12/26 Herman update, still in ER, but improving.

Amy & Herman

Amy & Herman

Member Since 2022
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...-432-now-in-erany-insight-appreciated.284939/

Waiting to hear if I can bring him home tonight, he’s on syringe feeding and IV fluids, pain meds, antibiotics. He hasn’t been vomiting. The worry if I bring him home too soon before the pancreatitis is controlled that I won’t manage to get him to eat and subsequently can’t shoot insulin or get his meds into him….the thought of leaving him another night upsets me. I just want to do what’s right for him.
 
I missed your post yesterday. Was he diagnosed with pancreatitis? Max had chronic pancreatitis and rarely vomited but his first symptom was always inappetence caused by nausea. Ondansetron was n the dead sometimes for weeks. Make sure the vet gives you plenty of ondansetron. It only works a short time so you will need to give it 3-4 times a day. My cat with suspected IBD or SCL needed it every 7-8 hours. Every 12 hours even with an appetite stimulant did not get her to eat and I had to syringe feed her. I kept telling the vets I needed more but at first I was having to go pick up more every few days. Get at least 30.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
((((Amy))))) I am sure the waiting is so hard for you. :bighug::bighug::bighug: Were you able to visit him today? Is he eating at the clinic? I didn't seen anti nausea in the list of meds he's on.

In case you haven't read this one: A Primer On Pancreatitis
Click to expand...
Thanks, I’ll review the primer! The meds list show injectable cerenia, pantroprazole, ampicillin, metronidazole, enrofloxacin, and methadone…..
 
tiffmaxee said:
I missed your post yesterday. Was he diagnosed with pancreatitis? Max had chronic pancreatitis and rarely vomited but his first symptom was always inappetence caused by nausea. Ondansetron was n the dead sometimes for weeks. Make sure the vet gives you plenty of ondansetron. It only works a short time so you will need to give it 3-4 times a day. My cat with suspected IBD or SCL needed it every 7-8 hours. Every 12 hours even with an appetite stimulant did not get her to eat and I had to syringe feed her. I kept telling the vets I needed more but at first I was having to go pick up more every few days. Get at least 30.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the advice I will ask for it. Yes he was confirmed pancreatitis fPL test 25.8 ug/L
 
I am confused why the antibiotics and not just one but two! Rarely are antibiotics needed for pancreatitis. Is there also an infection?
Metronidazole is fur diarrhea and methodone for pain which makes sense as pancreatitis is paninful. Once the nausea is controlled you might need an appetite stimulant but until then it likely won’t help.
 
Last edited:
Looks like they are thinking infection with two antibiotics? Plus metronidazole? Also an AB. And I see that pantroprazole is used for ulcers? If they get you to give him all of these at home (could be just in clinic for some), make sure to pick up a good probiotic or his tummy will be upset. They could be giving two different ABs now until they get the results of the urine culture back, to make sure he's started on a good antibiotic.

I second the ondansetron. The vet will likely give you a prescription to fill at a human pharmacy (or do it for you). Be prepared for sticker shock, it costs a lot in Canada. If you can, do a little digging to see what generic ondanstron costs near you. I saw differences up to $1 a pill!
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Looks like they are thinking infection with two antibiotics? Plus metronidazole? Also an AB. And I see that pantroprazole is used for ulcers? If they get you to give him all of these at home (could be just in clinic for some), make sure to pick up a good probiotic or his tummy will be upset. They could be giving two different ABs now until they get the results of the urine culture back, to make sure he's started on a good antibiotic.

I second the ondansetron. The vet will likely give you a prescription to fill at a human pharmacy (or do it for you). Be prepared for sticker shock, it costs a lot in Canada. If you can, do a little digging to see what generic ondanstron costs near you. I saw differences up to $1 a pill!
Click to expand...
I’m waiting on a call from the vet, I will enquire why so many antibiotics, I wasn’t sure what everything was or for, it’s so overwhelming in the moment and I felt I had no choice but to trust. I know they were wait for the culture too but I think that’s still a day away from being back….I will ask about the Ondansetron on the call to make sure I get plenty. Herman is very very difficult to pill so I’m pretty anxious about what our future holds. :nailbiting:
 
Ondansetron also comes in injectible form, though harder to find here. Fortunately currently kitty takes the onda pills like a champ in her pill pockets. Other tips I've heard are to put it in a gel cap, which gets put in a puddle of Churu. I used to volunteer at the local shelter, including giving pills to the kitties there, so not unfamiliar with the task. However, Neko forced me to up my pilling game. :arghh: I found I needed a pill shooter with her.

If they find something in the urine culture, it can take 3-5 days to get results back. They might not have wanted to start him on the wrong AB for so long.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Ondansetron also comes in injectible form, though harder to find here. Fortunately currently kitty takes the onda pills like a champ in her pill pockets. Other tips I've heard are to put it in a gel cap, which gets put in a puddle of Churu. I used to volunteer at the local shelter, including giving pills to the kitties there, so not unfamiliar with the task. However, Neko forced me to up my pilling game. :arghh: I found I needed a pill shooter with her.

If they find something in the urine culture, it can take 3-5 days to get results back. They might not have wanted to start him on the wrong AB for so long.
Click to expand...
Oh boy Herman and a Pill shooter will be a nightmare….but he loves churu so the gelcap might work. He doesn’t mind clavamox, that he will eat crumbled in a “puddle” of churu.
Do you think it’s safest to keep him there another night? I hate the thought, but know he is hard to pill etc so until his appetite has improved I’d really struggle….
 
My cat isn't fun to pill. I would open a churu and squeeze some out letting it fall on the side, stick the pill in the churu and squeeze out a little more. He would lick it off, not noticing. The couple times he caught on, I had to pill him. Most days pilling him with churu was a breeze. He wouldn't eat the churu off of a plate with the pill though.
 
Basic's Mom said:
My cat isn't fun to pill. I would open a churu and squeeze some out letting it fall on the side, stick the pill in the churu and squeeze out a little more. He would lick it off, not noticing. The couple times he caught on, I had to pill him. Most days pilling him with churu was a breeze. He wouldn't eat the churu off of a plate with the pill though.
Click to expand...
Interesting…Herman enjoys eating churu from the tube vs a bowl so your trick is a good one.
 
I go in the morning to visit so I’ll go tomorrow morning as the vet wants him there overnight again and all day tomorrow. Just got off the phone with him. The iv antibiotics were to catch any infection until culture back. He’s improving still and his BG is at 5.3 but not eating without syringe. I’ll see if he eats for me in the morning. I hope I’m doing the right thing for my baby herm. I miss him.
 
Amy & Herman said:
I go in the morning to visit so I’ll go tomorrow morning as the vet wants him there overnight again and all day tomorrow. Just got off the phone with him. The iv antibiotics were to catch any infection until culture back. He’s improving still and his BG is at 5.3 but not eating without syringe. I’ll see if he eats for me in the morning. I hope I’m doing the right thing for my baby herm. I miss him.
Click to expand...
Amy, for what it’s worth, I *do* think it was wise to follow the vet recommendation and leave Herman hospitalized for another night. As hard as it is for him to be away, it sounds like he’s receiving significant care, including IV fluids, pills, and syringe feeding, that might be harder for you to do at home. And I know he can be a handful, so it might be best to let the doctors get him an extra day toward recovery before bringing him home. I’ve seen folks rush kitty home only to be back in the ER a day or two later, which always seems to be worse on both the cat and the human than just extending the stay up front. Charlie had multiple bouts of pancreatitis in his day and I remember the stress well.

Anyway, just my two cents. I’m sending healing vibes to Herm and will be thinking of you both. :bighug:
 
JL and Chip said:
Amy, for what it’s worth, I *do* think it was wise to follow the vet recommendation and leave Herman hospitalized for another night. As hard as it is for him to be away, it sounds like he’s receiving significant care, including IV fluids, pills, and syringe feeding, that might be harder for you to do at home. And I know he can be a handful, so it might be best to let the doctors get him an extra day toward recovery before bringing him home. I’ve seen folks rush kitty home only to be back in the ER a day or two later, which always seems to be worse on both the cat and the human than just extending the stay up front. Charlie had multiple bouts of pancreatitis in his day and I remember the stress well.

Anyway, just my two cents. I’m sending healing vibes to Herm and will be thinking of you both. :bighug:
Click to expand...
Thanks for this. Can’t wait for my baby to be home but I know that will come with an all new set of challenges. I’m feeling more at peace that getting him past this bout of pancreatitis by staying at the vet was the right call. Looking forward to visiting him later this morning. Although that too will be heartbreaking. :oops:
 
Hi Amy. I just caught up with your posts. I'm sorry you had to leave your baby in hospital. I know how difficult this is. And I think you made the right decision.
I was in the same place just two months ago with Fistuk. It was very difficult to leave him there for a few days but I thought that once he's already been brought there it's best t keep him monitored and t bring him back home when he's in a better shape.

Do you already know if there are ketones? From my experience they do come up very quickly. Also a pancreas bout flairs up very quickly. I hope you get some answers soon.

I pray for Herman to feel better soon.
Sending you heartfelt strength while he's away from you :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Hi Amy ... I'm glad Herman has started to improve, and for what it's worth, I think you are doing the right thing by leaving him in the care of the hospital for as long as they recommend. It is so, so, SO hard to be away from our babies and to trust others with their care, but that's what they are there for -- to use their expertise to give them the best fighting chance always. We are all pulling for Herman, and for you! :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top