Ketone testing

Status
Not open for further replies.
Vtambo & Rex

Vtambo & Rex

Member Since 2017
where does one buy ketone test strips? are there ones specific to cats? I see there are some (for humans) that test glucose and ketones. are these advisable? how often should one be testing ketones? any other info would be appreciated.
 
Ketone strips are available about anywhere that sells diabetic supplies - humans use them often. Same ones for cats - glucose is glucose. I test Dakota daily if I catch him headed to the litterbox especially if he's higher. It's just a plastic strip with a litmus pad on the end - run it thru urine stream or fresh catch. I tell Doc 'pee on my stick' so he'll know what I'm doing altho' by now, I really don't have to say anything.

Edit to add: Here they are at Wallyworld....
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Ketone-Test-Strips-50-count/33574014
 
It's not numbers, it's just colors. There's a color scale on the side of the bottle. You wet the little pad, wait 15 seconds and compare the color on the strip to the color on the bottle. The 15 second time is important as it can change by contamination and 'aging' after a bit.
 
Squeaky and KT (GA) said:
Ketone strips are available about anywhere that sells diabetic supplies - humans use them often. Same ones for cats - glucose is glucose. I test Dakota daily if I catch him headed to the litterbox especially if he's higher. It's just a plastic strip with a litmus pad on the end - run it thru urine stream or fresh catch. I tell Doc 'pee on my stick' so he'll know what I'm doing altho' by now, I really don't have to say anything.

Edit to add: Here they are at Wallyworld....
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Ketone-Test-Strips-50-count/33574014
Click to expand...
How hard is it to accomplish this? I can't imagine my cat being cooperative with me sticking a strip under her while she pees. Lol. Can you dip in the litter?
 
I actually did read somewhere that there is a formula of testing the litter. something like take one tablespoon of the litter (might have to be non-clumping) and add 2 tablespoons of water to it and stir it. I would have to look again because I am not entirely sure on the numbers there and I think you might have to double whatever number you get or something like that. I will see if I can find where I read this again. if so, I will post the formula. otherwise I have heard you can put something that doesn't absorb in the litter box, like packing peanuts or aquarium gravel and use what urine goes to the bottom and I have heard about putting plastic wrap on the litter box and the cat will pee on that (don't think my cat would, but...) I even saw on some website that there is a special litter box that has a removable bottom tray that collects the pee. didn't look at it too close though to see what kind of litter was used since I knew I would not be buying such a contraption. I am not too sure my cat would appreciate me sitting there hovering over him while he is peeing either and certainly not sticking something down there while he was doing it. privacy please.... :) he actually seems kind of annoyed if I am watching him from a distance at times.
 
Cherish Gallagher said:
How hard is it to accomplish this? I can't imagine my cat being cooperative with me sticking a strip under her while she pees. Lol. Can you dip in the litter?
Click to expand...
I use clumping litter so I have to hear him go in and if I'm fast enough, right as he turns around to cover it, I can dip the stick before it soaks in too much. I actually just used a tip, successfully, from a fellow member. I had a long, silicon cooking spoon that I rarely used and snuck it under him to yes, catch pee lol. It is now clearly labeled Pee Spoon :D. Some also put plastic wrap, I was thinking of trying a ziploc bag if I had issues with the spoon. Don't be afraid to post a thread asking for "pee catching tips" :cat:

I was told to test weekly for ketones and anything reading higher than trace needs Vet attention quickly. Once ketones start, I think they can rise fast and be dangerous. If your kitty is staying in high numbers for days, test daily.
 
I use walnut litter which looks like coffee grounds and Peanut pees a lot when he goes but he always pees in the corner. I have managed to scoop down deep enough into the very wet part of the litter and just mash the stick in there until it's soaked. Then I wipe off the brown color from the litter so that I can clearly see the pad and I've had luck with that.

Sometimes I purposely go into ketosis myself for a ketogenic diet and I know that this sounds utterly gross but I have to take urine samples to test myself to see if I'm in ketosis. I always pee in a cup because I always seem to miss the strip otherwise and I make a mess. The next time that I test I could toss some litter in the cup (FOR SCIENCE) and see how it affects my test results.

I can't believe what I'm willing to do for data lol

but I will draw the line at actually peeing in the litter box
 
Last edited:
Sieden said:
I use walnut litter which looks like coffee grounds and Peanut pees a lot when he goes but he always pees in the corner. I have managed to scoop down deep enough into the very wet part of the litter and just mash the stick in there until it's soaked. Then I wipe off the brown color from the litter so that I can clearly see the pad and I've had luck with that.

Sometimes I purposely go into ketosis myself for a ketogenic diet and I know that this sounds utterly gross but I have to take urine samples to test myself to see if I'm in ketosis. I always pee in a cup because I always seem to miss the strip otherwise and I make a mess. The next time that I test I could toss some litter in the cup (FOR SCIENCE) and see how it affects my test results.

I can't believe what I'm willing to do for data lol

but I will draw the line at actually peeing in the litter box
Click to expand...
:D!!
 
I was wondering as well if you stick the thing in the litter to get the reading, does the litter itself have any bearing on the result?
 
Vtambo & Rex said:
I was wondering as well if you stick the thing in the litter to get the reading, does the litter itself have any bearing on the result?
Click to expand...
Before I could test Maury, I used glucose dipstick and was told if the litter had baking soda (kinda her a sizzling sound when they pee) that it could interfere with the reading. I'm still trying to find out if this is the case for ketone's dipstick too.
 
Vtambo & Rex said:
is the glucose dipstick an adequate substitute for the blood testing?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, no. It gives you only a crude estimate of how much glucose has spilled over into the urine. It's the glucose circulating in the bloodstream that has a negative impact if it's too high for too long. You need to test blood to know that.
 
Vtambo & Rex said:
I was wondering as well if you stick the thing in the litter to get the reading, does the litter itself have any bearing on the result?
Click to expand...

You really don't get a clear read as the litter will dirty the strip BUT if you have no other way, you can do it IF you catch it immediately. If you see ketone colors on the strip that you've had to dip in litter, you need a CLEAN test as soon as at all possible. Suggestion - loosely wad up a piece of clear wrap like Saran wrap putting it on top/barely under the litter. Some fresh should catch somewhere in it. Don't leave it in the box any longer than you have to as it's not a good toy.

Glucose strip - Kris is right, all that tells you is that it's over the 'renal threshold' and glucose is spilling into the urine. It doesn't tell you if it's a lot, a little or numbers are just barely under that. Each cat is different when it comes to their 'renal threshold'. Dakota's is about 240ish but if he's just dropping off a bounce, the 'old' will still show.
 
We use the tidy cat all natural cedar, pine & corn. It's clumping. Do you think I could dip the stick right into a fresh pee? Any recommendations for Litter that is acceptable to dip the strip right in?
Yong said:
Before I could test Maury, I used glucose dipstick and was told if the litter had baking soda (kinda her a sizzling sound when they pee) that it could interfere with the reading. I'm still trying to find out if this is the case for ketone's dipstick too.[/QUOT
Click to expand...
 
The dipsticks were all I had when shortly after his diagnosis. I injured myself and could barely move for 3 weeks.

Edit: Cherish, try what Squeaky suggested. I had luck with Kris' spoon trick ;)
 
Cherish Gallagher said:
1st attempt at testing.... SUCCESS! Wow that was easy. I put the stick right under her and it was like she politely moved out of the way for me so I could get the stick right on the stream lol. Negative for ketones. Also 1st day testing with a human meter (will create new spreadsheet tomorrow) numbers down from 400-500's to 258 & 307.
Click to expand...
Cherish, that's great! All of it! No ketones, and getting tests done...great job! And those numbers are looking great.
 
I bought a steel soup type ladle, but it is shallow. Jones, always eats a bit in the morning then goes for a pee. I follow discreetly and gentle put the ladle underneath him. I get my sample and most times he doesn't notice me. Then I just clean the ladle and put it back by the litter box. I only have tested him a couple of time but worked like a charm.
 
Tracey&Jones said:
I bought a steel soup type ladle, but it is shallow. Jones, always eats a bit in the morning then goes for a pee. I follow discreetly and gentle put the ladle underneath him. I get my sample and most times he doesn't notice me. Then I just clean the ladle and put it back by the litter box. I only have tested him a couple of time but worked like a charm.
Click to expand...
This is exactly how I do it too. Works really well.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top