Pepper Threw Up Blood & May Be Much Sicker Than I Relalized

Oh, this is all so hard for you both, poor Pepper and poor you. :( Keeping you both in my prayers and thoughts, and sending lots of love and hugs.

Chris

Oh Pepper, I sure hope this is just a symptom and will clear up soon - although if this is the culprit of this whole thing, that would be ok too as long as they know what it is and it's something treatable. Be a good boy and take all your meds, eat all your food and snuggle with your mommy when you get a chance. :)

Poor Pepper! You sure are having to deal with a lot aren't you, sweet boy? And your mommy, having all this stress going on. :(

I pray that the vet can figure out what's causing this and get you all fixed up.

I think its time for another prayer...

Dear Lord,

Would you please help Pepper and his mommy feel better, both physically and emotionally? They sure are having a hard time, and poor Pepper isn't feeling well.

Please be with the doctors to help determine for good, what is wrong and help them to know how to fix this little angel.

Thank you my Lord.

In Jesus' name.

Amen

Nice one Kelly - Amen to that.

Come on Pepper {{{{Hugs}}}} to you and your Meowmie xxx

Lynne

Dear Tracey... My kitty Mr. B (a.k.a. Buddy) was just diagnosed with diabetes two weeks ago! His blood sugar was 660 (normal high 120) He had been drinking so much and using the litter box 4-5 times per hr. the last day before taking him to the vet. We're on Lente insulin (longer lasting) 4 units 2x daily and have been going for glucose testing every other day. He is also on Purina DM (diabetic management) and of course, monitioring his fluid intake and urine output. Next week he goes in for a 12 hr. glucose "curve" to deterine his sugar highs and lows on his current dose. Have they mentined home glucose monitoring to you?? Even though I'm a nurse, this really threw me for a loop and had my head spinning; not exactly the same as treating a human diabetic! There's a great feline diabetes website/info.center/message board that's I'll post the address for later. It was a great help to me. I'm so glad they finally diagnosed Pepper; hopefully it is only a temporary condition. Try not to worry. Even if he is ulitimatley diagnosed with feline diabetes, it is very manageable and many kitties live many happy years, regulated with insulin. I'll be keeping an eye out for your updates and please PM me if you'd like. Love and hugs to you and Pepper from Sandra and "B."

Thanks again everyone for the prayers and concerns. One problem that Pepper is having is that he's not eating. If he doesn't eat then I can't give him his insulin. He's on Purina D/M dry food and ate this without any problems on Wed. I asked the vet if I should try to force feed him and he said yes. Well I tried this tonight and he ended up throwing up everything. :( He goes to the vet tomorrow for an all day glucose test. The vet thinks he might have pancreatitus and this is why his glucose level is so high. I think it was in the 300 range so it wasn't as high as cats with full blown diabetes. Hopefully when he gets his ultrasound on Monday, they'll be able to find his problem. I sure hope that whatever they find that it's treatable. I'm trying to think positive thoughts but it's very hard sometimes. He seems more alert but I know he still feels lousy. The vet did a few other tests on Pepper on Wed. and I hope he'll have the results back tomorrow. I'll give you an update as soon as I know anything.

Quote:

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Originally posted by krazyaboutkatz
The vet thinks he might have pancreatitus and this is why his glucose level is so high. I think it was in the 300 range so it wasn't as high as cats with full blown diabetes.

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Obviously things are different with cats vs. humans...but...I had severe pancreatitis twice this year. I was put in the hospital with it the second time. It seems weird to me that he is supposed to eat, when that is the exact opposite of what I was supposed to do. They would not let me eat or drink for 4 days. When you eat, it makes the pancreas start working, and that makes the pancreatitis worse. I had to have fluids through and IV only. Only when the enzyme levels when down (I was WAAAY high) was I allowed to eat...even then, it took several weeks of basically eating nothing but a liquid diet to get the levels completely down.

That is just my experience with pancreatitis, I'm sure it's different with cats....he may not have pancreatitis after all anyway. I sure hope the results for Pepper are positive, please let us know any updates! I'll keep positive thoughts for sweet Pepper!

I'm glad there's a bit of good news for you. I know Pepper's not out of the woods yet, but he's making progress and I'll be hoping that the ultrasound on Monday brings some better news.

I am so sorry that this turned out to be such a nightmare. All we want is for Pepper to be happy and healthy again. I'd be pulling my hair out by now so I think I can feel your frustration and saddness.
{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}

Poor Pepper and poor Tracey! :(

I'll keep up my prayers over here for an answer and healing.

You poor things, I'm so sorry about all this. We really want Pepper better and you happy.

Take care and know we are worrying and praying with you.

I am just catching up on this thread and I hope that the vet has good news for you and that Pepper will feel better soon. Give him a hug from me and Samantha.

{{Keeping you guys in my thoughts!}}

Here's another update on Pepper. I finally have some good news. He's not a diabetic any more. He was only a transient diabetic because of the cortizone and prednisolone. He also didn't have to stay at the vets all day. I guess it was good that he wouldn't eat for me because then the insulin could have made his glucose level too low. His temperature was 104 degrees so the vet wants me to try to take his temp this weekend when he's calm. This way we'll know how much it's elevated due to stress. He was eating today and seems much more alert. He also has a bladder infection due to the high glucose level but hopefully the antibiotics will cure that. The vet will test him about 4-5 days after he's through with his meds to make sure that the infection has cleared up. When I was giving him his meds tonight, he was really fighting me and he gagged on the antibiotic pill and this caused him to throw up. It was mainly food so this is how I know he's been eating. I was able to get his pills down again but he later threw up one of the pills. It was the carafate one which is supposed to soothe him stomach. Another one of his tests which is for the pancreas won't be back until Jan. 31st. I sure hope that the ultrasound will show something so he can be treated for whatever is causing his infection.

When Smokey the Elder had trouble 6 years ago with throwing up, the vet gave me liquid cimetidine (Tagamet). Maybe you can get a liquid stomach med for Pepper.

You be a nice cat, Pepper and let meowmie help you!

Our old cat has pancreatitis. He had to cut out all fat from his diet, and now he's fine. He eats fat free dry and wet food for seniors. Maybe that will help?

I will continue to pray for Pepper's speedy recovery! Get well soon sweetie! :)

I'm glad to hear the diabetes was only temporary - whew, one less thing to worry about. Now if the ultra-sound would just show something so you can work on making it better for him. Poor Pepper, but it sounds like he's feeling better, and now we've got two black kitties on PT with bladder infections. Makes me wonder if Tubby might be getting diabetes, or have it and that's what caused his bladder infection, but you would think the vet would have checked that when they checked his blood.....but I guess I'll call on Monday just to see what they say, and maybe do a little research to see what some of the symptoms are.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear things are looking up for Pepper. We'll continue our thoughts and prayers for him and for you, Tracey.

Come on Pepper, you can do it! :)

How is Pepper today? Real good news that the diabetes turned out to be temporary. Keeping Pepper and you in my prayers.
Love and hugs to you both.

Chris

I think that Pepper is feeling a little bit better today. :) He fighting me more and more each time I give him his pills which usually means that he's feeling better. He's still throwing up the carafate pill though which is supposed to soothe his stomach. I bought some more hairball stuff which will also help his stomach. The one I bought today has chamomile in it which should be soothing. I've never seen it before and it's called Lickables Nutritional Gel. I've seen him drinking but not eating today which may be just as well if he does have pancreatitus. Before the specialist gets to the vet on Monday, they will call me so that I may be able to be there while they are giving Pepper the ultrasound. I sure hope they'll be able to see something and that it's treatable. My roommate has pancreatitus and she said that they should be able to see it with an ultrasound. I was also able to take his temperature today and it was 101.9 degrees which is considered normal. :) I'll give you an update on Monday as soon as I know anything.

I'm glad to hear Pepper is feeling much better :) We'll keep precious Pepper in our thoughts ! :) :)

Here are a few pictures of Pepper that I took today. He has hair missing under his neck because they needed to draw blood from here and his right paw where a catheter was put in for IV fluids.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...1/fcbaa3e2.jpg
I think I'm feeling a little bit better today.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...0/fcbaa3e1.jpg
See my shaved paw. It's pretty ugly isn't it.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...2/fcbaa3e0.jpg
I'm still don't have much energy.

Poor Pepper. Sending positive energy his way. I had a cat who had acute pancreatitis at 12 years of age . We caught it in time and he was able to recover from it with a brief hospital stay and meds. Since he is being so closely monitered if this is indeed the problem I'm sure they will be able to treat it. He still looks very handsome even when not feeling well

Thanks for the update, and the pictures!:) Awww, poor Pepper does look rather worn out, but just as handsome despite the baldy bits!:) Glad to hear he is feeling a little better too. Sending prayers and postive thoughts for Mondays vet visit.

Chris

Poor Pepper, you don't look yourself yet. So sad and tired. I really hope that you can get better real soon.:( I am glad to see your wonderful face though,now I can REALLY send you a smoochie kiss.

Pepper has lost his pep, hasn't he? BUT, I think with the meds and some more food, and lots of lovin' he will be back to PEPper soon. He looks so sweet and worn out laying there. Just like with hoomans, it will take some time to get back into things. Come on Pepper, eat some more food!!!

waiting for the monday update, and wishing Pepper all the best!

Awww....poor Pepper. He really looks like he's not feeling all that well. I know how he feels though because I've pictured myself in just about exactly that same pose a couple of times when I've been sick.

I sure hope his meds are making him feel better and they find something out during his ultrasound today.

Good luck sweet Pepper, I sure hope you're feeling better soon. :)

Waiting and crossing everything....

I'm glad to hear Pepper is feeling a little better.

Still sending prayers your way, Dear Pepper!

slick
max & speckles

So sorry that I just now saw this thread. Oh sweet Pepper - hang in there baby.

My in-law's cat had pancreatits last spring, and it is definately something to take seriously. (She pulled through thanks to an excellent emergency vet in our area).

Sending good thoughts and wishes for a speedy recovery your way.

Poor sweet Pepper, you do look rather sad and tired. :( I hope they'll find the reason when they do the ultrasound, and will be able to treat it!! The medicine may take a few days to start working, but I so hope you'll get back to being your normal self again! We all love you!!

We'll be sending positive thoughts across to you, and keep all our paws and fingers crossed for you sweetie! :)

Get well soon!!

hugs and kisses from us all!

Here's an update on Pepper. He had his ultrasound late this morning. I was able to be there because the vet's office called me to let me know that the specialist was on his way. The good news is that he saw no tumors, ulcers, masses, or any kind of cancer. His stomach, kidneys, and intestines look normal. The pancreas was hidden so this means that it's not inflamed so he doesn't think that he has pancreatitus. His liver is enlarged and a brighter color than it should be. This can be due to his high glucose level he had earlier. He put a needle into his liver to draw out some cells so they can be tested. His bladder also looked normal but there were some small crystals in it. Pepper hasn't been peeing as much as he should and he may still have a bladder infection. He had another urine test done and his sample looked reddish brown which isn't normal. He also had another blood test to see if his white blood cell count is closer to normal yet. I should get these results some time tomorrow. He hasn't been eating so I'm force feeding him Hill's Prescription Diet a/d. He's also on periaction to help increase his appetite and pepcid tablets 1 twice a day and kaopectate 1tsp. 3-4 times a day to help coat his stomach. He was throwing up green stuff over the weekend which was probably bile so hopefully these things will help. The doctor is still pretty much baffled and if nothing works then I have to see an internal specialist. I sure hope that this will work. I hate to see my baby feeling so poorly. I'll post another update tomorrow when I know his test results.

Oh dear.. I'm sorry it's such a puzzler. I hope that everything works out.. you are all in my thoughts and prayers.

I am at a loss for words. NOT finding anything is always good, but not FINDING anything is so frustrating. I sure wish that Pepper would eat:(

This is SO like what my RB Smokey had 6 years ago. We did the same thing you're basically doing: gave her an antacid and feeding her tiny feedings almost like a kitten. Sometimes all you can do is treat the symptoms and hope for the best. Problems with eating can turn into an endless loop: they get off their feed, which messes up their liver, causing them to throw up, which makes them EVEN LESS wanting to eat. Anything that can break that cycle, like we did with Smokey may help.

Good luck, and {{hugz}} to you and Pepper.

It must be so tough for you to go through this and not really knowing how to help him.

I hope they find out soon .......

I'm glad you could be there for the ultrasound. I'm sure it made Pepper feel better, or was he "out" for the whole thing? I'm glad they didn't find anything serious, but then again, it would have been nice if they had found something to indicate what is causing his poor upset tummy. Hopefully his liver is ok. I know when I just took Tubby to the vet she said to make sure that he keeps eating, because if they don't eat their livers will shut down, so maybe Pepper's liver is "irritated" because he's not eating much.

Poor guy, I sure hope all the tests come out ok, but show something so you can start on the right treatment path.

Give him big hugs from me, and hugs to you too. One of the hardest things I know of is to have a sick loved one and not be able to do anything to help. And it makes no difference whatsoever that your particular loved one is a kitty, and in fact, that might make it that much worse because they just don't understand all of what's happening.

Please let us know what the test results are and any progress that Pepper shows. :)

Tracey just wondering if you got the test results yet? Poor Pepper my heart goes out to him - he looked so sad on those pics., why, why, why do they have to suffer so much?
{{{{Hugs}}}} to you both.
Lynne xxx

Poor, sweet Pepper. Those pictures make me want to come over and give him lots of hugs and kisses. Poor thing. :(

Keeping you both in my prayers for an answer soon.

Take care and know that we are here.

So poor Pepper is not out of the woods yet! We still praying for a cause. Not knowing must be heart-breaking. Here's hoping everything works out OK.

luv
slick
max & speckles