Cortisone Shot

A few people here told me not to get Cammy a cortisone shot. Well, when I picked her up, they already had. I'm kind of worried now. She was normal when she came home, but now she's acting really lethargic. What are some things I need to watch for? Is that one of them? I watched her eat a little bit, and use the litter box.

my vet told me that steriods in a cat are safer than in a human... when I looked with dismay she gave me a few studies to look at.... Lets say I no longer go OH no when one needs a steroid

oh call the vet in the am or if you have a er vet this evening.... that is a bad side affect

I have given cats cortisone shots before. I don't like them, but sometimes they are necessary. I'd talk to your vet if she's acting odd, as every cat reacts differently.

Yeah, call the vet tomorrow... It can make some of them lethargic, it did to Bugsy, and he took forever to get back to normal. What did she get? Depo Medrol?
It completely changed Bugsy's mood - no more playing, bye bye happy cat... All he did was eat, and sleep. Pay close attention to her eating - depo gives voracious appetite. I am still dealing with the consequences of his steroid shots (for his stomatitis); he gained a lot of weight because of it (I didn't know, and was free feeding at the time too...)
I hope it was not Depo, but a short term steroid instead... With Depo all I could do was to wait for the side effects to fade, and it took a good month each time.
It did work well for his inflammation though, and as Nat says, it does have its places; sometimes it is necessary.

Long term it is very bad, but once or twice, to bring down the inflammation, it might not be a bad thing if the reasons behind it outweights the risks and side effects - Cammy's case, I suppose.

Carolina, they just said it was a cortisone shot, I didn't know there were different names. I'm terrible, I never know what questions to ask.

She's acting normal this morning. I think she probably just still didn't feel good, and also, when she got home she had to go straight into the spare bedroom with Abbey because my floor was being worked on. So she spent four hours pounding at the door. So that, and still being sick, I think that's why she was so tired.

Definitely haven't noticed in increase in appetite yet, sort of the opposite. She hasn't eaten much. But she is eating and drinking.

I hope Cammy feels better soon.

Originally Posted by kscatlady

Carolina, they just said it was a cortisone shot, I didn't know there were different names. I'm terrible, I never know what questions to ask.

She's acting normal this morning. I think she probably just still didn't feel good, and also, when she got home she had to go straight into the spare bedroom with Abbey because my floor was being worked on. So she spent four hours pounding at the door. So that, and still being sick, I think that's why she was so tired.

Definitely haven't noticed in increase in appetite yet, sort of the opposite. She hasn't eaten much. But she is eating and drinking.

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Ok... Probably not Depo, then... otherwise chances are she would be pigging out quite a bit. I hate that shot! Uhg! But it did serve a purpose when I had no other choice for Bugsy, so... They do have different cortizone shots, that are short term, lasting a week or so - Depo-Medrol lasts about a month.

In the end, what did they say she has? IBD?

Originally Posted by Carolina

Ok... Probably not Depo, then... otherwise chances are she would be pigging out quite a bit. I hate that shot! Uhg! But it did serve a purpose when I had no other choice for Bugsy, so... They do have different cortizone shots, that are short term, lasting a week or so - Depo-Medrol lasts about a month.

In the end, what did they say she has? IBD?

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Ugh, $340 later, they say she has a sensitive stomach or IBD.

Originally Posted by kscatlady

Ugh, $340 later, they say she has a sensitive stomach or IBD.

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What is she eating now?

I am dealing with the same thing here... times two - Bugsy has IBD, Hope has IBS. I just took Hope to another vet today, and she was given another medication, to combine with Metronidazole, as it is not working too well on its own. She was given a solution of Sulfasalizine. I know some cats don't tolerate this, but he explained to me her solution is very diluted, not enough for side effects. She took a dose today, and so far so good, lets see what happens - it is to be used only during her flare ups.

Hope is now also eating Royal Canin Venison and Pea RX Formula, canned, exclusively, but I will have to find something else to add to her diet, as she is definitely not too excited about it...

My vet wants me to control this thing completely with diet, and only medicate her during the flare ups... I need to find a diet she likes.

What did your vet put Cammy on?

She's eating Natural Balance Green Pea and Duck.

They didn't give me anything for the IBD, they gave me three days worth of something for her soft poop called centrine and clavamox.

Originally Posted by kscatlady

She's eating Natural Balance Green Pea and Duck.

They didn't give me anything for the IBD, they gave me three days worth of something for her soft poop called centrine and clavamox.

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Oh boy, Clavamox? Clavamox biggest side effects are diarrhea and vomit... Weird antibiotic choice for IBD, IMO...

Originally Posted by Carolina

Ok... Probably not Depo, then... otherwise chances are she would be pigging out quite a bit. I hate that shot!

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Just to clarify - this is not always true. Depo is the only injectable steroid that I'm aware of.

If it's IBD, which btw is very difficult to diagnose without a biopsy, the vet will want her on steroids the rest of her life.

This seems to state most of the pill forms of steroids are also injectable
http://www.peteducation.com/article....1+2117&aid=505

It was the easiest to understand site

I have two Ibs/Ibd cats and both got injections not depo... and neither at this time uses steroids ... It is a cat by cat thing and also what the vet is comfortable with

Originally Posted by Momofmany

Just to clarify - this is not always true. Depo is the only injectable steroid that I'm aware of.

If it's IBD, which btw is very difficult to diagnose without a biopsy, the vet will want her on steroids the rest of her life.

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Sorry, but not really true... Lucky has gotten a short term injectable steroid, it last about a week, when she had her cough spell.

Also, IBD does not equal steroids for the rest of her life at all. I have discussed this with my two vets (from two different practices), and both of them agree with no steroids due to the side effects outweighing the benefits. They both agreed It can be managed with Diet.

Bugsy has IBD. He is on a daily medication for his stomatitis that luckily and by coincidence seems to help his IBD a quite a bit, and it is cortisone free. Besides that, I manage it with Diet. He hasn't had a flare up since we started managing his diet appropriately (well before starting medication).

In Hope's case (IBS), it will be managed by diet, and during flare ups, with metro and sulfasalazine solution.

Not to put a downer on the subject but my cast had been licking hair off herself, so I took her in to get checked, she WA fine and happy, a little stressed with a new cat for last 2 months, but good. Very said she needed her two main shots and wanted to give a cortisone shot, figured that was normal so said ok. Cat was acting lethargic and this started bout a day and a half ago, came home after work just now and my cat had passed away. Only thing different was the cortisone. Don't know what happened.

This forum has been inactive for over a year but this is what I'm experiencing with my cat now. Mr. Mowgli got a cortisone shot (lasts in the system for 4-6 weeks) for the ulcers that he gets on the sides of his mouth last Monday (2.5 days ago). Now he is a totally transformed cat. He usually loves going out hunting every night but now he is always in the house sleeping or just laying down. Also, all he eats is treats. He usually eats wet cat food twice a day but now he would just lick the wet food and I don't see him eating any food at all. Yesterday I saw him come to his food bowl (I leave out dry food for him as well) but he would smell the food and then try to cover it and walk away.

I'm gonna call the vet tomorrow and see what's up. I thought he is just upset over the vet visit and also thunder and the fireworks (since 4th of July is close) but I'm afraid his condition might be worsening.

He is my first cat I was also wondering if he is just getting old (he turned 3 years last May) and then lethargic? It is not like him though otherwise.

Suggestions appreciated.

MowgliTheCat said:

 
This forum has been inactive for over a year but this is what I'm experiencing with my cat now. Mr. Mowgli got a cortisone shot (lasts in the system for 4-6 weeks) for the ulcers that he gets on the sides of his mouth last Monday (2.5 days ago). Now he is a totally transformed cat. He usually loves going out hunting every night but now he is always in the house sleeping or just laying down. Also, all he eats is treats. He usually eats wet cat food twice a day but now he would just lick the wet food and I don't see him eating any food at all. Yesterday I saw him come to his food bowl (I leave out dry food for him as well) but he would smell the food and then try to cover it and walk away.

I'm gonna call the vet tomorrow and see what's up. I thought he is just upset over the vet visit and also thunder and the fireworks (since 4th of July is close) but I'm afraid his condition might be worsening.

He is my first cat I was also wondering if he is just getting old (he turned 3 years last May) and then lethargic? It is not like him though otherwise.

Suggestions appreciated.

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Im in the same boat as you. My cat vy playful,noisy, energised and demanding. Now all he does is lie down, doesnt talk or meow, does nothing. Breating rapid also. He still eats and drinks but hes not himself. I knew I shouldnt have got the steroid shots im an idiot for listening to ppl. I held off that week and wa going to hold off again because he seemed fne but he had a big lump on his throat. I dont think he will make it. I hope he gets better as ppl here have mentioned their cat took 3-4 weeks and it got better but I fear the worst for my poor boy.

also 3 is not old. My cat is 15 and a half years.

catconcern said:

 
Im in the same boat as you. My cat vy playful,noisy, energised and demanding. Now all he does is lie down, doesnt talk or meow, does nothing. Breating rapid also. He still eats and drinks but hes not himself. I knew I shouldnt have got the steroid shots im an idiot for listening to ppl. I held off that week and wa going to hold off again because he seemed fne but he had a big lump on his throat. I dont think he will make it. I hope he gets better as ppl here have mentioned their cat took 3-4 weeks and it got better but I fear the worst for my poor boy.

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Hey Catconcern,

Sorry to hear about your cat. How long has it been since he got the shot? My cat got the shot last Monday (June 30th) for developing ulcers that he often gets which cleared up magically but his behavior changed so drastically! Anyway, we took him back to the vet again on Saturday (July 5th) cause his condition was getting worse and when I had called the vet they said that this was not normal, bring him back in as he might be having some discomfort. On the 5th, the vet took his temperature and he had a high fever of 106 degrees! They gave him fluids, B12 and B-complex and antibiotic shot. His blood work came out normal. They asked to monitor him and take him back in again this Monday if he doesn't improve.

He seemed a little better after coming back from the vet as he seemed more interested in the food. But still, not eating enough. He just eats a few bites and then tries to cover the food. I am trying all sorts of varieties of food but in vain.

Did your cat develop a lump before or after the shot? Prayers to your cat and you - hope he gets well soon. Try to be optimistic. I know it is hard but I hear it affects the cats too. (Easier said than done for me )

Take care.