? Pancreatitis Questions

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Joanj

Joanj

Member Since 2018
Hi,

I was told my 9 y/o Lucy had FD and pancreatitis in a 24 hour vet hosp. Since bringing her home, her BG has been very good and the first 2 days on the insulin dose they had her own, her BG dropped too low. I am syringe feeding her about 6 times a day and trying to get enough food into her to help her recover.

My question is, what have others seen when their cat had pancreatitis? How long does it take for them to recover? She's been home for 5 days and her energy level is still low. I know the first couple days I wasn't feeding her enough and thro advice on this forum, I've upped my feedings. She is drinking and peeing. I tested for ketones this am and I think it was negative. I need to get new strips tomorrow tho just to make sure.

she is on anti-nausea and appetite stimulant. Is there anything else I can do for her? Any test I should ask my vet for? I'm taking her in tomorrow for just to show my vet her ss and get her a once-over. I did add a little digestive enzyme to her food, which I'm blending up. She is on FF classic pate chicken and liver. I've tried everything to tempt her to eat on her own but she just won't so I'm not going to stress about that right now.

Any thoughts would be appreciated or if anyone's cat had pancreatitis, what sort of things can I expect?

Thanks!
 
With pancreantitis it's more about treating the symptoms. Pain is number 1, nausea, fluids and no appitite. Phoebe will be more lethargic during an episode. Her poos are grey and stinky! We give her subq fluids 2x a week or more. She gets bupe for pain every 8hours, we had it compounded to rub in her ears. She is on an anti nausea, zofran and cerenia for anti vomitting. Both work good together but may not be necessary for every case. Head bumps and scritches :cat: keep asking questions.
 
If my cat has pancreatitis, can i expect her to keep having episodes, and if so, Is there anything I can do to prevent recurrance?
 
She may need to have both cerenia and Zofran to combat the nausea. They can be given together. What is Lucy taking for nausea?
If she is still lethargic she could be a bit dehydrated. Get your vet to check hydration tomorrow.
Some cats just have one episode of pancreatitis and some cats go on to have an episode every so often. My Sheba used to have an episode once or twice a year, sometimes longer inbetween.
I would speak to your vet and ask if you can keep some pain meds, anti nausea meds and maybe some subQ fluids at home to have if it happens again.
I don't think there is anything really that one can do to stop a recurrence. Just keep her well fed, well hydrated and hopefully the FD regulated.
 
She's on cerenia. I'll ask about the other one today.

Does anyone know what's a good amount of water to aim for? She was drinking pretty well up til yesterday and now I'm giving it to her in a dropper because she goes to the water bowl but she barely licks at it.
 
you might add a little water to her food

she's probably getting more moisture now that you're feeding her more often so isn't as thirsty, but the more water you can get into her, the better

Have you checked her for dehydration?
 
I just looked up how to do that. Im just not sure so moved my vet appt up a coupl er of hours from now.
 
I just got back from the vet and she was a little dehydrated so they gave her sub-q saline and more a/d. They did blood work and I'll update the ss tomorrow but basically all her numbers have improved so we're down to more food and water and repeat labs in a week or two depending on how shes doing. The vet tech got 40cc of a/d down her so that helps my daily totals!
 
How’s she doing? Pancreatitis can be chronic or acute. Max had chronic panc for years that led to his diabetes.
 
Not well. I had her in for blood work 2 days ago and a glucose curve today. Her pancreatitis is no longer an issue and her labs are a little better but shes had no insulin since the 8th and her BG was fairly low at the vets office. Yet shes still not doing well and the vet suspects something else is going on, causing all this.

Im going to continue syringe feeding and step up elecrolytes but without much more extensive testing, we may not find the cause. Even if we do find it, it may not be treatable. I just cant spend hundreds more on top of the thousands ive already spent, when she may not make it despite knowing whats causing this. Im going to do what i can to give her a chance but something very weird is going on with her.
 
With a history of DKA are you testing the urine for ketones.? She hasn’t had insulin for several days according to the SS and not eating all that well, so I would test for ketones to make sure they have not come back.

If Lucy is still not eating on her own yet and is possibly nauseated I can’t see how the vet can say that pancreatitis is not now an issue. Some cats can take a couple of weeks or longer before they can eat properly after pancreatitis.
I also would not be giving the enzymes, they are not for pancreatitis but for another condition of the pancreas.
 
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tiffmaxee said:
Ok. Have you been to a internal medicine vet specialist?
Click to expand...
No, my vet said that would be a next step if I wanted to pursue it. Honestly, I just can't. I spent over $5,000 at the 24 hour Vet Hosp when she was diagnosed and an additional $500 on tests and such at my own vet. I just can't do it.

She is taking cerenia every day for nausea. I've tested for ketones with the test strips and didn't find any.

Have any of you done syringe feeding for weeks and if so, how many? Lucy is not drinking on her own either so I'm giving her water, pediatlyte and chicken broth now by syringe too and trying to keep track of the cc's. She's just not showing interest in doing anything at all on her own.
 
I'm so sorry you are having such a hard time with Lucy.
I don't know a lot about syringe feeding but there are people here that do know a lot about it..
If you can change your subject line to " please help with syringe feeding" or something similar I am sure you will get help.
Hang in there. You are doing a wonderful job with Lucy:bighug:
Have you seen this link to syringe feeding
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/syringe-assisted-feeding-video-and-tips.144367/

Suggestions on how to stimulate appetite link
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/suggestions-on-how-to-stimulate-kittys-appetite.130770/

The liver shake recipe
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/the-liver-shake-for-sick-cats.30432/
 
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