? How to navigate fasting for bloodwork

[Hannah and Phoebe]

Phoebe is going to be tested for Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency this Friday morning and I'm told she needs to be fasting. They are doing some other blood tests as well. Her usual feeding/shot time is 6:30am but the earliest they can get her in is 8:00am. I have this schedule planned out but no idea if it is a good idea, or if I should just keep our regular schedule, except for Friday morning when she would be fed/shot T ~+2. Are either of the schedules below good? Or would you recommend something else?

Food/Shot Times
Option 1:
Wed. PM: 7:00pm
Thurs. AM: 7:30am
Thurs. PM: 8:00pm
Fri. AM (blood test day): 8:30am
Fri. PM: 8:00pm
Sat. AM: 7:30am
Sat. PM: 7:00pm
Sun. AM: 6:30am (back to normal)

Option 2:
Keep normal until blood test day
Fri. AM (blood test day): 8:30am
Fri. PM: 8:00pm
Sat. AM: 7:30am
Sat. PM: 7:00pm
Sun. AM: 6:30am (back to normal)

 

[Hannah and Phoebe]

I called the vet and they recommend something more like Option 1, but not as spread out, with bigger jumps in between times.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Hello Hannah. I am so sorry to hear about Phoebe and the possible EPI. I hope she does not have it.

I like scenario 1, but 2 is okay. The thing is that there isn’t necessarily one proper way to do it, and you will need to be guided to some extent by her numbers. Another approach that could be taken is to shoot a half dose on the day of the fasting blood test. Many times our members do this when their cats are going in for a dental procedure and will be under anesthesia. In your case it makes sense to consider it because you can feed her approximately 2 hours after the shot, which would be when the ProZinc starts to onset — and with a half dose she would not be in danger I am sure.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I called the vet and they recommend something more like Option 1, but not as spread out, with bigger jumps in between times.

And this… sure maybe you could do this and let the numbers be your guide (as you will need to do anyway.)

 

[Hannah and Phoebe]

Hello Hannah. I am so sorry to hear about Phoebe and the possible EPI. I hope she does not have it.

I like scenario 1, but 2 is okay. The thing is that there isn’t necessarily one proper way to do it, and you will need to be guided to some extent by her numbers. Another approach that could be taken is to shoot a half dose on the day of the fasting blood test. Many times our members do this when their cats are going in for a dental procedure and will be under anesthesia. In your case it makes sense to consider it because you can feed her approximately 2 hours after the shot, which would be when the ProZinc starts to onset — and with a half dose she would not be in danger I am sure.

Thank you for this advice!

We have been struggling with diarrhea all over the house for many months now with some improvements provided by diet changes, probiotics, and other supplements, But I'm afraid we aren't making progress anymore. If it is EPI, perhaps the pancreatic enzyme would give her some relief. But if not, we will likely go to a home-made diet and see if that can help the IBD. If that doesn't work, then it's back to the budesonide or prednisone I think. I'm almost hoping it is EPI, as that may be a simpler course of treatment.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Thank you for this advice!

We have been struggling with diarrhea all over the house for many months now with some improvements provided by diet changes, probiotics, and other supplements, But I'm afraid we aren't making progress anymore. If it is EPI, perhaps the pancreatic enzyme would give her some relief. But if not, we will likely go to a home-made diet and see if that can help the IBD. If that doesn't work, then it's back to the budesonide or prednisone I think. I'm almost hoping it is EPI, as that may be a simpler course of treatment.

Well, take it one step at a time. Is she maintaining her weight? If it makes you feel any better, I do work with another member whose cat absolutely must take a fairly high daily dose of Prednisolone due to severe triaditis — and we have kitty in very good numbers. Yes, it’s a much higher than average ProZinc dose, but Biddy is doing really well. Before coming to this forum, the caregiver was receiving a lot of condemning and judgmental pressure about giving steroids to a diabetic cat. We just accepted it and moved forward. If Phoebe needs steroids then she needs steroids. Budesonide tends to have less impact on BG overall (if it works for Phoebe.) Let me know what you find out. I admire your commitment to Phoebe.

 

[Hannah and Phoebe]

Well, take it one step at a time. Is she maintaining her weight? If it makes you feel any better, I do work with another member whose cat absolutely must take a fairly high daily dose of Prednisolone due to severe triaditis — and we have kitty in very good numbers. Yes, it’s a much higher than average ProZinc dose, but Biddy is doing really well. Before coming to this forum, the caregiver was receiving a lot of condemning and judgmental pressure about giving steroids to a diabetic cat. We just accepted it and moved forward. If Phoebe needs steroids then she needs steroids. Budesonide tends to have less impact on BG overall (if it works for Phoebe.) Let me know what you find out. I admire your commitment to Phoebe.

She has been losing weight actually, down from 9.8 to 8.8. We've changed her food a couple times and are increasing her calories now. I'll keep you posted!