pancreatitis/diabetes in an acrocat?

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Bronx's dad (GA)

Bronx's dad (GA)

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I have a couple of questions for the acro moms & dads:

1) I know acrocats are not diabetic cats, they have diabetes from the condition. But is it possible that they also do have diabetes? I don't see why that isn't possible which leads to question 2.

2) I know acrocats are supposed to have a working pancreas, but is it possible that they do have pancreatitis, especially if they are indeed diabetic?

The reason I am asking is Bronx had a Spec fPL a few months ago of 8 which isn't crazy high, but above normal (0-3.5). That was taken when his BG was still out of control. Would that # go down now that we have his BG under control? He does show the signs of pancreatitis with the white foamy vomit (which seems to happen almost every night) and the laying on cold surfaces after he eats, etc. I am wondering if I should get another Spec fPL blood test just to see where he's at now or is that just a waste of $? How do they treat pancreatitis in cats besides stuff to just coat the stomach?

Thanks!
 
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Any cat can get pancreatitis. Here is Marje's primer on pancreatitis which talks about diagnosis and treatment. It has nothing to do with blood sugar. My civie got pancreatitis as did Neko, both might have been related to their IBD/small cell lymphoma. Pain meds, nausea control are usually part of the equation. Foamy vomit overnight can also be a sign of kidney issues. Bloodwork might be in order.

First question answer, acros can also have non functioning pancreas. Neko's was working, usually at the most inopportune times. :rolleyes:

Sending feel better vines for Bronx.
 
I don't know long since the last b/w was done, but I would get at least the kidney values and the SpecfPl. Your vet may have a suggestion based on symptoms. Out of curiosity, has Bronx ever had an abdominal ultrasound? That gives additional info on kidneys, pancreas and gut.
 
So sorry Bronx's dad it sucks. My vet said basically treating the symptoms. Nausea, puking ,pain. Phoebes gets bupe and gabapentin for pain. Takes zofran and cerenia for puking and nausea. I've been told it's extremely painful in humans, am guessing it is the same for kitties.
 
Phoebes said:
So sorry Bronx's dad it sucks. My vet said basically treating the symptoms. Nausea, puking ,pain. Phoebes gets bupe and gabapentin for pain. Takes zofran and cerenia for puking and nausea. I've been told it's extremely painful in humans, am guessing it is the same for kitties.
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Thanks Angela, I will see what the vet says. Basically I have him off all drugs trying the holistic approach, besides the Lactulose/Miralax, but that might have to change.
 
Pancreatitis is supposed to be very painful. Is he "meatloafing" at all? It's thought that acros can be in pain from the changes going on in their body, possibly even the headaches that human acros get, and many have arthritis. Adding buprenorphine was a game changer to Neko's QOL. I'm not a huge fan of adding drugs either.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Pancreatitis is supposed to be very painful. Is he "meatloafing" at all? It's thought that acros can be in pain from the changes going on in their body, possibly even the headaches that human acros get, and many have arthritis. Adding buprenorphine was a game changer to Neko's QOL. I'm not a huge fan of adding drugs either.
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Not meatloafing but he does lay down on a cold spot after eating. Was worse when his BG was off the charts when he was overeating. I asked the vet about bupe for the arthritis last time we were there and she was against it saying it was a strong narcotic and gave me Gaba instead which just seemed to make Bronx extra tired all the time. I have him off Gaba and have been trying "golden paste"which is turmeric based and he does seem to be walking better.
 
Are you still giving any of the Canna? Gizmo's RX for pain is Torbogisic (sp?) but I only give him an out 1/5th the dose when he needs it as it really zonks him. Vet said it was less $$. It is an opiate.

Knock on wood Gizmo's pancreatitis seems much, much better with his better BG #'s.

Did Bronx just start laying on the cool surface or was he doing it in the winter also?

Request a senior panel. It includes SPEC fpl if sent to INDEXX lab.
 
LizzieInTexas said:
Are you still giving any of the Canna? Gizmo's RX for pain is Torbogisic (sp?) but I only give him an out 1/5th the dose when he needs it as it really zonks him. Vet said it was less $$. It is an opiate.

Knock on wood Gizmo's pancreatitis seems much, much better with his better BG #'s.

Did Bronx just start laying on the cool surface or was he doing it in the winter also?

Request a senior panel. It includes SPEC fpl if sent to INDEXX lab.
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Haven't given Canna in a while, stuff is so expensive so saving the last few capsules when he really needs it for the arthritis. I will ask about torb, it works like bupe? He was laying on the cool surface in the winter too but he was also eating like a mad man then and I think that had a lot to do with him from the overfull belly. Senior panel does all the kidney checks? The white foamy vomit is a concern, seems more often lately. I wonder why it only happens at night?
 
One of the things that was suggested to me was to break up the meals and spread them out a bit. Smaller more frequent meals are easier on the pancreas, and will help prevent an empty tummy. This seemed to help Jack out. He used to lay on the tile as well. The past few months he has shifted back to rugs and other more comfy spots. Not sure if it was a food change, the autofeeder, or just plain old luck.
 
Bronx's dad said:
The diagnosis was CKD?
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Maybe, could just be empty tummy or pancreatitis.

ETA - when Gizmo has a sever panc flare it is food vomit and won't eat. It is off to the vets/hosp. The foam froth is just tummy acid. Pepcid works. Pill pockets spiked Gizmo but if Bronx can handle them just 1/4 Pepcid should calm it also. It never hindered Gizmo's appetite either.
 
Bronx's dad said:
Yep, overnight or early morn which wakes me up hearing him do it. The diagnosis was CKD?
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Maybe. She already had a CKD diagnosis before then. I also noticed it wasn't foamy vomit every day, but often after pooing. That was probably an early indicator of her IBD/SCL, cause she never did the foamy vomit after starting budesonide. Don't you just love complicated kitties! :rolleyes: I found one of Neko's SpecfPl's at 14.7.

You should know what you are dealing with before going the Pepcid route. Article on "problems with Pepcid". Talk to the vet first.
 
I do now leave the 330 am feeder food mixed with SEB, pumpkin, miralax & flax but he often doesn't eat it. Wants me to make believe to mix it and add some juice from rad cat raw, then he eats but that only works when I am up! So I guess my goal is leave something he really likes in the 330a feeder.
 
Bronx's dad said:
white foamy vomit (which seems to happen almost every night)
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Chino was doing that 2-3 times each week until I started giving slippery elm bark with the 2nd and 4th meals. That helped for a while, but it recently started again. Always seems to happen around +10. I mentioned it when I took him to a new vet 3 months ago but she just asked what I was feeding him and didn't really have anything to say about it...
 
Paul, how is Bronx doing now? Is he feeling better? Sorry for adding to the old threat, but it's your latest post.

I've been lurking his spreadsheet and noticed you increased the dose. He has earned a reduction, actually more than once, by going under 50. With a cat that has recently undergone SRT, it is important to take reductions when they are earned. Too much insulin can also produce high numbers. 20 units is too large a dose.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Paul, how is Bronx doing now?
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Hi Wendy, thanks for checking in. Bronx is doing ok but I don't like how he has been trending up. By the look of his numbers, you would not think he had SRT over a month ago. I am back up to 23u, seems 20 wasn't enough and the few greens I was getting I think was the result from heavy use of R. I will not be home for the entire 12 hour cycle tomorrow, you think lower the dose no matter what his AMPS are?
 
On 5/25 he earned a reduction from 20 u without the use of R that cycle. If you cannot be home to monitor, I would definitely reduce the dose tomorrow. Another thing to think about, I found that as Neko got lower in her Lev dose, her R scale reduced as well. You might want to go a little lighter handed on the R, especially if it's sending him below 50. You don't want to get into that vicious cycle of using R that causes a bounce, then using R to take down the resulting bounce. When in doubt, keep the R in the fridge. It's best to see what he can do on a dose without R, then use R if needed.
 
Yeah, I should go lighter on R, but get so frustrated when all I see are pinks and yellows. I was trying to use R heavier and keep the Lev depot down from his pre-SRT dosage of 30u. If I am just chasing a bounce with R that was caused by R, I can see why that's a bad cycle to be in.
 
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