? 05/27 sudden increase in the past few days. What’s happening?

Amps 379, +3 467
Jackson’s blood sugar went up 5/21 and has stayed up all weekend. He’s started to develop signs of uncontrolled diabetes, drinking and eating more than normal. I decided he is also having a pancreatitis flare up so I’ve begun administering metronidazole. Still, his BG is just going up and up. I got a new pen of Lantus 5/12.

 

Does Jackson have chronic pancreatitis? If so, the pain could be driving the numbers up. Do you have any buprenorphine on hand?

I don't think it is the pen as you have gotten some blues from it.

He still isn't regulated yet so he may still have the drinking and eating.

Are you feeding small snacks all day? I ask because Jones did better free fed then doing the set meals. It seemed to be easier on his IBD and pancreatitis.

 

If this is, in fact, pancreatitis, metronidazole isn't typically effective. It's used to treat an anerobic infections and, in fact, can cause pancreatitis on rare occasions. (It's also known as Flagyl and used to treat yeast infections.)

This is Marje's Primer on Pancreatitis and it may be helpful. As Tracey noted, it's usually the pain associated with pancreatitis that will drive numbers up along with it being an inflammation which has an effect on numbers.

 

I am feeding small meals. The vet diagnosed him with pancreatitis. I don’t have any pain meds. The vet said the antibiotic would calm inflammation. It works really quickly.

 

Thanks. I’ve found so much great information here, but I don’t always see the links right away.

Maybe it’s just discomfort throwing him off. He does seem better now, since I started the metronidazole. I’ll talk to the vet and see if I can get more details about the antibiotics and see if I can pick up some pain meds.

 

Do you know how the vet made the diagnosis? You want to have your vet run either a Snap or a Spec fPL. The Spec is sent out for analysis and the Snap can be done in the office (it looks like a pregnancy test and you get a + or - reading).

Generally, cats do well on buprenorphine as a pain med. Just make sure that he doesn't give your cat meloxicam (Metacam) for pain -- it's an anti-inflammatory that can cause kidney failure in cats. Likewise, make sure your vet doesn't give your cat Convenia. It's an injectable antibiotic that can last over 2 weeks. If your cat is allergic to it, once it's in, you can't get it out. Many feline specialists won't use it.

 

We ran a blood test, but I don’t know which one. He’s much better this morning. I isolated him from the other cats and let him free feed. That must have helped. He’s still going to the vet, if I can get in.

 

• I’m reading metronidazole is used for IBD and stomatitis, so who knows what’s causing his discomfort. Could be those problems, which he is suspected of having, and not pancreatitis.

 

Just an FYI -- The spreadsheet we use has a tab where you can enter labs. This can be very helpful for keeping track of various values. Most vets are happy to give you a copy of the lab printout.

 

If I might suggest instead of tt vet about this AB vet prescribed, that you heard ineffective from “someone” on FD forum- do your own research on internet . Just my thoughts...