Storm's Not Feeling Well-Update 1-23-09

**Catlady711** · 01-19-2009, 06:23 PM

I hope Storm gets to feeling better very soon. Let us know what the vet says.

**krazyaboutkatz** · 01-19-2009, 11:07 PM

Thanks for all of your nice replies.

Storm was such a good boy today. The vet techs loved him and thought he was a very handsome boy.

One vet tech held him while the other one took some blood and he was so good that they gave him some baby food. He loved it.

The vet used an ultra sound machine to help her guide a needle into Storm's bladder for a urinalysis and she was able to get plenty of urine without any problems. Storm just laid back and was such a good boy.

I waited about 15-20 minutes to find out his urinalysis results and they were normal.

The vet called me this afternoon at work and said that his blood work is also normal and looks great.

The last few times that he had blood work done his calcium level was above the normal range and now she said that it's still a bit high but it's the high end of the normal range so it's improved.

He does have some gingivitis but it didn't seem bad enough to stop him from eating. We both now think that it's the generic prozac that he's on that's causing him to be more lethargic and to decrease his appetite. She said that some of the side effects can be anorexia and lethargy. He's been taking 1/4 of a tablet for a little over 6 weeks now. Starr is also taking this amount but he's also on pred so his appetite is fine.

Now I'm going to try weaning Storm off of the prozac to see if this will help improve his energy level and appetite. If he still doesn't improve then it still might be his teeth and we'll try giving him some pain meds to see if this helps. He just had a dental cleaning in May so we both don't really think that this is the cause. Please send Storm some positive vibes. I sure hope that the prozac is causing this so he can be his normal self again. I guess I'll just have to live with his grumpiness from now on. Thanks again.

Tonight he was able to eat some of his canned food and then later he had a good long drink out of his water bowl. I hope this means he's on the road to recovery.

**Catty1** · 01-20-2009, 09:29 AM

Is there a different med that you could try? Medusa is a big fan of Clomicalm - it doesn't zone her kitties out.

I also use a "Feliway Collar" - Oscar wears a very stretchy collar, and I shake the bottle of Feliway and put a squirt into it in the morning. Storm might need three squirts a day.

My vet told me the patent has come off Feliway, so it's almost half the price it used to be!

Or - maybe once he is weaned off the Prozac, he will have the habit of being calmer.

Glad he was so good at the vet - what a sucky boy!

**Randi** · 01-20-2009, 10:26 AM

Thanks for your update. It's great news that his bloodwork and urinalysis tests are within normal.

And what a good boy he was!

I hope his teeth aren't bothering him and that he will continue to eat and drink. Hopefully, weaning him off the Prozac will help, too!

Fister and I are sending lots of positive thoughts, kisses and purrs.

**wolflady** · 01-20-2009, 11:29 AM

Oh, I'm so glad his tests came back normal. Maybe he was just under the weather for a few days. I hope he continues to improve! Give him some kisses for me!

**Catlady711** · 01-20-2009, 11:54 AM

Glad to hear things came back normal on the tests!

Hopefully lowering or changing meds will fix the problem and never bother you guys again.

**jazzcat** · 01-20-2009, 01:33 PM

I am glad to hear the tests were normal. Interesting how the meds affect each cat differently, Rocky has a ravenous appetite on the generic Prozac. He's gotten fat and I've had to reduce his portions which isn't helping. He is lazy but he wants to eat all the time. I hate that I have to drug him but it's better than the peeing alternative. He's also much happier with the other cats.

Please keep us updated on the weaning and how Storm does. I sure hope his appetite comes back quickly. Maybe just a lesser dose is all he needs.

**weluvcats** · 01-20-2009, 08:12 PM

I'm glad to hear that Storms' tests came out well. Isn't it funny how different animals (and people) react differently to the same meds? Hopefully once he's off the Prozac, he'll be back to normal. Fingers crossed!

Hugs and prayers!!

Judy

**funny felines** · 01-24-2009, 06:36 PM

krazy about kats---
again it seems we have cats with similar problems! prayers that your cat gets well soon!! I just posted then read your post..

**Barbara** · 01-25-2009, 11:38 AM

I'm glad to hear Storm is better under his prozac treatment

**krazyaboutkatz** · 01-20-2009, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by Catty1

Is there a different med that you could try? Medusa is a big fan of Clomicalm - it doesn't zone her kitties out.

I also use a "Feliway Collar" - Oscar wears a very stretchy collar, and I shake the bottle of Feliway and put a squirt into it in the morning. Storm might need three squirts a day.

My vet told me the patent has come off Feliway, so it's almost half the price it used to be!

Or - maybe once he is weaned off the Prozac, he will have the habit of being calmer.

Glad he was so good at the vet - what a sucky boy!

Clomicalm was the first drug that I tried on Storm and it made him so sleepy that this is all he wanted to do all day. Later on it was wearing off and he was both sleepy and grumpy. I also tried spraying his collar with Feliway but it never helped at all.

The best thing that helped him was when he was on the Calm Spirit which is an herbal calming pill. After a while though it seemed to not work as well for him. I still have plenty of these herbal pills so I may start giving them to him again to see if they'll help.

Now I'm giving him his generic prozac every other day for 1 week and then I was told to give it to him every 2 days and then stop unless my vet tells me differently. Also it'll take a good 2 weeks for it to get out of his system so I won't know the true Storm again for a while.

Storm's been eating much better but he still wants to sleep a lot. I'll continue to give the prozac to Starr because he gets easily stressed out and I don't want him pooping outside of the box again. Thanks again for all of your nice responses. Storm sure feels loved here.

**carole** · 01-21-2009, 02:36 AM

Gosh Storm is every Vet's dream kitty, what a brave boy he is, i am happy his bloods etc are normal, always a good sign, i do hope he improves with his appetite and energy levels, are there any alternative medicines suitable for kitties that might work as well as prozac? just curious, all fingers and paws crossed Storm starts to feel his old self again and soon. HUGS.