Kitten Won’t Take any Enzymes/Pancreas

Epi4Dogs Foundation Inc.’s mission is the advancement of science and education relating to EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency), yielding useful insights and positive outcomes in better managing EPI in dogs and cats. Our goals are to support and/or collaborate with veterinary EPI research and researchers, and to promote EPI awareness by educating the general public, pet owners, pet organizations, rescue and shelter organizations, veterinary schools and veterinarians.
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Airplaneears
Member
Posts: 6
Country: United States
State: California
Pet name: Eloise
My name: John Raymond

Kitten Won’t Take any Enzymes/Pancreas

Post by Airplaneears » 24 Oct 2021, 00:14

Hi! I know this is a forum for dogs, but the EPI4cats forum isn’t up and we’re in desperate need of help.

Our 8 month old kitten was recently diagnosed with EPI after almost two months of tests and specialty hospital visits.

We got her the enzymes and she won’t eat them in any form (mixed in wet food, homemade liquid mix, pharmacy liquid compounding, and severely fights us if we syringe feed it to her). She had really been liking the beef pancreas we used as an alternative.

She had two almost normal stools and regressed back to pudding-like gray stools, so we lowered the dosage of pancreas and things got worse. We’ve increased the dosage back to the original and then some. However now she won’t eat the pancreas either.

She’s been on weekly B12 shots and after this week will switch to monthly. She’s also previously been on Tylosin and probiotics but it’s been a few weeks since the prescription period ended for those. I brought up SID/SIBO recently and the vet said we could give her more of the probiotics we have.

Her condition is worsening and we’re running out of options other than a feeding tube or having to put her down. We’re really struggling to get her condition to improve and create a sustainable life for her and any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. John

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Jean
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Location: South Liverpool
Country: United Kingdom - England
Pet name: Kara, lost 10th May 2019
My name: Jean

Re: Kitten Won’t Take any Enzymes/Pancreas

Post by Jean » 24 Oct 2021, 12:01

YOU ARE VERY WELCOME HERE, note the cat on our logo

what enzymes are you using

the one possibility is to use Creon , it is a capsue and smells, and tastes of nothing , its microspheres which you empty out of the capsule, mix with the food and feed immediately

will she eat strong smelling fish of any sort , or maybe a cheese spread which you can maybe hide the Creon, parmesan cheese works too

Jeanx
My name is Jean we live in Liverpool in Uk

I am the Forum Director which I am very proud of

My Kara born 21 July 2009 diagnosed with EPI by cTLI test August 2010 TLI = <1...folate 14 Cobalamin 408, shot down to 94, b12 injections every other day

Lowest weight 39 pounds

We used Panzym enzymes, Tylan and Chemeyes b12 capsules

Sadly, on 10th May 2019, we lost her to DM


Jeanx

Airplaneears
Member
Posts: 6
Country: United States
State: California
Pet name: Eloise
My name: John Raymond

Re: Kitten Won’t Take any Enzymes/Pancreas

Post by Airplaneears » 24 Oct 2021, 12:28

We have Pancreved and Pancreplus. Has anyone used creon in animals? I see that it’s a prescription for humans generally. We’re going to call our vet about that.

It also seems like the tylosin/Tylan and probiotics are important parts of a daily routine??

Tuckaboo Pam
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Posts: 1345
Country: United States
State: Florida
Pet name: Tucker
My name: Pam H.

Re: Kitten Won’t Take any Enzymes/Pancreas

Post by Tuckaboo Pam » 24 Oct 2021, 15:02

Hey John---You will get help on this forum, don't worry. I am not a cat person, unless I find a screaming kitten in the woods, which happens more often than you'd think. I adore kittens, go figure. But there are other cat owners who will probably jump in.

So, you have addressed the SID with tylosin, and you are also giving probiotics. When I started Tucker on Proviable, I did it slowly, a few sprinkles at a time, until I was at full strength after about a week. Otherwise, it gave him the squirts. I wonder if this is part of your problem. Or, maybe the tylosin was stopped abruptly? Weaning off it slowly has a better result.

Back to enzymes----I have heard about wrapping a pill in cream cheese & giving it, maybe try that? Or some of Jean's suggestions? How about covering them with sardines? At any rate, I personally don't think you need to feel like the situation is hopeless. It sounds like you have a good vet, and that is half the battle.

Please feel welcome here, and ask as many questions as you want, staying on the same thread for continuity.

Take Care---Pam & Tucker
Tucker was a shepherd/lab mix--- TLI 1.3, Folate 9.7, Cobalamin 666, Lipase 38. Took Diane's Enzymes 4 teaspoons/day, Wonderlabs B12 one capsule per day, and Tylan 1/16 teaspoon/ morning (to hold SID at bay). Taste of the Wild High Prairie, 1 1/2 cups/day, with a total of 4 cups of Fresh Pet. Stopped eating everything in sight, and went from 60 to 85 pounds! Tucker was my boyfriend, and my husband was OK with that. Tucker succumbed to hemangiosarcoma, but we cherished every day we had with that wonderful, beautiful boy. I will always, always miss my sweet big boy.

Airplaneears
Member
Posts: 6
Country: United States
State: California
Pet name: Eloise
My name: John Raymond

Re: Kitten Won’t Take any Enzymes/Pancreas

Post by Airplaneears » 24 Oct 2021, 17:31

We’re not currently doing the tylosin or probiotics except for twice lately. But I’m thinking maybe we should give it to her again?

Unfortunately cream cheese, fish oil, and cat treat purée tubes did not disguise the enzymes enough for her to eat them.

If we give her food with pancreas mixed in, she won’t eat the pancreas much anymore or she’ll eat around it.

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Olesia711
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Location: North Carolina
Country: United States
State: North Carolina
Pet name: Izzy
My name: olesia

Re: Kitten Won’t Take any Enzymes/Pancreas

Post by Olesia711 » 24 Oct 2021, 17:57

Hi John,

SO sorry to hear that your kitty is not doing well.
First, you can contact Carol who runs Epi in Cats directly.... i will send you a private email with her contact information.

Also.... YES!!!! please do start up the Tylan antibiotic again if you have some on hand. AND..... i see that you live in Calif..... i have some CREON 10,000 so i can send you a handful of capsules so that you can try it... your kitty will not smell or taste it because the pig pancreas powder is encapsulated into microspheres where as the pancreas powder that we give our pets is not... so it does have a faint odor and taste to it.

unless you cat is over 15 lbs, what you would do is open up one of these capsules, sprinkle approx 1/2 the capsule ON TOP of her food- -DO NOT MIX IT IN THE FOOD, DO NOT INCUBATE IN THE FOOD... but rather serve it immediately.... and watch the poo output... see if you see any improvement... if not after a few meals, then give her the whole capsule sprinkled on the food..................
Olesia, was owned by Izzy, a 35lb Spanish Water Dog (SWD), Diagnosed at 1.5 years old - TLI results 1.. Izzy passed away on February 13, 2020 at 15 years old. She lived with EPI for 13+1/2 years. It was because of Izzy that Epi4Dogs was started... she was the inspiration. May her legacy of helping others with EPI continue for as long as needed.........

Airplaneears
Member
Posts: 6
Country: United States
State: California
Pet name: Eloise
My name: John Raymond

Re: Kitten Won’t Take any Enzymes/Pancreas

Post by Airplaneears » 24 Oct 2021, 18:45

That would be great! I just replied to your email and we’ll absolutely give this a try! Thank you so much for your support! This community has been very engaging.

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Montgomery
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Country: Canada
Pet name: Montgomery (I'm a CAT!)
My name: V

Re: Kitten Won’t Take any Enzymes/Pancreas

Post by Montgomery » 26 Oct 2021, 11:25

Montgomery takes his enzymes in capsules. He gets mouth ulcers if I put his enzymes in his food. Its very easy to do and isn't very expensive. It was a real game-changer for us. He's still a finicky fuzz, but he's eaten so well he's gained a pound over the past year. He got diagnosed at the age of four and he's nine and a half-now. He's had it from go, though. It just took a vet who knew what she was looking at. EPI4Dogs have been amazing helping with the Atomic Tangerine. If I can help you at all, please let me know!
Montgomery was born 20 March 2012. He eats extra lean ground chicken, lean ground pork and lean ground beef completed with Alnutrin and freeze-dried chicken liver, with hard-cooked egg. He gets two size zero capsules of Enzyme Diane's enzymes at each of his six meals, and a size four capsule of Tylan three times a day. He's a fierce little Spitfire with a roaring Merlin engine.

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