Nova Max Ketone readings

[Grayson & Lu]

Hello all -

Got my shiny new ketone meter, and after the control test, I got a reading of 5.4 mmol (plasma values) when I tested Grayson's blood for ketones. This doesn't compare to anything on the bottles of strips I've been using for 3 months so I'm looking for insight. Can anyone help me understand the scale that relates to ketones in the blood of one of our dear felines?

The manual (p 34) was pretty limited in addressing the results: It spoke of non-diabetic numbers <.6; registering LO if <.1 and HI if >8. .6-1.5 w/ BG>250 indicates development of a problem that may require medical assistnace. Above 1.5 - high risk of DKA.

My boy had MODERATE ketones about 6 weeks ago, and was upped to 4.5u ProZinc BID. He's also had SubQ fluids since that time twice a day, then once a day, then every other day, as well as initially an antibiotic. After reading NEGATIVE on strips for several weeks, tonight he showed a TRACE. He'll be going back to SubQ's daily or twice daily... but I would hope to learn more about the numbers and how (or if?) they relate to the color-coding on regular urine test strips (which has a number id'ed as mg/dL). Trace = 5; small = 15; moderate = 40 large 80-160.

So can I assume that the 5.4 reading I got, was basically showing up in the TRACE reading w/ strips I got tonight. Or am I looking at apples and grapefruit?

Thanks for anything you can share!

Lu-Ann

 

[BJM]

Merck Veterinary Manual, previous edition

Blood
"β-Hydroxybutyrate increases in diabetic ketoacidosis, acetonemia/pregnancy toxemia, and extreme starvation."

Urine ketones
"Ketones: The ketone test pad detects acetate and acetoacetate, but not β-hydroxybutyrate. Ketonuria is associated with primary ketosis (ruminants), ketosis secondary to diabetes mellitus (small animals), and occasionally with prolonged fasting or starvation. A false positive reaction can occur with presence of reducing substances in urine."

Yes, they are testing different chemicals, so the results will differ.

 

[Grayson & Lu]

Thank you. I guess I looked at it like the metered test was the "Early warning" of the urine test. He's still eating well, and now getting fluids daily. Will be seeing doc either today or tomorrow, so will check for infection - but no outward signs of one. Most recent urine test came back NEGATIVE. Hoping the fluids are pushing it out... but will continue to test.

Thank you!

 

[Melanie and Smokey]

You got a 5.4 on the Nova Max with the ketone strips??

That is way off the top of the warning bracket. Over 1.6 is take your cat to the doctor. I use it on Smokey and the highest I have seen is 1.8 and freaked. She is usually now 0.2-0.4. She never registered on the pee strips when I can get her to actually let me get one under that fluffy tail.

If you are not using the ketone specific strips, then you are just getting glucose readings yet. If that is a ketone strip, then I would probably see a vet just to be safe.

The manual says something like:
under 0.6 is trace ketones
0.6-1.5 is moderate zone - keep an eye on things
about 1.6 is warning consult a vet.

This seems to be low and IMO we don't need to worry at these levels unless we are actually seeing signs of problems. I was testing Smokey when she was in the 1.8 because she was seeming off. I think I would have taken her in if she would have cleared 2.0 on the meter. Once we got the cancer out of Smokey, she dropped low into trace. I've seen others comment that their DKA cats were 3.0 or above before seeing problems.