Chickster Growling at butt

Since the episodes are intensifying, if this were me I would be asking the vet to start her on medication. Phenobarbital is the one I would choose. Just to alleviate the current symptoms which are not doing anyone any good.

Once the diet transition is complete, and has been for six weeks, she can be slowly weaned off the meds, to see if the new diet will make a difference. But I think this has got to stop, or the stress of it is going to cause even more problems.

Chickster.

Thanks Otto. I called the vet and she was very open to starting meds and said I could pick up some tomorrow (Today, Friday) She wants to try prozac or another one I can't remember the name of now. I asked about phenobarbital because I read cats with this problem respond well to it. She also wants to do an x-ray on her hips and lower back. I told her I'd have to save the money up for that. I asked about doing an ultrasound for IBD, she said she'd be willing to do it but she was pretty sure we wouldn't find anything.

She slept with me on my bed all morning and a ll afternoon (I work nights) and had no fits this evening. Even after I left for work, which is usually when she starts having them lately, Mom said she was totally fine.

I will pick up the medication tomorrow and talk a bit more with the vet about it. The lady who took my call to begin with heard Chickster having the fits over the phone (AND Kept interrupting our conversation with her loudness!)and got very quiet, and asked fearfully, "Is.... is that her right now?" I said "Yes!! DO you hear her? She is going crazy!" She said "You just hold on I'll have the vet call you in just a few minutes as soon as she gets done!"

Even the vet said the lady told her what she had heard over the phone. So I am glad they are taking this seriously. I am still totally in love with this vet.

Anyway. I will update later. Thanks Otto and everyone for your help. Feel like I am going crazy here, so soon after Boo and now Chickster.. It is trying.

Just an added update, for anybody else who may pop along wondering about this, I found out from the guy (His name is Larry) who gave me Chickster that her mother "most likely has some siamese in her" I've read Siamese and some breeds are more prone to FHS than others, but who knows, that may have nothing to do with it. I am still clueless and she has had a minor fit already this morning. I am going to get her meds, which the doc was going to research Amitriptyline and Prozac. I am still asking about the phenobarbital. Now I am concerned about side effects of all these medications, as Larry was quick to point out. I surely don't want Chickster going the same route as Boo.

Any advice on these meds? I will be doing research as well, but you guys have so much more experience than me on everything cat related. Thank you so much for your patience and help. I know I always jump on ya'lls trunks crying out for help! love you all

I know I was thinking of you and having to cope with this after what you just went through with Boo.

I wonder if the other medicine is amitriptyline. Amitriptyline is often prescribed for certain behavioral issues and is a good medication, except that the dopiness doesn't really wear off. Amitriptyline is sedating and it remains sedating, I mean the effects don't wear off with time, like they do with phenobarbital.

Phenobarbital is a very strong drug and I can understand a vet's reluctance to use it, I guess, though it is fast acting usually and the body does adjust to it in a few weeks.

I'm not the vet of course and I know you like this vet, I'm just not a fan of kitty Prozac. But if it works for Chickster, then I will revise my thinking.

Prozac or amitriptyline, either one, may take some time for you to see improvement. And of course with any drug, dose refining will most likely be needed.

I know you will keep us posted.

Chickster (and for you too)

Thank you Otto.

I am thinking that is her reason for skipping over the Phenobarbital altogether, too, as my research is saying long term use can cause liver impairment, and it seems the safest choice is Prozac, but it will take the longest to see improvement. And here is Chickster now, picking at her rabies tag that is taped to her paperwork. Gotta go pay 'ttention to her.

Thanks again

Okay. Vet gave me two bottles of liquid prednisone for IBD just in case she does have it, and a bottle of Amitriptyline liquid. I'm to give 1 ml twice a day of each and if her behavior changes within a couple weeks, we'll taper off on the Amitrip to see if it is just IBD. She said she picked the Amitrip because it does have more of an anti-anxiety affect to it and we're hoping it helps, but if she changes within 1-2 weeks, we'll be focusing on IBD, and if it takes about 3 weeks or more we'll be more sure of the Hyperasthesia. Basically. It is hard to take in all that information at once and I forgot my file.
I just administered it to Chickster who HIGHLY dislikes it and I cannot pill her, which is why I went with the liquid. Boy did she drool like crazy. I gave her a bit of water to wash it down with but it didn't help much. She went right to her bowl and ate a good bit. Hoping it doesn't come back up.
Here's to hoping one of these meds help!! They are mighty expensive!! But she took them well, was quiet while I did it through I had to scruff her to keep her from scurrying away.

Wow! I wonder why suddenly it's escalating so much? Anyway, I have a bag of Wellness Core that I bought earlier in the year (right before Sven was diagnosed with kidney disease) that I cannot use, and would be glad to send it to you, but it HAS been opened and sitting in my garage all summer, however, it's been sealed. If you want it, PM me with your address and I'll mail it to you. There's probably at least 5 lbs still in it.

I'm so sorry this is happening, especially so soon after Boo's issues. Hang in there

Thank you so much for offering, but the vet and I thought it would be best to hold off on the Wellness Core and see if the medication worked first. She said the more I changed at this moment the less we would know about what was fixing/working. So I am just sticking with the Sensitive Stomach Purina One for right now. She hates the Wellness Core anyway and went out of her way to pick around what I had mixed in to the best of her ability.(I cannot believe she did that)
We have no clue why suddenly it's gone to this extreme. I'm trying to figure out if it's Boo passing and Boca coming indoors at night (In a closed room by himself, no physical contact with Chickster) and I've moved my bed twice since Boo's passed and rearranged some furniture in my room once.

So we're not sure if it's just the changes and stress or actually a problem in her head or body yet. I hate being clueless like this. She has gone since noon with NO ATTACKS whatsoever though, and has only had one round of medicine. So we'll see. She's been very laid back today.

Thank you for offering again, I appreciate it so so much <3

I have been reading this thread without comment for a few days and just wanted to say you are an amazing kitty mama. Lots of people would have given up long ago. You are working hard to help the little one which makes you pretty special. I hope the meds help - and you both find things easier soon. Hang in there.

Thank You JustJayde.

Chickster has not had a fit ALL AFTERNOON OR EVENING! I am SO EXCITED. But I terrified myself a minute ago by trying to give her the prednisone. She flipped out this time and I couldn't hang on to her (Next time, bathroom, duh) and she went to the steps and coughed something awful, so I thought she had aspirated some medicine, then I'm freaking out that she's going to drown and die and I'm trying to wash the foam and spit off her mouth (Pred is apparently very bitter, why didn't I just get pills, *smacks self in forehead*) and had to call a friend to assure everything was ok. She is eating now, just like Boo, after a "traumatic" event she eats. She is ok but I still have to give her the Amitrip and I am so not looking forward to that.

And I thought liquids would be easier than fighting a pill down her throat. HA!

*Sighs* Thank you all so very much <3 <3

I find pills WAY easier to give than liquid, but you can use the same method for liquid as for pills.

If you want detailed instructions on how I medicate my (or any other) cats I will be happy to post it here in this thread or via PM whichever you prefer.

Once you master my method you will be able to medicate any cat. I know I can (sorry to brag, but it's true )

I too HATE liquids. I am really struggling with dosing my boy his antibiotics via syringe so I tried adding it to some wet food and he gobbles it right up. Stress free for us both and still getting the meds into him.

You can try this method but if it is crazy bitter you will need to cover the taste - as I was saying in another thread this can be done with fortiflora ( probiotic) it is kind of beef brothy (oxo cube) smell/flavor and seems to cover up the medicine taste/smell pretty well.

In fact I have been putting his antibiotics AND his Lysine (which he hates, both ) in his wet with a sprinkle of the FF and he gobbles it up every time.

Pills are SO much easier.

The reason vets prefer the liquid is because sometimes the pill can get stuck in the throat and begin to dissolve there causing discomfort as well as health issues. It can help after a pill to make kitty eat and then drink something but not all cooperate with that plan so they prefer liquid generally.

That's why I was afraid of pills, besides her biting me or otherwise fighting, she can spit very well (Learned it from watching Boo with his) or I was afraid of her choking on one and I thought it'd be easier.
I would try the wet food except she will not eat anything wet. She would still prefer Hill's C/D over this Purina any day.

She didn't aspirate any as far as I can tell, she slept all night and morning with me on my bed, pee'd twice, no poop yet, and has not had a fit yet. The Amitrip is flavored with Chicken, but I don't know how much that helps. I read some cats will lick it off a plate.

She's licked a drop of molasses off a plate but I have serious doubts about the meds off a plate.

Yes Otto please give me your way. I was reading last night about prying open the jaws and injecting towards the back corner of the mouth (Which I always try to do, squirming does not help)

She got so wild last night after barely a couple of drops of Pred hit her mouth that scruffing didn't even work, she was wriggling violently 8 ways from Sunday, so I let her go. She got all the pred (what she didn't drool out anyway)

Yes, definitely any tips would be highly appreciated and I'm grateful and please brag all you want Otto, I know you have an amazing amount of experience and you absolutely have the right I would brag if I had your amont of knowledge

The only good thing is she seems to know I am trying to help her. She comes right back to me a little later purring and wanting petting and is totally fine. Boo would be ticked at me for awhile. Still so proud of Chick that she was such a gem at the vet. It's such a calming atmosphere. I still feel regret that I put Boo through that horrible vet, I see the difference now and it's so horrible to realize those mistakes.

anyway... thanks guys so much I love you all!!!

Ah yea then all you can really do is squirt it in. I vote for the burrito method then. Takes some practice but makes it harder for them to squirm around. I am glad your little one doesn't stay mad at you - my boy was mad for about 30 minutes when I forced it via syringe. I am much happier sneaking it into him

Good luck I hope you find a way that works for you soon!

I HAVE to remember the special sentence: "You're not doing it TO them, you're doing it FOR them"

She makes me feel sooooooo miserable. She hacks and foams and drools after the prednisone. Getting her on her back for a burrito might be really difficult but I will give it a try next time. She is pretty good about me laying her on her back on my thighs (Bent knees) which is how I got the water in. Trying to keep her mouth closed after the pred was HARD. They are so wiggly.

I got her in the bathroom rather easily and gave it to her. She had a shorter drooling episode then last time but I got a bit of extra water down her to wash it out quicker. Then she ate.

AND! She POOPED! No help from me, just POOPED! This morning! I am so happy. completely normal poopy.
No more fits yet either.

Otto, or anyone, I am curious if I should do the Amitriptyline at all, because I didn't last night after her bad fit and she still hasn't had an episode. And of course amitrip takes a few weeks to build up. Should I even bother with it? I will of course call the vet and ask, but it seems like maybe the Pred is fixing it by itself... I'm curious.

She has been very happy, relaxed and loving. She is wanting extra attention from me too.

This is so weird.

It's really not a good idea to medicate a cat on her back like that. Dangerous.

Here's what works for me, and I swear, it can work for anyone with a little practice. I use this method for both liquid and pills, though as I said, I prefer pills:


For pilling, I advise this: use a dot of something soft and wet s/he likes. You can try mayonnaise, yogurt, even a little soft butter or cream cheese. Just a drop will do. Make sure you have everything ready, in a bowl is good. Pill, and spoon with a little mayonnaise (or whatever)

Use the holding position. Kneel on the floor with your feet crossed behind you, hold kitty between your knees facing out. S/he will try to back away and will not be able to.

With cat in holding position (as described above), put a dot of the mayo (or whatever) on kitty's mouth to keep her busy and to get the saliva flowing (so the pill doesn't stick).

While kitty is licking her mouth, hold pill in one hand, pry open mouth with other, poke pill in, toward side of mouth and as far back as you can.

You can let go of her mouth at this point, but keep a hand on her to keep her still while you get another bit of yogurt (or mayo or...) on your finger and put a dot on her nose and mouth. She will lick off the yogurt and swallow, pill and all.

this can work with liquids too.

I make it sound easier than it is, at first. It does take practice. And you have to approach it with confidence, kitty will sense if you are hesitant. But once you master this method you'll be able to pill any cat, any time. I know I can!

Some pills (baytril for instance) are very bad tasting. For those it helps to put the pill into a plain empty gel capsule. Gel caps go down easier too. Check with vet or pharmacist before using capsules, as a capsule may affect the dissolving time and this may be an issue for some meds.

You can order empty gel caps on line.

ps, the wet treat on nose trick works with ear drops, eye care, anything really,even nail trims! the idea is, 1)she associates the nastiness with something good, and 2) she's so busy licking her nose she forgets about the other stuff.


One more PS...Last January I had to start giving Tolly Denosyl. Denosyl cannot be given with ANY food. Now I've been pilling Tolly for over 8 years and it's a breeze but this pill is kind of big and I did worry about it sticking.

So when Tolly gets his denosyl I chase it down with a spoon-full of water. I have a special spoon I use, just dip it in the water bowl and tip it down him, after slipping the denosyl down. For Tolly using a spoon is better than a sryinge, as he is used to being medicated.

(Tolly actually comes to get his spoon of water if I delay giving it to him for a minute or two)

But dry pilling another cat (if food mayo or yogurt can't be used because of restrictions) maybe a syringe or even just a dropper of water would be fine.

Almost forgot! CONGRATULATIONS on the poop!

I think if the prednisone seems to be helping, I would want to wait on the amitriptyline too, but do check with your vet.

Steroids work fast. If you are seeing improvement I would be inclined to attribute it to the prednisone, but I am not a vet. Chickster

I won't put her on my knees like that anymore on her back. Thanks for letting me know

As of 11:30 AM to 11:45 approx Chickster had another fit. It was milder, in a sense, and didn't last as long but I got her into the bathroom and gave her both her medications.

Sort of disheartened, was kind of hoping the pred would work on its own. Will talk to the vet tomorrow.

<sigh>....

to you both