My diabetic cat's blood sugar is dangerously low. Should I go to ER?

If her blood sugar is 56, she needs to be seen by a veterinarian tonight. She is wading in dangerous territory and should be put on IV dextrose to avoid going into hypoglycemic shock. I would not wait until morning to address this issue, as karo syrup, while helpful, will not help if there is another underlying problem.

Hi, I'm Dr. Johnson. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! A blood sugar of 36 is too low. Do not give Gir insulin. Continue to feed him small meals and put some Karosyrup on his gums. Call your Veterinarian in the morning to discuss what they would like to change. Signs of low blood sugar are: salivating, crying, staggering, vomiting, increased respiratory rate, seizures, and or twitching. If you observe any of these things seek immediate veterinary care. I wish Gir the best!

It is extremely concerning that Simba is not responsive. A blood glucose of 355 is very high, even for a diabetic cat. Given his unresponsiveness, I recommend taking Simba to an emergency veterinarian immediately. There is a chance that he may be experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which can cause massive shifts in the blood electrolytes, which can lead to seizures or changes in the heart. I hope that all goes well for Simba!

Hi, I think you should check his blood glucose, which I think it’s going to be high. If you can’t because your vet is closed and you don’t have an emergency clinic nearby, I would give him half dose of insulin. Please get in touch if there is anything else we can do for you. Hope this helps.

It sounds like Kosey's glucose is getting under control pretty well this time around as well which is great news. If you are ever worried the glucose is too low the safest thing to do is to not give any insulin so I think you did the right thing. It sounds like at this time the 5 units may be too much and you can start giving lower doses. To be sure this is the right thing for Kosey I would recommend having a glucose curve done at your vet (where multiple blood glucose readings are taken throughout the day). You may have done this in the past but it can be helpful to do it again while trying to regulate your cat. Good luck!

In most patients this would not be considered as an emergency as the condition tends to develop and progress slowly but I would be more concerned when Sassy is so week and unable to stand. I would strongly recommend contacting the emergency clinic to see if they have insulin in stock as the sooner she is stabilised the better chance she has of making a recovery - prolonged severe diabetic crisis can lead to permanent injury to many cases.

If she is alert and more stable on her feet then I would not give any more supplements unless signs indicate that. Be sure to take her a glucose check before administering any more insulin though. I would recommend trying to feed her several small meals every 3-4 hours though to help maintain a higher blood glucose