What warrants a vet visit...

I tend to error on the side of freaking out too soon... so I thought I would post here...

Harley ate his midnight snack down just fine. Then this morning he only ate half of his breakfast, barely half at that - he tested an AMPS of 363. I watched him closely afraid he would drop since he didn't eat very much at all but no... he is rising...

AMPS 363, +2 342, +4 352, +6 370

+4 I found a fresh pile of his throw up in my bedroom. Soft food mixed with a hairball.

+6 was also lunch time, he won't touch lunch. COMPLETELY not like him at all. He has never missed a meal and usually an hour before lunch is chasing everyone down for food. He's been asleep in a tight ball all day.

Should I see how today goes and re-evaluate tomorrow or should I call and set up an appointment today?

 

The first thing that comes to mind is checking for ketones. You can get some Ketostix and check Harley's urine yourself. You can get them at any pharmacy. Some folks can hold a spoon/ladle under kitty's bum and get a small sample while others put balled up plastic wrap in the litter box where kitty usually pees. You only need a very small sample. If the ketone check shows anything above trace, then it's time for a vet consult.

If you don't think you can check ketones at home (other kitties or a shy private piddler), then a trip to the vet to get him checked would be a good idea.

Is there some other food that might entice Harley to eat even if it's people food or normally higher in carbs than you've been feeding him (dry food from previous diet)? If so, try it. It's important that he eats. You can try warming up the food, putting parmesan cheese, oregano, bonito flakes, etc on it.

If Harey still won't eat tonight, then I'd seriously consider a vet visit. Kitties cannot go long without eating before complications can start setting in.

 

I second the testing at home for ketones. If you need some tricks and tips for collecting urine, there are many and I can look for a link with a list.

Ketoacidosis is scary and bad and you can prevent a huge hospitalization plus all the sad kitty time if you catch ketones early.

 

When we got Peacock, she already had diabetes, and we had to meet with her vet before bringing her home. One of the warnings from her vet was that if she went more than 24 hours without eating we needed to call him.

Do keep in mind that if your vet will be closed for the holiday it could be harder to deal with the situation if you wait.

Hoping Harley is feeling better soon.

 

So I have been testing Ketones since he was dx'ed in October. I honestly couldn't decipher what I got last night, so I peed on one too and it matched the color of his. He is easy to get pee from, he isn't a shy peer, I just wait until I hear him in the box and then swipe the stick under his stream. It isn't yellow like the "none" but it isn't quite the color of "trace"... which also just sent my anxiety even higher. I can post a photo here shortly if that would be helpful.

I've tried everything he loves, even his high reward stuff and he still hasn't eaten today. It looks like there might be a vet in our future tomorrow morning. He still hasn't eaten lunch or dinner now. But being in my room (with no other food sources) he has steadily climbed in numbers today. His PMPS is 410... I want to shoot since he is still actively rising... but he isn't eating and you don't shoot when they don't eat... IDK what to do? But I am starting to stress... He did drink some water when I got home though from classes tonight.

If he doesn't seem better by AM and or eating or seeming himself I am calling ASAP. If anything drastically changes during the night I will go into the E-vet too.

 

Oh I hope he is feeling better soon.

Sounds like maybe his ketone test was normal, it’s that weird between none and trace thing I get too and yes have also checked on myself to be sure!

 

Was just going to update here, looks like he is doing better! His midnight snack would be around 4am and he was his usual self and woke me up 15 minutes before by trying to knock down my water (he usually pulls it over on me) and trying to eat my hand and meowing. I got up, got his snack ready and he ate it all down right away. So happy!

 

That makes me so glad to hear!!! what a relief!