911 *** Sugar higher than I have ever seen

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Ok, So she was at 397 early this morning and now she is at 310. Her numbers are coming down but she still will not eat.
I tried giving her tuna, nothing. Then I tried at least to give her milk, normally a favorite treat from time to time, she didn't touch that either.
I am boiling some chicken and seeing if I can get her to eat that.
 
Do I give her another shot this morning? Or should I wait a little bit.
My schedule has been pretty sporadic and normally I would have already given her a shot or depending on my work hours, she would get one in a few hours.
So because of that it would not be out of the norm to wait a little while.
 
Ok the chicken didn't work either. So far she has no interest in anything at all. She hasn't eaten in at least 12 hours, maybe more.
 
mfrancis69 said:
Do I give her another shot this morning? Or should I wait a little bit.
My schedule has been pretty sporadic and normally I would have already given her a shot or depending on my work hours, she would get one in a few hours.
So because of that it would not be out of the norm to wait a little while.
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No, do not shoot anything into her yet this morning - she needs to get some food into her. How long since she last ate anything?
 
Relieved to hear from you, Melissa.

With the high numbers and lack of appetite I'm really concerned about Sassy. If she were mine I'd be looking to get her to the vet ASAP. If that's tricky, is there any way that you might be able to get hold of some ketone test strips fairly quickly (I know that's not easy where you're located).

Is Sassy drinking anything for you?
 
Critter Mom said:
Relieved to hear from you, Melissa.
With the high numbers and lack of appetite I'm really concerned about Sassy. If she were mine I'd be looking to get her to the vet ASAP. If that's tricky, is there any way that you might be able to get hold of some ketone test strips fairly quickly (I know that's not easy where you're located).
Is Sassy drinking anything for you?
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Yes, is she drinking & holding water down now, at least?
Melissa, please confirm that you got my last message. DO NOT SHOOT YET. Continue monitoring her BG. She may yet still drop.
 
No signs that she is in pain, she is drinking water. She ate a little food around 11 or 1130 yesterday.
My fiance said she only nibbled not her usual amount. She hasn't eaten anything since.
What is the ketone strips going to do for her. I have never used them before and don't even know what I would be testing and how?
 
I agree with Aine. If she is still lethargic, seems unwell and won't eat, I think you should take her to a vet ASAP.
At the very least you need to find a pharmacy which sells ketone strips....not sure where they are sold in the US.
If she has ketones in her urine, she is going to need fluids at the vets and insulin to combat the illness. It won't go away on its own and can get worse quickly. But you can't give insulin at home if she is not eating.
 
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Bron and Sheba said:
I agree with Aine. If she is still lethargic, seems unwell and won't eat, I think you should take her to a vet ASAP.
At the very least you need to find a pharmacy which sells ketone strips....not sure where they are sold opinion the US.
If she has ketones in her urine, she is going to need fluids at the vets and insulin to combat the illness. It won't go away on its own and can get worse quickly. But you can't give insulin at home if she is not eating.
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mfrancis69 said:
I am not going to give her a shot, going to test her again in about an hour.
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Good girl! But she needs to see a vet ASAP. Is she drinking ANY water & holding that down? Again, when was last time she ate any food?
 
mfrancis69 said:
No signs that she is in pain, she is drinking water. She ate a little food around 11 or 1130 yesterday.
My fiance said she only nibbled not her usual amount. She hasn't eaten anything since.
What is the ketone strips going to do for her. I have never used them before and don't even know what I would be testing and how?
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Ketone strips will show if she has ketones in her urine. If she does have them it means you need to get to the vet for treatment. Some of the symptoms of being ill with ketones are not eating, vomiting, being lethargic, breath smelling like acetone. It can lead to ketoacidosis which is very serious.
 
I would go buy some ketone test strips as soon as you are able to. Ruling out ketones would be great.
Do you have any high carb food, syrup, or honey in the house just in case your need to raise her BG numbers?
 
I have things that can raise her BG, but it hasn't come down enough to worry about that right now and without eating she is coming down very slow even after two 2 unit shots last night.
 
You can buy them at any pharmacy or pharmacy at a big box store like Walmart. You can call ahead of time if need be to make sure they are in stock. It comes with about 50-100 strips in a small tube. When she pees, you just stick it behind her tail so she can pee on the stick. Then you compare the color to the color key on the tube. It will tell you if she is negative, trace or has ketones. Sometimes you can stick it in a puddle in the kitty litter box but you have to try and not get the stick contaminated with the litter. You will just have to watch her like a hawk and be ready when she needs to pee. Not sure if you can wait that long since it sounds like a trip to the vet is pretty imminent.

Agree with all, if you can get to the store asap. Hopefully you have someone there that can keep testing for you, that is if you have ways to drive to the store.
 
Hi Melissa,

Thanks for the update.

When a diabetic cat's not eating there are two worries - hepatic lipidosis (HL) and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Cats have very different metabolisms to dogs and humans. They need to eat very regularly or their little bodies will start breaking down bodily protein and fat. This can lead to complications where fatty deposits build up in the liver (HL) or a build-up of ketones in the blood. Both conditions need urgent attention as they can potentially - and quickly - prove fatal, hence the need for prompt intervention and, if necessary, a prompt visit to the vets.

I'm glad to hear that Sassy is at least drinking. Try to keep her hydrated as best you can since if she is throwing ketones the fluids can help flush them out. Maybe try poaching a little chicken breast in water and giving her some of the cooled broth to make fluids a bit more tempting. If that doesn't work, we can look at other options.

Is she showing any signs of nausea (e.g. sniffing at the food then walking away, licking at then lip licking/pulling faces)? There's a good nausea symptom checker at Tanya's Site.
 
TO ALL FOLLOWING: Is there a way we can do a shout out to see if there's any member nearby Melissa who may have any ketone strips, as she is in a more rural area. Melissa what town are you nearest to in your state?
 
Melissa, you mean last she ate was 11-11:30 A.M., is that correct? What's the town nearest to you with big box stores/ pharmacy in it?
 
If there is a vet or doctors office in your town, they may some. Also it looks like Lincoln, IL has a Walmart. This town may be near you.
 
Yes. that time is correct so almost 24 hours without eating.
I just tested her and she is coming up again.
I have a Walmart by me, but I have never tested her ketones before, what do I do and what do I need?
We are about 15 minutes or so from the closest store, so if I go I want to know what I would need.
We don't have a vet close either and it is a sunday, these small towns don't function during the weekend or evenings.
I am going to try the scrambled egg thing and see if I can get her to eat.
Need some specifics though, How do I test for ketones with the strips? If she isn't going to the bathroom can I still test for them?
If she is high what do I do then? Is there another option for me other than a vet until tomorrow?
I am pretty broke to be honest and I start a new job tomorrow, things will get better and I will have the ability to get her to a vet, but right now I don't have that option. I simply can't afford it.
Vet do not let you pay a little here and there and with it being a sunday it would have to be an emergency visit which would cost me even more.
I have only been in Illinois for 3 months and havent seen a vet yet.
 
I just saw the request for the town. I am in Lincoln Illinois area, I am abut 15 minutes outside that area. The closest large city to me is Springfield, IL and that is about 35 minutes away.
Other than that is Decatur about 45 minutes and Peoria also about 45 minutes.
 
She has no interest in the tuna I tried to give her, even the juices which she does normally like. I boiled a chicken breast and she sniffed it and walked away.
I am going to try the scrabbled egg and see if she will eat that.
 
You test with the strips either by putting the strip under the urine stream, or you could put some crumpled plastic wrap at the edge of the LB to catch a couple of drops and check it from there.
 
TO ALL FOLLOWING:

Does anyone think it might help if Melissa picked up some famotidine in case Sassy is nauseated? If yes, then can you post the proper type of Pepcid she needs to ask for, please? (I know there are different types and I don't know which one is the correct one for a cat - our vet prescribes generic famotidine for Saoirse).

Is there anything else that you can suggest that might help Sassy to eat? For example, can someone recommend a cat-friendly baby food?

MELISSA:

The ketone test strips are really easy to use. :)

.
 
Am unsure re: the correct Pepcid-type antinausea formula for a cat - hopefully, someone else here knows.
Melissa, I know you are wracking your brain trying to find a way to get kitty to eat. Any way your fiance can go to town for ketone strips?

If you are unable to get to Lincoln WalMart for those, I can post a shout-out for you on the Main Health Forum to see if there's an FDMB member anywhere nearby you who has any strips. Please advise. Thanks.
 
Ok, I get the concept of the test strips but I haven't even seen her use the litter box. If she doesn't go, is there another way to test her?
The eggs didn't work either. I just caught her laying next to the water bowl with her head resting on the edge and randomly drinking water. But that is all I see her do, no interest in the eggs at all.
 
Can you remember the last time Sassy used the litter box, Melissa? Can you let us know about this asap, please?

Also, is Sassy hunched up/crouching? Is her head down?
.
 
Crap....sorry...I hate Google sometimes. The second one was good. But at one spot it said 11 hours. That didn't make sense. In 11 hours you should be able to get completely across any state.

The second was Animal Emergency Clinic of McLean County.
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2505 E Oakland Avenue
Bloomington, IL 61701-5837 Phone: 309-665-5020
Fax: 309-665-5021
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I need to duck off for a while. Robin and Rhonda, are you OK to keep an eye on Melissa and Sassy?

Melissa, if Sassy were mine I would take her to the vet. I'm really, really concerned about her and I think it is far and away the safest thing to do.

BTW, can you let us know when she last pooped? Also can you keep an eye on her behaviour round both her food/water bowls and the litter box.
 
Both of those clinics are 45 minutes away from me. I will keep that in mind but again I don't have any money.
With it being a sunday it will be double the normal visit I would assume.
When she walks, which isn't much right now she is a little hunched, very lethargic and wants to lay on her stomach stretched out, head up or nuzzled in to a wall or something.
 
Critter Mom said:
I need to duck off for a while. Robin and Rhonda, are you OK to keep an eye on Melissa and Sassy?
Melissa, if Sassy were mine I would take her to the vet. I'm really, really concerned about her and I think it is far and away the safest thing to do.
BTW, can you let us know when she last pooped? Also can you keep an eye on her behaviour round both her food/water bowls and the litter box.
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DITTO! My vote is take her to a vet - now. I am especially concerned since last we heard from you she was laying down beside the water bowl.
Even if lapping at water, I believe she is too sick for you to risk not having a vet see her right away.
 
I don't know when she last used the litter box. After getting home from work yesterday I haven't seen her use it, but that doesn't mean she hasn't when we weren't in the room
 
Take a look at the secondary monitoring tools in my signature link, which may help you monitor her today.
 
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I have to run to the store, see if I can come up with something. I will be back on when I get back. Thanks for all the advice and assistance.
 
BJM said:
I disagree on the no insulin advice. With the elevated glucose levels, a token dose of 0.5 units should start bringing that down, may trigger some hunger, and may improve her energy level.
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I also disagree, as long as there is some honey or syrup available, I would give at least some insulin (I'd personally do half or full of her usual dose). At 300+ she has some room to go down. If it is DKA, no insulin is going to speed up the dehydration.


Melissa,
If she does have ketones starting, if you go to the vet -today- they might be able to give some fluids and send you home with some nausea meds. If you wait until tomorrow or later, she may be so sick that she requires inpatient hospitalization. Ketones can progress very quickly, and catching them as early as you can is going to save you a lot of money in the long run. Inpatient can cost >$1500.
 
BJM said:
I disagree on the no insulin advice. With the elevated glucose levels, a token dose of 0.5 units should start bringing that down, may trigger some hunger, and may improve her energy level.
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At the time, she was still dropping, so was waiting to see how this was rolling out before she dosed any more. Perhaps the token dose would help, now that more time has gone by. Appears she's pretty nauseated.
 
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