Pancreatitis flare, what can I do to support her pancreas?

Status
Not open for further replies.
AggyBear

AggyBear

Member Since 2021
My baby girl Agatha has been having a flare for about a month, the last 2 weeks have gotten worse.

She keeps urinating outside the box, does anyone have any tips? I have tried so many things...

She's having foul gas, it makes me imagine she's in much pain.

She's getting gabapentin, cerenia, mirataz, fluids 2 days ago + will give again tonight. I can tell she's in pain and I just want to help her.
 
Sending empathetic support to you and Agatha! Im not experienced enough for any advice, but i have been in the same boat with flare ups with Lando. I know this furum has pancreatitis links, i found those helpful. I hope she feels better soon!
 
Hi Sam, I’m sorry Aggy is not well. have you had her urine checked? She may have a UTI or FLUTD. Both can be painful and would explain peeing outside the LB
 
Last edited:
Lando demando said:
Sending empathetic support to you and Agatha!
Click to expand...
Thank you so much. What do you do for your baby when he gets flares? If you've helped him you experience!

Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Hi Sam, I’m sorry Aggy is not well. have you had her urine checked? She may have a UTI or not FLUTD. Both can be painful and would explain peeing outside the LB
Click to expand...
Do you mean with the ketone strips? I have some and can try to catch a sample. What is FLUTD?
 
FLUTD is feline lower urinary tract disease. This is a link to information on the condition. Bron is suggesting that Agatha needs to have a urinalysis done in order to make sure she doesn't have a urinary tract infection. Urinating outside of the litter box is more typical of a UTI than of pancreatitis.

I'm not sure if anyone ever provided you with the link to our Primer on Pancreatitis. Frankly, gabapentin is not a good choice for pain management with pancreatitis. Gabapentin is used primarily for nerve pain. A better choice would be buprenorphine. Pancreatitis is incredibly painful. "Bupe" is a narcotic and a better choice for this kind of pain management.
 
AggyBear said:
Thank you so much. What do you do for your baby when he gets flares? If you've helped him you experience!
Click to expand...

well, the latest thing that works for him when he vomits bile in the early am hours is 1/4 tablet of pepcid ac regular strength every day or every other day. When he had a full on pancreatitis ( yelping, severe vomiting) i used Buprinex for pain relief ( mentioned above by @Sienne and Gabby (GA) and he took close to a month to bounce back. During that time i had to assist feed him with a syringe.

i say that i am not experienced because frankly i am still playing a game of whack a mole with his symptoms. He was diagnosed only two months ago. Lando has a week of great progress, then blamo something takes him down again ( like last night he had an episode). I am only cautioning you to get lots of info before treating Aggy. I have done one or two hasty treatments with Lando and am fearful that i gave him pain with that hasty decision.

the more experienced members and moderators are amazing and life saving! They deserve medals

all the best to you and Aggy!
 
Lando demando said:
well, the latest thing that works for him when he vomits bile in the early am hours is 1/4 tablet of pepcid ac regular strength every day or every other day. When he had a full on pancreatitis ( yelping, severe vomiting) i used Buprinex for pain relief ( mentioned above by @Sienne and Gabby (GA) and he took close to a month to bounce back. During that time i had to assist feed him with a syringe.

i say that i am not experienced because frankly i am still playing a game of whack a mole with his symptoms. He was diagnosed only two months ago. Lando has a week of great progress, then blamo something takes him down again ( like last night he had an episode). I am only cautioning you to get lots of info before treating Aggy. I have done one or two hasty treatments with Lando and am fearful that i gave him pain with that hasty decision.

the more experienced members and moderators are amazing and life saving! They deserve medals

all the best to you and Aggy!
Click to expand...
Where do you get the buprinex? I cannot get it through the vet, the answer is just no. He even asked another vet.
 
AggyBear said:
Where do you get the buprinex? I cannot get it through the vet, the answer is just no. He even asked another vet.
Click to expand...
Oh that is very interesting. I got it from my vet, but he was VERY reluctant to give it to me. I even had to sign a form regarding the drug. I am in California USA btw.
 
When my cat had teeth extracted, the vet gave me buprenorphine. I didn't have to sign anything. I'm in Ohio and they are crazy here about narcotic addiction.

I would ask the vet for his rationale for not prescribing a pain medication that is routinely used in cats. (And smart mouth that I am, I'd probably ask if he's ever had pancreatitis and if so, what they prescribed. I suspect that oxycodone is used.)
 
I'm in Texas, USA + he doesn't carry it bc of laws make it hard and gabapentin is routinely used blah blah blah. He even called a different vet in that town and he didn't have it either. One of the last times Aggy had a flare up everyone said to get the bupe but I couldn't find it. I feel badly for her but I'm doing all I can with the supportive care.

I don't think it's
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
FLUTD is feline lower urinary tract disease. This is a link to information on the condition. Bron is suggesting that Agatha needs to have a urinalysis done in order to make sure she doesn't have a urinary tract infection. Urinating outside of the litter box is more typical of a UTI than of pancreatitis.
Click to expand...
I think it's the pancreatitis, as her belly is swollen and she is having very foul gas. I do not have any money to do a urine analysis...
 
@AggyBear i know how frustrated you must feel. :( keep researching, asking members and hopefully someone will have another solution. The only suggestion i have is possibly calling the VCA etc and asking what the TX protocols are for Bup. Hang in there, youll find a solution
 
I just found a compounding pharmacy right down the road. The vet will have to make the decision but just curious what is standard dosage for kitties? Agatha probably weighs 12lb.

The compounding technician said they have topical and suspension, he doesn't have it in stock but is going to order it when I get the vet's approval.
 
AggyBear said:
Where do you get the buprinex? I cannot get it through the vet, the answer is just no. He even asked another vet.
Click to expand...
Try emergency vet clinics though you will likely have to take your cat in and pay a small fortune for new tests. During your phone call, explain that your cat has already tested positive for pancreatitis (you can have your vet fax the results over) and needs a very small amount of pain medication; that gabapentin is not helping and your vet does not prescribe bupe. There's no sense going through the whole rigamarole if the emergency clinic does not prescribe narcotics.

And to sound off – sheesh! It's such a small amount that it would not get a human high.
 
I got it filled, just haven't picked it up yet. 40 doses, I think .05/.1 is what the doctor said but not sure. About $45. Does that sound right? The doctor wants me to put it in her cheeks for immediate absorption.
 
I have used buprenorphine with Neko, but it is dosed based on weight of cat, and there is a range of dosing for the weight. Not very helpful, I'm afraid. Neko had severe arthritis, weighed about 14.5 lbs, and got 0.22 ml twice a day of a 0.3mg/ml suspension. Some cats need just half of that. Bupe comes in different concentrations so you have to watch that too. I once got a 0.5mg/ml suspension from and ER vet for another cat and followed the ER vet's dosing. It was WAAAAY too much. He walked like a drunken sailor. Not only was the suspension a higher concentration, the dose was higher. :banghead:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top