Salems in the hospital DKA

My baby salem is very sick going on day 2 in the hospital i miss him terribly hes 40 miles away . They call me twice a day . Hes very sick . He started out with throwing up i thought nothing abt it kitties throw up all the time until he kept throwing up and he hadn't eaten hes always hungry then he was laying around the water bowel . Then came the hiding thats not salem hes sick hes sugar hasnt gotten down but in the 200s on the low carb food diet it changed from 460 to 200s with just a diet change which is good . But i couldnt understand i checked his sugar it was 169 thats the best i have seen since he was diagnosed in august then whys he so sick ? Ketones i been seeing this ketones but wasnt told by his vet to check ketones ? Im aware of it now . His potassium was extremely low his electrolytes hes severely dehydrated . He was sucking with his lips he was so thirtsy i noticed he wasnt responding when i called him he was just starring . Until i touched him he slowly looked at me . Hes eyes looked cloudy i was worried he was going blind . I got him to the vet she warned me salems a very sick kitty Tina he might not make it so beware of that . I just cried how he got sick so fast hes ketones hes got DKA its a killer in diabetic cats my husband tried to comfort me said Tina this is apart of life but salems not but abt 10-12 yrs old cats can live to 20 yrs old . I told my husband im not giving up without a fight hes my baby . My husband said Tina we are broke i cnt afford to take salem to the vet this will cost probably thousands of dollars to treat we just dnt have it im sorry honey . Well DCI pulled thru and has agreed to help salem im so grateful hes slowly getting bettee hes still lethargic they tell me but hes not just laying down with half hes eyes open but hes sleeping alot . Hes still not wanting to eat . Day four not eaten he will lose more weight he just finally gain two lbs now he will lose it being sick salem used to be 22 lbs my big baby hes a big black cat when he was a baby i saw how big his paws was i knew hes going to be a big cat hes a bobtail black cat with medium length hair i just cnt lose mamas baby thats what i call myself he loves hearing me call myself mamas baby to him he rolls on his back after rubbing my legs back and forth then throws hisself on the floor wiggling back and forth like a worm with his paws folded up i just love him to death he gets so excited when i saw are you mamas baby salem ? Lol im praying please pray for salems recovery they say usually 2-3 days for this Ketoacidosis butsone kitties stay a wk depending how bad he was almost dead , salem looks like it will be a week for him . Im so glad i got him to the vet and dci helped us its a blessing from them thank you dci ! We have lost over 18 people in our family in 1 year now just my aunt died i cnt take it anymore please salem dnt die

 

Hi Tina,

I am so sorry that Salem is so unwell, but very glad that he is getting the care that he needs. It is important for you to start to learn more about DKA so that you can prepare for how to help take care of him when he comes home!

However, you posted this in the "Supply Closet", which is where people buy and sell diabetic supplies. Many users don't even look in the supply closet at all, and I want as many people to see this as possible for you to get the support and knowledge that you need. So in order to get more people to see it, click over here http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/feline-health-the-main-forum.28/ to go to the main health forum, and then do "Post New Thread" there and you can just cut-and-paste everything from this post into it. If you have any difficulties getting a new thread created in the health forum, please let me know.

Praying for the vets and the vet staff to guide Salem through his illness to get him back to you ASAP!

Best,
Sandi.

 

Oops sorry abt that i forgot i was under there before i posted sorry thanks for moving it yes my vet did not tell me abt the ketones . I been reading on it since the last few days worried very much abt him .

 

I am sure you are worried about it, there is so much that is out of your control right now, and being so far away doesn't help. We've never experienced DKA in either of our diabetics, knock on wood, but I've seen enough of it here to know a lot about it. And there is a lot for you to know to be able to participate in his recovery.

***And a correction*** -- I cannot move the thread to a different forum for you, and neither can you actually, which is why you'll need to just create a new thread in the right place. And I strongly encourage you to do that now to get the advice you need.

Also an administrative tip in case it helps you. When you hit REPLY, the system will put what you are replying to it in the comment section surrounded with the word "QUOTE" in square brackets at the top and bottom. Instead of you hitting POST REPLY right then, instead just start typing your comments on the line after the word "/QUOTE" in square brackets, and hit POST REPLY when you are done with what you want to say. Then the system knows to put all of that into the same page instead of on two separate pages so that everyone can see what comment it is that you are replying to. It's easy to be able to tell here, but in a thread that has a lot of different people participating, it can get confusing.

 

Ooops, I see that you posted there while I was replying to you here. Perfect, thanks much!

For anyone else that sees this, go to:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/salems-in-the-hospital-dka.220984/

 

Oh ok thanks for the heads up !

 

Tina, folks with experience with DKA should be able to help give you questions that you can ask the vet, as well as to prepare on what to do when Salem gets home.

I did notice that your profile says you are in NC. Any chance that you are near Raleigh/Durham? Just curious, in case there is anything I can do to help.

Also, just keep us updated in this thread on whatever you hear from the vet, and if there is anything specifically that you have questions about so folks can chime in.

 

Your welcome ! Thank you so much !

 

Yes i live in oxford nc . Are you in raleigh ? Salems at triangle referral hospital off on morreene rd in durham

 

Sorry people im using my phone to text here my fingers hit the wrong letters as you will see i try to edit before i post but i end up seeing more mistakes i will try my best to be careful im sorry

 

No worries about typos, most of us speak "phone".

I am very close to the Black Horse Run subdivision in Raleigh as shown on this map: https://goo.gl/maps/6xbn3i7cetNDP8jK6 but we are right on the line between Wake and Durham counties. It looks like my house is about 25 minutes from your vet, and maybe 35 minutes from the middle of Oxford. I am retired, so If there is anything that I can do for you, let me know. I mean it.

I am familiar with that practice only because two of the people that I cat sit for are in Durham, and they list that vet in their instructions in case of emergency, but I've not had a first-hand experience with them. Hopefully they will get him on the right track.

 

Ok that will be great im on disability i had back surgery in 2013 i wish i didnt i got rods in my back screws in my hips i have scoliosis i tried my best to continue working but it hurt so bad after awhile i couldnt stand it so im home everyday too unless im going to the doctor . Takes me all day to try to clean my house cause i cnt do but so much at a time then i have to sit then get back up try again lol its fustrating . This ketones its scarey . I had to take salem to another vet i couldnt get an appt at his regular vet the South granville veterinary in creedmoor your talking abt the first time when he got diagnosed he was sick i didnt want to wait dci suggested i go back cause they didnt like or had trouble communicating with the other vet which was fine cause south granville is salems regular vet mrs dudley is great shes really good i ask for her everytime i go cause she does get help i prefer her to the other vets she uses . Im not far from wake forest on number one . I live on highway 96 in oxford thanks i will definitely ask if i need help ! So kind of you really ! Mrs dudley im sure if i had saw her first would have explained to watch for keotones im sure . This other vet did not explain keotones to me . He was sick i just didnt want to wait to see someone i was sure it was diabetes which i was right . I was suspecting it since he was younger he was always a hunger cat never full but he was a big cat at 22 lbs with big paws since he was little i figured he thryoids or sugar not worms as i read why they can be hungry all the time hes been wormed and i never saw worms since the first time i wormed him when he was a kitten . Then he was always laying his head over the water bowel i said its time to go see the vet again hes got to be diabetic that was the last symptom i saw that convenienced me . Plus he lost 7 lbs .

 

I'm sending you my direct contact info via private message (on this message board it is called a "conversation"). Look up at the top for the word INBOX and you'll be able to see it there in just a few minutes.

 

Praying for your sweet Salem to get better

 

Thanks so much !!! I have got to get myself learning about this Ketoacidosis its scares me now!

 

Weve beaten Ketoacidosis 3 times, Salem can do this, we are all rooting for you both. Xxx

 

Hi Tina and Salem and welcome to fdmb.
DKA can follow ketones forming in the blood.
The recipe for DKA is not enough insulin, not enough calories and an infection or inflammation.
Do you know if the vets are treating Salem for an infection or inflammation of some sort?

Once you get Salem home it is going to be very important that he eats well for you.
Most DKA kitties have a poor appetite when they are recovering from DKA so ask the vet for some antinausea medications such as cerenia and ondansetron so you can give the medication to Salem at home.

You will also need to give him enough insulin as well.
I would suggest you set up a spreadsheet now before he comes home so you are ready.
Here is the link to the spreadsheet. If you have any trouble setting it up ask for help
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

It sounds as if you are already testing the blood sugar levels, is that correct?
Could you put what type of meter you are using into your signature please? Thank you

I would also make sure you have some low carb food for Salem for when he gets home and also some higher carb food in case he drops low.

Another important thing to do is to buy some Ketostix from walmart or a pharmacy so you can test for ketones every day once Salem gets home. It is very important to monitor the urine for ketones during his recovery. The Ketostix is only about about $10 or $12 at Walmart.

I would suggest you get all this done before he gets home as once he is home you will be busy looking after him and all these things are very important for his recovery.

Ask as many questions as you need. We are more than happy to answer them. There is a lot to learn in the beginning but it will get much easier.

Please keep us posted with Salems recovery

 

I am so sorry to read about Salem. My thoughts & prayers to you & Salem as he fights to recover. SO great someone from the group is close & can help you with this!

 

—-Admin note——

Post from Supply Closet moved and merged with this one. Thanks everyone!

 

So sorry Salem is so sick, my vets never mentioned DKA, or that Buddy's urine needed to be checked. Chris & Teasel told me 1 night when Buddy was very sick, Buddy did not have DKA but he needed to b checked. I am sorry that Salem has DKA and I know you are beside your self with worry, but I am very glad you found the good people @ DCIN.

 

Hello all, as you can see I found out that I lived within a half hour of Tina, and I just spoke to her on the phone a little bit ago. As you can imagine, she is struggling with getting thrown into the deep end of this terrible side effect of diabetes, as any of us that haven't been through DKA would be.

I don't have exact details, but I believe that they are looking at his bloodwork and think that Salem is also dealing with pancreatitis. There is also concern that a blood transfusion might be needed, so they must suspect something else is going on as well and Tina is hoping to get an ultrasound approved soon.

If you are the praying type, suffice it to say that Tina and Salem need your prayers right now. If you are not, good thoughts (Tina, we call them "vines" here) work just as well.

Thank you Marje for merging the threads, I didn't know that was possible, and Kate thanks for your reassurance first hand that it is treatable. Tina, Cassandra's Alice ( @AliceMeowliss&Cassandra ) went through a really rough patch in April with dear Alice similar to what you are going through, but Alice was able to pull through with the blessing of DCIN's help. We'll all be hoping for the same for Salem.

 

Thank you for the update, I am praying for Salem and Tina. That poor baby, hoping for a miracle

 

Sandy just had to tell you that Whisper has such a precious face

 

Prayers and vines sent for Salem. Tina, it's important to take care of yourself as best you can right now so your refreshed to care for Salem when he comes home.

@Sandi & Whisper thanks for checking on Tina, keeps us posted.

 

Continuing prayers and vines for Salem.

And thank you for the update, Sandy.

 

Everybody here is in your corner, we are all sending healing vines and praying for you and Salem.

 

Thx, he’s the love of my life...don’t tell my other kitties!

 

Thanking each and everyone of you for your thoughts , prayers and concerns im on an emotional roller coaster now they are telling me they are just preparing me for the worse that may come tonight but when my son and i visited salem seemed happy to see us but was still in a dazz but the more i held him in my arms and told him how much i love him the more clear his eyes focused on me . Im worried that cause he seems better it may be like they say they get better before they go . But im trying to stayed focused between crying and breaking down lol right now salems still refusing to eat but acts as if he wants to but acts like hes scared too ? He hates the bandages on his right arm and keep trying to shake it off along with the iv in his neck . They told me hes grooming himself ?! Praying ever so hard ! Thanks Sandi for your comfort , to all of you ! Still waiting on more test i thought insulin couldnt be used if hes not eating ? But they say they are using fast acting insulin i think they called it . He must be stressed hes always been at home now hes in a strange place with loud barking dogs ! Im assume why hes sugar goes high i usually had it in the 200s with out insulin just low carb diet but they say its going in the 300s last friday it read 169 ? Strange while he hadnt eaten in 2 days . I told them no dry food even brought hes 9 lives meaty pate to him . They have tried baby food and other can food no luck wanting to eat ? He Did lick his food when he was in the room with us but still scared to eat i think hes hungry but scared to eat ? Oh hes liver count is down too. Hes electrolytes are better so is hes pottasium but he's magnesium is low .

 

Prayers to you & Salem . It is a good sign that he wants to eat & is so responsive to you talking with him. Try to keep the faith & know so many are there with you in spirit.

 

Something to ask the vets. See if they can give him some Hills a/d wet food. Or let you give it to him. A lot of sick kitties will eat that.

@For_Luna is going through the same thing now.

Sending you both prayers.

 

While at home, it is true that you don't normally give insulin if your baby isn't eating. But while in the hospital for DKA, they really need to get insulin, so I think that they usually hook kitty up to a glucose (sugar) drip specifically so that they can also give insulin. I don't know the technical explanation, but that's my casual understanding of it.

Also when you get to the stage of home care for DKA recovery, it may actually be necessary to give dry food if that is all he would eat, for the same reason...so that you CAN give insulin. Of course low carb wet food would be better, but food/calories are critically important after DKA, and if all else fails then you have to give whatever he will eat. We'll get the DKA experts to help you through all of that when the time comes. I think you've seen the DKA thread for Luna, and she is having similar issues with getting potassium, electrolytes, liver and everything where it should be, but she is stabilizing and turning the corner as well

Hang in there, you may still have a some ups and downs, but the fact that he was walking, jumping and grooming today is HUGE. That is a very good sign. Next time you go visit, be sure to take some of his regular food and see if he will eat for you. Maybe even try to feed it to him off a spoon or directly off your hand. Eventually there is a chance, like for Luna, that they may consider a feeding tube. If so, don't be freaked out by it, a feeding tube would actually be really good to help ease his recovery both in the hospital and later at home. And if they will let you leave a blankie or a shirt of yours in the cage with him, it would be good for him to be able to have something that smells like home.

 

p.s. @Marje and Gracie wrote this article about Pancreatitis if you want to read up on it: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/a-primer-on-pancreatitis.83108/

 

Tina, I am sorry for what you and Salem are going through right now. I went through DKA with Alice. She was even more unresponsive by the time I got her to emergency than you described initially in your post. And she was half her weight, a walking skeleton. Now she is so strong and bright and sweet and fully alive again. I will be thinking of you and Salem.

Sometimes I had to feed Alice wet food straight out of my hand. If that’s what got her to eat, I did it. Like taking care of a sick baby, you will just be able to do it because you have to, because it is necessary, because you love. I agree it’s a good sign he’s got some spunk in him, and is trying to groom. I remember being thankful when Alice fought back at her shots because at least she was strong enough to fight!!! I couldn’t read every single post so I’m not sure if you have barriers to visiting, but I’m sure seeing you will help comfort him so I hope you are able to visit often.

And I am also glad that DCIN is able to help you both. They are amazing and lifesaving and I couldn’t be more grateful for them, as I am sure you are too. So many vines and hugs. I am even visiting family in Mass. this week. Near Salem. Hopefully a good omen. Light and love and healing to you both.

 

Many prayers and healing vines for your sweet baby boy. I hope he is back home soon with you where you can love him back to health.

 

Thanks to everyone for your prayers, they are doing the trick!

I hope Tina doesn’t mind that I pass this info from DCIN along, it is great news. I am getting a Lantus pen and other supplies to her vet this afternoon so they can start him on Lantus tonight.

Here is the update:

“DCIN talked to the vet this morning. Salem is MUCH better and they plan on sending him home tomorrow morning if he continues to improve. He's eating now and his electrolytes are looking much better.”

Once Salem gets home I’ll get Tina to start a new thread so that we can help her through post-DKA home care.

Thanks everyone, and keeps the good thoughts flowing!

 

Yeah thanks everyone i was so exhausted this morning from being up all night worried i might get a call that salem had passed but instead i called and hes doing wonderful !!! Hes eating just like Sandi said ! I was getting ready to post the good news thanks Sandi no i didnt mind! Im so grateful for all of you and DCIN !! My baby is going to be ok !!!

 

I hope everyones babies get well too just like salem ! He was in really good care i would have posted sooner but i hadnt done anything but worry abt salem that i had to clean this house lol ! I was so tired from being up all night scared i would get bad news ! The Lord has decided to let us keep Salem a little bit longer !!!

 

SO happy for you !! Happy Salem is eating and doing so well!!

 

Thanks !!!

 

Look who I just got to meet! Salem’s eyes are super bright, and look at those fangs - he is ready for Halloween

 

Hes my cutie booty lol hes sooo sweet ! Wow great pictures of Salem when we got him we had another stray cat she needed naming just like salem so we named the two Salem and Sabrina from the teenage witch tv show lol but we call her Brinney

 

He's looking bright and sassy!!! So thrilled for a happy ending!!

If anybody wants to help contribute to DCIN for Salem's ER bill, feel free to contact me. Without donations, we can't continue to help these kitties in crisis.

 

Yes im so appreciative for DCIN s help i dnt know what i would have had to do if they hadnt help me . I would hate to think how much more worse it could have been . They were a God sent to salem and us my baby would have died if they couldn't help us . Bless you for all your hard work too ! These people are voluntarys they work on their own time .

 

Wonderful news

 

Oh just look at that adorable face, this is the best news, how wonderful you got to go see Salem

 

Tina such great news, I bet you can't wait to get him home and give him lots of lovins
I'm just so happy for you both

 

I will never pass up an opportunity to love on a kitty The funniest part is that I was holding him in that blankie, and after just a short while he started to get feisty and squirmy -- both of which are good signs!

 

Great news and he looks alert! Sending more vines!

 

Hospital is fustrating me . We were told salem would go home today as long as he does good on the lanteus long lasting insulin . I have been waiting since 6 am no one can say if hes coming home today for sure or not ?? Hes still doing great ! Im getting inpatient .

 

Patience, my dear. Diabetes itself can be frustrating, so you might as well start practicing patience now

The most important thing is that he is still doing well!

 

Wonderful news so happy to hear that beautiful boy is feeling and doing better. Try not to be too impatient they will let him home when they are sure he's ready.

 

Ok lol i live 40 miles one way if i didnt live so far i would be up there everyday with him . I Miss his cute little face and him purring . If he gets hungry salem will just look at you and start slowly knocking things off the coffee tables and look at you like im hungry now mommie ! Its strange hes not here doing that .

 

Great news. He will be home any time now.

 

Ok they just called going to get his discharge instructions ready wanted to know when i would come so they can go over it with me to explain insulin shots etc . Yeah!!! Baby is coming home hes buddy jojo another stray we brought home lol i got 4 strays cnt bring no one else home . As my husband tells me or warns me hes missing him and salems sister they are barely eating they know he was very sick i guess they think hes gone ?

 

Yay! Your wait is over... good news.

 

And I can come up tonight and go over it with you as well. Just text me later. Yay!!!

 

p.s. I just picked up a bottle of ketone urine test strips for you as well, and don't forget to ask the vet to give you that bag that I left with the FDMB important documents (hypo, low numbers, SLGS/TR, handling insulin) and other things for your hypo kit along with U-100 syringes. Do NOT feed him the FF Gravy Lover's food as regular food, it is there for hypo events unless he just won't eat anything else, and the baby food is there if you need to entice his appetite as well. And most importantly, make sure they give you the Lantus pen

 

Yes but is there anyway you can come tonight before it gets late tony thats my husband gets up at 3:30 am to go to work you can come now if you want ? Call me i put my number in the private conversations . he goes to bed really early abt 8:30 -9:00

 

Yeah Salem is coming home for lots of lovins

 

Can any of you look at the new thread please? http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/advice-needed-asap-salem-1st-shot-post-dka.221092/

Thanks much, Sandi (here with Tina)

 

Chris, what is the address for DCIN if anyone would like to donate.

 

You can use Paypal at donate@dcin.info or our mailing address is:

Diabetic Cats in Need
P.O. Box 21
Minot, ME 04258-0021