Is fat cat in DKA?

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Elizabeth Lewis

Elizabeth Lewis

Member Since 2016
Fat cat went back to the vet today, he is being switched to Prozinc, and we're starting at 2 units, although she thinks we will need 4 or 5 eventually since he was on 4 units of N and only getting to upper 100's. She is happy with his progress to eating wet food! His sugar on her meter was only 294, which I think is great because he was stressed from being there, and it was time for his insulin, however, fat cat has lost about a pound and a half in 2 weeks, granted they are different scales, but that's somewhat concerning to me :-/
He continues to act like every thing is fine! Oh, she did some blood work to make sure nothing else underlying is going on.
Just another day in the life of my big fat sugar cat ...
 
I think you should call him "Big Boned":rolleyes:
I liked Pro Zinc it just did not last long enough for Dre but he was his normal self on it (he was depressed on vetsulin)
good luck!:bighug:
 
Ok ! The title sounds bad, but im a little concerned, like an hour ago fat cat jumped on top of me and I noticed he has a hint of DKA breath (I feel like I know this smell from humans). That being said, I wouldn't have even noticed anything wrong with him if it weren't for that. Could the stress from being at the vet today and getting lab work drawn put him into a hint of DKA? He's acting 100% normal, eating, drinking, playing, cuddling, purring, he just started his Prozinc today. I took a sugar on him just now which is like +5.5 and it's 307, certainly not the worst he's had, should I just ride it out and see if the breath goes away ? If I hadn't smelled that distinct smell on a human before I would never have even had any clue something was up :-/.... no ketones in his urine ....
 
If you have checked his urine and ketones are negative, it's doubtful it's DKA but ketones take a day or so to show up in the urine so I would definitely keep an eye on him and retest for urine ketones in the morning. Anything over a trace on a urine ketone test signals a problem and the need for immediate vet care.
 
I just woke up from a nap and I don't really notice that smell anymore to his breath which makes me feel better, but I'm wondering why it was ever there in the first place, I mean there is no mistaking that smell something else for that or vice versa.... I dunno, at a loss,
In any respect im glad it's gone.
 
Test his urine throughout the day. Call your vets to let them know about the clinical signs you've observed and ask for their input.

If there's any way you can get hold of a blood beta ketone meter ASAP I'd recommend you do. The strips are expensive but an awful lot cheaper than vet bills and could be the fastest and safest way to protect Fat Cat and save him the misery and potential threats that come from an episode of DKA. (They eliminate the 'hit 'n' miss' element of urine collection and could give you several hours of earlier warning if ketones are developing - time to get emergency treatment to increase chances of preventing Fat Cat from tipping over into DKA.)


Mogs
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I'm hoping he's ok, he was just at the vet this afternoon for a check up, he got some routine blood work. He doesn't have weird breath anymore, he just at breakfast, and got his prozinc, he's acting pretty normal, but I will keep a close eye on him :-/, I just worry about him so, he my baby! He's snoozing on the dining room table currently, I'm counting his respirations like a crazy person and smelling his breath ! I'm hoping he's fine, his new vet said he looked great today, other than being a big guy ! His AMPS was only 304! Sounds high to some I imagine, but it's better than in the 400's, that being said his +6 after his first dose of prozinc was also 307, which is higher than with the novolin n, but I'm certain these steady numbers will be better for him, just need to get him down to the low 200's/ high 100's our new vet thinks that will be best for him and that she sees manny cats live 10+ years with numbers like that !
 
I'm glad he seems to be doing well, Elizabeth.

That said, some kitties can be very prone to throwing ketones (even when being treated with insulin) - and they can start appearing very suddenly and really quickly so these cats need a little extra monitoring to keep them safe and well. It was a great job that you spotted the odour on Fat Cat's breath. Even though his breath seems OK again today it may be that the off-smelling breath is giving you the blessing of an early warning that Fat Cat may be a ketone-prone kitty. I've seen a lot of members here with ketone-prone kitties who include ketone testing (either with urine or blood testing) as part of their cats' daily treatment and monitoring programme. I think it would be wise for you to consider doing similar. Also, be extra watchful for any hints of infection/inflammation.

FWIW, I'm a helicopter parent, too; there's nowt wrong with that! :bighug:


Mogs
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I agree with what's been said about keeping a close eye on him and being ready to take him to see the vet if anything develops. My cat, Teasel, had a DKA episode at the end of March this year. It developed quickly and he was very ill when I took him to the vet. The signs were obvious: some vomiting, no desire to eat, extreme lethargy (think limp dish rag), etc. I couldn't smell ketones on his breathe though. He spent 3 days in veterinary intensive care and recovered. It was very expensive and it took him a few weeks to get back to normal afterward.

I sure don't want to alarm you because it doesn't seem that Fat Cat is acting like a sick cat. It's best to be cautious so watch him closely.
 
Kris & Teasel said:
I couldn't smell ketones on his breathe though.
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Very good point, Kris. Not all ketones produce the tell-tale breath odour.

@Elizabeth Lewis -

I'd like to add that I'm not trying to alarm you either, Elizabeth (and I sincerely hope I haven't). I'm just a great believer in prevention being better than cure. A lot of members here, myself included, got diddly squat in terms of education about the importance of ketone monitoring and potential complications such as DKA from our vets after our kitties were diagnosed with diabetes. Because of this I try to help new members learn more about how best to avoid problems with ketones.

:bighug:


Mogs
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I need one of those ketone blood monitors you speak of, where do I get such a thing? He is still seeming normal, although he had labwork done yesterday and the vet is supposed to call me back in the next hour or so to discuss the results. Hope nothing was too off!
 
Hmmm, I'm thinking I will probably buy that, but gosh those strips are expensive, suppose I will just test for ketones when I'm worried about him. All his blood work came back completely normal, this includes his liver panel, renal panel, cbc, cmp with the exception of a high sugar, and thyroid panel! Yay fat cat! Just have to get his sugars regulated :-D
 
Elizabeth Lewis said:
Hmmm, I'm thinking I will probably buy that, but gosh those strips are expensive, suppose I will just test for ketones when I'm worried about him. All his blood work came back completely normal, this includes his liver panel, renal panel, cbc, cmp with the exception of a high sugar, and thyroid panel! Yay fat cat! Just have to get his sugars regulated :D
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Yes. They are expensive. I only use them if I think the keto diastix that I use with the urine shows a trace.
 
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