First Entry: April 20, 2011
This is a story about Frankie...who came out a champ. I’d like to preface this story letting everyone know, she’s alive and well, so
that you can feel assured that there is hope.
Frankie was rescued from the Santa Ana, California animal shelter on June 11, 2002. Frankie is strictly an indoor cat, spoiled,
loved & adored. She has a hearty appetite yet she's a petite 5.75lbs. She had always eaten Science Diet dry cat food but
someone once told me that there isn't enough protein in that food so I switched her to Before Grain dry cat food. Now that I think
back, she has been vomiting since about the time of the switch. She’s been on that food for maybe 2 years. She would vomit up
her food still in kibble form, and then eat it. Then it progressed into vomiting up a clear white foam, and later into just bile which
was a yellow-green color. It would happen maybe a few times per week and wasn’t always consistent. I thought she was doing it
on purpose, because maybe that day I worked late or was on the computer too much. I would ask other cat owners and they
would say their cat did the same thing, nonchalantly as if it were just a “cat thing”. So I thought nothing of it...until Frankie started
showing signs of depression. Then the vomiting was happening every day, sometimes twice per day. And that’s where it all
began.
April 4, 2011 - I took Frankie to a vet she had only visited twice in the past for her vaccinations. The vet pulled blood and urine.
He examined her teeth, her gums were bleeding and he said she needed to have her teeth cleaned and that her teeth could be
causing her to have an upset stomach. During the body exam he said that he could feel something in her stomach but suggested
that it may just be stool. Frankie was sent home with Reglan syrup (anti-nausea). $333 bill.
April 5, 2011 - The vet calls to inform me that the blood and urine results came back. Her results weren’t bad but nothing “too
exciting” as he said it. He said she just has a little GI infection and should be on antibiotics. Night one, Frankie sleeps under the
bed which she doesn’t normally do, so I know something is not right. $25 bill.
April 6, 2011 - Start Frankie on the Clavamox drops. She continues to vomit. Night two, I wake up to find her sleeping under my
dresser, which has never happened in the past 9 years. So I knew something was really wrong. My gut is telling me this vets
relaxed demeanor about a little GI infection is something more serious.
April 7, 2011 - I take Frankie to the veterinarian she had always seen since she was a kitten. I trusted this vet, I only stopped
going there because it was a distance to drive since I had moved. I provided copies of the blood and urine samples done at the
prior vet. This vet said there was nothing unusual showing. So an x-ray was done and showed what the vet described as a large
mass above her stomach. Her colon was completely empty which the vet said was very unusual. He said they should schedule an
ultrasound and at that time they would do a biopsy to determine if the mass was cancer. She was admitted into the hospital
overnight. She was on IV fluids and given Covenia, an antibiotic injection. $239 bill.
April 8, 2011 - The ultrasound results came back and showed that Frankie had an inflamed pancreas and her entire bowel was
inflamed. It wasn’t a mass, she was diagnosed with triaditis. They informed me that Frankie wasn’t eating in the hospital but that
it wasn’t unusual for cats. She was on an IV to keep her hydrated and they suggested she stay in the hospital, which I agreed.
She was given cefazolin, an antibiotic injection, B-complex injection with fluids, dextrose and an injection of Percorten.
April 9, 2011 - Frankie is released from the hospital and sent home with Carafate and 3 cans of Hill’s Prescription z/d low
allergen feline food. She's on a very strict diet, no more of her favorite Whisker Lickin's, Natural Sensations,Bonito Flake treats
or catnip. They informed me that she is allergic to something that she is eating so absolutely nothing other then the z/d food. Bill
$820.
Sent home soaking wet in her own urine. They said she refused to use the litter box once the catheter was removed. On the ride
home she was using all of her might to try to get out of the carrier, which she had never done before. So I knew she was stressed.
We arrived home at noon, and after a quick bath Frankie slept the entire day away. Then, she woke and vomited twice a profuse
amount of a dark brown liquid. And crying as she was vomiting. She then went back to bed. I didn’t want to take her back to the
vet because I knew she didn’t get any rest there, and I didn’t want to stress her out any further. I thought that rest in the comfort of
our home would be what she needed.
So I called as many 24 hour emergency vet clinics as I could to prepare for the worst. I was googling everything I could to try to
find out what I should do, what this disease is capable of doing, is it life or death, googling the medications that she was given
and so forth. And when I googled the Percorten medication, everything that came up said it was a medication for dogs. So I
began to worry that maybe she was given the wrong medication and that’s why she was sick. Now not trusting this vet, I called the
emergency clinic and they said they couldn’t understand why she would be given Percorten. My friend stressed to me that I take
Frankie to her vet, a cat only clinic, whom saved her cats life. But it was Saturday afternoon and they were already closed. And
closed on Sunday. By now my gut was telling me I needed to take Frankie to the cat only vet, praying that she can hold on for
another day and a half.
April 10, 2011 - She didn’t eat anything at all that day. But after all my googling, a lot of websites were saying that food should be
refused for up to 24-48 hours to basically give the insides a rest from vomiting. So I thought maybe it was okay, but then she
vomited twice. 7am I wake up and Frankie can’t be found anywhere, she’s hiding under the couch. How she got under there
seems nearly impossible since my couch is only about 1/2 an inch off the ground. This is crazy odd behavior so now I’m really
scared. She was extremely lethargic, visibly had lost weight, her eyes were sunken into her head and I was literally preparing for
her death. I thought I would keep her at home in peace.
I drove to the vet that hospitalized her and asked a doctor to review her chart with me. He was unavailable so the vet tech
reviewed it with me. She assured me that Frankie wasn’t in any pain, that the injections that they had given her would help relieve
the inflammation which would be the cause of the pain. I informed the vet tech that Frankie was urinating and still using her litter
box, still grooming herself and drinking water. The vet tech confirmed these were all good signs but that I should have brought her
in, that the doctor suggests I bring her back. But I saw how stressed and sick she was when she left the hospital, I
didn’t want to take her back to that horror. I asked the vet tech for a copy of her chart (so that I could take it to the cat care clinic)
but they denied me. They said they would have to get approval from the Chief of Staff and that it could take up to 1 week. I couldn’
t understand why my request was denied. Frankie slept under the bed that night. Again googling away to see what I should do,
what I could find, what I could learn. And I was blessed to have my email of concerns answered by Lisa of IBDKitties.
April 11, 2011 (day 7) - I call The Cat Care Clinic at 7am and expressed the urgency and they kindly took me right away.
Amanda Page, D.V.M. was incredibly thorough in her questions and answers. She was calm and gentle with Frankie...Frankie
was completely relaxed like she had never been at any prior vet visits. Dr. Page said that Frankie was well hydrated but that she
was in pain. Which killed me because the vet tech at the other hospital said Frankie wasn’t in any pain. She had lost weight,
barely making 5lbs now. She was given an injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphorus, Cerenia, Pepcid (famotadine) and
given a pill called Remeron (mirtazapine) to stimulate her appetite. We were instructed to stop all other medications given to us.
She was sent home with Cerenia tablets (anti-vomiting and nausea), Remeron (appetite stimulate anti-nausea), buprenorphine
transdermal (pain killer that your rub on the inside of their ear flaps) and prednisolone (steroid). On the drive home, she looked
as happy and relaxed as could be. Once home she walked out of her carrier exploring everything and ate right away. Vocal,
extremely restless and quite frankly acting high on drugs (a normal side effect from the Remeron) A TREMENDOUS noticeable
difference literally within 2 hours. Instructed to mix baby food with her Hill’s Prescription z/d. Bill? Surprisingly modest, the most
conservative of all 3 vets. Now that was the best money I’ve ever spent. Worth every single penny.
Dr. Page at The Cat Care Clinic in Orange California saved Frankie’s life. Frankie’s new nickname? “Piglet”. She's still on the
Hill's Prescription z/d canned food. Her hearty appetite is back, she has her pep back in her step and her curiosity is back,
exploring our apartment each day as if it’s a brand new mansion we just moved into. I‘m incredibly grateful for Dr. Page.
Through this experience I’ve learned, don’t try to be your own vet and diagnose your cat based on your google findings. Don’t
ignore health concerns that repeat themselves, your cat is trying to tell you something, take your pet to the vet. Follow your gut
instincts. If you can, see a cat only vet. Your pet will thank you for it.
Lastly, I’ve learned, there are still people left in this world who are kind and can offer a helping hand to a stranger. I thank Lisa for
creating IBDKitties on behalf of her Alex. Thank you for sharing Alex’s story, and I thank you for allowing me to share Frankie’s
story so we can continue helping others.
Update: May 15, 2011
This was Frankie's second check up and she lost a little bit of weight was 5.3lbs now down to 5.18lbs. So we're going back to
one full prednisolone pill per day and continuing with the other med for her cold; these will be life long meds. Use Remeron &
Cerenia as needed otherwise she's doing great.
Updated: October 23, 2011
Ever since Frankie got sick the vet put her on Prescription Hills AD but that stuff is expensive, so I was looking for alternatives.
She's doing great! I honestly think I found the culprit to all of that pancreatitis stuff, a treat called Natural Sensations, her absolute
favorite. I took her off the treats when she got sick and recently gave them to her again because she was deprived of everything
else. You would think these treats have crack in them because she literally goes wild even when I dare say the word "natural
sensations". After about 2 weeks of the treats, the vomit started again. She's not on any medicine at all, I took her off all meds
maybe a month or two back because she's been doing great and quite frankly being on the meds, made her seem lethargic.
She's only recently taken up a few bad habits after being a complete angel her whole life, that has been peeing on purses or rugs
randomly and no longer uses her favorite item...her scratching post. She's been in love with that scratching post (the same one
for 9 years mind you) and now will walk up to it, look at it, and walk away. And now chooses to scratch the sofa. She's never done
that in all the 9yrs I've had her. She bites her toenails CONSTANTLY. I mean and it's loud! She's always had her nails trimmed
since a kitten so I don't know why all of a sudden she's taken on biting her nails. I took her to the vet and they checked her for a
UTI, everything came out clean. They had me fill out a questionnaire and the vet says that it's a behavioral problem, that Frankie
is stressed or upset about something and that's why she's randomly peeing on things.
She's only done it 4 times in the past 4 months so it's not so bad, and the scratching of the sofa, it's not so bad it's the biting of
the nails that's pretty annoying. The vet suggested Feliway and that hasn't helped at all. The only thing I think it could be is her
feeling MY stress for things going on in my life in addition to the neighbors cats who climb on the roof and taunt her. Regarding
the Triaditis, she's been doing terrific!
This is a story about Frankie...who came out a champ. I’d like to preface this story letting everyone know, she’s alive and well, so
that you can feel assured that there is hope.
Frankie was rescued from the Santa Ana, California animal shelter on June 11, 2002. Frankie is strictly an indoor cat, spoiled,
loved & adored. She has a hearty appetite yet she's a petite 5.75lbs. She had always eaten Science Diet dry cat food but
someone once told me that there isn't enough protein in that food so I switched her to Before Grain dry cat food. Now that I think
back, she has been vomiting since about the time of the switch. She’s been on that food for maybe 2 years. She would vomit up
her food still in kibble form, and then eat it. Then it progressed into vomiting up a clear white foam, and later into just bile which
was a yellow-green color. It would happen maybe a few times per week and wasn’t always consistent. I thought she was doing it
on purpose, because maybe that day I worked late or was on the computer too much. I would ask other cat owners and they
would say their cat did the same thing, nonchalantly as if it were just a “cat thing”. So I thought nothing of it...until Frankie started
showing signs of depression. Then the vomiting was happening every day, sometimes twice per day. And that’s where it all
began.
April 4, 2011 - I took Frankie to a vet she had only visited twice in the past for her vaccinations. The vet pulled blood and urine.
He examined her teeth, her gums were bleeding and he said she needed to have her teeth cleaned and that her teeth could be
causing her to have an upset stomach. During the body exam he said that he could feel something in her stomach but suggested
that it may just be stool. Frankie was sent home with Reglan syrup (anti-nausea). $333 bill.
April 5, 2011 - The vet calls to inform me that the blood and urine results came back. Her results weren’t bad but nothing “too
exciting” as he said it. He said she just has a little GI infection and should be on antibiotics. Night one, Frankie sleeps under the
bed which she doesn’t normally do, so I know something is not right. $25 bill.
April 6, 2011 - Start Frankie on the Clavamox drops. She continues to vomit. Night two, I wake up to find her sleeping under my
dresser, which has never happened in the past 9 years. So I knew something was really wrong. My gut is telling me this vets
relaxed demeanor about a little GI infection is something more serious.
April 7, 2011 - I take Frankie to the veterinarian she had always seen since she was a kitten. I trusted this vet, I only stopped
going there because it was a distance to drive since I had moved. I provided copies of the blood and urine samples done at the
prior vet. This vet said there was nothing unusual showing. So an x-ray was done and showed what the vet described as a large
mass above her stomach. Her colon was completely empty which the vet said was very unusual. He said they should schedule an
ultrasound and at that time they would do a biopsy to determine if the mass was cancer. She was admitted into the hospital
overnight. She was on IV fluids and given Covenia, an antibiotic injection. $239 bill.
April 8, 2011 - The ultrasound results came back and showed that Frankie had an inflamed pancreas and her entire bowel was
inflamed. It wasn’t a mass, she was diagnosed with triaditis. They informed me that Frankie wasn’t eating in the hospital but that
it wasn’t unusual for cats. She was on an IV to keep her hydrated and they suggested she stay in the hospital, which I agreed.
She was given cefazolin, an antibiotic injection, B-complex injection with fluids, dextrose and an injection of Percorten.
April 9, 2011 - Frankie is released from the hospital and sent home with Carafate and 3 cans of Hill’s Prescription z/d low
allergen feline food. She's on a very strict diet, no more of her favorite Whisker Lickin's, Natural Sensations,Bonito Flake treats
or catnip. They informed me that she is allergic to something that she is eating so absolutely nothing other then the z/d food. Bill
$820.
Sent home soaking wet in her own urine. They said she refused to use the litter box once the catheter was removed. On the ride
home she was using all of her might to try to get out of the carrier, which she had never done before. So I knew she was stressed.
We arrived home at noon, and after a quick bath Frankie slept the entire day away. Then, she woke and vomited twice a profuse
amount of a dark brown liquid. And crying as she was vomiting. She then went back to bed. I didn’t want to take her back to the
vet because I knew she didn’t get any rest there, and I didn’t want to stress her out any further. I thought that rest in the comfort of
our home would be what she needed.
So I called as many 24 hour emergency vet clinics as I could to prepare for the worst. I was googling everything I could to try to
find out what I should do, what this disease is capable of doing, is it life or death, googling the medications that she was given
and so forth. And when I googled the Percorten medication, everything that came up said it was a medication for dogs. So I
began to worry that maybe she was given the wrong medication and that’s why she was sick. Now not trusting this vet, I called the
emergency clinic and they said they couldn’t understand why she would be given Percorten. My friend stressed to me that I take
Frankie to her vet, a cat only clinic, whom saved her cats life. But it was Saturday afternoon and they were already closed. And
closed on Sunday. By now my gut was telling me I needed to take Frankie to the cat only vet, praying that she can hold on for
another day and a half.
April 10, 2011 - She didn’t eat anything at all that day. But after all my googling, a lot of websites were saying that food should be
refused for up to 24-48 hours to basically give the insides a rest from vomiting. So I thought maybe it was okay, but then she
vomited twice. 7am I wake up and Frankie can’t be found anywhere, she’s hiding under the couch. How she got under there
seems nearly impossible since my couch is only about 1/2 an inch off the ground. This is crazy odd behavior so now I’m really
scared. She was extremely lethargic, visibly had lost weight, her eyes were sunken into her head and I was literally preparing for
her death. I thought I would keep her at home in peace.
I drove to the vet that hospitalized her and asked a doctor to review her chart with me. He was unavailable so the vet tech
reviewed it with me. She assured me that Frankie wasn’t in any pain, that the injections that they had given her would help relieve
the inflammation which would be the cause of the pain. I informed the vet tech that Frankie was urinating and still using her litter
box, still grooming herself and drinking water. The vet tech confirmed these were all good signs but that I should have brought her
in, that the doctor suggests I bring her back. But I saw how stressed and sick she was when she left the hospital, I
didn’t want to take her back to that horror. I asked the vet tech for a copy of her chart (so that I could take it to the cat care clinic)
but they denied me. They said they would have to get approval from the Chief of Staff and that it could take up to 1 week. I couldn’
t understand why my request was denied. Frankie slept under the bed that night. Again googling away to see what I should do,
what I could find, what I could learn. And I was blessed to have my email of concerns answered by Lisa of IBDKitties.
April 11, 2011 (day 7) - I call The Cat Care Clinic at 7am and expressed the urgency and they kindly took me right away.
Amanda Page, D.V.M. was incredibly thorough in her questions and answers. She was calm and gentle with Frankie...Frankie
was completely relaxed like she had never been at any prior vet visits. Dr. Page said that Frankie was well hydrated but that she
was in pain. Which killed me because the vet tech at the other hospital said Frankie wasn’t in any pain. She had lost weight,
barely making 5lbs now. She was given an injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphorus, Cerenia, Pepcid (famotadine) and
given a pill called Remeron (mirtazapine) to stimulate her appetite. We were instructed to stop all other medications given to us.
She was sent home with Cerenia tablets (anti-vomiting and nausea), Remeron (appetite stimulate anti-nausea), buprenorphine
transdermal (pain killer that your rub on the inside of their ear flaps) and prednisolone (steroid). On the drive home, she looked
as happy and relaxed as could be. Once home she walked out of her carrier exploring everything and ate right away. Vocal,
extremely restless and quite frankly acting high on drugs (a normal side effect from the Remeron) A TREMENDOUS noticeable
difference literally within 2 hours. Instructed to mix baby food with her Hill’s Prescription z/d. Bill? Surprisingly modest, the most
conservative of all 3 vets. Now that was the best money I’ve ever spent. Worth every single penny.
Dr. Page at The Cat Care Clinic in Orange California saved Frankie’s life. Frankie’s new nickname? “Piglet”. She's still on the
Hill's Prescription z/d canned food. Her hearty appetite is back, she has her pep back in her step and her curiosity is back,
exploring our apartment each day as if it’s a brand new mansion we just moved into. I‘m incredibly grateful for Dr. Page.
Through this experience I’ve learned, don’t try to be your own vet and diagnose your cat based on your google findings. Don’t
ignore health concerns that repeat themselves, your cat is trying to tell you something, take your pet to the vet. Follow your gut
instincts. If you can, see a cat only vet. Your pet will thank you for it.
Lastly, I’ve learned, there are still people left in this world who are kind and can offer a helping hand to a stranger. I thank Lisa for
creating IBDKitties on behalf of her Alex. Thank you for sharing Alex’s story, and I thank you for allowing me to share Frankie’s
story so we can continue helping others.
Update: May 15, 2011
This was Frankie's second check up and she lost a little bit of weight was 5.3lbs now down to 5.18lbs. So we're going back to
one full prednisolone pill per day and continuing with the other med for her cold; these will be life long meds. Use Remeron &
Cerenia as needed otherwise she's doing great.
Updated: October 23, 2011
Ever since Frankie got sick the vet put her on Prescription Hills AD but that stuff is expensive, so I was looking for alternatives.
She's doing great! I honestly think I found the culprit to all of that pancreatitis stuff, a treat called Natural Sensations, her absolute
favorite. I took her off the treats when she got sick and recently gave them to her again because she was deprived of everything
else. You would think these treats have crack in them because she literally goes wild even when I dare say the word "natural
sensations". After about 2 weeks of the treats, the vomit started again. She's not on any medicine at all, I took her off all meds
maybe a month or two back because she's been doing great and quite frankly being on the meds, made her seem lethargic.
She's only recently taken up a few bad habits after being a complete angel her whole life, that has been peeing on purses or rugs
randomly and no longer uses her favorite item...her scratching post. She's been in love with that scratching post (the same one
for 9 years mind you) and now will walk up to it, look at it, and walk away. And now chooses to scratch the sofa. She's never done
that in all the 9yrs I've had her. She bites her toenails CONSTANTLY. I mean and it's loud! She's always had her nails trimmed
since a kitten so I don't know why all of a sudden she's taken on biting her nails. I took her to the vet and they checked her for a
UTI, everything came out clean. They had me fill out a questionnaire and the vet says that it's a behavioral problem, that Frankie
is stressed or upset about something and that's why she's randomly peeing on things.
She's only done it 4 times in the past 4 months so it's not so bad, and the scratching of the sofa, it's not so bad it's the biting of
the nails that's pretty annoying. The vet suggested Feliway and that hasn't helped at all. The only thing I think it could be is her
feeling MY stress for things going on in my life in addition to the neighbors cats who climb on the roof and taunt her. Regarding
the Triaditis, she's been doing terrific!
| Copyright © IBD Kitties 2008-2011, all rights reserved |
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| Frankie L. - California Female, Brown Tabby Born June 11, 2002 Diagnosed with Triaditis April 2011 |
| Living with IBD - Frankie L. |
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