spice updaet Has ketoacidosis

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tajana340

tajana340

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Hello everyone,

Just got back from the vet. Spice looks a little better. Only one problem she has ketoacidosis. I don't know what i am going to do. I cannot afford to put her in the hospital. There are no funds to tap into. Has anyone been in this situation. The vet wants to see her tommorrow and spend all day. I can drop her off but can't pick her up. And the money. I just don't know what to do. I know she needs to be in the hospital and everyone is going to say that she needs to be there and I understand that but when you absolutely have no money..... :cry:

David
 
Have you looked into Care Credit before? Depending on your credit score, you might get approved for enough to cover the costs and should get a couple different no interest options on payments.
 
After going thru a few of the sites a couple are not accepting applications and other ones are for low income, which is not my siuation. It is more like all the credit cards are tapped out and can't afford another monthly payment.
 
I am very sorry that you are in this situation :( unfortunately it isn't uncommon as DKA is expensive. We can't tell you what to do, and we certainly won't judge. You may want to ask your vet what options you have for treating at home. I don't suggest treating at home, I'm just saying that it sounds like your option is to take your chances with that or euthanize. Depending on what they are doing at the clinic, there is a chance you may try giving fluids and insulin at home, but that would involve very careful monitoring and I'm not saying that it would be enough.

hugs to you

Jen
 
If your cat still has a high evel of ketones or needs an IV, you can't do this at home. If the ketones are down and they are just monitering, you could learn how to do somethings yourself like subcutaneous fluids or giving a short acting insulin. This is more complex and you would need to have a vet show you. how to do is. Do you have anyone in your family or a friend who is a nurse or a vet tech?
I am reluctant to recommend this to anyone but it might be better than your cat getting no treatment at all. However, you would still need a vet to moniter the at home care.

This question just came up on another tread. Maybe it is time we answer the question how far should someone go to try and decrease ketones at home?
 
Janelle, I think that the fairly consistent answer here on the fdmb to date is to not treat ketones at home, with the caveat that there are some people experienced enough with recurrent ketones (not DKA) that they can treat with fluids, etc. For this specific example, IF the choice comes down to euthanization or trying to treat at home, we can't give much advice other than what I said in my previous post. Its not that I recommend it, but rather acknowledging that not everyone can afford to treat DKA :(
 
My question was not about trying to treat DKA at home but trying to reduce ketone levels at home with subQ fluids or short acting insulin. If the ph is off and the ketone levels are still high, then it can't be treated at home. Payne's mom brought this issue up on another thread. I think it still is a topic worth discussing. If there is some disagreement, then so be it. My cut-off point would be if a cat has moderate to high ketones. Like I said b efore, it is impossible to moniter ph and electrolytes at home. When the ketones get into the moderate range, this is when these things can become effected.
 
I think the general thought is if urine ketones are higher than trace, the cat needs to be seen by a vet. From there, it depends on the cat and the individual as to whether further treatment (non DKA) is at home or not.
 
Wow, I didn't mean to spark a debate on the ketoacidosis issue. I mean it is good that it is being discussed. I was freaked out because I have never been in this situation before and the money issues.
 
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