Hi Everyone! It's been awhile and wanted to post a quick update. Looks like we'll be coming up on Aurora's 1 year OTJ! I just updated all of her numbers on her spreadsheet. Can someone please remind me what the conversion is from the relion meter to what these numbers would be on the cat meter? My vet was asking and was concerned that I was not using the cat meter and I didn't know how to tell her what the conversion was. Aurora has been throwing up bile in the mornings for quite awhile now. It's not daily but it's been increasing with some pink in it. The vet did an exam today and said her belly feels squishy which was associated with IBD. Aurora has always had a sensitive tummy. They also did an xray and saw something in her stomach that looked larger in size. We don't think it's bad right now just because her appetite is excellent and acting normally otherwise. The vet said it could possibly be a huge fur ball that's impacted but we won't know until we see the internal medicine specialist ( apt for Dec 18th ) and they will do an ultra sound. I'm on a cancellation list so hopefully we can get in sooner. This will be big money. Ugh...but it is what it is. For now the treatment is cerenia for the next 3 days and then every other day until her apt with the specialist. Either way, I feel like it's surgery - they mentioned a scope to check her intestines since they were thickened on the x ray or if they decide to do an exploratory surgery for this in her stomach that would eliminate the scope and they would just take tissue samples from the intestines that way. Poor Aurora. Her #'s look great thought.....so I am not sure what to think of this. Hope everyone is doing well!
Good to hear from you. There is no conversion between the human and the pet meters. The pet meter always reads higher, though. Have you been feeding Aurora overnight? I think you did mention they have food available overnight.. usually bile means an empty stomach. I do wonder about a hairball. I'm sure others will be along that can give you advice for the exploratory surgery and taking biopsies.
Hi Mandy! Good to hear from you too!!! So the girls both get some rad cat raw as bedtime snack and then I leave 1 small can of the weruva cats in the kitchen ( Funk in the trunk flavor ) for overnight snacking. I did try 1/2 Pepcid for awhile in the mornings and I was giving that in a pill pocket ( Mulan wanted the pill pocket just as a treat as well ) and they were both getting bad diahreah. I couldn't figure out what the issue was until I googled greenies pill pockets and lots of people were reporting it didn't agree with their pets and was also causing the diahreah. I stopped the Pepcid and pill pockets and they both have solid poops again. Does anyone have any good suggestions for other ways to get her to take the pill? She gobbled any medications in a pill pocket - I was wondering if the grain free pill pockets from greenies might be better? I should mention by 6am when I come downstairs, the plates are clean so they are eating overnight. Aurora has a great appetite, she will puke and then she wants to eat right away.
I thought the same as @Mandy & Rex ...... I had a vet that called it "empty tummy syndrome". Happy to hear that her numbers are still good! Congratulations on the 1 year OTJ anniversary!
I'm sorry you have another issue to deal with. I hope it turns out to be just a hairball. Sending prayers. Happy 1 Year OTJ. It's great she's still in good numbers
Yeah, not sure. I leave plenty of wet food out for the middle of the night but they're both piggy so I'm sure they gobble it before midnight and they get a generous portion of raw for bedtime snack.
I started using an auto feeder overnight to avoid "empty stomach syndrome". Rose generally gets her last snack from me at 9PM, and the auto feeder pops at midnight and 3AM to always giver her access to food through the night.
no timed feeders. I guess when I get up in the night to use the bathroom I can check the food levels and open another can if needed.
I think I was premature in the 1 year for some reason I thought it was November but it’s not till March lol I’ll be okay momma has lots on her mind apparently.
Does anyone have any good suggestions for pilling Aurora with 1/2 tablet of cerenia? Pill pockets have her bad diahreah. I tried baby food tonight and she won’t touch it.
Hi Nicole. Sorry Aurora isn’t feeling well. Which baby food did you try? It might be the brand or flavor. Tiffany wouldn’t eat chicken and neither she or Max would eat Beechnut but they liked Gerbers. I put pills in gel caps. Then chase with a syringe of water if they won’t eat food. I hope you can get an earlier appointment for the ultrasound. That’s a long time to wait. Maybe see about a different radiologist? Depending on the location endoscopy can often get results. It did for Tiffany. With thickening it could be IBD, hopefully, or lymphoma. I really hope you can get the ultrasound sooner.
@tiffmaxee yes I use the gerber turkey and warm for 4 seconds in microwave. Blood work came back all normal. Hopefully there will be a cancellation at the internal medicine specialist so we can get her seen sinner than dec 18 which right now seems like forever. @Mandy & Rex what kind of cheese?
One more question for those experienced with pancreatitis would I see any indication of anything when I check her blood weekly? Her numbers have been pretty low for the most part. Also if it is determined that she has ibd they’re staying pred. Is the treatment but how do you do that when she’s already been diabetic?
Whatever you have on hand that you can mold around the pill. American, Swiss, etc. If you have to start prednisolone, you may have to start insulin again.
the pred can knock her out of remission and you just have to deal with both issues. Pred did that to Shadow but not too bad so I just had to monitor and adjust according to her needs. You'll likely have the same situation.
I give Cookie Cerenia and typically use a little bit of Ensyl-F Oral Paste (lysine) to swipe it in with. It works like a charm. How about some gravy? or yogurt? ...and I mean the tiniest bit on your finger to make the pill stick then a bit to cover it to slide it down.
Hey there and Happy 8 months! I was going to say the same as @tiffmaxee and put the pill in a gel cap and chase it with some water.
By weekly tests do you mean when you test her BG? ECID so high or low BG won’t help determine if she has pancreatitis. Many use budesonide for IBD which for many cats won’t effect the BG like prednisolone. I’d want to rule out small cell lymphoma as well because starting pred might make it hard to diagnose if not IBD. I’m not suggesting she has it. I’m just covering all bases. See what the internal med vet says.
Yes weekly on Sunday’s I check her blood glocuse in the morning before I feed. Thanks everyone for all the comments and tips!