11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat/dri

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aedixon

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Hi all -

My kitty was at the ER last night and diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. We brought home some clavamax liquid which I've forced into his mouth twice. (Not due for another doze until 11ish tonight.)

At home he's a sweet pea and loves me to death. At the vet, he's a pill. They have to sedate him to touch him at all. I can't just run him back and forth for check ups and what not. It's a huge ordeal. He ate a bit of wet food last night. Don't know if he ate regular food or water over night. He hasn't eaten anything I've put at him since 10:00 this morning. I gave him his antibiotic at 11:30ish and he fought me, but I squirted most of it into his mouth. I cupped water in my hand and sorta rubbed it on his face but he just got all foamy. I touched his lip with some wet food and he got all foamy at the mouth again. I guess he's quite nauseated.

He normally gets 2 unit of Lantus twice a day (since March). His last dose was Friday night. At the vet his glucose was 107, which was great, oddly enough.

So... can anybody help? Is he dying? Should I/can I just let him go? I don't want to keep fighting him. I also don't want him to suffer. I'm not rich and can't spend a ton on vet bills. He's otherwise alert and just hiding under the bed or in his carrier. He likes me to pet him and scratch under his chin. He perks up his ears when I click at him. Anybody have an experience like this?

Thanks, all.
Amy :cry:
 
Re: 11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat

Did he start doing this before the clavamox (the foaming - not eating thing)? Has he ever had clavamox before? The first thing that strikes me is that he isn't tolerating the antibiotic well, OR that it is causing a lot of issues because it is being given on an empty stomach (something you would never do with any antibiotic as a human).
 
Re: 11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat

He wasn't eating well before, that's one of the reasons I took him to the ER... along with his twitchy face. Doc said give him the meds with or without food. The foamy mouth went to the extreme after the meds. He doesn't even seem to want to drink out of the bathroom sink faucet, which he *always* loves, even if he's not thirsty!
 
Re: 11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat

The number one cause of foamy mouth is nausea. UTIs can cause nausea and inappetance. The antibiotic is probably exacerbating the feeling. You can give a small amount of Pepcid AC to help with this.

Nausea and vomiting caused by antibiotics also can be treated with Pepcid AC--plain famotidine, not the Pepcid Complete (1/8 to 1/4 of a 10mg tab for cats 30 to 45 minutes before meals).
Click to expand...
from: http://petdiabetes.wikia.com/wiki/Inappetance

This combined with force feeding for a few days until his system starts to settle down is what I would recommend trying first. You can try watering down his current wet food, or get a natural all meat baby food (without onion or garlic).

What did your ER vet say about the facial twitching? How long has this been going on? Has he had bloodwork done recently? Have the twitches calmed down since stopping insulin on Friday?
 
Re: 11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat

He didn't have the twitches until Saturday morning when I woke up about 6 am. No insulin since then. Doc never addressed the twitches specifically. I think they thought it was a glucose situation initially. Lemme go look at him for a few minutes and see what's happening... He's still got the twitches a little bit. I don't notice them as much when actually lays down to go to sleep.

We thought maybe his blood sugar had gotten low... I suspect it still would be since he's eaten even less today. We also wondered if he is one of those amazing cats that's going into remission from diabetes. The urine test seems to reflect that as a good possibility.

I think the same doc will be back at the ER in about 10 minutes, so I will call and see what he has to say. I have the blood they drew last night in case we want a blood work, but I really am reluctant to spend the money. IDK. The Christmas bonus is almost completely gone now anyway. I feel terrible making it about money. Calder is really priceless to me. But I'm not wealthy by any means.
 
Re: 11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat

My personal experience in giving kitties meds is that they hate them point blank and period. I typically try to get the vet to give me something to give them that is injectable rather than liquid simply because I can ensure it all gets in their system plus if they are feeling nausious or fincky with food it wont make things worse. Is your kitty licking his lips a lot? If so then he is for sure nausious and you need to try to settle his tummy before he can even think of eating on his own again. The foam typically to the kitties I have medicated means that its a really nasty taste. If the tummy is upset then pepcid AC (1/4 tablet) should help settle it UNLESS your kitty is vomiting. If it is only a little upset vanilla yogort might also help settle a tummy. If he is vomiting then you might need to see if the vet can give you injectable pepcid. Keep syringe feeding and try your best. Hopefully it wont take long for the clavamox to kick in.
 
Re: 11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat

You are checking glucose levels through urine sticks? It will be more accurate if you can test via the blood, and you won't have to pay the vet for each glucose check. (some charge as much as $25 a test) A Relion Confirm or Micro meter from Walmart is around $10 and a box of 50 test strips is $20. This will let you know his glucose levels at home.

There isn't a chance your kitty will have too low of blood sugar right now if he hasn't had insulin since Friday evening. With him not eating very well right now, I worry about electrolyte imbalances, a b vitamin deficiency, etc. Usually for kitties vets will recommend unflavored pedialyte, but even that has some sugar in it. Another option would be Smartwater - mineral enhanced water. Ultimately, I think the best bet would be getting food in him regularly. All these symptoms might be related to the UTI causing nausea and leading to him not eating. Once he is eating fairly well (or at least getting food in him regularly for a few days) - if he is still twitching, then you might want to run a few more tests in my opinion.
 
Re: 11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat

Hi Amy,

Try making some of the canned food soupy with water and feeding him with a syringe. If you can get some food in his stomach, that may also help with the naseau feelings caused by the clavamox. You can also try baby food like the chicken or lamb flavor. You may also need to add some water to these to make them soupy. It is important that you get some food into him even if you have to force feed him.

I also think that you should test his blood with a glucose meter. If he has not had insulin since Friday, combined with an infection, I would worry about his BG readings becoming too high instead of too low. That could lead to more issues such as DKA.

What city and state are you in? We may have members nearby that can show you how to hometest if you have problems.
 
Re: 11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat

Okey dokey. I was just at the vet and got an okay on some Pepcid... which seems to have production problems right now and everybody is out of it! Finally found a generic and got about 1/3 of a pill in him. (I think. He's back under the bed so if he spits it out I won't know for a bit.) Doc wants me to definitely get some food in him, but I think the Pepcid will have to kick in. Calder's starting to glare are me whenever I come around 'cause he thinks I'm going to tackle him and try to put something in his mouth again. As much as this cat loves me and lets me man handle him, he is sssstrong! I really don't know that I can syringe any food into his mouth. Time for some more observation I guess... I hear there's an injectible antibiotic that I can call the regular vet about in the morning. That might be easier on his stomach. Doc also said not to worry about insulin just yet. They will all be at the clinic until 7 a.m. so I can call if there are any changes.

Thanks for all the tips everybody. Glad to have some support. nailbite_smile
 
Re: 11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat

Kelly & Oscar, I just noticed you're in Bloomington! I grew up in Indy, but am now in Tennessee.
 
Re: 11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat

aedixon said:
Kelly & Oscar, I just noticed you're in Bloomington! I grew up in Indy, but am now in Tennessee.
Click to expand...

Small world! :-D

Many hear strongly dislike the injected antibiotic Covenia (a two week long acting antibiotic). It can cause anemia in cats, and actually is really only effective against skin infections. If your kitty has a bad reaction to it, there is no taking it back, unfortunately. The only injected antibiotic I personally would go for is a version of penicillin, and that is not long acting.

Have you tried the kitty burrito method when giving meds/food? Wrap kitty up in a large towel just like you would swaddle a baby. Keeps all the claws enclosed and you have more control over the situation.
 
Re: 11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat

YEAYYYYYYY!!!! Calder is taking sips from the tap!!!!

I was just about asleep on the couch when a noise startled me. It was a litter box sound, but Boo was laying right next me... So I jumped up to go see and there was Calder! First time he's come out of hiding on his own all day. Potty break didn't accomplish anything for him, but I picked him up and put him on the vanity counter and turned on the tap. He wanted the water but was hesitant. He's just taking little sips, but I am SO excited! I guess the Pepcid works! Hopefully he'll eat some soft food too. Doc says still no insulin yet. Too high for a little while is better than too low on the glucose. He gets another dose of clavamox tonight.

I know he still has to potty, but I'm so thrilled he's taking in water. I guess this is how parents feel about babies and their diaper changes. :mrgreen:
 
Re: 11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat

Can you get some ketone test strips (available at all pharmacys). Not eating plus infection plus not enough insulin is the recipe for ketones.
I hope your baby is eating and feeling a lot better this morning
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Re: 11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat

I will look into getting some test strips.

He followed me out of the bedroom this morning and is drinking at the tap again now. Poor baby seems so weak! But he fought that pepcid just now, so he's still got it. Dirty chin, I suspect he's eaten something too. :)
 
Re: 11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat

clavamox made my nondiabetic cat completely inappetant, so if the symptoms continue I'd switch to baytril or something else.

Syringe feeding watered down babyfood may be your solution to him not eating; he absolutely needs food in his system to avoid hepatic lipidosis, ketones, etc.

Jen
 
Re: 11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat

So good to hear that he is drinking on his own now! I would still try to give him some watered down food until he is eating normally again.

I strongly second the advice to pick up some ketostixs from your pharmacy as soon as possible at the very least. I personally think it is very important to test your kitty's glucose at home. I treat my Oscar like I would treat myself, and I would never inject insulin into myself without knowing my own glucose level. Not to mention that hometesting is cheaper and more accurate than testing at the vet under all that extra stress.

It is very good to know that the pepcid is working - now we have a pretty good idea that it was nausea causing a lot of issues. You are probably safe to remove the "911" from your first post now! (click "edit" on that post and you can change the icon used)

Keep us updated!
 
Re: 11 y/o diabetic cat w/urinary tract infection, won't eat

Hi, all! Seems like years ago when I posted this question about my sweet Calder! Just remembered I needed to post an update.

He is doing really really great. I really thought he wasn't going to make it, but I vowed to get him through all his doses of medication. The Pepcid helped him, but he soon learned how to avoid swallowing it. Tackling him twice a day for the Clavamox took enough of a toll on us, so I couldn't force him to take that pill. He started responding positively to food a couple days after his final dose of antibiotic. A few nights later he woke me up in the middle of the night by trying to jump up on the bed and not quite making it. His desire to sleep next to me was such a positive step! He little brother Boo started to help clean up his crusty chin and face. After a couple more days he was bathing himself and returned to the bright-eyed and shiny-furred boy that I know. He seems almost 100% now, though still skinny and his purr isn't up to the diesel engine level it was.

He never took to me trying to take a glucose level and the timing on the keytone strips has never been right either. I'm not giving him insulin and he's doing really really well. I'm pretty tuned into the little guy, so the ER vet isn't worried. We're due for a trip to our regular doc soon for an official glucose check... sedation and all. That's just the only my scaredy cat will tolerate it. Perhaps he'll make it official on remission from diabetes.

Thank you all for the support! Hopefully my kitties will be healthy and happy for many more years.
 
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