Is this the end? I’m so frustrated….

[taffetto]

My cat is 8.5 years old, and his health is getting worse every day. It started 1.5 years ago – daily diarrhea and vomit. I took him to different vets over this time and did all kind of tests (parasites, blood work, diarrhea profile, thyroid test, vitamins test) but no vet could help my kitty. He clearly has inflammation in his guts and his body doesn’t absorb the food he eats.

I’ve tried:

• Switching diet to prescribed food only
• Switching to table food only
• Switching to wet food only
• Switching to high protein foods only
• Probiotics
• Antibiotics
• Steroids
• Anti-worms’ treatment

Nothing helped. My cat lost lots of weight. He is dehydrated and starving but can’t really eat anything. Whenever he eats a little bit – he is vomiting and has super liquid diarrhea 6-10 times a day every day outside of his litter box.It’s hard watching him suffering and being sad and it’s not easy to clean after him every hour for months. My vet gave up and said there is nothing he can do and doesn’t know what’s going on.

What do I do? If anyone had a similar experience, I’d highly appreciate any advice. Thank you so much in advance!

 

[Furballsmom]

Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry to hear this!

I'm not a vet but I've read where members have been able to re-set their kitty's stomach, with advice from their vet with this; What if you tried to dial everything way back and just gave him unflavored Pedialyte, kitten glop and unseasoned boiled chicken, diced up and added to unseasoned cooked white rice. Realizing that your cat has serious issues but there might be a chance that this approach might help.

This site has both glop recipes as well as a home-made pedialyte recipe towards the bottom;
Kitten Glop Recipes - Supplementing Cats and Kittens with nutritious formula you make at home: presented by Bengal Cat breeder Foothill Felines.

Otherwise, what about fluids and a feeding tube? Or do you not want to put him through all that?

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. Has an ultrasound been done - to see if he might show signs of IBD? One of the typical indicators is thickened intestinal wall - which is the result of inflammation. And many cats that have IBD receive injections of B-12 to help with nutritional absorption in the intestines. I don't know when you said he has had vitamin tests whether or not B-12 was one of them.

I know the list of items that you've tried, but unclear how many of them might have been implemented at the same time, as it seems to me numerous ones of them might have needed to be done concurrently.

Until other members come along (hopefully soon) and offer more ideas, perhaps you might be interested in looking over this web site.
Raw Feeding for IBD Cats - Feline IBD

 

[carebearbaby1]

Have you had a pancreatic panel done to test his digestive enzymes?

 

[Cat McCannon]

It sounds like a severe allergy reaction

 

[taffetto]

Our kitty got tested for B12 and Folate and digestive enzymes (im attaching test results) - what's your opinion on the results?

 

[FeebysOwner]

I'd say those results are indicative of a pancreatic issue of some sorts.

You might find these articles interesting. One compares PLI and TLI and what their results can mean. Those test results above suggest very much what is covered in that article. The other two discuss EPI (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) and how it can have secondary effects on the small intestines.
NationWide Specialist Laboratories – Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity (PLI) (thehormonelab.com)
TLI, Folate & B12 - BattLab - Veterinary Diagnostic and Clinical Pathology Laboratory UK
EPI in Cats: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and FAQs | PetMD

 

[fionasmom]

I agree. Has the vet mentioned anything about the test results? Pancreatitis can be chronic or recurrent, but it can be managed. Definitely ask the vet to address this at least and discuss it with you.

 

[taffetto]

I'd say those results are indicative of a pancreatic issue of some sorts.

You might find these articles interesting. One compares PLI and TLI and what their results can mean. Those test results above suggest very much what is covered in that article. The other two discuss EPI (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) and how it can have secondary effects on the small intestines.
NationWide Specialist Laboratories – Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity (PLI) (thehormonelab.com)
TLI, Folate & B12 - BattLab - Veterinary Diagnostic and Clinical Pathology Laboratory UK
EPI in Cats: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and FAQs | PetMD

I agree. Has the vet mentioned anything about the test results? Pancreatitis can be chronic or recurrent, but it can be managed. Definitely ask the vet to address this at least and discuss it with you.

What would be the treatment for pancreatitis? We just called again our vet and he keeps insisting on getting more and more expensive and painful exams (biopsy, sonogram). At this point, we would like to try to treat him for pancreatitis and see if he improves.

 

[FeebysOwner]

What would be the treatment for pancreatitis? We just called again our vet and he keeps insisting on getting more and more expensive and painful exams (biopsy, sonogram). At this point, we would like to try to treat him for pancreatitis and see if he improves.

First off, if a sonogram is what I know to be an ultrasound, there is nothing painful about it. It involves shaving a cat's belly (probably the worst part, but certainly not painful) and then doing the same thing they do with pregnant women by applying a gel that lets the 'ultrasound/sonogram wand' smoothly run over the belly while they take images. No, I agree at this point no biopsy.

Secondly, I do not think that EPI and pancreatitis are the same thing. I think if this is EPI you are talking about pancreatic supplements that would not necessarily be needed with pancreatitis alone. Pancreatitis is generally treated with keeping a cat eating, well hydrated with sub-Q fluids if needed, pain meds as applicable, and possibly an antibiotic. It seems for the most part, those things have pretty much already been tried. EPI would appear to require a set of supplements that are not normally given to treat pancreatitis. Please read that last article I provided to you as it gives some more specifics on treatments that actually apply to EPI.

If you have to, get a second opinion, or ask for help in getting a consult with an internal med specialist to help get your vet on board.