911? Help - Ketones? - Haven't started insulin - cat is lethargic but eating

[Maggie and Atticus]

I bought ketone strips this morning. I have a non clumping litter and test the urine at the bottom of the box that was a mix of days worth of urine. The strip read trace to small amounts. I havent started insulin yet and am getting very anxious thinking he may going into dka while I am delaying because his bg hasnt read over 200 yet. I am worried he is lethargic. SHould I go ahead and dose him for the first time now? How accurate could the reading be with multiple days of urine? Should I take him to emergency vet? He is eating and moving around a little but sleeping mostly. Please help.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Ketone strips need to be used on fresh urine and then read at exactly the time recommended on the bottle (usually 15 seconds) so the test you did wouldn't count.

As long as he's eating and acting normally (and cats do sleep a LOT), there's no need to take him to an ER vet.

You might want to try using a spoon/ladle to slide under him while he pee's to get a fresh sample. You can also crumple up some plastic wrap and put it in the litter box where he usually pee's or cover the entire box with a trash bag with just a little litter on top to encourage him to use it. You only need 1 drop of fresh urine.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Thank you @Chris & China (GA)

 

[Maggie and Atticus]

Okay thank you. I called the emergency vet and she said to start his insulin. I'm so torn about when to start his insulin. This is all so confusing to me. I greatly appreciate your advice. This has all been super challenging and I may be freaking out more than I should about everything. Thanks for everyones patience and response.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Okay thank you. I called the emergency vet and she said to start his insulin. I'm so torn about when to start his insulin. This is all so confusing to me. I greatly appreciate your advice. This has all been super challenging and I may be freaking out more than I should about everything. Thanks for everyones patience and response.

What dose the ER vet tell you to give.
If you go ahead with it , you will have to test him more often than just once, both day cycle and night cycle.
I am going to tag
@Wendy&Neko
Since she spoke to you before
and
@Chris & China (GA)

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

1. Yesterday at 9:33 PMReport
   #9LikeReply
   
   
2. 
   Wendy&NekoModerator
   Joined:
   Feb 28, 2012
   If he does need insulin because his numbers go higher, I'd start with 0.5 units, which iswhat is suggested for SLGS

Thanks Wendy

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Do you have a hypo test kit ready, just in case? Can you update the spreadsheet with today's data?

• How to treat HYPOS - THEY CAN KILL! Print this Out!!
• jojo and bunny's HYPO TOOL BOX