IBD kitty not feeling well

snugglecat

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Peaches hasn't been feeling well all week. Friday I gave her Cerenia but it doesn't really help.

I have a call into the vet but she can't get back to me until Sunday. I'm not sure if I want to get more of the Cerenia anyway because it doesn't seem to help her and she really does seem to feel worse after I give it to her. Is there anything else I could ask the vet to try that would help with the nausea she is having right now?

She has thrown up a couple times this week but she is still eating at this point, just not at her usual feeding times. She doesn't cry for her food or get excited. I have read that some people give pepcid to their cats with IBD and was wondering if I should try this. Does it help with nausea at all? How much would I give her and where would I find this. I just want her to start feeling better.

She is already taking prednisolone every other day.
 

detmut

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Peaches hasn't been feeling well all week. Friday I gave her Cerenia but it doesn't really help.

I have a call into the vet but she can't get back to me until Sunday. I'm not sure if I want to get more of the Cerenia anyway because it doesn't seem to help her and she really does seem to feel worse after I give it to her. Is there anything else I could ask the vet to try that would help with the nausea she is having right now?

She has thrown up a couple times this week but she is still eating at this point, just not at her usual feeding times. She doesn't cry for her food or get excited. I have read that some people give pepcid to their cats with IBD and was wondering if I should try this. Does it help with nausea at all? How much would I give her and where would I find this. I just want her to start feeling better.

She is already taking prednisolone every other day.
Zofran (ondansetron)
 
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my buddies

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My vet prescribed Buprenorphine for (0.3 MG/ML) the pain for a cat I had years ago who was suffering from IBD.  I gave him oral liquid doses of 1/2 to 1 ML by mouth as needed.  He almost immediately go relief.  When one of my current cats got a terrible urinary tract infection and couldn't pee, I gave him doses of that medicine that allowed him to pee.  He got the emergency treatment he needed ($1,200 later...) and is doing wonderfully today.  The Buprenorphine was a life-saver.  Neither cat had negative side effects.
 

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Pepcid will help if there is an issue with excess acid.  I tried it with Patches and it didn't help but that doesn't mean it won't help with your kitty.   The vet told me to get the regular strength Pepcid, I think it's 10 mg and you don't want the Pepcid Complete just regular Pepcid, regular strength.  The vet had me giving 1/2 pill twice a day.

When you talk to the vet I would discuss changing the steroid dose.  Patches takes it every day.  I understand the reasoning behind every other day, it keeps the kitty's body producing it's own but your kitty may need it daily.
 

my buddies

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A few more things about Buprenorphine... you have to get it made at a compound pharmacy.  Your vet may not be familiar with it.  My vet here in Missouri wasn't.  I had to call my former vet in Phoenix to find out about it.  It's wonderful.  It's an opiate and will make your cat very relaxed and happy.  Your other treatments will be much more effective if your cat is stressed with pain.
 

my buddies

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I can't believe all of the typos I'm making tonight...not good for a former English teacher!  I meant to write that your cat will NOT be stressed with pain.  Good luck!
 
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snugglecat

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Pepcid will help if there is an issue with excess acid.  I tried it with Patches and it didn't help but that doesn't mean it won't help with your kitty.   The vet told me to get the regular strength Pepcid, I think it's 10 mg and you don't want the Pepcid Complete just regular Pepcid, regular strength.  The vet had me giving 1/2 pill twice a day.

When you talk to the vet I would discuss changing the steroid dose.  Patches takes it every day.  I understand the reasoning behind every other day, it keeps the kitty's body producing it's own but your kitty may need it daily.
I just got off the phone with the vet and she wants me to give Peaches Pepcid but she thinks they only sell it in the 20mg tablets. Does anyone know if It comes in 10mg tablets? If I find the 10mg ones I can give her half twice a day.

Peaches only throws up in the early morning hours so she too thinks it's excess acid we could be dealing with. I'm to keep her for now with the every other day steroid.

I also think Peaches is now allergic to the freeze dried chicken. I have been using it as a topper on her wet food to get her to eat. I stopped giving it to her when her lip was swollen last month and just this week I wanted her to eat so I was putting it on her food. She now has a swollen lip again.

At the rate we are going she won't be able to eat anything.

Thanks.
 

detmut

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I just got off the phone with the vet and she wants me to give Peaches Pepcid but she thinks they only sell it in the 20mg tablets. Does anyone know if It comes in 10mg tablets? If I find the 10mg ones I can give her half twice a day.

Peaches only throws up in the early morning hours so she too thinks it's excess acid we could be dealing with. I'm to keep her for now with the every other day steroid.

I also think Peaches is now allergic to the freeze dried chicken. I have been using it as a topper on her wet food to get her to eat. I stopped giving it to her when her lip was swollen last month and just this week I wanted her to eat so I was putting it on her food. She now has a swollen lip again.

At the rate we are going she won't be able to eat anything.

Thanks.
i guarantee they come in 10 mg


 
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my buddies

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You can also get a pill cutter at the drugstore and cut a 20mg tab in half.

If you feel she is in pain, ask your vet to order Buprenorphine from a compound pharmacy.  You can squirt it in her mouth (from the side).  
 

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Hi

As @detmut  mentioned, Zofran is a good anti nausea medication but as far as i know its only given as a sub Q injection (easier than pilling!) but it must be given every 6 hours to be effective, or more precisely, it wears off after 6 hours.  My IBD cat was sometimes on both cerenia and zofran.

Also, many cats are also assisted by Pepcid AC in a kitty dosage (usually 1/4 of a 10mg pill) once a day but that too can be tailored by your vet.

Is your cat's weight stable and the illness otherwise controlled by the every other day Pred?  Many cats have to be on it daily with IBD.

Is your cat also getting B12 injections?
 

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I have seen so many different doses for Pepcid.  I was told 1/2 of a 10 mg pill twice daily.  I have seen CRF kitties here who were getting 3 or 4 small meals a day with 1/2 a 10 mg pill 1/2 hour before each meal.  I think it must be a very forgiving medication where kitties are concerned.
 
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stephenq

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I have seen so many different doses for Pepcid.  I was told 1/2 of a 10 mg pill twice daily.  I have seen CRF kitties here who were getting 3 or 4 small meals a day with 1/2 a 10 mg pill 1/2 hour before each meal.  I think it must be a very forgiving medication where kitties are concerned.
Agreed.
 
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snugglecat

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She has been doing really well since we started her on the pred. in August but she still vomits a couple times a month but only in the early morning hours. Last month I took her into see the vet for a swollen lip and she was given Revolution because I hadn't treated her for fleas in several months. I don't like giving her flea treatment if I don't have too. She ended up vomiting 5 mornings in a row but vet doesn't think it has anything to do with the flea treatment.

She wasn't feeling well last week and I was having a hard time getting her to eat her canned food so I was putting the freeze dried chicken on her food and she would eat it. We now have the swollen lip again.

She has not lost any weight and is eating but she takes a while to eat the canned food. She was getting Vit. B injections but I haven't had the money for them. Vet also mentioned maybe she should be getting those again.

I'm going to the store today to pick up some pepcid so hopefully this will help her feel better in the mornings. I was told to give 1/2 of a 10mg tablet in the morning and around 9:00 at night. If I could only find the 20mg tablets I was to give her 1/4 of the tablet twice a day.

Is it okay to put the tablet in a little food? I would never be able to get a pill down her. I have a hard enough time getting the liquid Pred. in her.
 

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You can mix it in food.  The one that you give in the morning I would just mix with a small amount of food and give her meal a half hour later.  The combination of the Pepcid and small amount of food should take care of excess acid before she eats her regular meal
 

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Is it okay to put the tablet in a little food? I would never be able to get a pill down her. I have a hard enough time getting the liquid Pred. in her.
My cat hated the taste of pepcid so i had to use a pill pocket (have you tried those?) but you can try putting it in the food.  Also regarding B12, you can get it and the needles for cheap online at places like http://www.drsfostersmith.com/ All they need is your vet's info and they will obtain the scrips and then send you what you need. U100 syringes are the type to use, normally used for insulin.
 

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I have heard that Pepcid has a very bitter taste. If it is cut in half, I think the taste is more prominent. 

My cat is hard to pill; meaning that he spits out the pill. He has even gone to the point of keeping it on the side of his mouth and pretending to swallow. I even give him a chaser of water after. I still see him spit it out. Many times I find it on the chair or on my clothes.

I resorted to buying #4 empty gel capsules. I ordered them on line from Amazon. I would suggest the colored ones as the clear are lost easily when empty.

I put the pepcid in there and use a pill gun. I got that on Amazon, but Petsmart and Petco have them also. They may be in the dog section.

My Vet told me the dose on pepcid is as follows: 1/2 a tablet once or twice a day, depending on symptoms.

Make sure it is the plain pepcid AC...nothing added to it. 

Since my cat is so hard to medicate, I have now gone to a compounding pharmacy.There is a good one, about 15 miles from me.  I find it a bit easier, although I have spots all over my laminate floors from where my cat is shaking his head, trying to spit out the liquid. You can get it in flavors also.

I am new on the IBD circuit. You can follow my posts about Artie.. I have been a bit crazed the past few days...I am a bit calmer now...

Good luck and (hugs))..It is so hard to understand and deal with.
 
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snugglecat

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Update......I had a feeling something else was going on with Peaches, it always takes me a while to figure this out. Peaches has issues with her anal glands, they don't express like they should. Yesterday she was acting like she was in more pain and not moving around much. It then dawned on me it's been 2 months since she had her anal glands expressed. She normally has them done once  a month. Her anal glands were really full.

She now feels so much better and is more alert since we have gotten back.


I gave her 1/4 of a tablet of pepcid last night and again this morning. I don't know if I will be able to give her 1/2 of a tablet, they are so big and hard to crush up with the coating on them. She ate it with no problems but I'm afraid it I give her 1/2 she will turn her nose up at it. I might give it a try this evening. She is really hungry since we got back from the vet.

I was going to have them give her a Vitamin B injection but I didn't have enough money. It was $25.00 to have her anal glands expressed.
 

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I read somewhere else on this site that feeding a small amount of food in the middle of the night helps with nausea/vomiting in the early morning. I suppose the stomach acid builds up on an empty stomach or something. Does Peaches get anything to eat during the night? If you don't want to free-feed her, perhaps you could use on of those feeding machines. That may help a bit, too.

Poor thing - it's like she's getting it from both ends! I hope Peaches feels better soon and you get her medications sorted.

Best regards.
 
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snugglecat

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Peaches is still not wanting to eat much so I took her into today for a Vit. B12 injection. I had to stop trying to give her the pepcid because she could taste it in her food. I went and bought a few cans of Fancy Feast to see if I can get her to eat canned food again. She will eat her dry but not the canned.

I wish I could get pepcid in liquid form. Her steroid is liquid and it so easy to give her.

If the injection doesn't seem to work I will have to save for another vet visit all though it's usually a waste of money.

@Artiemom I hope Artie is doing much better.
 

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Thanks, Snugglecat.

Artie seems to be doing much better---fingers and paws crossed.....

I am just trying to avoid constipation at this point.

He had a lot of diarrhea the past few days..This is him. He gets constipated; I give him some miralax and then he get diarrhea..I can never fined the correct dose...

Yesterday, he tried to play a bit, and talked a bit to me. Today he played a lot more and has talked more...

He is still not eating as much as I would like, but it is a great improvement. 

He started getting fussy with his food! I know that is a good sign for him. It means he is feeling more normal......

Can you order some size 4 gel caps from Amazon? They really do work well for the pepcid. I cut it in half and put it in. And possibly a pill gun?

I had to resort to that...

Some people do have use an online formulating pharmacy. Some of them are very good....

I know cost is a factor. 

The Gel caps are not very expensive. 

 wishing Peaches starts feeling better very soon!!
 
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