Help!!!!!! Help me decide whether this is an emergency :(

[spencers mom]

Yes! Thank you all for your comments.

I really, really hope he won't have to have a feeding tube put in. The vet this morning, and her assistant whom a just spoke to say he is doing really well with the syringe, he isn't fighting it. Good boy!

The thing is, he had the urinary blockage last week of December, and wasn't eating; then he came home and as some may remember from my previous threads he wasn't eating much until I discontinued the clavamox and the diazepam a couple days later. He lost 6 lbs total out of 21 lbs, so like 1/5 of his body weight, very quickly. Plus he was given diazepam which I am starting to get really suspicious about. I'm starting to wonder whether all this could be related.

 

[spencers mom]

Yeah by the way the french word I was looking for was hepatite, so that's HL and doesn't explain anything

And early stages because yesterday on the bloodwork the liver value were normal; new bloodwork today they are higher, but he's not jaundiced or anything yet. I hope we caught him early enough.

 

[vball91]

Sending good vibes Spencer's way that it was caught early enough. Since he's doing well with the syringe feeding, that's good news. Try to think positively.

Hmm, I don't know anything about Clavamox and Diazepam but maybe they did suppress his appetite? Hopefully some others can chime in here.

 

[flintmccullough]

Aren't-ya-glady,ya-took-him-back-in.

Liver-is-ALT-normal-is-10-100.My-female-I-told-you-about,was-917.She-recovered.Her's-was-because-she-ate-the-bread-and-the-wrapper.

Ask-your-vet-about-Denosyl,thats-what-she-was-put-on.To-get-her-to-eat,they-put-her-on-Pepcid-AC-the-regular-strength,1/4-of-a-10mg-pill,every-24-hours.It-settles-their-tummy.Then-they-had-me-give-her-baby-food.1-teaspoon-Gerber-baby-food,chicken,mixed-with-warm-water,so-it-was-like-a-broth,every-few-hours,until-she-asked-to-eat.Ya-have-to-keep-them-hydrated-and-flushed-out.When-she-asked-to-eat,she-had-to-be-put-on-wet-only,mixed-with-the-water,twice-a-day.

They-tried-so-many-different-meds,believe,she-was-on-a-antibiotic-too,but-when-they-put-her-on-the-Denosyl,she-responed,and-her-ALT-values-started-coming-down.

Hope-Spencer-is-feeling-better-soon.(((((((((((BIG-HUGS)))))))))

 

[raintyger]

OK, sending good kitty vibes over to Spencer...

In the meantime, there's a few other things I've thought of that you might want to get. I haven't had to take care of a hepatic lipodosis kitty before, so someone else correct me if these are bad ideas--

Tuna, if you have to bribe him to eat. Better to have him eat a nutritious kitty meal, but if that doesn't work, an unbalanced meal is better than no food.

KMR. I bought a syringe feeder just in case and at the time the store clerk told me some people use KMR as it is easy to syringe feed that way. But they start off using regular food that's been pureed to avoid any digestive issues from change of diet.

 

[spencers mom]

Thanks all for the tips it means a lot I have a "vacation night" tonight lol and tomorrow Spencer is coming home, and the real work will start! Really I can't wait to see him again, I miss him so much
Flint, is Denosyl an appetite enhancer? And yes I'm so glad I took him back to the vet right away.
The vet told me, at first he was really listless in his cage and miaowing anxiously, but after they fed him with the syringe he calmed down and was purring. So I am hoping it will go well at home, I've never had to do something like that before... Anybody knows how long it takes usually for kitties to start eating on their own again? Or do they ever??

 

[raintyger]

Well, the Wikipedia article said something about their appetite could return. . .

You might also want to view some YouTube videos on syringe feeding a cat. After I bought the syringe I viewed the first two in this search:

http://www.youtube.com/results?sear....1j0j2j2j0j4j1.10.0...0.0...1ac.1.x5F0xGndB7I

These people have cats that need syringe feeding on a regular basis, so their cats are more cooperative. But if you watch the videos it does not look as scary as it sounds. There are also some good tips in them like fashioning a kitty bib out of paper towels.

 

[flintmccullough]

Denosyl-is-also-known-as-S-Adenosylmethionine,had-to-pull-out-the-box-to-see,lol.

http://www.medi-vet.com/Denosyl.aspx

http://www.drugs.com/vet/denosyl.html

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=0+1303+1459&aid=3226

http://www.entirelypets.com/denosylsd4.html

http://www.1800petmeds.com/Denosyl-prod10434.html

If-you-want-to-know-what-antibiotic-she-was-on,I-can-pull-out-her-medical-records,and-look-it-up.They-tried-several-medications,she-did-not-respond,my-vet-called-the-specialist,they-were-about-out-of-meds-to-try,and-he-said-put-her-on-Denosyl.She-started-to-improve.

To-get-her-to-eat,which-is-also-imperative,they-gave-her-the-pepcid-ac,it-settled-her-tummy.Then-she-would-eat-the-baby-food,then-she-asked-to-eat,and-she-was-put-on-wet-only.

My-vet-said,the-good-news-is,the-liver-is-the-only-organ,that-will-repair-itself,we-just-had-to-get-her-to-eat,and-then-find-a-medicine-she-would-respond-to.

Tell-your-vet-to-call-the-internal-medicine-specialist-at-Antech.You-can-also-try-Nutrical,you-can-get-it-at-petsmart-or-petco.We-never-went-that-route,they-wanted-her-to-eat.That-she-had-a-masters-degree-in-eating,helped,lol,we-just-had-to-make-her-tummy-feel-better,so-she-wanted-to-eat.Ask-your-vet-about-the-pepcid-ac.Her-dose-was-1/4-tablet,every-24-hrs,she-ate-the-baby-food,after-the-first-tablet,wanted-the-wet-food,after-the-2nd-tablet.

Tell-Spencer,he-has-alot-of-people-and-kitties-thinking-of-him-and-pulling-for-him.(((((((((((((BIG-HUGS)))))))))))))))

 

[spencers mom]

Everything's ready for Spencer to come home tonight... his favorite couch in the guest room with his favorite throw and my old robe that he loves to knead.

Flint, I will mention the Denosyl, thanks. Is the pepcid AC comparable to the Famotidine? Because I know they mentioned he'll have to take that, for acidity. That worries me though because I know that because of his history with crystals, I have to watch his PH. But I guess right now it's more important that he eats no matter what.

I hope I will be able to feed him with the syringe as well as the vet, I really don't want to go the tube route, I'm afraid the other cats will bother him or try to pull it off...

 

[vball91]

That's great that Spencer is well enough to come home. Good luck on the syringe feeding. I think there's a youtube video on how to do it if you have questions.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

Yes, Pepcid A/C and Famotidine are the same thing.  I think the Famotidine is liquid and the Pepcid A/C is in pill form, plus the Pepcid is OTC and the other is RX.  Your Vet will probably give you cans of Hills A/D to feed Spencer...it's really the best for syringe feeding...it's very smooth, easily blends with water, AND has extra vitamins and nutrients that he needs right now.  It helps if you warm it slightly when giving it to him, and give it to him s l o w l y in the side of his mouth rather than just squirt it all in at once.  I'm sure the Vet tech will show you, hopefully.  Make sure you have more than one syringe, because they tend to stick after awhile, and then it's hard to s l o w l y use the plunger

.

You will probably need to assist feed him for a week or two, maybe more.  Even once he starts eating on his own again, you may need to continue to assist feed him as well, just to make sure he is getting enough.  And don't freak out if he starts turning yellow.  It might still happen even though he may be on the mend.  Doesn't necessarily mean he's getting worse

 

[spencers mom]

The Famotidine I have is in pill form. Yes the vet mentioned that the technician will show me how to feed him... The vet called me this morning and Spencer had a good night, they fed him a whole can yesterday and he kept it down, yeeee! The vet told me starting tomorrow I am to start feeding him 1 1/2 can a day. If he start to eat on his own again, to check how much and feed him what he's missing with the syringe, to keep him at 1 1/2 can a day. If he starts vomiting they will start him again on Cerenia. He also has an appetite enhancer which they gave me at the emergency, which I am to continue. I'll see him in 3 hours now... I'm so excited <3

 

[raintyger]

One of the YouTube videos I linked to also mentioned having more than one syringe just because you can prefill them. Probably comes in handy if you have to make it to work in the morning.

Give Spencer some hugs from everyone here and let him know everyone's rooting for a healthy kitty.
 

 

[flintmccullough]

I-am-not-familiar-with-Famotidine,but-this-is-pepcid-ac.

http://www.pepcid.com/original-stre...t=Information|mkwid|UxXd6jcv|pcrid|2038921343

She-was-given-1/4-tablet,every-24-hrs.They-said-it-would-settle-her-tummy,so-she-would-want-to-eat,which,it-did-work.Its-a-human-over-the-counter-med,and-should-only-be-given-under-instructions-of-a-vet.

I-have-one-kitten-that-has-a-real-sensative-little-system.I-carry-Metronidazole-with-me-to-shows.I-know-when-to-give-it,but-she-tells-me-to-always-call-her-first.He-had-diarea,on-sun-morn,looked-in-the-medicine-stuff,forgot-it.Called-her,which-I-got-"yelled-at"-lol,for-forgetting-it.She-asked-what-do-you-have-with-you.I-told-her-pepcid-ac.She-said-give-him-1/4-tablet,and-pull-him-from-the-first-ring,when-his-diarea-clears-up,he-can-go-back-in-the-rings.It-cleared-it-up,he-only-missed-that-first-ring.

Looking-forward-to-Spencer-coming-home!

 

[spencers mom]

Spencer's home And he looks really happy to be here, purring and kneading galore. I gave him all your hugs and best wishes and then some! Thank you soooooo much guys!
The vet's technician showed me how to feed him, it's A LOT messier than I thought lol! And she says he's one of the easiest she's had, I can only imagine what it can be like :s So he's had all his meds and a whole can of food today, and tomorrow I have to try to make him eat 1 1/2.
The 2 syringes idea is really good, I'll go pick up another one, thanks Raintyger!

Spencer now has Zeniquin, Metronidazole & Zentonil to take, along with the Fatomidine & the appetite enhancer of which I forget the name... Anyone has any experience with these drugs or knows the side effects I can expect?

 

[spencers mom]

I fed Spencer 1/2 can this morning; it took about half an hour and was actually easier than I thought. I had to stop half way and give him 10 minutes' rest, because he was starting to fight me. I had wrapped him in a towel, which he didn't seem to appreciate, and for the second half I took off the towel and it was a lot easier that way.

The bad news is, there was diarreha in the litter box this morning but I was sort of expecting it. Hopefully his tummy will settle soon.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

Glad the feeding isn't too difficult. 

My guess is the diarrhea is caused by one or more of the meds.  I am not familiar with any of those other than the famotidine, but any new med could be the culprit. 

that his recovery is quick!