New member, cat has ketones and won't eat

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Stormkitty

Member Since 2022
Hi, new member here.
Storm has been diabetic for about a year and until now everything has gone smoothly enough. I've been using the info on Dr. Piersons website for the entire diagnosis.
Some background info: Storm is on 1 unit of ProZinc, I test and do curves at home (never had a spreadsheet, but I see you folks recommend one, so I'll set it up soon. Just wanted an opinion on this quickly.) She eats merrick purrfect bistros. Her blood sugar was in the 500s at diagnosis and now she's usually in the 200s.
On Sunday I noticed she wasn't eating as much as usual. She acted normal otherwise, so I brushed it off as just her being picky, I have to switch up her food every so often because she gets bored of it and refuses to eat it. On Monday she ate almost nothing, I didn't give her any insulin. On Tuesday she refused food entirely, I took her to the vet as soon as I could. They did some tests. Her sugar was 350, her ketone level was 3, she was dehydrated (despite drinking plenty of water at home) and they suspected a UTI from the urine test but unfortunately the lab culture that would confirm this was financially not viable for me since i am dealing with my own medical bills as well. They gave her some subcutaneous fluids and an appetite stimulant, and prescribed antibiotics and pain medication. That was last night, and so far she hasn't eaten anything at all voluntarily. I syringe fed her a little bit of food last night.
She hasn't had insulin since Sunday and I don't think that's good for her, but I'm hesitant to give her some since I absolutely have to be at work and can't monitor her. Is there anything I can do for her? Should I give insulin and continue syringe feeding?
Edit: syringe fed again, she got maybe two tablespoons before deciding she had enough and running away
 
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The recipe for ketones is:
Not enough insulin + not enough food + an infection or inflammation going on somewhere.


It is important that Storm be given insulin (feed/syringe a higher carb food if you have to bump up her numbers). Can you come home on your breaks?

It is important that Storm eats. Syringe feed if you have to. To keep ketones at bay, the ideal is 1 1/2 times the food that she normally eats. Below is a link for syringe feeding.

Fluids are important as well. They help flush the ketones out of the system. Add as much water to her food as you can. And call the vet and ask if you can give subq fluids at home.

Also ask the vet for something for nausea. An appetite stimulant is not going to work if a cat is nauseous. In the meantime, try raising her food bowl a couple of inches. Note: some antibiotics can cause nausea.

Suggestions on How to Stimulate Kitty's Appetite
Syringe/Assisted Feeding (Video and Tips)
 
Red & Rover (GA) said:
The recipe for ketones is:
Not enough insulin + not enough food + an infection or inflammation going on somewhere.


It is important that Storm be given insulin (feed/syringe a higher carb food if you have to bump up her numbers). Can you come home on your breaks?

It is important that Storm eats. Syringe feed if you have to. To keep ketones at bay, the ideal is 1 1/2 times the food that she normally eats. Below is a link for syringe feeding.

Fluids are important as well. They help flush the ketones out of the system. Add as much water to her food as you can. And call the vet and ask if you can give subq fluids at home.

Also ask the vet for something for nausea. An appetite stimulant is not going to work if a cat is nauseous. In the meantime, try raising her food bowl a couple of inches. Note: some antibiotics can cause nausea.

Suggestions on How to Stimulate Kitty's Appetite
Syringe/Assisted Feeding (Video and Tips)
Click to expand...
I was able to check on her briefly. She doesn't seem to be in distress, but still hasn't eaten. I'll syringe feed her some more once I get home for the day. Should I give her usual dose of insulin tonight? Thanks for the links, I'll do some reading when I get off work.
Edited to add: her food bowl is already raised, it's on a stand about two inches tall
 
I cannot suggest a dose without spreadsheet data. What's the lowest she had been while on the 1.0 units of Prozinc?

Definitely get anti nausea medication. Best is a prescription for ondansetron, which you fill at a human pharmacy. Cerenia is a second choice and something you can get from the vet.

The owner of Merrick (Purina) has changed a number of their food formulas. One that my cat used to love all the time is now apparently unrecognizable as food. :rolleyes: Do you have anything else you can try? Look at that link on Suggestions to Stimulate Kitty's appetite, lots of good ideas in there.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
I cannot suggest a dose without spreadsheet data. What's the lowest she had been while on the 1.0 units of Prozinc?

Definitely get anti nausea medication. Best is a prescription for ondansetron, which you fill at a human pharmacy. Cerenia is a second choice and something you can get from the vet.

The owner of Merrick (Purina) has changed a number of their food formulas. One that my cat used to love all the time is now apparently unrecognizable as food. :rolleyes: Do you have anything else you can try? Look at that link on Suggestions to Stimulate Kitty's appetite, lots of good ideas in there.
Click to expand...
Red & Rover (GA) said:
Yes, she should have insulin tonight. the question is how much? Take a test when you get home then post on here for advice.
Not giving insulin because she's not eating will only increase the ketone levels.
Tagging a few people who are usually online
@tiffmaxee
@FrostD
@Suzanne & Darcy
@Wendy&Neko
@Bron and Sheba (GA)
Click to expand...
I'll do a test when I get home. Thank you
 
Wendy&Neko said:
I cannot suggest a dose without spreadsheet data. What's the lowest she had been while on the 1.0 units of Prozinc?

Definitely get anti nausea medication. Best is a prescription for ondansetron, which you fill at a human pharmacy. Cerenia is a second choice and something you can get from the vet.

The owner of Merrick (Purina) has changed a number of their food formulas. One that my cat used to love all the time is now apparently unrecognizable as food. :rolleyes: Do you have anything else you can try? Look at that link on Suggestions to Stimulate Kitty's appetite, lots of good ideas in there.
Click to expand...
The lowest she has been on the 1 unit is 128, that was actually on Saturday.
I will ask my vet for an anti nausea med. I have tried Tiki cat shreds and pate, and the fancy feast naturals too. She is even refusing treats, she usually loves the ones I get (freeze dried tuna) and I haven't opened a new bag for a while so they're the same ones she loved just a week ago. :(
Would the UTI be causing her to feel nauseous?
 
Stormkitty said:
Hi, new member here.
Storm has been diabetic for about a year and until now everything has gone smoothly enough. I've been using the info on Dr. Piersons website for the entire diagnosis.
Some background info: Storm is on 1 unit of ProZinc, I test and do curves at home (never had a spreadsheet, but I see you folks recommend one, so I'll set it up soon. Just wanted an opinion on this quickly.) She eats merrick purrfect bistros. Her blood sugar was in the 500s at diagnosis and now she's usually in the 200s.
On Sunday I noticed she wasn't eating as much as usual. She acted normal otherwise, so I brushed it off as just her being picky, I have to switch up her food every so often because she gets bored of it and refuses to eat it. On Monday she ate almost nothing, I didn't give her any insulin. On Tuesday she refused food entirely, I took her to the vet as soon as I could. They did some tests. Her sugar was 350, her ketone level was 3, she was dehydrated (despite drinking plenty of water at home) and they suspected a UTI from the urine test but unfortunately the lab culture that would confirm this was financially not viable for me since i am dealing with my own medical bills as well. They gave her some subcutaneous fluids and an appetite stimulant, and prescribed antibiotics and pain medication. That was last night, and so far she hasn't eaten anything at all voluntarily. I syringe fed her a little bit of food last night.
She hasn't had insulin since Sunday and I don't think that's good for her, but I'm hesitant to give her some since I absolutely have to be at work and can't monitor her. Is there anything I can do for her? Should I give insulin and continue syringe feeding?
Edit: syringe fed again, she got maybe two tablespoons before deciding she had enough and running away
Click to expand...
I'm sorry that you & Storm are going through this. My kitty has been struggling with a UTI for almost 3mons now. I had to give him famotidine & cerenia at one point & he also wouldn't eat. I tried everything & finally one of the things listed in the foods to help stimulate kitty to eat. I sprinkled parmesan cheese on his normal fancy feast food & he gobbled it up! I had to use for a few more feedings & he got his appetite back. I hope this helps if you can get Storm to eat it.
 
Stormkitty said:
Would the UTI be causing her to feel nauseous?
Click to expand...
No, but the antibiotic might be. It can kill the good tummy flora. You should try and get some probiotics and give that to her, 2 hours apart from the antibiotic. RenewLife Ultimate is one brand I've seen people give.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
No, but the antibiotic might be. It can kill the good tummy flora. You should try and get some probiotics and give that to her, 2 hours apart from the antibiotic. RenewLife Ultimate is one brand I've seen people give.
Click to expand...
I'll look into it. Her sugar is 316 and I'm giving her some food through a syringe right now, what should her dose be?
 
Chrispooky12 said:
I'm sorry that you & Storm are going through this. My kitty has been struggling with a UTI for almost 3mons now. I had to give him famotidine & cerenia at one point & he also wouldn't eat. I tried everything & finally one of the things listed in the foods to help stimulate kitty to eat. I sprinkled parmesan cheese on his normal fancy feast food & he gobbled it up! I had to use for a few more feedings & he got his appetite back. I hope this helps if you can get Storm to eat it.
Click to expand...
Aww poor baby! I'll try some parmesean and see if that helps.
 
All I can say is that not eating and having high blood glucose and an infection is very dangerous territory to be in for a diabetic cat. In the case of my cat, when he went into diabetic ketoacidosis, he had a serious infection and a temperature over 105. They never did pinpoint the source of the infection, by the way. Anyway…. he was eating (oddly enough) but he was massively vomiting out everything he was eating. I am only cautioning you because my boy had to spend a week in the ER and had a feeding tube put in - in order to save his life. I am hoping that you can avert this by taking action early by making sure that your baby eats and is getting enough fluids as well as at least some insulin. You meed to monitor those ketones daily with either urine strips or a blood ketone meter (I used the Nova Max Plus.). Best wishes and paws crossed for Storm.
 
I rushed storm to the ER last night. She was barely even responsive by the time we got there. We made the decision to let her go. Thank you all for your advice. I'm in shock, I don't know why her condition worsened so rapidly.
 
Oh this is just the most horrific news. I am more sorry than my words can convey. I understand and I sympathize with your shock at the suddenness of this tragedy and your pain. I know your heart is shattered. I am terribly sorry that you have lost your baby.
 
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