DKA question-can kitty have only a few symptoms?

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Chris S

Chris S

Member Since 2020
So I’ve posted twice recently in last few days. Harley had a weird low day and we have been working on resetting so to speak to what I am guessing would be a new dose going forward but tbd how we do daily.


Anyways, I checked for ketones the other day when we got these readings and they are negative/no detection.

however, I’ve noticed in last 12-18 hours:
Threw up breakfast ( but came back for a smaller meal of different wet low carb food and didn’t seem to throw it up. Kept dinner down. Has an appetite.).

she’s been laying around but I can’t tell if I’m just being overly helicopterish lol since she always lays around.... she’s bright eyed. Purring. Does get up to walk around. . Etc.

Seems to be drinking regular and typical litter box activity

we have 9 cats so it’s hard when someone else is throwing up etc since unless you witness it, it’s a guessing game.

I noticed a loose stool or three but not in the typical box she goes in (again w 9 there are severe boxes for them). Tonight one had a little pink to it like it was a little bloody which could be any of them ... but... the last time I have encountered that was 10 years ago when Harley had necrotizing pancreatis. So I’m of course a little on edge.

anyways.... is it possible she could be having dka issue with just a morning vomiting of food and maybe a little tiredness (which could just be me being overly analyzing)? She hasn’t peed again for me to catch and test so I am just getting myself worried for hopefully nothing.

I know to look for crazy higher readings, no appetite and other typical signs etc but she is seemingly in a more Normal range for first time really since feb when we started all of this and wasn’t sure if dka could start with just a little stomach upset and a low number day.
 
Hi Chris.
The one think I did notice in your SS is that you have reduced the dose of insulin substantially in the last 3 days and have gone from 2.5 units on the 5/7 down to 1 then 2 then skip then 1 unit. I can see why you skipped the dose. The reason I am mentioning this is because ketones can form when there is not enough insulin. Now I’m not saying this has caused ketones but I do think you need to shut Harley away so you can get a another pee sample and eliminate ketones as a priority.
There are several gaps in the PMPS column and one in the AMPS column. Did he get insulin then?
Im sure you are busy with 9 cats but I would encourage you to always test before giving insulin and to try and get one test in each cycle.

Lethargy, not eating , excessive drinking, vomiting, weakness, excessive urination, breathing fast and breath smelling of nail polish remover or fruit are all signs of ketones but not all cats will have all the signs.
 
Thank you

yes up until a few day’s ago, she was 3 units twice a day with similar readings (just didn’t log them/they are written down). She is now +6, walked up the stairs, came to me a meowed a usual greeting. She’s sitting w me purring and has a 103 reading.
She had some dry food snacks about 45 min ago (w 9 cats we do have dry food in rotation/albeit a small amount. ( It’s dr elesy chicken; her usual food is ff classic pate chicken).

I have her w me in bathroom where we have a box in hopes she gives me a pee before bed.

her coming up “normally” helps make me feel better. But.... I def want another ketone check just to be sure.

everything else is normal w exception of the change in dose in last few days when she caught me off guard w low nadir. Since she’s been a tough one, perhaps this is her weird road to regulation-gotta be a bumpy road w her just like everything else has been ..... hope to have a ketone test soon.
 
+8 she’s at 99 and jumped up to sleet next to me-a common theme at night. Really wish I knew what kickstarted this trend. It has my mind racing (the change in glucose/insulin need... I hope it’s all good stuff for her but I’m rather critical since her journey has been bumpy with really bad pancreatitis when she was 2 -long before she was a diabetic kitty. Hope we simply are on a positive trend finally for getting regulated
 
I almost hesitate writing you this because I don't want to needlessly worry you if it's not the case, but in February my cat went DKA after his insulin was reduced for two days. He was the odd cat whose numbers actually went much lower than normal (not higher) prior to the ketones setting in, and even when they did his numbers were unusually low for him.
He had almost no symptoms, and then when he did they were very mild. Just a little more lethargic than usual, he was still eating a bit just not nearly as much as normal. I was checking ketones all the while (when I could get a sample, I never expected for a second it was DKA) he was negative up until he got to the vet where all of a sudden they registered off the charts.

This is all to say that numbers can be low too. I know it's not as common and really took me for surprise, before the vet checked ketones she actually suggested he may not be diabetic/need insulin anymore because they "improved" so much. I just really advise you keep on checking those ketones because they can hit fast and hard, and not every kitty will show all the symptoms until it's too late.

I really hope this isn't the case, and like I mentioned I do think Oscar's case was pretty atypical compared to most others experience. But I like to share his story for that reason when it's relevant.
 
Thank you -yes I def have been looking for ketones because Harley has been the epitome of not typical lol. Got a clean catch strip check this am and still negative.
I still am watching like crazy because I still think she’s not feeling totally herself. Just a hunch. She eats etc but I just see a little off for her. Since we didn’t have a shot in almost 36 hours, her number this am was over 300 as I expected. I gave her a dose of 1 as I am not sure what is going on (when I was doing 3 all of a sudden the numbers didn’t work so I am now monitoring even more as you see )
 
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