Is the diet Lola is on a wet or dry food? If dry (and maybe even for wet) there are microchip cat feeders that I know of one owner who finds that a great way to keep her individual cats on their special diets...
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Hyperesthesia
- Thread starter Vito
- Start date
Vito
Site Supporter
Hi Brigitte, she is on HA dry Purina only as it’s the only thing that seems to work for her; it stops the tummy upsets due to the Gabapentin she’s on. That’s an excellent idea, I shall look into getting one of those, never even crossed my mind, that would make things so much easier to be honest.
Vito
Site Supporter
Hi everyone, Just a little update on Lola, she’s been battling with severe hyperesthesia for over a year and a half now, which was being managed with Gabapentin, unfortunately it worked at first but then the dosage had to keep getting increased until it no longer had any impact on her condition. All it did was give her diarrhoea 3-4 times a day, she became very distressed, her anxiety levels were through the roof and she became scared of everything, including us. The self mutilating became terrible. She lost a lot of weight and really wasn’t enjoying life. She was really suffering and it was heartbreaking to witness. We decided that we may have to euthanise her as we were out of options, and she was in a bad way.
However I remember a good while back Deborah mentioned that one of her cats was prescribed Prozac, we made an emergency appointment with the vet to discuss the possibility of trying it, they advised that they didn’t think it would help her and suggested the best thing was to euthanise her.
We pleaded with them to at least let us try it as a last resort. That was 8 weeks ago, Lola is now a different cat, she’s calm,( not sedated in any way) she is playing, eating and gaining weight. We weaned her off the gabapentin, it took 4 weeks, so now she’s only on the Fluoxetine (Prozac 1ml per day) She is still pulling a little hair out few times a day but no way near as much as she was. We’re hoping we’ve finally made a break through, I really pray we have. She’s just been given another two months supply of the Prozac and they are going to review her after that. I shall update with any progress.
However I remember a good while back Deborah mentioned that one of her cats was prescribed Prozac, we made an emergency appointment with the vet to discuss the possibility of trying it, they advised that they didn’t think it would help her and suggested the best thing was to euthanise her.
We pleaded with them to at least let us try it as a last resort. That was 8 weeks ago, Lola is now a different cat, she’s calm,( not sedated in any way) she is playing, eating and gaining weight. We weaned her off the gabapentin, it took 4 weeks, so now she’s only on the Fluoxetine (Prozac 1ml per day) She is still pulling a little hair out few times a day but no way near as much as she was. We’re hoping we’ve finally made a break through, I really pray we have. She’s just been given another two months supply of the Prozac and they are going to review her after that. I shall update with any progress.
Vito
Site Supporter
Hi Patti, we’re just hoping the Prozac continues to work for her, she’s stopped jumping at the least sound or movement, and seems more relaxed and happy in herself. It’s been really traumatic for her and escalated to the point where we thought the kindest thing we could do for her was release her from the pain and stress. Fingers crossed