Urine ketones
Urine ·Also called: KET, ketones, ketonuria, ketoacidosis
What it is
When cells cannot access glucose — because insulin is absent, or because there is simply no food — the body switches to breaking down fat, and ketones accumulate. The urine dipstick detects them well before the animal looks critically unwell.
Why your vet measures it
Diabetic ketoacidosis develops when ketones build up faster than the body can buffer them, and it is life-threatening. A newly diagnosed diabetic with ketones in the urine, or a known diabetic that starts spilling them, needs same-day assessment rather than a routine appointment.
What a positive result can mean
- Diabetic ketoacidosis — glucose and ketones together in an unwell pet
- Prolonged fasting or starvation
- Persistent vomiting with no food intake
- A very high-fat, very low-carbohydrate diet
What a negative result means
- A negative result is normal and is what a stable diabetic should show
Questions worth asking your vet
- Does my pet need to be seen today?
- Should I be checking for ketones at home, and how often?
- What signs should prompt me to call straight away?
Related terms
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