just started senvelgo, test frequency?
- OP Ayumu
- Start date
Hey, since Senvelgo started today--vet should check kitty in 3 days (thursday) --,7 days (next monday)-- 14 days, and one month from today. If all goes well then every three months for as long as he takes Senvelgo the vet checks him... In addition I checked urine ketones daily for 2 weeks (except vet days) . Then urine check for ketones every 2-3 days as long as he is on the drug. Bootsie has done very well.
Ayumu
Member Since 2026
Okay so he's been on it 2 days, finally got a ketone test and it's reading 0.6. I will be testing again this evening to see if that changes. At what point should I be calling vet... asking you guys cause thus far they tried to send him to er when he was at 0.2 and I asked for an appetite stimulant...
Senvelgo is new to vets too . .. but eating well is one one the criteria to take senvelgo so if not eating well - I would let a vet look again. Did you choose not to do the frequent vet checks at the start of this or does he have appointment tomorrow? I am not a vet- just a cat owner, but seems to me bootsie' blood ketones did rise some at the first recheck- never any in urine. I really think kitty needs to be seen by a vet if not eating well. diabetic cats are ravenous...acidotic cats are not..and that is the big worry with senvelgo. The senvelgo site says the absolute cut off is 2.4 for ketones- and then kitty needs insulin. I don't know at what point fluids etc are needed...but senvelgo site says let vet see him at day 3 and especially if not eating--he needs a visit.
Ayumu
Member Since 2026
He's been hard to get fed since before they started him on this medication, so now I'm thinking they made an error in starting us down this path. I am getting about a jar and a half of baby food in him, plus he eats greenies crunchies and a churu... and it seems like he ate some kibbles last night.
I'm so sorry - so stressful to have our babies be sick and chronically ill is hard! Baby food is great short term but doesn't have enough taurine. The beechnut a jar is about 60 calories and Gerber about 90. I don't know how big your kitty is but vet said my 14 pound kitty needs about 275cals. That alone could cause ketones and his are still under the limit--- Is he still loosing weight and what was his glucose? I hope he does well- if chicken is his thing - try Hounds and Gatos Chicken Cat food or similar----it is primarily just chicken with needed minerals added. If the consistency is a problem add a little low sodium broth and puree it. Let us know how he does.
Ayumu
Member Since 2026
I just got a small blender to puree normal wet cat food into oblivion because he seems to prefer that consistency and work him back on it. He definitely ate some of the normal kibble overnight (I have 2 cats so it's hard to judge but quite a bit more was eaten than my smaller boy cared to have). I was giving the meds in the morning, so I checked his ketones right before, and they went down to 0.5. Since they were at 0.2 even after a week of eating next to nothing and only popped up when senvelgo started, I think I want to play it safe and just switch him off it.
I think you should do whatever you are most comfortable with-- but bootsie did have ketones (2.2) day 2 of senvelgo and then they trailed back off by the end of the week. I think similar happened to someone else on here. What's your vet say? Scary stuff but I think initial rise below the 2.4 mark not too unusual--but should trend back down within the week if follows bootsie's pattern. Boot's acted normal-grooming- eating -playing. wanting attention -none of that ever changed.
Glassgoblin
Member Since 2018
The first couple weeks are the telling ones for how your cat will do on Senvelgo, and honestly, if you are not confident that it is the right choice and feel better about insulin, I would absolutely ask about switching. There is so much more known about cats on insulin, what is a good reaction, what to do when too high or too low between doses, what to do with missed doses, etc. These new drugs are a learning curve for vets and kitty parents, so it can be scary when you don't know what to do and the Vet doesn't either. My kitty is doing okay on Senvelgo, but I've had a sugar cat on insulin too- both have good points, but trust your gut because you know your cat and their behaviors better than anyone.