My cat nearly died from depo medrol and it''s a fight every day to keep her alive...

Took my 10 year old calico to the vet for a check up  He said she is a normal healthy somewhat nervous (that was as his assistant was holding my cat  by her scruff up in the air...yes I would be nervous too).  Then she was bitten by a flea, probably from his office, and he shot her with depo medrol...   He never asked about my cat's sensitivity to drugs.  I don't even know wht he gave the cat the shot.  Her coat was and is still beautiful...  She weighed 9.1 pounds.  She now weighs less than 8.  The poision effects last 4 weeks I am told.  We are in week 3.  She is anemic won't eat; nearly died several nights after the shot.  The horror began immediately.  On the way home from the "Vet" she laid in her carrier and never made a sound.  She tried to walk when she got home but continued down hill.  I pray for her survival as I force feed her with a syringe.  It is as if she can't remember her favorite places or things she loved to do.  I hope she lives.  And truthfully, I hope that vet gets a new career.

Welcome to TCS and I am SOO very sorry it is under these circumstances. I am very sad to hear that your cat is so ill. Obviously allergic to that drug. I am in shock that this vet did not ask you BEFORE they gave the shot of Depo???!!!! I don't have much experience with the Depo injection but I know other's who have here on the site. I hope other's come along soon that have more knowledge about Depo. Sending along mega vibes that your beautiful kitty will pull through this. :cross:

I can not believe the vet gave the shot without asking first too. I could see if it were a life or death problem that had to be dealt with fast. I really pray your kitty can pull through. I would not go to that vet again.

Not sure where you're located, but I'd be reporting this vet to the applicable board. At the very least, they should be paying for all follow-up treatment related to this issue for the life of your cat.

http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/FDAVeterinarianNewsletter/ucm252079.htm

http://www.animallaw.info/articles/qvusvetmal.htm

http://www.vetabusenetwork.com/savetoc.htm

That vet should defniitely be reported for injecting your cat without asking any questions first. That's awful. I hope your cat pulls through and gets better soon.

Oh how awful! Many vibes to your kitty! !!!! Have you taken her to a different vet yet???? I mean - a different vet at a different vet practice?

You should definitely report the vet to the Board. Something similar happened to someone else on the site, and they were able to get the cost of follow-up care covered - and with a competent vet.

I'm just so sorry this happened.

I don't know what state you're in but there was a landmark lawsuit recently in a southern state I think, maybe Florida or Alabama, where they finally acknowledged that pets are not just "property". And I think the judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs for suing a vet that killed their dog by doing something like this, I can't remember what the medication was.

My cat went to the vet yesterday because she was scratching her neck all the time. The vet said that it was a reaction to fleas and gave her a shot of depo.  My cat died last night and I am sure the shot is the reason. She was only 10 years old...healthy otherwise and very active. I am crushed and know that there is not way to prove it, but doesn't seem to be any other reason for it. 

I am SO so so so sorry - how very tragic. :heart3: : hugs: I know this is rather macabre, but if you want to know the cause of death, you might consider a necropsy (done by a different vet).

finnlacey said:

......there was a landmark lawsuit recently in a southern state I think, maybe Florida or Alabama, where they finally acknowledged that pets are not just "property". And I think the judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs for suing a vet that killed their dog by doing something like this....

Click to expand...

finnlacey, is there any way you would be able to do a little tracing of this story? If it was covered on any particular media site, I think that the "Google Advanced Search" could well pull it up...just insert some of the terms you remember - exact ones work the best, then the "site or domain" field. It's here http://www.google.ca/advanced_search

That is a most interesting precedent - I wonder if the decision might have been later appealed, and what the result was.

It could be very helpful for future reference and referral purposes.

I'm so very sorry to hear this. I will try later on to search the back issues of my newsletter as I provided a link for it but right now I have a full day of errands. You can also try searching if you have time, there should be something still out there about it. It was this past year. Again, I'm so very sorry for this loss. 

Sadly, I don't think it would be considered malpractice to give a cat with apparent allergies a shot of depo.

But I did stumble on the case: http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=7765

...and realized I'd bookmarked the story back in January: http://www.dogster.com/the-scoop/gr...ty-status-major-pet-industry-groups-not-happy

The State is Texas, and the case is a shelter dog killed even though the family had been there to pick him up, was denied because they didn't have the fee, and said they'd get the money so they could retrieve their dog. Also very sad!

LDG said:

But I did stumble on the case: http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=7765

Click to expand...

Thank YOU !!!!!!!!!!

Note the update in there: "In January 2013, the Texas Supreme court will hear the case."  THIS will be one to watch!

:nod: Yes, it was truly groundbreaking, and I (and many others!) will anxiously be waiting..... :cross:

Twinkle111 said:

Took my 10 year old calico to the vet for a check up  He said she is a normal healthy somewhat nervous (that was as his assistant was holding my cat  by her scruff up in the air...yes I would be nervous too).  Then she was bitten by a flea, probably from his office, and he shot her with depo medrol...   He never asked about my cat's sensitivity to drugs.  I don't even know wht he gave the cat the shot.  Her coat was and is still beautiful...  She weighed 9.1 pounds.  She now weighs less than 8.  The poision effects last 4 weeks I am told.  We are in week 3.  She is anemic won't eat; nearly died several nights after the shot.  The horror began immediately.  On the way home from the "Vet" she laid in her carrier and never made a sound.  She tried to walk when she got home but continued down hill.  I pray for her survival as I force feed her with a syringe.  It is as if she can't remember her favorite places or things she loved to do.  I hope she lives.  And truthfully, I hope that vet gets a new career.

Click to expand...

I hope you are getting a second opinion on this! I can't *believe* the vet gave the shot without even telling you or asking to do some bloodwork before giving the shot. Here is some info on the drug
http://www.vetstreet.com/depo-medrol I've never had any experience with it. But my vet would never dream of giving this shot without asking AND suggesting blood tests before the shot.

What a sad thread this is and sending vibes Please update when you can!

Mike, Twinkle has just the one post, and hasn't been back since March of 2011. I certainly hope her kitty is OK.

This thread was resurrected about a week ago by Ridge8107 whose kitty died after a shot of depo.

But thank you for the link.

Thanks Laurie, I didn't see the date. I was looking for an update from Twinkie. Apparently there hasn't been one

Depo is a steroid that is commonly used for allergies, colitis, inflammation, stomatitis, and many other issues. While like any drug, side effects can happen, but acute and extreme side effects like these seen here are not normal. They are very very rare.
Depo's short term side effects are generally behavioral related, and weight gain. Long term, when used over and over again for years, the main side effect is diabetes.
I have never heard of running a blood test before giving a shot of depo.... I don't know what side effect would prevent though :dk:
I do not give Depo to Bugsy due to behavioral side effects and weight gain, but he has taken it when it was necessary. He reacts the same way to any steroid, the difference is that depo-medrol is a long acting shot, and you can't stop the reaction as you can in prednisone, for example.
Depo is a drug that should not be taken lightly, but it can be very helpful, and for some even life-saving.

I agree, I've seen it do wonders for many kitties that were in a world of hurt due to their IBD and other GI disorders. As Carolina said, every drug should be considered for it's side effects but also it's benefits and weighed carefully. 

My cat died on Feb 20th..within 36 hours of receiving this depro modral shot . I do not think it is a coincidence though he had received the shots at least 5 times before in the last couple of years. He was diagnosed with allergies by the vet and I was advised this shot would help with breathing and stimulate appetite. Last sunday my cat was purring and jumping on my shoulders as he liked to do but his appetite had dropped slightly. I took him to the vet the next day for a shot.WIthin 36 hours ..he was in an oxygen tank or box unable to breathe on his own in great distress. I was advised to put him down. I have been completely devastated since this happened.I believe my vet cares about the well being of cats but I believe he would be fine if not for that shot. It also cost money to try and save him as a result of a shot they gave him. I would have paid anything to save him though as he was my favorite. I do not know whether he had an underlying heart condition in which case depro modral is a bad idea. I also have no idea who administered the shot and whether it was administered correctly. The vet simply suggested that it was possibly something in the environment that might have affected him. That suggestion and the way it was handled is why I will never go back. These shots can be dangerous. Instead of speaking with me honestly and openly, the implication was that it might have been my fault . How absurd. He was fine before the shot and 2 days later he is dead. I have never regretted a day so much in my life as when I took my beloved cat in for that shot. I drove him to his ultimate death and he was the sweetest boy. I did not research the shot and just assumed all was well. Please think carefully before allowing the vet to give this shot.  Depro Modral is a type of steroid and I believe that it can be deadly. I have not stopped crying since I lost my boy 5 days ago.