Anaphylactic Shock in Cat

My Cat, Chloe went in to anaphylactic shock on Sunday and I had to rush her to the emergency hospital. After blood work and x-rays they decided it may have been due to a bee sting and gave her subcutaneous fluids and a shot of dexamethasone (2mg). Chloe threw up pink when I got her home. I took her to the vet on Mon. because she just layed under the bed and wasn't interested in eating or drinking.  The Vet decided to give prednisone and a precautionary antibiotic. That night she threw up brown mucus. I took her back to the vet Tue. and she received an anti nausea shot, and cerenia for nausea the next 4 days and also and appetite stimulant (mirtazapine) to start the next day. Later that day she threw up again. I then took her on Wed. and the vet took her off the prednisone and antibiotic and decided to treat her for stomach ulcer with sucralfate and also gave more subcutaneous fluids since she hadn't eaten. I was also advised to continue the anti nausea meds 1x daily and the appetite stimulate 1x every other day. I am really worried because Chloe still didn't eat all day Wed. and after I gave her the ulcer meds she started to gag and threw up just a little this time. She hasn't moved much only to pee in the litter box. I was wondering if anyone else had a cat develop ulcers from a shot of dexamethasone. I know she was given a pretty large dose to counter act her severe reaction.

Hi @Leslie Marshall  I'm sorry you haven't had any answers yet. Just bumping this for you so it will get more attention.

Thank you, I took her back to the vet today (Thursday) and they are going to keep her overnight, give more fluids and treat her intravenously for ulcers. She still isn't interested in eating. They did more x rays and said they looked fine. Good news her liver and kidney still look ok.

I have no experience with this situation, but wanted to say that I hope the fluids will help your cat get better soon. Sometimes too much medication can mask a problem too. Hoping she just needs time, but liver and kidneys still looking good is positive. Hopefully, she will eat soon on her own.

I'm allergic to bee stings myself and although my reaction is local, I am always afraid it may become general, like it did with your cat. She's been through the mill, and my take is that she needs a little time to recover. The vet has given her everything she needs. Try to focus on getting her to eat, especially with wet food, and then when she does, give her the meds after she eats so it doesn't upset her stomach. I'm glad her kidneys and liver are still functioning - that's a very good sign. You can also encourage her to eat by putting some food on your finger and letting her lick it off.

Did they find a bee sting on her body, or might she have actually eaten a bee or wasp or hornet and been stung by it inside her mouth or throat?  Maybe even in the stomach?

They did not find a sting but Chloe is very furry. After ruling out everything else through x rays and blood work a bee sting or spider bite seemed to be the best fit for all her symptoms.They did diagnose her with an inner ear infection on top of everything else.

Thanks for the advice. She did eat a few pieces of dry food (maybe 8) today and licked a little moist food. She seems to be very interested in eating but by the sound of her breathing her nose is stuffed up  so I think this is making it hard to swallow and breathe at the same time. I just put her in the bathroom with the shower running to expose her to some steam for the past 40 minutes to see if I can break up some of the mucus. Poor baby is now on Sucralfate, prilosec, and pepsin for her ulcer, cerenia for nausea, zeniquin for inner ear infection and baytril drops in her ear. If anyone else has any tricks to try to get her to eat please let me know. I have tried feeding her with my finger, warming up her food, cooking chicken, and salmon, and trying just chicken broth on her dry food to at least get some fluids in her. She does look and act a lot better since her overnight stay at the vet with some intravenious support but I am still worried about her not eating.

Thank you for your reply and concern. I did get Chloe to eat a few pieces of dry food today (maybe 8) and she licked some moist but didn't ingest much if any. After her overnight stay at the vet I asked them to observe her walking because she was a little cockeyed. The Vet did see what I was talking about and to add to everything else, my poor baby  has an inner ear infection. Since I brought her home yesterday, she has been very interested in food but today I noticed her nose is stuffed up (probably from the inner ear) I just put her in the bathroom with the shower and have exposed her to steam the past hour hoping to break up the mucus in her nose. I have tried too feed her with my finger, warmed her food up, cooked both chicken and salmon and tried chicken broth adding it to her dry food. If anyone has any other tricks or advice that worked for them, please share!. She is on so many meds (sucralfate, prilosec, and pepcid for her ulcer), (cerenia fro nausea), (zeniquin and baytril for ear infection). I am giving her 4-5 pills twice a day plus the drops in her ear. She is at least walking around, wagging her tail a bit and goes up to her food licks a little then leaves.

Bless her heart. She's had a rough time. You are doing well with her, and I don't have anything to add.

Have you tried Gerber turkey baby food warmed and offered on your finger?

oh wow she has been through a lot. please keep us posted. i hope she makes a full recovery.

I wonder if some broth would help?

Thank you DreamerRose, She did eat a little more today maybe 2 TLB. I used baby nose drops on her today to try to break up some of the mucus and put her in the bathroom with steam for 1 hr. again.  I am going to continue moist air tonight with my cool air humidifier in the room where she will sleep.

Sarthur2, I did try the chicken and turkey and she was very interested. She licks a little. At one point today I had 4 different foods out for her and she would go from one bowl to another licking a little but not getting a lot. I can hear her nose is very congested so I'm hoping the antibiotic for her inner ear infection starts to kick in soon. Thanks so much for the advice.

It sounds like she's on the road to recovery. The high humidity you are planning on should help. Once her nose clears, she will probably eat better.

I think as soon as her nose clears and she can breathe and smell better, she will begin eating again. Let's hope that happens quickly.

Norachan, Someone from the emergency clinic recommended broth yesterday and since she was only interested in dry food, I put a little on it and that was the first she actually at a few bites so this was very good advice and thanks for sharing. She seems to be a little better today. I have a feeling it will probably be another week until she is back to normal but so far everyday since I picked her up Friday I have seen a little more improvement.

Just wanted to give an update on Chloe. Yesterday she finally started eating a lot. she actually ate two cans of moist food and quite a few cat treats, which she has never been interested in. She is still walking with a head tilt and her nose is so stuffed she sounds like a little piggy when she eats. The Vet called yesterday to ask how she was. I was able to tell him she had not thrown-up for 5 days so the sucralfate, prilosec and pepcid was working on her stomach and digestive system. She doesn't have to take these anymore. Yah!!!! I was giving her pills 8X's a day. Now to get this ear infection under control. The Vet said he did some research on the inner ear infection and this could take more than 2 weeks to be resolved. He also said to keep in mind we may need to flush her ear or try different meds. Right now she is taking zeniquin orally, and baytril drops. I still have the stairs blocked off because her balance is not stable. Thanks to everyone who commented on my post and for all the great advice! 

Norachan, I did make the chicken broth like in the video but neither of my picky kitties were interested so my husband and I enjoyed chicken and noodles with the first broth .  I continued to cook the bones and skin to make the marrow broth and plan of putting a little on their food daily.

Wonderful update! So glad to hear that her appetite is finally back.

What did the vet think about her stuffy nose? Noses usually clear around the third day or so on the right antibiotics. Her sinuses may be impacted.

I'm guessing once her ear infection is clear that her balance will stabilize.

You guys have been through quite a bit. I know that giving fewer meds is a relief!