10/17 Billie PMPS 438 went to ER vet - UTI

Status
Not open for further replies.
Deanna & Billie

Deanna & Billie

Member Since 2014
Hello LL!!

Yesterday: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=127059

No coughing for Billie today, which is great, but she seems lethargic which has me nervous. I am wondering if it's a side effect of the pred tapering off. She got a dose last night but is down to every other day dosing. I now know (thanks to Tricia) that pred takes over for the adrenal gland, and it can take some adjustment for the adrenal gland to start working normally.

Billie is acting fairly normal on paper - appy is acceptable although not spectacular, she's grooming, up walking around, using the LB, played a little this morning (although not as much as usual), alert to noises outside, etc. She just seems a little weak/tired to me, like her eyelids are heavy.

I called the vet and he said just to keep an eye on her for now and make sure she is eating. He said it could be some pred withdrawal or maybe the inflammation is flaring up as the pred is tapering off, and she's feeling crappy from that. I hope she's okay. nailbite_smile nailbite_smile nailbite_smile Luckily, her vet is open on Saturdays, so I can take her there tomorrow if she's not acting better.

I have to go out for a couple hours tonight. Fun fact - I am in a band and we're performing with a circus tomorrow night! So I have to go out for rehearsal, which is making me nervous. But, I'll be in helicopter mode after that.

I hope everyone had a nice day. Sending vines to all the cats and beans needing vines.
 
Re: 10/17 Billie AMPS 260 +3 207 +6 177 lethargic

PMPS 438 :shock: I tested twice in disbelief and got 442. That can also explain why she isn't feeling well...it's the highest she has ever been. I really really hope this is just NDW and not something else going on.
 
Re: 10/17 Billie PMPS 438 lethargic

hmmm, lethargic isn't good. i guess i'd give it til morning and see if she perks up with some treats, perhaps. If not, a vet visit might be a good idea.

any chance she's got pancreatitis? Might be the pred, of course. Could be NDW, but when you went from 1.25 to s1.5 on 10/5 there wasn't any NDW.

sending my best "feel better" wishes to miss billie!
 
Re: 10/17 Billie PMPS 438 lethargic

Julie, I'm not sure about pancreatitis, but it is a possibility. The description of seeming "off" fits. The lethargia/"offness" is subtle - my mom and boyfriend were here and thought she seemed normal/thought I was looking at her through anxiety colored glasses. But it's noticeable to me, and her PMPS makes me think I'm not imagining it. She just ate a good amount of food with boiled pork and fortiflora mixed in, so that's cool, but we will head to the vet tomorrow if she is not back to normal.

I am also wondering about a UTI or something - I have seen her pee 3 times in the past 5 hours. That is odd for her. Increased drinking/urination is a side effect of the pred though, so it could be from that. There are a lot of variables at the moment. I tested for ketones on 2 of those pees and she tested negative.
 
Re: 10/17 Billie PMPS 438 lethargic

the other thing i thought with the high pmps was an infection, so that's a reasonable idea to explore the UTI possibility with her.

i suspect you know her best, and if you think she's off, she's probably off.
 
Re: 10/17 Billie PMPS 438 lethargic

:!: Deanna - please test Billies urine for ketones as soon as possible, okay? :cool:
High numbers and lethargy make me nervous. . .

eta - I see you are already on it - :-D
keep a look out for the evil ketones until you sort out what's going on. They have a way of sneaking up on you.
 
Re: 10/17 Billie PMPS 438 lethargic

Thanks Sandy and Julie.

I have a question - I have done more reading about pancreatitis and am now freaked out, because it sounds like it can be severe without many symptoms to let us know that it is severe except cats seeming "off" and not eating.

She is eating fairly well - she just went and grazed 2 more times and then did some grooming. She seems alert and actually less lethargic than earlier today. Brooklyn set off a mouse toy that spins around and Billie went to check it out, and she is walking around. But I am in worry mode and not sure how worried I should be, which means I'm not sure if I should take her to the emergency vet tonight or take her to her regular vet in the morning. I have a very limited knowledge of pancreatitis and how it works/how quickly it progresses. I also don't know if Billie even has it - this could be something else. I'm just nervous. I guess I'm looking for advice from people who know more about pancreatitis than I do about how much of a rush I should be in to take her to the vet. Any thoughts are much appreciated!!
 
Re: 10/17 Billie PMPS 438 lethargic - p-titis question

Pancreatitis is one of those weird conditions where a cat can have high numbers and little symptoms or visa versa or in fact anything in between. In the end you treat the symptoms and not the numbers so if she isn't displaying any signs I would ensure she is drinking and maybe add water to her food.

From your description of her she doesn't sound like she is having a bad panc flair. When remi was ill he wouldn't be moving, he was be being sick and doing a lot of lip licking, not eating, bad fur,etc.

This advice applies to pancreatitis and not dk. If you suspect that then obviously go straight to the vet.

Edit-I don't want to come across that I am giving you any advice just wanted you to know when my cat had a bad attack what it looked like.
 
Re: 10/17 Billie PMPS 438 lethargic - p-titis question

Thank you very much for the input!! It is helpful to hear what symptoms look like in another cat. I know ECID and I know you were not trying to advise me - I really appreciate you sharing your experience! It is grounding to hear other people's perspectives, especially when my judgement is clouded by nervousness. Thank you.

I had to run out for a half hour. I just got back and found Billie eating, so that's a great sign. She was eating when I came in the door and kept eating - she actually ate a really nice amount of food. I just got a +3.5, and she is at 228. I guess she wanted out of the reds. She seems normal, which makes me feel better. I'm running out for a bit again and then will be back for the night soon. I will probably hold off on the vet tonight as long as she is still acting okay. I know there could be a bunch of reasons for her seeming a little off. I just panicked as I tend to do sometimes. Phew.
 
Re: 10/17 Billie PMPS 438 lethargic - p-titis question

Most cats who have pancreatitis will "meatloaf" because they feel lousy and are in pain. A given with pancreatitis is that it can be very painful. Take a look at Marje's primer on pancreatitis.

If you're going to get Billie checked by your vet, you need a Snap or Spec fPL. These should be run fasting for the most reliable results. You can't diagnose pancreatitis based on serum lipase or amylase. These tests are unreliable and I'm not sure why some vets will still use them for diagnosing pancreatitis.

My experience with pancreatitis is based on Gabby having one bout and it was when she was diagnosed with FD. She had a lot going on at the time and was critically ill. The kitties here that I've seen go though bouts have, in most cases, had a bad bout of p'titis. The caregivers who are experienced with managing the illness become quite adept at noticing the early signs and quickly intervening.
 
Re: 10/17 Billie PMPS 438 lethargic - p-titis question

Max's only symptoms with pancreatitis are inappetence and lethargy. Often people say their cat just isn't acting right. A few times when he had bad attacks he had diarrhea for a day and I got flagyl but then it went away and I didn't need to use it. Pred can definitely lead to an infection and going lots of times could be a sign of it but as you say it could also be from the pred. Max has not shown signs of pain with it but cats are good at disguising pain. I have tried bupe more than once but never noticed it made him seem better. That being said most people to use it. Are her gums slick to the touch? Do you think she is dehydrated? I'd add water to her food. As long as she is eating and drinking it is not an emergency but if the symptoms continue I would see the vet, especially if you the frequent urination continues and is small amounts. With pred they usually drink a lot and urinate a lot from my experience. I hope it turns out to be nothing.
 
Re: 10/17 Billie PMPS 438 lethargic - p-titis question

you might take a look at Angela's Blackie's condo from today - there is some discussion on p-titis on it.
 
Re: 10/17 Billie PMPS 438 lethargic - p-titis question

Oh no Deanna, I am so sorry to hear Billie isn't feeling well - I have absolutely no experience with panc- but wanted to send off tons of prayers and healing vines for Billie and hugs to you all! :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG: It's strange, but when I read your condos, I never ever get a sense of panic or helicopter Mom, you always seem so calm! (so unlike me, who hits the panic button over every little thing :? ) I sure hope Billie feels better and that it isn't P-titis!
 
Re: 10/17 Billie PMPS 438 lethargic - p-titis question

Hi Deanna

I'm sorry Billie is a bit off today. It's really good that she is eating because I think most cats with pancreatitis, even mild, typically don't want to eat. They seem off and might not want to interact.

I'd just watch her tonight and see how she acts tomorrow.

I hope you have fun with your band at the circus! :-D
 
Re: 10/17 Billie PMPS 438 lethargic - p-titis question

Just throwing this out there...is there ANY chance Billie got into some contraband of some kind?

It might explain the high PMPS

Whatever's going on, I hope she feels better soon!

flyingwoman1.jpg

Helicopter Mom...keeping her eyes on everything!...lol
 
Re: 10/17 Billie PMPS 438 lethargic - p-titis question

Poor Billie. I'm sorry she wasn't feeling quite right, but glad that she seems better now. I'm really glad there's no coughing! I wouldn't be surprised if it was just the higher BG that was making her feel off. You said she'd never been that high before.

Sending healing vines for Billie and calming vines for her bean! One of these, too - :YMHUG:
 
Re: 10/17 Billie PMPS 438 lethargic - p-titis question

Hi Deanna ....I so hope Billie will be feeling lots better when you get up on Saturday morning. Just wanted to let you know I am thinking and praying for you both. Sending plenty of these too :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:
Risé
 
Re: 10/17 Billie PMPS 438 lethargic - p-titis question

Thank you all so much for stopping by with thoughts and hugs. I was in worry overload, and that was so nice to come home to!!

I did end up taking Billie to the ER vet. She went from lethargic to super restless - pacing, grooming obsessively, grazing a lot (that part was good), acting generally agitated. And she had another tiny pee (negative ketones). The vet could not get a urine sample because Billie's bladder was very tiny, but based on the symptoms and the way her bladder felt, she thought it was a UTI. It makes sense since she is more open to infection on the pred. She said they could give her fluids and wait to get a urine sample, but she said it could take a few hours and I didn't want to stress her out by making her stay there.

So, she is on Clavamox, and they gave her a shot of bupe for the pain. At least, I asked for bupe, and they said they would give her some...but now that I am home, I see that it is not written on her discharge sheet and I wasn't charged for it, so I'm worried that they forgot. I can see about getting some from her regular vet tomorrow. I definitely think she is uncomfortable and want to give her something for the pain.

I'm glad I ended up going tonight. I would have been sitting up all night anyway waiting for her regular vet to open at 8am. On the bright side, still no coughing, and the vet said her lungs sounded good! Everything else looked/felt normal. She didn't think it was pancreatitis based on the symptoms, but I think it's worth testing her for that at some point.

I hope this clears up soon. She only has one or two more doses of pred before she is fully tapered off. I will stay on top of the ketone testing which isn't hard when poor Billie is peeing every hour.

Thank you again for your support!!! :YMHUG:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top