Update on Kitty--- not good

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kse

kse

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I haven't posted in over a week. It has been a tough week---Mom in Cardiac unit.

I have also had a tough week with Kitty. As, you all probably know--Kitty was only getting PZI once a day (2 units). I have struggled with this---but was encouraged to continue this regiment by my vet. Well-- Thursday, I realized Kitty had a UTI-- complete with visible blood. I took her into the vet and left her until Saturday. When I picked her up, I saw a different vet and was encouraged to start twice a day dosing-- music to my ears. This Vet encouraged home testing and seemed well versed on diabetes.

Now the rest of the story---this morning I gave two units of PZI (BG 402 amps) --I went out for abut two hours this afternoon only to return to find Kitty in a stupor. Her eyes were glazed over and she was almost unresponsive. I immediately got the meter to check her sugar---her BG was 487. It was a really scarey time---she appeared to be dying. I got her in the car and headed to the Emergency Vet, begging her not to die the entire trip. Diagnosis DKA.

She is still at the vet and will transport in the morning to the vet hospital. I just called and she is responding to therapy. Hopefully Kitty will survive this-- I know you are the experts--what am I dealing with?

I haven't updated her spreadsheet---but she was above 400 all week amps. i am assuming the UTI is what pushed her overboard.

Thanks for the help.
 
So sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time, both with your mom and your kitty. Has your vet explained to you about testing for ketones? I hope this next week is easier for all.
 
Oh Kim, I am so sorry to hear all of this. Sending you cyber hugs and healing for all.
I don’t know much about DKA, but some people here have been thru it so I am sure will offer you more info when they come online.
 
Oh, no. What a terrible time for you. Yes, a UTI can really raise bg levels. And your first vet insisting on one daily dose with those continually high numbers is, in my opinion, negligent.

But that's water under the bridge and when you get her home, you can give twice daily doses and get things working.

I have never dealt with DKA but many cats on the site have and survived. I do know there're things you want the vets to be doing to support your kitty. Some things that will help more than others.

I would suggest posting on Health so more people will see with DKA kitty in ER in your subject so people who know about it can advise.

I will be keeping you and your kitty on my thoughts.
 
I am so sorry you are going through all of this.

I think that the once a day dose vet should pay for the DKA treatment since it was their neglegence that contributed to this situation.

You will be in my prayers, please keep us updated.
 
Saying a prayer for you both. Sam went through DKA - that's how we found out he had FD. It's not a death sentence by any means, but I remember that first week when he was in the hospital. I cried a lot, barely slept and felt my heart stop with every ring of the phone. You're going to get through this. We're all here to support you and help you. And your new vet sounds like a winner. Big hugs. Hang in there.
 
Just wanted to add my thoughts and encouragement. It's so hard when you're dealing with the emotional situation of your mother to be having problems with your kitty. So glad you were able to get her to the vet and that she is responding to treatment. Glad to hear you talked to the other vet about twice a day dosing. I don't know anything about DKA, but Sue's advice to post on health is good as I think I've seen some threads. Good luck and keep us posted.
 
Sending warm healing wishes and cyber hugs to you, mom and Kitty. I'm sorry I have no DKA experience in order to offer any real help. Fortunately both of them are being cared for and they have you. And you have us. Best of luck and please let us know how they are doing.
 
I'm sorry for all of your current difficulties.

Just wanted to say that there are many things that can lead to ketones and DKA. But one of the main things I think of is hydration [infection doesn't help either...]. Adding some eater to the food [softer but not soupy] can help with the hydration issue. Then if you are testing for ketones SqubQ LRS at home can help to if you notice low levels of ketones. Ask you vet or vet tech to give you a SubQ LRS lesson beforeyou bring home your kitty.

http://petdiabetes.wikia.com/wiki/Ketones
 
I posted a long reply in health but looked at your SS and had a couple of comments. I hope you have started the insulin 2x a day? You are getting some nice low #'s late in the cycle, you will need to be careful if you decide to use regular insulin (with your vet) to help during the infection. I never needed to worry about Payne because she never goes low but you don't want to deal with a hypo and the low #'s. Just what little your SS shows .... she reacts well to insulin, hopefully after the DKA/infection she might stand a good chance of coming off insulin. (OTJ :)

Also some people do use the ketone monitor and it works well (better than standing over a litter box)! but
I tend to panic when I see the #'s on a monitor and I tend to deal better in trace/small/moderate ..... as I said we have been fighting ketones for a month now and haven't come close to DKA. In fact I took her Fri. to an old, really experienced vet in town to have him look at her, for my peace of mind and he was astonished that she looked so good. He just kept saying she looks great! you test her BG! 3x a day! remarkable! :roll:
we have found with Payne she responds better to insulin every eight hours.
Nancy
 
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