Parker new diabetes diagnosis

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Kim & Parker

Kim & Parker

Member Since 2021
I brought Parker home from the vet last night and he won’t eat. He’s very listless any advice

Parker is 7 and just diagnosed with diabetes they let me bring him home last night after showing me the way to do his injections. He is refusing food and I know I need to do another insulin injection in a few hours has anyone else had these issues?
 
Hi Kim, and welcome to yourself and Parker.

I'm sorry you didn't get a quicker reply.

I'm also sorry to hear that Parker isn't eating. Can you let us know:

1. Has Parker ever tested positive for ketones?

2. Has he ever had an episode of diabetic ketoacidosis (you would know - it requires hospitalisation).

3. Do you have any urine ketone strips at home? (If yes, please can you get a ketone test A.S.A.P.)

4. Which insulin is Parker being treated with and at what dose? Also, was yesterday his first dose?

5. How high was his BG when diagnosed, and did the vet run a fructosamine test as part of the diagnostics for the diabetes?

6. Is Parker showing any signs of nausea? (See link below.)

7. Is Parker lethargic, or has he been sitting in a tense, hunched up 'meatloaf' position at all?

Nausea symptom checklist


Mogs
.
 
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Hi Kim,

I'm in the UK and it's nearly 03:30 here so I can't stay online any longer. I'm going to tag a couple of members in different time zones to ask them to keep an eye out for a reply from you and hopefully give you some helpful advice.

@Bron and Sheba (GA)
@Bandit's Mom

Two possible reasons why a diabetic might not eat:

1. The cat has a problem with pancreatitis (see IDEXX Feline Pancreatitis Guidelines - possible symptoms may include: nausea/won't eat, hunching, lethargic, possible vomiting and/or diarrhoea).

2. The cat has started generating ketones. (see Ketones and Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) - possible symptoms may include: Lethargy, nausea/won't eat, drinking a lot/not drinking/hanging out beside water bowl, wobbly movement.)

Note: There may be other reasons why cats won't eat - including kidney issues - but the above 2 are often seen alongside diabetes.

The best I can advise you at the moment is to do your best to get a ketone test done as soon as possible because if a cat goes into ketosis (test result higher than 'Trace') it's a medical emergency that requires immediate veterinary involvement. The ketones need to be flushed from the system quickly otherwise the cat can tip over into DKA, a potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes that needs immediate veterinary treatment in a hospital setting.

If the ketone test is negative, I'd suggest monitoring for signs of nausea when you offer Parker food and note anything else unsual, then contact your vet first thing to let them know about the inappetence, etc., and maybe ask about getting a test for pancreatitis. If nausea is the issue then ondansetron and Cerenia are meds that can help a great deal.

Please keep asking questions in the meantime and we'll do all we can to help.


Mogs
.
 
Kim Corona said:
I brought Parker home from the vet last night and he won’t eat. He’s very listless any advice

Parker is 7 and just diagnosed with diabetes they let me bring him home last night after showing me the way to do his injections. He is refusing food and I know I need to do another insulin injection in a few hours has anyone else had these issues?
Click to expand...
Kim Corona said:
I brought Parker home from the vet last night and he won’t eat. He’s very listless any advice

Parker is 7 and just diagnosed with diabetes they let me bring him home last night after showing me the way to do his injections. He is refusing food and I know I need to do another insulin injection in a few hours has anyone else had these issues?
Click to expand...
1. Has Parker ever tested positive for ketones?

2. Has he ever had an episode of diabetic ketoacidosis (you would know - it requires hospitalisation).
He was sick and went to the hospital on New Years diagnosed with diabetes brought him home last night
3. Do you have any urine ketone strips at home? (If yes, please can you get a ketone test A.S.A.P.)
No I will try and get tomorrow can you explain where to get them
4. Which insulin is Parker being treated with and at what dose? Also, was yesterday his first dose?
Pro zink 1-2 units based on food consumption and glucose readings

5. How high was his BG when diagnosed, and did the vet run a fructosamine test as part of the diagnostics for the diabetes? 302

6. Is Parker showing any signs of nausea? (See link below.)
No
7. Is Parker lethargic, or has he been sitting in a tense, hunched up 'meatloaf' position at all?
Off and on in a meatloaf position however that’s his normal position
 
Hi Kim,
I agree with Mogs. You need to eliminate ketones as the cause of the listlessness and not eating. I would go out and buy the ketostix from a pharmacy or Walmart now and test the urine. Don’t wait until tomorrow to check for the ketones. If he has been hospitalised with ketones or DKA it is really important that they are checked daily at home for a few weeks.
Let the vet know if there are any ketones at all in the urine.
I would also ring the vet and let him know what is happening and asking if there were any other issues picked up when Parker was diagnosed such as the ketones or pancreatitis.
Don’t just leave it and think it will improve. You need to get to the bottom of the lethargy and nit wanting to eat now.
 
Hi Kim

- Are you home testing blood glucose levels? If so what are Parker’s numbers for today? If you aren’t home testing, you need to get a glucometer and test strips. Your kitty may also be too low or too high in numbers and not wanting to eat
- 2 u of insulin is pretty high for a kitty who was just diagnosed. I’m not familiar with Prozinc so I’ll let other experiences folk chime in there.
 
I would lower that dose to 1 unit. He might be going to low and until you get the hang of home testing that could be dangerous. I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC at home.
 
Kim Corona said:
I’ve been syringe feeding he ate about 10 ml this morning glucose 293 I gave 1 unit of insulin at 6:15 waiting to take another glucose reading I’m calling the vet at 7
Click to expand...
I feel very helpless we are not on unlimited funds and his hospital visit was 2500 I just feel like he’s not doing any better
 
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