ketone questions

[turbocat]

OK, so today I went to get some Ketone testing strips. Couldn't find them at Walmart (even asked at the pharmacy) and couldn't find them at a local pharmacy. The pharmacist said he could order them for me, but I didn't have him do it because I didn't know how much they cost. Since then I've looked on line I see they aren't that expensive. Here's my concern: Call it putting my head in the sand, but I am afraid of one more thing to worry about= Agonizing over and worrying about the ketoacidosis, running around with test strips. And worrying if I am reading the results correctly. How many people have actually had this happen to their cat? Is it one of those rare things like they mention in a drug commercial where they have to list every possible problem, or is it it something that happens often? Is it more likely with an uncontrolled diabetic, or one with higher insulin doses, or what?

 

[Teresa and Poopy]

I don't have any statistical analyses to share, and couldn't even tell you how likely or unlikely it is to happen. I can share I've read enough from folks dealing with it, that wished they'd caught it sooner, to know it was worth the price for me. (And I don't have bucks to spare, seriously.)

I don't follow Poopy around with a stick, waiting for him to pee. I keep the bottle handy by the litter box and if I happen to time it just right (when he's going pee), I can whip out a stick pretty darn quick (before he's actually done) and am able to dip the stick in the puddle of urine before it's absorbed in the litter.

As soon as it's dipped, I start counted the seconds (1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, etc.). 15 seconds later, I compare the ketone readings and 15 seconds after that (30 seconds total) I compare the glucose readings (I bought the sticks that do both). The comparisons are right there on the bottle.

So far, for me, it gives me piece of mind. The way I understand it, a cat with higher than 280 BG can develop ketone..... (however you spell it) which can lead to DKA. Poopy hits those higher numbers enough I want to be careful.

 

[kse]

Unfortunately, I have experience with ketones. My cat, Kitty, went into DKA last March. It is one of the worse things that I have ever witnessed an animal suffer through. And, I say through, with much happiness-- as many cats do not survive DKA.

Kitty developed DKA early on in her dance-- one month post dx. There are factors that contribute to the development of ketones in large levels...some are high BG levels, infections, and insufficient insulin supply. Kitty had all three of these happening when she went into DKA. Ketones can be positive with no ill effects- at low levels (trace), but at moderate to large levels they make the blood turn acidic and negatively effect the PH, causing sometimes irreversible damage to organs and they can be fatal.

If you posted your same question in the Health forum, I think you would find that many cats within the FDMB have suffered from DKA.

All cats that develop DKA do NOT have high BGs. If I remember correctly, Ginny's Alex, went into DKA with BGs in the 200 to mid 300 range. If my Kitty starts to show a decrease in appetite, the first thing I do is check for ketones-- as that is a sign for many cats.

I buy ketone strips at Walmart and they cost less than $2.00 for 50. They are really cheap! Like Teresa, I don't follow Kitty around, but I do keep the strips near the litter box and I check when I can...unless I see a change in her appetite or higher than normal BGS-- then I check asap.

Assuming a cat survives DKA, the treatment normally requires extensive ER treatment and the cost if very high. The bill for Kitty's treatment was in the $2,000 range.

So, I hope I have convinced you to test!!! And, if you have trouble finding the strips in your area, I will be happy to send you a few bottles of the strips if you pm me your address.

Good Luck!

Kim

 

[turbocat]

Thanks for the info. I do appreciate it. I am going to be near a bigger walmart tomorrow so I will stop in there and see if they have them, or maybe rite aid. I do plan on testing. Just wondered how freaked I needed to be. @-)

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

If you test for them, that should keep you from worrying. It's like the bg testing. Once you know the numbers, you can keep him safe. Ditto with the ketone testing.

 

[turbocat]

True. Now that I am getting comfortable with the glucose testing I am ready to check out the ketones. Can you please look at Chester's SS for today? I have another post going "Chester 2/6" where I am asking for suggestions. ;-) Thanks!

 

[Barn Cats R Us]

Wow, Turbocat looks almost like my Bubba!

If you do a search for DKA on this site, it is mentioned in 4,154 posts. I don't know what percentage of these posts are warnings & general discussions regarding DKA vs. actual kitties that "went DKA". I've only heard that the ER cost (as Kim mentioned) for treating DKA is around $2,000, and upwards. Here's a link with more info regarding Ketones, and Ketoacidosis.

http://petdiabetes.wikia.com/wiki/Ketones

Just wondered how freaked I needed to be.

I'm the Queen of freaking out..."needed", or not! :lol:

Deb

 

[hmjohnston]

When Sneakers kept having high #'s and not wanting to eat much I was asked if I was keeping track of them- I didn't even know about it then.

She's tested in the negative to trace range- a few times in the trace to small- but no more than that. It gives me piece of mind to have the strips and I do those a lot. Sneakers thinks I have turned into the potty voyeur because I lift the top off the box after she is in it.

I also have a meter (the strips are costly though- $37.80/10 on sale at ADW- and currently you can get the meter free (it reads both ketones and glucose) with a box of strips. Maybe get that if you get a start getting a higher color on the bottle- which is what was going on with us. My vet didn't even have a ketone tester and his strips were expired :!:

 

[nancy and payne]

I feel the need to add my ...... "ketones can turn deadly quickly!"

My Payne was Dx. and immediately went into DKA, here in CA it can cost $4-5,000 ..... and she was in ER for eight days, came home for three days and went DKA again and we still didn't understand why. This time we would not bring her home until she had NO ketones but two weeks later she went into it again.

DKA is very complex and my Payne is a very complex diabetic cat but what I have learned is you need to always pay attention to ketones. The last time she went into DKA was when we tried to change from PZI to lantus and could not get enough insulin into her ..... yet her BG #'s were in the low 200's.

Some cats never throw ketones, most will if the conditions are right. It is usually a combination of ketones and not enough insulin, or ketones and high BG's OR? it is not a pure science. Keeping track of ketones is not that hard and if your kitty has thrown them, so worth it.

I have had three EXPERTS tell me she needed to be put down, that we couldn't figure it all out, that she would never make it ..... today she is almost 15 pounds, from 7 lbs. at Dx. She is regulated and happy and ruling the house, especially her civvies. BUT it took being on top of everything, but especially the ketones.

Read the story of Violet and Garland .... she also went DKA and her story is indeed uplifting.

Nancy and Payne ......