HELP -should I be concerned?

[Charlotte&Brioche]

Hello, I’m really new to owning a diabetic cat (or a cat in general) so I’m not sure what’s considered concerning.

I came home and brioche had thrown up by his litter box and is acting somewhat slow. I was worried it could be hypoglycemia but his blood sugar was at 400 (on the Alphatrak). I gave him a tiny bit of food to see if he’d eat it and he did. He usually greets me and was hiding under the chair when I got home. He’s also breathing kind of heavy and is making squeaky sounds that sound somewhat labored I guess? He’s starting to slow down a bit and he’s still reacting to stimuli like things outside the window and our other cat.
I just didn’t know if I should be worried or I should just watch him for the time being.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

the "link" to your SS in your signature is not an actual link. You might be concerned with ketones since 400 is high but I can't tell how high he has been since your SS is not there.

 

[Charlotte&Brioche]

the "link" to your SS in your signature is not an actual link. You might be concerned with ketones since 400 is high but I can't tell how high he has been since your SS is not there.

Shoot sorry, I was trying to make it his name. I just switched to the Alphatrak and haven’t been able to update it yet, I will do that tonight.

he’s been between 400-500 for the last couple of days on the Alphatrak. The lowest he’s been has been 398

 

[tiffmaxee]

Are you checking for ketones? Heavy breathing is very concerning to me.

 

[Charlotte&Brioche]

Are you checking for ketones? Heavy breathing is very concerning to me.

I am not, I didn't know I should be until I was reading up on his behavior. It's not so much heavy anymore as it is fast. Im not sure if that's the same thing.

 

[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

You can go to a local pharmacy and get ketone urine test strips. I’d try to check for it tonight to rule it out. Heavy breathing can also indicate a heart condition. Can you count his resting respiratory rate? You can count how many times he breathes in 15 seconds then multiply that by 4 to get the average per minute. It should not be more that 30. Resting as in sleeping btw.

 

[Charlotte&Brioche]

You can go to a local pharmacy and get ketone urine test strips. I’d try to check for it tonight to rule it out. Heavy breathing can also indicate a heart condition. Can you count his resting respiratory rate? You can count how many times he breathes in 15 seconds then multiply that by 4 to get the average per minute. It should not be more that 30. Resting as in sleeping btw.

I will run to CVS in just a minute. He's at about 45 a minute. What would it mean if he has ketones? How long should I wait for his breathing to slow before he needs to see a vet?

 

[tiffmaxee]

If he has ketones he needs to be seen by a vet.

 

[Charlotte&Brioche]

If he has ketones he needs to be seen by a vet.

Okay. An emergency vet or can I wait until tomorrow? Do you have any advice on what I should do if I don’t find ketones? I’m still concerned because of his breathing

 

[tiffmaxee]

The breathing scares me. Like Ale mentioned it could be his heart or ketones. If still having trouble I would go to the ER if possible. Any better?

 

[Charlotte&Brioche]

The breathing scares me. Like Ale mentioned it could be his heart or ketones. If still having trouble I would go to the ER if possible. Any better?

At the ER currently. Ketones are normal and they said all of his values are normal, kidney, liver, CBC. She seems concerned about a respiratory issue.

 

[tiffmaxee]

That was my concern. Let us know what they find.

 

[Charlotte&Brioche]

That was my concern. Let us know what they find.

Sorry, just got home and they gave him some antibiotics. The stuff they were trying to do was really expensive and they said I could take him to the usual vet tomorrow so I opted to do that. Gave him his insulin when I got home per the vet. He isn't interested in eating which concerns me a little bit because he's always starving.

 

[tiffmaxee]

The ERs are so expensive now. What did they want to do?

 

[Charlotte&Brioche]

The ERs are so expensive now. What did they want to do?

X-rays and antibiotics I think. They wanted him to stay overnight to give him fluids and albuterol. I had them do everything he needed to be okay for the night.

 

[Charlotte&Brioche]

Update: I took him to his regular vet this morning and they did some chest X-rays and found some fluid in his lungs. The vet suspects either asthma or pneumonia but more likely pneumonia. The emergency vet gave him some antibiotic shots that are long lasting, and we saw a lot of improvement this morning (his fever broke, he was hungry again, meowing and chirping). His breathing is still elevated but has improved slightly. We also are starting to switch him over to fancy feast and his BG got down to 345.

bringing him back to the vet in a couple of weeks to get him xrayed again. Keeping a close eye on him, and hoping he continues to improve <3.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

I'm so glad Brioche is feeling better , thank god you took him to your own vet and she saw that there was some fluid in his lungs . I hope he continues to improve

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Please keep us updated

 

[Charlotte&Brioche]

Please keep us updated

He’s doing okay! Breathing is still elevated and he’s been coughing some, I think it’s from the mucus loosening up. I’m hoping it’s bacterial pneumonia, but I think it is since he seems to be improving because of the antibiotic.

I wish there was more I could do to make him feel better but from everything I read it seems like we just have to wait it out.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

What long acting antibiotic did the ER vet give was it Covenia?
I did a search and found this posted by one of our members and here is what she said
I had a kitten with pneumonia. Keep that nose moist. Try putting her in a bathroom with a steamy shower, or a vaporizer
Sending prayers

 

[Charlotte&Brioche]

What long acting antibiotic did the ER vet give was it Covenia?
I did a search and found this posted by one of our members and here is what she said
I had a kitten with pneumonia. Keep that nose moist. Try putting her in a bathroom with a steamy shower, or a vaporizer
Sending prayers

Yes, it was covenia. I just tried the shower thing and he started coughing again so I think it helped so I’ll try and do it a couple times a day for him. Thank you!