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

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.

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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.