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old cat appetite

post #1 of 13
1/20/10 at 11:35am
Thread Starter 
Brittany is 18. A few weeks ago she lost her appetite but got it back after the vet gave her a Pepcid shot. Her appetite's gone again. We don't want to take her to the vet if possible. Does anyone know anything about giving a cat Pepcid orally ?
Thanks.
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post #2 of 13
1/20/10 at 11:37am
I give the compounded kind but do not kno the does for the pill type.
Can you call a vet and ask what the dosage would be.
Your cat might have CRF or something now that is causing her not to eat.
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post #3 of 13
1/20/10 at 12:20pm
Thread Starter 
Maybe this information would be helpful in some way.

When she went to the vet a few weeks ago, her blood test showed her kidneys and liver were a little comprimised but not seriously.

She acts like wants to eat - meows at her dish, but won't eat.

She seems to be drinking more water than usual.
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post #4 of 13
1/20/10 at 12:31pm
Her kidneys might be causing that.
That is what my almost 18 year old Coco does.
This is what Coco gets.
Famotidine 10mg/ml
I can get you the dosage but it is not the same for every cat.
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post #5 of 13
1/20/10 at 12:46pm
Thread Starter 
Mg/ml means it's a shot, right ? If so, are you a vet or do vets let owners give their pets shots?

The vet made it seem like her kidneys had problems but made it sound like they weren't serious.

If Brittany does have CRF, is it possible she'll still survive many months or even years ?
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post #6 of 13
1/20/10 at 12:57pm
That is anot a shot.
It is liquid.
The dosage is .25 ml
I am not a vet but am allowed to give shots and fluids.
Can you find out what her Bun and Crea is?
My Coco was given 5 months to live a year ago.
That is when we found out she has CRF.
It depends on the cat how long they live.
My Stripe lasted a year and she was only 11.
There are alot of treatments.
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post #7 of 13
1/20/10 at 1:13pm
Thread Starter 
The night time vet opens at 6 - in about 2 hours. I will call them and ask about the bun and crea. We hope to spare her a trip to the vet which is stressful to her and expensive to us.
Thank you very much for your help. I'll probably post here again tonight.
Happy about Coco.
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post #8 of 13
1/20/10 at 1:17pm
I will wait for your post.
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post #9 of 13
1/21/10 at 5:44am
Thread Starter 
The Pepcid really seemed to work. She started eating again.
Sorry did not get back with you last night, I wasn't here. It's a computer at work.
The vet said based on her weight, to give her 1/4 of the 10 mg Pepcid pill and to make sure it was only Famotidine in the ingredients. FOrgot to ask about lab results.
Brittany will be 19 in March. Her sister Chynna made it to 18.
Thank you very much.
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post #10 of 13
1/21/10 at 6:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dmh View Post
Maybe this information would be helpful in some way.

When she went to the vet a few weeks ago, her blood test showed her kidneys and liver were a little comprimised but not seriously.

She acts like wants to eat - meows at her dish, but won't eat.

She seems to be drinking more water than usual.
This usually means one of two things. Nausea or mouth pain (dental problems)

pepcid a/c can be given safely. The usual dose is 1/4 of a 10 mg tablet, once a day, usually in the morning. Talk to your vet before starting it.

There are ways you can help your kitty be more interested in eating.

Offer only small amounts at a time. No more than a tablespoon full in the dish.

Warm the food, to make it more smelly, cats operate by smell. (I do this by running hot water over the glass dish. Then put the food in the dish and stir it around to absorb the heat)

Pick up uneaten food right away, never leave food lying around, she will become desensitized to the smell of it.

If she eats a little then walks away, wait until she settles somewhere, and offer the food again, she may eat a little more

Did your vet check her teeth?
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post #11 of 13
1/21/10 at 6:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dmh View Post
Mg/ml means it's a shot, right ? If so, are you a vet or do vets let owners give their pets shots?

The vet made it seem like her kidneys had problems but made it sound like they weren't serious.

If Brittany does have CRF, is it possible she'll still survive many months or even years ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by dmh View Post
The Pepcid really seemed to work. She started eating again.
Sorry did not get back with you last night, I wasn't here. It's a computer at work.
The vet said based on her weight, to give her 1/4 of the 10 mg Pepcid pill and to make sure it was only Famotidine in the ingredients. FOrgot to ask about lab results.
Brittany will be 19 in March. Her sister Chynna made it to 18.
Thank you very much.
Ah, I see you already started the pepcid, I hadn't read far enough into the thread that's great!

I, also am skilled with giving subcutaneous (sub q) shots at home, and subq fluids too. If her kidneys are failing, many cats can be maintained for a long time with sub q fluids, and most people learn to do it at home.

My Ootay (rb 5/09) was diagnosed with CRF when she was 15, and I kept her with me with excellent quality of life for three more years.

I developed the feeding techniques I listed in my first post to you, on Ootay.
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post #12 of 13
1/21/10 at 6:36am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the food advice. Her food is kept out all the time so that might explain the finickyness. For about 9 hours a day, she's alone.

Should she just be left with a spoonful of food for that time and eat after someone's home from work?
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post #13 of 13
1/21/10 at 10:24am
That dosage sounds right to me.
Cocos is Famotidine also.
The vet gave you good advice.
I hope she feels better.
I got your pm.
My Coco will be 18 in March if she is ok by then.
Can you call and ask for the lab results.
You can write them down.
I would like to see what her numbers are.
I have other ideas but it all depends on what the numbers are.
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