Vitamin k side effects in cats

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koiffedkitten

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I have a 10 year old kitty with fatty liver disease. The vet called me today and prescribed vitamin k, one pill a day. I included the pill in her 6pm feeding. Then, for the first time in the previous 24 hours of 3 hour interval feedings, she vomitted - twice. I am wondering if it is the vitamin k. Otherwise, I fear her system is rejecting food.

Does anyone have any experience with vomitting as a side effect in cats of vitamin k?
 
Lindsay, are you sure it is Vitamin K? That is used to clot blood and seriously have to question why the vet would even give it to you.
 
Okay, just did some more searching and in some cases of HL (hepatic lipidosis/fatty liver) K can be needed/used. You gave her the pill for today so talk to the vet in the morning and tell her about the vomiting and lethargy. Also, Autumn became sick shortly after tube placement and I took her back in to ER. She was loaded with gas and one capsule of Gas-X squirted down her tube made all the difference in the world. They didn't do it at the ER, just told me what to do. So......let her settle, talk to vet in the a.m. and if she is still acting wonky, maybe an x-ray is needed to see if she has gas.
 
I never would have thought of that - gas. I am going to talk to the vet in the morning and hopefully get some positive answers.

Some thoughts I am having.

1) I was overzealous in my feeding and water of Ali.

2) The vitamin k caused the vomitting.

3) Her body is rejecting the food and.........

Of course I want to consider the first 2 and any other possibilities. I don't want to give up on her. And if I need to, I don't know how I can handle it.

I'm thinking of foregoing feeding until 6am at which time I will give her everything but the k and feed her about half of what I had fed her at 6pm. What do you think?
 
I agree.......hard to stop the feedings but no good if she is going to vomit it back up. You don't want her to vomit that tube up and it can happen.
 
I've got Alicat in the livingroom with me. She's on her electric blanket . She seems so still but her eyes are open. I wish she would sleep.

I'll let you know what the vet says tomorrow.

Thanks again, Hope
 
Are you tube feeding your kitty? How much are you giving each feeding?

When I tube-fed Layla I gave her 180mL/day (one 6-ounce can). She couldn't tolerate a lot at one time, so, I had to feed her smaller amounts (25-30mL) at a time over the course of the day. Also, make sure you are taking time and not rushing the food in her.
 
The vet said to start with 6ml every 3 hours. I did.

Then I was told to go to 12ml every 3 hours. I did.

I then tried 18ml per vet's instructions. I did this at 6am, 9am, 12noon, 3pm, and 6pm. She tossed the last feeding. I'm not sure why.

I'm going to wait until 6am to restart her feeding at 12ml along with all her meds, minus the v k.
 
Lindsay, are you still giving her the Pepcid A/C? If so, that should be given at least an hour before feeding, give it time to settle in the tummy.
 
Okay, just wanted to check on the amount of food given.

It's okay to continue to offer food (in addition to the tube feedings) to see when her interest in food returns.

I hope she feels better soon.
 
Hope, the vet prescribed Zantac. She never said anything other than to give it to her 2x a day.

I am not feeling good about this tonight. I brought her up with me and she sat in her favorite chair for awhile, but then jumped off and sat on the floor with her head hanging lifeless but her eyes open. I guess I was fussing over her too much because she got up and moved away from me about 2 feet.

I took her back downstairs and placed her in a comfy chair with a quilt on it. I think she needs her space. Maybe she's going to die and she needs to be by herself. I'm hoping that she'll sleep. She hasn't slept well for awhile now. Is there something that they can give a cat to help her sleep? This evening is definitely a step back and my greatest fear is that she is in pain. But she was purring when I scratched her.

I might have to put her down tomorrow if the vet confirms that she's rejecting the treatment. if she vomits her 6am feeding, well, I suppose that would suggest so. I don't understand how she could have taken such an about face so quickly. It's now hard for me to believe it was the k.

Hope, after a cat is euthanized, what do they do with the body? I mean, I can't afford a kitty cemetary plot. But I don't think I could live with the knowledge that she was just thrown in a dumpster.
 
Lindsay, let her sleep. Give her time, they don't turn around overnight from fatty liver. You just started tube feeding, maybe some bumps in the road but do not talk about putting her down so soon. Give her a chance to get better. Zantac is okay. Talk to vet in a.m. and she may want to check the tube, etc. She's been feeling lousy since being constipated, then the enema, then the tube surgery......give her some time and some space if she wants it.
 
Hope, I let her try and sleep the rest of the night - about 4 hours. Gave her 6am feeding. Just waiting to see if it stays down. I only gave her about 8ml of food this time.
 
She took her 9am feeding (about 10ml) and has kept it down so far. She also had her 150ml of electrolyte fluid earlier this morning. That seemed to be what perked her up. She's been slowly moving around but still listless. She peed again but no stool. I think she is peeing much, much more than ever before - which I take as a good sign. The vet had said the water in and out would wash the bile from her system

I called the vet this morning but my dr is not in today. The other vet was with patients but they promised to call me back when free. I'm holding off on the v k for the time being.

Thank you, Hope
 
Hope, yes. Under the skin.

About ready to do the 12pm feeding and all seems well so far. No vomiting.

Talked to the vet. She said.....

1) 12ml food per feeding is fine
2) 150ml of fluids is best, though I could go 2x a day (75ml each).
3) Vitamin A every other day - that could have been the reason for the vomiting
4) No Gasx right now. Rely on Zantac to control gas. (I'll bring that up again on Monday.)
5) No liver supplements until my vet says - on enough meds right now
6) Should see a bowl movement in a couple days, but Monday I'll inquire about another enema if not.
7) listlessness is normal.
8) Amount of urination is great.

Ali appears to be sleeping but it's a light sleep. What I like better about this is that she is on her side and her head is turned (like normal) as opposed to her head hanging limply and buried in the carpet or comforter.

Ok. gotta feed her

Have a great day, Hope
xoxox
 
Lindsay, you posted Vit. A.......is it Vit A or Vit K?

Also, 150mls is the max any cat should get at a time....too much can overload heart and kidneys. Remember she is also getting fluids with water you use to flush the tube. I would do the once a day, less sticking of the needle. Are you keeping the area where the tube goes into the neck clean?

Glad you were able to talk to a vet also.
 
Yes, vitamin K. I'm tired, I guess.

Gotcha on the 150ml. Good to know that she's getting as much as any cat could get.

Yes, I am keeping the tube clean. Vet gave me a procedure and I'm sure she'll check it on Monday.

She's in the basement now. It's really a warm and comfortable area without distractions. I've got her in a little basket she loves, surounded by towels and blankets. She really must be exhausted because, as listless as she's been, she really hasn't slept.
 
Ali seems more alert today and more mobile. Has kept all her food down. Has been urinating though not quite as much. Maybe this means she is maintaining her hydration better? And she gave me a special surprise. I was holding her after her 3pm feeding when she unleashed the biggest, most awful, smelliest fart I have ever experienced. And this is, of course, excellent, because it means that the discomfort of the gas has been reduced. Hope, you were right about that one, too.

I'm expecting a bm anytime now.

6pm feeding coming up. The last thing I want is for her to throw up (as with her last 6pm feeding) so I am going to cut the food down a bit.
 
My Alicat passed away this morning. Ammonia had built up in her blood and had traveled to her brain, causing motor skill problems and other issues associated with it. She was gone even before she passed away

Alicat was simply a wonderful cat. In so many ways she was human. Honestly, she was my best friend. Only a cat lover can understand that.

Special thanks to all you wonderful people who helped me through this time.

Lindsay
 
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