Alice isn't eating :(

She didn't seem very hungry yesterday. This morning I tested her on her freestyle lite and she was at 338. This is lower than usual for that time.
She threw up last night. She didn't finish her food overnight and normally I wake up to her begging for food at some point.
She will barely nibble her fancy feast this morning at all. I can't get an ounce in her. Sigh.

Reasons she might not be wanting to eat, please? Have you ever had to force feed your sugar kitty?

I'm going to call the vet when they open in a few minutes but may not get to talk to her right away.

Skipping shot I suppose since she won't eat enough, either.

Thank you for any and all responses.

 

Hi Cassandra,
I am not educated properly to lend a helping voice :-|
If you’ll put a “?” in front of your post title I believe you’ll get attention <3
Everything is going to be ok

 

I have syringe fed several of my cats, diabetics and non-diabetics.
I only see two entries in your SS, PM 3/26 and AM 3/27. Do you have any other BG values?
With the high BG in the limited data I am concerned about Diabetic KetoAcidosis (DKA) developing. You can test a cat's urine for ketones using human ketone strips. They are usually available over the counter from a pharmacy.How is Alice acting?

 

I have found the freeze dried treats if you crumble them on top of food that sometimes helps, they also have something called bonito flakes, same concept.

Chicken, turkey or beef baby food are okay temporarily (no ham flavor, too salty). Beechnut at Walmart is just meat and broth, no corn starch like some. These are for short term as they don’t have all nutrients cats need.

If vomiting persists, you can get anti nausea meds from vet.

 

How is she doing? Have you spoken to your vet? As Larry said, please test her for ketones.

 

Today's tests on freestyle lite were both in the 300s with basically no food all day and I skipped her morning shot.

 

My vet prescribed Cerenia as an anti-nausea, and mirtazapine to increase appetite.

 

She's completely listless. She obviously became stressed when I tried to syringe feed her a little because her ears are red. But she didn't really fight a thing. She was so bright and herself just a couple of days ago it seems like.

Evening shot, any thoughts? Would it be better for her to have *some* insulin than none, if not the full dose?

 

Oh and her weight this morning was back down to 1.98kg and I've been fighting so hard to keep her above 2kg.

She looks so sad. Sigh.

I have to be gone tomorrow to be a maid of honor in a wedding. Which also means I cannot monitor her at a critical point.
Should I stay up all night with her?

And if her ketones are high, then what? Are the test strips expensive?

Thank you all.

 

Have you checked for ketones? They can pop up quickly and are very serious. The strips can be bought at any pharmacy and are cheap.

 

If ketones are present, a vet visit is probably in order. She needs food and insulin and if an infection is present, antibiotics.

 

Okay if ketones are present then force feed, administer a small amount of insulin?

 

I think she went into shock? We rushed her to the ER vet. I'm a mess. I'm so scared.

 

Please let us know what the vet says

 

Cassandra, I'm so sorry to hear that Alice is having such a hard time right now. I'll be thinking of both of you. Please let us know how she's doing.

 

Critical but stable. $1500 for 3 nights. Could use assistance low income pointers. If anyone has any.

Probable DKA. Their meter just read "high" which I assume was an AlphaTrak. How high before it stops displaying numbers? She was in the 300s at 3:20PM today on my Freestyle Lite.

 

She just wouldn't stop doing the tongue blep thing which I thought was weird. And she didn't look as present mentally, in her eyes. Sort of staring. How could I have noticed sooner? Sigh.

 

This is the care plan....

 

You can contact Diabetic Cats In Need (DCIN) for financial assistance. I’ll tag @Chris & China (GA)

 

I’m glad you got her to the vet. Sending prayers for a quick recovery.

 

Are you on Facebook?

You may also want to look into Care Credit.....they've helped lots of people pay for bills like this and give you time to pay back at 0%

 

You can fill out an application for assistance from DCIN HERE

 

Alice's mom,

I am the director of Diabetic Cats in Need. Please read this page, fill out the application (link about halfway down) and then call me as soon as possible.

Thanks, Jenna

 

@CassandraCatface ....Please check your private messages (the "Inbox")

 

For those of you following, DCIN is doing what we can to help.

 

I do have carecredit! It's maxed basically always.

And yes on FB.

 

Here is Alice's blood work:

 

THANK YOU everyone. When I left the ER vet (it was so hard to go), she was hooked up to IVs but she was more hydrated and she was brighter-eyed and purring a little. Even a little cross about things.

 

Looks like she's got a raging infection, and then with the lack of food and no insulin, it threw her into DKA

That's what we call the "recipe for DKA"....not enough food, not enough insulin and infection/inflammation.

 

I am so sorry your are going thru this!
Wishing your sweet girl full and speedy recovery - she is at the best place for help.
If it is possible at all - do visit her in the clinic - it helps them a lot.
Bring something that you worn to leave with her - the familiar scent will help her to calm.
I know that some people bring their cat's favorite foods - but the clinic most likely will feed her some sort of recovery formulated food and may not take it in.
HERE is the link to a lot of great info on DKA.
Please let us know how Alice is doing.
@CassandraCatface

 

How shouldI or could I have known earlier?

I checked all my daily notes. She apparently was slightly losing appetite a day or two before the episode. I have loga on her daily weight changes, urine, poop pics (because she has problems), her attitude, etc.



I called the ER vet just now to check in and he said she's.... Well he didn't really say much but that he added some sort of insulin bag to her IV. But she's okay for now. I will be visiting her later. <3

 

Please keep us posted. As for your question, we recommend that you test daily for ketones, especially if your cat seems off in any way, such as not eating, lethargic, etc or has a high BG. That way you can catch ketones as soon as they start when it’s much easier to treat.

 

As Sharon said, anytime they're not eating, acting lethargic or "off" in any way, it's best to test for ketones ASAP. As you've seen, it doesn't take much to push them over the edge into DKA

Hope she continues to improve today!! We're looking forward to an update!!

Please check for my Private Messages

 

So sorry you and she are going through this. Once she gets home you'll want to keep a check on her urine [as if everything else you are doing is not enough]. There are combination blood glucose/ketone meters out there. I think @JanetNJ may have experience with those if I remember correctly.

Walmart has ketone test strips near the other diabetic supplies for a bottle of 50 under $7 [in my area]. Once opened they are only good for about 6 months so you'll need to test about twice a week to use them up before then. If she doesn't mind you hovering over her while she urinates, you can slip a Planter's Peanut jar lid under her and catch enough to measure. Other people use long handled spoons or plastic wrap covering favorite elimination spots in the litter box. Instructions are easy and graph is on the bottle. You just dip the strip, wait about 15 secs and compare the strip to the graph on the bottle.

 

This is the one I use

KETO-MOJO Blood Ketone and Glucose Testing Kit, Monitor Your Ketogenic Diet, 1 Meter, 1 Lancing Device, 10 Lancets, 10 Ketone Test Strips, 10 Glucose Test Strips, Carrying Case https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0789G8KTG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QzsQCbPK8VX1W

 

Thank you @Bama Kitty Mom (AL) thos were helpful instructions! Our kitties are almost the same age-- Alice's DOB is 7/16/06.

 

I went to visit tonight/this morning. She has perked up. Fluids have helped. I watched her have her first bowel movement since all this. She purred. When I picked up my wallet to go (to try to go anyway) she started for the door of her kennel like okay we're leaving now? <3

The ER vet thinks she is going to need an ultrasound/other diagnostics possibly, and that she may have an underlying additional issue like IBD or possibly a lymphoma.

They are going to take her off their short-acting insulin and try her back on her NPH shot this morning too. Some labs have improved. Her weight is back over 2kg. Her sugar was as low as 190s I think they said.

She purred and snuggled and she is alive but just so weak and tiny right now.

I have updated lab work papers to share if anyone is interested, but later, because I have a collective of maybe 6 hours of sleep in 2-3 days.


THANK YOU. We are so grateful for you all.

 

Oh I’m so happy she’s doing better!

 

She looks so sweet and cute. Those visits with you really help her.
I hope you get some sleep and rest, and I hope her health continues to improve and she is soon home.

 

She is so adorable. I'm so glad to see her perking up and purring again.

 

Glad you are getting some rest and she is doing better. Hope for continued improvement.