Ketones in urine

[Hammyfan]

Hi! My male Campbell's dwarf hybrid hamster is 1.5 years old and for 3 months he has had ketones in his urine. I test him with ketostix and diastix once a week. He has no glucose in his urine or blood. He had a blood test done for glucose at the vet and there was none. His worst symptom is rapid breathing with a clicking noise. The vet gave him Baytril and I treated him for 10 days and have continued to give him Baytril because of the clicking and rapid breathing has not gone away. The vet emailed me a few days later and told me he could be pre-diabetic but she wasn't sure. The vet prescribed Baytril for URI and Lactulose with milk thistle for liver support.

The vet explained that for some reason he is burning fat and not glucose. He could be breathing off the ketones which could cause the rapid breathing. His weight has stayed the same at 45 grams. He is not eating more or less than usual and he does not appear to be drinking and urinating excessively. He has multiple water bottles (large cage) so he can stay well hydrated. His activity level seems normal. He is on his wheel at night and in the morning.

His diet has been changed up a lot but I took out corn, peas and carrots from his diet when I noticed a change in his breathing and ketones showed up in his urine back in October. His diet is now high protein, high fiber no sugar.

Has anyone had any experience with ketones in the urine (no glucose) and clicking rapid breathing? He is not dehydrated.