antacids and cats

wasabipea

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Hi. In Dr Kris CKD video that was posted prior to the expert forum, he mentioned something about the use of antacids. I think my girl is nauseous, and a medication interaction prevents me from giving her the appetite stimulant medication (can't recall the name).

I think my vet is gone for the day so I can't call, does anyone have any experience with this? I'm going to try to call the office, they may still be in.

Thanks!
 

denice

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I have used Pepcid regular strength.  You don't want the Complete or the extra strength.  I gave a half tablet twice a day but I have seen people using different dosages here.  
 

that guy

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My guy gets 0.45cc a day of Famotidine using a syringe for his IBD.
 

cocheezie

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I give Pepcid AC (and it has to be AC) 1/4 tab twice daily.

Is she throwing up foam?

Can it wait until morning so you can check with your vet?
 
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micknsnicks2mom

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my snick has CKD (and IBD), and she takes pepcid (regular strength) on a regular basis. snick takes 1/4 tablet (equals 2.5 mg) every 10th day, as a maintenance dose.

i would advise being cautious, because you mention that your girl is on medication(s). i have no idea as to what medications (if any) that pepcid might interact with. i know that i always ask my vet about any possible drug interactions before giving my snick any new otc or prescription medication. i will specifically ask my vet this when she prescribes any new medication, just to make sure nothing is going to have a negative interaction.

stage 1 jar baby foods (gerber and beechnut brands -- turkey and gravy, chicken and gravy, beef and gravy, and ham and gravy -- the kinds that have just meat, water, and some have a bit of cornstarch in it) are easy to digest and easy on upset kitty tummies/gastro systems. it might be worth trying it, to see if the baby food is better on her tummy with her current suspected nausea.

edited to add -- yes! as @cocheezie says, it has to be pepcid ac.
 
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wasabipea

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Baby food is a staple (she prefers Gerbers, and I think it has more calories than Beech Nut) - she likes the beef and turkey. I probably shouldn't give her the ham with her kidney issues  - but sometimes just getting them to eat is themost important thing. I got her to lick a few dabs of Nutrical last night, and a wee bit of baby food (some weird brand with chicken and brown rice - thinking the rice might be good for her runs), a wee bit of cat food, a wee bit of this and a wee bit of that. Her face lights up when she sees the bown, so there is still interest...

She might not be eating because:

1. the diarrhea, I have been treating with Pro-peptical (what I can get into her)

2. she could have a piece of grass stuck in her tummy since yesterday she was upchucking a bunch of grass - she went out the day before yesterday and must have eaten a lot.

3. This is her last stand and she's had enough, which I could understand.

Problem with my vet, they aren't really well-versed on alternative treatments - but I do want to ask before giving her the Pepcid - only because of possible interactions. But it doesn't seem like Pepcid is all that "alternative". And it's Pepcid AC only? Is that liquid or tabs? She's only 8.5 lbs, She'd probably get a small dose. I'd guess its safe. I accidentally gave her the medication for apppetite stimulating, and apparently it was a big no-no with what she is taking - I only did it once but didn't notice any ill effects. But now I know!

Anyway, going to call the vets and see what they say. She does also get a B12 once a week with her fluid administration, I heard that helps appetite too.

Thanks for the replies, calling the vet!
 

denice

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I don't Pepcid AC is really alternative medicine.  It's very commonly given by conventional vets.  I have had 2 conventional vets tell me that I could give it.  Yes it is the AC, that is what myself and many others refer to as regular.  The one that shouldn't be given is Pepcid Complete.  You also don't want extra strength.
 

lcat4

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Hi Wasabipea,  I have a 17 year old that is in a similar state as your cat - he has cancer, is hyperthyroid, in stage 3-4 ckd, and he's basically in the process of starving himself.  I offer him 12 different types of food a day, multiple times a day, and he licks a few grams here and there.  Six months ago he was a solid muscle boy at 11.5 pounds, today he's bones at 8.5 pounds.  But he's involved with the family, interested in what's going on, trots around the house when inspired, and wants nothing more than to spend time outside.  We actually monitor him closely when he goes outside so he doesn't eat the grass, as any food he might have eaten will come up with the grass later on. 

Our current medical protocol is methimazole twice a day, 100 ml sub-q fluids every other day (with B-12 added to the fluid), very low dose Buprenex twice a day for pain, and it was recommended that he get 1/4 tablet of the Pepcid AC every 36 hours.  My vet is rather cautious on dosing, and she said at 8.5 pounds, the 1/4 tablet every 24 hours was a little much.  

My cat has no interest in taking pills these days, so giving him Pepcid is hit or miss.  My priority is his Methimazole (which is actually compounded into soft chews that he loved in the past).   

Anyway, since you are concerned about dosing, that is what my vet has recommended.  Best wishes!
 
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wasabipea

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Good deal, I didn't know the difference between AC and the other Pepcids - so since I saw the generic name batted around a few times (I forget, started with an F) - anyway, I got some of that with the vets okay, she said at 7.5 lbs to only give between 1/4 and 1/8 pill, not sure the intervals... will have to double sheck when I go in later for the fluids. And I guess it is commonly used by vets, I've never had it recommended to me before - good to know.

Lcat4 - wow, we are in the same boat. She has been maintaining her weight pretty well - she got down to 6.3 last year and was a bag of bones - but now she's around mid-7s, that is good for her - but won't last for long at the rate we're going. But these spells happen somewhat frequently with her, so I'm not sure if this is the end, or if it's a spell. She has early stage CKD, she spiked a couple of months ago - but daily fluids got her creatinine back to like 2.2 or so, and BUN varies. They suspect that she has stomach/intestinal cancer - but all of the diagnostic tests to confirm are too invasive for a kitty of her age (18)... so I don't know for sure. She is on low dose amiltryptiline (anxiety) and gabapentin (pain) - I put them both in a gelcap and down they go. I'm sure the pepcid will fit in there no problem. Plus she has a slight heart murmur.

I know exactly what you mean about going thru dozens of food just because you never know what's going to interest them. I'm always shilling this product Nutrical (people here must think I work for the company, I don't) - it's super high calorie vitamin and mineral gel that is pretty palatable. My girl is fussy and she will lick little dabs off my finger, some people have to start with a smear on the nose so that they taste it and then get interested. It has something like 300+ calories a teaspoon, so even getting a few dabs into her is somewhat significant. My girl will only eat the name brand that comes in on orange tube, tried knockoffs that got snubbed. Of course I'd check with your vet for any interactions, but most vets advocate it. Even when we aren't in crisis, I give her a couple of dabs as a treat, she loves it. And it's made a real difference in her coat too.

And, yes, I know what you mean about watching them outside with eating the grass and then puking up the food. Lots of times I'll let her eat grass, and it comes up pretty quickly (when we are still outside - yay! no clean up). She has so little to live for these days, I hate taking away one of the few things she enjoys, but I don't want her upchucking the little nutrition she gets into her either. Lots of times, she'll just lay on the deck and that's perfect for both of us.

I am worried though because my freakin neighbor (who has a cat that she lets outside) planted a bunch of lilies alongside her house. We were talking one day and she was all a-twitter that she bought some lilies on [some TV retail network] and how pretty they are, etc... I started telling her to be careful with her cat because lilies are deadly to cats - and it was like talking to a brick wall. All she could do was say how pretty they are, and she can't wait to get them, blah blah blah, she was so excited for her pretty flowers and couldn't care less. The potential danger to her (and my) cats didn't even register. I got so aggravated I had to walk away. So, it's always in the back of my head that my cat could have eaten some of those darn lilies because she goes in their yard sometimes. I don't think she did, because I think they are planted on the far side of their house - she doesn't roam that far usually. But the whole exchange, and her flippancy about the dangers to her (and my) cats really got under my skin and has been irritating me since.

So anyway, I digress. Lcat4, I feel and understand your pain, I wish you and your kitty the best. My inbox is always open if you need someone to vent/talk/get advice/share the pain - I know how hard it is. Especially when they still show interest and want to do things, but they are too weak or tired, etc. Did you talk to your vet about B12 shots? I read that can be good for kicking starting appetites. My girl gets 1 dose a week with her fluids. I picked up some of her favorite junk cat food at lunch, along with more baby food... and pepcid. We'll see if I can get anything into her tonight.

Actually I think I'm going to cut out of work early to go take care of my kitty, she has me worried - plus no one is here. Happy weekend. Pepcid, please do your thing!

Thanks for the replies.
 
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wasabipea

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She ate, she ate, she ate!!
First assisted feeding was on her window perch and she has made 2 or 3 trips to the food bowl on her own :dance:
OK, it wasn't massive amounts, but it's a step in the right direction!
 
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wasabipea

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Well done, both of you. May it continue.
Thank you. She was still a little iffy this morning, but was meowing and waiting for breakfast in the kitchen (rare there days) - I guess the offerings displeased her since she only ate a bit, but a bit is better than none!I'll try another flavor a bit later.

I think I inadvertantly didn't answer one of your questions... foam spitty ups, not so much. They used to more frequently if her stomach was empty too long, the vomitng has decreased dramatically since she has been having relatively regular fluid treatments, grass is usually the culprit.
 
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