Persistent Vomiting...Support & Advice needed!

[vic23]

Hi Lilith and All,
Thanks for continuing to care

Daisy is OK - She has been on the steroids since Saturday and so far has been fine - no adverse effects, which has been good, because I have been ill with a sickness bug! She is maybe a little more hungrier, but this is nothing new with Daisy and plus I would much prefer it this way than the other way. She is still her usual self. I'm not sure whether she has lost a bit of weight around her back, but I'm also not sure whether it is just me being paranoid, as the vet said they would expect a cat with cancer to lose weight. However, I have to remind myself that this may not necessarily be a cancerous tumour.

The vet said I should start to wean her off the sickness pills this week, but I think she was assuming that I would start the steroids early last week, so I think I'm going to leave it till the weekend before I reduce her dose - that way, the steroids should have hopefully fully kicked in.

[Janey]

Really glad to hear that Daisy is doing well. One of my oldies was once on steroids for a different issue and they increased his appetite and he was also fine. Keeping everything crossed for Daisy and sending snuggles xx

[Lilith]

That sounds pretty good under the circumstances - I've been trying to remember back to when I had 2 poorly cats on steroids (over 20 years ago) and the steroids did improve their appetites. Hope this improvement continues, everything crossed here as usual, and hope you're better now yourself, all the very best x

[Mayday21]

Hi Vic good to read that Daisy has improved a tad with the vomiting. Fusses & ear scratch to her. Vivian

[vic23]

Hi All,
I needed to leave a message on her as I am very anxious atm. This is due to needing to try and wean Daisy off the anti-sickness meds from tonight. She has been on steroids for 7 days now, which seem to have been accepted fine with no side effects. The vet told me to reduce her cerenia tablet after 7 days from 1/2 to 1/4 tab. This is really troubling me, as I am terrified of the vomiting again. Hopefully the steroids would have kicked in, started to take effect and hopefully she can come off the cerenia.

The frightening thing is I wonder what the vet will say if the sickness continues after reducing the dosage. The vet asked me to call her in 2-3 weeks to give her an update. It will be 2 weeks on Monday since I spoke to her, so will probably call then. Daisy is fine in herself, playing, eating, drinking, toileting etc.

Please keep fingers, paws and tails crossed for me.

[Lilith]

I might be being gormless here, but if Daisy's on both steroids and Cerenia at the moment I take it it's ok to use both meds together (although of course I don't know about long-term) so if the sickness did start again, could she possibly start on the Cerenia again (sorry if there's something I've missed about meds.) Although I really really hope she is over the sickness now; I'm the kind of person who thinks the less meds the better, but if they have to be used...

It's very hopeful that she's so well in herself despite the illness and taking both kinds of meds - if the sickness did start again wouldn't the vet agree to at least a maintenance dose of Cerenia, or another similar drug?

But, yes, in your place I'd be going frantic, everything still crossed here and sending good vibes for a smooth transition between meds - and no more sickness!

Give Daisy a love from me, and all the very best. x

[vic23]

Hi Lilith,
The vet assures me that both drugs can be taken together. Daisy has been taking the cerenia now for 2.5 weeks. I think the theory is that the steroids are an attempt to actively reduce the cause of the vomiting (the inflammation) and in turn the vomiting should decrease or stop.

I asked whether there is any risk of her being on the cerenia for a long period of time and the vet said not really. I will question her again on this next week.

You are right - I can give her some more cerenia if the vomiting starts again, but whether this is possible for the 'long long' term (if you understand what I mean!), I don't know. One vet wouldn't even prescribe the cerenia - I think the injection is licensed for cats, but the tablets only for dogs. However, the vet that carried out the most recent investigations on Daisy said this should be Ok in reduced quantities - and the truth is there is no other solution at that stage - unless the steroids work, which I pray they do. I have to stay strong and pray for the best.

[Janey]

Keeping everything crossed for Daisy xx

[vic23]

Hi All,
Here's another Daisy update....

Daisy has been on 1/4 cerenia tablet for 4 days (5 tonight) and is OK. She has been taking the steroids for about 12 days with no obvious ill effects. I spoke to the vet today as she asked me to call to catch up on how Daisy is....she was pleased that she has been ok and told me to keep her on 1/4 tablet until the weekend and then take her off them completely and see if the steroids are working to keep the sickness at bay. She also mentioned that we could re-image her in a few weeks (depending on what happens after she is fully taken off the cerenia) and see if there are any changes. If all goes OK, the vet would look at reducing her steroid dose over time. Small steps.

[Janey]

That’s good news! it sounds like things are working well, I will be keeping everything crossed for Daisy xx

[Mayday21]

Hi Vic sounds like things are looking a tad better than a week or so ago. Fusses & ear scratch to Daisy from me & the 3 Musketeers.

[Crewella]

That does sound a bit more promising. All paws here still crossed for her, and give her a fuss from me.

[Lilith]

Paws and Shahi-tail and fingers still crossed here - she's doing well by the sound and good luck and all the very best, hugs and fusses to Daisy x

[Franlow]

Hi there,
my Burmese girl went through this early last year - she had always been a little pukey, but, it got worse as she got older. She was weaned on dry food & I used to free feed her premium dry foods. It turns out she is wheat intolerant. She has famotadene as an anti sickness tablet & was on steroids for a couple of months. I changed her diet to a premium grain free wet food - no more sickness. She is so much happier too. All my cats now have grain free & one has to have raw food as he is so wheat intolerant. Why do they put it in cat food?
Regarding cats & vets. My Maine coon goes mental at the vets. The last time he bit me quite badly & had to be sedated before the vet could examine him. I have owned him since he was 13 weeks old, he has had a lot of problems in his young age & is now big enough to really say no thanks, I don't want to
My vet is brilliant, they see him between surgeries so there are no dogs & takes off her scrubs, he is not fooled one iota. At home he is the biggest softest sweetie, at the vets a bloomin nightmare & totally out of control.
I hope Daisy is feeling better
xxx

[vic23]

Hi Franlow,
Thanks for your reply.
Daisy has been on Hills Prescription d/d for nearly 3 months now, as the vet thought it could be food intolerance. However, this lasted 4 weeks before she was regularly sick again. I just looked it up on the internet and this food doesn't contain wheat. After more recent investigation and some inflammation showing on the ultrasound, the vet has put it down to a tumour and has prescribed steroids in a hope to alleviate the symptoms. They can't say without surgery whether it is benign or malignant, but I'm not prepared to put her through surgery due to the risks and ultimately whatever they find the treatment is minimal, if possible at all.

Did you change to non-wheat food before the steroids? I'm interested to know this - The vet mentioned that the body can get in a cycle of eating, vomiting etc and a period on anti-sickness tabs may at least stop the cycle. Only time will tell.