Giz. We danced for four more years. And, yes, I paid my mom back with interest she didn't even want.

Get your furry girl to the ER now. We'll figure everything else out later.

Breathe. And, drive.

Love and hopeful hugs,
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz, who taught me to be both brave and humble...
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

Kelly & Oscar said:
Ok, well it sounds like they gave her a good amount of subQ fluids and they have been absorbed by now. One thing about urine ketone tests is that it shows you what the blood levels were hours ago and not what they are right now. See if you can test them again this evening before you go to bed and again tomorrow morning. Hopefully they will be slightly lower after the fluids. Get as much water in her as you can - by syringe feeding it and also watering down her food. She is throwing up because ketones at this level make her feel nauseous. Ketones are naturally flushed by the kidneys but when things go out of balance with the insulin, they can start to be generated faster than the kidneys can flush them, which is what you are experiencing right now. If you have it in the house, try giving a 1/4 tablet of pepcid AC with your next meal for her to help calm her stomach. It might help her feel not so nauseous.

What dose of lantus are you giving her right now and what time do you usually give it? Do you have a glucose meter to test with?

edit - you just wrote what your dose is :-D
Click to expand...

I lucked out because she peed in the carrier on the way home from the vet. How do I do a ketone test now that we are home? I have her in our master bathroom with our attached master closet all set up. Water, food, litter box, so I can monitor her and have her easy to find (and not have my other cat bother her)

How much water should I aim for? one syringe every hour or more?

Thanks to everyone for your kind advice :)
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

I'd try for one syringe full every hour if you can do it. Others might have more experienced advice on the specific amount (if you can do more than that). Make sure she is getting food too. Ketones come from the body breaking down its reserves because it thinks it doesn't have enough nutrients coming in.

To get another test - there are a couple of options. You can put a garbage bag over the litter box so she still gets the feel of standing in the litter, but the pee will pool on the plastic. Some here swap out their litter for aquarium gravel, or something similar. You can always stalk her and stick a strip in her urine stream if you catch her heading toward the box too.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

You need Ketone strips - cheap at walmart.... or any other pharmacy....

D/FW proper or south? north? PM me with actual location - can't help you tonight but can tell you about vet that will cost you a LOT less than anything in D/FW for tests...
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

Do you have a glucose meter to see what her numbers are? How well is she eating?
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

I don't know about the insulin. Someone will help you with that. Post her BG number when you get a test.

Is she eating? If not, she is going to have to get some food in her. Try some human tuna, if you have it.
I have heard that the recipe for DKA is not enough insulin, not eating, and infection.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

I live in NorthEast Fort Worth

Shes not eating... Ive been trying to get her to,but she wont even open her mouth for it. Ive given her 2 syringes of water since coming home from the vet. Shes just sitting in the closet right now. I tested her about an hour ago and her number was 177. Im gonna test her again in another hour. I can tell the fluids from the vet helped a little (not a ton,but at least shes walking now)... I want to take her to the ER so much. I went to their website and they require upfront payment based on an estimate before admittal..
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

Since she isn't eating right now... Try tuna, or see if she will lap up some tuna water. You can also take the canned food, add some water, whirr it in a blender to make a soupy texture, and slowly syringe feed her. Getting food into her is just as important as getting water right now.

When is her usual shot time? Did she get her normal dose this morning? She will need some insulin, we just need to determine how much.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

mybuddybinks said:
has anyone mentioned DCIN to you...Diabetic Cats In Need?
perhaps they could help with finances...
Click to expand...


Possibly, but that takes days.

As do the other possibilities IMOM and Care Credit.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

violet826 said:
I live in NorthEast Fort Worth......
Click to expand...

I'll assume Keller/Southlake/NRH/Roanoak then, you're about 2 hours away. There's a vet just north of Sherman/Denison across the river in Oklahoma. They will do a blood panel for you for about $80 including office visit/exam. Bryan County Animal Hospital/Durant, OK. Dr. Freida Wells is main doctor - I use Dr. Jeremy McCoy. Unfortunately they're not an 'after hours' emergency. Might help you get more done with much less...
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

Karen DCIN does'nt take days...if approved they can give their crdit card to the er over the phone.
It's worth a try.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

lori and tom said:
Karen DCIN does'nt take days...if approved they can give their crdit card to the er over the phone.
It's worth a try.
Click to expand...

It does not look like Venita is online right now.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

violet826 said:
Is DCIN like a cat credit card?
Click to expand...


DCIN is Diabetic Cats in Need, run by a member of our own FDMB.
Its more like a charity. But right now, I think all the funds are
spoken for.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

DCIN is Diabetic Cats In Need they are a non-profit group that helps with financial issues, testing equipment, insulin and rehoming unwanted diabetic cats, I have two that I adopted through them. Venita and Ennis94 runs it. I have sent you PM with Venita's phone number look at the top of the page it will say one new message click on it, give Venita a call and explain the situation she maybe ble to help you out.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette & The Fur Gang
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

I have sent a PM to Patricia & Gang. She helps many special needs kitties and lives in the DFW area. She may have a bag of fluids to give/borrow.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

Thanks so much everyone. The support you all have given me tonight has been so touching and uplifting

UPDATE- I just tested. 161 Ive actually never seen numbers this low on her before.. im assuming its bc shes not eating?? Its almost time for her shot, do I or dont I?

Shes still just sitting in the closet, not sleeping, not sitting up, but her head is up. I gave her another water syringe, and attempted food again. She still wont take it, not even watered down from the syringe... But I will keep trying. We got home from the vet about 3 hours ago, but I can tell the hydration thing they did, helped a bit.

Thank you for all the DCIN info. We are actually crunching some numbers to see if we can just apply for another CC. Like a Visa or something. But we are worried about not being able to make the monthly payment (if approved). We are just trying to figure it all out.

I feel horrible.. I should have noticed this sooner. Maybe if I had caught it earlier, it wouldnt have gotten to this point. Its just so heartbreaking to see her not feeling well
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

The BG number is promising. With the syringe feeding, you will have to essentially force feed. Squirt a little bit in her mouth and make her have to do something with it. Odds are she will swallow instead of spitting the food out. If she is throwing paws up at you in protest, you can try to gently wrap her in a towel to hold the paws down so you can syringe feed. If you can get some food in her, I'd go with something like 0.25u just to have some insulin in her. You don't want too much without a lot of food in her, but she needs something to help her process what food does get in her.

If it will help you, I had someone contact me offering up $200 for you guys if you find a way to get her to the ER and have a way to cover the other part of the bill.
 
Please read you PM

I got a hold of Patricia and I am PM'ing you her cell phone number. Call it immediately and tell her exactly where you live. She can run by the house and grab some fluids and take them out to you. Call her as soon as you read my PM.
 
Re: Please read you PM

Hope + (((Baby)))GA said:
I got a hold of Patricia and I am PM'ing you her cell phone number. Call it immediately and tell her exactly where you live. She can run by the house and grab some fluids and take them out to you. Call her as soon as you read my PM.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for getting in contact with her Hope!!! Patricia can definitely help you guys out tonight.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

We have another person that has pledged some money to help if you do go to the ER......
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

Thanks everyone! I cant take anyones money though. Its so thoughtful and so generous. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will be forever grateful for just the offers of your kindness
 
Re: Please read you PM

Hope + (((Baby)))GA said:
I got a hold of Patricia and I am PM'ing you her cell phone number. Call it immediately and tell her exactly where you live. She can run by the house and grab some fluids and take them out to you. Call her as soon as you read my PM.
Click to expand...
I just replied, Ill call her in the next 20.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

Have you been able to call Patricia yet? Being able to give fluids instead of syringe feeding will help a lot.

edit - you are too quick! Nevermind :-D
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

violet826 said:
Thanks everyone! I cant take anyones money though. Its so thoughtful and so generous. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will be forever grateful for just the offers of your kindness
Click to expand...

This site is all about helping the kitties. Please do not hesitate to accept people's offers. They do it for the kitties :-D We can set up something so the money goes through DCIN so that it is tax deductable and then DCIN can get the funds to you in a matter of hours.

At the very least, once your baby gets through this, we can talk about getting Lantus donated for you guys. I have a DCIN stock pile at my house and can talk to Venita about it.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

I just got another pledge of $100 for you guys. That brings your pledged total to about $400 if you need to use it at the ER vet.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

I talked with Patricia. She is coming over with fluids in a bit. I am really hopeful it will help. She was wonderful on the phone

Our money situation will be much better in a few months (fingers crossed). Its just been the last few that we have really struggled. Its just really really bad luck that this would happen now. If it had happened 6 months ago it would have been easier for us to figure out the finance part.

My baby is still just sitting there... So its now time for her insulin. She usually gets 1 unit. Someone mentioned I should give her less than that right?
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

Kelly & Oscar said:
I just got another pledge of $100 for you guys. That brings your pledged total to about $400 if you need to use it at the ER vet.
Click to expand...
The generosity here is overwhelming. thank you. thank you everyone. I cant accept though.. I dont feel right about it. We will try to get another CC if the fluids dont help and she gets worse
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

Yes, I'd give less than 1 unit. Start with 0.25u right now. She needs some insulin, just not a lot without her eating a lot too. We don't need a hypo situation too. If she starts gorging on food, you can always add another 0.25u later.

For others that are checking this thread - what is your opinion on giving karo right now as a means for getting an easily processed food into her system? I know ER vets give sucrose + R insulin at the same time with DKA.
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

Violet,
There is not one of us here who has not hit a rough patch .... you need to let us help you, so you can help kitty. She needs to go to the ER.

There are many of us that are willingly to send money to DCIN to help them cover the costs, let us help you.

Nancy and Payne
(a survivor of DKA 4x)
 
Re: HELP Ketones are all wrong!!

Hi Violet,

There is a great group of people here willing to help you in many ways. That is what this board does--helps kitties. Many people here make numerous contributions to DCIN to help diabetic cats. At times those donations are made and used at the discretion of DCIN--but, sometimes those donations are made for specific causes.

There is nothing wrong with accepting the financial assistance that people are willing to offer you through DCIN--that is what the group does. Please reconsider accepting the pledged money and taking your kitty to the ER.

My cat, Kitty, is a DKA survivor and your kitty can be also with the proper treatment.

Please let the group help you.

Kim and Kitty
 
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