GA GA

EDIT: I'm sorry, I had to change the title. It hurt too much to see in my notifications.

Panic is being treated at home for pancreatitis, ketones found at vet (vet said +1 or mild, lab results (KET?) said 15 on Tuesday morning.

Tonight I checked on her almost an hour ago and I thought she had passed. My dad checked and agreed but as we sat there he caught the shallow-est breath.

She is breathing better now but not moving, the only 24 hr vet is no longer 24 hrs I just learned so I have to wait 5 hours for any to open.

I don't know if she'll make it and I'm afraid to do anything to her. BG was 245.

 

Oh I am so sorry. have you checked for ketones at home again?
Is there nowhere you can take her?

 

No, she hasn't peed any that I could see. The nearest 24 hr is too far, I don't even think she'd make the trip.

 

I honestly don't think I could afford an ER visit but I was going to ask costs for the closet one that's no longer open. I hate it but I don't have ER money.

 

Don’t beat yourself up about it if you can’t afford it. I lot of people are in that position.
Do you have Ketostix if she does pee?

Have you been able to syringe feed her at all or is she too sick to attempt it?

 

I never got the chance to pick up more, I've been so busy running around the past couple days to vet offices. The ones I had expired.

I syringe fed her a few hours ago, was going to feed her again a couple hours ago but my alarm didn't go off, woke up an hour ago and found her like this. I'm afraid to assist feed her at this state.

 

If you have the expired ketostix and she pees I’d try testing the urine.

I’d just make her comfortable and warm at this point unless she improves in which case you could try feeding her. But you are there and know best.

Praying she will pull through.

 

Thank you. I've tried reaching out to DCIN but it's the middle of the night for them too and no one's picking up.

She did move her head which is the first signs of movement.

 

She has tried to get up a couple times, I'm not sure if it's the gabapentin making her unable or not. She drank some water.

 

It could be the gabspentin. I haven’t used it but when I have Sheba oral bupe when she had pancreatitis she just lay there for 8 hours. I thought she was going to die and I sat up all night with her. She couldn’t drink or eat. After it wore off she was back to her usual self. I never used bupe again. It scared the life out of me.

 

That's what she's been doing too (before tonight). Only gets up to wobble a couple feet then stops and collapses. She'll be due for another dose in about an hour (two hours before vet opens). I'm not sure if I should give her anything. The pill is so big. The vet said she had bupe in IV form so if she makes it there she'd be getting some asap I'd assume.

 

I think I’d hold off on the gabapentin. It might be too big a dose for her.

 

The side effects of gabapentin are many including abnormal eye movements, ataxia, tiredness drowsiness and many more.

 

Okay. The dose was 100mg every 12 hours, not sure what standard was.

I'll remove the 911 since nothing can be done here.

 

How much does she weigh? Dosage is 5 to 10 mg / kg

 

About 9 lbs. Is that per pound?

Sorry for delayed response, I was filling out the DCIN application in case they are able to help. She is still with us.

 

@Chris & China (GA) if you are able to help her application be looked at?

 

No it is per kg not per lb.
9 lb is 4 kg. So the dosage on another site starts at 2 to 10 mg / kg.
So 4 Kg x 10 mg= 40 mg. OR
4 kg x 5 mg=20 mg.
So if you are giving 100 mg that is more than double the maximum starting dose.
No wonder she is lethargic, drowsy, unresponsive.
I’m not sure it is a suitable pain relief for Pancreatitis as it is used for seizures and chronic nerve pain.
I would be asking for a small dose of Bupe..

 

Holy ... oh my poor baby. I am so sorry. Definitely no more.

She was on gabapentin because my vet didn't have any oral bupe for me, the shipment was supposed to be in tomorrow (today, whatever) afternoon.
They didn't have gabapentin either so they recommended me going back to Banfield for some, where I got her SNAP fPL done. That's where I got it.

 

What were the vets thinking. She is not a big cat either.
Hopefully she will start to recover once the effects of the drug wear off.
It can also cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
Poor little thing.

 

It's right around time for her dose so hopefully she will perk up? I feel so awful.
The Banfield vet left a message asking how she was. I should give them a piece of my mind.

 

Don’t feel bad. You were only following directions from the vet.
Please keep us updated as to how she is going. Hopefully once it wears off she will start to move around.
I remember when that happened with Sheba I had quite resigned myself to the fact she was going to die. And it was my husband who said ...are you sure it is not the medication that has her drugged.

 

Of course. Right now she is sleeping, she did leap up (and her back legs collapsed on her) and lunge for the water bowl and took a couple sips a few minutes ago.

Thank you for returning the favor ... I knew the drugs could make her drowsy but she wasn't even noticeably breathing and fell limp when I lifted her up when I first saw her. Goodness.

 

How many doses of the Gabapentin has she had?

 

Three total, every 12 hours.

 

It says to not stop Gabapentin abruptly...not sure if 3 doses would make that apply but I would ring the vet up and ask ASAP just to be sure it is ok to stop abruptly.

 

I saw something about tapering off over a couple weeks if using long-term so I'm not sure if that applies either but I will bring it up as soon as they open.

 

Yes I saw that too, but I think it would be prudent to check to make sure.

 

Oh my goodness!

I used to give Amber (18lbs) a single dose of 100mg before taking her to the vet. It reduced her "cattitude" from "You'll never take me alive, copper!" to "I'm just going to chill here on the table, try not to wake me up, OK?". Poor 9lb Panic!

I also was giving gaba to a civvie for pain for a while, at a much smaller dose (1/3 of the powder in a 100mg capsule, best I could measure) a couple times a day. In both cases, the vet emphasized when starting that different cats have different reactions to gaba, so it required a bit of experimenting. The Banfield vet probably was going by previous experience with cats in the kind of pain Panic was having, but yikes!!!!

I hope at the least she's getting some pain relief out of this!!! Poor little girl.

 

Oh goodness! I need to be checking with you all (or at least the drug's website) before giving anything from now on, I can't believe this.
After seeing how nuts this is making Panic (even though ECID) I know I'm DEFINITELY not considering this for my arthritic civvie in the future.

I have another hour to wait but I have collected all of her meds together, left messages to call me if the vet arrives sooner, and contacted DCIN in every way possible in hopes of getting assistance. Thankfully THIS vet is only a five minute drive so even if they don't call before then I'm going to be in that parking lot before they open.

 

Oh my god, I'm so very sorry to hear what you and that poor girl is going through
I'm praying she will be OK, please keep us posted.

 

Thank you! She is at the vet now, no more ketones!! But her body temp is really low due to the overdose so their first goal is to get her temp back up. BG was 235 at vet.
DCIN also got back with me so I am working with them! <3

 

Thanks for the update. Sending vines for a full recovery.
Great no ketones.

 

It's 8:44 here and I'm just seeing this now. If she actually got up herself for water that's a good sign.
Little miracles happen all the time, maybe you're due for one. Good luck.

 

Thank you! I'm so glad she's ketone free and in their care. I love her but I'm no vet.
I will keep everyone posted, about to leave for work!

 

OMG! what a horror story! Poor Panic AND YOU! sigh Many prayers on the way.

 

Maybe she's just reminding you, It's all about Me!
Life with cats, the fun never ends.

 

Thank god she's at the vet, prayers for her, keep us posted. I would definitely give that Banfield vet a piece of my mind like you said

 

I dont know if I could be that reserved. This just makes my blood BOIL

 

Oh I know I wouldn't be that reserved either, not with my mouth

 

I'm at work but I'm very heartbroken to say she went into respiratory failure and passed away a little while ago.

 

Ohmigod

 

I don't know what to say.... I'm sitting here heartbroken myself... I will write more later, for now, just these:

 

Oh Elizabeth, I don't know what to say either. So many emotions are running through me right now. My heart goes out to you.

 

OMG sigh This is just too hard. Elizabeth I am so sorry. My heart is just breaking for you
i need a good cry bbl

 

I don't want to keep saying the same thing over and over again, but... I've been around FDMB for a while now, and seen a lot of tragic outcomes during that time, but I can honestly say that this is one of the most shocking. Utterly heartbreaking.

I hope you don't have to be at work for much longer. I would be an absolute mess. Please take care of yourself, you didn't deserve to have had this happen, you did absolutely everything you could for your little girl.

 

I agree Nan I just cant find words

 

I’m so so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you. There’s this quote that I really really love and sums up how I feel at times of loss like this “there comes a time when something you love no longer is, may you find comfort in knowing there will never come a time when it no longer was”
You were a wonderful mom and she’ll be watching over you always. I truly believe that

 

Damn, I am so heartbroken for you Elizabeth, tears are rolling down my eyes for you and that precious girl. You and Panic have gone through the mill. I assume this is because of the over dose of gabapentin, I would kill that vet from Banfield
Sweet precious girl isn't suffering anymore, I know that doesn't help though
Fly high Panic and watch over the best mama you could have

 

Thank you all...I was not expecting for this to happen. I was so happy she cleared those ketones because I was more afraid of DKA than anything. I'm sitting in my car in tears but so thankful she didn't pass alone last night on the kitchen floor but under the care of a vet trying to save her. When I can muster up the strength I'll be letting Banfield know to be more careful. She could have passed anyway but still.

Thank you all so much for being there for her and I.

 

Gentle hugs Elizabeth

 

I am so sorry for your loss.

Fly free Panic and watch over everyone who loves you.

 

Elizabeth I am so sorry there are no words . If anything know what a good Mom you are and that Panic knew she was loved . During my times of sorrow I tried to remember I would have not traded the time I had with them ( which is such a precious gift of friendships dreams love) even with the pain I was going through . They made a difference in my life and I in theirs and I remember every one of them . If you need to talk or vent don’t hesitate Roe

 

I hope you're at home by now Elizabeth. I don't have the words right now either except to say how sorry I am.

 

Panic has been laid to rest. I put her next to our dear cat Sandy who passed two years ago - not too close, because they enjoyed swiping at each other, but I figure they could use each other's company by now. They gave me a little clay paw print and I gave her one of her catnip mice. It's going to hurt so much come shot-time. I know you all understand fully how much it hurts right now.

DCIN's owner was so kind to me on the phone and wanted to know why she went into respiratory failure. I'm not completely sure, I did ask, and over the phone and among the noise of work I either didn't quite hear or understand but as far as I understand they had gotten her body temperature back up, ketones were gone, BG was around 250 and then she just started coughing and couldn't stop. She went into a little more detail how she tried to help but it hurt to hear how she struggled. I know it doesn't quite matter now but I just think of all your kitties too.

I called Banfield just now because if I waited another day I probably wouldn't have done it, but I told the secretary to let the vet know about the overdose. I was polite, because I'm too tired to argue and am well aware the secretary had nothing to do with it but that's that.

 

Oh Elizabeth , again I am so so sorry, I wouldn't want to hear how she struggled either. I had tears rolling down my checks when I heard this.
I'm happy to hear she is with your other kitty Sandy.
Panic knew how much you loved her, please take care, gentle hugs

 

I'm so sorry had been praying that she was turning a corner and was going to make it. She will always be with you in your heart.

 

Oh Elizabeth
I’m just awake and reading the news. I am so so sorry. You must be heartbroken. I was hoping she was going to be ok.
That is good you called Banfield. They need to review their practices.
Fly free beautiful Panic and land softly at the rainbow bridge
And know you did everything possible that you could for Panic and she would have felt your love.

 

Oh no Elizabeth, I'm so sorry to hear this. I really am. I think you and I joined the FDMB around the same time, but I don't post like I used to... anyway I know how very much you love Panic and I'm heartbroken. She knew how much she was loved. The biggest of hugs to you. I'm so sorry.

 

Thank you so much.

I just wanted to point out that after talking with a friend of mine whose husband has worked in a vet office for several years, she said that if not careful with painkillers for kitties they can go into respiratory failure, and she also said that they had given me dog gabapentin, since it was in pill form and not a liquid. I remember hesitating the other day when my vet told me to go back into town for the (fifth) time to pick up some meds from them but decided to go because she needed it. I know, I know, we can play the what-if game. What if I hadn't gone. Something else may have happened but long story short it sounds like the gabapentin dose was what did it. I will be filing a proper complaint up the chain when they open tomorrow but wanted to let you all know. Perhaps we can emphasis liquid gabapentin when referring to our kitties in the future so others don't make the same mistake.

 

Oh dear, I am so so sorry. But you must not blame yourself at all. You were doing the very best thing you could fit your beautiful girl.
I’m glad you will file a proper complaint.

 

So sorry for your loss We don't know each other but i am sending you a big hug.

 

I am so, so very sorry. My heart is breaking along with all of these wonderful people on the Board and of course, you. Hold good memories close to your heart, and know you did the very best for Panic. (and yes, please do follow up on your complaint)

 

Lighting a ring of candles, for Elizabeth's beloved kitty Panic.



Panic, who was so deeply loved and will be sorely missed.

 

Oh no... just reading this post now... how horribly wrong this went. Poor little Panic. You did the best you could . What a very, very sad outcome. My heart is just breaking for you now.

 

((((Elizabeth))) I am so sorry for your loss. Fly free sweet girl.

 

Panics legacy WILL help others.

 

(((Elizabeth))). I’m so truly sorry for this tragedy. We trust our vets to know what doses to give. You would not have had any reason to doubt that. I am so sorry for your heartbreak and loss.

Fly free sweet, Panic.

 

Thank you all. I filed a formal complaint this morning to their head office, they were understanding and said someone would be calling me within three days about Panic. I just got off the phone with the head manager at my local Banfield who wanted to know what was going on, and she stated that they do come in liquid but they also offer pills because cats don't like the taste, and that their pills only come in 100 and 300mg. I reiterated the proper dosing amounts for felines. She is going to be contacting my personal vet as well as the vet who prescribed the meds to compare notes on what happened and I should hear back next week.

Thank you all so much for your condolences, it means so much to me that you all cared so much for her and I.

 

GOOD FOR YOU!

 

I am so sorry for your loss and all you went through.

 

I'm glad you filed the complaint, not for nothing but that was a dumb answer they gave you that their pills only come in 100 and 300 mg
So why not give you the liquid and maybe put in in with a little bit of wet food and syringe it, rather than overdose the poor thing.
That vet should have known that the dose was way too much
I know it can't bring your sweet girl back but you are doing the right thing, Panic is proud of you right now, you may be saving another kitty's life down the road because of that vet.

 

I trialled gabapentin for a while with Neko - it was 50 mg pills. There are small dogs too. I hope you get some closure with the vet and that they learn something to prevent this from ever happening again.

 

I looked back on the report they sent me for DCIN and my vet had listed that the dose was supposed to be 30mg and very specifically put that she was hospitalized yesterday for overdose and hypothermia. I emailed my vet to let her know that Banfield was going to contact her about it. I will let my vet fight that battle and if it still isn't remedied I will pick the fight at corporate. When I told the manager that she had been given a dog's dosage because it should have been liquid not pill she pointed out that they do both - so if they only have 100-300mg they've been doing this with other cats?? I pointed out based on mg and weight it should have been NO MORE than 40mg and she got quiet so we will see what happens. I am obviously hoping they do a re-evaluation on the drug if they think that dose is okay but also put in my report that I wanted a refund of the test + meds so I could help counter the cost of her hospitalization. I'd want to donate it back to DCIN for covering her bill yesterday.

 

Good for you. Most health care professionals belong to a licensing body. There is also the route of filing a complaint with that association. It would be wise to right down how the whole situation transpired so if you decide to go that route, you've got the information fresh - it will likely be emotionally draining but you've got a lot of the details already down on this forum. I'm feeling so sad and angry for you right now.

 

I hope you get this cleared up to your satisfaction.

FWIW. Ollie gets 12.5 mg gabapentin twice a day in compounded pill.

 

This is not the time for details but I've learned the hard way to not accept half hearted nods and scribbles from techs and even vets.
Elizabeth, it can sometimes be annoying when someone says "I know how that feels" when really they don't but it's happened to me too.
You both were here for just over a year but it seems like forever, this one really hurts. Hope that all makes sense.

 

I am so so sorry, but don't leave us, you'll find consolation from being around.

All my hugs to you

 

This is going to be Panics legacy. She will actually be saving lives. Bitter sweet I know. sigh

 

We could really, really, really, really use help with Prozinc members Elizabeth. @Panic
Both here in the Feline Health (Welcome & Main) forum but also in the Prozinc ISG group.
I feel so alone over there, and could certainly use your help.

That could be another part of Panic's legacy, helping other Prozinc users.

Elizabeth had PM'd me a couple of times, to drop in on Panic's threads in the Lantus ISG group. I was always glad to do that.

 

I know nothing will truly make me feel better but I know what you meant.

Thank you Dickson. I feel completely crushed and lost now. Waiting on my little girl hand and foot, scheduling my life around her and not feeling an inch of resentment toward it, I simply don't know what to do with myself now, literally. I haven't eaten an actual meal since Monday, I'm just not hungry. I've gotten so many texts, messages, phone calls, and visits from friends, family, and friends of friends letting me know how sorry they are. They knew how coo-coo for cocoa puffs I was for her.

This board has helped her and I so much over the past year. I so desperately wanted to beat it and throw a big ol remission party someday. But Panic isn't the only sugar cat to come here and helping them gives me a sense of usefulness that I don't have anywhere else in life. I was about 80% done with a compilation of an intro to FD. Maybe I'll work on it again to keep me busy too.

 

Elizabeth... I found this little story... we have chosen "Tears". http://www.bonfires.de/TheLovingOnes.htm

 

((Elizabeth)) I'm so very sorry for your pain and the loss of your sweet little Panic.

 

(((((Elizabeth)))))

I'm so very sorry for your loss. There are just no words that are ever adequate.

Fly free Panic and land softly.

 

After Nigel I was angry with God for not giving my little yellow cat a break, I had just had enough.
That completely empty feeling will go away one day, I just can't tell you when.

 

I am so sorry for your pain. I don't think we ever "spoke" but I have read many posts with you and Panic and learned much from you both. Panic will be missed in Indiana. Fly free sweet one. I will be sending healing thoughts your way Elizabeth.

 

I found 2 pill bottles of gabapentin, each 1 for a different cat. One was for a cat that weighs around 8 or 9 lbs., she was to take 1/2 of a 100 mg capsule every 12 hrs., to keep her from being scared or to sedate her. I found another bottle that was prescribed for a cat that weighed at least 13 lbs., the dose was 1/4 of a 100 mg., capsule every 12 hrs. Neither of these kitties was given a dose any where near what Panic was given. I guess you cannot always trust the people in control. I am so sorry for your loss, this should not have happened.

 

I will absolutely lose it if they call me back and try to blame it on her diabetes. Both my vet and the one that overdosed her tried to tell me she was unregulated based on her fructosamine when I initially brought her in over the pancreatitis. The FRU test said 800 which is outrageous but my vet darn well knows she was regulated because I sent her SS every week.

 

My cat Buddy is unregulated because he has chronic pancreatitis, at times he will shoot up to 500 or more, however his dose come back down. Buddy, has been to the vet to many times to count for pancreatitis and he has never been given gabapetin. If the vet clinic did not have any pain meds on hand it would seem that could have written a script for something, even if it would have been Tramadol, that is a pain medicine that a cat could take. I don't understand what being unregulated would have to do with respiratory failure and hypotherima. It would seem that to be suffering from hypotherima one would be having a low BG rather than a high BG.

 

I am hoping they realize that too. I asked for gabapentin because it was recommended to ask for it on the board here since my vet said she didn't have any oral bupe. I will just have to see what they have to say.

 

I am sorry if I offended anyone, just really hate to see the loss of such a Beautiful girl.

 

I’m sorry any of us have to go through this. Thinking of you & praying your heart will mend soon. I still miss my BGK so much

 

It's been a week now and they haven't gotten back with me... just wondering if I should call the local Banfield and ask or just go right back to their corporate office.

 

Where did you file the report? I'd follow up with them, first, then go from there.

 

I called the hospital directly the first time and spoke with a secretary, but the next day I filed the official report with corporate since I had a feeling the message wouldn't get passed on. I only heard from the head manager after I reported it officially and she said last Friday she'd get back with me this week after talking with the vet there and calling my personal vet. Nothing since.

 

Sounds to me like they are getting their "ducks in a row"

 

Hmmmm..... I might give it until Monday (she has a little more time to make the "this week" promise good), and I guess you do have to allow for the general chaos-ness of the virus situation making it harder to do things like get in touch with other vets.

But every day that went by would raise the bar she would have to clear to convince me that they were taking it seriously, so... tick-tock!

 

That's what I was thinking, so they can have their official week. I was thinking about going to corporate directly again because the hospital can always be "too busy" to take calls and a corporate call can't be ignored. I just don't want to come off as pushy but ... I expect an answer.

 

Is there anything you are trying to do or want from them that could possibly have a time limit? Like, an external deadline where you need to file a complaint with a state board by a certain date after the event (I know nothing at all about whether such a thing is even a thing, just throwing it out randomly). Again, they could legitimately be swamped, but if they are really trying to "wait you out", it's helpful to know whether there's an external reason and not just them hoping you go away.