My kitty had DKA around Christmas time of 2005 I think it was. I took him to the ER in the middle of the night where he was diagnosed. Because the next day was Monday, and they (used to) close at 8:00am when most regular vets open, I was instructed to take him to a 24 hour hospital where he could be monitored all day and night. I had a choice between one to the east that was 90 minutes away or one to the west that was 90 minutes away. Alas, at 7:00am on a Monday morning, with all the commut traffic, we were headed to the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital in Philadelphia, with J.D. in critical condition. He made it, but it was scary. Each day he stayed there became a little less expensive. He started at the most expensive, like critical care, and then a day later was transferred to ICU (I think it was called, I am soooo bad with medical terminology), stayed there for 2 or 3 days, and then was transferred to Internal Medicine, which was the least expensive (like $120 or $150 a day, I think, it was a long time ago). In total he was hospitalized for 8 days. Each day he would get just a little bit better. The first day he recognized me, but just laid there. The second day, he lifted his head, when I came to visit. The third day, he I actually saw him get up for a sec to reposition himself. The fourth day, he got up and came to me, crawled into my lap, with a tube in each leg, weak, and with yellow (urine) all over his white legs, but he got up and came to me and got into my lap :razz: God, that was a good sign. Then, on the fourth day, he also began to lick his stained yellowed fur, and I knew that was a good sign. Every day that passed, he got a little bit stronger. He had to have two blood transfusions, and I don't know what all else, but he made it. He would not eat the whole time he was there, even I tried to bring him treats and his favorite foods, but he just would not eat. He had a feeding tube in, and the vets said he could go home as sood as he was eating. Well, now it was almost New Years, and they finally let me take him home with the feeding tube. What joy it was to get my baby home. The feeding tube lasted like a day, and he was soon eating, and gaining weight, and getting stronger and happier.
I hope I didn't say too much, or ramble too much. I just wanted you to know that they can survive through this, and many kitties on this board have gone through this. I wish you the best, and send hope to you, and strength and will to your Kitty. Oh, and wisdom to your vets ;-)
