Pancreazyme powder

[doombuggy]

has anyone used this on their cat with pancreatitis? The doctor gave this to me last Friday for Cedric. He had gotten a shot of buprenorphine last Friday, whcih has finally worn off (Cedric has been really fidigety during testing times). today, Cedric didn't want to eat his breakfast (Friskies Ocean Whitefish with this powder on it, 1/8 teaspoon). He ate a couple of bites but really wanted water. I gave him some water to drink and I also gave him some fluids, about 75ml. he was 280 bg this am and got 4 units of Lev.

Anyone give me some insight on this powder? Woudl it make him not want to eat (ie it tastes nasty)? On Saturday the vet's office called with his blood tests results (much better apparently) and said to give him the powder if he tolerates it?

 

[BJM]

Typically, you give pancreatic enzymes if there is reason to believe the pancreas is not producing enough of them, a condition called exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

Check the ingredient label - there may be ingredients intended to improve palatability. If not, it probably doesn't have much flavor per se. It does start digesting the food it is mixed in, which may alter the food's taste and texture a bit. Adding Forti Flora which is in an animal digest base may improve palatability.

Some additional reading:
http://www.vetinfo.com/feline-pancreatitis-exocrine-pancreas-insufficiency-cats.html
http://en.wikivet.net/Exocrine_Pancreatic_Insufficiency_-_Cat
http://healthypets.mercola.com/site.../05/15/exocrine-pancreatic-insufficiency.aspx

 

[jmason7]

I also have a cat with pancreatitis (for past 9yrs) and diabetes (past 2 yrs) and I give him the enzymes. Yes, it does have a foul taste and at first my cat would not eat it either. My advise would be to go very slowly -- I added just a pinch of the enzymes to start and very gradually added a little more and more until he could tolerate it. I also have syringe filled buprenex on hand that I give my cat - if you don't have that I would suggest asking your vet about it. Hope this helps and good luck. Pancreatitis is tough and tricky to deal with but your cat can have a great life with a dedicated owner. Let me know if you have any other questions- unfortunately I have a lot of experience with the pancreatitis issue.

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

My cat bailey has epi. He started losing weight and having fluffy smelly poop and diarrhea which is classic symptoms. So he was tested for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency using bloodwork and it came back his TLI was 6. That means he needs enzymes for the rest of his life as well as bimonthly b12 shots. Did your vet run bloodwork? Do these symptoms sound familiar?

The enzymes need to be mixed well with food and sit for 20minutes before feeding. If not, they can cause mouth ulcers.

Some cats the smell puts them off and so you need to put topping or stuff on the food to tempt them to eat it.

Also I found the dose recommended upset his stomach and I had to start much less and work up. You used 1/8tsp for a whole can of friskies?

Wendy

 

[doombuggy]

BJM - thanks for the links, I will read them over the weekend. When I googled, all I was getting was places that sell the product. They put the powder in a script vial, so no ingredents. He goes back tomorrow, so I think I will ask them.

Wendy - oh, no they had me putting 1/8 teaspoon in his meal which is about 3 oz. I thought it seemed like a bit much. when I start putting it in his food again, i will go slower.

jmason7 - thanks for your offer - I will probably pm you at some time, as this is just driving me crazy! He had acute pancreatitis/dka in July, had a bout of pancreatitis in August 2012, and had some treatments in the past few days due to a flare up. He's dehydrated and had small to moderate ketones, so he spent the day at the vet. He's doing better but we can't figure out the problem, as his bg this morning was 228 (last night it was 237). a short while ago it was 253.