Help Frank to Eat

[Pace and Frank]

Since November 16th Frank has lost 3.5 pounds . We have been battling pancreatitis , possible IBD . 150ml of fluids weekly , B12 shot weekly. Throwing up , diaherria for the last few weeks. The only good thing is his BG is staying normal . Frank will not eat. Have tried tuna , chicken , treats , chicken broth over his wet FF , nothing. Friday 28th saw Vet and had an ultrasound done , looking for intestional lymphoma. Saw nothing to explain Franks weight loss , poor coat , no appetite , throwing up , diaherria. We decided to do surgery on Wednesday for the vet to see his liver , stomach , intestines , suspecting he could have cancer. Saturday Frank started azithromycin , could he have some infection we over looked.

Can anyone give knowledge about what could be going on with him. How can i get him to eat ? Suggestions on what to feed him ? I am so sad and worried.

Pace and Frank

 

[BJM]

He may need a feeding tube placed so you can get nutrition into him.

Have you been doing syringe feeding at all? Does he vomit that too?

Fortiflora? Yogurt?

Pancreatic enzymes (grasping @ a straw with that, but if pancreatitis, maybe insufficient enzymes to digest food properly?)

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

If your cat tested positive for pancreatitis, was he on pain meds (e.g., buprenorphine). Pancreatitis is very painful. Likewise, was he given an anti-nausea or anti-emetic for the vomiting (e.g., ondansatron or Cerenia)? Once the nausea and vomiting are controlled, an appetite stimulant can help. Pepsid can also be helpful.

With regard to the diarrhea, were any medications given? Often, vets will prescribe metronidazole to see if that helps with diarrhea.

This post on pancreatitis may be helpful.

 

[Jean and Charcoal]

How old is Frank?

Has he had his teeth checked out lately? The reason I ask, is that I have been on here posting about my Ketchie girl, who had a very abscessed tooth that the vet spotted the beginning of this month of December. I decided rather than put her down (she is 17 years old) I would let my vet take out her tooth, and see if it would buy her any more time.

It was not as rough as I thought, and she is now healed pretty well, but she still has late stage renal failure, and I have to give her fluids almost every day.

She has and had lost a considerable amount of weight and before I had her tooth taken out, she would not eat much of anything. I have her on Mirtazapine from the vet, to help stimulate her appetite, but I just wondered if you had tried that with Frank?

Ketchie's brother, Rudder, who was diabetic, with pancreatitis and IBD, died in July of 2009. My vet at the time said it was not worth doing surgery on him because it would only cause more pain, and sometimes cats like this have microscopic cancer in the intestines, that nothing can be done for anyway.

Are you talking about having Frank have surgery this Wednesday, Jan. 2? Do you feel comfortable with that decision and your vet operating on him?

I think, if Frank were my cat, I would have to weigh how old he is, and how many other chronic illnesses he is suffering from, before having exploratory surgery. If he does have microscopic intestinal cancer, there is not much that can be done anyhow, but that will have to be your decision.

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pe...estive-tract-intestinal-epithelial-tumors/253

Perhaps the site above might help give you some information pertaining to possible intestinal tumors.

I have lost more than one cat to intestinal cancer, and it is hard to see them suffer and not being able to eat is so sad.

My Ketchie is still hanging in there, but I think she has more going on inside than meets the eye. I am trying to make her comfortable at this point, and just take one day at a time. Please ask your vet, if you have not, for Buprenex to have on hand to give to Frank for pain. It helps Ketchie quite a bit.

Hope your Frank will feel better soon. It sure is hard on us as furbaby parents, and I understand what you are going through, as so many of us here do.

Best wishes,
Jean and Charcoal (GA)

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Since he is being anesthetized for the exploritory surgery get aa feeding tube inserted.

 

[Sandy and Brie]

I've been dealing with chronic pancreatits and probable IBD in Vandow for over 2 years and it has been difficult at times. He gets 100 ml of subq fluids on the days he's not eating well which has been every day lately. He takes zofran twice a day for nausea, pepcid once a day, prednisolone every other day and atenolol once a day for his heart. When he has bouts of diarrhea I start him back on flagyl. When his appetite really starts going downhill I also give him cerenia. Cerenia is not a med that can be given every day. I've been doing 4 days on and 2 days off. I also give him cyproheptadine that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. Vandow has been especially bad lately. We almost had him PTS Saturday and almost today. Today he seemed like maybe he was feeling better. When Frank has his surgery I agree it may be a good idea to have a feeding tube put in while he is already under anesthesia. With Vandow I just try all kinds of food. I've had luck in the past with solid gold tuna and Trader Joe's tuna. One thing may work one day and not another. I've tried all different brands too. Premium foods and the regular junky foods. I've had luck with Hills AD on occasion too. Luckily Vandow hardly ever has a problem with vomiting. I find that the cerenia works better for vomiting and the zofran is good for plain old nausea. I forgot to mention pain management is helpful as well. I use buprene. I usually feed my cats all wet food. One time when Vandow was hospitalized they gave him dry food at the vet. I also offer dry food different brands. With Frank being diabetic that makes feeding him the right food more difficult. Luckily Vandow is not diabetic. It's important that they eat. I guess you know about fatty liver. I know how hard this is. Yahoo has a good pancreatitis support group: I belong to feline pancreatitis support. There are two groups but that is the most active one.

Best of Luck
Sandy

 

[Sandy and Brie]

This is another thought. It sounds like Frank is really sick. I know this could be a catch 22 but what does your vet say about Frank having this major surgery? I would be worried about him making it through this procedure. I really feel bad for you and Frank.


Sandy