Managing Cats with Pancreatitis

cc0000

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Today, for the 2nd time this year (first was in April), my cat Brillo got diagnosed with pancreatitis.

At first they thought his kidneys were the problem, but, it turned out that dehydration skewed the results and he has what the vet called low-grade pancreatitis.

The vet said to start with a bland diet (Hills Digestive Care) and then move on to steroid treatment if needed. 

Are there any other things I should be doing, especially if this keeps reoccurring? I know pancreatitis can be severe enough to require hospitalization and can do serious damage over time. I want to keep Brillo as healthy and happy as possible.
 

darkhorse321

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I feel your pain. Boy do I feel your pain. My two kitties just got over their 3rd bout and my two are almost 17. My boy had his bout for six weeks and I almost put him down.

For start, Pancreatitis is a symptom of a bigger issue---usually a bowel issue (IBD) or something else. But, my boy has megacolon and my female seems fine now. My female (they are littermates) had an acute attack and also nearly was put down due to high fever. We had her on 3 antibiotics, fluids, anti nauseant, and pain meds.  She broke the fever overnight and by her fourth day, she was one happy kitty!!

Things you want to have on hand:

anti diarrhea (metronitozole)

Anti Nausea (cerneia)

Pepcid AC (from the store, MUST be Pepcid AC--nothing else--fantom I believe is the medicinal name?)

pain meds (bupernorphine)

prednisone

Fluids.

I couldn't rehydrate my boy as he's terrible with needles, so I took him to the vet, but the meds I did for both cats. All are easy to do--just remember the oral bupernorphine goes in slowly in the cheek pocket and is absorbed through the gums. My boy got pretty buzzed on it ;)

Pepcid AC is excellent. A quarter tablet 2x daily but make sure you check with your vet. I found this to be the best for Bandit as it stops the acid production and allows the pancreas to heal.

I've got Bandit on prednisone 2x daily and he will stay on it as I think he has a chronic pancreatitis. Skye, my girl, is fine and medication free.

Pancreatitis can flare so watch for signs. Vomiting yellow bile is one (and I missed it!). Panting, heavy breathing and rapid heart rate, as well as not eating and curling up in a loaf like position. If you have ANy quesations, please feel free to PM me--I know how scary it is.
 
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cc0000

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I feel your pain. Boy do I feel your pain. My two kitties just got over their 3rd bout and my two are almost 17. My boy had his bout for six weeks and I almost put him down.

For start, Pancreatitis is a symptom of a bigger issue---usually a bowel issue (IBD) or something else. But, my boy has megacolon and my female seems fine now. My female (they are littermates) had an acute attack and also nearly was put down due to high fever. We had her on 3 antibiotics, fluids, anti nauseant, and pain meds.  She broke the fever overnight and by her fourth day, she was one happy kitty!!

Things you want to have on hand:

anti diarrhea (metronitozole)

Anti Nausea (cerneia)

Pepcid AC (from the store, MUST be Pepcid AC--nothing else--fantom I believe is the medicinal name?)

pain meds (bupernorphine)

prednisone

Fluids.

I couldn't rehydrate my boy as he's terrible with needles, so I took him to the vet, but the meds I did for both cats. All are easy to do--just remember the oral bupernorphine goes in slowly in the cheek pocket and is absorbed through the gums. My boy got pretty buzzed on it ;)

Pepcid AC is excellent. A quarter tablet 2x daily but make sure you check with your vet. I found this to be the best for Bandit as it stops the acid production and allows the pancreas to heal.

I've got Bandit on prednisone 2x daily and he will stay on it as I think he has a chronic pancreatitis. Skye, my girl, is fine and medication free.

Pancreatitis can flare so watch for signs. Vomiting yellow bile is one (and I missed it!). Panting, heavy breathing and rapid heart rate, as well as not eating and curling up in a loaf like position. If you have ANy quesations, please feel free to PM me--I know how scary it is.
It is so scary. Brillo gets lethargic and doesn't want to eat or even drink. He sometimes projectile vomits. The vet said I should syringe feed food and water when it is acting up (scary because I have to be very careful). Strangely, it has been happening 1-2 days a week and he goes from awful to acting like nothing is wrong by the night. This "episode" has been off and on since the beginning of this month. I've been to the vet so many times and it finally was diagnosed after an ultrasound and blood test. He has been given fluids a lot, pain meds, anti-nausea meds, and some antibiotics during this time.

I just wish there was something specifically causing it that I could fix so he could stop having flareups. Stress also seems to make it worse (going to the vet so much doesn't help).

I heard about Pepcid. I'll have to ask the vet after his food trial is over to see if it it okay. The vet said the ultrasound looked okay. There was some mild inflammation in the stomach.

Thanks for your help.
 
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