Information needed on pancreatitis & feeding tube

lottiesmom · Jun 21, 2014

Hello, I brought my 4yr old cat to the emergency vets after several days of not eating and bloodwork showing elevated liver enzymes & bilirubin. The emergency vet diagnosis pancreatitis after an ultrasound. Her gallbladder & liver showed some increase in size and they assumed hepatic lipidosis since the jaundice & not eating. We ended up having an esophageal feeding tube put in her neck & have been tube feeding 24mls 6x's a day since Thursday. Lottie has no energy just sleeps and I'm not sure if that's ok. She's not vomiting, her eyes are almost completely back to blue (they were bright yellow Thursday), she's on antibiotics and anti nausea meds but she's in a comatose state. I'm not sure what to do or if it's a side effect of meds. We've already spent over 3k dollars

lottiesmom · Jun 21, 2014

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lottiesmom
Jun 21, 2014

denice · Jun 21, 2014

I had a kitty that had hepatic lipidosis and he was a very sick kitty for awhile. It takes time for them to recover from the hepatic lipidosis and lethargy and no appetite is part of it. Keeping up the feedings is the most important part of recovery but it will take time.

I know it's hard to see them so sick but kitties can and do recover from this. Patches had it 3 1/2 years ago and he is still here.

lottiesmom · Jun 21, 2014

Thank you for the advice. I'm just so worried that she's not moving at all. The day before the tube she seemed much more energetic, purring, etc. Now she's just laying in one spot

furmonster mom · Jun 21, 2014

Has she pee'd or pooped in the last 24 hrs?

lottiesmom · Jun 21, 2014

She's peed several times no pooping though

furmonster mom · Jun 21, 2014

She may be constipated and need to be cleared out. Will your vet consult over the phone? Sometimes adding a smidge of Miralax to the food can help move things along.... Ask your vet, it shouldn't take much.

lottiesmom · Jun 21, 2014

I don't think they will. We had her at an emergency hospital and the other vet is closed

lottiesmom · Jun 21, 2014

Is it just human Miralax?

denice · Jun 21, 2014

What is normally used is human Miralax usually start with 1/8 teaspoon twice a day. I personally think you should talk to a vet first. When was the last time he went? Often this stuff actually starts with inflammation in the intestines and lack of motility. Miralax works by holding fluid in the colon, if there is an impaction that needs an enema or a motility issue it can make things worse.

My kitty that had this has IBD and is prone to constipation. With his first flare he was hospitalized as possibly having a foreign body lots of x-ray's taken never saw a foreign body but he had the gas patterns that didn't change over several days. The unchanging gas patterns goes with a foreign body but it also goes with loss of motility.

Is the clinic you took him to a 24 hour clinic. They may advise you over the phone because they have very recent records there.

Was he given anything for pain? If he has pancreatitis it is very painful and this behavior could be from pain.

lottiesmom · Jun 21, 2014

Thanks Denice yes I have given her buprenorphine for pain but she foams and drools so I worry how much goes in. She's also taking amoxicillin & metoclopramide for nausea which I think causes drowsiness but I'm not for certain. I'm gonna monitor for a bm through tomorrow I have another cat so I'm not sure who's poop is in the litter! My other cat is using the separate one we put out for lottie. How long safe to be constipated

denice · Jun 21, 2014

The metoclopramide's brand name is Reglan and it helps with motility issues. It increases the muscle contractions in the upper gi tract which helps with gastric emptying. Were you shown the way to give bup, it goes in the pocket of the cheek the idea being that it is absorbed thru the mouth tissues. There isn't a lot that can be done about the foaming at the mouth especially with the way bup is given. I would definitely call your regular vet Monday morning. I know the ER clinic that I have used a couple of times sends all the info to my regular vet but I don't know if that is a common practice.

lottiesmom · Jun 21, 2014

lottiesmom said:
Hello, I brought my 4yr old cat to the emergency vets after several days of not eating and bloodwork showing elevated liver enzymes & bilirubin. The emergency vet diagnosis pancreatitis after an ultrasound. Her gallbladder & liver showed some increase in size and they assumed hepatic lipidosis since the jaundice & not eating. We ended up having an esophageal feeding tube put in her neck & have been tube feeding 24mls 6x's a day since Thursday. Lottie has no energy just sleeps and I'm not sure if that's ok. She's not vomiting, her eyes are almost completely back to blue (they were bright yellow Thursday), she's on antibiotics and anti nausea meds but she's in a comatose state. I'm not sure what to do or if it's a side effect of meds. We've already spent over 3k dollars

lottiesmom · Jun 22, 2014

Denice said:
The metoclopramide's brand name is Reglan and it helps with motility issues. It increases the muscle contractions in the upper gi tract which helps with gastric emptying. Were you shown the way to give bup, it goes in the pocket of the cheek the idea being that it is absorbed thru the mouth tissues. There isn't a lot that can be done about the foaming at the mouth especially with the way bup is given. I would definitely call your regular vet Monday morning. I know the ER clinic that I have used a couple of times sends all the info to my regular vet but I don't know if that is a common practice.

peaches08 · Jun 22, 2014

How is she doing now?

mrsgreenjeens · Jun 30, 2015

What's happening with Lottie? It's been too long without an update? Was she constipated? Hoping you are just too busy with the round the clock feedings, etc. to update

lottiesmom · Jun 30, 2015

Hi everyone, sorry I never put an update o here. Lottie is doing great and has had no other issues. I brought her to another vet who treated her with prednisone. She had ended up ripping her feeding tube out when I was at work and from that point forward she was ok. She was a bit finiky and was stubborn to go back on regular food from the special expensive food but she eventually came around.

lottiesmom · Jun 30, 2015

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lottiesmom
Jun 30, 2015

denice · Jun 30, 2015

I am so glad she is doing well. She is such a pretty kitty.

mrsgreenjeens · Jun 30, 2015

Whew! SO glad to hear she is doing well. I was almost afraid to ask

Information needed on pancreatitis & feeding tube

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