Bubba - new pancreatitis Dx

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bubbasmom (GA)

bubbasmom (GA)

Member Since 2022
Hello everyone,

This morning my precious boy was diagnosed with pancreatitis (via the fPLI test)... along with:
  • hypokalemia (unsure of the exact levels, awaiting blood panel results via email);
  • a UTI (e.coli based);
  • is dehydrated (has been for a few months now as per previous BW);
  • his fructosamine is 511 (it was 450 December 27 2022)
  • his SDMA was 19
The vet prescribed:
  • clavaseptin 50mg tabs - 2 tabs q12h ABX for UTI;
  • onsior 9mg once/day for 4 days for pancreatitis inflammation (will reassess for ongoing pain management after the 4 days)
  • gabapentin 50mg tabs q12hr to manage neuropathic pain
We woke up to him peeing everywhere - approx. 10 times - on floor, pp pads, runner carpets and even on himself while he was lying down! He also pood twice on the floor and vomited once (after a few nibbles of his breakfast). He initially didn't have much of an appetite - only consumed a few nibbles of his first breakfast, then puked it up. After that, he was hungry so he had a small bowl of kangaroo.

My boy hides his ailments so well... in the last few weeks his appetite has been good, no vomiting, no diarrhea, no lethargy - absolutely nothing that would indicate pancreatitis. He has had a few pp accidents on the pp pads/floor/carpets here and there, but we attributed that to his arthritis. So the chaos of this morning was quite the surprise. Needless to say, I'm devastated my boy has to go through more health struggles and new diagnoses :( :(
It's also been a struggle to regulate Bubba's blood sugars since his Dx in September 2022.

Luckily, since we got home about 8hrs ago, Bubba has eaten 4 times - he comes to us for food - so I am thankful his appetite seems to have returned.

Does anyone else have experience with their diabetic cat having pancreatitis? Bubba is currently on raw food (rotating between beef, kangaroo & bison), with dehydrated / freeze dried fish toppers. So I am not concerned about his nutrition being inappropriate for diabetes & pancreatitis - he eats approximately every 3-4hrs during the day.

thanks for reading!
 
My Murphy had pancreatitis once. Symptom was vomiting and lethargy. Treatment was overnight at ER for fluid, anti vomiting med and pain meds. Home treatment was subQ fluids, pain meds and anti vomiting meds.
FOr your case does the SDMA of 19 good or high?
Hypokalemia is low potassium and treatment is potassium supplement. It can oraal, in added to subQ fluids or IV fluids. One cause is excessive urination.
 
My kitty had a host of problems when her diabetes was diagnosed -- pancreatitis, hepatic lipidosis, and diabetic ketoacidosis.

I'm linking a post to our primer on pancreatitis.

You might want to ask your vet about the SDMA results. Unless Bubba is a very large breed cat, 14 is the high end of the range. Much will depend on the other kidney values. As a precautionary measure, you may want to consider feeding Bubba low carb/low phosphorus food and adding as much water as he'll tolerate to his food.
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
My kitty had a host of problems when her diabetes was diagnosed -- pancreatitis, hepatic lipidosis, and diabetic ketoacidosis.

I'm linking a post to our primer on pancreatitis.

You might want to ask your vet about the SDMA results. Unless Bubba is a very large breed cat, 14 is the high end of the range. Much will depend on the other kidney values. As a precautionary measure, you may want to consider feeding Bubba low carb/low phosphorus food and adding as much water as he'll tolerate to his food.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the link.
Yes his SDMA result is high. 14 is the max range. Bubba is already on raw food (since he was a kitten) - we always add some water to it and he has access to and drinks fresh water on his own volition regularly.
 
SDMA test results should be read in conjunction with urinalysis and creatinine. Within a range of 15-20 ug/dl might be considered to indicate early kidney disease, but you’ve noted that he is dehydrated and there is also an infection which could cause elevated SDMA if due to these factors. Low potassium may be artificially influenced due to high white blood cell counts from infection, or actually due to the diabetes, since insulin can act to stimulate the uptake of potassium from the blood to the cells. Depending on what the levels are, I would be working with your vet to determine if potassium supplements are indeed required, and your vet would likely continue close monitoring if supplements are given, since too high potassium levels are equally as bad as too low.
 
Christie & Maverick said:
SDMA test results should be read in conjunction with urinalysis and creatinine. Within a range of 15-20 ug/dl might be considered to indicate early kidney disease, but you’ve noted that he is dehydrated and there is also an infection which could cause elevated SDMA if due to these factors. Low potassium may be artificially influenced due to high white blood cell counts from infection, or actually due to the diabetes, since insulin can act to stimulate the uptake of potassium from the blood to the cells. Depending on what the levels are, I would be working with your vet to determine if potassium supplements are indeed required, and your vet would likely continue close monitoring if supplements are given, since too high potassium levels are equally as bad as too low.
Click to expand...

Hi Christie, thank you! I didn't manage to pick up potassium supplement as his potassium was 3.1 & the low end of the range is 3.5, and for reasons you stated... will reassess with his follow up appt this upcoming week

I listed his abnormal and some normal values here, on post #10: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...437-6-421-8-416-pmps-409.273824/#post-3042383
 
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