? New monitor to measure for Ketones -- experience?

[HyperJMA]

Hey Everyone!
Getting a urine sample from our oldie has been impossible. So, I know it could possibly mean a little more money, but we ordered and recieved (just today) a monitor that is supposed to also do Ketones.

It is the Nova Max Plus, and Ketone Test Strips.
I am familiar with how to get a blood sample and use the monitor but I have a few questions:

1. Why does it state that blood can only be taken from a finger? Will taking blood from a cat's ear be okay?
2. The booklet gives certain ranges of Ketone Numbers that are in a normal range, and suggests when to monitor extra or go straight to the ER. What ranges should I be looking for for a cat?
3. Do any of you have experience with monitoring your cat for ketones via a monitor? The strips are UBER EXPENSIVE so I only plan to do a test once a month (Mister is scheduled for repeating appointments every 4 weeks at the vet, so I intend to do the test at the end of week 2, which is in the middle of that 4 week period) or when he seems off or ill. What do y'all do?

Thanks in advance!
Jess

 

[Sharon14]

@Bobbie And Bubba has used a ketone meter, maybe she can answer your questions.

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

Hi Jess ~ I have used a ketone meter with Bubba.

1. Why does it state that blood can only be taken from a finger? Will taking blood from a cat's ear be okay?

yes you can take from you cat's ear just the same way you do the BG test, as a matter of fact, I use the same sample and have both meters and strips ready to go so I don't have to poke Bubba twice.

The booklet gives certain ranges of Ketone Numbers that are in a normal range, and suggests when to monitor extra or go straight to the ER. What ranges should I be looking for for a cat?

Those ranges are for humans. Below is the information that pertains to when cat ketones show up on a human meter.

The latest published research/studies in cats indicate ketones will begin to show up at readings of 2.4 and 2.55 on a blood ketone meter:
Measurement of ketones - Weingart_J VET Diagn Invest-2012(1).pdfMeasuring ketones - JSAP_Zeugswetter - 2012.pdf

Do any of you have experience with monitoring your cat for ketones via a monitor? The strips are UBER EXPENSIVE so I only plan to do a test once a month (Mister is scheduled for repeating appointments every 4 weeks at the vet, so I intend to do the test at the end of week 2, which is in the middle of that 4 week period) or when he seems off or ill. What do y'all do?

I was testing often for a while there because my cat developed ketones. I would think that in the absence of your kitty never having DKA and never having ketones, I would test whenever he gets into the 400's and won't come down. Maybe others might think the number should be lower.