Ketones?

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Ann & Liz

Ann & Liz

Member Since 2016
We have just tested Lila for ketones. It has not registered the normal negative beige but equally doesn't seem to match any other of the colours. It is perhaps a pinky/grey colour. Any ideas please.?
 
The packaging should have a recommendation for how long to wait before "reading" the color (usually something like 15 seconds). As time goes on, the color tends to darken/change, which makes things confusing.
 
No the colour does not seem to be in the range of negative or trace and we viewed at 15 secs exactly. We also retested the sample and it came up the same colour again. Will try to add a photo!
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That is weird-looking, all right!

Does Lila have a history of DKA? She's running in pretty high numbers, so this is concerning. How does she seem to be feeling? Is she eating well, have you noticed any lethargy, etc.?
 
No strips well in date (2019). Lila seems OK, eating fine. But the last couple of days she has been a little different, hard to explain. But just not perhaps quite as good as usual. We have left a message for vet, may take a sample in perhaps.
 
Yeah, if it were me I'd get this checked out. If you take her in to the vet, they can check ketones using blood-- not only will that yield a more precise reading, but if there is anything brewing, it shows up in blood before urine, so you can get more of a headstart. Definitely don't want to let a ketone situation get ahead of you!
 
Larry, do you think there might be something about Lila being a CKD kitty that changes the chemical composition of the urine somehow? Just throwing out random ideas at this point!
 
Yes always stored with top firmly on container. And opened 4 months ago. Leaflet says discard after 6 months. So remains a mystery at present. Thinking of getting a sample later on hopefully in a different container just in case of contamination of original sample. Lila seems fine at present, sleeping in relaxed pose etc. So will monitor closely until we have resolved the issue.
 
This is exactly what happened to me last week!! The pad on the strips I use is beige and the colors on the chart are pink to purple.

I just figure if there is a change in the shade of beige on the pad, I better get to the vet.
In my case I had just bought the new bottle of strips the day before. The pad turned enough shades of beige that I figured the ketones were small to medium. I took Eleanor to the vet and the vet was very surprised that the pad is beige and the chart pink to purple!!

Anyway, don't take a chance, please get your kitty to the vet to be checked for ketones!!

Also, I have used this brand of strips many times before, the pad usually does not change color at all.
 
Julie and Eleanor said:
This is exactly what happened to me last week!! The pad on the strips I use is beige and the colors on the chart are pink to purple.

I just figure if there is a change in the shade of beige on the pad, I better get to the vet.
In my case I had just bought the new bottle of strips the day before. The pad turned enough shades of beige that I figured the ketones were small to medium. I took Eleanor to the vet and the vet was very surprised that the pad is beige and the chart pink to purple!!

Anyway, don't take a chance, please get your kitty to the vet to be checked for ketones!!

Also, I have used this brand of strips many times before, the pad usually does not change color at all.
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Vet has just called. We are checking again tomorrow and if still the same will be vets for more testing for sure. What was the outcome of Eleanor's ketone query?
 
Ann & Liz said:
Vet has just called. We are checking again tomorrow again and if still the same will be vets for more testing for sure. What was the outcome of Eleanor's ketone query?
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She was negative at the vets, also at the lab. I think the vet thought I was nuts until I tested again in front of him and he saw the color change for himself.

I hope it turns out negative for you as well! And if anyone else gets a color change, please don't figure from this that it is a false positive, get to the vet for a ketone check!!!!!
 
If Lila continues to have tests that produce that color and (hopefully!) does not have ketones present, I would contact the manufacturer of the strips to let them know there is a problem. Might be a case where a recall is warranted. @Julie and Eleanor Julie, same advice. Are your strips the same brands?
 
We are using Ketostix (Bayer). Have tested another sample a few hours ago and it is back to negative (beige). But will still get a sample checked at vet tomorrow to be sure.
 
"Squalliesmom, post: 1902325, member: 12957"]If Lila continues to have tests that produce that color and (hopefully!) does not have ketones present, I would contact the manufacturer of the strips to let them know there is a problem. Might be a case where a recall is warranted. @Julie and Eleanor Julie, same advice. Are your strips the same brands?
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No they are different brands. Mine are True Plus from Nipro. The color chart looks the same to me though....
I've been trying to get another sample from Eleanor but I'm not moving around very well. I do want to call and ask if they have gotten complaints about the lot number.
I did test myself after I got home from the vet and showed trace, which I'm still showing. But maybe I really do have trace, I dunno!
 
Julie and Eleanor said:
No they are different brands. Mine are True Plus from Nipro. The color chart looks the same to me though....
I've been trying to get another sample from Eleanor but I'm not moving around very well. I do want to call and ask if they have gotten complaints about the lot number.
I did test myself after I got home from the vet and showed trace, which I'm still showing. But maybe I really do have trace, I dunno!
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@Julie and Eleanor and @Ann & Liz
Concerning the strips showing a trace in your urine-
Have you been on a diet or not eating as much? Your urine will show trace ketones when burning fat. Happened to me once when I was sick and not eating and that's what the doctor told me.

BTW, I have seen that gray color on the test strips before...but only a strip that I didnt throw away right away, if I left it out after testing and found it hours later. The pad has turned that color.
 
I have tested the strips on my own urine as well and they came back trace and I'm perfectly healthy and not on a diet. It is 'more' than trace results that you should be concerned with and warrant a visit to the vet. If you are getting in between negative and trace, or trace, add some extra water to kitty's food to help flush kitty's system. This definitely helped me in the past get a more normal ketone test.

I have never seen a ketone strip look like what is in your picture, and I had a kitty who almost died from full blown DKA. I would get a new bottle if I were you and try to test again. As others mentioned above, the strips may be compromised in some way. You can also buy a blood ketone meter. You test with an ear poke just like you would to test BG. And the results are faster and more accurate. The downside is that the monitor and strips are pretty expensive. If I were you, I'd just go get a new bottle and see if that helps.
 
It's normal for non-diabetic people to have trace ketones in urine especially in between meals, after exercising, or if dieting.
 
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