9/26 Tableau Update

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ehsuan

ehsuan

Member Since 2011
Good morning everyone. I hope you and your beloved cat friends are doing well!

Just wanted to give an update on Tableau. Sure, enough, he seems a little better this a.m.

Yesterday afternoon I gave him pepcid AC and that seemed to help. He seems to have a few bites/licks of food and then stops for a while and just looks at it. Then he tries again. Seems very consistent with nausea.

I don't think I mentioned that my other cat, Daisy, is having an IBD flare up so is not eating much either. She started meds on Sat., so will probably be feeling better shortly.

Last night when I went to bed I left out 4 bowls of food - 2 of different kinds of canned food, 1 baby food, and 1 raw food (their usual diet.) By this morning, both the baby food and raw were completely gone, the commercial foods left untouched. Glad they are at least more attracted to the healthy stuff!

This morning they were both in the basement (not usual for them). But I was able to coax them both up to the kitchen for a little food. They both ate a little, not a lot, but I left it out and will go home around 1 to check on their progress.

Tableau ate a bit of both the raw and the baby food. I gave him his meds spread out over the course of an hour, so as to not upset his tummy more. He was sneaky, though. found the first two pills spit out a little later on the floor by the food, so I had to give them to him again. Almost fooled me!!!

I gave him the once every three days appetite stimulant, instead of the every day one, because I know it is also good for nausea.

He seemed bright eyed. I was glad to see him up, as opposed to finding him hunched up by the kitchen door like he has been lately. He even let me scratch under his ears and chin and he seemed to enjoy it.

My regular vet is not in today, but I've put in a call to her colleagues to see if one of them will write a scrip for the Ondansetron or Dolasetron.

I'll update his BG chart later today, but not really focused on the diabetes at the moment.

Thanks again for all the wonderful support and ideas - you are all so generous!!!
 
Hi guys .. thanks for the update! I'm glad to read that tableau is a little more awake today .. that surely is a good sign! Give him scritches from us!
 
Hello Emily! Great to hear that Tableau is perking up somewhat and eating something. Definitely request Ondansetron. When Tarragon had his pancreatitis a few weeks ago, it was the only thing that really helped. It was the same situation. He would lick it a few times and you could tell he really wanted to eat but just couldn't. The nausea definitely was what was wrong.

Good luck and keep us posted!!
 
Good luck with the antinausea meds. I really think you should hold off on another appetite stimulant until you have the nausea addressed. It would be like giving you one with the flu. Sure you'd want to eat the chicken soup but how well would you feel afterwards. You know Tableau best though. Really push for the meds. And you might want to call around to pharmacies now and get their pricing. Mom and Pop shops might sell it for less. Walgreens I think is $3 a pill (4 doses in a 4mg pill). Thrivingpets online sells it for $1 a pill and may be able to expedite shipment. I'm in Canada and they don't ship here so I'm not sure.

Wishing for continued improvement. Sending you hugs.
 
Hi Emily - thanks for the update! So glad to hear Tableau is doing better. I am always amazed at the great suggestions and depth of knowledge of LL.
Liz
 
Ok. The vet is calling in a scrip for Ondansetron. They said it needed to be compounded since the dose is so small...Hmmm. Whatever. I'm hoping I'll have it in my hands later today, tomorrow at the latest.

They wanted to give me a dif pain med they said was "just as good>" - celenia? Selenia??? Not sure what they said. I insisted on the ondansetron, though, since I've heard from so many of you that it's the way to go. Hopefully my little boy will be feeling better soon.

Thank you for all the info. You are such an amazing resource!
 
Can you call them back and ask if they can prescribe the 4mg pills? I think when they compound it it has sugar in it doesn't it? The 4mg pills can be called into a human pharmacy and can be cut using a pill splitter. They may think its only sold in 8 or 16mg pills.
 
I spoke with them and they are prescribing about half the dose that it sounds like you used, Karrie (.75 mg). THey said it's too small a dose even to use the 4 mg pills. Keep in mind, Tableau is only 7.5 lbs at this point. I don't know if that makes a difference, or if they have, in fact, underprescribed.
 
You could have done 1mg but .75 is fine too. Not sure how they compound it - what effect it will have on BG. Others can help you with this I'm sure. I know Marjorie's Teddi is 5.5 pounds and she went with a lower dose. You can always give more if you need to also. Ondansetron has a wide dosing range in the plumbs guide. Good luck with it!!!! I bet you'll see a difference.
 
It depends on the underlying cause of the nausea. Claudia's Rocket has been on it for a while - 3 years due to CRF. She said it can cause a bit of drowsiness but it goes away as they start feeling better. Maverick was only on it for a couple of weeks. He had a feeding tube and even though his blood work was normal he would race me to his food room, but just lick or smell and walk away. Each time I thought he was going to eat on his own. But if there is underlying liver disease, or an issue that is causing the nausea its needs to be given until nausea is gone.
 
ehsuan said:
Ok. The vet is calling in a scrip for Ondansetron. They said it needed to be compounded since the dose is so small...Hmmm. Whatever. I'm hoping I'll have it in my hands later today, tomorrow at the latest.

They wanted to give me a dif pain med they said was "just as good>" - celenia? Selenia??? Not sure what they said. I insisted on the ondansetron, though, since I've heard from so many of you that it's the way to go. Hopefully my little boy will be feeling better soon.

Thank you for all the info. You are such an amazing resource!
Click to expand...

Hi Emily - Found your post from the one on Health. I must warn you - I tried compounded ondansetron for Harley and it is VERY bitter tasting. Even masking it with chicken flavor didn't help. You might have better luck with the pills or with the injectible version.

Laura
 
Well, I've already got the scrip in and I'm going to try it. If he won't take the liquid I'll pester the vet to revise the scrip for pills.

Good news - I just got back from home and again, all the chicken and baby food was gone. Tableau had a "meat mustache" (like a milk mustache, only with meat!). I fed more and he started eating right away. Had to rush off so don't know how much he ate, but it does seem that he is improving.
 
ehsuan said:
I spoke with them and they are prescribing about half the dose that it sounds like you used, Karrie (.75 mg). THey said it's too small a dose even to use the 4 mg pills. Keep in mind, Tableau is only 7.5 lbs at this point. I don't know if that makes a difference, or if they have, in fact, underprescribed.
Click to expand...

I am just chiming in with my experience, though Karrie is the nausea expert here ;-)

I buy the 4 mg Ondansetron tablets and give 1/4 pill twice daily (my cat weighs about 9 pounds). I started with 1/8 tablet, but then increased as it wasn't having an effect. It is tricky, but possible, to cut the pill into eighths. These are tiny pieces that can be very easily hidden in a treat.

My kitty also responds well to Cerenia. I tend to give the Ondansetron longer term, and then supplement with two or three injections of Cerenia (given once daily) for acute flare ups. It is acceptable to layer the two drugs, if your vet is willing to consider that. Most vets prefer to give Cerenia themselves rather than send the injections home. I believe it is also available in pills, but I have not used the pill form.

I love the meat moustache!
 
Sending tons of wonderful thoughts and healing vines for Tableau, and continuing my wish for him to make a full a speedy recovery. {{{{{ehsuan & Tableau}}}}} I'm glad to hear that he's doing better, but you folks still need more healing vines and good thoughts, just because. :smile:
 
Thanks, Angela. Yes, even though he's "better" he's by no means out of the woods. We will have to see how the next few days go. nailbite_smile
 
I'm glad to hear that your little guy is feeling a little better.
Sending more eating
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vines to your boy.
 
what Karrie mentioned....Rocket has been on it for 3 yrs due to his CRF....he gets 1/4 pill (1 mg) twice a day....along with pepcid ac (1/4 pill of the 10 mg) also twice a day....yes...ondansetron is Rx based on the weight of the cat but it does have room to give higher doses....so Linda is also right 1/8 pill to start will be ok...

glad to know Tableau ate for you today....those are the victories we like to hear about....

though Tableau has eaten please do not discontinue the ondansetron.....it will help in the long run....even if you give it for a few days.....this will jump start Tableau's appetite hopefully back to normal

good luck
 
Dyana - thanks for the cute video. That's what we like to see - kitties eating their dindin!

THanks for the hugs, Angela. I have to admit, this weekend was awful. However, I'm guardedly optimistic. The little fella has surprised me before. I remember feeling completely overwhelmed when Tableau was first diagnosed with diabetes...then again when he had cancer...then again when his diabetes returned...so it's another hurdle to overcome, but we've done it before. So we'll keep plugging away!
 
Loved reading about the meat mustache. That made me smile. Wishing for many good days ahead. Just love him and kiss him and take no days for granted. You know that already after what you've been through.
 
Hi Emily, We are so happy to hear that your boy is eating. Keep up the good work, Tableau! And good luck with the anti-nausea meds. I'm sure that they will help.

Hugs and lots of healing vines,

Ella & Rusty
 
I'm so glad to hear the good report. "meat mustache" - that's cute. Continuing to send healing energy to Tableau and you.
Liz
 
Emily

I'm glad to hear that Tableau ate for you and is feeling a little better.

I got the 4mg tabs of ondanestron for Teddi. I used a pill splitter to cut them into fourths and then bought a pair of toenail clippers and used it to cut the fourths into eighths as Teddi is pretty little. I then put the eighth into a pill pocket for her....it's just a little chunk. My vet doesn't want her to have more than that right now and it seems to be working.

Good luck....I hope that helps. And I agree with the others regarding the cerenia. Ondanestron is your best bet for daily use.

Sending Tableau healing vines.
 
great news on tableau! i love the meat mustache image! what a sweetie. just sending a little late night encouragement to you - i know it's wearing to be up and down emotionally like that. hope tomorrow finds both kitters feeling better!
 
ehsuan said:
Tableau had a "meat mustache" (like a milk mustache, only with meat!).
Click to expand...

:lol: :lol: :lol: That is one of the CUTEST mental images i've ever seen!!!

and even more charming due to the fact that it indicates some improvement for Mr T...
 
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