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Non-EPI Related Pancreatitis Question

Posted: 06 Jun 2019, 14:47
by Sparkle Tangerine
How long does the average bout of pancreatitis last? Have any of you ever had one go really long?
Minnie May is seventeen. She has likely had pancreatitis several times in the past, but when she was young it wasn't diagnosed in cats. We're going on three weeks of vomiting. The diarrhea was short-lived and has stopped. The veterinarian put her on metronidazole (sp?) which seems to be helping. She was back in the clinic again this morning and there is some concern that this could be something far more serious than pancreatitis. She is being syringe-fed Natural Balance Green Pea and Duck mixed with a scoop of KMR. She will sometimes eat the dry food, but if she's allowed free choice, she eats a fair bit, drinks the entire water dish and spends the night vomiting, which is a new behaviour. Has anyone seen the likes of this?
Thank you for reading this!

Re: Non-EPI Related Pancreatitis Question

Posted: 06 Jun 2019, 15:16
by jilbert57
Not familiar with pancreatitis in cats but when my jack russell got it it was chronic, never went away. But the vomiting should have stopped. Is that a grain free diet?

Re: Non-EPI Related Pancreatitis Question

Posted: 06 Jun 2019, 15:46
by Sparkle Tangerine
The Natural Balance is grain-free. All the limited ingredient diets for cats seem to be grain-free. She has never had anything but good food. She was a Medi-Cal baby and has eaten mostly Science Diet over the years (which is why she still has a nice set of teeth at her age). Natural Balance is a new food for her. She is a poor eater of wet food generally, preferring to eat the dry food. We got a water fountain for her because she wasn't drinking and she only has one working kidney. Over the last several days, if we just syringe-feed her and offer very little kibble, she's fine. If we let her nibble on her food, she spends the night gulping water and vomiting. I'm not blaming the Natural Balance because this behaviour began before the food switch. I've never seen so much vomit come out of one cat. She's only 3.43kg. Her kidney checked out fine. When I get up in the morning, I feed the others and then syringe-feed her and give her her metronidazole (sp?) After Montgomery takes his second meal (around ten), I syringe-feed her again. After that, she's bright as a penny and you wouldn't know she wasn't herself. I don't know what to make of this.

Re: Non-EPI Related Pancreatitis Question

Posted: 06 Jun 2019, 15:58
by jilbert57
Have you tried Science Diet I/D kibble softened and syringed? Pancreatitis likes grains.

Re: Non-EPI Related Pancreatitis Question

Posted: 06 Jun 2019, 16:45
by Sparkle Tangerine
No, I haven't tried that yet but its a good suggestion. I have to go back to the clinic to-morrow and I'll see what they say. Whatever this is, its a nasty bug.

Re: Non-EPI Related Pancreatitis Question

Posted: 06 Jun 2019, 23:20
by Jean
wish I could help, but

is she bringing up food or just froth

Re: Non-EPI Related Pancreatitis Question

Posted: 07 Jun 2019, 17:38
by Sparkle Tangerine
Well, this morning there were two vomits. One was kibbles, unchewed and thrown up by one of the litter box (probably May). The other was a hairball, water, and some food (I don't think that was May, I think that was Maura. She was looking hairballish before bed but you take your life in your hands handling that cat, so she was on her own for that one). She wouldn't eat for me this morning. I syringe-fed her twice. Both feedings stayed down, but she was starting to fish out before I left so I put the water dish up on the counter. It turns out, as an aside, that our foster cat cannot use the water fountain, so we've had to put an alternate water dish where she can reach it. It seems Kitty Fantastic is too short. May's veterinarian isn't in the clinic until Monday, so we'll see how the weekend goes. If she's not any better, perhaps an X-Ray?
She usually bugs me for kibble in the morning, meowing and dancing and carrying on. No interest. She usually bugs me when I'm feeding our foster kittens. No interest. She didn't even want a bite of my bagel. She loves bagels.
I don't know what the heck this is.

Re: Non-EPI Related Pancreatitis Question

Posted: 07 Jun 2019, 23:31
by jilbert57
Is there some really stinky stuff she likes? Tuna water? Good beef or chicken broth? I suppose it might be an obstruction. Is she acting like she has a bellyache after she eats?

Re: Non-EPI Related Pancreatitis Question

Posted: 08 Jun 2019, 09:37
by Madelon
Wish I could help but I have no experience with cats or pancreatitis. Sending hugs for you and prayers for your little one.

Re: Non-EPI Related Pancreatitis Question

Posted: 08 Jun 2019, 09:49
by Sparkle Tangerine
Our veterinarian doesn't seem to think its an obstruction. I'm going to ask her about X-Rays on Monday and see what she thinks. I can't afford an ultrasound. I've begun adding kelp to her feedings and will begin adding curcumin to-day. She vomited frothy watery stuff very early this morning. No food. I fed her awhile later and it has stayed down. She's bright and wants attention. She had some water after she was fed but didn't fish out. She's still syringe-fed. She's turned me down cold for everything offered, including some of Montgomery's kibble. She's a funny cat. She's not into the sardines and all that. She likes matzos, popcorn, crackers. She's nuts for that stuff. I can't use S'wheat Scoop or World's Best kitty litters with my foster kittens because she'll eat it. She doesn't want anything. She's better than she was, but this is a very odd thing.