Help with getting my cat to eat
Help with getting my cat to eat
Hi. This is my first time posting here. Sorry to just barge in. My cat Thompson hasn't been feeling well lately. I took him to the vet last Tuesday and they did blood work on him and found that he had an enlarged pancreas. They gave him fluids and a shot (but I don't remember what that was) that visit and I took him back that afternoon for more fluids. After that, I've taken him back once a day for fluids and I give him 2 droppers of Amoxicillin twice a day. Additionally, the vet wants to keep Thompson on a "bland" diet with no protein for another week. They have given me some canned food to try (Hill's d/d, i/d and k/d) but he doesn't like it. Really doesn't like it. Thompson likes canned pumpkin so I asked if that was okay and they told me it was. The vet also suggested oatmeal with a little brown sugar. But I can't get Thompson to eat anything really. He ate well on Saturday but hasn't had much since. I've tried oatmeal, rice, applesauce and now he's even ignoring the pumpkin. But he stands by the pantry door (telling me he's hungry) and goes and checks his dish like he's interested in eating. They ran his blood work again on Monday and the things the vet was concerned about are getting better. I asked if I should bring him in tomorrow and he said not unless he seems dehydrated or doesn't seem like he's getting better. But since he's not eating - it is scaring me. I'm at a loss to know what else to try. I'm thinking that I will take him in again tomorrow because I'm worried. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Re: Help with getting my cat to eat
Why didn't the vet recommend hospitalization? Or did you decline? If this is acute pancreatitis, hospitalization with continuous IV fluids is the best treatment approach, particularly if anorexia, vomiting and pain are present.
Stop attempting to feed the foods you mention, NONE of them are appropriate for a pancreatitis case! As your vet explained to you, only a bland diet is appropriate until the pancreas heals completely and totally. Feeding anything else will cause the pancreas to inflame even moreso, and pain is increased considerably. Also, medications like antiemetics are almost always necessary in pancreatitis cases, as well as gastro protectants, to protect the esophagus, stomach from acid reflux and excess acids, etc. Meds such as sucralfate, pepcid, and mild pain medication (all carefully prescribed by the vet), can be very helpful and useful in treating pancreatitis.
If kitty won't eat the canned food, try the dry versions of the prescription diets, your vet could give you samples of these. Dry kitty I/D for example, is a good choice if he won't eat canned. Your vet can also try the equivalents in another veterinary brand if necessary.
How old is your kitty, and did the vet make absolutely certain there isn't another underlying health condition going on? If kitty isn't eating sufficiently, she and you need to be concerned about liver disease (i.e., hepatic lipidosis), so yes, get him back in ASAP (TODAY), get his hydration checked, ask about the medications I've mentioned, and demand she understands he is not eating sufficiently!
Stop attempting to feed the foods you mention, NONE of them are appropriate for a pancreatitis case! As your vet explained to you, only a bland diet is appropriate until the pancreas heals completely and totally. Feeding anything else will cause the pancreas to inflame even moreso, and pain is increased considerably. Also, medications like antiemetics are almost always necessary in pancreatitis cases, as well as gastro protectants, to protect the esophagus, stomach from acid reflux and excess acids, etc. Meds such as sucralfate, pepcid, and mild pain medication (all carefully prescribed by the vet), can be very helpful and useful in treating pancreatitis.
If kitty won't eat the canned food, try the dry versions of the prescription diets, your vet could give you samples of these. Dry kitty I/D for example, is a good choice if he won't eat canned. Your vet can also try the equivalents in another veterinary brand if necessary.
How old is your kitty, and did the vet make absolutely certain there isn't another underlying health condition going on? If kitty isn't eating sufficiently, she and you need to be concerned about liver disease (i.e., hepatic lipidosis), so yes, get him back in ASAP (TODAY), get his hydration checked, ask about the medications I've mentioned, and demand she understands he is not eating sufficiently!
..........Traci
Re: Help with getting my cat to eat
Hello, Traci. Thanks for your reply. The vet did not suggest hospitalization and believe me I am doing everything I can to ensure that my cat receives the best care possible. My cat has not been vomiting and has received fluids every day. Believe me, I've only fed (or attempted to feed) my cat foods that have been given to me by the vet or approved by the vet. My cat is approximately 7 years old (I adopted him from a shelter when he was a kitten and they thought he was about 6 months old at the time). I assume that the vet made sure their were no underlying health issues. He ran bloodwork (twice now) and examined him and has told me that he is watching the liver functions carefully. I mentioned that he gave me canned i/d, you say that isn't appropriate yet suggest I ask for dry i/d? I will ask if there is a dry alternative that I can try.
I will be taking him back to the vet today as I assure you that I do take every measure to make sure he's well.
I will be taking him back to the vet today as I assure you that I do take every measure to make sure he's well.
Re: Help with getting my cat to eat
No, I was referring to oatmeal, pumpkin and applesauce, none of which are appropriate for pancreatis cases. If kitty wasn't ill, the pumpkin wouldn't be too much of an issue, but in pancreatitis, you cannot insult the pancreas or stomach or intestines with foods that are intolerable. Thus, the reason for an appropriate bland diet.
IV fluids are better for this than sub-q fluids. IV fluids help flush the system, prevent further insults to the pancreas, and allow healing combined with appropriate medications. Some cases, if not severe, can be managed at home, but ideally, an acute case of pancreatitis should be managed in the clinic for the first 24-36 hours with appropriate fluid therapy and medication. Many times, the cat may do better at home with management, but in your case, with kitty not eating, this is indicative that kitty is NOT feeling well, and that the pancreatitis may need further evaluation/treatment by your vet. Particularly with the meds I've mentioned. Also MUST rule out the possibility of esophagitis, since this is common in pancreatitis, (and could be the reason kitty is not eating, the esophagus could be painful), treatment can be initiated for this easily, but must be done ASAP!
IV fluids are better for this than sub-q fluids. IV fluids help flush the system, prevent further insults to the pancreas, and allow healing combined with appropriate medications. Some cases, if not severe, can be managed at home, but ideally, an acute case of pancreatitis should be managed in the clinic for the first 24-36 hours with appropriate fluid therapy and medication. Many times, the cat may do better at home with management, but in your case, with kitty not eating, this is indicative that kitty is NOT feeling well, and that the pancreatitis may need further evaluation/treatment by your vet. Particularly with the meds I've mentioned. Also MUST rule out the possibility of esophagitis, since this is common in pancreatitis, (and could be the reason kitty is not eating, the esophagus could be painful), treatment can be initiated for this easily, but must be done ASAP!
..........Traci
Re: Help with getting my cat to eat
Thank you again, Traci. I just spoke with the vet on the phone and told him that I haven't been able to get him to eat, etc. I was just going to take him in for more fluids today but he said that he would see him and take more blood. I have been managing this at home (per vet's instructions) because he said that Thompson didn't have an acute case and didn't suggest hospitalization. He really has been eating some until last night. He had told me that we would try managing at home for now but if it didn't work he would hospitalize him and give him an IV. He said today on the phone that that may be what we need to do but he wants to take blood again to check. As for the food other than the prescription food, again, I did have the pumpkin, etc approved and the oatmeal was suggested by the vet. We'll be going back to the vet in a few hours.
Re: Help with getting my cat to eat
Can I just ask if you feel your vet is ultimately experienced?
I don't agree with either the pumpkin or oatmeal. In an otherwise healthy cat, maybe, but not a cat diagnosed with pancreatitis and trying to heal. The less insult on the pancreas, and the more digestible the diet, the better.
What tests exactly is he using? Did he offer you the feline-PLI? This is a test that has to be sent to an outside lab, but is the most specific test for pancreatitis in felines. The in-house tests your vet uses for amylase and lipase are NOT conclusive and should not be used soley to diagnose pancreatitis.
Did he rule out other health issues? I.e., toxo or inflammatory bowel disease? Did he suggest what he suspects might have been the inciting cause? Generally, in cats, the cause is difficult to determine, but all history-taking should be done and any info gathered from health history, or anything new you've introduced to him lately (i.e., food, flea collars, toxins, etc)
The main concern here is kitty hasn't eaten sufficiently, and because the liver's function is so closely related to the pancreas' function, there is a heightened risk for liver disease, and/or delayed resolution of the pancreatitis.
You might also discuss the potential of gastric upset from the amoxicillin. If he isn't eating, he's nauseous, and amoxicillin only in his stomach could be causing him to avoid food. Again, esophagitis also needs to be ruled out.
Please, discuss with him the medications I've mentioned, rule out esophagitis, check hydration status, get samples of the various veterinary diets, and if your vet is not taking this seriously, get your kitty to a feline-only vet or more qualifed vet immediately for re-evaluation and new treatment. It's imperative that your kitty is improving each day, as opposed to NOT improving, which is a pretty good indication treatment is not working!
I don't agree with either the pumpkin or oatmeal. In an otherwise healthy cat, maybe, but not a cat diagnosed with pancreatitis and trying to heal. The less insult on the pancreas, and the more digestible the diet, the better.
What tests exactly is he using? Did he offer you the feline-PLI? This is a test that has to be sent to an outside lab, but is the most specific test for pancreatitis in felines. The in-house tests your vet uses for amylase and lipase are NOT conclusive and should not be used soley to diagnose pancreatitis.
Did he rule out other health issues? I.e., toxo or inflammatory bowel disease? Did he suggest what he suspects might have been the inciting cause? Generally, in cats, the cause is difficult to determine, but all history-taking should be done and any info gathered from health history, or anything new you've introduced to him lately (i.e., food, flea collars, toxins, etc)
The main concern here is kitty hasn't eaten sufficiently, and because the liver's function is so closely related to the pancreas' function, there is a heightened risk for liver disease, and/or delayed resolution of the pancreatitis.
You might also discuss the potential of gastric upset from the amoxicillin. If he isn't eating, he's nauseous, and amoxicillin only in his stomach could be causing him to avoid food. Again, esophagitis also needs to be ruled out.
Please, discuss with him the medications I've mentioned, rule out esophagitis, check hydration status, get samples of the various veterinary diets, and if your vet is not taking this seriously, get your kitty to a feline-only vet or more qualifed vet immediately for re-evaluation and new treatment. It's imperative that your kitty is improving each day, as opposed to NOT improving, which is a pretty good indication treatment is not working!
..........Traci