Pancreatic Abcess

My nine year old, Tim, was diagonsed with a pancreatic abcess on Friday and started on antibiotics. I was told to give him no food or water as doing so would cause him great pain. Even smelling it would cause pain. I've followed the vet's instructions but Tim is hungry and weak and, of course, has lost more than half of his body weight in the past few weeks. From what I've been reading about this he should be in hospital on an I.V. but for some reason I was not offered that option. I finally gave him a bit of wet food and he is now sleeping comfortably with no show of pain. Yet.

Is there someone out there with some experience with this infection. I really need some help here and any I can get will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Jennie,

Please go to this board and holler at Traci- this just doesn't sound right to me about not letting the cat eat, but quite frankly I have no idea.


Help for Cats

I'm so sorry Tim is so sick. Please seek another opinion. And keep us informed.

You could try calling your veterinary clinic with your questions. Maybe the vet didn't make the instructions clear enough. Is it possible that food and water should only be withheld for a certain length of time?

Good luck with Tim and please keep us updated.

That does not sound right at all! Cats with pancreatitis (if thats what he has) do get food witheld from them, but not for that long! And they are generally hospitalized and put on an IV. When a cat goes for too long without food, they develop liver problems. Can you get your kitty to a different vet, or get yours to clarify what's going on?

I agree on every body . That is to long with out food or water . I would go with my cat to a other Vet .

Thank you all so much for your replies! Tim had a much better day today. I'm letting him tell me now what he wants. He "demanded breakfast this morning so he got breakfast! He also got supper last night. Spent a restless night as though he couldn't get comfortable but didn't have the "pain look". He seems to be regulating his food and water intake very well. The litter boxes haven't been very busy but I think he's going, just not as much or often which is understandable.

I'm being cautiously optimistic. I still have no idea what caused this infection and if that's "all" it is. The vet did tell me that it may be secondary to cancer.

The I.V. option wasn't offered to me. I think when you don't have a lot of money you aren't given a lot of options.

I will be calling in the morning to give tham an update and see if I can get some more info. Another vet certainly is a possibility!

TTYS! Jennie

Timmy has one antibiotic pill left to take - tomorrow. He was doing fairly wel and today seemed like a really good day. Until 8:20 p.m. when he let out three loud yowls, staggered a couple of steps and fell over. He only moved a tiny bit during the next hour. I havd changed his food to a low fat food (9% min) and on my vet's and his assistants advice I have been feeding him water packed tuna for the past four days. I think this is what's wrong. What is your opinion? I won't be feeding him that anymore - will the sezures stop?

Poor Timmy - this is hell on all of us!!

OMG Jennie! I would definitely get another vet's opinion!!!!!

Poor Timmy! Sending healing vibes!!!!!

Get the cat to a new vet asap!

I'm in the process of looking for a new vet now!
Thanks for replying to my post. Can you tell me where I can find some information about feeding tuna to cats?

Hmm, try a search right here on TCS for Tuna....

I did a google search and found some information for you. Here's a link from the ASPCA on feeding cats tuna. http://www.lenhumanesoc.org/Tips/ASPCA-Tuna.htm

I agree that it would also be a good idea for you to search the archives here at TCS for additional information.

Any update on Tim's condition? Sending more get well vibes to him!

One time I had a talk with my vet and I said my cats like tuna . the vet said that Tuna is really not that good for cats to eat it would be better to buy MACKEREL and it is much cheaper too . Now my cats were not that sick , so I don't know . But for sure you need to get a different vet for your baby asap , like NOW .

There were o more incidents during the night but this morning he vomited and is obviously not feeling well. I was able to get his last pill down him and he kept it down. I have to make an appointment for him with the vet tomorrow for more blood tests. I have to go to Ottawa for the afternoon but I have a neighbor who will babysit.

I'm so grateful for all the concern and caring that you are showing, it helps a lot. I will post more as I find out more.

Jennie, I can only suggest you go to Cat Health and ask Traci again about this? I really don't know what else to say beyond that, except good luck during this very difficult time.

Jennie, you posted on my board last week, here was my response to you:

Your Post

I feel there is vital information missing from your posts here.....what is your primary vet telling you, what options in diagnosis did he give, and what is his current treatment approach? Why was hospitalization with IV fluids and aggressive care not offered to you? Does this vet actually know how to treat pancreatic episodes? What bloodwork was done?

It's been roughly 6+ days now and there has been little information provided. "on your vet's and his assistant's advise" to feed tuna packed in water....the ideal approach is low-fat, low carbohydrate diet...I'm afraid tuna is the worst thing you can be feeding for your kitty.

In my opinion, you need to seek emergency veterinary attention immediately, and not a minute later (I would NOT wait til tommorrow!)......you described seizure-like activity and continued vomiting, this can indicate a life-threatening complication that needs to be addressed immediately....such complications could include lipidosis, necrotizing pancreatitis, peritonitis (especially if this abcess has ruptured, this is a medical emergency).

Please, do not wait on this, Timmy is depending on you to get this situation addressed by a competent vet, and again, I strongly urge you to see an emergency facility, your options will best be utilized at an emergency care clinic, as they are most likely more familiar with treating cases such as Timmy's. The key here is an agressive approach and making absolutely certain that complications are not going undetected/undiagnosed.

This is the first chance I've had to read your post due to the power black-out. Tim is going to the vet this morning and I think that I will have to let him go. I could write a book about my experiences with the last couple of weeks, this vet, etc. I have to say that being on disability I don't have the unlimited funds I need for truly aggressive care so I have to learn where to draw the line, not just for me but for Tim. After doing all that was possible for a previous furkid (money was not an issue then) is still resulted in much suffering and death and I swore at that time that I would never put another if my kits through that. Tim is go go for blood tests this morning but he's really sick and I don't think that will change the outcome. I'm nearly beside myself as two days ago he really seemed he had turned the corner and was well on the road to recovery and then the seizure and this. I believe in my heart that it was the tuna that "struck the final blow" and wish that I had followed my instincts instead of listening to the vet and his assistant. I am sick that this could have been avoided. Needless to say I willl not be returning to this vet.

I was not offered options, just given a two weeks supply of antibiotics and some rather general instructions re feeding. I called several times to clarify things and have found that people can talk a lot and say nothing. I called the other vets in town who wold not help as he is under the care of another vet.

I realize how stupid all this makes me sound but I love my guys and I do the best I can do for them.

I will post later and let you know the outcome of this morning.