My cat has EPI, not eating. Should I discuss pain meds with my vet?

Yes she should. Low fat diet ideally should be provided as a regular diet. I would strongly suggest to have her checked by your veterinarian as well as chronic administration of steroids could be potentially the cause of persistent vomiting. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Pancreatitis rarely completely resolve, it can be managed (food is the most important part of the treatment) and your cat might often have relapses such as this one, every time he does he will need similar treatment, in cats i find pain killers important with pancreatitis as well as anti nausea drugs such as cerenia.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sage. I'm sorry to hear about his ongoing issues with pancreatitis. Continue giving the fluids as you do not want him to become dehydrated. I typically include pain medication as well as an anti-nausea medication in my treatment plan. Pancreatitis can cause abdominal pain and he may not be eating due to nausea. It is also a good idea to have his cobalamin (vitamin B12) level measured in his blood. If this is cost prohibitive, most veterinarians will give an injection of this vitamin. It can help a lot. I hope these options help Sage. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry he was diagnosed with this tumor. This is unfortunately a very aggressive cancer. If he is going to just be on palliative care at this point then the focus would be more on making sure that he is comfortable and eating and feeling well. Prednisolone is a good idea. Another medication that just came out in the market is Entyce which is an appetite stimulant that I have been using in cancer patients which may improve his appetite. At this point you can feed him whatever he prefers though something that is tasty and they tend to like is canned tuna so you can try that. The Entyce has worked great for my cancer patients so far and he may have a better appetite afterwards. Also, an anti-nausea medication like ondansetron. Your veterinarian could prescribe these if that would be ok with his medical history. Good luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry that Angel has been so sick! Usually the need for pancreatic enzyme supplementation is based on blood work. Usually the TLI (a pancreatic enzyme) is low. Pancreatic enzyme are used to treat exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Which can result from chronic pancreatitis as can Diabetes. Use in dogs and cats is considered off label, so you would have to discuss the use in Angel with a Vet that has examined her. Cats reportedly hate the taste but may accept the powder if mixed with fish/tuna oil and then thoroughly mixed with a canned food. If using solid dosage forms (enteric-coated tablets or compounded capsules made from powder or crushed tablets) be certain that immediately after dosing, water or food is consumed to reduce the risk for esophageal damage. You may also want to consider a probiotic, like Purina Fortiflora. I hope this helps and I wish you and Angel the best!

Hello. I am so sorry for your worries with Maggie. There are other gastrointestinal diets for cats, like those made by Hill's & Purina that you can try. She may like a wet vs a dry diet, too. But the important thing is just to keep her eating. Cats tolerate dietary fats better than dogs, so while she recovers, you might even talk to your vet about introducing her to a hydrolyzed protein diet ( also used for pets with food sensitivities ) as this is highly digestible, too. As for asking about Mirataz, definitely do ask as this it can help as an antiemetic & appetite stimulant. I hope Maggie is feeling better soon & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. It sounds as though Jimmy may be dealing with discomfort / pain. I would recommend adding in a pain medication to see if this helps increase his appetite. If he has dental disease and if there is an infection in his mouth, this could also be leading to the decreased food intake. If there is a dental infection, then an antibiotic injection such as Convenia may help as well. I would recommend having him examined by a veterinarian to discuss these options. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.