What level of ketones is an emergency?

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judy and squamee(GA)

judy and squamee(GA)

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My cat just tested "HIGH" on the glucometer. I am trying to get her urine. What level would mean an emergency (middle of the night) visit to the vet?
 
So since my DoDo was in the hospital recently with DKA, anything for me that would show a trace (5mg I believe on the bottle) would be a call to my ER vet and his doctor.

He has not shown a urine trace-- he has had anywhere from 0.00 - .7 blood ketones even when showing HI on the meter.
 
Whats high? I am not that experienced but when ours was in the mid 300's and low 400's I was told that for the short term it was not a worry for long term damage. HTH
 
"high" for some meters is above 500 and others it is above 600 - either way, not good!

For a kitty that does not have a history of ketones, a trace reading is something to keep an eye on. I cannot tell you what to do here, but for me if kitty tested at 40mg/dl or higher (medium level) I would be off to the ER.
 
My meter does not test ketones. I will be using strips. She has not urinated so far today, I keep waiting to catch it, but she is not cooperating. She tested "high" on a Freedom Lite glucometer, which reads high when the BG is above 499.
 
Ok, so high bgs do not immediately translate into ketones. Your cat is at risk for developing ketones if there is insufficient insulin and/or insufficient food and/or infection. Usually it takes a combo of factors but not always.

If your cat shows higher than trace then you need to get your cat checked by the vet for infection, dehydration, etc.

Jen
 
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