Newly diagnosed, heavy breathing, loud purring, open mouth

[omilliken]

Hi all,
my cat was diagnosed with diabetes four days ago. He had gone into ketoacidosis which is when we first discovered the diabetes. He underwent every test possible (ultrasounds, blood work, bacterial infection) and everything came back good. The vet said his results were the best possible results she could have asked for.

His blood sugar levels dropped enough that our vet thought it would be best if he came home since he wasn't eating in the vet and his eating was their primary concern. He's been home for two days now, and today he looks the healthiest he's been since the incident. He's jumping up on furniture without any help, he's engaging in his surroundings, and he's walking about the house much more than he did the previous day.

However, ever since he went through ketoacidosis, he's been breathing very heavy and purring in a raspy/pigeon like voice with his mouth open. Is this normal to see in cases like this? Again, according to all the tests he has no underlying issues.
I'm currently on a system with my vet where I call them every time I check his blood sugar levels and they inform me how much insulin I should be administering. I live ten mins away from them, so if any issues arise I can get there very fast. They are not conserned by his heavy breathing at this point in time, but I'd like a second opinion.

Is his breathing something I should be concerned about or am I just being paranoid? Is this typical recovery behavior?

Thank you for any answers! It's been a stressful few days

 

[Kris & Teasel]

I can't offer any insight into the breathing issue. My cat went through a bout of DKA but he didn't have this symptom. Just be aware that post DKA they're in a fragile state. They need to be eating well, getting enough water and a high enough insulin dose to keep ketones from building again.

 

[omilliken]

I can't offer any insight into the breathing issue. My cat went through a bout of DKA but he didn't have this symptom. Just be aware that post DKA they're in a fragile state. They need to be eating well, getting enough water and a high enough insulin dose to keep ketones from building again.

Thank you for responding!
He's a very picky eater and is used to grazing his food so feeding him has been a bit challenging, but he was much better about eating today. He's also been good about drinking water.
My vet has been having me give him one unit of insulin after his meals (his blood sugar levels have ranged between 221-281) I have a follow up visit with them on Friday to make sure everything is going well.
It seems like the breathing issue is only occurring when he starts to purr.

 

[Kris & Teasel]

Thank you for responding!
He's a very picky eater and is used to grazing his food so feeding him has been a bit challenging, but he was much better about eating today. He's also been good about drinking water.
My vet has been having me give him one unit of insulin after his meals (his blood sugar levels have ranged between 221-281) I have a follow up visit with them on Friday to make sure everything is going well.
It seems like the breathing issue is only occurring when he starts to purr.

He needs calories post DKA and many people here allow their kitties to graze. Vets often recommend two meals a day associated with the shots but that doesn't work well for most cats. Some people break up the daily ration into multiple small meals if their kitty isn't a grazer.

Those BGs are good and it's great that you're testing at home. What insulin is your kitty getting?

 

[Frank's Mom]

Hi there! Not sure if it's related, but Frank's cry was very hoarse sounding during his DKA. I kind of thought it was from him being dehydrated, as he's now back at FULL VOLUME when he yells at me. He was not very interested in eating when I brought him back home, but I picked up on the trick of mixing water with his canned food and making like a smoothie, and he started eating much better. Hope kitty bounces back quickly from the DKA!

 

[omilliken]

He needs calories post DKA and many people here allow their kitties to graze. Vets often recommend two meals a day associated with the shots but that doesn't work well for most cats. Some people break up the daily rationinto multiple small meals if their kitty isn't a grazer.

Those BGs are good and it's great that you're testing at home. What insulin is your kitty getting?

That's good to know! Thank you!
He's getting noviln n

 

[omilliken]

Hi there! Not sure if it's related, but Frank's cry was very hoarse sounding during his DKA. I kind of thought it was from him being dehydrated, as he's now back at FULL VOLUME when he yells at me. He was not very interested in eating when I brought him back home, but I picked up on the trick of mixing water with his canned food and making like a smoothie, and he started eating much better. Hope kitty bounces back quickly from the DKA!

Thank you! I'll definitely give that a try with the food!
I didn't consider the raspiness being related to the dehydration that seems like it would make the most sense since all of his tests were positive! Thank you for sharing that puts my mind at ease a bit
My family keep telling me I'm overreacting, and I'm sure they're probably right. But he's my baby and I can't bare the thought of losing him because I missed something I should have been able to recognize. I think I'm mainly just feeling guilty for not realizing he had diabetes sooner. I won't make that same mistake twice.

 

[Kris & Teasel]

Thank you! I'll definitely give that a try with the food!
I didn't consider the raspiness being related to the dehydration that seems like it would make the most sense since all of his tests were positive! Thank you for sharing that puts my mind at ease a bit
My family keep telling me I'm overreacting, and I'm sure they're probably right. But he's my baby and I can't bare the thought of losing him because I missed something I should have been able to recognize. I think I'm mainly just feeling guilty for not realizing he had diabetes sooner. I won't make that same mistake twice.

We know how you feel. Being extra vigilant after a DKA episode is wise.

 

[Frank's Mom]

I think I'm mainly just feeling guilty for not realizing he had diabetes sooner. I won't make that same mistake twice.

I'm with you on that. I had suspicions of Frank being diabetic, bUT he didn't seem ill...so I kept putting off the vet visit. When I got him in, it was because he was in DKA and very ill. And now I'm being OCD and hypervigiant as well. I do not want to see him that sick again!

 

[omilliken]

Thank you both so much, you've definitely helped calm my nerves. Maybe I'll actually get some rest tonight hahaha
It's very reassuring to be able to talk people that have gone through this succesfully

With Brady (my cat) we had a previous vet tell us a great deal of misinformation. He told us dry food was better for cats and that some cats were just more prone to puking and not to worry about it. We never thought to question him. I really wish we had gone for a second opinion. Thankfully, my family moved recently so when Brady went into DKA we rushed him to the closest open vet and they are just wonderful and so helpful. If this had happened before we moved, I doubt our previous vet would have been much help.

 

[Squalliesmom]

I think I'm mainly just feeling guilty for not realizing he had diabetes sooner.

I had suspicions of Frank being diabetic, bUT he didn't seem ill...so I kept putting off the vet visit.

When Squallie first started showing signs of possible diabetes I took him straight to the vet and asked her expressly to test him for diabetes. She told me right out that he didn't have it, and she wouldn't test him. It took me three months of visits and her trying varios different antibiotics on him because she kept saying he had an infection of some sort before she finally tested him for FD. Then she came out of the back of the clinic, threw her arms up like she had just discovered buried treasure, and announced, "I think we have a diabetic kitty!" like I had never pushed her to test him and this was a big surprise! I was really pi$$ed off at her. That is only one of the reasons I stopped trusting her and she is no longer my vet!

So don't feel bad for not recognizing a problem, I recognized it in Squallie and it still didn't help!

 

[Kris & Teasel]

Your kitty has a very sweet face! How is he doing today? Ask any/all questions you have if he looks the least bit "off" as he recovers. We can help.

 

[omilliken]

Your kitty has a very sweet face! How is he doing today? Ask any/all questions you have if he looks the least bit "off" as he recovers. We can help.

Thank you so much!
He's doing really good this morning! His BG was 235 after eating this morning which is almost the lowest it's been! The purring sound has mostly stopped, it only really starts to act up if he's getting a lot of attention. Hes always been a loud purrer, though and it's starting to sound much less like a pigeon. He's still a bit wobbly on his feet, but he's walking much better than he has been. He also ate more than he did at previous meals so I'm very happy!
He's really starting to look like he's on the mend

When Squallie first started showing signs of possible diabetes I took him straight to the vet and asked her expressly to test him for diabetes. She told me right out that he didn't have it, and she wouldn't test him. It took me three months of visits and her trying varios different antibiotics on him because she kept saying he had an infection of some sort before she finally tested him for FD. Then she came out of the back of the clinic, threw her arms up like she had just discovered buried treasure, and announced, "I think we have a diabetic kitty!" like I had never pushed her to test him and this was a big surprise! I was really pi$$ed off at her. That is only one of the reasons I stopped trusting her and she is no longer my vet!

So don't feel bad for not recognizing a problem, I recognized it in Squallie and it still didn't help!

That's horrible! I'm glad you got a new vet because she sounds incompetent!
You're right though, if I had suspected it, I doubt my previous vet would have been any help. That's such a shame. It's really disgusting that vets like that are able to practice.

 

[Kris & Teasel]

Thank you so much!
He's doing really good this morning! His BG was 235 after eating this morning which is almost the lowest it's been! The purring sound has mostly stopped, it only really starts to act up if he's getting a lot of attention. Hes always been a loud purrer, though and it's starting to sound much less like a pigeon. He's still a bit wobbly on his feet, but he's walking much better than he has been. He also ate more than he did at previous meals so I'm very happy!
He's really starting to look like he's on the mend

That's wonderful news! My guy took a couple of weeks to get his normal strength back after his DKA episode. It's very hard on them.

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

Hoping for a smooth recovery for your Brady! I feel the same guilt with Maury , wondering if I had diagnosed him earlier if we'd be doing better by now. But I can't change the past, so I'm just doing my best now to take care of him and manage his diabetes.
Might just be ironic but I knew a rescue kitty, happened to look at lot like your boy, who when he purred sounded like a pigeon coo! And when he was really happy, you could hear it at least 40 feet away! Cutest thing I ever heard

 

[Tuxedo Mom]

Is there any chance they used a feeding tube when he was at the ER vet. Sometimes a tube can irritate the throat lining and it may take some days for that to clear up.

 

[omilliken]

Brady's BG was 188 just now! The vet wants me to keep giving one unit of insulin to help regulate it but this is such good news!

Hoping for a smooth recovery for your Brady! I feel the same guilt with Maury , wondering if I had diagnosed him earlier if we'd be doing better by now. But I can't change the past, so I'm just doing my best now to take care of him and manage his diabetes.
Might just be ironic but I knew a rescue kitty, happened to look at lot like your boy, who when he purred sounded like a pigeon coo! And when he was really happy, you could hear it at least 40 feet away! Cutest thing I ever heard

Thank you! And yes, that's all we can do now and that's what's important!
That sounds adorable! I got Brady from a shelter about 8 1/2 years ago now, he came in with a liter of kittens and I just fell in love with him instantly. He has always been such a sweet boy

Is there any chance they used a feeding tube when he was at the ER vet. Sometimes a tube can irritate the throat lining and it may take some days for that to clear up.

That's a good question! I'll ask them on my next phone call! They didn't mention it before, but it's possible since he wasn't eating for them!

 

[Frank's Mom]

Brady's BG was 188 just now! The vet wants me to keep giving one unit of insulin to help regulate it but this is such good news!

What meter are you using? ( Sorry if you've said before and I missed it.) I just can't get Frank to a manageable number yet. I'm so jealous of you!

 

[omilliken]

What meter are you using? ( Sorry if you've said before and I missed it.) I just can't get Frank to a manageable number yet. I'm so jealous of you!

I'm using the cvs advanced glucose meter. Now I'm a bit nervous though because they have very mixed reviews online :/

My vet had said to get any glucose meter but I'm not sure now if my readings are accurate after reading some of those reviews

 

[Frank's Mom]

I'm using the cvs advanced glucose meter. Now I'm a bit nervous though because they have very mixed reviews online :/

My vet had said to get any glucose meter but I'm not sure now if my readings are accurate after reading some of those reviews

If they're selling it for people it has to be at least somewhat reliable, right? Was it expensive? And how much are strips? If you're that uncomfortable with it, you could always switch to a relion...they aren't that expensive...

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

When you have a moment, you can setup a signature with some basic info . http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/editing-your-signature-profile-and-preferences.130340/
Make sure to note somewhere in that he was DKA/date. Like Frank's Mom said, a lot of us use the Walmart brand, ReliOn Confirm or Micro because of the affordability of the test strips. Every glucose meter is allowed a 20% variation.

 

[omilliken]

If they're selling it for people it has to be at least somewhat reliable, right? Was it expensive? And how much are strips? If you're that uncomfortable with it, you could always switch to a relion...they aren't that expensive...

That's a good point I'll make sure to bring it up to my vet on Friday to see what they think about the meter. Brady's levels jumped back up today, 255 this morning and 321 tonight. That's the highest it's been since he left the vet :/
He looks like he's gaining his strength back though and he's eating much more than he had been. He's starting to fight me during testing now that he's strong again so his levels might be reacting to his stress as well.

When you have a moment, you can setup a signature with some basic info . http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/editing-your-signature-profile-and-preferences.130340/
Make sure to note somewhere in that he was DKA/date. Like Frank's Mom said, a lot of us use the Walmart brand, ReliOn Confirm or Micro because of the affordability of the test strips. Every glucose meter is allowed a 20% variation.

Thank you! I've been trying to figure out how to do that! That helped a lot!