DKA. Can someone help. Please?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Aliciakuy

Aliciakuy

Member Since 2019
My cat who has ITP has been on prednisolone since he was 3 months old he is 1.5 years now. His BG the last several months has been over 300 when checked and doc ignored because said pred was causing it and to wean off. He is off it now but hasn't felt okay or eaten since tuesday. He has been at the vet since Saturday and has ketones 3 plus or something. His potassium was 2.2. Bg checked today and 400 something. Yesterday afternoon he was actually acting like himself and his bg was 240. He was walking around the clinic and everything. That night he started acting the way he has been lethargic and not moving. He is on 2 units of lantus twice daily as of today. He has been on IV fluids with potassium and a b complex since Saturday. I feel like I'm going to lose him. He cannot walk at all as he is completely weak. I don't know if this is something he can get better from. He has never been treated for diabetes before. He is my perfect angel kitty never does a single thing wrong and doesnt deserve this. He still isnt eating and is being force fed several times a day. I get his labs checked every 3 weeks to manage his ITP and make sure it's all okay. Today his liver enzymes are up and has bilirubin in his urine. Someone please give me some insight. I know nothing about diabetes or ketoacidosis and just don't know what to do. I feel like his life is over and I'm waiting for him to just die. He will walk a few inches then lie back down. They allowed me to take him home tonight to be with me and his kitty friend and not in a cage all alone. But needs to go back tomorrow to get more insulin and bg check and back on the IV. I just do not know what to do or expect. I'm so lost and helpless
 
DKA is a very serious condition. Often becomes unconsious and hard to contact. The brain cells are swelled over with rapid floods of salts into them.

How often is his bg checked during a day?
The bg should be checked several times a day.

And how often is his blood ketones checked during a day?
 
I know it is serious trust me I have been bawling since Saturday. I work at the cat speciality clinic as an assistant. They checked his bg a few times today and gave him 2 units of lantus at 930am and i have to again at same time PM today. Blood ketones I'm not sure I think they only did it once saturday when they checked his urine. I just don't know what to do. Sit and watch him die? He was finished with his 1000ml bag of fluids and they gave him 150mls to last him the night before he goes back to stay tomorrow.
 
I'm just begging for insight I just don't know what to do and they are stumped. He had a 99 temp ranging to 103 in the last couple of days. They put him on metronidazole again 100mg total and zeniquin just incase he has a weird buy his suppressed immune system cant fight off (he is on cyclosporine for ITP)

He is also on 2 tumil k pills
 
Aliciakuy said:
I'm just begging for insight I just don't know what to do and they are stumped. He had a 99 temp ranging to 103 in the last couple of days. They put him on metronidazole again 100mg total and zeniquin just incase he has a weird buy his suppressed immune system cant fight off (he is on cyclosporine for ITP)

He is also on 2 tumil k pills
Click to expand...

Poor baby, he has a lot on his plate. He is lucky to have you.
I seriously hope his temp goes down. Could he have had some infection that has crashed his entire system. That is a lot, but I can see that he is well taken care of.
It's okay to cry, I sure have many times with mine.
I can't help out to make him well, with so much for him to fight at the same time, I just hope he turns around fast and become well.

Others here might help you better.
 
His temp is okay but he is not mentally there. Nothing. Is there any suggestion at all on how to help or what they could be doing different? They would listen. I'm desperate
 
To get more eyes you should edit your title to add a question mark. I’m sorry I don’t have experience with DKA. I hope your kitty recovers soon.
 
Hi and welcome to FDMB.
I am sorry your kitty is so unwell. Can you tell us his name please?
Has he been actually diagnosed with DKA or has he just got ketones in his urine?
The recipe for DKA is not enough insulin, not enough food and an infection or inflammation. Ketones can quickly develop into DKA.
If it is DKA I am surprised they let him go home overnight.
Are you home testing the BG levels?
Also I think it is important to be testing the urine very day for ketones to try and keep them from developing further.
The weakness in the legs could be caused by the low potassium levels.
If he has been on an IV drip he should not be dehydrated, I would not think.
I think it is really important that you are checking the BGLevels yourself as they do fluctuate and you have no way of knowing what they are unless you are testing.
Are you able to get him to eat any food?
With DKA and with diabetes it is important they eat. I'll post this and then add more. If you could answer the questions I asked that would be great. I know this is very stressful for you!:bighug:
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Hi and welcome to FDMB.
I am sorry your kitty is so unwell. Can you tell us his name please?
Has he been actually diagnosed with DKA or has he just got ketones in his urine?
The recipe for DKA is not enough insulin, not enough food and an infection or inflammation. Ketones can quickly develop into DKA.
If it is DKA I am surprised they let him go home overnight.
Are you home testing the BG levels?
Also I think it is important to be testing the urine very day for ketones to try and keep them from developing further.
The weakness in the legs could be caused by the low potassium levels.
If he has been on an IV drip he should not be dehydrated, I would not think.
I think it is really important that you are checking the BGLevels yourself as they do fluctuate and you have no way of knowing what they are unless you are testing.
Are you able to get him to eat any food?
With DKA and with diabetes it is important they eat. I'll post this and then add more. If you could answer the questions I asked that would be great. I know this is very stressful for you!:bighug:
Click to expand...

His name is Morton. He is diagnosed with plus 3 ketones as of Saturday. He will eat absolutely nothing. He is at the point he is too weak to walk today. And just urinates where he is lying. They only let him go home just to be comfortable for a night they syringe fed at 6pm and tested BG and temp and gave 150mls sub q fluids but want him back tomorrow morning. They said he would be better at home since he is there alone and just on an IV and sad. And tonight I am giving his 2 units lantus after I syringe feed about 15mls. He is on metronidazole and zeniquin for possible infection. Hes my soul mate cat.

I think he could have gotten dka from untreated diabetes having it for months and the dr ignoring it and saying get off the pred and it will get normal bg.... he goes in fits of not eating for a long time now but this time he did not recover and here we are
 
Aliciakuy said:
His name is Morton. He is diagnosed with plus 3 ketones as of Saturday. He will eat absolutely nothing. He is at the point he is too weak to walk today. And just urinates where he is lying. They only let him go home just to be comfortable for a night they syringe fed at 6pm and tested BG and temp and gave 150mls sub q fluids but want him back tomorrow morning. They said he would be better at home since he is there alone and just on an IV and sad. And tonight I am giving his 2 units lantus after I syringe feed about 15mls. He is on metronidazole and zeniquin for possible infection. Hes my soul mate cat.

I think he could have gotten dka from untreated diabetes having it for months and the dr ignoring it and saying get off the pred and it will get normal bg.... he goes in fits of not eating for a long time now but this time he did not recover and here we are
Click to expand...

Hi Morton and Mom!
Yes he probably did get the DKA from untreated diabetes.
But even though it is a very serious illness, it can often be successfully treated and hopefully Morton will soon start to feel better.
There are things you can do to help him.

The vets at the clinic should know the treatment for DKA while he is in hospital.
He has been on a drip and it sounds as if he will go back on it tomorrow.
Is he still having an antibiotic? It is really important he has any infection/inflammation treated as part of the treatment for DKA.
Do you know if he has been given any antinausea medication..? Nauseated cats don't like to eat. Most cats with DKA have trouble eating.
Did the clinic check his BG level during the day to see how low the insulin was taking Morton?
So the most important things you can do for him now are
  • Make sure he is getting enough food. Any food at all at this point is ok. Force feed if necessary. But he must eat. Food is like medicine for DKA cats. After you syringe feed him and give him insulin, I would keep syringe feeding him during the night every couple of hours. Food will help keep the ketones at bay.
  • He needs enough insulin. The only way you can tell if it is enough is if you are testing the BG levels yourself when he is at home. If I were you I would go out tomorrow morning after you drop him back at the clinic and buy a human glucose meter from Walmart. ReliOn brand has a range. You need to be testing before EVERYshot to see it is safe to give the insulin. And then test again during the cycle to see how low the insulin is taking Morton. We can help you learn to test.
  • While you are at Walmart, buy a bottle of Ketostix which will let you test the urine for ketones. It is important to keep a track of how many ketones are in the urine. They need testing at least daily at the moment.
  • Fluids are also very important but as he has been on a drip and had 150 mls subQ he should be ok til he goes back on the drip in the morning.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Hi Morton and Mom!
Yes he probably did get the DKA from untreated diabetes.
But even though it is a very serious illness, it can often be successfully treated and hopefully Morton will soon start to feel better.
There are things you can do to help him.

The vets at the clinic should know the treatment for DKA while he is in hospital.
He has been on a drip and it sounds as if he will go back on it tomorrow.
Is he still having an antibiotic? It is really important he has any infection/inflammation treated as part of the treatment for DKA.
Do you know if he has been given any antinausea medication..? Nauseated cats don't like to eat. Most cats with DKA have trouble eating.
Did the clinic check his BG level during the day to see how low the insulin was taking Morton?
So the most important things you can do for him now are
  • Make sure he is getting enough food. Any food at all at this point is ok. Force feed if necessary. But he must eat. Food is like medicine for DKA cats. After you syringe feed him and give him insulin, I would keep syringe feeding him during the night every couple of hours. Food will help keep the ketones at bay.
  • He needs enough insulin. The only way you can tell if it is enough is if you are testing the BG levels yourself when he is at home. If I were you I would go out tomorrow morning after you drop him back at the clinic and buy a human glucose meter from Walmart. ReliOn brand has a range. You need to be testing before EVERYshot to see it is safe to give the insulin. And then test again during the cycle to see how low the insulin is taking Morton. We can help you learn to test.
  • While you are at Walmart, buy a bottle of Ketostix which will let you test the urine for ketones. It is important to keep a track of how many ketones are in the urine. They need testing at least daily at the moment.
  • Fluids are also very important but as he has been on a drip and had 150 mls subQ he should be ok til he goes back on the drip in the morning.
Click to expand...

He started the antibiotics today. They did not give me that info as he is coming right back in. They test before they give insulin but just started this morning. Force feeding only he has not willingly eaten since Tuesday. He has cerenia for nausea but it has not helped his appetite at all. was on cypro for days but that did not stimulate appetite. He is fighting the feedings a lot though he just did and was pretty strong about trying to get away. I gave him 10mls of a/d royal canin pate and 2 units of lantus like they instructed tonight. It's all I can do today. He literally just started insulin at 930am today so this is his 2nd shot. He did not have any yesterday but 3pm his bg was 240 and he acted so much better but now it's just over 300 to 400. I believe it was 400 when they checked this evening. I believe they might raise the insulin soon to see where it takes him but he pretty much is in their care my boss (the vet) just thought hey maybe he would be happier at home for about 12 hrs over night here are his meds and lantus and syringe feed and just try to make him happy..he is completely shut off at the vet he goes in every 3 weeks to check his platelets and he is instantly turned off when he sees the carrier. He is a little more engaged tonight but seems just blah and bummed. He did venture off the blanket about 4 feet to try to go to the litter box but I helped him in it and he crawled out the side...for some reason he never uses the opening shallow end. And kind of stumbled out and thought ok I will sit here

By SAFE. What do you mean? If bg is too low? His has just been high.


And actually..he did nibble a bit when his bg was 240 yesterday afternoon then he crashed again when I saw him in the evening
 
Last edited:
Do you have any honey or Karo at home in case you need it, if the BG level does drop low?

I know it is hard to force feed but it's really important he gets more food. Do you think you could feed him some more times overnight? He needs it for the DKA and because he has had insulin..
Lantus is a long acting insulin so it's onset is usually around +2...2 hours after the insulin is given, and the lowest point is usually around +5 to +7 ....5 to 7 hours after the insulin is given. So it's important during the 1st half of the cycle (12 hours) that Morton gets some more food.
And with the DKA, food intake is one of the most important things you can do.

There is another antinausea medication called ondansetron which is also very good for cats. Ask the vets about that. It sometimes works if cerenia doesn't.

You are doing a great job helping Morton. I will be around for the next 7 hours as I live in Australia. So anytime you need to ask anything I will be here.:bighug:
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Do you have any honey or Karo at home in case you need it, if the BG level does drop low?

I know it is hard to force feed but it's really important he gets more food. Do you think you could feed him some more times overnight? He needs it for the DKA and because he has had insulin..
Lantus is a long acting insulin so it's onset is usually around +2...2 hours after the insulin is given, and the lowest point is usually around +5 to +7 ....5 to 7 hours after the insulin is given. So it's important during the 1st half of the cycle (12 hours) that Morton gets some more food.
And with the DKA, food intake is one of the most important things you can do.

There is another antinausea medication called ondansetron which is also very good for cats. Ask the vets about that. It sometimes works if cerenia doesn't.

You are doing a great job helping Morton. I will be around for the next 7 hours as I live in Australia. So anytime you need to ask anything I will be here.:bighug:
Click to expand...

I have honey but I am unsure if I give too much it can harm his bg levels. Of all the knowledge of cats (I fostered them for forever even neonates) I have learned nothing about diabetes... the vet tech I work with (and by the way she completely called his diagnosis saturday. She said low potassium and diabetes issues bet me on it and she tested and there it was) said: "Don't buy a human meter. The alphatraks are more accurate for cats fyi. We probably have a donated one you can use."

So I fed him at 930.. he needs his cyclosporine 2 hrs later and then wait an hr after to get any food..maybe I could give him some honey? The next feeding i can do is midnight to keep food away from the ITP med
 
Is there a way I can easier talk to you guys? I dont want to be a bother but this cat is literally my soul mate I fostered him at 4 weeks with his litter. He was always underdeveloped and mentally slow and i decided to keep him because he was such a weird little guy and then he developed ITP a month later after he was neutered and up to be adopted. His brother died at 5 months I'm not sure from what but he was very ill
 
I sent a DM. That is good to know this site has helped other cats here.. he definitely crashes and recovers but I just have no experience with this so it's so stressful and hard
 
Alicia I promise you you are not bothering us. We are happy to help.
I have to just go out and pick up kids from school but I’ll be back soon.
You are wonderful to care for him.
If you have to feed him around his other meds then do that. Just try and get as much food in him as he will tolerate. 10 to 15 mls at a time is fine. What are you feeding him ? High calorie food is good
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Alicia I promise you you are not bothering us. We are happy to help.
I have to just go out and pick up kids from school but I’ll be back soon.
You are wonderful to care for him.
If you have to feed him around his other meds then do that. Just try and get as much food in him as he will tolerate. 10 to 15 mls at a time is fine. What are you feeding him ?
Click to expand...

Thank you. I am feeding royal canin a/d not sure what a/d means but we give it to sick skinny kitties at work. It is 200 something calories per 5 oz can. The tech said he has had a lot of food today he is a very small boy just 8lbs if he is eating a lot. So I'll feed him about 10mls at midnight since I gave him lantus at 930 and then maybe one more time around 3am? Should I feed again? He is getting dropped off at 9 to the clinic so they can feed him check bg and do lantus and put him back on his IV. He still has his catheter in right now

Thank you so much. Although I have a loving husband who's life is also our cats I feel very alone because I know nothing about diabetes and neither does he. I know much more than him animal health wise being around a cat clinic every day
 
Aliciakuy said:
Thank you. I am feeding royal canin a/d not sure what a/d means but we give it to sick skinny kitties at work. It is 200 something calories per 5 oz can. The tech said he has had a lot of food today he is a very small boy just 8lbs if he is eating a lot. So I'll feed him about 10mls at midnight since I gave him lantus at 930 and then maybe one more time around 3am? Should I feed again? He is getting dropped off at 9 to the clinic so they can feed him check bg and do lantus and put him back on his IV. He still has his catheter in right now

Thank you so much. Although I have a loving husband who's life is also our cats I feel very alone because I know nothing about diabetes and neither does he. I know much more than him animal health wise being around a cat clinic every day
Click to expand...

The a/d food is good for this situation. Feeding at 12 and around 3am is good, but I think I would feed again at around 6am.
It is always overwhelming for everyone at the beginning of a diabetic diagnosis.

We have lots of information on this forum. If you read the yellow sticky’s at the top of the different pages and click on the FAQ page you will be able to read a lot about feline diabetes.
 
It's not even He has diabetes what do I do it's He has DKA what the **** is happening. I will try my best. I'll have my husband do that feeding early morning.
 
I think the big issue is since I met him he has had a horrible appetite and very hard to get to eat. When he was eating fine I usually had to shake his bowl about 5 times during his feeding because he would walk away and get distracted but if shook the bowl he would kind of go OH. OK. and eat more. Sometimes he only would want to eat out of my han . Other times only 1 tbsp of food could be in the bowl or he woildnt eat his dry
 
I know is scary when our fur babies are so sick. But it sounds as if your vet is good. Just give Morton loads of love and remember that the food and insulin are really important in his recovery
 
Aliciakuy said:
I think the big issue is since I met him he has had a horrible appetite and very hard to get to eat. When he was eating fine I usually had to shake his bowl about 5 times during his feeding because he would walk away and get distracted but if shook the bowl he would kind of go OH. OK. and eat more. Sometimes he only would want to eat out of my han . Other times only 1 tbsp of food could be in the bowl or he woildnt eat his dry
Click to expand...
I know it is super hard when they won’t eat
 
Do you know why he would have bilirubin in his urine? They said his liver enzymes were elevated I'm not sure if this can harm the liver or if it can recover... just so many things red flags for me. I gave him his cyclosporine and gave him 2mls of sweet potato baby food with it and he did not refuse it he really likes sweet potato. I hope it's safe to give him for diabetes.
 
Aliciakuy said:
It's not even He has diabetes what do I do it's He has DKA what the **** is happening. I will try my best. I'll have my husband do that feeding early morning.
Click to expand...

My Simba had 5,5 in direct blood b-ketones once and severe DKA. The direct blood b-ketones are fast measured with Abbott's direct Blood b-ketone meter. Simba got a brand new one for free directly sent to him by Abbott Inc. Our human-anbulances uses it too due to all human diabetics, always checking for bg when they come and the blood b-ketones That helped a lot for me to always stay on the top alert at home.

They did a great job at our Animal Hospital to save my Simba out of his DKA, since besides his 5,5 in direct blood b-ketones and super low pottassium, his blood PH was tipped over the end, and that is a very bad sign since that tipps the CO2/O2 levels too. But with that real staying on top of it real Intensive Care he got, they turned it around. They put him on tube feeding too, started with 25 % of the daily intake the first day, increased to 50 % of the daily intake the second day, increased to 75 % of the daily intake the third day and then 100 % of the daily intake the fourth day and the days after that.

He had pancreatitis too at the same time, and spent 2 weeks in the Animal Hospital's Intensive Care. It was awful but he came back home to me and his Gustav.
First thing I did after that was contact Abbott direct asking for their direct blood b-ketone meter and they sent a brand new one to Simba for free, so it never happened to him again.


With too low pottassium, I can try explain a bit what happens, since I myself since 2012 suffer from permanent severe hypo-pottassium and needing constant 2 x 750 mg pottassium a day supply of pottassium tablets. The human blood range for pottassium is between 3,8 - 4,6.
I get muscle paralysations already at 3,8, and at 3,6 I am very bad, all body paralysations, nauseous, and get direct heart problems and ireggularities on heart-ECG's. At 3 it is critical for me and by 2,2 in so low pottassium I have already, besides almost total body paralysation, gone into bad blood pressure, weak puls, cardiac arrest and become unconsious.
My sensitivity for too low pottassium have increased and too low pottassium also affects the heart muscles cells. Once filled up with pottassium and sodium to normal levels, the paralysations goes back, and I am extremely groggy for days, but not without an enormous pain and body fatigueness for a long long time and tiredness. However I become stronger and stronger for every day though but it takes a good while.

It is similar to what happens when too low pottassium in diabetes-DKA. But once stabilised there is very good hope.

I hope Morton can fight this and gets through this and comes back to his Mama.
 
Aliciakuy said:
Do you know why he would have bilirubin in his urine? They said his liver enzymes were elevated I'm not sure if this can harm the liver or if it can recover... just so many things red flags for me. I gave him his cyclosporine and gave him 2mls of sweet potato baby food with it and he did not refuse it he really likes sweet potato. I hope it's safe to give him for diabetes.
Click to expand...
At this point let him eat whatever he likes. Even if it's high carb. The main thing is he gets food into him.
I can't answer the bilirubin question I'm sorry. I'll tag @Marje and Gracie as she is a whizz with lab results. If you have any other results you can post that may help as well.
If Morton is still as unwell tomorrow evening, is there a 24 hour place you could send him to?
Kitties with DKA really need around the clock care for a few days.
 
Aliciakuy said:
Is there any suggestion at all on how to help or what they could be doing different? They would listen.
Click to expand...
If kitty is definitely in DKA, they should be treating with Regular insulin (Humulin R or Novolin R, same insulin, different brands). Once the BG gets down to around 250 mg/dL, they normally add glucose to the fluids to prevent kitty from dropping too low. Ideally, kitty should be in a 24- hour care facility.

If your vet is receptive, here are some links you can give them which explain the typical treatment plan for DKA kitties:
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
At this point let him eat whatever he likes. Even if it's high carb. The main thing is he gets food into him.
Click to expand...
Yes! The important thing is to get food into him --- whatever he'll eat. It may be necessary to syringe feed:
Syringe/Assisted Feeding (Video and Tips).

Food, fluids/extra water, an adequate supply of insulin, and treating any underlying conditions will help!
Aliciakuy said:
They said his liver enzymes were elevated I'm not sure if this can harm the liver or if it can recover... just so many things red flags for me.
Click to expand...
I don't know why the liver involvement. When my cat, Alex experienced severe liver disease at the same time as an acute renal crisis, several ultrasounds were performed as part of the diagnostic testing performed. The illness/disease knocked her out of remission at the time. They might want to do an ultrasound to see what's going on. With treatment, Alex recovered from the renal and liver crisis. However, I lost her several years later to an unrelated illness --- oral cancer.

I tried to keep track of all that was happening on her 2011 spreadsheet (link in my signature). However, she was not in DKA at the time. Liver meds are listed in the 'Remarks' section of her spreadsheet. Perhaps you'll find some of the info helpful.

Keep posting, There are many of us whose kitties have been in DKA and survived with intensive treatment.

Wishing you the best.


Edited to add:
If your vet belongs to the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), they should have access to Dr. Rhett Marshall's (Australia) protocol to treat kitties in DKA with Lantus (glargine) via IM and IV therapy.
 
Last edited:
First, talk to the vets tomorrow about them giving him R insulin. Lantus can’t pull down high numbers and it takes a few days to get the depot filled but R can pull the BG down much faster if they know how to use it effectively.

If he’s not eating enough, you might talk to the vet about a temporary feeding tube. It’s not uncommon with DKA cats.

Bilirubin in the urine is indicative of liver issues which you already know exist. His serum bilirubin levels are probably high, too, as well as his ALT and possibly ALP and GGT. Liver enzyme levels can be high due to a lot of different things including hepatic lipidosis, cholangiohepatitis, triaditis, gall bladder inflammation, bile duct obstruction. Your vet will likely need to do an ultrasound to see how his liver, pancreas, bile duct, and gallbladder look. Ask about putting him on milk thistle which is great liver support.

ITP is rare in cats but has been shown to have a correlation to viral infections. The cyclosporine is for the ITP, I’m assuming. You should know that cyclosporine can cause liver damage.

I hope he will turn the corner. If he were mine, I’d think about a 24 hour specialty clinic where he can stay and get round the clock treatment.

Edited to add: are the whites of his eyes or inside his ears jaundiced? Often, if you are seeing bilirubin in the urine, you might expect to see jaundice.

:bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Last edited:
A 24 hr place would be thousands upon thousands of dollars and I don't think I can do that. And the cyclosporine if he isn't on it then his platelets will go back to 5k. I am just so lost at what to do. I have milk thistle
 
Jill & Alex (GA) said:
If kitty is definitely in DKA, they should be treating with Regular insulin (Humulin R or Novolin R, same insulin, different brands). Once the BG gets down to around 250 mg/dL, they normally add glucose to the fluids to prevent kitty from dropping too low. Ideally, kitty should be in a 24- hour care facility.

If your vet is receptive, here are some links you can give them which explain the typical treatment plan for DKA kitties:

Yes! The important thing is to get food into him --- whatever he'll eat. It may be necessary to syringe feed:
Syringe/Assisted Feeding (Video and Tips).

Food, fluids/extra water, an adequate supply of insulin, and treating any underlying conditions will help!

I don't know why the liver involvement. When my cat, Alex experienced severe liver disease at the same time as an acute renal crisis, several ultrasounds were performed as part of the diagnostic testing performed. The illness/disease knocked her out of remission at the time. They might want to do an ultrasound to see what's going on. With treatment, Alex recovered from the renal and liver crisis. However, I lost her several years later to an unrelated illness --- oral cancer.

I tried to keep track of all that was happening on her 2011 spreadsheet (link in my signature). However, she was not in DKA at the time. Liver meds are listed in the 'Remarks' section of her spreadsheet. Perhaps you'll find some of the info helpful.

Keep posting, There are many of us whose kitties have been in DKA and survived with intensive treatment.

Wishing you the best.


Edited to add:
If your vet belongs to the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), they should have access to Dr. Rhett Marshall's (Australia) protocol to treat kitties in DKA with Lantus (glargine) via IM and IV therapy.
Click to expand...


I did not know it was possible to get out of liver disease. I will call my emergency vet but I'm also worried bringing him there they have all kinds of infectious diseases there and his immune system is barely there as is.
 
Aliciakuy said:
A 24 hr place would be thousands upon thousands of dollars and I don't think I can do that. And the cyclosporine if he isn't on it then his platelets will go back to 5k. I am just so lost at what to do. I have milk thistle
Click to expand...
Prednisilone can be used to treat ITP. He’s already diabetic so then, as with other kitties on this site that need steroids, we work the dose around the steroid. You can ask the vet.

And yes, the liver has great potential for healing once you find the cause of the insult.

Has he been tested for feline leukemia?

Are you aware of Care Credit that might be able to help with vet costs?
 
Marje and Gracie said:
Prednisilone can be used to treat ITP. He’s already diabetic so then, as with other kitties on this site that need steroids, we work the dose around the steroid. You can ask the vet.

Has he been tested for feline leukemia?

Are you aware of Care Credit that might be able to help with vet costs?
Click to expand...

He has been on pred all of his life. He tested negative once
 
Hi Alicia, how is Morton going now?

Everyone understands that the 24 hour ER is expensive and you may not be able to afford it....a lot of people here on the board do not have much money to spare. Jill, Marj and I suggested the 24 hour ER as it is the best place for Morton to be, but if you are unable to do that, then have a look at what Jill and Marj suggested re treatment and discuss it with your vet who you said would listen to suggestions.

There is also Diabetic cats in need who help people with diabetic cats. @Chris & China (GA) could help with that, and Marj mentioned Care Credit.
Both Jill and Marj have added some very good information at the end of their posts which you might not have seen.

Once Morton comes home from hospital we can help you with the recovery period.
 
I just want to add a bit of possible comfort, my cat Alice was emaciated, less than 2kg, went into DKA and was hospitalized for about 3 days and I worked really hard to nurse her afterwards, and it’s only been 4 months since but she is already weight-restored and squishy and happy and has more energy than she used to.
You have been given some really great info by some of the best people here to give it, and this board helped me save my cat’s life.

It’s really terrifying at first, at least it was for me. Now I have gained experience and it has gotten easier. I will be thinking of you and Morton and hoping he starts to show greater improvement soon. Alice couldn’t walk into the litter box really at first and was weak like what you described, it broke my heart to watch. Then it got better over time and with food and fluids and antibiotics and tests and insulin and hard work. It sounds like Morton has a lot of fight in him, he’s been dealing with a lot and he is still going. I recommend prioritizing getting sleep when you can as often as possible while he is at the vet more, because when he is home you may not get as much for awhile.

Hugs! :bighug:
 
AliceMeowliss&Cassandra said:
I just want to add a bit of possible comfort, my cat Alice was emaciated, less than 2kg, went into DKA and was hospitalized for about 3 days and I worked really hard to nurse her afterwards, and it’s only been 4 months since but she is already weight-restored and squishy and happy and has more energy than she used to.
You have been given some really great info by some of the best people here to give it, and this board helped me save my cat’s life.

It’s really terrifying at first, at least it was for me. Now I have gained experience and it has gotten easier. I will be thinking of you and Morton and hoping he starts to show greater improvement soon. Alice couldn’t walk into the litter box really at first and was weak like what you described, it broke my heart to watch. Then it got better over time and with food and fluids and antibiotics and tests and insulin and hard work. It sounds like Morton has a lot of fight in him, he’s been dealing with a lot and he is still going. I recommend prioritizing getting sleep when you can as often as possible while he is at the vet more, because when he is home you may not get as much for awhile.

Hugs! :bighug:
Click to expand...

Thank you. I worry with him though that this is different because his liver is being funky right now and hes less than 2 years old. He is getting IV insulin today. The lantus is not lowering his bg so they are trying IV insulin and are going to check his bg every 3 hrs today
 
He so just feels like jello. He is so squishy with fluids but so bony it makes me not want to pick him up I feel so bad
 
They are doing IM lantus but be is really worried about sodium and phosphates still being very low. They are changing his IV bag fluid so something different but I'm not sure why they would still be so low
 
His bg went from 400 to 350 in 4 hours with IM lantus. He is more worried about his sodium and phosphates being so low. He doesnt want to correct the bg too fast.. I worry taking him to critical care I won't get updated enough or they wont give him his ITP meds properly away from food and he could catch something there because of his immune syste . All of them at my work wash their hands before handling. There are places my boss recommends me go but I've read reviews and they're all very mixed. There is a place called summit emergency vet in Tacoma he went there to get insight about his ITP and it was a good experience but I havent been to the emergency side of it
 
His response "
To answer your question about R - insulin online research recommendation vs Lantus. The R insulin model is certainly old-school, classic recommended for DKA mgt in small animal (dogs and cats) critical care and emergency medicine. It is the way I did things for many, many years.

However, in my years working with cats, in my hands, I have found it unnecessarily troublesome and I prefer not to use it. Even tiny doses of R drops the blood sugar very, very fast, and in my opinion, the blood sugar getting down to normal range - faster - does not equate to them feeling better faster or a better outcome. In fact - it is a higher risk in my view. "
 
Some DKA cats need a feeding tube to get them over the initial not being able to eat stage. It’s very common that they won’t eat. Has your vet suggested it?
 
They havent suggested it as he takes force feedings well and is not vomiting. He is only 7lbs healthily so he doesnt need as much food as a normal bigger kitty
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top