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Munchie's Many Issues
- Thread starter cprcheetah
- Start Date
Oh, no. I'm so sorry to read all this about Munchie and that he's not eating. I've had to deal with Sebastian's anorexia this week, also, so I know how worrisome it is. I really hope Munchie's appetite picks back up after stopping the Zithro. I don't have much to add in the way of advice (you already have an awesome dad and a good vet), but I'm sending lots vibes and prayers your way for Munchie. It makes us such a wreck when our furbabies are not well.
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- #123
I have tried everything I can think of, he won't touch even his favorite foods. He did eat a couple bites of DeeJay's food, but it wasn't enough to sustain him.
Thank-you. It is very worrisome. He isn't showing any signs of illness other than not wanting to eat, hiding, and is a little snuffly in his nose. He's purring constantly. I was literally so freaked out earlier today I thought he had run off to die
Oh, no. I'm so sorry to read all this about Munchie and that he's not eating. I've had to deal with Sebastian's anorexia this week, also, so I know how worrisome it is. I really hope Munchie's appetite picks back up after stopping the Zithro. I don't have much to add in the way of advice (you already have an awesome dad and a good vet), but I'm sending lots vibes and prayers your way for Munchie. It makes us such a wreck when our furbabies are not well.
So sorry to read about all of this. Try to stay strong and get some sleep as you will need your energy to get through this trying time.
My Rexy did really take a downturn at one point, and I don't know why - but it was the time that she was on Zithromax and things did improve a week later once it was out of her system - although I never really knew if it was the cause or not. What kind of dosage was Munchie on for the Zithromax?
My Rexy did really take a downturn at one point, and I don't know why - but it was the time that she was on Zithromax and things did improve a week later once it was out of her system - although I never really knew if it was the cause or not. What kind of dosage was Munchie on for the Zithromax?
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- #125
He's on injectible getting .68ml of 100mg/ml once daily.
If the injectable acts the same as the oral, then that is a medium range dosage I think (in terms of mg/kg). Not the highest, but not the lowest.
How many days in a row have you given this? This normal protocol with oral Zithromax is to do about 3-5 days once per day, and thereafter to then go to every 3rd day. Because of the very long half-life (2-3 days), if you dose every day, you can really build up levels if you continue every day after the initial few days of daily dosing. I am unsure if the injectable has the same half-life as the oral, but if it does, then I would be curious why it is not reduced to every 2nd or 3rd day. It may be that you are doing this, or that the injectable has a different half-life - in which case my comment is irrelevant.
How many days in a row have you given this? This normal protocol with oral Zithromax is to do about 3-5 days once per day, and thereafter to then go to every 3rd day. Because of the very long half-life (2-3 days), if you dose every day, you can really build up levels if you continue every day after the initial few days of daily dosing. I am unsure if the injectable has the same half-life as the oral, but if it does, then I would be curious why it is not reduced to every 2nd or 3rd day. It may be that you are doing this, or that the injectable has a different half-life - in which case my comment is irrelevant.
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- #127
He got his first dose on Friday, then another on Saturday, we were to continue it for 3 more days then every 3rd day for 2-3 months.
Dosage sounds reasonable. I always double-check dosages when a cat could be having a reaction. In fact, I always do research even before I give a new drug. I once had a vet prescribe dangerous dosage by mistake, so since then I double check everything.
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- #129
Yeah I was right there when they were figuring out the dosage from the Plumbs manual, so I know he's not getting overdosed, and this was the treatment regimen the specialist recommended. He is doing a lot better today, last night around 11pm he ate a 2.75oz cup of Meow Mix, then this morning at his 2.2oz meal of raw with a little canned food in it for enticement so I am happy about that. He isn't hiding and seems to be acting back to normal.
Great news! So you think the Zithro is wearing off and this is why he's slowly coming around? Amazing how it affects cats differently.
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- #131
Yeah strange isn't it? He is doing a lot better, even begged me for some of my tortilla chips (she is a chip addict), so I know he's feeling better. He hasn't run off to hide in the basement today and is staying in the office where we are at. I am a very happy mama.
I had Rexy on Zithromax over xmas when everything went wrong. At one point she had been getting a bit better, then seemed to deteriorate a bit - it was about the time Zithromax was kicking in (after the first few consecutive days the drug builds up a bit each day), but there were so many other things that it could have been that I was uncertain.
When she had her lung infection last week, we gave a combo of 2 antibiotics to nail things. Zithromax was one of them. I actually think that she has deteriorated a bit again so like you, I also am not going to continue with the Zithromax just in case. We have used it in the past (a year ago) to beat her lung infection, so we decided to use it conservatively this time as one of the two drugs (you have to go easy on the dosage as there is some thought it affect the liver in humans, no research on cats, but vets will go careful using this with Rexy as she has some liver issues - well her issues are more in the bile duct but it is all connected) - but I have decided to not use it again as I am wondering if it does affect her negatively.
I've not been posting about this as just feeling a bit confused and there is not much anyone can say to help. I thought that you would be interested in this as we are both discontinuing Zithromax at the same time, kind of a coincidence.
When she had her lung infection last week, we gave a combo of 2 antibiotics to nail things. Zithromax was one of them. I actually think that she has deteriorated a bit again so like you, I also am not going to continue with the Zithromax just in case. We have used it in the past (a year ago) to beat her lung infection, so we decided to use it conservatively this time as one of the two drugs (you have to go easy on the dosage as there is some thought it affect the liver in humans, no research on cats, but vets will go careful using this with Rexy as she has some liver issues - well her issues are more in the bile duct but it is all connected) - but I have decided to not use it again as I am wondering if it does affect her negatively.
I've not been posting about this as just feeling a bit confused and there is not much anyone can say to help. I thought that you would be interested in this as we are both discontinuing Zithromax at the same time, kind of a coincidence.
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Because of its half-life and the dosage protocol, the peak amount of drug in the system increases each day and then sort of begins to stabilize. So by Day 2 the cat has much more Zithromax in their system as it is just starting to build up. I Just did the math on a piece of paper, and based on how half-lives work (I am a research scientist by profession so use half-life concept in my work) and if you gave 2 dosages, there will be a gradual reduction of the amount of Zithromax in his system until it is rather negligible at about Day 7. Around today he should about 1/2 as much overall in his system as he had yesterday. So still in there, but gradually decreasing this week until very small amounts by end of week. The long half-life is a real nuisance when you just want to take the cat off of the drug.
ETA: Rexy and Munchie will be decreasing their Zithromax amounts at about the same rate. So Rexy should also have only negligible amounts in her system by end of week.
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How is Munchie doing now that more time has passed since taken off Zithromax? I thought that you might be interested to know that Rexy's mood is improving day by day - more energetic and engaged. It could just be that her lung infection continues to clear up, but I do wonder if the Zithromax made her feel ill/lethargic.
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- #135
Munchie is doing great today, eating like a pig again I am a very happy mama. We are going to try the Zithro in oral form as my vet feels it was a reaction to the injection not the medication. Based on him holding his leg up for 20 min after injections and screaming like a banshee for 20 minutes after injection, he literally was trying to rip his leg off where it was injected. In my research I learned that it is diluted in about 250ml or 500ml of fluid for humans and given over 24 hours slowly, no wonder he screamed when it was injected, it hurt like he%% poor baby boy. It doesn't say ANYTHING about dilution on the bottle nor in the Plumbs Veterinary book, we double checked today. He got his first dose of the oral last night. I will keep you posted on how he does.
This morning he is back to normal, begging for food at his normal rate. He did go down to the basement last night but I think he was just mad that I pilled him (he is on 3 different pills twice a day) and gave him the liquid medicine. So I have to think it wasn't the zithromax in and of itself but the injection form of it. In my research and talking to a couple of specialists the zithromax really is the first line recommendation for chronic respiratories.
This morning he is back to normal, begging for food at his normal rate. He did go down to the basement last night but I think he was just mad that I pilled him (he is on 3 different pills twice a day) and gave him the liquid medicine. So I have to think it wasn't the zithromax in and of itself but the injection form of it. In my research and talking to a couple of specialists the zithromax really is the first line recommendation for chronic respiratories.
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This has certainly got to be a relief that he is back to his normal self. Let's hope the oral form does the trick
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- #137
thank-you. For a while there I forgot how sensitive Munchie is to injections. He had a horrible staph infection in his surgery site on one of his legs after his patella surgery, his leg was a HUGE open wound for months. He HATES injections, and I really think that the zithro had something in it that stings or burns based on the way he was acting. I hope the oral form does the trick, I hate seeing my boy so miserable. The fact that he is going down stairs period is a sign that his joints are feeling better as he wouldn't even attempt it a few weeks ago (before the microlactin). So that does make me happy.
SO glad to hear Munchie is eating like a pig again.
Great to hear that he is doing better. And that you may have an explanation for his changes a few days ago.
The way the confusing Zithromax dosage and its half-life works, it builds up bit by bit each day, being at a maximum in the cat's system around Day 3 to Day 5 and then decreasing to a more even level after that. If my math is correct, then by Day 5 I think it is about 3x the amount of drug that was in their system on the first day. So I would keep an eye on things and if you see another deterioration around Day 3 to Day 5 of dosing, then I would consider that the Zithromax might be affecting him.
The way the confusing Zithromax dosage and its half-life works, it builds up bit by bit each day, being at a maximum in the cat's system around Day 3 to Day 5 and then decreasing to a more even level after that. If my math is correct, then by Day 5 I think it is about 3x the amount of drug that was in their system on the first day. So I would keep an eye on things and if you see another deterioration around Day 3 to Day 5 of dosing, then I would consider that the Zithromax might be affecting him.
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- #140
It is great to say that Munchie is doing awesome this week. He is down to 14.6# so he had a 3oz loss this week, which is good considering he wasn't eating very good. He is really active and playful, it's awesome also to be getting my cute boy back. He finished his 5 day Zithromycin dose yesterday so will start the every 3 days on Tuesday. He is eating like a champ. While I was making their batch of cat food last night he was right underfoot hoping for dropped tidbits, I did let the kitties have the extras as well as some liver blood juice they were all in 2nd heaven. His nose isn't stuffy right now so I am happy with that as well. I will continue to update you on his progress.
