DKA Cat home from the hospital not eating

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H Mills

Member Since 2019
I need help. My cat was diagnosed a year ago with diabetes, we gave him insulin for 2 months and then he no longer needed it until about a month ago he started acting strange. We brought him to the vet who put him back on insulin. Earlier this week he just stopped eating we brought him to the vet that day and they found ketones, diagnosed him with DKA and sent him to the hospital. They gave him fluids and called us to pick him up last night, 2 nights after the diagnosis. He never ate at the hospital and wont eat now. I am going to try to assist feed with a syringe, but I don't know how long to go before taking him somewhere else. I dont know why they didn't feed him at the hospital. He moves around, but only to change positions and then lay down so he is not in the lethargic state we first found him, but he is not himself and I am worried.
 
I am not one of the experts here, and don't have personal experience with DKA, but I wouldn't delay. He needs to eat; not getting enough calories will only worsen the chance of ketones developing. Hugs to you.
 
Welcome.

Are you giving your cat insulin? and what kind? Did the hospital send you home with any instructions? Meds? Are you home testing?

The recipe for DKA + not enough insulin + not enough food + infection/inflammation/something else going on.

If your cat is not eating, then yes, a visit to a vet or the hospital is necessary. Depending on test results, a vet may just send you to the hospital.

DKA is serious. It is imperative that a DKA cat eat. Also, fluids are important because they help to flush out the ketones.
You can read about DKA here: Ketones, Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), and Blood Ketone Meters

I cannot stay online. Tagging some people who may be online at the moment.
@Crista & Ming
@Marje and Gracie
 
Hey, the 3 most important things when dealing with DKA is Fluids, Food and Insulin, I'm not sure if you are currently giving insulin? But it's so so important that you get your cat to eat and drink, at this point food of any type will do, be it tuna, chicken, biscuits or wet food. You can syringe feed, sometimes this kick starts their appetite, also syringe small amounts of water, slow and steady with syringing so as not to overwhelm your cat.
Are you testing for ketones at home? I cant reccomend this enough.
Right now though, fluids and food need to be your number one priority.
Sending you vines and love as you go through this x
 
Thank you all for your replies we did end up taking him to the hospital as it all seemed beyond what I could do for him at home and just got some dire news about organ failure and misinformation the previous vet gave us. I can end this thread now
 
H Mills said:
Thank you all for your replies we did end up taking him to the hospital as it all seemed beyond what I could do for him at home and just got some dire news about organ failure and misinformation the previous vet gave us. I can end this thread now
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Sorry but what do you mean when you say you can end this thread now, is he being treated
 
He is at the hospital being treated she is unsure if dka was even the right diagnosis by the previous vet. He is in liver failure right now
 
The liver has a remarkable ability to come back to normal. So don't give up hope.


If there will be a next time need for support feeding if not eating for any reason, I highly recommend the KMR formula for sick cats.
On it it says how much the least an adult cat should have a day, and I've used it for all my 4 cats during 31 years + 3 tiny 8 weeks rescue babies.

I use it with the feeder plastic syringes when they can't eat on their own, squirting it down in their mouths. And when they do eat it on their own they have gotten it on bowl plate. I like to whip in a raw egg yolk and a little cream in it, to further increase its nutrition content and give a tastiet taste to it. I feed this several times a day then. The more the better.
With time when they have started to feel better they start eat their own wet food again. Even inticed them to eat with dry food.


I hope for your boy and you.
Don't give up hope.
 
I am so sorry you cat is so I’ll.
Milk thistle is very good for liver failure. Is your vet giving that?. The liver does have the ability to recover.

Are they giving him something for nausea? Cats won’t eat if they are nauseated.
Are they doing tests to determine what is wrong?
You must be so worried:bighug:
Please keep us updated.
Sending best wishes for a full recovery
 
They are giving him cerenia for anti nausea and an appetite stimulant. She said that his levels are all over the place and she is trying to determine the cause while also managing his pain. We are going to go see him once they allow visitors which isn't until 11
 
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