Help please. I'm freaking out! Antibiotics and kidney failure!

Ok so I wrote the other day talking about antibiotics and probiotics etc. long story short my cat was on one lot of antibiotics for vomiting. Vomiting stopped but then diarrhea started. Went for a few days. So I took him back to the vet. He has been given another sort of antibiotics called (Tribrissen 20). Been on them for 3 days. This morning he looked very sad. I don't know how else to explain it. Has been quiet and sleepy through the day. And a bit grumpy/standoffish. He's been drinking a fair bit. This is why I'm having a major freak out! I was reading some stuff and saw that is a sign of kidney failure! And that antibiotics can cause it. Granted it has been a Very hot day today and he still has diarrhea. So maybe that explains the drinking. I don't know. I need someon else's perspective. I feel so awful right now. I've been trying so hard to help him and it keeps getting worse. The first lot of antibiotics gave him diarrhea and now this.

Do you think it's too late?!
What if I stop giving them to him now?
I just don't know what to do. I feel like I'm dying. I love him so much. It's night time at the moment so the vets not open otherwise I would ring them and ask.

I know one side effect of the antibiotics he's on is drowsiness...

Oh I just don't know.

I'm scared I've killed him.
Or damaged him too much.

I've spent so much money trying to help him.
I barely have any money left.

Definitely call the vet tomorrow and report the continuing diarrhea and increased thirst. Is he eating at all? Tribissen is used for protozoan infections so I have a feeling that is what the vet thinks he has. Please don't be so scared, you are doing everything you can to help in the best way you know, he may have something that is very hard to treat, but don' give up, cats can get very sick and still make remarkable recoveries.  Maybe get a second opinion from another vet, i don't like that he is giving multiple antibiotics when obviously they don't work. I'll pray for your little one, I pray he gets better soon. Lots of water is what he needs right now to keep his kidneys flushed, so make sure he has plenty. It is very early in the morning here, so it may be a while before the advisers get on. Bless you for your concern!

​Thank you so much for answering.

I will be calling the vet. He is eating. But he is being a bit picky about what he is eating. It's really hard for me not to panic. I have a really bad anxiety disorder. And I desperately need him to be ok. I don't even want to go to bed. I just want to sit up with him and watch him. He finally started to want to be near me again about 20 minutes ago. The whole day he hasn't wanted anything to do with me and my husband. And he (with me especially) is a VERY clingy cat. And I feel like he was annoyed/disinterested with me today.

At first I put it down to him being upset about the tablets in general. He hates taking medication. Plus the heat. Plus the fact that he was still getting over the diarrhea. But now I am nervous it's something more. I wish he'd never gone on antibiotics in the first place. But the vomiting was relentless. Then he was just over that he was having diarrhea up to 10 times a day nearly ( I feel like the diarrhea has gotten a little better but it isn't gone as yet). So I took him back to the vet. I was worried about dehydration. When the vet prescribed another antibiotic I was worried...but at the same time I didn't know what else to do for him. I feel like no matter what I do it's going wrong. He has actually seen 3 vets over the last month (at the same veterinary clinic) it's a large practice so you see who ever is available.

I am really considering having tomorrow off work just to watch him and take him back to the vet. My husband will have to as well (as I mentioned I have bad anxiety) and find it very difficult to go to the vet (among other places/things) on my own. My baby hates travelling and screams the whole time in the car etc.

Sorry I have rambled a bit.

I'm trying not too but I can't stop worrying. I keep bursting into tears. I feel like I have cried so much this last month...just worry about him.

I can relate to that, I had a really bad anxiety disorder for about 20 years, towards the end of it, I couldn't even go out, or speak with anyone except my SO John. I'm much better now though, I finally reached for help in June. Therapy and medication can change your life for the better. I am now working in a restaurant kitchen, with lots of people and noise. I wasn't even scared to talk to new people. It can happen for you too, please don't lose hope. You need to breathe, and try to relax (I know, easy to say). Have you tried Yoga or meditation? It really helped me, just thought I mentioned it. If you want/need to talk, you can PM me anytime.

About your cat, I agree with @Di and Bob. If you are afraid of something wrong with his kidneys, ask the vet about it. I would make a note of every questions you have, you don't want to forget anything. You can also make a list of things that have changed in your cat's behavior since the beginning of the meds. Don't be afraid to voice your concerns to the vet, better safe than sorry.

Thank you. I have tried many things for anxiety. Nothing has really helped. I have a lot of trouble dealing with ongoing stress that doesn't seem to have an end. I can't feel ok until things are 'resolved'. So right now is very difficult.

He got weird with me again. Not sure why. And he definitely wants to eat but only dry food. He's on canin S/O urinary dry food. He wants that and only that. Now he does love it but he also LOVES chicken and he won't eat chicken..or anything else. I'm vet confused by that.

I've finally made myself go to bed...Not sure if I will be able to sleep. I keep worrying he won't be ok and I won't be right there.

I feel like I've made a terrible mistake giving him the antibiotics.

And I feel upset that the vet didn't mention that he could have so many side effects.

If he has diarrhea, it's a good thing he's drinking as that will keep him hydrated.  Sometimes, medications can increase thirst. Also, not every kitty reacts the same to antibiotics.  I have one cat who can't tolerate Clavamox.  It makes her projectile vomit after about 3 days on it.  Guess what?  All my other kitties tolerate it just fine with no side effects.  Don't beat yourself up for following the doctor's instructions.  Just be sure they note the reaction in your kitty's file so they won't prescribe it again.

Just like when you're sick, sometimes you don't want to eat your normal food and food that you normally love is not appealing. Let him eat what he wants to eat because that's most important. When he's well, you can work to get him back to his regular diet. 

@stephanietx thanks for replying. At first I was happy to see him drinking so much. Then I thought wow he's going to his water a lot. Add in the weird mood and me reading stuff online and a completely freaked out. I really hope the medication is just making him thirsty.

He seems okish at the moment. Though its 6.30 in the morning and the first thing I saw him doing was drinking. He also wanted more food...he ate last about 1am before I dragged myself away from him. I gave him a little. I'll feed him properly when I get up properly. I'm so tired I didn't really sleep at all. I'm about to call in sick to work. I can't leave him.

I do feel a little less worried but I'm nervous to feel too relieved...just incase.

I'm also sad that the diarrhea is still happening. I'm scared there's more too that then the antibiotics.

In situations like this, my vet gave lactated ringers to my cat subcutaneously. Drinking water is not enough to flush out toxins in severe situations. Suggest subQ hydration to your vet. Diarrhea is a standard side effect of antibiotics. Also suggest feeding only wet food with a tablespoon of water mixed into each portion. Dry food is not good in any situation that includes vomiting and dehydration.

P.S. After the antibiotics, give probiotics (or plain organic yogurt) to restore healthy bacteria to the intestines. It takes a while for the stool to become normal.

@stephanietx thanks for replying. At first I was happy to see him drinking so much. Then I thought wow he's going to his water a lot. Add in the weird mood and me reading stuff online and a completely freaked out. I really hope the medication is just making him thirsty.

He seems okish at the moment. Though its 6.30 in the morning and the first thing I saw him doing was drinking. He also wanted more food...he ate last about 1am before I dragged myself away from him. I gave him a little. I'll feed him properly when I get up properly. I'm so tired I didn't really sleep at all. I'm about to call in sick to work. I can't leave him.

I do feel a little less worried but I'm nervous to feel too relieved...just incase.

I'm also sad that the diarrhea is still happening. I'm scared there's more too that then the antibiotics.

Thanks. I know dry food isn't the best but it was the only thing that seed to make him happy at all

Update: I am feeling a bit better now. Physical exam was fine. We had he's kidney's re-tested and the vet said that they are fine. Had his protein tested again and it has gone up (was a little low with the first test back when he was first sick with vomiting). Which the vet was happy with. He is on a cat probiotic. Which I was trying to organise before and wish I had just done it. But he's on it now. We're doing a faecal test tomorrow. And depending on those results maybe an ultrasound. He hasn't had the diarrheal quite as much today...so I'm really hoping that the probiotics will fix the rest and he'll be back to normal.

I am feeling hopeful...which scares me because I have felt hopeful a lot the last month and things kept getting worse. 

He actually seems a lot better now then earlier today and heaps better then yesterday. I don't know if I just panicked (which I do do) or not but at least I know his kidneys are fine.

Thanks for the help everyone. It helped to have people to talk to about it.

That's a great update! You were worried about his kidneys, and they are fine! My guess is that the antibiotics gave him diarrhea, which made him drink more. It should be back to normal with the probiotic's help, but a fecal couldn't hurt. You've done a great job looking after him!

BTW, what's his name, and can we get pictures? We love kitty pics around here

His name is Socks This is his 'where have you been at all day face' (I was at work for 4 hrs lol). Photo taken in March this year.

He's a tuxedo cat! Socks is really handsome

I think so too [emoji]10084[/emoji]️

You can go crazy and post pics here, this is the Tuxedo Cats thread :
[thread="242921"]Tuxedo Cat Photos  [/thread]

Cool thanks