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Overview:
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life threatening complication of
uncontrolled diabetes caused by a lack, or insufficient amount of
insulin. This means glucose is unable to be used by the body for
energy. The body begins to search for alternate supplies of energy &
begins to break down fat. When fat is broken down (metabolised) into
fatty acids, waste products known as ketones (also known as ketone
bodies) are produced & accumulate in the bloodstream. This causes the
blood to become too acidic (acidosis).
The
body will try to get rid of the ketones by excreting them into the
urine, which causes increased urine output & increased thirst.
What causes ketoacidosis in cats?
There
are several possible causes including;
-
Undiagnosed diabetes
-
Insufficient insulin
-
Missed insulin
-
Not enough food
-
Illness & or infections (especially
of the urinary tract)
-
Obesity
-
Stress
-
Surgery
-
Idiopathic (no known cause)
What are the symptoms of ketoacidosis?
How is ketoacidosis diagnosed?
Your
veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination from you &
obtain a medical history. Some tests he may wish to perform include;
How is ketoacidosis treated?
Treatment depends on
the severity of the condition. In mild cases, where your cat is still
bright & alert home therapy may be all that is necessary. Regular
monitoring of blood glucose levels should be performed.
In more serious cases,
treatment includes;
-
Intravenous fluids &
electrolytes to treat & correct dehydration & electrolyte imbalance
(possibly supplementing with electrolytes such as sodium, potassium
and chloride). This also dilutes glucose & acid levels.
-
Frequent
administration of short-acting insulin to lower blood sugar levels.
-
Where possible, find
out the cause (such as infection) of ketoacidosis & treat.
-
Regular monitoring of
blood glucose, blood chemistry, electrolytes & urine for ketones.
-
Once the cat is
stable (eating, hydrated, no vomiting etc), your veterinarian will
change to a long-acting or intermediate-acting insulin. [2]
References:
[1] Cat Health Encyclopedia
(P.262)- Edited by Dr. Lowell Ackermann.
[2] The Feline Patient
- Essentials of Diagnosis & Treatment (P168) - Gary D. Norsworthy,
Mitchell A. Crystal, Sharon K. Fooshee, Larry P. Tilley.
Please note:
The medical
articles on this site have not been written by a
veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a
veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for
informative purposes only.
Always seek
immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or
behavioral) in your pets.
While great
care has been made in the creation of these articles, we
cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages.
If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical
advice. |
