probiotics and pancreatitis - maybe don't mix in cats?

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BJM

BJM

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While researching possible diagnoses for Spitzer, I came across a warning for humans that giving probiotics to a person with pancreatitis increases the risk of death. (Spitzer's specific fPL blood tests for pancreatitis have come out "normal", though a biopsy is most diagnostic)

Here is the Google Search

I don't know if this carries over to cats or not. If anyone has any experiences, please respond. I'd been using FortiFlora to encourage appetite ... and it may have made things worse.

Here is the Google Search with the term 'feline' added.
 
BJ,

Spitzer has pancreatitis? As you know Lilly has been dealing wih this issue now for a couple weeks. The vet talked to an internal medicine doctor up at Medvet and I guess beyond the fPl test they very next step that is less invasive to test for pancreatitis is an ultrasound of the pancreas that would be done by a specialist at Medvet. I should hope you could go that route before putting him through a biopsy.
As for him not eating, the vet gave me Mirtazapine which is very small pill given every three days to stimulate appetite and it seems to be working thus far. You might ask your vet about this medication.
I am sorry to hear he might be dealing with this please keep us informed.

Terri
 
According to the specific test, no. It was just 1 of the things I was reading up on, to get some clues. The vets are somewhat stumped.

His liver ultrasound shows "diffuse hepatopathy", so there may be some kind of liver problem.
His intestines sounded "gurgly" to the vet, so I'm wondering about food intolerance, colitis, IBd, cancer, etc.

Just don't have a clear diagnosis of what is wrong.
 
Is he not eating? You could always have a CT scan done but it will cost a boatload of money. They do them at Medvet. I think when I had Ally done it was about 795.00. That would rule out the cancer part of it.
Not sure how IBD or colitis is treated. How you asked the vet? Would that be a food related issue?

Terri
 
I'd been giving Wendall probiotics (Culterelle) daily for a long time and last month he got really sick with pancreatitis and hepatic lipidosis. His spec fPL was 23. Doing research, I also read somewhere about a connection between pancreatitis and probiotics. I can't be sure if that's what caused it but his diet hadn't changed and his diabetes was well regulated.

Forti Flora has a different probiotic and I did sprinkle a tiny bit of it on food to tempt him to eat when his appetite was down. He recovered so the Forti Flora didn't seem to have any adverse effects but I won't use Culterelle again.

Deborah
 
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