UTI- Buddy Post DKA - Part 4

[DArcey and Buddy]

We had a good night with Buddy, but have hit a bit of a roadblock. At 10am (an hour ago) she had a full pee, and since then, she has been back to the litter box over 30 times in an hour, to pee again. Sometimes nothing comes out, and about half the time, a little amount of pee comes out.

We’ve caught it a few times, and there doesn’t seem to be blood in it at the moment, but it’s definitely concerning. She’s still eating and drinking.

She is already on clavaseptin twice a day (had been for a week) for a suspected UTI/infection. This is her 3rd or 4th time in clavaseptin in the last 1.5 years; one of those times was for a UTI and it cleared up quickly, but this time, she’s already been in it for a week.

Our regular vets office is able to fit us in this afternoon, 5 hours from now. We will be keeping an eye on her till then to make sure things don’t seem to worsen; if they do we would take her to emergency.

I’m just so sad that she is going through this, I’m worried, and I just don’t know why this is happening when she’s already in the antibiotics.

@Chris & China (GA) @Bron and Sheba (GA) @Judy & Fritz

Link to the previous thread: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/buddy-post-dka-thread-part-3.251259/#post-2835298

 

[Judy & Fritz]

D’Arcey, just watch her closely, as I know you will, and I am praying hard that she is okay until you can get her to the vet. She’s been doing so well and now this. Buddy is a fighter and so are you two. If it’s the emergency vet, so be it. Sometimes the antibiotics have to be changed. Please keep us updated..

 

[DArcey and Buddy]

D’Arcey, just watch her closely, as I know you will, and I am praying hard that she is okay until you can get her to the vet. She’s been doing so well and now this. Buddy is a fighter and so are you two. If it’s the emergency vet, so be it. Sometimes the antibiotics have to be changed. Please keep us updated..

Thanks so much! She seems to have settled down a bit. She is still eating. I gave her clavaseptin because she was due for her dose, and don’t want to miss it! Will also probably give her her normal anti nausea pill soon as I want to keep her feeling as well as possible. And will be watching her very closely. I’m hoping and praying it’s just an antibiotic change that is needed.

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

Did they do a urine culture to determine what bacteria may be causing the infections? They may need to add a specific antibiotic to her treatment.

 

[DArcey and Buddy]

Did they do a urine culture to determine what bacteria may be causing the infections? They may need to add a specific antibiotic to her treatment.

No, I don’t think they did. Her files say “suspected UTI” and she was sent home with a weeks worth of clavaseptin. But she has been taking it for a week now, and this morning was the first time we saw these symptoms, of frantically going in and out of the litter box trying to pee.

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

I would take her back to the vet. It appears the antibiotics they prescribed are not working. Insist they do a culture on the urine

 

[DArcey and Buddy]

I would take her back to the vet. It appears the antibiotics they prescribed are not working. Insist they do a culture on the urine

@Lisa and Witn (GA)
@Judy & Fritz @Bron and Sheba (GA)

We took her to the vet today- her bladder was small (she did a full pee before we left) so they weren’t able to get enough urine to to a culture. She will go back tomorrow morning to ensure that they can, and then they will do a culture. Supposedly it will take about 3 days (probably business days, sigh) for the results but they may want to change or add on an antibiotic in the meantime to see how she does in it, just so we don’t have to wait the three plus days to start.

She’s not eager to eat again. Honestly I may have to up the ondansetron to 2mg 3 times a day (we are currently giving 2mg twice a day, which is already twice what the vet said to give- she said once a day- and we were worried about running our). As was mentioned in yesterday’s thread, that would apparently be an appropriate amount for her size, and I see loads of people on the FB group saying they give it 3 times a day. The only awkward part is we were only told to give once a day, and only give enough pills to give it once a day for two weeks, so we will go through them 3x as quickly and will have ignored our vets advice, and will have to hope they are willing to give us more.... Anyway, I want her feeling better, so we have to do what we have to do.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Honestly I may have to up the ondansetron to 2mg 3 times a day.

If that’s what is needed, increase the times to three times a day. Try twice first and increase if needed.

The only awkward part is we were only told to give once a day, and only give enough pills to give it once a day for two weeks, so we will go through them 3x as quickly and will have ignored our vets advice, and will have to hope they are willing to give us more...

Just say once a day wasn’t t working so you increased it to twice a day (or 3 x a day). Say you researched it and that is what it said…..which is all true.
Don’t be disheartened. The road to full recovery from DKA often has small bumps in the road.

 

[DArcey and Buddy]

If that’s what is needed, increase the times to three times a day. Try twice first and increase if needed.

Just say once a day wasn’t t working so you increased it to twice a day (or 3 x a day). Say you researched it and that is what it said…..which is all true.
Don’t be disheartened. The road to full recovery from DKA often has small bumps in the road.

You are so right. We have already been doing twice a day since she got the pills, so I think it’s time to increase to three times a day, and figure the rest out later.

I’m not experienced enough at this board to know how to quote just the last part of your comment, but re: don’t get discouraged & small road blocks, thank you so so much for the kind words and your reassuring presence. It really means a lot and is so helpful, I can never thank you enough. You are so right. I literally freak out and get sick to my stomach when she isn’t eating or otherwise doesn’t seem well, but I am continuing to learn that there will be ups and downs, and trying (always trying, lol, sometimes with success and sometimes less so) to be less anxious and to hold on to hope and faith.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

I’m not experienced enough at this board to know how to quote just the last part of your comment

If you just want to answer a small section……either hilight it and “reply” should come up. Or if you are on an iPad, just tap and hilight it and “reply “ will come up. Press reply and it will give you the quote.

I literally freak out and get sick to my stomach when she isn’t eating or otherwise doesn’t seem well, but I am continuing to learn that there will be ups and downs, and trying (always trying, lol, sometimes with success and sometimes less so) to be less anxious and to hold on to hope and faith.

Anytime you feel like that, just post and someone will help you out. But really Buddy is doing well. And you are both doing a champion job looking after her.
Most cats recovering from DKA have a few little bumps along the way. You are doing all the things necessary to stop those ketones coming back.

Im going to tag @JanetNJ to see what she thinks of increasing the dose to 2.25 units.

 

[Judy & Fritz]

You are so right. We have already been doing twice a day since she got the pills, so I think it’s time to increase to three times a day, and figure the rest out later.

I’m not experienced enough at this board to know how to quote just the last part of your comment, but re: don’t get discouraged & small road blocks, thank you so so much for the kind words and your reassuring presence. It really means a lot and is so helpful, I can never thank you enough. You are so right. I literally freak out and get sick to my stomach when she isn’t eating or otherwise doesn’t seem well, but I am continuing to learn that there will be ups and downs, and trying (always trying, lol, sometimes with success and sometimes less so) to be less anxious and to hold on to hope and faith.

You are doing an amazing job. You all remain in my prayers. Precious Buddy!

 

[DArcey and Buddy]

If you just want to answer a small section……either hilight it and “reply” should come up. Or if you are on an iPad, just tap and hilight it and “reply “ will come up. Press reply and it will give you the quote.



Anytime you feel like that, just post and someone will help you out. But really Buddy is doing well. And you are both doing a champion job looking after her.
Most cats recovering from DKA have a few little bumps along the way. You are doing all the things necessary to stop those ketones coming back.

Im going to tag @JanetNJ to see what she thinks of increasing the dose to 2.25 units.

Aw, @Bron and Sheba (GA) thank you so much

I definitely think it would be a good idea to consider raising her dose tomorrow night, as she hasn’t made it down to the dark greens in quite a few days. Tomorrow morning, we realized that because she is headed into the vet, we are going to have to shoot exactly an hour early, so we won’t raise the dose then. (would have been great if we’d though if this earlier, and shot a bit earlier tonight, but hindsight is 20/20!!)

Depending what her AMPS is, we will either shoot the full dose (if she is above 360 (20), I think we’d still be comfortable shooting the whole
amount), and if she is lower than that, we may reduce by .5 for that one dose, because we will not be around to monitor her, and I don’t know if that vets will test BG, especially as she’s in for a urine test and it’ll be a Saturday so they’ll likely be low on staff. Having said that, I’m trying to worry too much- even though it’s normally best not to shoot a full hour earlier, we have done it before in the past, and given that her numbers havent been dropping too low, I’m trying to stay calm and positive that it will likely be just fine.

She is very alert and cuddly this evening!

@Judy & Fritz thank you, that means so so much

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

With the dose tomorrow and her going to the vet, you do what you think is best.

 

[JanetNJ]

I think you could. You're good about testing. Just keep a close eye.

 

[DArcey and Buddy]

With the dose tomorrow and her going to the vet, you do what you think is best.

@Bron and Sheba (GA) @JanetNJ

We upped Buddy’s dose by .25 this evening. She seems to be dropping quickly, considering how high she started, but we will be monitoring her closely.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

@Bron and Sheba (GA) @JanetNJ

We upped Buddy’s dose by .25 this evening. She seems to be dropping quickly, considering how high she started, but we will be monitoring her closely.

That is a very big drop in two hours. From preshot to +2. Just keep monitoring closely and feed to slow the drop.

How did I the vet visit go?

 

[DArcey and Buddy]

That is a very big drop in two hours. From preshot to +2. Just keep monitoring closely and feed to slow the drop.

How did I the vet visit go?

The vet visit was okay- they took a urine sample but apparently the results take 3-4 days. As usual I’m a nervous wreck. She hasn’t been in the litter box constantly like she was yesterday morning, but today she peed 16 times in 24 hours, so she was in there every 45 minutes - 1.25 hours. She is peeing a lot and drinking a decent amount- likely/hopefully it’s because her numbers are so high and nothing more serious going on.

 

[JanetNJ]

Nice blues yesterday

 

[DArcey and Buddy]

Nice blues yesterday

Thank you!!!!

 

[DArcey and Buddy]

@Bron and Sheba (GA) @JanetNJ

I know I’m supposed to try not to worry, but Buddy’s blood ketones are going up. The highest we have EVER seen is 0.9, and now they are at 1.3. They normally range between 0.1 and max 0.7-0.9.

Im trying to be calm, but it’s just terrifying that they are going up. Should we increase by .25 again? I’m just feeling very concerned that they are risking.

 

[Judy & Fritz]

@Bron and Sheba (GA) @JanetNJ

I know I’m supposed to try not to worry, but Buddy’s blood ketones are going up. The highest we have EVER seen is 0.9, and now they are at 1.3. They normally range between 0.1 and max 0.7-0.9.

Im trying to be calm, but it’s just terrifying that they are going up. Should we increase by .25 again? I’m just feeling very concerned that they are risking.

Maybe start a 911 thread? I know you’re terrified. Hang on.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Maybe start a 911 thread? I know you’re terrified. Hang on.

They have started a new thread. The 911 is for emergencies only such is very low numbers or a medical emergency.

 

[lena7098]

I’m thinking of you and Buddy.

 

[Judy & Fritz]

They have started a new thread. The 911 is for emergencies only such is very low numbers or a medical emergency.

The ketones rising in a recovering DKA cat are not an emergency? Because they are below a certain number? I am not having to deal with that, thank God, but I am trying to learn and would like to know just in case. I realize there are no guarantees for any of us with these sugar cats. So 911 is for crashing numbers, seizures, etc.? Thanks, Bron,

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

The ketones rising in a recovering DKA cat are not an emergency? Because they are below a certain number? I am not having to deal with that, thank God, but I am trying to learn and would like to know just in case. I realize there are no guarantees for any of us with these sugar cats. So 911 is for crashing numbers, seizures, etc.? Thanks, Bron,

Hi Judy….The ketones were still below what would record as trace of ketones in a urine test so there was no real concern.
The numbers of ketones on a blood ketone meter we would be concerned about are 2.4 to 2.55
So we can measure ketones either by testing the urine or by doing a blood test.
Of course we are concerned about any trace of ketones in a recovering DKA kitty and we are vigilant in monitoring for them but we know that the latest published research/ studies indicate that ketones will start to show up at readings of 2.4 to 2.55 on the blood ketone meter.

The 911 is for low numbers, seizures, medical emergencies and if you had ketones in the urine or the higher readings in the blood ketone meter. etc. And to gain immediate attention of experienced people.

 

[JanetNJ]

It's not an emergency but I understand your concern. I think 2.5 is fine to give. Encourage lots of drinking. Put extra water bowls in any place he hangs out.

 

[JanetNJ]

@Bron and Sheba (GA) @JanetNJ

I know I’m supposed to try not to worry, but Buddy’s blood ketones are going up. The highest we have EVER seen is 0.9, and now they are at 1.3. They normally range between 0.1 and max 0.7-0.9.

Im trying to be calm, but it’s just terrifying that they are going up. Should we increase by .25 again? I’m just feeling very concerned that they are risking.

What are the ketones today

 

[JanetNJ]

Nevermind I see your new thread. . Glad they came down a bit