Newly diagnosed--abscess and high blood sugar

[NickyKitten]

Hey y'all.

I'm the mom of a eight year old kitten named Nicky. Last Thursday, I noticed a lump underneath her chin which turned out to be an abscess. Because she is eight years old, they ran a CBC panel and they found a few abnormalities including a blood sugar level around 200-250. From what the vet told me, she wasn't feeling well due to the abscess and quit eating so her blood sugar went up. I was given a prescription for Royal Canin diabetic food. I got some of the dry stuff and went out and bought Fancy Feast which my vet told me would be okay. Given a two week shot of antibiotic and also given vitamin drops because her iron levels were also low.

That was yesterday and today she is much the same; very listless, barely able to hold her head up and still won't eat. And she loves wet food! I'm not sure how much of this is due to this abscess (which I still have to drain at home) or her blood sugar levels. Is there anything I can do for her until her next vet visit? The vet assured me that she was stable but this is so unlike Nicky that I'm rightfully worried. She seemed more concerned about treating the abscess before fully addressing the high blood sugar levels. Any advice for us?

 

[Larry and Kitties]

The high blood sugar could be due the the infection and being at the vet. Now, the cat has to eat. If a cat does not eat for a day or two then can get FH:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feline_hepatic_lipidosis
I would syringe feed until you contact/vet avet.

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

Here are some ways to get her to eat (scroll down the page) : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NSWUx2ak7wcs2_G5TXr7BhPMrU7CVmW_3ouKPTUQhhA/pub

Also antibiotics can put her off her food which wont help. The important thing right now is to get her eating. If she hasn't eaten in two days you need to call the vet again.

Wendy

 

[BJM]

The shot was probably Convenia and it is possible for cats to have a bad reaction to it, just like any other drug. Please contact your vet as soon as possible as it takes 2 weeks for it to wear off!

The inappetance - not eating - results in fat breakdown for calories. If the fat overwhelms the liver, it disrupts digestion and the cat may become quite ill (feline hepatic lipidosis).

Syringe feeding is taking an oral syringe, mushing up some tasty food with a bit of water, sucking it into the syringe, then giving small amounts repeatedly.

Note that vet stress may elevate glucose 100-190 mg/dL, so you may not even have a diabetic. A single glucose level is insufficient to diagnose diabetes. For food, the vet prescribed food is not needed. You want to select a low carbohydrate canned or wet food such as Fancy Feast Classic pates. For excellent nutrition information by a vet, see Cat Info.

 

[Deanie and Boo (GA) and Scout]

Listless and not eating for 2 days? I'd be at the vet (yes, that probably means ER) today.


It could be anything. It could be from the infection, the antibiotic, diabetes--she could even be in ketoacidosis. That's not normal behavior for a cat and she needs to be seen sooner rather than later.

 

[KPassa]

How is she doing? Is she eating again?