Ladybug surgery | Feline Diabetes Message Board - FDMB

Ladybug surgery

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ladybug991

Member since 2025
Ladybug got through surgery and is now home although still not eating much. She is drinking she’s on steroids and gabapentin. She hasn’t peed either. although they said she peed and ate a big meal on Wednesday evening after her surgery. Loved the surgeon but he didn’t even talk to me on discharge it was a tech. So I’m thinking about calling tomorrow before noon and trying to see if I can speak with him. I’ve called the techs like multiple times and they have been helpful but yeah Idk. Maybe she will be peeing more by then. It just makes me worried. Any tips about recovery? Please no horror stories we’ve been through enough this week. She ate a few bites of food and drank water today though!! I’m just worried about the fact she hasn’t peed here but I think she doesn’t like that she can’t have her clumping litter. Idk I’m an anxious mom and I just am worried about her. Also my toilet my sink my fridge and my oven broke this week and I’m scared the repair people will disturb her but I need this stuff fixed.
 
I’m very happy to hear that Ladybug is back home with you now after her surgery. It is a concern that she hasn’t urinated yet (but good that she did so at the vet.) I definitely would push to speak with the surgeon or other IM vet you have on your team. I really think it’s bad about how surgeons don’t even come out to speak with you after the surgery or at discharge.

What rotten timing with so many things breaking in your house all at once and during her recovery. It’s too bad they couldn’t have been fixed before she came back home. Do you have a quiet room where you can set her up with food, water, litter box and bed — where a repairman would not go?
 
Wishing Ladybug an easy recovery ❤️‍🩹
I’m so sorry it’s been so much difficulty at home this week on top of everything!

Sending you lots of hugs and healing energy 😻💝❤️‍🩹🫂
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
I’m very happy to hear that Ladybug is back home with you now after her surgery. It is a concern that she hasn’t urinated yet (but good that she did so at the vet.) I definitely would push to speak with the surgeon or other IM vet you have on your team. I really think it’s bad about how surgeons don’t even come out to speak with you after the surgery or at discharge.

What rotten timing with so many things breaking in your house all at once and during her recovery. It’s too bad they couldn’t have been fixed before she came back home. Do you have a quiet room where you can set her up with food, water, litter box and bed — where a repairman would not go?
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She’s in a large dog crate in my room which they wouldn’t go in. However she can still probably hear them and see them a little because the door to my bedroom is glass and doesn’t shut well.
 
The surgeon isn’t there today so they recommended I bring her to the ER :( I really don’t want to do that because I feel like she just hates the litter and I don’t wanna stress her out more while she’s trying to recover
 
ladybug991 said:
Ladybug got through surgery and is now home although still not eating much. She is drinking she’s on steroids and gabapentin. She hasn’t peed either. although they said she peed and ate a big meal on Wednesday evening after her surgery. Loved the surgeon but he didn’t even talk to me on discharge it was a tech. So I’m thinking about calling tomorrow before noon and trying to see if I can speak with him. I’ve called the techs like multiple times and they have been helpful but yeah Idk. Maybe she will be peeing more by then. It just makes me worried. Any tips about recovery? Please no horror stories we’ve been through enough this week. She ate a few bites of food and drank water today though!! I’m just worried about the fact she hasn’t peed here but I think she doesn’t like that she can’t have her clumping litter. Idk I’m an anxious mom and I just am worried about her. Also my toilet my sink my fridge and my oven broke this week and I’m scared the repair people will disturb her but I need this stuff fixed.
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I'm happy to hear that Ladybug is through the surgery and the paper/pine litter problem has been resolved. Relief all around. Hoping all your domestic issues are equally resolved.
When Eddie and Blue each returned from surgery, there was a period of adjustment that involved not only their physical recovery but also because going through that surgery has psychological effects/affects as well. It's like they are saying "What in the blue blazes was that??!!" All good thoughts for continued recoveries.
 
I definitely think she is so stressed psychologically and I just wish I could tell her she’s doing great and I’m here for her. I wish she would eat more im trying not to freak out because she’s eating a few bites 1-2 times a day but I don’t think that’s enough.
 
ladybug991 said:
I definitely think she is so stressed psychologically and I just wish I could tell her she’s doing great and I’m here for her. I wish she would eat more im trying not to freak out because she’s eating a few bites 1-2 times a day but I don’t think that’s enough.
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You are right. That is not enough. What are you feeding her? Did they give you a recovery food? The Hill’s A/D is very palatable. Have you tried baby food? Ham, beef, chicken baby food?
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
You are right. That is not enough. What are you feeding her? Did they give you a recovery food? The Hill’s A/D is very palatable. Have you tried baby food? Ham, beef, chicken baby food?
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I just tried baby food I’ve tried two kinds of dry food I’ve tried wet food I’ve tried churu vet said to stop gaba as they thought that what was what was making her not eat. No gaba since yesterday she seems more herself but runs away when I try to feed her. Thinking of forcing her but I don’t wanna do that. She already associates me with the steroids I have to give her. I’m so worried about her and the vets don’t seem concerned enough. I don’t wanna bring her back in because when I did that before because of the litter box situation it set her appetite back to square one. I’m so so stressed and worried and I’m trying not to let it affect her but this is so scary to me. Gonna call and ask about an appetite stimulant or something because I’m terrified about this I’m crying and crying
 
Yes. You can try Mirataz (if pilling her is upsetting) where you can rub it on the inner part of her ear (get some exam gloves from the vet and wear them when putting it on.)

I find some vets are very cavalier about cats not eating. Cats can get hepatic lipidosis and become very ill if eating only a little or not at all.

Do you still have workers coming to your home?
 
The worker was in here for 5 sec and she didn’t notice. I need to fix my toilet and sink but I’m washing dishes in bathtubs and dealing with not having a toilet because I want her doing better. Fridge is fixed.

I’m gonna call the vet again after my dentist appointment today. She has a lot of food in her cage so maybe she’s taking more bites when I’m not around. She’s also trying to escape now that she’s not on gaba so maybe she’s bored? Idk she wolfed down her food at the vet after surgery even with a cone on so idk what’s wrong. She turns away when I offer her food :( it breaks my heart
 
And I doubt it’s the Gabapentin making her not eat (unless she’s on a very high dose that is making her sleep all the time.). Gabapentin generally has the opposite effect— it increases appetite. I have ised it (in a low dose of about 25 mg. and not more than 50 mg.) as an appetite stimulant before when other appetite stimulants did not work. If she is in pain she won’t eat. If they think she should still be on pain meds, they should give you Buprenorphine (although that can be constipating over time.)
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
And I doubt it’s the Gabapentin making her not eat (unless she’s on a very high dose that is making her sleep all the time.). Gabapentin generally has the opposite effect— it increases appetite. I have ised it (in a low dose of about 25 mg. and not more than 50 mg.) as an appetite stimulant before when other appetite stimulants did not work. If she is in pain she won’t eat. If they think she should still be on pain meds, they should give you Buprenorphine (although that can be constipating over time.)
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She had a wobbly and sleepy reaction to the gaba so the surgeon told me to stop it but offered no other meds. She hasn’t pooped either. It wasn’t even the same surgeon I talked to the other one is at the other location for the next two weeks. I’m sobbing now and I’m worried it’s just making her more stressed. I’m trying so hard to be calm but I’m so scared for her they were so optimistic and now I feel like I’m in another situation where they don’t believe me and won’t help me .
 
How long is she supposed to be crated?

Am sorry about all this. I doubt if it’s you specifically that they aren’t really paying attention to — I have had the same treatment before. Also, if you are not even reaching the same surgeon then this new one doesn’t really have a stake in the situation (and doesn’t seem to care much.) Sometimes you either have to really become a pest by calling all the time or you have to go park yourself in their lobby/waiting area and wait to speak with someone. I’ve had to do that before. It’s harder for them to ignore you that way. I guess it’s a long drive for you to get there?
 
For 10-14 days :(

I don’t have a car and I have been able to talk to people. Yeah I’d have to rent a car to get to where the surgeon is and I’m dealing with so much physically and got bad news at the dentist and I’m not able to drive right now it would be too dangerous and I have no rental car money. I can try calling that office. I’m just so tired and overwhelmed and I’m pushing so hard and have nothing left to give
 
Is she licking her lips when she smells food and then walking away?

Are her gums slick or are they tacky? If you pinch and pull up on the fur on her neck, does it go back to its normal position or does it stay pinched up?

@Suzanne & Darcy you know where I’m going with this — maybe nausea and/or dehydration?? It seems I have to syringe feed temporarily more often than not after a big surgery, and also add on fluids/anti nausea meds, so just curious if that’s been tried.
 
Surgeons calling me anyways even though he’s off they can write prescription to regular vet for appetite stimulants which they won’t have in stock until tomorrow. Also yes she’s licking her lips and walking away she also associates food with the steroids I have to give her so any offering I have she is suspicious of. I haven’t tried nausea medicine and she hasn’t thrown up. Haven’t tried syringe feeding her either. I’m so tired I love her but I’m so tired and I had major dental work done today and now I can barely eat either I’m such a bad mom for stressing her out she doesn’t deserve me. I hate everything I’m so sad
 
Hang in there. This is going to pass and she’s going to get better and so are you. I would ask for a prescription for Ondansetron 4 mg. Orally dissolving tablets for the nausea. Lip licking like that is a classic sign of nausea (sniffing food and walking away.) Many cats do not vomit but can still be nauseated. Cerenia is better for vomiting although it helps some cats with nausea and has some anti inflammatory effects in the gut. A lot of vets will insist you try Cerenia first 😟 It is horribly bitter and should always be put into a small gelatin capsules (size 4.) So is she just really hard to pill? I am trying to understand. How long is she supposed to be on the steroids?

I am sorry things are so difficult for you right now. Be sure to rest and try to take care of yourself in ways that you can (although eating now is not pleasant or possible). Stay hydrated.
 
So ladybug is still not eating or drinking last 3 days (that I’ve seen) even with new soft cone or when I remove it. I talked to original surgeon and he wrote a prescription for the mirtszapine I am a little concerned since she has HCM. Her attitude is good and improving but she sniffs food and then turns and walks away. She doesn’t seem dehydrated based on her neck but maybe a little. I don’t wanna re hospitalize her but idk what to do. I’m scared of giving her meds since it seems she’s sensitive to them. But she really needs to eat. The vet also said stop trying to force her to eat because it’s making her angry. I just want her to eat! She was eating fine for the vets why not for me. :(
 
I don’t know if it helps, but my cat’s cardiologist said that it was safe to give Mirtazapine/Mirataz to her. She had severe heart disease (HCM/DCM.)
 
Also, it’s never a good idea to stimulate appetite without controlling nausea. Why can’t vets use common sense about this! How would they like to feel nauseated and yet feel hungry at the same time.

And you know Ladybug better than they do. I am surprised they didn’t tell you to syringe feed her some food.

It sounds like they are blaming you for her not eating (making her mad over trying to get her to eat, etc.)

If you do try the Mirataz on her ear, start with only half of the strip length of the ointment (on the box there is a recommended length of 1.5 inches of the ointment to put on the inner ear). Many cats do not need that much and only need half or less of the recommended dose every other day or so. Too much will not harm them but can make cats restless, vocal, and sometimes aggressive — not with humans but toward other cats, for example — so not a problem for you but it’s a sign of too much Mirataz. Every cat is different in how much is a good dose for them to stimulate appetite without the side effects so it’s best to start small and slow.
 
Giving an appetite stimulant without an anti nausea medication first can cause food aversion, meaning she'd go off the food she normally eats. Try some completely novel food? I hope she eats soon.

I have a cat that needs steroids daily - I get it compounded into a chicken flavour chew treat that she likes.
 
JL and Chip said:
Is she licking her lips when she smells food and then walking away?

Are her gums slick or are they tacky? If you pinch and pull up on the fur on her neck, does it go back to its normal position or does it stay pinched up?

@Suzanne & Darcy you know where I’m going with this — maybe nausea and/or dehydration?? It seems I have to syringe feed temporarily more often than not after a big surgery, and also add on fluids/anti nausea meds, so just curious if that’s been tried.
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I'm sorry to hear that she's still not in a good place (and that you are challenged as well). Like Wendy, I would ensure that if Mirataz is used so should an anti-nausea medication. I found that when Eddie really wouldn't eat that syrige feeding was the only alternative. Giving sub-q fluids helped as well. My thoughts are with you.
 
Hi all!! It’s been a long long long few weeks. Ladybug did not eat for a week and I believe both my regular vets and the surgeons did NOT tell me to go in to the ER early enough. I am probably switching vets. I tried anti nausea meds and appetite stimulants, changing her collar but it did not help. I took her to the ER and she was hospitalized over the weekend. She was diagnosed with pancreatitis along with inflammation, fluid in abdomen near pancreas, and a possible hematoma. She was on IV fluids and was able to avoid a feeding tube as her appetite increased and she is now eating. They found low level kidney value increases also. They have an endocrine specialist there and a big IM department. She is now home with me and on 7 meds: predisolone, maropitant, mirtszapine transdermal, gabapentin, an antibiotic (as a precaution because she had UTI symptoms, pending urine culture we will take her off it), clopidogrel, and omeprazole. Giving all these meds is a challenge and I will say I’ve shoved wet pill back in her mouth several times. But her attitude is much brighter and she has an appointment to get her staples out tomorrow. She’s been eating and drinking for me now much more but haven’t seen her pee yet (hard to tell with paper litter though, but no straining to urinate). Surgeons were all at a dang conference last week and I’m so mad at them all for leaving and for no one for saying bring her to the ER immediately. So glad her liver is ok. Also found out her tumor was not cancerous (afrenocorticol adenoma). Also think I have a UTI now… and it’s my friend who died at 31 from COVID’s birthday today…. I’m so tired but we are fighters around here. Thanks to my mother and her care credit account as well she loves her grand kitty. I follow up in 2 weeks with ER to check her blood work including pancreas levels. Waiting on urine culture. Think I found a new vet across town but will ask IM endo vet at ER for recs. Thanks all and continue to pray for me and Bug 🐞
 
Oh wow. You disappeared, and I was worried about you and Ladybug. I really thought she needed to be hospitalized. What os the blood thinner (Clopidogrel.). Does she have heart disease? It sounds like she is recovering. That makes me very happy! God bless, mom!
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Oh wow. You disappeared, and I was worried about you and Ladybug. I really thought she needed to be hospitalized. What os the blood thinner (Clopidogrel.). Does she have heart disease? It sounds like she is recovering. That makes me very happy! God bless, mom!
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I believe yes it’s because of her heart disease and the fact she had to be on fluids. She has HOCM. I’m actually suspicious the tumor was partially causing the heart disease. She’s resting on the gaba right now, ate before and after her meds and wolfed a half pack of wet food as well as some dry while I was at work. I think it’s a good sign it’s harder to give her meds…. Which she will likely be on for a while 😅😩. But yeah I would do anything for my child. Got her at a year old when I was 21. Now she’s 10 and I’m 30 so I really feel like she’s my kid.
 
Her ER discharge!
 

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So happy to hear she's eating again! And that her tumour was benign. :)

Neko was on a lot of meds at one point, for her heart, kidneys, small cell lymphoma. I got empty gel caps, sizes 4, 5, and 6 are good for cats. Smaller number = larger cap. I stuffed as many meds as I could in those caps, as long as there was no contraindications for giving them together. Then I used a pill gun to give the pill. Where I could, I got meds as liquids, which were easier to give. More tips here: Pilling Your Cat

I'm also a fan of transdermal, I have both Mirataz and maropitant that I can give that way. And prednisolone is compounded as a chew treat.
 
ladybug991 said:
Hi all!! It’s been a long long long few weeks. Ladybug did not eat for a week and I believe both my regular vets and the surgeons did NOT tell me to go in to the ER early enough. I am probably switching vets. I tried anti nausea meds and appetite stimulants, changing her collar but it did not help. I took her to the ER and she was hospitalized over the weekend. She was diagnosed with pancreatitis along with inflammation, fluid in abdomen near pancreas, and a possible hematoma. She was on IV fluids and was able to avoid a feeding tube as her appetite increased and she is now eating. They found low level kidney value increases also. They have an endocrine specialist there and a big IM department. She is now home with me and on 7 meds: predisolone, maropitant, mirtszapine transdermal, gabapentin, an antibiotic (as a precaution because she had UTI symptoms, pending urine culture we will take her off it), clopidogrel, and omeprazole. Giving all these meds is a challenge and I will say I’ve shoved wet pill back in her mouth several times. But her attitude is much brighter and she has an appointment to get her staples out tomorrow. She’s been eating and drinking for me now much more but haven’t seen her pee yet (hard to tell with paper litter though, but no straining to urinate). Surgeons were all at a dang conference last week and I’m so mad at them all for leaving and for no one for saying bring her to the ER immediately. So glad her liver is ok. Also found out her tumor was not cancerous (afrenocorticol adenoma). Also think I have a UTI now… and it’s my friend who died at 31 from COVID’s birthday today…. I’m so tired but we are fighters around here. Thanks to my mother and her care credit account as well she loves her grand kitty. I follow up in 2 weeks with ER to check her blood work including pancreas levels. Waiting on urine culture. Think I found a new vet across town but will ask IM endo vet at ER for recs. Thanks all and continue to pray for me and Bug 🐞
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Sending you both lots of prayers and healing vines for Lady Bug 🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃💕💕💕💕💕
 
ladybug991 said:
Hi all!! It’s been a long long long few weeks. Ladybug did not eat for a week and I believe both my regular vets and the surgeons did NOT tell me to go in to the ER early enough. I am probably switching vets. I tried anti nausea meds and appetite stimulants, changing her collar but it did not help. I took her to the ER and she was hospitalized over the weekend. She was diagnosed with pancreatitis along with inflammation, fluid in abdomen near pancreas, and a possible hematoma. She was on IV fluids and was able to avoid a feeding tube as her appetite increased and she is now eating. They found low level kidney value increases also. They have an endocrine specialist there and a big IM department. She is now home with me and on 7 meds: predisolone, maropitant, mirtszapine transdermal, gabapentin, an antibiotic (as a precaution because she had UTI symptoms, pending urine culture we will take her off it), clopidogrel, and omeprazole. Giving all these meds is a challenge and I will say I’ve shoved wet pill back in her mouth several times. But her attitude is much brighter and she has an appointment to get her staples out tomorrow. She’s been eating and drinking for me now much more but haven’t seen her pee yet (hard to tell with paper litter though, but no straining to urinate). Surgeons were all at a dang conference last week and I’m so mad at them all for leaving and for no one for saying bring her to the ER immediately. So glad her liver is ok. Also found out her tumor was not cancerous (afrenocorticol adenoma). Also think I have a UTI now… and it’s my friend who died at 31 from COVID’s birthday today…. I’m so tired but we are fighters around here. Thanks to my mother and her care credit account as well she loves her grand kitty. I follow up in 2 weeks with ER to check her blood work including pancreas levels. Waiting on urine culture. Think I found a new vet across town but will ask IM endo vet at ER for recs. Thanks all and continue to pray for me and Bug 🐞
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Better late than never!! I'm so relieved and happy for you and LadyB! Sending all good thoughts and healing vines for Lady Bug!!! 🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🥰🥰🥰🥰
 
Meds has been a challenge I cannot hide it in food as she’s having appetite issues and is a picky eater and I think not having a tumor making her starving along with the pancreatitis and stress has been affecting her. She is eating for me but does not yet have a healthy appetite. Getting her blood work checked again soon.
 
I'm so happy to hear the surgery went well. Roxi also had pancreatitis post-surgery. We'd thought at the time that it was because they'd done a biopsy (they biopsied her liver, pancreas, and intestines during the adrenal surgery). However, it's entirely possible that it would have happened even without that. Pancreatitis is super frustrating because all you can do is support her while it heals by itself. Looking at her meds list, it seems they've got you doing that. The only other thing we added was sub-q fluids, but they may prefer you not do that because of Ladybug's heart murmur. I would expect some reduction in appetite with the removal of the cortisol overproduction, but she should be able to eat a normal cat amount once the pancreatitis resolves. We found if we offered food about an hour after gabapentin, she would eat better than at any other time - I think it was a form of "sleepy eating" as the gabapentin took effect, but you may be able to use it to your advantage for pilling her other meds too. I'm sorry your vet didn't send you to the ER quickly enough, but it does sound as though she should recover just the same although I'm sure the stress has been terrible for you with her not eating. If she needs to be on any of the meds longer-term, maybe liquid would be easier to get into her. Just don't let them give you the "standard" flavors off the shelf. Liquid pred is cherry-flavor. Liquid gabapentin is anise and strawberry flavor. No wonder really that cats universally loathe both! They can both be compounded into various cat-friendly flavors which makes it a million times easier to get a cat to take them without fighting.
 
I have many of the same difficulties with liquid but chicken flavored is less likely to be spit out. I really think she was going through Gaba withdrawal this week but vet doesn’t think so and thinks she was shaking from stress only I guess they did an electrolyte panel/blood sugar to be sure. I’m thinking about getting gelatin capsules and seeing if I can put her meds in them just trying to find ones that are the right size ok for cats and will get here fast.
 
ladybug991 said:
I’m thinking about getting gelatin capsules and seeing if I can put her meds in them just trying to find ones that are the right size ok for cats and will get here fast.
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This is definitely a good option. Cats can take any size of gelcap - we regularly gave Roxi the human version of Visbiome, which is in a #00. The most important thing is finding one that all the meds fit into.
 
Smaller gel cap number means larger size. Vet gave me a couple size 5's to try out, but I got the size 3 and 4 either on line or at a local compounding pharmacy. Due to Neko's acromegaly (soft tissue growth in throat), I mostly used size 4 and 5. It also depended how many meds I had to give at that time, so would use the smallest needed. Amazon and Capsuline have a good selection of capsules, you can even get some flavoured for pets.
 
That’s what they said to me today. I am not sure if liquid is better than pills at this point I feel like she holds pills in her mouth for up to minutes at a time and angrily keeps them in her cheek pouch. Liquid she just immediately tries to spit it out. I think she’s getting madder at me and hiding more after pills and that might have caused some of the shaking I feel so bad. Going to get some capsules in the next couple days maybe the compounding pharmacy I use for myself and for her chicken flavored blood thinners 😅 ahhh she just needs to eat more and poop and I hate stressing her out with all these meds. I really feel like cold Turkey gaba was giving her twitches even though they deny it. It’s been reported in dogs and humans but not studied in cats. She’s already sensitive to it and also hates it cause it’s so bitter.
 
I've always been told it's best to control nausea first, before giving an appetite stimulant. I found with Neko, that if I controlled her nausea, I usually did not need an appetite stimulant. No one wants to be made hungry if nauseous, it can cause food aversion.

Onsansetron you can get as meltables, that melt once in the mouth. Much harder to spit out.

Elura can raise blood sugar values for several hours, as it works by causing extra growth hormone to be output. It is specifically contraindicated for cats with acromegaly. I'm saying this, for any lurkers in this forum.
 
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