Out of the blue, Jinx hates all his food. What do I do???

[Dez]

1/10 night: Jinx ate his 1/2 can wet & given 2 units insulin.
+3: Wouldn't touch food, had bad diarrhea and was extremely lethargic.
-- Brought to emergency veterinary clinic. Bloodwork & ketones negative. Given nausea medicine, subcu fluids and I was sent home with anti biotics (metronidazole) & probiotics (fortiflora powder).
1/11 morning: Refused wet food with antibiotics, but ate some low carb kibble (evo kitten & cat formula). Gave 2 units.
1/11 night: Ate 1/2 can wet with the antibiotics. Given 2 units.
+3: Refused 1/2 can wet with probiotics.
+6: Fed some dry.
1/12 morning: Refused wet food with antibiotics. Fed kibble (ate some bites) + 2 units. Still diarrhea. I tried to shoot antibiotic into mouth and maybe got half in out of the 1 ml; he really fought with me.
1/12 night: Normal vet called & wants to attempt gastrointestinal I/D food 1/2 can twice a day for a few days until he will eat normal diet again. Energy seems a little better. He ate about a quarter of this and was given 2 units. However, after I added the antibiotic to the bowl about an hour later, he now seems leery about it and will only take maybe 1-2 bites. Currently have him locked in a room with the bowl of food, periodically checking in to see if he has eaten anymore.

I guess this thread to is see if anyone else has had any other similar experiences? I don't have -any- money for trying new food after the emergency room visit. Should I shoot the antibiotic into his mouth instead of putting it in the food? I tried it and he wrestled with me a lot. I haven't even tried the probiotic since he's been completely rejecting all his wet food. I just don't understand how all the bloodwork/vitals are good yet he is absolutely refusing to eat his wet food now. He's had the same food since October and I -never- had an issue with meal times. Usually he's waking me up in the morning to be fed and tripping me around the house at night. What is going on???

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

I don't feel qualified enough to post about some of the issues Jinx is having or his BG numbers. I can tell you however that the fortiflora is also used with some success as an appetizer stimulant. It can be like kitty crack when sprinkled on food.

Also wrapping Jinx up in a blanket, making a kitty burrito may help when giving meds.

 

[Dez]

I don't feel qualified enough to post about some of the issues Jinx is having or his BG numbers. I can tell you however that the fortiflora is also used with some success as an appetizer stimulant. It can be like kitty crack when sprinkled on food.

Also wrapping Jinx up in a blanket, making a kitty burrito may help when giving meds.

Good idea on wrapping him up! Never thought of that. And I didn't know that about the fortiflora - maybe I should try that versus the antibiotics (with vet's permission of course). I almost think he knows I put medicine in his wet food, I swear!

 

[Critter Mom]

One of our vets told me that metronidazole is absolutely foul-tasting. That could be part of the problem here. (It can make some cats really drool after administration.) Maybe ask the vets if they can dispense it in tablet form instead? (Our vets prescribed a tablet preparation for Saoirse called Stomorgyl 2 - metronidazole + other antibiotic - other than the usual things associated with pilling we managed with it OK.)

Did they test for pancreatitis? Also did they send you home with a supply of anti-nausea meds and appetite stimulants?

In case it might be pancreatitis here are some useful links:

Nausea symptoms and treatments (may help as a guide to foods that agree better with your kitty)

IDEXX pancreatitis treatment guidelines


Mogs
.

 

[Squalliesmom]

My kitty with IBD has been put on Metronidazole several time; it's always a terrible fight to get any of it in her because it is so vile-tasting (I know this because I tasted it - yuck!).

 

[Dez]

One of our vets told me that metronidazole is absolutely foul-tasting. That could be part of the problem here. (It can make some cats really drool after administration.) Maybe ask the vets if they can dispense it in tablet form instead? (Our vets prescribed a tablet preparation for Saoirse called Stomorgyl 2 - metronidazole + other antibiotic - other than the usual things associated with pilling we managed with it OK.)

Did they test for pancreatitis? Also did they send you home with a supply of anti-nausea meds and appetite stimulants?

In case it might be pancreatitis here are some useful links:

Nausea symptoms and treatments (may help as a guide to foods that agree better with your kitty)

IDEXX pancreatitis treatment guidelines


Mogs
.

Maybe that's why he won't touch any of the food with it in it! I need to update vet tomorrow morning - I'll ask her about the pill. Although I almost feel as if I should try the fortiflora for a few days first? I'm not really sure, I'm completely out of my element here because BOTH my cats have never lost their appetites.

I have no idea if the emergency vet tested for pancreatitis. She did bloodwork there and told me that all came out clear (and negative ketones which I asked her to test as well), would that be something on emergent bloodwork? I wasn't sent home with anything but the metro & fortiflora powder.

 

[Dez]

My kitty with IBD has been put on Metronidazole several time; it's always a terrible fight to get any of it in her because it is so vile-tasting (I know this because I tasted it - yuck!).

Good to know! This might explain the disinterest in the food with the antibiotic in it.

 

[Squalliesmom]

I had to give mine the Metro inn her mouth - she would have starved herself if I put it in her food. Giving it to her was a two-person job (and she's tiny, only about 6 lbs), even if I had her wrapped in a blanket or towel, and I was still lucky if I got just half of it in her.

I used to use fortiflora, for a long time it was the only thing that would get her to eat but now I use Renew Life 15 billion, it's a lot cheaper, has no taste, it seems, and it does a good job.

 

[jayla-n-Drevon]

when using metro you may have much better success getting it down if you put it in a gel cap -dab it with a touch of butter and pop it down her mouth-
it is truly a awful taste I would never mix it in anything you ever want her to eat again.
size 3 and 4 gel caps are good to have on hand--
good luck!