> Hey there, here's my experience FYI:
> Last year around memorial day, my cat Fritz wouldn't eat either and wa
> vomiting foam. Rushed him to the vet, the result, hepatitis.
> He was put on amoxicillan, then a few weeks later prednisolone an
> metronidazole.
> He only got marginally better, and had an ultrasound, needle biopsy
> few months later. I was scared I would lose him because he was 18 year
> old at the time.
> He got through the surgery just fine, albeit with funny looking bal
> droopy stomach, and the results showed no enlargement of the liver an
> generally inconclusive. Chronic Mild Inflammation. We are working unde
> the assumption that he has cholagial hepatitis. I did get his teet
> cleaned up in October in case all the mouth bactieria was contributing
> I was scared again he would just die when knocked out but again he mad
> it through just fine.
> He was vomiting liquids every morning like clockwork around 5:30 am.
> was thinking for a long time this was old age, or the result of live
> inflammation, but turns out it was stomach acid. This has since bee
> almost completely eliminated by slippery elm powder and small sliver
> of Pepcid AC (never Pepcid complete, has harmful stuff)
> Well, to make a long story short, it has to be managed til he dies. Al
> the vets have not been optimistic that he can go into remission. Not a
> his age.
> He still gets Prednisolone, 5 mg every other day to keep th
> inflammation down, and the Metronidazole and Amoxidrops keep bacteri
> at bay. When I tried to wean him off those meds the result was a
> opportunistic infection that messed up his voice and ruined hi
> appetite until a week of clavamox and reintroduction of the meds fixe
> him up, but it took weeks. This was in March of this year.
> He is now anemic from lowered kidney function (i've been giving hi
> sub-q's at home for a few months now) and chronic inflammation, so soo
> we will be trying Epogen to see if that helps him. His Hematocrit ha
> dropped to 20, should be 29-38 or so. He's gotten a bit wobbly an
> lowered energy.
> His kidney values continue to be high (around the 500's) but his BU
> Creat have almost normalized since hydrating him.
> The vet says his condition is part of a common triad syndrome tha
> usually goes along with Irriitable Bowel Syndrome (which he did hav
> around age 9 but which we thought was gone, good diet made symptom
> disappear)
> The vet says the immune system MUST be suppressed with the Pred to kee
> his liver from being destroyed. She thinks the inflammation is th
> result of a faulty immune system.
> He has lost weight, used to be a 9 or 10 lb cat, but in the last fe
> years got down to 7.3 at time of diagnosis, then over the last year i
> down to 5lbs.
> It's very heartbreaking, I've been depressed, sleepless and found
> counselor.
> The weight loss is the hardest, he is so bony. They think at this poin
> he only has a few more months, but is a trooper. He's not tha
> jaundiced, only slightly pale yellow, not in pain, and not nauseaus.
>
> Things I have learned in managing his disease:
>
> Higher doses of Pred have helped his appetite emmensely
>
> Actigall or Urisidiol very good for keeping the bile flowing & bil
> ducts cleaned out. Protects against bacteria all jammed up in there
> Ask your vet about that one.
>
> Denosyl can make him nauseaus & inappetance, so I use sparingly
> Denosyl MUST be given with a little syringed water to wash it down o
> it sticks in the throat & irritates it.
>
> I give the metronidazole at night since it's bitter & can mak
> nauseaus, so why not let him sleep through that.
>
> Combining all pills in a gelcap is VERY helpful, we've got the routin
> down to 2 gelcaps a day, morning & night. I give with syringed foo
> since that washes down the pill.
>
> A really good small shooter syringe works best for feeding. Not th
> dropper kinds. The nozzle can be snipped off to suck the food u
> better. I have a 3cc shooter, it takes about 10-15 syringes to feed
> decent size meal. Syringes must be thrown out often to prevent
> bacteria. I go slow while I'm doing other things, a syringe every few
> minutes snuck in the side of his mouth. He doesn't even dribble it
> anymore, and doesn't hide or dread being fed. Patience and getting into
> a routine are a must. I can even feed him on my bed or futon & don't
> even have to trap him in the bathroom anymore.
>
> One pinch slippery elm powder added to each meal keeps digestion moving
> along (works on constipation as well as diahrrea)
> A constipated cat is NOT happy.
>
> I must add Lixotinic & liquid B vit to each meal or anemia worsens. I
> hear Pettinic also good.
>
> Blood pressure in old cats MUST be monitored. His was 280 in Feb so
> he's on Norvasc & Benezapril. Had we not caught that, he could have
> gone BLIND from retinal detachment. I knew nothing about this til it
> came up.
> Lowered kidney function can cause high BP.
> Fritz was howling in the mornings & very hypertensive til BP under
> control, now he doesn't howl & is much calmer.
>
> Websites like FelineCRF have been very helpful in helping me figure out
> how to handle all the symptoms & manage the disease. Very helpful people
> on the forums there.
>
> It has been very hard & depressing, I've had him 19 years 7 months so
> every week is a gift. He is very thin & tired but still gets lots of
> enjoyment out of life, loves his yogurt treat & the occasional bite of
> salmon. He eats some on his own, his appetite has been better since
> upping the pred. He loves Pet Guard food, I always give wet since dry
> makes him barf. Overall his life quality is very good but he is on the
> decline & it's so hard. I expect to have him a few more months, maybe
> even til the end of the year, but I do cherish every moment. It has
> helped me to accept the condition instead of trying to cure him, for a
> long time I was doing so much research & trying everything on him, but
> at this point, it's just being managed & he is comfortable. But
> everything I've researched indicates keeping on the Pred, Metron, and
> Amox VERY important.
>
> My heart goes out to you, maybe your cat is young enough for a
> remission. With careful diet maybe that's possible. Please continue to
> research & try different diets & supplements, and by all means watch
> out for Anemia & Blood pressure! Also diabetes if his Pancreas is
> affected.
>
> Purrs, hugs & best of luck:
> madsongstress