Diagnosed yesterday...UTI and antibiotic side effect?

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Deb D.

Deb D.

Member Since 2017
Hello-My 9 year old tortie Maggie was diagnosed with diabetes and UTI yesterday. I had noticed signs for about a month and have been working on changing her diet to mostly canned low carb food. When I took her to vet yesterday BG was 397. She also has a UTI and the vet gave her liquid amoxicillin. We aren't starting the Lantus until Monday night to give me time to get it and come back for tutorial on how to administer.
My concern is that Maggie is now extremely lethargic and will not eat at all after 2 doses of amoxicillin. Her appetite hadn't been too great for the last 2 days but she was still eating and seemed to have normal energy, although she has always been a lazy cat. But after this medication she is clearly feeling awful and she did vomit a little bit as well. I don't see how we will be able to start insulin since she isn't eating at all. She is supposed to take this med for 14 days but I am hesitant to give her another dose with her acting like this. Is there any possibility that the liquid amoxicillin affected her blood sugar which is already unregulated, or is this purely a side effect of the medication?
I am so stressed out and don't know how I am going to afford all the back and forth trips to the vet. Any advice is highly appreciated.
Thanks, Deb
 
Antibiotics can do a number on their tummy, just like people. It may improve as she gets used to them. Get her to eat anything you can .... Canned tuna, fresh chicken. A probiotic may help as well.

Syringe in water if she's not drinking. Good job changing the food.

Her numbers may come down when the uti is resolved. They are also higher at the vet due to stress. The safest way to go is to learn how to home test. We can help you with that if you're interested in starting.
 
Not eating is a worry-- could very well be due to the antibiotic, but it's not something you want to allow to continue very long, especially with a diabetic cat. There are some very serious health consequences (diabetic ketoacidosis) that can develop very quickly under these circumstances.

If she doesn't improve soon, I would call the vet to see if maybe there is a different antibiotic you could use that might be easier on her system.
 
Thanks, called vet and she said discontinue antibiotic for now and to bring her in Monday morning for a shot of a different antibiotic instead. I just hope I can get her to eat today, all she wants to do is sleep.
 
OK good. Keep a close eye on her until you can get her to the vet. Given her behavior, I would strongly urge you to pick up some ketone strips (urine dipsticks, available at human pharmacies with the diabetic supplies) and test her for ketones. Anything above "trace" means an immediate trip to the vet-- don't wait until Monday.

Hope she's feeling better soon!
 
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