Calling vet back soon (help)

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scoobydoox

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Gizmo has been on lantus since tuesday. today he vomited 3 hours after injection and then 5min later after he ate a little food. I am trying not to end up with a 500.00 bill. could this be pancreas? do i just need nausea meds? should i have him run the bloodwork again at tomorrows appt? is there a specific test for pancreas? any help much appreciated before i call vet back in an hour
 
There's a specific test for pancreatitis called the Spec-fPL but the blood has to be drawn and sent to an IDEXX lab ...this test will diagnosis as well as give a reading on how bad it is

Some vets also have a Snap-fPL test that can be done in the office......the Snap will only tell you "yes or no" but not how bad it is
 
Chris & China said:
There's a specific test for pancreatitis called the Spec-fPL but the blood has to be drawn and sent to an IDEXX lab ...this test will diagnosis as well as give a reading on how bad it is

Some vets also have a Snap-fPL test that can be done in the office......the Snap will only tell you "yes or no" but not how bad it is
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any idea on how much these test cost? and the nausea meds price?
 
scoobydoox said:
Gizmo has been on lantus since tuesday. today he vomited 3 hours after injection and then 5min later after he ate a little food. I am trying not to end up with a 500.00 bill. could this be pancreas? do i just need nausea meds? should i have him run the bloodwork again at tomorrows appt? is there a specific test for pancreas? any help much appreciated before i call vet back in an hour
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There is a specific test but if they can run in house labs if amalayse and lipase are elevated it is likely pancreatitis -
I would ask the vet about giving some sub q fluids and if kitty is having vomit a shot of cerenia may be a better choice than a oral nausea pill and cerenia is more for vomit-
has vet called yet?
 
jayla-n-Drevon said:
There is a specific test but if they can run in house labs if amalayse and lipase are elevated it is likely pancreatitis -
I would ask the vet about giving some sub q fluids and if kitty is having vomit a shot of cerenia may be a better choice than a oral nausea pill and cerenia is more for vomit-
has vet called yet?
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i have to call him at 730 in an hour
 
cerenia injections is expensive--if vomit has stopped you can try the pill-ondanestron is for nausea and works very good but not as good for vomit as cerenia. You can give both--
a shot will probably be about 40$
I but it by the bottle (150$)
 
You may want to ask about supportive SQ fluids to have at home as diabetics tend to have pancreas issues....
They can show you how and usually kitty feels much better quickly....
How is the poop?
 
jayla-n-Drevon said:
You may want to ask about supportive SQ fluids to have at home as diabetics tend to have pancreas issues....
They can show you how and usually kitty feels much better quickly....
How is the poop?
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i had the subq fluids for him a couple years ago. it was normal with a little diarrhea at end today. how treatable is this? this vet isnt the brightest. i am pretty much calling the shots.
 
scoobydoox said:
i had the subq fluids for him a couple years ago. it was normal with a little diarrhea at end today. how treatable is this? this vet isnt the brightest. i am pretty much calling the shots.
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It is treatable--
If you are familiar with fluids I would talk to the vet and let her/him know you can do them at home. Pain management is the key-
I personally do not give a shot of cerenia unless I have recently given fluids because it burns-I inject it right into the fluids and it works just fine with no sting-- although others may disagree? If the vomit stops for a few hours or so (you judge) again if was my cat I would give 1-2 mg of ondanestron as needed (I give Rico every 6-12 hours depending on his appetite)
Very small meals... IF it is pancreatitis this is what I would do....I would work out a plan with your vet and hopefully the vet will be able to guide you.
Vomit and runny poop are signs of a flare up....
 
Ok the vet wants 180.00 to do the pancreas test, does that sound right? 75.00 for an x ray but he said he thinks its reflux that cats with pancreasitis dont want to eat. advice before i go spending money that ends up wasted
 
scoobydoox said:
Ok the vet wants 180.00 to do the pancreas test, does that sound right? 75.00 for an x ray but he said he thinks its reflux that cats with pancreasitis dont want to eat. advice before i go spending money that ends up wasted
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Well..... I am not a vet and I do not want to misguide you...
How is Scooby feeling?
Sorry Gizmo:bighug: I thought was "Scooby" :rolleyes:....
 
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scoobydoox said:
Ok the vet wants 180.00 to do the pancreas test, does that sound right? 75.00 for an x ray but he said he thinks its reflux that cats with pancreasitis dont want to eat. advice before i go spending money that ends up wasted
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I do not know what the "specific" test cost is but a whole blood panel is about 120$ and will show lipase and amalayse-(and a ton of other stuff-)
 
jayla-n-Drevon said:
I do not know what the "specific" test cost is but a whole blood panel is about 120$ and will show lipase and amalayse-(and a ton of other stuff-)
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I do know that not all cats refuse food with pancreatitis-ECID-
I was just reading the thread again--
I think I would do a full panel to see what everything is doing-
I am not sure I would do the specific test because I think I would treat it as aggressive as a mild flare-
Is he feeling any better?
I am going to tag @Wendy&Neko
 
Pepcid is not line.y to help with nausea unless it's from acid. Max usually becomes inappetent with a flare. I give him ondansetron in pill form. Cerenia comes in pills also. The shots can sting badly. Ondan is a human medication you get with a prescription from a pharmacy and is less expensive than cerenia. I don't know where you live but if in the US, use Good RX for prices. The 8mg pills are cheaper than the 4mg and both need to be cut. The treatment for pancreatitis is something for nausea, something for pain (buprenex only) and fluids. Sometimes flagyl is given if diarrhea persists. You could try this and not test for it. When was the last blood work done?
 
tiffmaxee said:
Pepcid is not line.y to help with nausea unless it's from acid. Max usually becomes inappetent with a flare. I give him ondansetron in pill form. Cerenia comes in pills also. The shots can sting badly. Ondan is a human medication you get with a prescription from a pharmacy and is less expensive than cerenia. I don't know where you live but if in the US, use Good RX for prices. The 8mg pills are cheaper than the 4mg and both need to be cut. The treatment for pancreatitis is something for nausea, something for pain (buprenex only) and fluids. Sometimes flagyl is given if diarrhea persists. You could try this and not test for it. When was the last blood work done?
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blood work was done last wed. this vet wants the tests done he blew off prescribing any pills for nausea. are any of those able to get without prescription for nausea?i live in the us
 
tiffmaxee said:
Darn vet. There is no reason to run more blood tests. Give supportive meds. This is going to sound off the wall but do you have a good relationship with your doctor? Could you get a prescription in your name for ondansetron? I don't know what over the counter would help. I'd be looking for a new vet. Did you get a copy of the labs?
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I cut my 4 mg onadestrom into 3 pieces and use for Rico.
 
Diego vomited a few times right after he started Lantus. No diarrhea and he continued to eat as normal. If Gizmo were mine I would keep monitoring him and if the vomiting/diarrhea continues much longer or gets worse, I'd bring him in. If he is eating normally, drinking normally and behaving normally then I would wait it out and see. No sense in worrying about pancreatitis unless he has been diagnosed with pancreatitis. If it were me I personally wouldn't even give anything for nausea unless Diego was blatantly uncomfortable and had repeated episodes of vomiting. Some things just sort themselves out naturally. Does his abdomen look distended to you? Is he sitting all scrunched up with his feet tucked under him?
 
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Your vet ain't great on this. This is a document he could do with reading:

IDEXX Pancreatitis Treatment Guidelines

It has all you need to know about pancreatitis treatments.

As well as the suggestions above from Elise a course of B12 injections can really help a great deal when pancreatitis is in play. (At a push even a single dose might help a bit.)

Further info on nausea, vomiting and treatments for same can be found here.

For info, Saoirse had an ultrasound done as part of the diagnostics for her pancreas issues, not an X-ray. With regard to the testing, the SNAP fPL will give you a yes/no result. The Spec fPL will give you a quantative result to indicate severity. It is useful to have series of Spec fPL tests done to assess treatment efficacy but, to the best of my knowledge and experience, the value of the Spec fPL in no way changes the treatments that would be needed for the pancreatitis and, as such, the Spec fPL could be considered a 'nice to have' test, not a 'need to have' one - something to consider if working to a tight budget.


Mogs
.
 
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ja9390 said:
Diego vomited a few times right after he started Lantus. No diarrhea and he continued to eat as normal. If Gizmo were mine I would keep monitoring him and if the vomiting/diarrhea continues much longer or gets worse, I'd bring him in. If he is eating normally, drinking normally and behaving normally then I would wait it out and see. No sense in worrying about pancreatitis unless he has been diagnosed with pancreatitis. If it were me I personally wouldn't even give anything for nausea unless Diego was blatantly uncomfortable and had repeated episodes of vomiting. Some things just sort themselves out naturally. Does his abdomen look distended to you? Is he sitting all scrunched up with his feet tucked under him?
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No he wasn't he was laying on the bed.
 
tiffmaxee said:
Darn vet. There is no reason to run more blood tests. Give supportive meds. This is going to sound off the wall but do you have a good relationship with your doctor? Could you get a prescription in your name for ondansetron? I don't know what over the counter would help. I'd be looking for a new vet. Did you get a copy of the labs?
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This vet is a partner of the vet i normally use but is to busy. Honestly the place has gone downhill. It's dirty in spots. The computer and stuff are down again for second time. If you read in my other thread i've gone through a lot of bullshit this place. I dont have a copy of the labs but they told me i could get it if needed. I tried to get him to do the supportive meds but he wants those tests and thats another 300.00 which im not doing. I already paid close to 500.00 there and had bloodwork done twice. Still no lantus script.
 
If you get Pepcid you need to cut the 10mg tab into four pieces and only give one quarter of a tablet. It's bitter and can burn the esophagus, so send it down with a sizable water chaser, using an eyedropper or syringe.

Only 1/4 of a tablet.
 
Critter Mom said:
Your vet ain't great on this. This is a document he could do with reading:

IDEXX Pancreatitis Treatment Guidelines

It has all you need to know about pancreatitis treatments.

As well as the suggestions above from Elise a course of B12 injections can really help a great deal when pancreatitis is in play. (At a push even a single dose might help a bit.)

Further info on nausea, vomiting and treatments for same can be found here.

For info, Saoirse had an ultrasound done as part of the diagnostics for her pancreas issues, not an X-ray. With regard to the testing, the SNAP fPL will give you a yes/no result. The Spec fPL will give you a quantative result to indicate severity. It is useful to have series of Spec fPL tests done to assess treatment efficacy but, to the best of my knowledge and experience the value of the Spec fPL in no way changes the treatments that would be needed to treat the pancreatitis and, as such, the Spec fPL could be considered a 'nice to have' test, not a 'need to have' one - something to consider if working to a tight budget.


Mogs
.
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you hit the nail on the head with the vet. thanks for the links. i am looking for a new one. im not paying him 300.00 for a yes no answer.
 
Jeanne & Dottie said:
If you get Pepcid you need to cut the 10mg tab into four pieces and only give one quarter of a tablet. It's bitter and can burn the esophagus, so send it down with a sizable water chaser, using an eyedropper or syringe.

Only 1/4 of a tablet.
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I put the 1/4 pepcid in a capsule:cat:
 
A good idea! :)I read Larry's notation on the capsules a while back, and have ordered some gel capsules only this past week, but they haven't arrived yet. Hence the wet chaser. :cat: I'll probably keep on giving the chaser, even with a capsule. I hate taking dry pills, so I know the kitties must appreciate the extra wetness.
 
scoobydoox said:
you hit the nail on the head with the vet. thanks for the links. i am looking for a new one. im not paying him 300.00 for a yes no answer.
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Asked our vets for a statement today. The SNAP fPL test I got done for my civvie recently was GBP 26.26, consultation fee was GBP 29.56 (both inclusive of VAT - UK sales tax).

Happy hunting for a better vetty bean.


Mogs
.
 
Jeanne & Dottie said:
A good idea! :)I read Larry's notation on the capsules a while back, and have ordered some gel capsules only this past week, but they haven't arrived yet. Hence the wet chaser. :cat: I'll probably keep on giving the chaser, even with a capsule. I hate taking dry pills, so I know the kitties must appreciate the extra wetness.
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I use the size 5 capsule for the pepcid (is tiny) and put a very thin touch of butter on it --slides right down:bighug:
 
This what I paid on the 9th for Smokey. 1st my vet didn't think he had pancreatitis because the test he did was normal. I pushed for further. So he referred me to ER (he didn't think his office woould get clear enough image) for ultrasound $300. To rule out gallbladder and kidney stones. Consult with them $150. They drew the GI panel to send out $200. They drew UA to rule out bacterial overgrowth $194. They gave him B12 injection in case it was mal absorption until results came in $13. Then the supportive meds to take home, and novel protein food for possible IBD.

Final results was acute pancreatitis no IBD.

Follow appt was $345 and took longer than ultrasound day. I had them do the IAA and acro test. Still waiting on results.

Thank goodness for Care Credit. I know what we are dealing with now so it is worth it. Now just have to work out the best regimen for him.
 
I'd post on the main forum asking for a vet near you. You can also put it in the subject box here. I may have told you I have been dealing with chronic pancreatitis since 2006. I always have ondansetron on hand. I just read a post by a experienced vet that it only lasts a few hours. I thought it worked for 8 hours. He said a 13 pound cat would need 3-6mg three times a day. For cerenia he says 13mg once a day so 1mg per pound. That's quite a bit less than my vet says.
 
tiffmaxee said:
I'd post on the main forum asking for a vet near you. You can also put it in the subject box here. I may have told you I have been dealing with chronic pancreatitis since 2006. I always have ondansetron on hand. I just read a post by a experienced vet that it only lasts a few hours. I thought it worked for 8 hours. He said a 13 pound cat would need 3-6mg three times a day. For cerenia he says 13mg once a day so 1mg per pound. That's quite a bit less than my vet says.
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which is the main forum?
 
scoobydoox said:
Ok the vet wants 180.00 to do the pancreas test, does that sound right? 75.00 for an x ray
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What test is he doing? Is he sending out for a fPLI or running some in-house test? I think the $180 is high, I thought it was only like $40 the last time I had a fPLI done, but you want to make sure it is the right test and not just some in-house bloodwork that isn't going to REALLY tell you something. Chem panel #s do not conclusively diagnose pancreatitis. $75 is pretty cheap for an xray. But it is also pretty useless in diagnosing pancreatitis, you need an ultrasound that can see soft tissue.

A lot of things can say that it might be pancreatitis without getting a definitive anser and the vet can treat based on a might be because the treatment is all supportive - nausea meds, pan meds, fluids if needed. If it helps, it helps, if it doesn't it doesn't hurt anything.
 
it would of been the snap -fpl it gets sent out and takes 3 days. i am calling around to other vets and trying to get one that is better. im not paying 300.00 for two tests when i already had bloodwork done twice. when i tried to get him on board for the supportive treatment he wasnt agreeing.
 
scoobydoox said:
it would of been the snap -fpl it gets sent out and takes 3 days. i am calling around to other vets and trying to get one that is better. im not paying 300.00 for two tests when i already had bloodwork done twice. when i tried to get him on board for the supportive treatment he wasnt agreeing.
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Good for you--you have tons of support so do not let them bully you-:stop:
Pancreas issues are very common in cats and go undetected because they do not show symptoms like a dog. Often by the time the BW is done the levels have come down which ,makes it more complicated.:confused:

Cats with FD are especially susecptible due to a already weak pancreas.(or even just nausea) Your vet should want you to be prepared for Gizmo.
Many of us have gone thru vet after vet to find one that "gets it" when you go in with the knowledge you have they tend to treat you a bit differently.
I hope Gizmo has a good day and you can get the supportive care you need to have handy...:bighug::bighug:
 
The SNAP is an in house test and just gives a negative ir pisitive likely result. Tge Spec fPL gives a number. Over 3.5 is likely pancreatitis. Max has been over 50 at times.
 
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