Won't Eat - End Of My Rope

[Stinky15]

Intestinal bacteria make cobalamine. The vet probably thinks he has bacterial overgrowth in his gut and is treating that with the antibiotic. Not sure what the prednisone is for. Does the vet still think Stinky has IBD?

I hope he starts eating well soon. Let us know what happens.

As an aside, cats should get prednisolone, not prednisone. Prednisone is the precursor, prednisolone the active drug. People covert prednisone to prednisolone well; cats do not.

The Vet has never mentioned the IBD and he could have said prednisolone, not prednisone when he called. This is the first bad test result he has been able to find.

 

[Stinky15]

Intestinal bacteria make cobalamine. The vet probably thinks he has bacterial overgrowth in his gut and is treating that with the antibiotic. Not sure what the prednisone is for. Does the vet still think Stinky has IBD?

I hope he starts eating well soon. Let us know what happens.

As an aside, cats should get prednisolone, not prednisone. Prednisone is the precursor, prednisolone the active drug. People covert prednisone to prednisolone well; cats do not.

The Vet has never mentioned IBD, I did because from what I read IBD cats have low Cobalamin levels. He may have said prednisolone and I misheard it. I'll find out in a bit when I go pick them up. Thanks!

 

[Hairlesswonders]

Predisone and Predisolone are steroids. One kills bacteria (such as Bartonella - from ticks) and one reduces the swelling of the intestinal walls in IBD. My girl had both...She wasnt a picky eater, but she had BAD RUNS (couldnt hold herself if she jumped).
A course later (4 weeks) - she was fine...

Low levels of cobalamin (vitamin B12 / Folic Acid) are due to issues with a smaller intestine.
High levels of cobalamin are elevated due to an underlying cause - please speak to your vet (if you hadnt already done) to perform the following:
Liver Function
Kidney Function
Pancreas
Full Blood Count - you need to look at white cells, lukomenoids

Also, have you tried Forti Flora - it is a probiotic thats like crack to cats! You sprinkle 1/4 of a sachet onto his food and watch him dive in!

 

[Stinky15]

Predisone and Predisolone are steroids. One kills bacteria (such as Bartonella - from ticks) and one reduces the swelling of the intestinal walls in IBD. My girl had both...She wasnt a picky eater, but she had BAD RUNS (couldnt hold herself if she jumped).
A course later (4 weeks) - she was fine...

Low levels of cobalamin (vitamin B12 / Folic Acid) are due to issues with a smaller intestine.
High levels of cobalamin are elevated due to an underlying cause - please speak to your vet (if you hadnt already done) to perform the following:
Liver Function
Kidney Function
Pancreas
Full Blood Count - you need to look at white cells, lukomenoids

Also, have you tried Forti Flora - it is a probiotic thats like crack to cats! You sprinkle 1/4 of a sachet onto his food and watch him dive in!

All other tests have come up normal, this was the first abnormal and he has no idea why. We are trying Metronidazole 2x a day for 10 days. Vet said next step would be a biopsy of the intestine. I have read about all the possible side effects of this drug. While I am not real excited about using it I still have faith in my Vet. His tech. didn't tell me why he changed his mind on the Steroids.

 

[foxxycat]

Sometimes steroids help appetite and reduce swelling..hows the kitty doing now? Keep trying baby foods! I have to read up on that...never heard of that test.

 

[Stinky15]

Sometimes steroids help appetite and reduce swelling..hows the kitty doing now? Keep trying baby foods! I have to read up on that...never heard of that test.

The Vet decidied against the steroid. Stinky has been on the Antibioyic almost 24 hours. I see no bad side effects other than maybe sleeping a little more. He is eating just not a lot. He will eat cooked chicken or chicken baby food almost anytime. I've got all my fingers crossed.
The test was labelled as Feline GI panel. I don't have a copy of the results yet as the Vet. called me.

 

[Stinky15]

Just a quick update on Stinky. I have seen no side effects so far. He doesn't eat a lot at one time but he is eating. He is maintaining his weight fine so far so he must be getting enough food. I'm not sure but he may be a little more active. I am still hopeful this antibiotic does the trick. Thanks everyone for the comments and encouragement, this is a great web site.

 

[Tabbytastic]

Just a quick update on Stinky. I have seen no side effects so far. He doesn't eat a lot at one time but he is eating. He is maintaining his weight fine so far so he must be getting enough food. I'm not sure but he may be a little more active. I am still hopeful this antibiotic does the trick. Thanks everyone for the comments and encouragement, this is a great web site.

I’m so pleased to hear this. Fingers crossed that he continues to improve with this antibiotic, begins to feel more hungry and becomes more active x

 

[Stinky15]

Stinky wouldn't eat anything this morning. It's the beginning of day 3 of his antibiotics. He barely ate anything yesterday PM but finally ate some kibble. I decided this morning to go ahead and give him his appetite stimulant early (about 10 hrs.) Hopefully it continues to get him to eat and the antibiotic is working.

Edit-
Well it still works, 20 minutes later he is eating kibble and some canned meat, plus a jar of chicken baby food.

 

[Tabbytastic]

Stinky wouldn't eat anything this morning. It's the beginning of day 3 of his antibiotics. He barely ate anything yesterday PM but finally ate some kibble. I decided this morning to go ahead and give him his appetite stimulant early (about 10 hrs.) Hopefully it continues to get him to eat and the antibiotic is working.

Edit-
Well it still works, 20 minutes later he is eating kibble and some canned meat, plus a jar of chicken baby food.

Yay!!

 

[foxxycat]

Keep eating Mr. Stinky!!!! that meat baby food is a life saver!!

 

[Stinky15]

I thought all day he was feeling bad because he was just sleeping and laying around. I brought him in from the heat and he slept most of the day on my bed. Finally about 4 or 5 he got up but wouldn't eat any cat meat. Finally ate some kibble and more baby food, then went back out. I managed to get him to eat a few treats and more kibble+ water. Just now I went out, he was on front porch laying around, got him to eat more kibble and as I was watching him he meandered off across the street to potty in neighbors yard and headed down the street towards peoples house who like him. I think I get overly concerned about what's going on with him and as long as he gets up and is doing these things he may be okay. This is such an emotional roller coaster, I hope we can make it till the Vet. call wed. or Thursday. I told myself when my last cat passed that I wouldn't get attached to another, yet here I am....

 

[foxxycat]

If its warm out he may just want to lay around and be lazy. And sounds like he's doing cat things....leep us posted.

 

[Stinky15]

If its warm out he may just want to lay around and be lazy. And sounds like he's doing cat things....leep us posted.

He woke me up this morning as usual but he refused everything. I let him out and in a while I heard cats' screeching. He's a lover not a fighter but the Gray kitty that comes around some times crosses his red line sometimes. I tried giving him food on the porch and he still wouldn't eat or accept treats. About an hour later as I was backing out to leave I saw him coming across the yard so I stopped and got out. He came to me so I carried him in the house and set him in front of his kibble dish and he sniffed and took a bite. I left him eating. He probably only ate a tablespoon or so. When I came back home from my errands I stopped and got some cheap Friskies. He was in the house when I got home so I tried to get him to eat the Friskies but he walked away. Wouldn't eat fried chicken either. He was laying on the floor so I set the dish in front of him, he sniffed it and decided he would eat some! He ate only a little, like an ounce or so. I'll be harassing him with food throughout the day so hopefully he continues. It's like the App. stimulants aren't working as well. If he keeps this up I may call Vet. to see if there is something else.

 

[Tabbytastic]

He woke me up this morning as usual but he refused everything. I let him out and in a while I heard cats' screeching. He's a lover not a fighter but the Gray kitty that comes around some times crosses his red line sometimes. I tried giving him food on the porch and he still wouldn't eat or accept treats. About an hour later as I was backing out to leave I saw him coming across the yard so I stopped and got out. He came to me so I carried him in the house and set him in front of his kibble dish and he sniffed and took a bite. I left him eating. He probably only ate a tablespoon or so. When I came back home from my errands I stopped and got some cheap Friskies. He was in the house when I got home so I tried to get him to eat the Friskies but he walked away. Wouldn't eat fried chicken either. He was laying on the floor so I set the dish in front of him, he sniffed it and decided he would eat some! He ate only a little, like an ounce or so. I'll be harassing him with food throughout the day so hopefully he continues. It's like the App. stimulants aren't working as well. If he keeps this up I may call Vet. to see if there is something else.

I know exactly where you are coming from. It really is such an emotional roller coaster when one day your cat will eat fairly well and seem normal, the next they don’t want to know; you find yourself almost watching their every move because you want reassurance that they are behaving normally. If it is a bit hot out, he may just be feeling too hot and rather lethargic.

You are doing such a great job, hang in there and I hope the vet will have answers for you soon. X

 

[Stinky15]

I know exactly where you are coming from. It really is such an emotional roller coaster when one day your cat will eat fairly well and seem normal, the next they don’t want to know; you find yourself almost watching their every move because you want reassurance that they are behaving normally. If it is a bit hot out, he may just be feeling too hot and rather lethargic.

You are doing such a great job, hang in there and I hope the vet will have answers for you soon. X

Well I'm a little encouraged. He slept in the house most of the afternoon. I woke him up about an hour ago and immediately pilled him with his antibiotic. I gave him a little of some Chicken I cooked at noon and he ate it. He wouldn't touch kibble or canned cat meat and went outside. I took Canned baby chicken, a few treats and more chicken to him and he ate most of the chicken and almost all the baby food. While this isn't a long term diet at least he ate something.

 

[Stinky15]

Now I'm confused. He wouldn't eat this morning, no kibble, cat meat, baby food or cooked chicken. 30 mins. later I went outside on front porch where he was and he ate a few bites of kibble and several pieces of cooked chicken. I had decided I was going to skip his next antibiotic dose and call Vet. this morning. About an hour later he comes in the house and is running around being playful. He even climbed on his cat tree and played with me a little. So I decided I would skip calling the Vet. and I went ahead and gave him his dose of antibiotic. He isn't losing weight, in fact he has gained just a bit from day b4 yesterday. Sometimes its hard to weigh him when he won't be still. I would say I'm encouraged but at this point I am mostly confused. The Vet. told me to call him after a week of the antibiotic so that is 2 more days I believe.

Well as I was getting ready to leave I found a dose of his antibiotic on bathroom floor. Not sure if it is from last night or this morning so I guess he gets to skip a dose.

 

[mikameek]

I have struggled so hard with getting my cat to eat. She was a nibbler even before she got sick and I could never free feed her because we have a piggy in the apartment that will steal all the other cats food and human food too!

I have to sit with Mika, stir up the food I get her (a mousse wet food because she licks wet food instead of taking chunks to eat), and keep putting it in front of her. When she refuses it more than 3 times, I give her a 20 minute break and go back at it till she finishes all of her food. It may take an hour but otherwise she'll ignore her food till it's all dry, crusty and probably teeming with bacteria from sitting out anyway.

I don't have her on dry food really because she wont touch it. Have you considered giving him a mousse type of food to see if he'll eat that like the baby food?

 

[foxxycat]

I suggest calling the vet and ask to get medication for nausea. Cerenia is a good one. Pancreatitis causes nausea. Its not unusual for this to happen. Also ask about peppcid AC as well. Both combined really helps and ask for pain medication as this is very painful.

Have you done sub fluids since the other day? I really think you need a pill popper.


Also

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I5TPXRM/?tag=&tag=thecatsite


Let me find the video to use. The pepcid is bitter and so is cerenia. Also you can put antibiotic inside. I use a syringe of water first give a few sips then put pill in popper coat the end sticking out with a touch of butter. Sit kitty on couch or other nonslip surface facing away from you and you use one hand to put finger on side of mouth then lift head back towards you to help jaw fall open and follow after with more water in syringe. I personally face cat towards me. She only likes her left side mouth touched so thats thw side i slide my finger into crease of mouth and gently grab top jaw and pull upwards. This causes mouth to relax more but my cat is very easy to pill...let me find that video...

 

[foxxycat]

Found the video

I do it a bit differently but concept is same