Photo update of Lucas

thekatsaysmeow

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
May 5, 2012
Messages
214
Purraise
13
Location
Lowell, ma
Oh don't stress tammy, I'm sure they'll try him on 3mg
And see how things are and if they need to bring him down
More or back up they will, your l lil lucas will be back in no
Time
:vibes:
 

feralvr

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
18,474
Purraise
689
Location
Northwest Indiana
Hi sweetie :hugs:. I DO know what you mean when you say "you want your babies personality back" When Pip was on the Elavil - he was much more serene as well. Not his demanding, goofy, annoying :lol3: self. He slept more and was a bit clumsy too. We were able to reduce the dosage after a couple of months and still were able to retain the stress reducing effects of the drug. I am certain in time you will be able to adjust the dose lower and will see your sweet Lucas acting more like himself. This is only temporary, just keep telling yourself that. It is a means to an end to better health for him. Hang in there!!!! Your the best momma to your little man. I am so happy to see his skin and coat looking so good. :clap::clap::clap::clap: Love to you and your babies :rub: :heart3: :vibes::vibes:
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #43

momto4kitties

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
May 8, 2008
Messages
1,771
Purraise
42
Location
Añasco, Puerto Rico
Thank you Lauren, knowing the same thing happened to your baby Pipsqueak really helps.  It is sad to see them just sleeping all the time, today I had to wake Lucas up so he could eat, if I don't wake him up, he won't eat.  He just wants to sleep and he gets  a little upset when I wake him up, he cries.  But he does eat and drinks water.

He was looking very cute after he ate today and I took a few pics, it just makes me so happy to see that beautiful clean face instead of the sick looking face he had before the prozac.  Here are some pics of him today:

I woke him up to eat





then he went back to sleep..

 

thekatsaysmeow

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
May 5, 2012
Messages
214
Purraise
13
Location
Lowell, ma
Ooh look at lucas hes such a handsome lil guy!!
He's got the sweetest lil bright eyed face,i just
Wanna snuggle his lil furry body and smoother him
In kisses, hee hee!
:vibes: :vibes:
Xox
Kat
 

feralvr

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
18,474
Purraise
689
Location
Northwest Indiana
AW Lucas :rub: You certainly are a beautiful boy and couldn't be loved more :heart3: Tammy - he really looks wonderful, I can't believe how great his coat is and look at that belly! No red skin :clap::clap::clap::clap: I am hoping that in time you will be able to reduce the dosage and he then will not sleep as much. It is good to see his skin all healed up though. It is hard to give up one thing for another though. I do know how you feel. :hugs: Love the updated pictures of Lucas!!! :lovegrin:
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #46

momto4kitties

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
May 8, 2008
Messages
1,771
Purraise
42
Location
Añasco, Puerto Rico
Thank you both so much!  I took Lucas to the vet today and they adjusted the prozac dose from 5mg to 2mg and he also told me to give him 2.5mg of prednisolone insted of the 5mg I've been giving him.  I hope he continues to do well on that dose of prozac, the vet told me sometimes, when the problem is not anxiety and they have an allergy or another problem, they don't scratch when given the prozac because  it sedates them and when they are given a lower dose the itch comes back, but I'm pretty confident Lucas's problem is anxiety and I'm praying that he continues to improve. 

He lost only half a pound, I thought he has lost more than that.  Hopefully now he will sleep less and eat more.

Thank you all for following on Lucas's progress:)
Hugs to all:)

Tammy
 

thekatsaysmeow

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
May 5, 2012
Messages
214
Purraise
13
Location
Lowell, ma
Glad to here they adjusted his dose, I'm sure he'll be back to his normal
Lucas self in no time!, I to beleave it's anxiety and not allergies
Cause some cats just dont handle change really well, so this causes them
To act different and start to find ways to deal with there anxiety
In his case ut was scratching and bit ing his sure out. But I can
Are the prozac is helping him and I have no doubts about it that he'll
continue to do so even with the dose adjustment. 2 mg s is good fire him
I actually thought they might wanna try him in 3mgs but two is good this way they can either bring him
Back up .5 mgs if they need to with out making him so sleepy
All the time, but I'm glad every things working out for you guys
Lucas looks sooo good I can't wait for more photo updates hess such an adorable
Lil fur ball! Xox
:rbheart: :vibes: :rbheart:

Please excuse some sperling errors,i hate touch screen
Phones
 
Last edited:

feralvr

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
18,474
Purraise
689
Location
Northwest Indiana
AWW good news, Tammy!! I think we will just stay SUPER positive that the lower dose of both meds will keep Lucas stable!!!! :rub: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #49

momto4kitties

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
May 8, 2008
Messages
1,771
Purraise
42
Location
Añasco, Puerto Rico
thank you ladies! I'm very excited about this.  NOw I started taking pictures of him on the new dose.  I took the  pictures with me to the vet and the vet told me to email him all the photos to put them on record so all the vets that work at the clinic could treat Lucas and know everything about him in case he isn't there.  There are 3 vets working at the clinic and sometimes a different vet sees LUcas  and it makes it harder, so the pictures will help them understand everything that is going on with my baby.
 

amcm74

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
May 26, 2012
Messages
68
Purraise
16
Location
upstate NY USA
I just found this thread tonight and its amazing! He looks like so much better from the first pictures you posted. It's nice to see how advancements in medical care for animals is coming. Bless your heart for being such a sweet and caring momma bear to your cat. Keep up all your hard work. 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #52

momto4kitties

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
May 8, 2008
Messages
1,771
Purraise
42
Location
Añasco, Puerto Rico
Thank you all! I think it was important to share Lucas's progress just in case we can help other kitties with the same problem.  Today is day 4 of Lucas taking 2mg of prozac and 2.5mg of prednisolone and I'm happy to say he is doing great.  He is still sleepy, but I"m sure he will get better.  The only problem I'm having is that my Lucas is still salivating and foaming in the mouth when I give him the prozac in the morning.  I tried giving it to him mixed with strawberry yogurt(his favorite) and with food, but it was even worse, so I decided to just give him the medicine as it is and I hold him for a few minutes and I try to calm him  a little and today it wasn't as bad.

I"m just a little angry because what we are treating is his anxiety and giving him the prozac is causing anxiety. If he continues to get upset with it I will have to go to the vet and see what other options we have, I can't let Lucas start scratching again over this.
 

thekatsaysmeow

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
May 5, 2012
Messages
214
Purraise
13
Location
Lowell, ma
Oh tammy I'm so sad to hear this,, I know this is very hard
On both of you, especially when doing the right thing feels like
The wrong thing. I think you should try giving him the prozac
With something dry like maybe bread...or...something of that sort
Cause this will less likely cause him to salivate over such juicy
Stuff... You should give him his dose with out anything and then
Give him something dry like bread or powdered donut to soak
Up the saliva cause I think this might work best for the problem
But do know that were all here for you two and we hope for the best!

If this does continue to upset lucas you can try to talk to the
Vet about maybe giving you a suggestion for another anxiety
Medication that wil continue to show progress, as always you
Both are in my prayers :vibes: :rbheart:
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #54

momto4kitties

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
May 8, 2008
Messages
1,771
Purraise
42
Location
Añasco, Puerto Rico
Thank you:)  I really can't take this anymore, Lucas just vomited after I gave him the prozac and now he is terrified and hiding under the bed.  The worst part is that I think he vomited the whole dose and now I think I should give it to him again and it just breaks my heart just the thought of torturing him like that,so I decided to go to the vet and talk about other options.  Maybe just cut the 10mg pill in 4 or something, Lucas can't go on like this, he will get sick again if taking his medicine makes him anxious.

I will update soon.

Tammy
 

GoldyCat

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 31, 2008
Messages
15,759
Purraise
4,676
Location
Arizona
What's the difference between the 10mg and 2.5mg pills? You didn't mention him having any trouble taking the higher dose, so I'm thinking the pills must be made differently. Have you tried giving it in pill pockets?
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #56

momto4kitties

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
May 8, 2008
Messages
1,771
Purraise
42
Location
Añasco, Puerto Rico
No, I think you misunderstood, Lucas has no problem taking pills, what he can't take is the liquid prozac because he starts foaming and he also vomits.  The smaller pills we can get are the 10mg and Lucas needs to take 2mg, the vet told me we have no choice but to cut the 10mg pills in 4 pieces for now.  So that is what I'm doing since yesterday.  The problem will come when he has to take a lower dose, because it is hard enough cutting that small pill in 4 pieces.

But my boy is soo easy to pill and he hates liquid prozac so much.
 

thekatsaysmeow

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
May 5, 2012
Messages
214
Purraise
13
Location
Lowell, ma
I'm thinking you should see if theres a liquid prozac pill that he can take
So the liquids in it but he doesn't actually have to drink the liquid...

Or see if you can buy or if you have vitamins that have powder inside clear capsules
That you can dump out fill the liquid prozac in a lil a at a time
Might take a few capsules depending on the dose shifts
And a few minutes of your time but that might help....but it's a lil
Difficult at first but it worked for my old cat, cause they hated
The medicine taste.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #58

momto4kitties

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
May 8, 2008
Messages
1,771
Purraise
42
Location
Añasco, Puerto Rico
I thought of that because I have a big bag of empty pills that i bought when I was giving Lucas natural allergy pills that were too big for him, I emptied he content in the smaller pills and gave them to him. I tried that with the liquid prozac but the 2mg dose is too much for the pills, I will have to use like 5 or 6 and it is not a good idea to give him so many capsules. I'm giving him the pieces of pills now.  Maybe when the reduce the dose I could try using the empty capsules again.  I hope I can do that.

There has been a little bump in the road in Lucas's progress.  Since the vet told me to lower the prednisolone dose fron 5mg to 2.5mg, Lucas is now showing again the symptoms of his discoid Lupus.  I"m sad because I was hoping we could reduce the dose to  a minimum, but it look like is not going to happen.  Now I know Lucas's lupus and his anxiety are separate things that have to be treated differently.  I guess I will have to wait a few days and see how he does and then call the vet to ask him if I should give him the 5mg of Prednisolone again.  The vet really wants me to keep giving him less prednisolone so his body starts producing cortisol on its own again. 

I was kind of hoping Lucas could be cured with the prozac alone, but it was just a dream...

I took these pics today

Here is a picture of Lucas showing he is still doing wonderfully on 2mg of prozac



Here is a sad pic showing how a lower dose of prednisolone is cause him to have a lupus crisis, I worry because after this comes an infection and a fever, i know it all too well. 



I
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #59

momto4kitties

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
May 8, 2008
Messages
1,771
Purraise
42
Location
Añasco, Puerto Rico
I hate to post  pics showing my Lucas like that all sick, but I know if I give him the 5mg of pred again he will be fine again.  I'm trying to listen to the vet and wait, but if he is worst tomorrow I will just  give him the 5mg of pred again , I can't see him suffer like this.
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,391
Purraise
7,130
Location
Arizona
So it's the Prozac that's making him sleepy, right?  And has he been on both the prozac and the pred all along?  Wonder why the vet had you cut them both back at the same time?  (or am I misunderstanding?)  As to the foaming at the mouth after taking the liquid prozac, it probably tastes bitter...that's why they do that.  Do you have any compounding pharmacies in Puerto Rico that cana make up this liquid Prozac in tuna or chicken flavor?  Or can you order prescriptions via the internet and perhaps get exactly what you need.  (can they ship to Puerto Rico I guess is my question)  When Sven was alive, we had to cut one of his pills into 8ths!  With a pill splitter, I was able to to it! 

for your dear boy.  Darn it...just when he was making such great progress.
 
Top