Sick Kitty? Possible Pancreatitis Flare

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Tisha's_Person

Tisha's_Person

Member Since 2014
Tisha has a history of pancreatitis. After about 2 years of bladder stones and what a previous vet thought was UTIs, the current vet thinks it may have all been chronic pancreatitis. BUT, since we treated the diabetes, she has not been vomiting or peeing everywhere like she used to. All of a sudden yesterday, she stopped eating as much as usual. She normally eats 3-4 cans of food throughout the day. Yesterday she might have eaten 1 1/2 cans. We left a fresh can out overnight, but she barely ate any of it. This morning, she was excited when I put out her food, then ate 2-3 bites and stopped eating. My husband told me this morning that she threw up in the basement yesterday. When I looked at the spot that he oh-so-thankfully saved for me, I couldn't tell if it was vomit or diarrhea. (Nothing says love like starting at spots on the carpet from the day before and trying to figure out what they are.) Her BG is too low for a shot anyway, so I don't think we have a serious risk of hypo today. What do I need to be doing/watching for? I can't be home today, but my husband will keep an eye on her. He will NOT give her a shot or test BG. This is the first time she's been sick since we started insulin, so I'm a little worried. confused_cat
 
Re: Sick Kitty?

A vet may recommend a short period of GI rest and not pushing food for a day.

Provide plenty of fresh cool water.

If you have any Pepcid AC, 1/4 tablet may reduce stomach acid if present and encourage eating; talk with your vet if unsure.

There are some tips on using Slippery Elm bark to soothe upset GI tracts at Feline CRF

Aloe juice has been helpful for some.

If it is pancreatitis, pain meds reduce discomfort, anti-nausea meds help eating, and an appetite stimulant may help (only do the latter if also doing the anti-nausea meds).
 
Re: Sick Kitty? Possible Pancreatitis Flare-up

I talked to the vet. She thinks Tisha's symptoms are a flare-up of chronic pancreatitis. So, no insulin until symptoms resolve. If she's not better later today, the vet will put her on anti-nausea meds to try to encourage her to eat. Since she's still down 20% of her body weight from the last bout of pancreatitis, the vet is concerned about her losing more weight.

I am so frustrated and disappointed. grumpy_cat She was doing so well and we were probably looking at a dose decrease this weekend. I was naively hoping that with the wet food transition that she might stop having issues with pancreatitis AND that her diabetes might just possibly go into remission. I guess that was just wishful thinking on my part.
 
Hi LIsa,

I'm sorry Tisha's so poorly. Saoirse's in the same boat at the moment. I can relate to your frustration and disappointment and I feel for you. I've been able to keep up Saoirse's insulin treatment to support the pancreas during the flare-up, but only because I'm at home 24/7 to ensure that she eats little and often (timed feeders are great for night-time feeds). That said, all she can tolerate at the moment is poached chicken breast and broth (not a complete food). She is taking anti-nausea and appetite stimulant meds and they've helped a lot.

I hope that Tisha feels better soon.
 
Thanks, Áine. I thought of you and Saoirse when I talked to the vet. I know you have really been struggling too.

I guess I should be grateful that she is eating at all. She's just at about half of what she normally eats. My husband is frustrated because he feels like we're wasting so much food right now. He puts down food for her throughout the day, but she turns her nose up at it if it sits too long. I know she's hungry because when I fed her this morning she was really excited about getting a new dish of food. I put it down and she only ate a few bites. After she stopped eating, I was cleaning out the leftover food from last night and she ran over like she was excited again, so I put it back down and let her sniff it. After she smelled it, she just walked away. Poor kitty. I hate to see her suffering again, and I really hope she doesn't get as sick as last time. Watching her spend 3 days doing nothing but laying at the end of the hallway and barely moving was heartbreaking!

We have an appointment at 10:30 tomorrow morning just in case she doesn't feel better. I sincerely hope that she feels better and we don't have to keep it (and pay the vet again), but if this is like previous issues, she will only continue to get worse. **sigh**
 
Awww, poor Tisha! :sad: Saoirse was exactly the same way before she got her anti-nausea meds and appetite stimulant. She's on metoclopramide for the nausea and cyproheptadine for appetite. (Other board members have recommended Cerenia or ondansetron for the nausea.) It just wrenches at one's heart to see them longing for food and not being able to eat, doubly so because they need their nutrition to get better.

Saoirse is getting over a second bout of diarrhoea, but this time I was able to stop it in its tracks after what I learned from that first truly awful episode. Keeping fIngers and paws crossed over here in The Shire that you'll be able to help Tisha faster this time and that she'll be much more comfortable soon.

For you ---> :YMHUG:

For Tisha ---> cat_pet_icon
 
Yay! I came home to a happy cat who was playing! dancing_cat She is eating, still a little less than usual, but enough to get her shot this evening. BG was 255, so we gave the shot. I'm crossing my fingers that it was the right decision, but I DO think she's eating enough for it to be safe.
 
I would definitely ask for the ondansetron....... I think they make 4 mg....

I have it in 8 mg and have to break the pill into 1/8's and I don't get that one right.


the cyproheptadine is 4 mg. Use it lightly....


You want to give the ondansetron a half hour before the cypro.


the other thing you can try is to find other foods.....
new ones tend to be more attractive......
 
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