Hi and thanks for reading this. My 14 year old Noodle was diagnosed with severe IBD two months ago (ultrasound showed severe inflammation and one area of thickening and loss of layers / endoscopy and biopsy confirmed).
There is still a question mark over whether it’s SCL but at the time of biopsy there were no tumors or lesions so the vet took “strategically placed” samples - these came back negative for cancer but the specialist said we may have just not taken them from the right place.
Her symptoms were severe vomiting after every meal, nausea, inappetance and weight loss. The decision was taken to err on the side of IBD and give her Prednisolone / 5mg x twice a day. Since being on Pred she has only vomited once (29 days) she has regained 80% of the weight she lost and thank god has shown no other clinical symptoms.
HOWEVER - since being on the Pred her behaviour and demeanour have gone downhill. She is no longer interested in anything or anyone. She used to be a chatty, cuddly, attention seeking cat who would trot around the house and never leave you alone.
Now and for the past 4 weeks she just lays on her side stretched out, chin on the ground, eyes open but half mast and just doesn’t move except for mealtimes.
Nothing makes a difference. I noticed she has these tummy spasms and what seemed like little burps so have started giving her Famotidine twice a day, and today saw her licking her lips again a lot so just gave her some Cerenia (pill). She’s back to laying sprawled and unmoving/unresponsive.
Could this be the effect of the Pred? Or is this more likely to be the IBD? 4 weeks of this with no change (except no vomiting) doesn’t feel like we’ve got a handle on this and my vet just keeps telling me “it’s normal”.
Does anyone have a similar experience of this with Pred? Or have you been in this situation before and needed to add in the chemo to see a real change.
I’m seeing the specialist on Wednesday to discuss but I’m just seeking others experience to try and help me understand what I am seeing and what questions to ask.
FYI - she was tested for Pancreatitis (IDEXX) and came back clear - also her B12 is normal so they won’t give her that to perk her up (and so far she doesn’t have diarrhoea).
Any thoughts, advice, experience welcome as I feel like I’ve turned into an anxious wreck worried to leave the house. And I hate that this is now her quality of life. It makes me question whether I should even be putting her through this but I just cannot bear to lose her.
Anyway sorry for the epic post but would really appreciate any words of wisdom.
Thank you.
There is still a question mark over whether it’s SCL but at the time of biopsy there were no tumors or lesions so the vet took “strategically placed” samples - these came back negative for cancer but the specialist said we may have just not taken them from the right place.
Her symptoms were severe vomiting after every meal, nausea, inappetance and weight loss. The decision was taken to err on the side of IBD and give her Prednisolone / 5mg x twice a day. Since being on Pred she has only vomited once (29 days) she has regained 80% of the weight she lost and thank god has shown no other clinical symptoms.
HOWEVER - since being on the Pred her behaviour and demeanour have gone downhill. She is no longer interested in anything or anyone. She used to be a chatty, cuddly, attention seeking cat who would trot around the house and never leave you alone.
Now and for the past 4 weeks she just lays on her side stretched out, chin on the ground, eyes open but half mast and just doesn’t move except for mealtimes.
Nothing makes a difference. I noticed she has these tummy spasms and what seemed like little burps so have started giving her Famotidine twice a day, and today saw her licking her lips again a lot so just gave her some Cerenia (pill). She’s back to laying sprawled and unmoving/unresponsive.
Could this be the effect of the Pred? Or is this more likely to be the IBD? 4 weeks of this with no change (except no vomiting) doesn’t feel like we’ve got a handle on this and my vet just keeps telling me “it’s normal”.
Does anyone have a similar experience of this with Pred? Or have you been in this situation before and needed to add in the chemo to see a real change.
I’m seeing the specialist on Wednesday to discuss but I’m just seeking others experience to try and help me understand what I am seeing and what questions to ask.
FYI - she was tested for Pancreatitis (IDEXX) and came back clear - also her B12 is normal so they won’t give her that to perk her up (and so far she doesn’t have diarrhoea).
Any thoughts, advice, experience welcome as I feel like I’ve turned into an anxious wreck worried to leave the house. And I hate that this is now her quality of life. It makes me question whether I should even be putting her through this but I just cannot bear to lose her.
Anyway sorry for the epic post but would really appreciate any words of wisdom.
Thank you.
