Help needed— sick cat (not diabetes related)

[Kiera]

Hi everyone!

Bailey has been in remission for over a year. So this may not be the right place, but I’m very worried about my cat.

I remember how wonderful everybody here was and hoped I could get help again.

It started in January when Bailey got an injection of Solencia for his arthritis. Immediately after, he had stomach issues. Not eating much for the first few days and some diarrhea for the rest of the month. The next month, we did another injection, hoping the symptoms would resolve, but they did not. His diarrhea got worse. We stopped the Solencia. His last injection was Feb. 22.
The medicine lasts 30 days.

For the past month, he has had non-stop diarrhea. The vet said it’s not likely the Solencia since the symptoms have continued long after the medicine has been out of his system. That it was probably a coincidence and something else was wrong.

He has only thrown up 2 times this month, but each time there was a lot of yellow liquid.

He had blood work done in January before we gave the Solencia. I had his blood work done again because over the weekend because of his diarrhea and the fact that he seems to not be feeling good. His other symptoms are: sleeping more, increased appetite and he’s been a lot more vocal (whining— the way he does for attention).

Based on the recent blood test results, the vet says there’s obviously some type of infection and inflammation, but they don’t know what. So once again, I spent a ton of money and I have no answers and no idea what I’m supposed to do. The vet suggested doing an ultra sound for $1,000– but warned me it may not provide any answers. The vet said his back teeth should prob be removed as well. But I’m trying to deal with one problem at a time.

I don’t understand the test results. I am attaching the results from January as well as this past week. Does anybody have any idea on what could be going on or what I can do to help him? I’m very worried. He seems to be crying for help and just looks unwell— I don’t know how to help him!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

results from 4/8:

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Based on the recent blood test results, the vet says there’s obviously some type of infection and inflammation, but they don’t know what.

It would be worth putting Bailey on a broad spectrum antibiotic such as Baytril, Zeniquin, Clavamox (maybe want to avoid Clavamox if he's already having GI problems) if the vet believes that there is infection/inflammation. Then you could recheck the CBC portion of the bloodwork after the course of antibiotics is finished to see if his numbers have come back down. Can't hurt and may help -- it's worth a try. The overall WBC is not elevated, but I do see that the neutrophils and a few other of the leukocytes are elevated. The Albumin is elevated probably indicating some mild dehydration (from vomiting and/or diarrhea.) That is probably also what raised his BUN to just being out of range. The Creatinine is still okay and so is SDMA so I doubt if it's kidney failure.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I am having a really hard time seeing the new bloodwork. It is extremely blurry when I blow it up a tiny bit. I switched to my laptop from my phone... but it's still very hard to read the text.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

In addition, the teeth being bad could also be causing some of the blood results you are seeing. If the vet feels this could be the source of the problem, then you might try a course of Antirobe (Clindamycin) for the mouth. Also, if he has infection/inflammation, I would test glucose at home to make sure those numbers are not creeping up as they can from illness like that. If his glucose is higher then that may account for sleeping more, increased appetite, etc.

That seems like a crazy high price for an ultrasound. Where do you live? I can get an abdominal ultrasound done for about $350.00. I even take my cat with heart disease to a cardiolggist at Blue Pearl Specailty Hospital and the initial consult with cardiac ultrasound and a detailed report was $799.00 the second time it was about $450.00. I'm just sorry to see you being quoted such a very high price.

Did you try Bailey on a course of Metronidazole for the constant diarrhea. A lot of times cats will respond to Metro because of the anti-inflammatory (as well as antibiotic/anti-protazoal) properties. What about stool testing. I don't mean the in vet office tests for parasites, but the stool testing that is done to check for other maladies (also somewhat pricey, sorry.) Also, ask your vet about doing a GI panel (like the Texas A&M GI panel) that can kind of point the vet in the right direction about whether you are dealing with intestinal disease and if so, what kind.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

With regard to the stool testing.... as an example, I had a cat with constant diarrhea and we sent the stool out for testing and found he had Clostridium Perfringens Alpha Toxin. This is treated with a drug called Tylosin. If I hadn't done the stool testing, I never would have known this or been able to help him.

I know I've thrown a lot out there. I'm just trying to think of a lot of possibilities. There area a few things you may want to try (especially low cost things like antibiotics) prior to opting for an ultrasound.

Have you tried giving S. Boulardii to see if it will help with the diarrhea. Some people have a lot of luck with it. I am currently giving it to my heart girl and I don't think it's helping, but I believe it's her heart meds causing the diarrhea, and she can't live without them so we are in a bad place. She has diarrhea every day so I totally can understand how it is with Bailey.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

The only thing recently that has actually helped firm up Ginger’s stool is Pro-Pectalin paste. She hates me giving it to her, but it actually help her stool to not be complete liquid. This morning, it actually had shape. This is just a symptom treatment and won’t get to the root cause of Bailey’s diarrhea, but I was just thinking of you and thought I would check back to see if you had replied— and I remembered what I gave Ginger last night and this morning— the Pro Pectalin — and thought I would mention it.

Regarding eating, if the vet will give you some Cerenia to give at home then I would recommend trying a small dose of Mirataz appetite stimulant (trans dermal applied to the inner ear.). Start small in dose and frequency or your cat may go cuckoo! Also, do you have any Forti-Flora packets to sprinkle small amounts on top as an appetite enhancer? It works well for many cats.

 

[Kiera]

I am having a really hard time seeing the new bloodwork. It is extremely blurry when I blow it up a tiny bit. I switched to my laptop from my phone... but it's still very hard to read the text.

Ok let me try to re-post

 

[Kiera]

It would be worth putting Bailey on a broad spectrum antibiotic such as Baytril, Zeniquin, Clavamox (maybe want to avoid Clavamox if he's already having GI problems) if the vet believes that there is infection/inflammation. Then you could recheck the CBC portion of the bloodwork after the course of antibiotics is finished to see if his numbers have come back down. Can't hurt and may help -- it's worth a try. The overall WBC is not elevated, but I do see that the neutrophils and a few other of the leukocytes are elevated. The Albumin is elevated probably indicating some mild dehydration (from vomiting and/or diarrhea.) That is probably also what raised his BUN to just being out of range. The Creatinine is still okay and so is SDMA so I doubt if it's kidney failure.

Sorry, I haven’t had a chance to read all of your posts. I will do that next. It’s all a foreign topic to me so I need to go through it one small piece at a time.
I just wanted to say thank you so much for your replies and help! I’m very grateful. You took so much time and it means the world to me. Thank you!

I gave a stool sample but they only checked for worms and parasites. The vet didn’t think doing more tests on the stool was necessary. I thought it should have been tested for bacteria though. Should I tell them I want it tested regardless of what they think?

I brought in a urine sample Thursday and was told yesterday that they found a good amount of blood in the urine and some crystals. They told me I had to do an X-ray to determine if he had stones or crystals. So I brought him back in and paid another $450 and they found nothing.
Again, a lot of money and still no answers. Only more concerns.

I think you were looking at the old test results which weren’t bad like the most recent ones. I don’t actually know how bad they are because my vet is horrible at explaining things.

After the X-ray found nothing, my vet wanted to give him Covencia (spelling?). It’s an antibiotic injection that last for weeks. I denied it though because I didn’t like the idea of doing something I couldn’t un-do with potential side effects that could last weeks. My vet told me he’s never seen side effects and told me I was making a mistake. Do you agree? I’ve been questioning it ever since.

He hesitantly gave me veraflox instead. It’s a liquid. Have you ever heard of it?
Truthfully, I’m not even sure why we are giving an antibiotic. I’m worried about his test results and the blood in his urine. I don’t know what to feed him. I just feel so bad for him and my vet gave me way more questions than answers after spending so much money. I’m out a grand and my cat is still suffering.

I’m just very upset and frustrated. Let me try to re-post the test results now. Then I can carefully read your replies.
Thank you soooooo much again!!! You have no idea how much I appreciate you!

 

[Kiera]

I am having a really hard time seeing the new bloodwork. It is extremely blurry when I blow it up a tiny bit. I switched to my laptop from my phone... but it's still very hard to read the text.

You are so smart by the way! All of this stuff is so confusing to me and I don’t understand any of it…
Is this better? Otherwise. I can just type them up so you can see the results.

View attachment 66692

 

[Kiera]

In addition, the teeth being bad could also be causing some of the blood results you are seeing. If the vet feels this could be the source of the problem, then you might try a course of Antirobe (Clindamycin) for the mouth. Also, if he has infection/inflammation, I would test glucose at home to make sure those numbers are not creeping up as they can from illness like that. If his glucose is higher then that may account for sleeping more, increased appetite, etc.

That seems like a crazy high price for an ultrasound. Where do you live? I can get an abdominal ultrasound done for about $350.00. I even take my cat with heart disease to a cardiolggist at Blue Pearl Specailty Hospital and the initial consult with cardiac ultrasound and a detailed report was $799.00 the second time it was about $450.00. I'm just sorry to see you being quoted such a very high price.

Did you try Bailey on a course of Metronidazole for the constant diarrhea. A lot of times cats will respond to Metro because of the anti-inflammatory (as well as antibiotic/anti-protazoal) properties. What about stool testing. I don't mean the in vet office tests for parasites, but the stool testing that is done to check for other maladies (also somewhat pricey, sorry.) Also, ask your vet about doing a GI panel (like the Texas A&M GI panel) that can kind of point the vet in the right direction about whether you are dealing with intestinal disease and if so, what kind.

If you are able to see the new results, please let me know what they mean (if you don’t mind). I’m so worried and feeling like there’s something I should be doing that I’m not. My guilt is already overwhelming. I had another cat die unexpectedly a few weeks ago. He suffered from IBD most of his life. So I may have missed the symptoms since his issues were on-going. I didn’t see any warning signs. No new symptoms anyway. But I probably wasn’t looking close enough. Feeling like it’s my fault and don’t want to make the same mistake twice.
The stress of that may be making things worse for my cat. They weren’t very close but still a part of each others lives. They were in the room together and I found them when it was too late. So the death occurred right in front of Bailey. It was the most horrible experience of my life. It looked like he had just fallen over/collapsed and died with his mouth and eyes open. The poor thing! I wish I was there for him. Our recent vet visit didn’t indicate any problem other than the IBD and associated issues we were already aware of— never able to resolve despite every medicine and diet we tried. His test results were otherwise normal. But he died before his time anyway.
It’s weird that now Bailey, who never had any GI issues is all of the sudden having them too. I was worried it was something contagious but my vet didn’t think so.
My 2 (now sadly 1) cats have never been outside. Never escape or get into the garage. I live in a 2nd floor condo so no basement or access to mice or anything. Never around other cats. But still. It’s worrisome. They believe his death was because of the toll IBD took on his body over many years. The strain it put on his organs. I tried so hard to help him. But it wasn’t enough

 

[Kiera]

In addition, the teeth being bad could also be causing some of the blood results you are seeing. If the vet feels this could be the source of the problem, then you might try a course of Antirobe (Clindamycin) for the mouth. Also, if he has infection/inflammation, I would test glucose at home to make sure those numbers are not creeping up as they can from illness like that. If his glucose is higher then that may account for sleeping more, increased appetite, etc.

That seems like a crazy high price for an ultrasound. Where do you live? I can get an abdominal ultrasound done for about $350.00. I even take my cat with heart disease to a cardiolggist at Blue Pearl Specailty Hospital and the initial consult with cardiac ultrasound and a detailed report was $799.00 the second time it was about $450.00. I'm just sorry to see you being quoted such a very high price.

Did you try Bailey on a course of Metronidazole for the constant diarrhea. A lot of times cats will respond to Metro because of the anti-inflammatory (as well as antibiotic/anti-protazoal) properties. What about stool testing. I don't mean the in vet office tests for parasites, but the stool testing that is done to check for other maladies (also somewhat pricey, sorry.) Also, ask your vet about doing a GI panel (like the Texas A&M GI panel) that can kind of point the vet in the right direction about whether you are dealing with intestinal disease and if so, what kind.

Never tried metro. Should I ask for it? I’ve never heard of S. Boulardii. Is that something the vet would prescribe?
I was given pro-pectalin gel after our first visit. However, I didn’t notice any improvement after a couple days so the vet told me to stop. Maybe I need to give it more time.
I appreciate all the information! What do you think my next steps should be? The vet doesn’t know what’s causing the blood in his urine. Or the blood results. You have been a bigger help.

I guess I can see what happens after the antibiotic. But if it doesnt help, I’m really not sure what to do next. I don’t know if I’m dealing with kidney disease and liver disease or something else that’s causing his numbers to look that way. My vet is less than helpful. The blood in his urine is really worrying me too. Feeling overwhelmed and so unsure

 

[Kiera]

Another odd thing I’ve been noticing for awhile now—
My cat will be asleep, then he wakes up suddenly and jolts out of the spot he was in. Many times he goes to the water dish or food bowl. This week it’s getting stranger. After it happens, he has been going to lay on the hard floor, which isn’t normal for him.

He has always liked to sleep in a ball. But he’s been laying on the hard floor completely un-curled. Thinking it might be pain related? The Solencia was supposed to help him with arthritis pain. After all these GI issues started (immediately after getting the injection)— I’m very hesitant to give it to him again.

Granted, 2 different vets have told me whatever is going on with him isn’t the result of the Solencia. Plus, when he was on it, he jumped up on the kitchen counters for the first time in years. So being able to resume treatment to relive his pain would be awesome. However, my gut is still telling me the Solencia caused his recent problems. For example, maybe he is having side effects from a side effect of the drug. If that makes any sense at all? It’s such a new drug that I can’t find anything to validate my claim. My gut could definitely be wrong. But it bothers me when the vets dismiss the idea altogether because they couldn’t possibly know all the potential risks for something so new. Right?

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

S. boulardii is a specific type of probiotic. You can order it online through Amazon. Jarrow's or ReNew are good brands. It is very effective at managing diarrhea. It is not prescription. You would start with about 1/4 to 1/3 of a capsule for a couple of days and gradually increase.

I'm not sure I would agree that what you're seeing isn't a side effect/adverse reaction to Solensia. Among the more common reactions are diarrhea and vomiting. About 7% of cats in the treatment group developed diarrhea. It's certainly possible that there was some undiagnosed GI problem that was present before the Solensia and the drug aggravated the condition.

Is there any chance you're near a vet school? It may be worth a consultation especially if they have a veterinary pharmacist you could speak with. Cornell's vet school does do consultations so that may be an option.

 

[Pixie's Mom]

Similar to others, I would recommend you ask for an antibiotic to get started. You could try the Liquid anti-diarrhea medicine usually found at Petco/Petsmart as well. I was told by a previous vet years ago that you always need antibiotic after diarrhea starts becausesince cats clean themselves it is a never ending circle. With my cats at the time, vet recommended antibiotic and remove all normal food for 3 days. They could have bland diet (boiled chicken/rice) or a small amount of protein only baby food. For my two at the time that worked. Good luck.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Veraflox is (Pradofloxacin) is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic and belongs to the class of quinoline carboxylic acid derivatives. Baytril is also a quinoline antibiotic.

 

[Kiera]

Similar to others, I would recommend you ask for an antibiotic to get started. You could try the Liquid anti-diarrhea medicine usually found at Petco/Petsmart as well. I was told by a previous vet years ago that you always need antibiotic after diarrhea starts becausesince cats clean themselves it is a never ending circle. With my cats at the time, vet recommended antibiotic and remove all normal food for 3 days. They could have bland diet (boiled chicken/rice) or a small amount of protein only baby food. For my two at the time that worked. Good luck.

He prescribed veraflox. It has been 3 days and no improvement yet…. It’s only a week long treatment. So I’m concerned it’s not the right medicine. His diarrhea remains really bad. He’s licking a lot and crying for about an hour prior to going into the litter box. I feel so bad for him. I’ve been to the vet twice and done all the tests but I have no answers or idea how to help him.

should I do the convencia shot like the vet wanted??

I should prob stop feeding the low carb fancy feast and focus on the problem at hand. But I have no idea where to start. The vet suggested a prescription diet but I remember how high in carbs those all were. I don’t trust those.

Plus, this seems like something much more serious than a diet-related issue. His white blood counts have significantly changed in just a couple months. It seems very drastic to me. There’s blood in his urine. I’m worried sick.

feeling hopeless right now…
I don’t know where to go for help when the vet seems completely clueless. I’ve been to many vets in the area during the diabetes and they all gave me opposite advice of what I was told on this forum. So I know they are all horrible.

what would you guys do if it was your cat? What medicine should I ask for?

 

[Kiera]

Veraflox is (Pradofloxacin) is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic and belongs to the class of quinoline carboxylic acid derivatives. Baytril is also a quinoline antibiotic.

Is it a good medicine? Do you think it’s the right one?

 

[Kiera]

S. boulardii is a specific type of probiotic. You can order it online through Amazon. Jarrow's or ReNew are good brands. It is very effective at managing diarrhea. It is not prescription. You would start with about 1/4 to 1/3 of a capsule for a couple of days and gradually increase.

I'm not sure I would agree that what you're seeing isn't a side effect/adverse reaction to Solensia. Among the more common reactions are diarrhea and vomiting. About 7% of cats in the treatment group developed diarrhea. It's certainly possible that there was some undiagnosed GI problem that was present before the Solensia and the drug aggravated the condition.

Is there any chance you're near a vet school? It may be worth a consultation especially if they have a veterinary pharmacist you could speak with. Cornell's vet school does do consultations so that may be an option.

No vet school anywhere near me

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Is it a good medicine? Do you think it’s the right one?

It may not be what is needed. This https://www.drugs.com/vet/veraflox-pradofloxacin-oral-suspension-for-cats.html includes: "VERAFLOX is indicated for the treatment of skin infections (wounds and abscesses) in cats caused by susceptible strains of Pasteurella multocida, Streptococcus canis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus felis, and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius."

 

[Kiera]

It may not be what is needed. This https://www.drugs.com/vet/veraflox-pradofloxacin-oral-suspension-for-cats.html includes: "VERAFLOX is indicated for the treatment of skin infections (wounds and abscesses) in cats caused by susceptible strains of Pasteurella multocida, Streptococcus canis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus felis, and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius."

Honestly, I feel like my vet isn’t qualified to be treating animals. My cat’s diarrhea is getting worse. Maybe from the antibiotic or maybe because something is going untreated. I’ve spent almost $1,000 and haven’t been told what’s wrong. I was just given an antibiotic— which (if anything) made him worse. I can’t find anything that says it should be used for his symptoms. I don’t know what to do and I’m terrified I’m going to lose him.
Any idea on what’s wrong or what he needs? The poor thing is crying a lot and I am unsure how to help him.

I have metronidazole and prednisolone but they expired in 2021. Probably a bad idea to medicate without being told to do so by a vet but I’m questioning wether or not I can trust him. I can ask the vet for a new script. But I don’t know what to ask for.

I’m so broke and put all of the recent vet expenses on multiple credit cards. But do you think I need to go somewhere else and get another opinion? Or am I going to be left without answers again? Is it normal for a vet to not be able to tell you what’s wrong? I honestly don’t know. He’s literally told me nothing.

someone please help me with what I should do… before it’s too late

 

[Donna R]

I'm new here but I've been doing cat rescue for a while now. When they did the test on the urine and they found the crystals and the blood, did they say the pH level of the urine?

Also, concerning the diarrhea, you should ask for an IDEXX diarrhea PCR panel to be run. It would need to be sent in, but they test for multiple parasites and bacteria. Metronidazole is a general antibiotic for gut and intestinal issues. It is usually the first line of defense when there is diarrhea issues. However, it is not effective against everything.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I don’t know if I’m dealing with kidney disease and liver disease or something else that’s causing his numbers to look that way.

His liver looks okay from the bloodwork. The kidneys don't look that bad. If he had kidney disease, I would expect not only the BUN to be elevated (and it is only just out of range) but also the creatinine should be elevated and I would expect to see possibly some other things like possible his phosphorus being high and maybe his hematocrit to be low. I think the high BUN and higher end proteins are from some dehydration.

I am glad you opted for the oral antibiotic instead of the Convenia. Convenia injections stay in the cat's system for weeks and, as you said, cannot be undone. I do know cats that have had them with no problems, but they can cause reactions like hemolytic anemia. Since his neutrophils are quite high, I think there is an infection somewhere, so I hope the Veraflox will help. I wish they had cultured the urine even if they didn't think they saw bacteria in there (I guess they thought they saw only blood?) So you say they didn't see any stones in his bladder with the x-ray? That's good, but I'm sorry it was so expensive.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

A lot of people here have used Veraflox in their cats for things that are "off label." Even the Convenia is approved for the treatment of skin infections and vets use it for other things. But this is why I wish they had cultured the urine so that you would know if (1) any bacteria actually grew out of it, and (2) what the bacteria is and which antibiotic will it respond to. I do not think you will do harm in giving the Veraflox (he may have GI side effects as with all antibiotics, of course.) It just may not be the right drug, that's all. I would continue to give it if possible and see if it helps.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

What you are saying about the stress of being in the room with your other kitty dying could have set off a lot of problems, yes, including blood in the urine. Stress is linked to FLUTD (idopathic cystitis where it's not caused by bacteria.) Treatment includes stress reduction and some people use glucosamine/chondroitin and some pain relief (Buprenorphine, but I bet your vet won't even want to give you that). Some people use Corn Silk "tea." Feliway diffusers could help (don't buy the Feliway Optimum) and honestly, I've had good luck with a product called Pet Remedy which comes in a diffuser and also a spray for the environment. I spray a little around on fabrics.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I definitely would try a course of Metronidazole. If it does not clear things up, then I would send off his stool, if you can, for the testing that I mentioned before (the diarrhea panel.) My only caveat would be that he is currently on Veraflox, which may have actually made the diarrhea worse. You should put him on a probiotic and give it a few hours after his antibiotic if possible. I usually use Proviable DC. I have recently been trying one called Advita that comes in a little packet that can be mixed in food. The one cat who is on it seems to like the taste. With my IBD cat, I use the Proviable and just give it to him in the capsule that it comes in.

How many more days of Veraflox does he have left?

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Your vet does not sound too helpful. He/she doesn't know what's going on. I'm so sorry. And I am really really sad to read about your other cat dying. You have my deepest sympathy for that. What a horrible way to find your baby is gone and you had no warning and you didn't get to say a proper goodbye. My heart goes out to you.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I'm worried about the behavior that you are describing that is not normal for him -- it does seem like he must be in pain. And with the blood in his urine and the crying, I really think he should be getting some Buprenorphine for pain. I would not let the vet give me anything like Onsior or Metacam (meloxicam) because those are going to be hard on his kidneys. Is he drinking water? A lot? Are you adding water to his food? There are other medications that can help with FLUTD/Feline Idiopathic Cystitis -- like Adequan, which is an injections that helps restore the bladder's mucus lining. I would start with the glucosamin/chondroitin (Cosequin) right away though to see if it will help do the same thing.

 

[Kiera]

Thank you everyone for your replies and help!

update:
Decided to go to another vet for a second opinion. And another $500 something. Over $2,000 so far. I have money problems as is.

It’s just a nightmare. Mostly because his diarrhea is still horrible. It smells really bad and almost rotten too which can’t be normal. We stopped the veraflox and got a prescription for both prednisolone and metro. He hates these meds. They are liquid and he chokes on them. He was also given a B12 shot.

I decided to do a comprehensive fecal panel that I have not received the results for yet.

He has been on the new antibiotics for 30 hours now and today his diarrhea is worse than ever.

I hate the crying he does prior to going to the bathroom. I feel so bad that he’s in pain. I also have to wipe him after each time (which is about 5 time a day).

I am attaching the urine results.

I’m still feeling very hopeless and don’t know what else to do.

He eats fancy feast salmon that I purchase by the case from chewy. I keep wondering if I got a bad batch for the last 4 cases that were delivered together. The salmon is the only thing he eats that’s low in phosphorus and obviously carbs.

Im grasping at straws…

urine results below— any thoughts?

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Truthfully, I’m not even sure why we are giving an antibiotic.

Because of the high levels of neutrophil blood cells in his blood. This indicates an infection is highly likely.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Urinalysis looks pretty good except for the blood in there. What did the vet say about it? His urine specific gravity is good, so that’s another good indication that his kidneys are functioning well since he is able to concentrate urine. The UPC ratio is also within the good range - so another good sign. Does he still receive insulin? He does not, right? You do periodically test his BG to make sure he is in normal healthy numbers?

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Let’s hope you can get some answers soon. Why did they give you liquid meds? Are you not able to give pills? Prednisolone is a small pill and usually cats will eat it in a pill pocket as well. Metronidazole is very very bad tasting. I would pill it using a pill shooter followed by food/treats to make sure it goes down all the way.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

So anyway, I am still thinking he also has idiopathic cystitis in addition to whatever else he has going on that’s causing the diarrhea (because of the blood in his urine in the absence of bacteria.). Since you have already had a cat with IBD, I am sure you realize that you are looking at an ultrasound if the diarrhea panel doesn’t turn up anything conclusive. He would need to be off prednisolone for some time to get an accurate ultrasound though. But that would be later. If he responds to prednisolone then that may be an indication that the problem is inflammation in the GI tract. You must feel very overwhelmed! I’m sorry.

 

[Kiera]

Urinalysis looks pretty good except for the blood in there. What did the vet say about it? His urine specific gravity is good, so that’s another good indication that his kidneys are functioning well since he is able to concentrate urine. The UPC ratio is also within the good range - so another good sign. Does he still receive insulin? He does not, right? You do periodically test his BG to make sure he is in normal healthy numbers?

The vet didn’t know what was causing the blood. 2 separate vets actually. I no longer have faith in the people who are supposed to be professionals. I’m devastated by the entire situation. And now in debt …again.

I didn’t ask for liquid meds, they just gave them to me. I was overwhelmed at the time and didn’t think about it.

Any idea how long it takes for the prednisolone and metro to start working? I’m VERY worried that I haven’t seen any improvement yet. It’s heartbreaking to watch.

He’s not on insulin anymore. I was spot checking him with BG meter a few times a month prior to the vet visits. Since our last visit a week and a half ago I haven’t checked. He hates the ear prick and with the horrible tasting meds and how bad I can tell he feels, I haven’t wanted to add to his suffering. His blood and urine results were good, especially since he has extreme anxiety at the vet.

I can monitor with the urine strips. Before everyone starts lecturing me— I would never use them to test when giving insulin. However, I think it’s ok to make sure I don’t see any trace of glucose in the strips for now. The non-stop diarrhea MANY times a day for weeks on end worries me a lot more. How long can a cat survive like this??

I feel like I’m just watching him die and I don’t want to lose him. He’s all I have left. It’s so cruel that this is happening right after my other cat died unexpectedly a month ago.

I just wish I knew how to help him.

Do you think I’m doing the right thing with the meds I’m giving? It’s what the vet said to do— but like I said, my trust in “professionals” is minimal to non-existent right now.
Do you think I should be asking for something else or trying something along with it?

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I think it's okay to not check his glucose with an ear prick for now. I think I recall seeing a glucose reading of 109 in some of his bloodwork, which would be good for being at the vet.

Did they do more bloodwork in addition to the urinalysis? All I saw was the urinalysis you posted yesterday, which was not bad at all (good USG, no glucose, etc. just the blood was there which is not good.)

I still say, again, that it possibly could be Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (also known as FLUTD). Blood in the urine in the absence of bacteria could be caused by this. If I were you, I would purchase some Cosequin and sprinkle in his food or pill him with it to see if it helps. I guess they didn't bother to give you anything for pain? Ask them about it (the vets.) Do some research on the internet about it. I feel horrible that you aren't getting answers from the vets. It may be that you will not be able to find out the cause without doing an ultrasound where they need to check his whole urinary tract and kidneys and abdomen. When will you get the fecal testing results back?

How long has he been on the Metronidazole and Pred? Just a few days now? I think you should have started to see some results within about 48 hours, although if he's been like this for a while it could take longer. Did they give you any instructions about when to call them back or bring him back (such as, if not improvement in # days then bring him back in.) I understand about being in debt with vet bills (believe me) and I'm so sorry about that. I understand the pressure.

 

[Kiera]

I think it's okay to not check his glucose with an ear prick for now. I think I recall seeing a glucose reading of 109 in some of his bloodwork, which would be good for being at the vet.

Did they do more bloodwork in addition to the urinalysis? All I saw was the urinalysis you posted yesterday, which was not bad at all (good USG, no glucose, etc. just the blood was there which is not good.)

I still say, again, that it possibly could be Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (also known as FLUTD). Blood in the urine in the absence of bacteria could be caused by this. If I were you, I would purchase some Cosequin and sprinkle in his food or pill him with it to see if it helps. I guess they didn't bother to give you anything for pain? Ask them about it (the vets.) Do some research on the internet about it. I feel horrible that you aren't getting answers from the vets. It may be that you will not be able to find out the cause without doing an ultrasound where they need to check his whole urinary tract and kidneys and abdomen. When will you get the fecal testing results back?

How long has he been on the Metronidazole and Pred? Just a few days now? I think you should have started to see some results within about 48 hours, although if he's been like this for a while it could take longer. Did they give you any instructions about when to call them back or bring him back (such as, if not improvement in # days then bring him back in.) I understand about being in debt with vet bills (believe me) and I'm so sorry about that. I understand the pressure.

I left a message today about pain meds but haven’t heard back yet. They said the comprehensive fecal panel could take 5-7 days so still nothing on that yet. I also asked about when I should start seeing an improvement—since I haven’t yet. Hopefully, I talk to him tomorrow. We started the meds Monday evening.

The blood work was done at the first vet about a week and a half or 2 weeks ago… I can’t even remember. I will post it again below.

So I have pills for both pred and metro. The office told me I could give them instead when I called. I was given the correct conversion for dosage but I didn’t realize how old they were. Both prescribed 10/2020 with an exp date of 10/2021. I don’t really think medicine expires when it says it does. But I don’t know if it’s safe or effective to give when it’s this far past the date. So I prob shouldn’t…

not sure if it’s relevant but I was also told “Anal glands were EXTREMELY full, visible on radiographs. They were expressed externally”

I’m not sure FLUTD fits. He isn’t straining to urinate or crying when urinating. He cried for at least 20 minutes or more prior to his diarrhea though. Every time It also says decreased appetite is a symptom but his has increased if anything.

The vet thinks I need a specialist if his symptoms don’t improve. So what does that mean? Cancer? I can’t spend more money at a specialist to hear a third person tell me— “I don’t know what’s wrong”.

At this rate, I’m going to lose him… I know it

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I pray you will not lose him.
I didn’t realize he wasn’t crying in the litter box to urinate. It’s awful how he cries before the diarrhea. They meed to think about searching for a GI cause for all this. (IBD, even SCL or something else.). Hopefully the meds will start to help though— since it’s been 48 hours as of tonight. What dose of Prednisolone did they tell you to give (mg per day and how many times per day?). And the Metronidazole? Twice a day?

 

[Kiera]

I pray you will not lose him.
I didn’t realize he wasn’t crying in the litter box to urinate. It’s awful how he cries before the diarrhea. They meed to think about searching for a GI cause for all this. (IBD, even SCL or something else.). Hopefully the meds will start to help though— since it’s been 48 hours as of tonight. What dose of Prednisolone did they tell you to give (mg per day and how many times per day?). And the Metronidazole? Twice a day?

Here are the dosage instructions:

metro: give 1.5ml every 12 hours for 3 weeks for GI upset & inflammation. Shake well before use

pred: give 1ml every 12 hours for 3 days, then 1ml every 24 hours for 4 days, then 1ml every 48 hours. May cause excessive thirst and urination

My heart aches for him… I just want him to feel better but I don’t know how to make that happen. I wish I could take his pain and have it for myself instead… life is so unfair.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

 

[Kiera]

The fecal panel came back and everything is normal. Negative for everything.
I was really hoping they would find something so I knew what was going on or how to help him.
No idea what to do now…. Besides give up

 

[Kiera]

I had a mishap this morning when trying to give him the metro. He got loose as I was pushing the syringe. Most of the liquid got on the floor and on me, but I wasn’t sure if he swallowed any and if so, how much. So I didn’t give it again. Worried that I skipped a dose. Although it hasn’t helped him yet— so that probably means it’s the wrong med. right?

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I had a mishap this morning when trying to give him the metro. He got loose as I was pushing the syringe. Most of the liquid got on the floor and on me, but I wasn’t sure if he swallowed any and if so, how much. So I didn’t give it again. Worried that I skipped a dose. Although it hasn’t helped him yet— so that probably means it’s the wrong med. right?

I think you did the right thing to just skip the dose since you are not sure if he swallowed any.

What does your vet recommend now that the fecal panel has come back with nothing? I would say ultrasound, but I would like to know what the vet said. I guess they said specialist vet? Is that an IM vet? I can’t believe they cannot do an ultrasound or that they don’t have a traveling ultrasonographer. At this point though, you may want to make sure it’s a Board Certified Radiologist. Where is the speciality vet/hospital? How far away? Any idea? I’m so sorry that you still have no answers.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

The prednisolone got into him this morning?

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I am still sitting here trying to think of something. Have you considered switching his food? I know you have been trying to keep it low carb but this could be food related perhaps? What about transitioning to a different food. Recently I’ve been feeding Wellness Core 95% turkey to one of my cats. She loves it and it has a very short list of ingredients. Not sure about the phosphorus on that one since she also eats the Weruva BFF PLAY foods that are quite low in phosphorus. I know you said that you had been feeding the WX, right? Or you could try a novel protein diet. I’m just wondering if maybe it’s worth a try before doing more tests. Even a veterinary diet might help although they may be high in carbs. Perhaps you have looked into it? What about stress reduction? Do you have Feliway diffusers or Thunder Ease Diffusers or Pet Remedy diffusers? I know I am grasping at straws here. You mentioned maybe his food was a bad batch? Have you tried a different batch?

 

[Kiera]

I will look into different food options. We tried Weruva for awhile before this happened and it gave him diarrhea that went away when I stopped feeding it. So I have to be careful. I can also try diffusers but not sure how they would help.
My vet said:
At this point I would strongly recommend a follow up and consult with Internal Medicine Specialist asap at Veterinary Specialty Clinic., given the nature of his condition and the response of the medication (even though its only 3 days since we started him on meds).

But what am I supposed to do if my credit cards are maxed out and I have no way to do that right now? Last week, I went to 2 different vets— paid for 3 separate appointments. Paid for blood, urine, and 2 different fecal tests. Plus an X-ray, 3 different expensive meds that I need to re-purchase in pill form if I continue and a B12 injection.
Now I’m supposed to pay for more tests and go to a 3rd place after all of that? The specialist and ultra sound are going to be very expensive. If I hadn’t just wasted 2 grand this past week doing everything else, I would’ve been able to do it. But I already spent that. I don’t want him to suffer but unless I stop eating and don’t pay rent at the end of the month or rob a bank, I don’t know how I’m going to be able to make that happen.

He said he could give me pain medicine but that would only come in liquid as well. Didn’t say what med he was even planning to give. I called and left a message asking about
Buprenorphine but it doesn’t seem like that’s going to be an option.

so upset right now…

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I know. I have a Care Credit account that I have used for such situations. I don’t know if that’s an option for you.

 

[Kiera]

I know. I have a Care Credit account that I have used for such situations. I don’t know if that’s an option for you.

Not sure what that is.

I’m assuming a new food allergy is unlikely because of the abnormal white blood cell count and blood in urine. Right? I don’t know if trying a different food would make any sense. He eats the fancy feast salmon. Never had any problems before but I know things can change. I see people mention turkey and giblets all the time. It’s prob high in phosphorus which I was told to avoid. Not sure if I have to or not though. No clue what the numbers mean or if he does in fact have early ckd? Any idea from the blood work?

Do you know what they would find on an ultrasound? What are the chances it’s just another test where I’m told the same thing— they don’t know. More money down the drain and still no answers.

So my best guess— if not food (which I am not really considering because his blood showed signs of infection/inflammation. Please correct me if I’m wrong)— but my guess is that this has to be either IBD that just started suddenly and severely or lymphoma. How would I know for sure? How are those treated?
The more I read the more confused I get… most of what I read is completely over my head. I wish it could be dumbed down to a child’s level of comprehension. Because that’s where I’m at

 

[Kiera]

I am still sitting here trying to think of something. Have you considered switching his food? I know you have been trying to keep it low carb but this could be food related perhaps? What about transitioning to a different food. Recently I’ve been feeding Wellness Core 95% turkey to one of my cats. She loves it and it has a very short list of ingredients. Not sure about the phosphorus on that one since she also eats the Weruva BFF PLAY foods that are quite low in phosphorus. I know you said that you had been feeding the WX, right? Or you could try a novel protein diet. I’m just wondering if maybe it’s worth a try before doing more tests. Even a veterinary diet might help although they may be high in carbs. Perhaps you have looked into it? What about stress reduction? Do you have Feliway diffusers or Thunder Ease Diffusers or Pet Remedy diffusers? I know I am grasping at straws here. You mentioned maybe his food was a bad batch? Have you tried a different batch?

So I definitely think trying a different food could help. Do you think fancy feast turkey is enough of a change from the salmon?
Wondering if I need to concern myself with phosphorus or not? It certainly makes it much higher finding something for a sensitive stomach, that’s low carb and low phosphorus. It also has to be a pate. He won’t eat chunks or strips of things. Weruva has food that checks a lot of the boxes but he didn’t tolerate those well, unfortunately.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

If Bailey were my cat, I would request that an advanced GI panel be run in order to try to differentiate between what kind of GI disease may be present. You could ask about it, it may be less expensive than an ultrasound. The normal procedure for diagnosing GI disease is to do the GI blood panels first and then an ultrasound if necessary. Of course, if the ultrasound indicates something going on in there then the diagnosis is made with a surgical biopsy or an endoscopy.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I am just suggesting an incremental approach where first you get the GI panel done. You could try the diet change first though if you like.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Now you don’t have to do the biopsy if your vet is willing to treat the suspected condition. I am not a fan of the surgical biopsy as one of my cats had it done years ago. Endoscopy would be less invasive, but the endoscope can’t always reach where a sample needs to be taken. I would think if this was normal IBD then it would be responding to the Prednisolone?