Now his has Pancreatitis...my poor baby!!

mickeys mom · Jan 27, 2013

mnjcats said:
Mi key's Mom,

I actually meant to suggest that you give him a sub-q shot, not delivered at the same time as the fluids, in our case with Wilbur in the scruff of the neck. In fact the vet advised not to give the shots or the insulin at the same time as the fluids because the fluids can dilute the meds. We do the fluids about 3 hours before any other meds once a day. The vet suggested this method because when we tried the oral method for the buprenorphine he would spit out a good amount of the dose. We also give Wilbur 12 hour doses of the buprenorpfhine. He is off it now but if he gets a flare up of the pancreatitis that is how we administer. He doesn't even know he got a shot.

Okay, I misunderstood what you meant. Yes, that does make more sense cause now that I think about it the fluids would dilute the meds. I really didn't think about that before, cause there was a time that a vet did the fluids and she put in the line with it some Vitamin B complex. I don't think Mickey, is spitting it out, because I put it in the far corner of his mouth and it's such a small amount and I've watched him right after, at least it doesn't appear that he's spitting it out. How do you know if this medicine works for Wilbur and how do you know when it flares up again? This is the first time I've had to do this for any kitty I've had. When I asked this question at my vets the technician told me that he won't hide anymore and he will drink his water better and he won't vomit anymore and his stool will be normal. Well, I haven't even seen any of those thing even before the meds were started. So I'm really confused how to tell if this works without having another blood test for FPL. Thank you for explaining it to me, now I know how you did it.

mrsgreenjeens · Jan 27, 2013

Always remember that you are not HURTING them when poking them to give sub-qs, you are HELPING them

. That's what I had to keep telling myself every single time with my little

Svennie

.

I'm so glad you've gotten all these great tips and that you are already so comfortable giving Mickey his fluids and meds.

mickeys mom · Jan 27, 2013

I do feel more comfortable giving Mickey, his fluids but I hold my breathe when I poke him with the syringe and I now do it quickly. I'm so grateful to everyone on this site for all the great and encouraging tips. I know in my heart that this is helping him but I hope he knows it as well. He's my sweet little old man (he's getting so gray)

and my baby all wrapped into one!

We will be having our special time together a little bit later.

mnjcats · Jan 27, 2013

Hi Mickeys Mom,

I am no expert on feline pain but what we have observed with Wilbur is that a pain flair up presents with a low moaning when he tries to use the litter box, drink water and little or no eating. He will also find dark out of the way places to sleep or hide and vomit on an empty stomach. This has happend a couple of times since he was diagnosed with the pancreatitis.

He has been on the sub-q fluids for about 2 1/2 years for renal insufficiency. The pancreatitis is a new disorder, diagnosed in early Decmber of 2012. He has not had any kind of pain attack for a couple of weeks now and his insulin dose has stabilized so he is on a good track. He is doing well for a 17 1/2 year old. I really don't think he feels any discomfort through all of the medicine he receives. Except that he gets antsy toward the last 50ml of the fluids but I think it is more a matter of being confined rather that any discomfort. It all has become fairly routine.

mickeys mom · Jan 27, 2013

mnjcats said:
Hi Mickeys Mom,

I am no expert on feline pain but what we have observed with Wilbur is that a pain flair up presents with a low moaning when he tries to use the litter box, drink water and little or no eating. He will also find dark out of the way places to sleep or hide and vomit on an empty stomach. This has happend a couple of times since he was diagnosed with the pancreatitis.

He has been on the sub-q fluids for about 2 1/2 years for renal insufficiency. The pancreatitis is a new disorder, diagnosed in early Decmber of 2012. He has not had any kind of pain attack for a couple of weeks now and his insulin dose has stabilized so he is on a good track. He is doing well for a 17 1/2 year old. I really don't think he feels any discomfort through all of the medicine he receives. Except that he gets antsy toward the last 50ml of the fluids but I think it is more a matter of being confined rather that any discomfort. It all has become fairly routine.

Hi Mnjcats,

Thank you for this information, maybe that's why Mickey, cried a lot and he did vomit but nothing came up other than a little bit of bile. I didn't recognize these issues cause ever since he was a kitten he always cried for everything. If he was hungry or if he wanted his litter box cleaned, or just wanted me to sit down on the sofa with him for attention, he would cry. Since he was a kitten he would let me know just before using the litter box, cause he wanted me to clean it out right away. Sometimes he even waits till I get home to do a poop in the litter box so that I'm home to clean it out, and if I let it sit too long he will cry very loudly and even start to gag if I don't get to it soon.

But, about a couple of weeks ago he had been crying during the night and I couldn't figure him out, so what you just told me all makes more sense. Since I've been giving him the meds for the pancreatitis he hasn't cried as much. But, he does let me know when he's hungry. You are right about that too, a couple of weeks ago before he was diagnosed with that he didn't eat very much at all but I associated it with him on the methimazole cause he had been on that for only a few days. Now I'm seeing a different vet and she discovered his pancreatitis and she wants to treat his pancreas first and than take care of his hyperthyroidism and kidney issue. She thinks maybe after this is treated he might be able to handle a lower dose of methimazole. I'm beginning to think he's had these issues a lot sooner than I had noticed. Also, when I got the mirtazapine to encourage his appetite that helped him a lot. He did kind of hide and sleep in a little corner, but I thought he wanted to sleep where it was quieter and away from the birds that I have.

He's doing okay now with the meds and the fluids and like your Wilbur, Mickey is also 17 1/2 years old, and will be 18, July 20th.

Thanks again ~ it sure helps to know what to watch for and I appreciate you.

mnjcats · Jan 27, 2013

Mickeys Mom,

Ask your vet about cyproheptadine for an appatite stimulant. Wilbur has been on that ever since he was diagnosed with the kidney issues. He is also been on benazepil to increase blood flow around his kidneys. And metronidazole as an antibiotic. Oh and I forgot the generic prepaid for indigestion. All of this gets put into a couple of gel caps that we give him each morning. One more thing, he gets omega3 oil 1/4 tsp, each morning. All of this is to address the kidney issues. You may want to ask your vet about this cocktail as it has done wonders for our Wilbur. It's a regular feline pharmacy around here.

But, it also sounds like your boy is getting along well with the current recommendation from your vet.

mickeys mom · Jan 31, 2013

mnjcats said:
Mickeys Mom,

Ask your vet about cyproheptadine for an appatite stimulant. Wilbur has been on that ever since he was diagnosed with the kidney issues. He is also been on benazepil to increase blood flow around his kidneys. And metronidazole as an antibiotic. Oh and I forgot the generic prepaid for indigestion. All of this gets put into a couple of gel caps that we give him each morning. One more thing, he gets omega3 oil 1/4 tsp, each morning. All of this is to address the kidney issues. You may want to ask your vet about this cocktail as it has done wonders for our Wilbur. It's a regular feline pharmacy around here.

But, it also sounds like your boy is getting along well with the current recommendation from your vet.

Hi Mnjcats ~

When you give Wilbur the Cyproheptadine for his appetite does he keep meowing and acting like he's starving and wants to eat a lot of food at once? That's what happens to Mickey when I give him the mirtazapine for his appetite. I only gave it to him a couple of times, the tablet is 7.5 mg and I break it in half so he's actually getting 3.75 mg. I also did mentioned to my vet about giving him omega 3 fish oil. She wants to wait till after his appointment for his re-check to see how his pancreas is doing now that he's finished with the Buprenorphine, before I give him anything else. But, I will bring it up again to remind her about the omega 3 fish oil when I see her, our appointment is next Wednesday, February 6th. So far Mickey is doing very well, and he actually purrs while I'm injecting him with his fluids and will stay with me purring even after I given him all his dose of 100cc's.

mickeys mom · Feb 1, 2013

Does anyone know if It's okay if I give Mickey, a little Omega 3 Wild Salmon Fish Oil mixed into his food. He has hyperthyroidism, kidney issue and pancreatitis? He finished with the pain medicine Buprenorphine this past Wednesday for his pancreatitis and is still getting 100 cc's once a day. He has a vet visit coming up Wednesday afternoon for the doctor to check how his pancreas is doing. Plus she wants to try him on a very low dose of methimazole for his hyperthyroidism. About 3 weeks ago he couldn't take the methimazole cause he lost his appetite with it. But, this new doctor seems to think that maybe it wasn't the methimazole that caused Mickey to loose his appetite, but probably it was his inflamed pancreas that caused him to lose his appetite. The other doctor never even considered checking Mickey's pancreas, she just figured that the fluids under his skin with vitamin B would help get his appetite back. I'm just so glad I brought Mickey to a different doctor for another opinion. Although it does take almost about 45 minutes to get to the new doctor compared to only 10 or 15 minutes, but to me Mickey's health is top priority!

So anyways, if anyone has given their kitty omega 3, I sure would like to know what type and name brand that would be good to get Mickey to try.

Thank you!

mnjcats · Feb 2, 2013

Hi Mickeysmom,

Sorry for the delay. To answer a couple of your questions from our experience, we have had Wilbur on the cyproheptadine for about two and a half years. We have not seen what I would call an abnormal amount of crying for food. Plus he tends to want frequent small meals. This is probably due to the fact that until recently he has been on dry food and could eat when ever he wanted. We switched to wet food when he became diabetic from the pancreatitis. He has also been on the omega3 oil for the same amount of time. Our vet swears by the stuff. The brand is Ascentia Feline Omega-3. We get it at our vets office. It is not a prescription.

Lastly, our boy Champ has been on the methimazole 2.5 mg dose for about a year and a half. His appatite has not suffered. I'm not a doctor but I'd bet Mickey's loss of appatite is related to the pancreatitis or the renal issues.

mickeys mom · Feb 2, 2013

mnjcats said:
Hi Mickeysmom,

Sorry for the delay. To answer a couple of your questions from our experience, we have had Wilbur on the cyproheptadine for about two and a half years. We have not seen what I would call an abnormal amount of crying for food. Plus he tends to want frequent small meals. This is probably due to the fact that until recently he has been on dry food and could eat when ever he wanted. We switched to wet food when he became diabetic from the pancreatitis. He has also been on the omega3 oil for the same amount of time. Our vet swears by the stuff. The brand is Ascentia Feline Omega-3. We get it at our vets office. It is not a prescription.

Lastly, our boy Champ has been on the methimazole 2.5 mg dose for about a year and a half. His appatite has not suffered. I'm not a doctor but I'd bet Mickey's loss of appatite is related to the pancreatitis or the renal issues.

Hi Mnjcats!

I think I have to agree with my vet doctor and also with you about Mickey's loss of appetite caused from the pancreatitis. I'm interested to know if when he is put back on the methimazole at a lower dosage if it will effect his appetite at all. I've only given Mickey the mirtazapine for his appetite a couple of times, the first time was on 24th of January and than again on the 28th of January, I haven't given it to him again since than cause each time I give it to him he will act like he hasn't eaten in days. Even though I know he's eaten enough he will continue to cry for more food, I'm afraid if I keep feeding him that he will vomit from too much food intake. But, like you did I gradually took Mickey off of the dry food months ago and I give him only wet food now. That also was a big change for him cause like your kitty's he had food to go to through out the day. Because he's not a big eater and only a picker he would go to it just for a few nibbles and than walk away and come back later. Now with the wet food he eats a lot more in the morning before I go to work cause he's hungry from not getting any food during the night and than he needs to wait till I get home from work to be fed again. So this is a big change for him.

I looked for the Ascentia Feline Omega-3 supplement on-line and found it at The Vitamin Shoppe for $13.99. There's a Vitamin Shoppe here in town where I live so I may check with them to see if they have it in stock. Do Wilbur and Champ take to it willingly? Do they like the taste and do you mix it in their wet food? I'm thinking that if I get it and mix it in Mickey's food than if he doesn't like it ~ he won't eat his food. I did read somewhere, (not sure where I read it) but I read that Omega-3 fish oil will help with their kidney functions as well as their immune system and skin and coat. So I really want to give this to Mickey and hope that he likes it in order to help with his different issues.

Sorry this is so long!

Thanks for all your help,

Mickey's Mom

mnjcats · Feb 2, 2013

Hi Mickeys Mom,

Wilbur is not a fan of the omega-3 oil. So we give him a quarter teaspoon orally via syringe. He won't eat his food if we put it on the food. Now Champ on the other hand will lap it out of a spoon. Our vet likes the omega oil for kidney function and other health benefits. I have read the same in other online sources.

mnjcats · Feb 2, 2013

Here is a pix of our Wilbur

image.jpg

mnjcats
Feb 2, 2013

mickeys mom · Feb 3, 2013

Wilbur, is so cute, such a handsome boy.

Looks like he has green eyes like Mickey's.

I may have to give the Omega 3 with a syringe to Mickey, since he really hates anything different in his food. From what I read about this Omega 3 it doesn't have a heavy fish smell, but maybe the taste is fishy. Even though cats seem to like fish ~ it might also be the consistency of it. So that's a helpful hint if Mickey will not take it in his food I can give it to him by syringe, although that might also be a challenge.

mickeys mom · Feb 3, 2013

Does anyone get the "Lactated Ringer's Injection Solution" from other than their vet's? I found that I can get it from DrsFostersmith.com. It's a lot cheaper than getting it from my vet. Okay ~ I just looked on the website but it appears that I need to have my vet send them the prescription before I can order it from them. I guess when I go with Mickey for his vet appointment this Wednesday, I will ask her about that. In the meantime has anyone else tried to get it from a different place other than their vets?

Thank you,

Mickey's Mom

mnjcats · Feb 3, 2013

I have thought about trying another source. We pay 15.00. For a bag of the LRS. It includes a B-12 spike, drip kit and 10 #18 needles. It seems pretty reasonable. What do you pay?

mickeys mom · Feb 3, 2013

mnjcats said:
I have thought about trying another source. We pay 15.00. For a bag of the LRS. It includes a B-12 spike, drip kit and 10 #18 needles. It seems pretty reasonable. What do you pay?

I've only gotten it once and it was from my vet. I paid $18.00 for a bag of 1000 cc., the drip set was $7.00, and for 10 #18 needles it was $1.00. I didn't get any B-12 with it. The total I paid was $26.00 for 10 days. If I have to do this every 10 days it'll be quite costly. It could cost me about $78.00 a month! Wow, I don't think I can afford that, plus driving almost 30 miles to get it! So I really need to figure out a better solution. From Foster Smith. the bag of LRS cost $4.99, the drip set kit is 3.99 and the needles are 1.90 for 10 so that would be $16.87 with the shipping fee 10.00 less and I don't need to drive 30 miles away. If I can find it locally and not have to pay for the shipping that would be even better.

mickeys mom · Feb 3, 2013

I just found this on the internet http://www.zzcat.com/CRF/supplies/local.htm at this website you can click on Pet Medication Card and subscribe to it and immediately get a card you can print, it's a Pet Medication Card that is acceptable at some Pharmacies. I did it, printed it up and called my local Rite Aid Pharmacy. I was told they do accept these cards. It suppose to give a discount with this card using a pet prescription. I also received an email of confirmation and I confirmed it. I will know more about it tomorrow, I need to speak with someone at the pharmacy that is not in till tomorrow. When I get Mickey's prescription from the vet on Wednesday than I will be able to get the Lactated Ringer's Injection Solution at a better price, I hope and I'll soon find out!

mickeys mom · Feb 3, 2013

Mickeys Mom said:
I just found this on the internet http://www.zzcat.com/CRF/supplies/local.htm at this website you can click on Pet Medication Card and subscribe to it and immediately get a card you can print, it's a Pet Medication Card that is acceptable at some Pharmacies. I did it, printed it up and called my local Rite Aid Pharmacy. I was told they do accept these cards. It suppose to give a discount with this card using a pet prescription. I also received an email of confirmation and I confirmed it. I will know more about it tomorrow, I need to speak with someone at the pharmacy that is not in till tomorrow. When I get Mickey's prescription from the vet on Wednesday than I will be able to get the Lactated Ringer's Injection Solution at a better price, I hope and I'll soon find out!

According to the web site it looks like I may be able to get a case of LRS for about $26.00 that's what I paid at the vet for 1 bag, this is 12 liters, that's amazing! I can get the needles and the drip set-up kits on line at another web site that might have a better price than the pharmacy. I'm not sure yet what the price is for those items at the pharmacy but I will find out tomorrow.

Now his has Pancreatitis...my poor baby!!

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