What Does This Number Mean

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missyandlittlegray

missyandlittlegray

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My rescue group got two 10-year-old cats out of the Baltimore shelter today. When we picked them up, the shelter staff said they think one, Alex Olivia, is diabetic because she was drinking a lot and peeing a lot in the shelter. They tested her urine with a dip stick and got a BG reading of 1000. I have no idea what that means. Is it high?

These are the results of the other tests they did.
specific gravity: 1.020
pH 6
blood: negative
leukocytes: 3
nitrates: negative
protein: 1
bilirubin: negative
ketones: negative
glucose: 1000
Urobilinogen: negative

The shelter didn't start her on insulin. Does that mean the BG reading of 1000 isn't bad? I'm going to test her tomorrow, but I'm concerned about tonight. She seems fine. She and her lifelong friend, Donovan, are in a foster home and are being very purry and affectionate and acting like happy, healthy cats. She's not drinking or peeing a lot. But she's polished off four cans of Fancy Feast today. Sounds like she wasn't happy with the menu in the shelter. I wish I could figure out how to add her picture to my signature. She's a beautiful little tabby. He's all gray. We'll be adopting them together.
 
specific gravity: 1.020 This is fairly dilute and may indicate possible compromised kidneys
pH 6
blood: negative
leukocytes: 3 white blood cells in the urine can also indicate a bladder infection.
nitrates: negative
protein: 1 another possible indicator of compromised kidneys
bilirubin: negative
ketones: negative
glucose: 1000 normal urine sample will have no glucose spill
Urobilinogen: negative

To me, it looks like this kitty has a UTI, is diabetic, and possibly has compromised kidneys. I would strongly urge the foster parents to get a full blood work up done!
 
Both of them are on an antibiotic for UTIs. We were hoping to avoid a vet visit because we just moved into a new shelter and we don't have much money. But I think you're right about the blood panel.
 
Does anyone who works or volunteers at your rescue group have a human glucose meter you could borrow? You really also need to get a blood glucose level. Normal blood glucose in cats is 50 to about 130. If either of the cats is over 200 then they may be diabetic. However, this would need to be diagnosed by a vet and you would also need a prescription for the insulin. If you ask around If none of your staff or volunteers have access to a glucose meter, you can sometimes get the meter and a few test strips at Walmart or another pllace for under twenty bucks. Hoefully in the AM when more people get on line they will have some other suggestions.

I do rescue myself as a private individual. I know the vet bills can start to eat up a lot of money :-)
 
I gave my meter away, but I'm going to buy one today so I can test her. I already gave the foster two new pens of Lev that were leftover from my diabetic foster cat. We spent a huge amount of money on our new shelter, and there's not much money for vets at the moment, but it sound like we're going to have to find it.
 
From the description: leukocytes: 3 it appears that this is a dipstick reading made by reading the color change on a pad on a stick like for urine ketones. If so, this pad reading is useless for felines since about 99% show a positive reading. When I worked at a vet for about three years I only found one negative test reading for a feline.

To confirm leukocytes a microscopic analysis of urine sediment should be made.

The 1.020 is low and suggests kidney insufficiency.
 
Just a clarification

urine glucose may be 1000 but blood glucose was not measured. to have a firm diagnosis of fd, please get a fructosamine blood test done. note that diabetes can lead to UTIs because of the presence of glucose in the urine.
 
Infections and the stress of being moved could also elevate blood glucose levels.You could moniter the BG for a few days when you get a meter.I would be apprehensive about just assuming a cat is diabetic and giving insulin just based on a few urine or BG readings.
 
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