Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a state that can develop when diabetes mellitus has progressed to the point where the body begins breaking down fat for energy in a way that produces acidic compounds called ketones. These ketones accumulate in the blood and make it more acidic, which affects how cells and organs function. It tends to occur in animals with uncontrolled or undiagnosed diabetes, often triggered by another illness, stress, or a period without insulin. Owners most commonly notice their dog or cat becoming profoundly unwell over hours to days—drinking and urinating excessively, refusing food, vomiting, breathing more rapidly or with an unusual smell to the breath, and becoming progressively weaker or less responsive. The animal may have been known to be diabetic, or this may be the first indication that diabetes is present. This page explores the signs that may be observed, what is happening in the body when ketones accumulate, how the condition is investigated through blood and urine tests, and the approaches used to manage it—including insulin, fluid therapy, and correction of the blood's acid–base balance.