Cat Pancreatitis Answers and News

Cat Pancreatitis Questions and Answers

Resolved Question: My adult cat throws up frequently. Looking for help...?

My cat Homer (9yrs old) has been throwing up for the past 3 weeks. I took him to the vet who suggested giving him Pepcid AC and Flagyl, unfortunately he was still vomiting. I'm afraid he links eating with vomiting so it's even more difficult to get him to eat. I've tried various soft & hard cat foods but the only thing he seems to want to eat is yogurt and his kitty treats. On June 18th he was given a shot of vitamin B12 and a steroid shot w/a prescription for Prednisone which I administer on a daily basis. The vet also gave me 2 cans of a/d to try and although he ate about 1/2 a can's worth over a two-day period - he now has no interest even if I warm it up. I've tried deli meat, boiled chicken, tuna in water but it doesn't help. I plan on checking with my vet to see if baby food is an option but was curious to know if anyone else had any suggestions? Background on Homer - as of Feb 2010, he's had a clean bill of health. Vet suggested might be a GI infection, inflammatory bowl disease, pancreatitis or even early stages of cancer. The results of his blood work - normal. I appreciate any feedback as I'm at a loss of what do for him. more

Resolved Question: Cat has infection but tech/vets/owners please read and give me your advice!?

Last Thurs I took my 2 y/o cat to the vet. For 3 days prior she kept peeing outside the box, not eating and sleeping all day when she's usually ready to attack or chase me at any minute. Turned out she had a 103 fever, he kind of poked her lower back, she growled and he said its soreness due to the fever, nothing to worry about. He gave her an antibiotic and a shot to reduce her fever and said she'd be better in a 2-5 days but diagnosed her w/ 'unknown infection'. The next day she was better, she even tried to play a little. Then she got worse than when she started out. She crouched when she'd walk and only walk a few steps then just lay there. The only thing she'd eaten all week is juice from wet food and drinking water fine. She wouldn't even jump on the bed and seemed to barely make it on the couch. Today I took her back and her fever is 105. He poked that same place and said he's just going to give her a different antibiotic and wanted to keep her for maybe 2 days. They made it sound like its not a big deal but I'm freaking out. About 3 yrs ago we lost a cat who died of pancreatitis, he literally wasted away and I'm so afraid they won't find out what's wrong with her til its too late and I can't go thru that again. I feel like he's not telling me something or like she could have stones and he's not even going to bother to check, just give her more pills. I'm not a doc so I understand if I should just calm down and trust him, but I keep thinking I should just go pick her up and take her to the ER at a different animal hospital. Please give me any advice on your past experience or what you would do. She's and indoor cat and has always been healthy and she has no other symptoms. Thank you in advance for any advice you may have! more

Resolved Question: do i need to feed my cat on a low fat diet after her having pancreatitis?

Resolved Question: my cat has pancreatitis/pneumonia?

okay, so, i'm not an expert or anything in cat health. ALL of my cats have ALWAYS been healthy, therefore leaving me no reason to actually worry. until now. i have a neutered male cat that's about 9 years old, who started, out of nowhere, to sleep a lot more than usual, lost a little weight, stopped eating so much, and didn't want anything to do with water, which he's always loved. after about a week of very little eating/drinking, and the same lack of energy, we took him in, the vet spent 5 minutes with him, took a blood/urine test, and the next day called and said he thinks oreo has pancreatitis. so, i went in, got clavamox (i'm pretty sure that's what it's called) and some of the science diet a/d stuff, which he was mildly interested in in the office. came home, thought everything was fine. a couple days later he started breathing really funny, and coughing a lot. my mom called the next morning and we took oreo back in, getting an x ray this time, which showed a BUNCH of fluid in his lungs. right. he didn't say anything about the pancreatitis, or how he should be doing, but we got medicine (i don't know what this is called) that's supposed to help with the pneumonia and causes him to drink/pee more. yippee. it's been about five days since then, and i'm taking him back in on monday, but there's been VERY little improvement. i've done research, and some people say that i'm supposed to force-feed him and others that say it's bad. i don't know what to do :/ so, i guess my overall question is, while he's drinking now, and peeing fine, what should i do about the food? the vet i go to i don't trust at all, and he's not helpful in the least. should i continue to force-feed him (i do about 1/4 a can at 7 am, spread that through the day, and 1/4 a can at 7 pm, spread through the night, along with both medicines at the same time), or should i commit him to the vet's for IV fluids and food fed right into the intestines or something similar? i don't want to hurt him - and i want him to recover; it hurts to see him so thin and not being able to really help him... i don't want to put him down, either. i mean, if it's necessary because he's just going to die anyways from this, then... yeah... to ease his suffering, but... please don't suggest that. it isn't what i want to hear when there's a little hope for him left. any answers are appreciated. thanks guys. (:he won't eat /anything/. we got the hills diet a/d stuff because that's all he showed any level of interest in. )x that's kind of messed up. it probably suffered worse from the poisoning than it would have taking it to the vet to be euthanized. but that isn't my business. it's done with, right? and i don't know if this is helpful but he hasn't had a fever at all, and he hasn't thrown up either, or had diarrhea... the only symptoms are the difficulty breathing, fluids in the lungs, anorexia/weight loss, and fatigue. more

Resolved Question: Can pancreatitis occur without an elevated or depressed serum amylase level?

My cat either has pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis and I am wondering if it could be pancreatitis instead of cancer, which would have a better prognosis. more

Resolved Question: anyone else have a cat with chronic pancreatitis or diabetes?

She gets steroid shots bi-weekly to keep down the vomiting but still vomits bile and blood. We give her painkiller meds every day. We are "maintaining" her, trying to keep her comfortable. She had been eating well but has become picky. We decided on no more heroic treatments (hydration, force feeding) because she becomes so frantic, whether we do it or the vet. Anyone else have these problems? How do you handle them? Any idea of the time prognosis or what to watch for? Vet says she may slide into diabetes. What's the outlook for that? Please don't say, see your vet, we're there every week. I am trying to take care of her as best I can. more

Resolved Question: Has anyone here ever had a cat with pancreatitis?

My 6 year old cat has been diagnosed with pancreatitis. This all started on March 27th, when I noticed my cat was being anti-social (he is abnormally cuddly for a cat - he just can't get enough attention!)and hadn't eaten in a day and a half, but was still drinking normally. We brought him to the vet, and based on the symptons, he thought maybe my cat had pancreatitis. We couldn't really afford an ultrasound that day, so he put my cat on Cyproheptadine (appetite stimulant) and a general antibiotic in case it was a cold. He still wasn't eating on last Wednesday the 31st. I took him to the animal ER hospital near me ( as it was 11pm) and they gave him more Normosol (like pedialyte for cats) and sent him home with a big IV bag of it that I have to give him nightly. They told me to call back the next day to schedule an ultrasound, but that turned out to be a whole fiasco where the ultrasound guy had an out of town emergency, so I couldn't get to my normal vet until this past Saturday April 3rd. Did the ultrasound and everything looked ok, liver and stomach wise, but vet said definetely signs of pancreatitis. So they gave him a bunch of shots, and he ate later that night- some boiled plain chicken. He also ate a little Sunday morning, but again now, he ha stopped eating, and he isn't drinking. My vet said he isn't showing any signs of pain. He is sleeping a lot and when I give him attention, he is still purring. I am beside myself with worry and I just don't how to get through this. He just doesn't seem to be getting better yet, and I am just wondering if anyone else on here has had this problem, if you could tell me how long it took your cat to heal or any suggestions you have? Also, I have tried all brands and all flavors of wet cat food, but he won't touch it. I appreciate your responses in advance. Reenie more

Resolved Question: Question about supportive care for an older dog.?

My dog is 13 year old Sheltie mix? We plant to take him to the vet for supportive care where they Monitor him for a few days over night. What they do is stick IV his arms to stop the vomiting and diarrhea he has been having. They said he has Chronic low Grade pancreatitis. Also he has a mass on his spleen and an enlarged lymph node. So after we do the supportive care we plan to get a second opinion at another vet. As the one we take him to know seems to only care about money and wont tell us what is wrong. The vet we plan on getting the second opinion has many great reviews? And they said we can most likely make payments the vet we take him to now does not offer payment plans and wants all the money upfront. So my question is did anyone do this for their dog or cat and did it turn out ok did it make your dog or cat back to normal? He is not used to being in a cage what could i do to help him so he does not cry all night.We are taking him to the vet i asked a question stop with the mean answers.We do not plan on euthanizing him untill we know he is truly suffering he seems happy.What i mean is the vet would put him in a cage and he is not used to it. more

Resolved Question: Cat Vomiting, Tested for everything still no answers. Please help!?

I posted a questions a couple of days ago and i greatly appreciate the feedback and answers. Unfortunately my cat is still having problems. I am going to list his symptoms and everything he has been tested for and hopefully i will get some much needed advice He is a 6 year old male cat, he is an indoor cat. His symptoms are Vomits all food, it is undigested and is accompanied by white mucus and white foam. He is no longer able to hold down liquid including water. he has lost almost 3 pounds in the past month. He is still in good spirits, but he does sleep a lot. (Please also check previous posted question) Tests: all were negative Heart worm Feline Aids Feline Leukemia IBD Pancreatitis Heart Disease Barium Dye Test X-rays Blood Work He does not have an obstruction, he has been given antibiotic,cortisone and anti nausea medicine, he also was switched to prescription diet z/d. We have no idea what to do next. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I will be watching the question posts all night so if you need more information or have questions please check other question or ask me. Thank you in advance. Note: He is now staying with our vet so he can better take care of him with injections and fluids. we have gotten three other vet options and all are stumped.he has perfect blood work, liver and kidneys are good and functioning properly, barium dye test was perfect and passed his system within three hours.his food was changed to hypoallergentic food and he is given distilled water that is changed at least six times a day. He was keeping water down until sunday, now he keeps nothing down and the vomitting is immediate after he tries to ingest anything.He was given Florta Fortia Probiotics. We also tried kitty ensure, tuna juice and organic sodium free chicken broth, nothing is staying down. He is "yaking" before i guess you can say that, what it actually seems like is he is trying to swallow it back down to prevent from throwing up. He is still in good spirits and had an appetite up until sunday when everything just went south.Sorry didnt clarify, the vomit is clear muscus with white foam with some undigested food. Its not rabies, the vomit is classified as respitory fluid, But his lungs are completley clear. As for cleaning products all our cleaning products were approved by our vet when our dog had allergies this past summer. All the cleaning products we have are all pet friendly approved.he has been tested for all parasites and toxins/ poisins. Sorry for all the added details my brain is in overdrive..smartty-pants thank you for the infor. My vet has discussed the option of exploratory surgery and said there is a chance he wont survive be how week he is I will pass the information on to him. Thank you very much more

Resolved Question: Post mortem revealed my cat died from Lymphoma, should my vet have seen this after 4 weeks of hell?

took Hugo (6 year old long haired cat, on my profile pic) to the vets for his booster on 30th Jan 2010. He had been off his food a bit that week but I thought it was due to the tins he sometimes goes off but apart from that seemed fine. They gave him his injection and a worming tablet and we went home. Got home and he was playing in the garden. Come tea time he was in his bed, we went out and didn't think anything of it. Got back at midnight and he hadn't moved, I knew something was wrong and came down in the night to check on him. The next day he clearly had a fever and was breathing fast. My friend who is a vet nurse said it could have been his booster. Rung the vets but they said "it definitely won't be the booster". He seemed a bit better Monday but then worse on Tuesday so I took him to vet. His temperature was 104.6!! They gave him some metacam and an antibiotic injection and sent him home. He had been off his food totally and went straight home to eat, thank goodness! The next day he seemed to be going back down hill yet again. Took him back to the vets, they kept him in on a drip and next morning he was raging to get out and came home, bright as a button! By Sunday he was quiet again, not eating much, obviously not well. Took him back to vets that week, (temperature 103.8) they kept him in and did more bloods (bloods for first week showed low white cell count and high urea but nothing major). They kept him in for three days, tested leukemia and FIV, both negative. Did more bloods second week and they were normal. Hugo didn't respond to metacam (painkiller to reduce temperature) or the drip during the first 24 hours, he only showed improvement with steroids. By Thursday he seemed a bit better and came home but I knew he wasn't right. I had asked about all kinds of diseases, including lymphoma, Feline peritonitis, inflamed bowel disease, all the major cat illnesses (leukemia etc.) but the vets didn't seem to think anything seemed familiar. Female vet said, "he's not losing enough weight for anything serious". I asked for an Xray and ultrasound scan but they said it wasn't necessary. Went back in on Saturday for another steroid injection. By following Friday he was the same, went back again and they gave him methodone, I was beside myself at this point. They said that they thought his kidneys were swollen but kidney function on bloods were normal. He was eating little bits but not much, he had gone from 3.82kg to 3.61kg. I went home that weekend and nursed him all I could, I let him sleep with me in the spare room, I knew he was seriously unwell. Monday morning came and I was back at the vets with him, asking them to take him in on the drip as I knew this had helped before. They were suspecting pancreatitis. Tests done for this and more bloods showed negative for pancreatitis and some deterioration in the kidneys function. I was begging for a scan, they just kept shooting me down and saying a scan wouldn't show anything. On Wednesday afternoon female vet rang me and said that they wanted to operate, despite not doing the scan that I had requested so many times. I agreed to it but when I went to the vets that night to see my darling Hugo they had been arguing about whether to operate and the male partner in the vets over ruled the female as we were then waiting for pancreatitis test to come back. Test came back negative on 25th Feb so they were planning on operating on 26th Feb to see if they could see anything. When I got there that Thursday evening to see my soulmate Hugo he was in severe pain, could hardly breath and it broke my heart to see him like that. They gave him more methadone to ease the pain which it did. He had another session of difficulty breathing at 10.30pm that evening, they managed to settle him with oxygen and methadone but he died as he yelled out in pain at 11.00pm. I am totally devasted. R.I.P. Hugo, my best friend, I miss you dearly xx I am beating myself up about this, I took him to a trusted vet, did all the research I could, took advice whilst Hugo was in hospital from two other vets. Everyone seemed to draw a blank. All I know is that I was desperate for that scan. Could anyone tell me what they think Hugo could have died from? If I could have done anything different and more importantly what the vets should have done to help him? I feel the vets have let him down terribly :-( Post mortem results revealed my dear Hugo died from Lymphoma in his kidneys, lungs and a lesion in his pancreas. I feel so sorry for my little boy suffering, truly I do, my pathologist told me a scan would have shown this. How do vets diagnose lymphoma? more

Resolved Question: Help, my cat died after four weeks of suffering from an unknown illness?

I took Hugo (6 year old long haired cat, on my profile pic) to the vets for his booster on 30th Jan 2010. He had been off his food a bit that week but I thought it was due to the tins he sometimes goes off but apart from that seemed fine. They gave him his injection and a worming tablet and we went home. Got home and he was playing in the garden. Come tea time he was in his bed, we went out and didn't think anything of it. Got back at midnight and he hadn't moved, I knew something was wrong and came down in the night to check on him. The next day he clearly had a fever and was breathing fast. My friend who is a vet nurse said it could have been his booster. Rung the vets but they said "it definitely won't be the booster". He seemed a bit better Monday but then worse on Tuesday so I took him to vet. His temperature was 104.6!! They gave him some metacam and an antibiotic injection and sent him home. He had been off his food totally and went straight home to eat, thank goodness! The next day he seemed to be going back down hill yet again. Took him back to the vets, they kept him in on a drip and next morning he was raging to get out and came home, bright as a button! By Sunday he was quiet again, not eating much, obviously not well. Took him back to vets that week, (temperature 103.8) they kept him in and did more bloods (bloods for first week showed low white cell count and high urea but nothing major). They kept him in for three days, tested leukemia and FIV, both negative. Did more bloods second week and they were normal. Hugo didn't respond to metacam (painkiller to reduce temperature) or the drip during the first 24 hours, he only showed improvement with steroids. By Thursday he seemed a bit better and came home but I knew he wasn't right. I had asked about all kinds of diseases, including lymphoma, Feline peritonitis, inflamed bowel disease, all the major cat illnesses (leukemia etc.) but the vets didn't seem to think anything seemed familiar. Female vet said, "he's not losing enough weight for anything serious". I asked for an Xray and ultrasound scan but they said it wasn't necessary. Went back in on Saturday for another steroid injection. By following Friday he was the same, went back again and they gave him methodone, I was beside myself at this point. They said that they thought his kidneys were swollen but kidney function on bloods were normal. He was eating little bits but not much, he had gone from 3.82kg to 3.61kg. I went home that weekend and nursed him all I could, I let him sleep with me in the spare room, I knew he was seriously unwell. Monday morning came and I was back at the vets with him, asking them to take him in on the drip as I knew this had helped before. They were suspecting pancreatitis. Tests done for this and more bloods showed negative for pancreatitis and some deterioration in the kidneys function. I was begging for a scan, they just kept shooting me down and saying a scan wouldn't show anything. On Wednesday afternoon female vet rang me and said that they wanted to operate, despite not doing the scan that I had requested so many times. I agreed to it but when I went to the vets that night to see my darling Hugo they had been arguing about whether to operate and the male partner in the vets over ruled the female as we were then waiting for pancreatitis test to come back. Test came back negative on 25th Feb so they were planning on operating on 26th Feb to see if they could see anything. When I got there that Thursday evening to see my soulmate Hugo he was in severe pain, could hardly breath and it broke my heart to see him like that. They gave him more methadone to ease the pain which it did. He had another session of difficulty breathing at 10.30pm that evening, they managed to settle him with oxygen and methadone but he died as he yelled out in pain at 11.00pm. I am totally devasted. R.I.P. Hugo, my best friend, I miss you dearly xx I am beating myself up about this, I took him to a trusted vet, did all the research I could, took advice whilst Hugo was in hospital from two other vets. Everyone seemed to draw a blank. All I know is that I was desperate for that scan. Could anyone tell me what they think Hugo could have died from? If I could have done anything different and more importantly what the vets should have done to help him? I feel the vets have let him down terribly :-( Any help offering is much appreciated. more

Resolved Question: Why is my cat limping?

My cat became ill two weeks ago;he stopped eating and drinking and was vomiting. I took him to the vet and after a few tests they said they didn't know what was causing it and sent us home with some meds. Two days later he had no improvement so I took him back and they hospitalized him. Three days later I was able to pick him up but before I got there they called and told me he had developed a limp in his left back leg and that it was probably caused from his nausea meds. They changed his medication and told me that I should notice his limp improve after a couple days with it being gone in a week.It's been a week and I have seen no improvement at all. I took him back to the vet and they tested him for diabetes which came back negative and told me they suspected he had had an acute pancreatitis. They still insists that the meds caused his limp. After a week shouldn't they be out of his system? Should I take him to another vet? He doesn't seem to be in any pain but I'm worried something more is going on here, Honestly my first thought was that maybe they dropped him during a feeding( they had to force feed him) and hurt his leg. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks more

Voting Question: Pepcid to cat slight heart murmur?

Hello Usually I would call my vet for something like this, but seeing it's Family day, the vet is not in today and I would like some feedback... So long story short, my cat (11 years old, indoors only) has been through a lot recently, such as chronic pancreatitis. She's slowly getting better, but she still isn't her usual self yet. She has days when she seems somewhat fine, but also days like today when she seems depressed, nauseous, and not eating. The vet says her pancreas is still inflamed and that she has a pseudo-cyst on it that may be aggravating her symptoms. We're giving her metoclopramide (injection), codeine (a gel we put on her ear) every day, and some digestive enzymes (powder) whenever we can. But even though we're giving her metoclopramide for the nausea and vomiting, she still continues to vomit. It's usually bile, or clear saliva-like vomit, or frothy white stuff, rarely any food. Before it used to be once a day, but the past day it's been more often (4~6 times a day). When we brought this up before, the vet didn't seem overly concerned, as long as her temperature is normal (which it has been). SO I haven't tried Pepcid AC yet for the vomiting, and would like to try it (seeing that the metoclopramide doesn't seem to be doing much at all). I know it's 1/4 tablet, 10 mg once/twice a day for a cat.... The only problem is that my cat has a low-grade heart murmur. I read on some sites that Pepcid may be bad to give if the cat/person has a heart rhythm problem. If anyone has any information, or have given Pepcid to a cat who has a heart murmur with success, I would be grateful! Thanks for your time. more

Resolved Question: My cat is very sick. What else can I do?

My cat Grae (who is my baby) is about 14 years old. Until about 5months ago he acted like a young cat. He had a surgery to remove bladder stones and has been sick ever since. He first had pancreatitis, that was awful. This became a little better and it is stabilized with pancreatic enzyme pills daily. He has had hyperthyroid for years and it was fine, now it keeps getting worse and his tapazole dosage is much higher. He now has kidney stones, irritable bowel syndrome and feline hepatitis. He is super skinny, urinates all of the time and is super hungry. The vet says that there is not much we can do but try to make him comfortable. He is on a high dosage of Prednisone, Tapazole, Raglen (for vomiting) and pancreatic enzymes. Has anyone else experienced this? What else could I do for him? He was tested for lymphoma and was negative. Bladder cancer was not ruled out by biopsy yet, but vet doesn't think I should get that tested.Thanks to everyone that responded. I am taking Grae back to his old vet to have him give me his insight into Graes problems. Grae has large amounts of blood in his urine. The new vet says that it is because of his kidney stone. His thyroid was just tested and it was up to 8, so I just upped his thyroid medicine a little. The vet says we can't go any higher than this w/ out hurting him. He has a lot of stomache rumbling and the prednisone seemed to really pep him up at first. He was almost back to normal. The effects are minimal now and he projectile vomits all over if I don't give him one raglen a day. He still loves food though and takes all of the pillow at night purring at the top of his lungs.Oh, and he is on special food and takes pancreatic enzymes. more

Resolved Question: One of our cats is starving herself?

We have 10 indoor-only cats ranging from three to 14 years old. Awhile back, one of our cats was diagnosed with Pancreatitis, leading us to switch from regular Science Diet food to Science Diet Light. Our older cats lost substantial weight, and gave us quite a fright. One of them happily eats a can of mature wet food each night, and she has been putting weight back on. But the other old girl won't eat wet cat food. We've tried offering her canned tuna. She ate some of this at first, but now she refuses it as well. We're attempting to give her a high-calorie vitamin supplement we picked up to try to stimulate her appetite, but she tries to avoid this as well. The only other option we can come up with is to sequester her in a room by herself, so that we can give her mature dry food without worrying that the other cats will eat it all. We don't want to have to leave her shut up in a room. Is there anything else we can try to get her to eat something to put on weight?We've tried multiple brands of wet food, as well as canned tuna. We think that the issue is primarily psychological, and not physiological as she will still eat the light dry food we put out for all of the cats. Unfortunately, it doesn't provide her with nearly enough calories or nutrition. more

Resolved Question: Needing a Second Opinion?

I plan on taking him back tomorrow if he doesn't feel any better. Last night we took our cat into the vet because of green vomiting and not eating or drinking. They did blood work and x-rays and found nothing wrong with him besides a fever and a low white blood cell count. They sent him home with fluid pockets in his back, an antibiotic shot, and anti-throw up shot. We got him home and he drank plenty of water but didn't eat any of the food we gave him. This morning I was woken up by him meowing. I gave him a bowl of his usual food and he kind of just picked at it but at least ate some of it. Though it is now 8 hours later and he hasn't gone poop (the x-rays showed a full colon) but has gone pee, hasn't drank any water, and still hasn't eaten any more food. The next step is to go to surgery because they think he might of ate something. Though I am not convinced that he would eat anything. We also just got a new kitten with the loss of his blood brother 3 weeks ago. So what else could it be? Stress, pancreatitis, constipation?I DON'T WANT TO GO TO SURGERY!I just gave him some tuna he kind of ate that (Licking/Nibbles). Should I take him back to the vet now or see if it gets better by tomorrow? more

Resolved Question: Cat illness question?

My cat (12 yr. old male) was recently diagnosed with pancreatitis. I was wondering if anyone knew how to exactly take care of cats with this illness. We're feeding him watery cat food through a syringe as well as water, but when should we expect him to start eating again on his own? I read somewhere 3-6 weeks, is that accurate? Also, I read somewhere that he will be more prone to diabetes. Again, how accurate is that?Lastly, is there any type of diet that he should be on following this illness?Thank you all for you answers, I will take note of most of the advice... and YES he has seen a vet (3 TIMES, 3 DOCTORS)... I'm not a vet, so therefore it would be hard for me to make a diagnosis and have it be accurate.AND also a word of warning... he definitely got pancreatitis from eating a SMALL sample bag of Hartz cat treats with tartar control... they're brand new on the market, so beware!! He only had a few over a two day spread, barely a handful and the vet is pretty sure that that's what did it. Treats have a high fat content and this coupled with an older age, larger cat could cause pancreatitis. more

Resolved Question: How should a cat be treated for the following disease progression:?

Vomiting Jaundice Not eating (diagnosis of fatty liver and pancreatitis and given antibiotics, feeding tube, pain killers, anti-nausea medicine, IV fluids) After 4 days - Fluid in chest/abdomen and low albumin 1.6 Albumin drops to 1.4 24 hours after plasma transfusion more

Resolved Question: Health concerns need your opinion please...?

Hello, I am a 30 year old male, I have been struggling with stomach symptoms and more for a while now, when I eat I get a pain and pressure in the upper left of my stomach near the ribcage and wraps around to my back. I also get extremely fatigued and I mean extremely. Other symptoms are joint pain, diarhea and stomach seems swollen or bloated. I been for many tests, ultrasounds, cat scans, blood tests, colonoscopy, endoscopy, my results of the ultrasound showed a contracted gallbladder, i had 2 ultra sounds and the first was fine second showed contracted gallbladder. My edonscopy was perfect. My colonoscopy showed internal hemroids, anal fissure, and nodules in my colon that were non cancerous. I also have nodules which turned out to be benign lypomas in my skin accoss my stomach and a little in my back, my dermotologist removed one and found it to be a benign lypoma. Cat scans years ago showed thickening of colon walls they said colitis at hospital but after the colonoscopy the GI specialists thinks it is not. My most recent tests were blood and ct scan with and without contrast, I have not yet recieved the results yet except to find when i called that my lipase was a little bit low and she said not too much to worry about but i was talking to the nurse. Any ideas or advice you could give me, or maybe some questions I could ask my GI specialist when I go in. also some things i wonder about are: Pancreatitis, Lupus and not really sure what it is but just looking for some advice... here thanks! more

Resolved Question: Anyone have experience with a cat with pancreatitis?

I tried to ask this question a few hours ago, but got nothing but stupid and irrelevant answers, so I'm trying again. Maybe the time of the day I asked was when all the intelligent people weren't on their computers. So, here goes one more try: My three-year old kitty, Cookie, has been very healthy all her life and I've always fed her high-quality food. She's never been sick even once. However, she very suddenly got really sick a few days ago and I took her to a 24-hour emergency pet hospital. They kept her for a few days and while she was there, they determined that she had pancreatitis. They treated her for it and she got much better, to my relief. When I picked her up yesterday, the doctor talked to me and told me that she'll have to be on a special prescription-only diet for the rest of her life. I've done some research on the internet, though, and some of what I've read has led me to believe that with an acute case of pancreatitis, a special diet is required only for a couple of weeks. I want to do what's best for her, but I'm just not sure if that prescription diet is really necessary for the rest of her life, and since it's pretty expensive, I don't want to spend the extra money unless I have to -- of course I will if it means that she really does need it. I just wonder if anyone here has had experience with this and can offer some insight. more

Voting Question: 34 year old non drinker had bad case of pancreatitis 5 weeks later still sick help!?

Before I was diagnosed and put in hospital it had stomach aches and nausea for about 2 months. I have ms and many other health problems. No gallbladder. My Dr. put me on prilosec and penergen did a scope just said I had a mild stomach infection. Nothing to worry about. But when I was put in the hospital I was scoped again 1 month later and told I had 4 ulcers. Cat scan showed my pancreas was thickened on one part of it. He said to get another scan in 2 months to recheck it. He first said it could be a tumor then said it was probably the angle of the picture. rechck in 2 months. Every time I eat somthing heavy I end up curled up in a ball the only position that helps. I an living on soup, Romen noodles,jello anything easy to go down. Please any ideas. Cant get in to my gastro Dr till the end of July. more

Resolved Question: Help my dog has pancreatitis and just ate cat poo!?

Should I be worried!? What should I do?! Please help thanks! more

Voting Question: Is this a law suite? I was taken to a hospital with severe abdominal stomach pain. Told it was muscles .?

I had started a new drug and had pain. The first trip to the er with 3 cat scans. and blood work. The intern told me there is nothing wrong with me and it was muscles. I could here the staff laughing and he was talking about me out of shape ect. I was upset I was vomiting couldnt eat for almost 2 weeks. My pcp told me I had pancreatitis. That night The pain was so severe that I couldnt stand up. The same intern laughed when he saw me threw up his arm saining I dont know...The resident dr came in and backed up the interns diagnosis. I got angry I was billed 75,000.00 for the visits. It turned out to be a gall bldder stone the size of a golfball. sitting right on the port. After surgery I felt great. I was told all that was checked and nothing. It was in my mind and it is muscles because I was out of shape.I was dehydrated because of vomiting for days. I could not stand up straight because of the pain I heard every word that was said about me at the nurses station and to the intern I was a joke.So total 4 or 5 cat scans, blood work that showed increased pancreatic enzymes higher the second visit. My diagnosis was a shrug of the shoulders. This is a well known teaching hospital. My pcp called me had me admitted and emergency surgery. more

Resolved Question: What do you believe is the best or worst pet insurance & Why?

I have two dogs & two cats and I just spent close to $1000 on my dog because he ate a bunch of stuff that wasn't food... (Dirt & carpet) Anyway, I've looked at a few different types of insurance and they're very expensive so I want to make sure I choose the most reasonable one that covers as much as possible. I also have a dog who has pancreatitis although her bills have never been over $300 as of yet. Any positive or negative tips about pet insurance would be very appreciated. Thank you! more

Resolved Question: My cat has fatty liver disease and he was very sick, i just want to help people with their questions about it?

Hi, my cats name is fatso. He was 4 years and 8 months old. Fatso was a black cat with a very nice face and had long very beautiful hair. He was a very playful and kind cat to be around. He loved to joke around and rub his head against anyone who came close to him. Fatso was always purring and wouldn't hurt a fly because he was way too nice. He would always meow as loud as he could just so he would make sure that you knew he was there. Fatso had recently become very ill on Friday May 29, 2009. We noticed that Fatso had stopped eating quite a bit and has lost some weight even though Fatso, who was normally known for his name, loved to eat. Even though he stopped eating we noticed that his stomach was still getting bigger. He had also become very lethargic and stopped his purring. Fatso wasn't being himself. He seemed to be very thirsty on this Friday during the day, but he wouldn't drink anything because his mouth seemed to be hurting him. We tried to get him some water by squirting from through a syringe (without the needle of course) into his mouth. On that Friday night, fatso had started to throw up this white puffy gloop and it looked very painful for him. He kept trying to stick his tongue out like there was something caught in his throat. Fatso wasn't doing so well so we brought him to the vet on Saturday morning at 7 am. He stayed there in critical condition for 3 days. The vet did a blood sample test, and noticed that his liver enzymes were quite high. Fatso was put on IV and was taken care of for these 3 days. On the second day when we went to see Fatso he seemed to be looking a lot better. Then on Monday, the 3rd day or yesterday, we had a call from the vet saying that Fatso wasn't doing so well and that he would have to be transferred from the vet’s office to an actual animal hospital. So we made a decision and picked up Fatso from the vet and brought him to the animal hospital. When we picked him up the doctor seemed to be right because he seemed to have gone back to the way he was when we first brought him in. At this time Fatso's skin that was exposed above his eyes seemed to be turning yellow and this was because of the enzyme build-up in his liver. This caused his blood to change color which caused the skin to change color. I let him out of his carrying cage while we where waiting in the lobby of this animal hospital (In Guelph Ontario, this place is probably the best place in the world for sick animals and is called Guelph Animal Hospital) and I let him out of his cage. He sat with me for a little while but he wanted to walk around, so I let him. Fatso could barely stand up and fell to the floor twice. We put him up on the bench and he started to fall asleep. Since that time Fatso has had multiple tests and has been diagnosed with fatty liver disease, pancreatitis, and fluid build-up in his stomach (which is the reason why his stomach was getting bigger even though he wasn't eating). After this call we decided that we did not want him to be poked and probed anymore because that is not the way a cat should live. Cats should be able to do everything they are supposed to do not sitting around eating food through a tube in his stomach. So we are going to go and see Fatso today but he is going to be put to sleep. The reason why I am writing this story is so that people who are in need of help and need answers quickly will be able to read Fatso's story and help there Kitten(s) or Cat(s). We will miss you always. For Fatso, it is what he would want me to do more

Resolved Question: What possibilities could be the solution to my cat's illness?

Patches is my seven year old, short hair calico. The other night, I woke up to her vomiting, several times throughout the night. The next morning she appeared very lethargic, and dehydrated, so we took her in to the emergency animal clinic about an hour away from us. Today, Patches received an ultra-sound, which showed that her liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and other internal organs were enlarged. Also, there was fluid inside of her abdomen. They weren't entirely sure, but they believe they may have seen a perforated bowel. I've looked into it, and I'm thinking maybe it's pancreatitis. But I'm not sure. Other ideas? more

Resolved Question: Just some help, what NOT to feed your dog.?

s to avoid Reasons to avoid Alcoholic beverages Can cause intoxication, coma, and death. Baby food Can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. (Please see onion below.) Can also result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts. Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system. Cat food Generally too high in protein and fats. Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffeine Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous systems. Citrus oil extracts Can cause vomiting. Fat trimmings Can cause pancreatitis. Grapes and raisins Contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys. There have been no problems associated with grape seed extract. Hops Unknown compound causes panting, increased heart rate, elevated temperature, seizures, and death. Human vitamin supplements containing iron Can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys. Large amounts of liver Can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects muscles and bones. Macadamia nuts Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle. Marijuana Can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate. Milk and other dairy products Some adult dogs and cats do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are available for pets. Moldy or spoiled food, garbage Can contain multiple toxins causing vomiting and diarrhea and can also affect other organs. Mushrooms Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death. Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, or powder) Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions. Persimmons Seeds can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis. Pits from peaches and plums Can cause obstruction of the digestive tract. Potato, rhubarb, and tomato leaves; potato and tomato stems Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. This is more of a problem in livestock. Raw eggs Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella. Raw fish Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly. Salt If eaten in large quantities it may lead to electrolyte imbalances. String Can become trapped in the digestive system; called a "string foreign body." Sugary foods Can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus. Table scraps (in large amounts) Table scraps are not nutritionally balanced. They should never be more than 10% of the diet. Fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed. Tobacco Contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma, and death. Yeast dough Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines. more

Resolved Question: Can anyone diagnosis a really sick cat? Not eating much, lethargic but all tests are normal.?

Sam is a 9 year old neutered orange cat who showed up at my mom’s door a few days before a big snowstorm when he was ~9 months old. He’d been living (apparently feral) outside for several weeks before. FeLV/FIV neg. Always very healthy. Even had a check up about 2.5 weeks ago. Last Friday he didn’t eat dinner with as much enthusiasm as usual. Saturday somewhat lethargic and less eating. Sunday did not defecate. More lethargic and even less eating. Monday went to the vet. Slight fever. X-ray revealed SLIGHTLY enlarged pancreas. Slightly dehydrated. Given IV. Blood tests normal. Slightly swollen abdomen. Not painful to the touch – at least when they poke it he doesn’t act like it hurts. Vet thinks the cat is “really sick”. Tentative diagnosis is pancreatitis which the cat either gets over or it doesn’t. Tuesday-Thursday. Basically stable. Not eating much. Given subq fluids. Still does to the box to do his business. Gets on couch to sleep. Back legs appear a bit stiff. Today. Seems worse. More edema/swelling. Extremely lethargic. Went back to vet. Got ultrasound. Normal except slight mottling of the spleen. Did biopsy to try to find lymphoma. Preliminary results say that was normal. No fever. Repeat blood work normal. Got a steroid shot (mainly pain control). Within an hour MUCH better. Ran down the hall at home and scratched his post and then gave himself a 20 minute bath. Unclear if it’s possible the steroid acted this fast. That’s better than he’s been since Saturday. He seems to be purring more than normal. Several vets at the practice (which is really really good) are totally stumped. All the tests are normal but the cat is apparently dying. Any idea what is going on??? Thanks! Catherine Poison: Nothing new is in the house. No damage on anything. He hasn’t even attacked the house plants in over a year. Inside only cat. It is possible that he either ate or was bitten by some bug in NC. However, no evidence of this. There is another cat in the house that is totally fine. more

Resolved Question: I have a cat that was dignosed with pancreatitis and will not eat the food that is recommended for her?

by the Vet. What would be a good cat food from a pet food store to feed her. She is becoming very thin. I am having a hard time finding a food that she will eat on a regular basis. thank you Please help me. more

Resolved Question: My chances of getting my license back after a seizure?

Alright here is my story. I am 30 years old and have had 2 seizures in my entire life. The first one came back in 2007 while I was hospitalized for 23 straight days with pancreatitis. The pancreatites was a direct result of consuming too much alcohol over a period of time. I have now been alcohol free for 34 months. To treat pancreatitis you are denied any food or water until the right blood levels are achieved. The only form of nutrition you get is through an IV. During my stay (on my 3rd day in) I had a seizure. It was never reported to the DMV because the Doctors felt it was from withdrawal of alcohol and or an allergic reaction to a medication give via IV. Immediately after given the medication, I turned bright red, got the worst headache of my entire life, my hands were shaky like I had just had an entire pot of coffee. In either event, so many tests were ordered. Blood draws, Spinal Tap, MRI, Cat Scan and an EEG. The EEG was given 2 days after the seizure (which I have read is the absolute wrong time to give it). The EEG came back with a slight abnormality, but because everything else was perfect and there is no family history and it was the first one I ever had, the EEG wasn't compelling enough. I was given tegretol to take 2 times a day for 6 months. After 6 months of the tegretol, I was told I could stop taking it and I did stop. I had no seizures for while on the medication and for a period of 28 months after, never loosing my license either since it wasn't reported. Apparently seizures can be provoked by stress, poor eating habits and a million other things. I had this seizure while driving, lost control of the vehicle and hit a house. It didn't do much damage at all and I guess that's besides the point. I had so much stress that day and my seizure happened right after opening some mail that said I had to testify against a Doctor who had (lets just say he was a male and was at some part of my body for a while). The saying when it rains it pours was never so true then it was that day 10 weeks ago. I went to the Doctor the morning after it. This one was extremely different then the one 34 months ago, I remembered things right away, I didn't bite my tongue, my body wasn't shaking and a I had no muscle fatigue. Once again I went through the battery of tests and everyone of them came back absolutely perfect. As a precautionary measure the neurologist put me on an Anti-Seizure med (Lamictal). I have not came close to having another seizure after the last one. Another blood draw was just done on Thursday, once again every level of anything in my body came back perfect and the Lamictal level is right where it needs to be. I have NO drugs in my system, I just don't do them (plus the police tested me and so did the Doctor. I'm not even sure the Doctor reported it, but the police did. The DMV sent me a letter stating that my license was suspended (NOT REVOKED) until I can get a hearing, in which I get asked a bunch of questions and turn in the info from the Doctor. The basics to all this is. 2 seizures in my entire life the firs because of an allergic reaction or from alcohol detox (I've never got a DUI) which wasn't ever reported. The second one may have been provoked and was nothing like the first one. All my test came back great and I am also on a medication for it as a precaution. Any answers, advice or thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated more

Voting Question: Is there a place I can bring a cat that I can no longer care for?

I have a 2 1/2 year old cat, Nelson, that has Pancreatitis and Diabetes. I spent about 5,000 a year ago finding out what was wrong with him. He now needs insulin and a pill twice a day. I live in a place where I can't have any pets at all and the place where I had him living doesn't want him anymore because he has started urinating all over the house. So I don't know what to do. I have nowhere for him, and I doubt anyone would take him in his condition. He also has a sister that he has been with since birth and they rely on each other a lot for comfort. They never leave each others' sides and they have never been away from each other. So even if I can find somewhere to put Nelson, he and his sister will both be depressed. But the question is, is there a place that I can take a cat that I can no longer keep, and will they basically put him to sleep as soon as I take him there? And if so, what would you guys do? Obviously I could not bring myself to take him to a place that would kill him, but I also would not really have much of a choice. I‘m pretty torn up about this. Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks.I live near Tampa, Florida if anyone knows anything specific for that area.. more

Resolved Question: Cat Hairballs, is food change to blame?

I have a 14 year old male cat, who is also slightly overweight. He has a history of pancreatitis, which occurred in 2003. Several months ago, I switched him from Science Diet, which was doing nothing for his health or his weight, to Halo. Since he has been eating Halo, he has lost some weight, and is much more active and happy. It has made a noticeable improvement. The only problem is, since being switched to Halo, he suddenly has a hairball problem. He's never had hairballs before, and I now find at least one a week. Is the food change to blame & what can I do to help him? And I know taking him to the vet would be the obvious answer. I have called, and he just wants to run test after test. I'm not going to put my elderly cat through any tests, unless I have already exhausted all other options. He is not a good patient, they have to sedate him to even examine him. And he's just too old for the stress of a visit to the vet. So any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!The vet also told me that changing food will never cause a cat to have sudden hairballs. I find it hard to believe that it’s a coincidence. more

Resolved Question: What is wrong with my Siamese kitten and how can I get him to eat?

My 8 month old Siamese kitten has often had a diarrhea issue and has been prescribed Flagyl a few times, which worked for maybe a few weeks at a time. Five days ago, he vomited and had diarrhea. He ten would not eat or make a bowel movement a day (he continued to urinate). He spent two days at the vet without eating or having a bm but his blood test came back fine, an x-ray showed up clear and an in-house fecal test was fine. The feline leukemia test was also negative. He began to eat a tiny bit so I took him home. He ate and made a normal bowel movement on Tuesday night so I brought the vet a sample for more testing. On Wednesday morning, he had diarrhea, vomited a few times (looked like bile) and now he rarely is eating and is curled up on my bed. He has eaten just a little a few snacks; some dry cat food, some boiled chicken and has had some water. He was prescribed Reglan to reduce the vomiting and Panacur (they wanted to give him Panacur even though they he didn't show up as positive for worms). I can't give him the Panacur because he won't eat his wet food. He threw up twice early this morning but has been fine all day/evening (so far). He's a bit sedated because of the Reglan but he looks like he wants to play. What can I do to stimulate his appetite and what could be wrong with him? We can't do anything other than wait for the vet to call me back with the results. He hasn't been tested for Pancreatitis or Irritable Bowel Syndrome/Disease. more

Resolved Question: Sick kitten, fluid in stomach?

My fourth month old kitten was given the cat tablet dosage of Milbemax the worming tablet as he had a fat belly & ended up in a coma. He was dehydrated & anemic & was given fluids and came round within a day but his belly over the next week grew & we rushed him back to the vets. They operated & his tummy was full of puss which they cleaned out thinking he had pancreatitis. Within a week his stomach was again huge, its so big he can hardly stand & walk. The fluid is clear & there is no bacteria, it is low in protein. He has tested negative for FIP &Feline Aids. Apart from the discomfort he is ok, eats well,wees &poos & has a massive appetite, he is always hungary. The vet is at a loss & the drug company have only offered to pay for a postmortem, hey I want to cure him not prove it was not their tablet, shame they are not so considerate! Has anyone else ever seen anything like this & can you help?He is also very thin everwhere else, you can feel all his bones but he eats enough to keep hin nourished?He was given the tablet that was meant for Cats over 2 Kilos & not the kitten tablet. The vet thinks it may be a genetic abnormality but to get him scanned we were quoted in excess of £500, the vets take on this is that if it proves what he thinks it is not worth spending the money as the kitten will die! He is still hanging in there & has been fighting for over a month. We think the the bad reaction to Milbemax has possibly speaded up an underlying condition. We did take him for a second opinion but the vet was still unsure. He is having the fluid removed today in an effort to try & see if he has any improvement. We actually live just outside of Manchester, where abouts is this specialist centre? Thanks for taking the time to reply. more

Resolved Question: What can cats eat and what makes them sick?

I made some breakfast the day before and I put the bacon grease in a tin and left because I have never had to worry in the past. I woke up this morning and all of the liquid portion was gone (the hard white fast on top was mostly still there). I think my cat ate it in the night....is he going to just get diarrhea or should I take him to the vet? I read that bacon grease could give him pancreatitis. more

Resolved Question: Treatment and prevention of kidney stones in cats...?

My cat has just been diagnosed with a urinary tract infection brought on by kidney stones. I am not talking about crystals in his bladder, but in his actual kidneys! What therapies have your vets tried to treat this condition? (at the office, AND when you take your cat home) Until now, he's been eating Science Diet Sensetive Skin for years, supplemented by a tablespoon or two of tuna a day. His water bowl is disinfected and refilled every day. He's 12 years old, has a history of pancreatitis, has a cyst on his back, has previously had surgery to remove another benign cyst on his leg, he's prone to ear infections, and he likes to lick all the hair off his belly--for which previous vets have sometimes prescribed him Valium. Generally, he's active and in good health for his age. He's an indoor only cat, with two other cat playmates. more

Resolved Question: Who is a good Cat vet in Portland?

I just moved to Portland, OR. I need a good vet for my 2 cats. One is 16 years old with High Blood Pressure and Kidney disease, and the other one is about 10, and was recently diagnosed with pancreatitis, but is doing well. I like vets that incorporate holistic medicine along with traditional. Thank you. more

Resolved Question: Anyone that had pancreatitis?

about 4 weeks ago i had acute pancreatitis and was in the hospital for 3 days. i am still not feeling better yet. is this common? the doctor said it will take some time to feel better. i went to get a cat scan last week to see if there are pseudocycts. i will know tomorrow about that. anyone have this and felt bad for a long time afterwards?? more

Resolved Question: Can a cat get pancreatitis from a flea/tick medication for dogs?

We recently ad to put my cat down b/c he had pancreatitis. understand i will never know what caused it but i would just like to know if our theory is possible. About a month ago, out vet gave us Advantix for our dog; they did not say to keep the dog and cat separate just that the advantix was for the dog only. We used it on our dog one night. The next day our cat started acting abnormal. He began loosing alot of weight, stopped eating and using the litterbox. We found out he had pancreatitis. He got a feeding tube inserted through his noseand we gave him ensure for cats and many meds. He ended up getting much worse, to the point where he would pace and cry all night long. We had to put him down. I was wondering if the pancreatitis could have been caused by the Advantix that we put on our dog? more

Resolved Question: Is it too late for my cat to recover?

He is in a hospital diagnosed with hepatic lipidosis and pancreatitis. The dr wants to do a biopsy of his liver and put in a feeding tube, but Baxter's blood is not clotting, so they can't. He got a transfusion of plasma yesterday and medications to help, but as of 2 this pm, they haven't been able to continue with anything except the fluids and medications they started originally. I know that to reverse the damage to the liver, he needs a feeding tube. I saw him today and his eyes, ears, and nose are yellowish. The dr wants to continue with treament, but I'm wondering if it may be too late...if they can't get his blood to clot sufficiently to do the feeding tube. Any advice/knowledge on this subject would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to put my baby through so much misery if it's too late to save him. The dr says his chances are 60-70% today, but if they can't put food in his system, what will his chances be tomorrow after another night in a strange, frightening place?The dr said his pancreas looked enlarged on the ultrasound. There is also fluid in his abdomen that they want to send to TX to be evaluated, but they don't want to stick him with anymore needles until his blood can clot sufficiently. Thanks for your comments and advice.Also, their estimate for the cost of his care over the weekend quadrupled from their original guess, so I'm thinking my kitty's situation is much more grave than they thought. more

Resolved Question: I'm 5 months pregnant and may have pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis. Do you think??

I'm 5 months pregnant and my doctor has found a growth on my pancreas, my liver is swollen and my white cell count is @ 14. My OB said it would be ok to do a cat scan for more info but the MD said wait til the baby is born and have it because no matter what the prognosis it will be the same after the baby is born. And there is no point in the cat scan if he can't treat me. Any doctors out there have an opinion on weather i should have the cat scan? I'm 31yrs old. Thanks for your help. more

Voting Question: My vets can't figure out what my cat has, but they are torn between IBD and Lymphoma. I need alternative help.

My cat is 16, we thought she had a host of different diseases from hyperthyroidism (because she was ravenous and then always very hungry and still is) to pancreatitis (because she has constant diarrhea) well I ran several bloodworks including one to see if she had a pancrease enzyme insufficiency.. so far they don't know what she has!!!! They think its lymphoma or IBD. They said if its the "L" then she has only 6 mos. to live, but she started losing weight last year, so is it possible its not?? In the interim, she's still losing weight, very active, getting a little weak, but not too bad, always meowing, she was shaved and her hair won't grow back after 6 months, the vet assume its because of her compromised immune system. She has reoccuring bouts of liquid diarrhea..the constant meowing, wanting my attention like crazy, weight loss. She has responded well to a pancreas enzyme I stir into her food, even tho her tests turned out she creates 2 many enzymes. I need alternative med helIM PLACING THIS IN THIS CATAGORY to get clues as physiology between animals and human are very similar. Please contact me with any advice beyond leaving any here. I can also add details based on the responses I get here. I need to really get help and extend her life, the vets don't know whats wrong with her. They think a biopsy to see if its lymphoma is too much for her to take. They just don't know whats wrong with her. I need to fatten her up and keep her fat, because she can't keep losing weight. more

Resolved Question: Cat in renal failure/possible pancreatitis...need experienced advice?

I brought my 4 year old Smokey in to the vet because of weight loss and lethargy. After blood tests revealed little my vet did an ultrasound and found his pancreas is enlarged. He is also in renal failure. After 12 hour fasting, the PLI test was done and sent off but the vet didn't want to wait on the results for fear he wouldn't make it till then so he went ahead and put Smokey on IV fluids to rest the pancreas. The only treatment he gave me was KD food and a b-12 shot. Isn't there more I can do for Smokey? The vet says if the KD doesn't work, his prognosis is grim. Smokey is an inside cat and I've been feeding a wet/dry combo diet his whole life. I think I need a second opinion although this vet has seen all my cats for years. Has anyone used other methods or treatments for this and gotten good results? more

Resolved Question: My cat has pancreatitis?

I took him in to the vet for weight loss and lethargy. He is very sick and in the hospital now. The vet is not being very optimistic about him. Smokey is 4 years old. I have always had regular vet checks done. Does anyone have a cat who survived acute pancreatitis? I really need some optimism here.Thanks Ken. The vet did send off the test but was afraid to wait for results before starting some treatment. His diagnosis came from the ultrasound which revealed an enlarged pancreas. Smokey is on IV. I've done some studying and I feel better now. I just always get scared when it comes to these kids. more

Resolved Question: Someone please tell me that i did the right thing for my 13 year old cat with chronic pancreatitis?

Tigger my 13 year old cat has been vomiting severely since Feb. 2008. I have taken him to the vet and they seam to think its chronic pancreatitis. He is also a diabetic. He sleeps a lot and he isn't as active as he once was. Tigger's vomiting has gotten worse. He gets sick an average of 6 to 16 times a day. He is my baby boy and I love him so much. The other night he got in my lap and laid his head on my chest and staired at me. It was almost like he was hugging me. A little while later he got sick and this time it had blood in it. I took him to the vet yesterday and had him put down. The vet said he was dehydrated. I feel so bad and I can't quit crying. I feel like I have lost my best friend. Did I do the right thing? more

Resolved Question: Vet can't diagnose my cat, can you?

My feline age 16 has the following symptoms. Vorcarious appetite (was ravenous now just eats a lot) diarrhea, great weight loss and excessive meowing. I did t he bloodwork in Feb. and my vet couldnt tell me what was wrong. I just had more bloodwork yesterday. Someone told me pancreatitis, and the vet assumed it was lymphoma, but how can that be since she eats so much and so well? The meowing is driving me crazy.. it is happening a LOT. Here is the bloodwork, the new bloodwork shows a higher white blood cell count (infection) so I put her on clavamox, and the lipase and amylase are still elevated. alk phosphatase 25 (ref range 0-63u/l) 0-62 UL alt (sgpt) 52 28-100 ul ast (sgot) 22 5-55 ul ck 170 64-440 ggt 1 0-6 amylase 2202 520-2060 ul (H) lipase 195 10-195 ul (H) albumin 2.9 2.3-3.9 g/dl total protein 6.5 5.9-8.5 globulin 3.6 3-5.6 total bilirubin 0.1 0-4 direct bilirubin 0.1 0-2 BUN 49 15-34 (H) creatinine 2.0 0.8-2.3 mg/dl cholesterol 212 82-218 mg/dlalk phosphatase 25 (ref range 0-63u/l) alt (sgpt) 52 ast (sgot) 22 ck 170 ggt 1 amylase 2202 lipase 195 albumin 2.9 total protein 6.5 globulin 3.6 total bilirubin 0.1 direct bilirubin 0.1 BUN 49 creatinine 2.0 cholesterol 212 glucose 92calcium 9.4 phosphorus 5.0 TCO2 (bicarbonate) 23 choloride 115 potassium 4.7 sodium 153 a/g ratio 0.8 b/c ratio 24.5 ndirect bilirubin 0.0 NA/K ratio 33 wbc 14.6 rbc 5.34 hgb 7.5 hct 24.3 mcv 46 mch 14.0 mchc 30.9 neutrophil seg 75 lymphocytes 8 monocytes 4 eosinophil 13 basophil 0 auto platelet 509 more

Resolved Question: Vet can't diagnose my cat, can you?

My feline age 16 has the following symptoms. Vorcarious appetite (was ravenous now just eats a lot) diarrhea, great weight loss and excessive meowing. I did t he bloodwork in Feb. and my vet couldnt tell me what was wrong. I just had more bloodwork yesterday. Someone told me pancreatitis, and the vet assumed it was lymphoma, but how can that be since she eats so much and so well? Please contact me with add. info. Here is the bloodwork, the new bloodwork shows a higher white blood cell count (infection) so I put her on clavamox, and the lipase and amylase are still elevated. I alk phosphatase 25 (ref range 0-63u/l) 0-62 UL alt (sgpt) 52 28-100 ul ast (sgot) 22 5-55 ul ck 170 64-440 ggt 1 0-6 amylase 2202Thats why it doesnt seem like pancreatitis, because of her appetite. However the vet says her thyroid is FINE. and she thought for sure she had lymphoma based on the fact her guts were "thick" and the weight loss. So.. its a HUGE MYSTERY.. so Im reseaching and thought Id ask here if there are any saavy vets reading this perhaps.alk phosphatase 25 alt (sgpt) 52 ast (sgot) 22 ck 170 ggt 1 amylase 2202 lipase 195 albumin 2.9 total protein 6.5 globulin 3.6 total bilirubin 0.1 direct bilirubin 0.1 BUN 49 creatinine 2.0 cholesterol 212glucose 92 calcium 9.4 phosphorus 5.0 TCO2 (bicarbonate) 23 choloride 115 potassium 4.7 sodium 153 a/g ratio 0.8 b/c ratio 24.5 ndirect bilirubin 0.0 NA/K ratio 33 wbc 14.6 rbc 5.34 hgb 7.5 hct 24.3 mcv 46 mch 14.0 mchc 30.9Finally: (new bloodwork can be sent to you if you ask Please email me or contact via YIM) neutrophil seg 75 lymphocytes 8 monocytes 4 eosinophil 13 basophil 0 auto platelet 509 anisocytosis slight absolute neuTrophil seg 10950 " lymphocyte 1168 " monocyte 584 " eosinophil 1898 " basophil 0Everyone keeps asking me about thyroid, bear in mind the thyroid results are here and my vet said her thyroid was FINE.at first in february the vet thought she had "worms" and gave me a deworming pill. She actually got better and started to gain a little bit, up to a point, then suddenly started to lose weight again, about a month later! What would this indicate? more

Resolved Question: Digestive problems for mature 13 year old cat...?

I’m inquiring about my 13 year old cat, who lives indoors, is obese, & has a history of pancreatitis. He was diagnosed with pancreatitis 5 yrs ago, & has been doing well since. However, over the past few months I have noticed he has been vomiting more often. This is something he has done on occasion, but it is becoming more frequent, and I’m concerned. Should I look into changing his food to something that would be easier to digest? He is currently eating (has all of his life) Science Diet Adult Light. I was researching Prescription Diet r/d Feline, or perhaps a SD for mature cats. He has never had any problems with hairballs. As far as his condition, he is himself, doesn’t appear to be in any pain. Also, if I decided to change his food, even if I make the transition from old to new slow, will that possibly make him worse? Any help or advice you could provide would be helpful and appreciated. I plan to discuss any major changes with my vet, I am simply researching and gathering info.I agree, taking him to the vet would be the best and most logical option... but he is not the best patient by any means. It will stress him out so much, I will only do that as a last resort. Honestly, he is the worst patient, the entire place has to hold him down just so the vet can examine him. When he was younger, he had to be fully sedated to be declawed! I'm looking into other options first, and of course if this continues, I will consult with his vet who knows his history, and I'm sure will also do his best to try to treat him outside the office. more

Resolved Question: Pancreatitis?

has anyone had a cat that has or suffered for Pancreatitis? more

Resolved Question: Can diverticulitis cause pancreatitis?

I have been having acute bouts of pancreatitis for quite some time now. I recently started seeing a digestive specialist for it. He has given me no answer as to why I keep getting pancreatitis but assures me that it's not my gall bladder. I have had a cat scan(with and without contrast), a MRI, EDG with CCK, and my labs always show high pancreatic enzymes. Last week the doctor told me that I have diverticulitis, and he said I was very young to have it so hesaid it could be Crohn's disease or autoimmune. Now he wants to do a colonoscopy and an EUS. Has anyone ever had this problem? more

Cat Pancreatitis News

The Do's and Don'ts of Feeding Human Food to Pets

Premium pet foods proudly market themselves as human grade because they contain ingredients that people can and do eat. While a complete and balanced custom kibble will deliver what your dog or cat needs, it doesn't hurt to know which items in your pantry and fridge are safe for Spot to share... way for them to get the painful condition pancreatitis. DO feed fresh blueberries... and/or garlic powder, as both are detrimental to dog and cat health. DO offer snacks more

Lisinopril and pancreatitis

Albuterol in the information migraine migraines symptomes from two diabetic necklaces: purina diabetic cat more

Tom Stein (April 15, 1952 – June 28, 2010)

Sorry, readers, for being so quiet last semester. Things have been a little on the rough side, as you can probably tell by the title of this post. So, here’s the story. About 3 years ago, Tom invited me to stay with his family. It became official when he told Lona “Just bring the damn cat!” I think ... more

Tom Stein (April 15, 1952 – June 28, 2010)

Independence Day Dangers For Pets

Loud noises aren’t the only things that may upset your pets on the 4th of July. Here is a list of potential dangers and what to do if your pet encounters any of these problems. Fireworks Dangers: Everything from small smoke bombs and sparklers to large aerial displays has the potential to burn curio ... more

Homemade Dog Food : How to Make Chicken & Rice Dog Food

homemade dog food Video Chick-and-rice dog food is a healthy and bland diet for dogs who have been sick or who have pancreatitis. Consider offering a lean chicken and brown rice meal to a dog with information from an animal behaviorist in this free video on dog nutrition. Expert: Elise McMahon Bio: ... more

Food To Avoid Feeding Your Dogs

Items to avoid Reasons to avoid Alcoholic beverages Can cause intoxication, coma, and death. Baby food Can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. (Please see onion below.) Can also result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts. Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources ... more

Dog & Cat Diseases : Causes of Diarrhea & Vomiting in Dogs

There are many possible causes of diarrhea and vomiting in dogs, including viruses and pancreatitis. Find out how vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration in dogs with help from a staff veterinarian in this free video on dog health and pet care. Expert: Dr. James Talbott Bio: Dr. James R. Talbott ... more

Immune Cats – Surprising Boost to Cat’s Immune Systems Prevents Worrisome Illnesses

Everyone wants to have immune cats living in their home, because watching a cat suffer from disease is really hard to do. Your cats immune system is very important, because it helps them remain healthy and strong throughout their lives. There are certain herbs you can give your cat that will help im ... more

When it goes bad … it goes BAD

I know it’s been alittle bit since I updated but here goes: Well we got my husband home from the hospital a few days after his surgery. Since then he has been doing great, still some pain in his sternum, but you would hurt too if they had to reopen an old surgery site and to get to the pulmonary art ... more

The Chicken, The Cow, and The Donuts: Overeating Doggy Style

We’ve heard the statistics: about 66% of Americans are overweight. We’re aware that the major reason we are overweight is because we overeat. It does not matter if you count calories, fats, or carbohydrates, or if you follow Weight Watchers, Jennie Craig, or NutriSystem: if you overeat you will stil ... more

The Chicken, The Cow, and The Donuts: Overeating Doggy Style

Given No Chance to Survive with Pancreatic Cancer, Chicago Woman Finds New Life at Northwest Community Hospital

Illinois Center for Pancreatic and Hepatobiliary Diseases Provides Hope for Cancer Patients

(PRWEB) November 2, 2009 -- Recently opened, the new Illinois Center for Pancreatic and Hepatobiliary Diseases at Northwest Community Hospital in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights is already on... more

Surgical Expertise at Northwest Community Hospital's New Center Provides Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Patients

Arlington Heights, IL (PRWEB) July 29, 2009 -- The Illinois Center for Pancreatic and Hepatobiliary Diseases has opened its doors at http://www.nch.org/medical-services/pancreas-health/marilyn.php... more

Surgical Expertise at Northwest Community Hospital's New Center Provides Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Patients

IMULAN BioTherapeutics' ImSAIDs Demonstrate Promise for Pancreatitis

Prescott, AZ, (PRWEB) May 16, 2008 -- http://www.imulan.com [IMULAN BioTherapeutics], LLC (IMULAN) announced one of their lead Immune Selective Anti-Inflammatory Derivatives (ImSAIDs) has... more

Pancreatic Cancer -- What You Need to Know About Prevention and Treatment

New York, NY (PRWEB) March 7, 2008 -- Pancreatic cancer, the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, is notoriously difficult to detect. In addition, mortality is high;... more

Pancreatic Cancer Research Finds an Unexpected Ally in Upscale Online Boutique

HealthMark Multimedia Announces Receipt of SBIR Grant to increase pancreatic cancer patient education and treatment decision involvement.

The Do's and Don'ts of feeding human food to pets

The Do's and Don'ts of feeding human food to pets Premium pet foods proudly market themselves as "human grade" because they contain ingredients that people can - and do - eat. While a complete an... more

Overweight Dogs - Home Remedies for Dogs

Some dogs are not able to snack on commercial products. My dog is one of those dogs. It has caused him to have an upset stomach and vomiting. A time trusted method is natural remedies for dogs. One o... more

Animals Q&A

17 Year Old Healthy Cat Suddenly Drinking Lots More Water. Everything...
Hi Thuner, I hope this finds you well. I have a Aunt. She had 2 elder cats. They both started drinking water a lot.... more

Christmas-A Hazardous Time For Pets

Christmas is a time to share, buy, give, and rush around frenetically. In your frenzy, you might overlook several potential hazards for your pets. Hazards that could kill your beloved dog or cat.
... more

Cats Can Suffer From Asthma

Not many people know that cats can also suffer from asthma. This disease in cats is also known as feline asthma, allergic bronchitis, feline bronchial disease, allergic asthma and allergic airway dise... more

Pancreatitis in dogs

Pancreatitis in dogs is one of most threatening disorder commonly seen in dogs. Before coming to the point of pancreatitis you have to know about what is pancreas? The pancreas is a glandular orga... more

Urinary Tract Infections - Crystals - Symptoms,Causes, Treatment

Urinary Tract Infections - Crystals - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Diets

The most basic question is, how do I tell if my dog has UTI? What should I look for?

The most com... more

12 Common Dog And Cat Diseases Linked to Diet

Recently I discovered that many common dog and cat diseases were linked to their diet.
I thought I was feeding my dog the right foods, doing all the right things yet he had health issues.... more

Getting Health Insurance For Your Cat Might Be A Good Idea

Most people do not to think about purchasing pet wellbeing indemnity for the family cat minimally because it seems as if cats never get sick. The veterinary disquiet most cat owners fret about is what... more

Feline Liver Disease - Things You Need to Know

Feline liver disease usually occurs in cats that refuse to eat for 1 day or more. When a cat refused to eat, the body begins to collect fat or lipid cells in the liver, causing the liver to enlarge. T... more

Welcome to Cat Pancreatitis

Cat Pancreatitis Questions and Answers

Resolved Question: My adult cat throws up frequently. Looking for help...?

Resolved Question: Cat has infection but tech/vets/owners please read and give me your advice!?

Resolved Question: do i need to feed my cat on a low fat diet after her having pancreatitis?

Resolved Question: my cat has pancreatitis/pneumonia?

Resolved Question: Can pancreatitis occur without an elevated or depressed serum amylase level?

Resolved Question: anyone else have a cat with chronic pancreatitis or diabetes?

Resolved Question: Has anyone here ever had a cat with pancreatitis?

Resolved Question: Question about supportive care for an older dog.?

Resolved Question: Cat Vomiting, Tested for everything still no answers. Please help!?

Resolved Question: Post mortem revealed my cat died from Lymphoma, should my vet have seen this after 4 weeks of hell?

Resolved Question: Help, my cat died after four weeks of suffering from an unknown illness?

Resolved Question: Why is my cat limping?

Voting Question: Pepcid to cat slight heart murmur?

Resolved Question: My cat is very sick. What else can I do?

Resolved Question: One of our cats is starving herself?

Resolved Question: Needing a Second Opinion?

Resolved Question: Cat illness question?

Resolved Question: How should a cat be treated for the following disease progression:?

Resolved Question: Health concerns need your opinion please...?

Resolved Question: Anyone have experience with a cat with pancreatitis?

Voting Question: 34 year old non drinker had bad case of pancreatitis 5 weeks later still sick help!?

Resolved Question: Help my dog has pancreatitis and just ate cat poo!?

Voting Question: Is this a law suite? I was taken to a hospital with severe abdominal stomach pain. Told it was muscles .?

Resolved Question: What do you believe is the best or worst pet insurance & Why?

Resolved Question: My cat has fatty liver disease and he was very sick, i just want to help people with their questions about it?

Resolved Question: What possibilities could be the solution to my cat's illness?

Resolved Question: Just some help, what NOT to feed your dog.?

Resolved Question: Can anyone diagnosis a really sick cat? Not eating much, lethargic but all tests are normal.?

Resolved Question: I have a cat that was dignosed with pancreatitis and will not eat the food that is recommended for her?

Resolved Question: My chances of getting my license back after a seizure?

Voting Question: Is there a place I can bring a cat that I can no longer care for?

Resolved Question: Cat Hairballs, is food change to blame?

Resolved Question: What is wrong with my Siamese kitten and how can I get him to eat?

Resolved Question: Sick kitten, fluid in stomach?

Resolved Question: What can cats eat and what makes them sick?

Resolved Question: Treatment and prevention of kidney stones in cats...?

Resolved Question: Who is a good Cat vet in Portland?

Resolved Question: Anyone that had pancreatitis?

Resolved Question: Can a cat get pancreatitis from a flea/tick medication for dogs?

Resolved Question: Is it too late for my cat to recover?

Resolved Question: I'm 5 months pregnant and may have pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis. Do you think??

Voting Question: My vets can't figure out what my cat has, but they are torn between IBD and Lymphoma. I need alternative help.

Resolved Question: Cat in renal failure/possible pancreatitis...need experienced advice?

Resolved Question: My cat has pancreatitis?

Resolved Question: Someone please tell me that i did the right thing for my 13 year old cat with chronic pancreatitis?

Resolved Question: Vet can't diagnose my cat, can you?

Resolved Question: Vet can't diagnose my cat, can you?

Resolved Question: Digestive problems for mature 13 year old cat...?

Resolved Question: Pancreatitis?

Resolved Question: Can diverticulitis cause pancreatitis?

Cat Pancreatitis News

Cat Pancreatitis Links

The Do's and Don'ts of Feeding Human Food to Pets

Lisinopril and pancreatitis

Tom Stein (April 15, 1952 – June 28, 2010)

Tom Stein (April 15, 1952 – June 28, 2010)

Independence Day Dangers For Pets

Homemade Dog Food : How to Make Chicken & Rice Dog Food

Food To Avoid Feeding Your Dogs

Dog & Cat Diseases : Causes of Diarrhea & Vomiting in Dogs

Immune Cats – Surprising Boost to Cat’s Immune Systems Prevents Worrisome Illnesses

When it goes bad … it goes BAD

The Chicken, The Cow, and The Donuts: Overeating Doggy Style

The Chicken, The Cow, and The Donuts: Overeating Doggy Style

Given No Chance to Survive with Pancreatic Cancer, Chicago Woman Finds New Life at Northwest Community Hospital

Illinois Center for Pancreatic and Hepatobiliary Diseases Provides Hope for Cancer Patients

Illinois Center for Pancreatic and Hepatobiliary Diseases Provides Hope for Cancer Patients

Surgical Expertise at Northwest Community Hospital's New Center Provides Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Patients

Surgical Expertise at Northwest Community Hospital's New Center Provides Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Patients

IMULAN BioTherapeutics' ImSAIDs Demonstrate Promise for Pancreatitis

Pancreatic Cancer -- What You Need to Know About Prevention and Treatment

Pancreatic Cancer Research Finds an Unexpected Ally in Upscale Online Boutique

Pancreatic Cancer Research Finds an Unexpected Ally in Upscale Online Boutique

HealthMark Multimedia Announces Receipt of SBIR Grant to increase pancreatic cancer patient education and treatment decision involvement.

The Do's and Don'ts of feeding human food to pets

Overweight Dogs - Home Remedies for Dogs

Animals Q&A

Christmas-A Hazardous Time For Pets