7/3 Marshmellow AMBS 253, at vets with DKA

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Marshmellow & Steve

Marshmellow & Steve

Member Since 2015
Yesterday

Marshmellow is at the vet today for blood work and a workup. Janelle will pick her up as soon as they are done. I got out of work at 8, have to be back for 7. Hopefully all goes well.

I hope everyone has a nice day and safe surfing to all the kitties!
 
Just talked to the vet, it looks like Marshmellow has DKA again. I feel like a heel, but I can't afford to go through this again, especially since we don't have a local 24 hour care facility closer than 50-60 miles that can watch her through the next couple of days. She was found to have a UTI, which the vet thinks triggered this, and I thought we were doing a good job with her. I'm so disappointed with myself.
 
You can't blame yourself...DKA can sneak up out of nowhere. You are doing an awesome job caring for Marshmellow. Sending tons of prayers for a very speedy recovery....please keep us posted.
 
So sorry to hear that Marshmellow has DKA. You can't blame yourself....you are doing everything possible to keep her healthy and UTIs especially can sneak up with almost no warning. If you weren't being as diligent as you are, it could have been a lot worse.

Healing vines for Marshmellow and :bighug: for you!
 
Did the vet say this was DKA or that Marshmallow was showing ketones? With DKA, electrolytes are out of balance.

Also, did you skip the last 3 shots? If that's the case, then this is a lesson learned. With a cat prone to ketones, you want to do everything you can to avoid skipping even one shot. The recipe for ketones is not enough insulin, not eating, and an infection/inflammation. You had no control over the UTI which, like the vet said, probably put this in motion.

Your job is to see if the vet will teach you how to administer fluids. That helps to flush ketones out. You need to test for ketones as often as you can. The earlier you catch ketones developing, the easier it is to manage. You also need to maximize insulin. Don't think because Marsh is seeing good numbers that ketones won't occur. For a cat that's prone to ketones, where the numbers are may not make a difference. Any time you see a change in behavior, especially lethargy, your antenna should go way up.

NovaMax makes a meter that will test for ketones and BG. They have a promotion where you can get the meter for free. Abbott makes the Precision Xtra which also tests for ketones. The down side of these meters is that the strips for testing ketones are expensive. Using Ketostix from the pharmacy is much cheaper.

Keep us posted on how Marshmallow is doing.
 
Morning Steve :coffee::coffee::coffee:

I am sorry that Marshy is back with DKA. Paws crossed for a speedy recovery for her. Please, don't blame yourself. Sometimes these things are st in motion by events that are beyond our control, and come without warning. We all do the best we can, as I know you have too.

Hugs to you. You have done a great job. Here's to a speedy recovery for Marshmellow.
 
Oh Steve, I'm so sorry. Please don't blame yourself. You aren't a vet and are learning how to deal with this crazy dance. I hope it's ketones and not DKA. Too bad it's a holiday weekend but hopefully she can come home later today. :bighug::bighug:
 
Mega healing vines headed out for you and Marshmellow!! Please don't beat yourself up. Some kitties are just more challenging to deal with. You have zero control over a UTI and when that spiral starts, it can be virtually impossible to stop. Because you're as diligent as you are, it seems you caught things before they got much, much worse. Will be thinking of you two and watching for updates.
 
Ketones show in the urine an average of 5 days after they show up in the blood, so getting the blood ketone meter is a good idea in a cat prone to them. You may find a blood test every 5 days useful in monitoring Marshmellow.
 
The information I've seen is that ketones show up in the urine in a matter of hours after they are in the blood. Blood testing is clearly an instantaneous read. It's the same as testing for BG vs. using a urine glucose test in a diabetic cat. It takes longer in the metabolic pathway for levels to change (when they are observable in blood) and then for waste to be produced and excreted (urine testing).
 
((((Steve))))

don't blame yourself. This diabetes disease is a hard one and you're doing the best you know how to do. That's all any of us can do.

I hope Marshy is doing better now. Just know you can treat her at home with fluids, insulin and food. We've helped others with it.

Hang in there!
 
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