Possible for some cats not to tolerate Pepcid?

[NJOberheim]

Hi Everyone,

My cat Gilligan is 17 years old. He had been vomiting almost daily a clear foamy liquid. This went on for about a month. Since cat's seem to go through vomiting phases and he wasn't vomiting his food, I didn't think it was anything serious. Anyway, it was time for his Vet visit anyway so I mentioned it to the vet. Gilligan's blood results showed everything was normal with the exception of the beginnings of kidney problems. The Dr said that this is what was causing the vomiting. He was also concerned that Gilligan lost 1 pound since his last visit. He prescribed 1/4 tablet of Pepcid AC twice a day.

All of a sudden Gilligan started eating a lot less (this was even before we started him on the Pepcid). I rushed out and got him the Pepcid. The next day, he stopped eating all together. I called the vet and told him what was happening. I was concerned that the Pepcid might be making him worse. He said he never heard of any cat's having any problems with it and that I should keep him on it. As a test, I took him off of it anyway. I'm not sure if it's a coincidence or what but he started eating again but not a lot. A couple of weeks went by and i took him to the vet again. The vet said that Gilligan's loss of appetite did not make sense. The problems with his kidney's were not that severe. He noted that Gilligan had lost yet another pound and that he needed to be force fed. He gave us some A/D (i had to feed him half a can twice a day), B vitamin supplements, Appetite stimulants, and Potassium supplements. He also said I should put him back on the pepcid. He also took some more blood to run further tests.

We force fed Gilligan Sat Morning. It broke my heart. I know it's for his own good but I hated putting him through that. THe next day, he ate a jar of baby food that we got him on his own. He also ate some of the A/D on his own (about 2/3 of 3 oz). Altough it wasnt a lot of food for the day, I thought Id give him a break from the force feeding. Yesterday (sunday), he ate almost nothing again. I tried, baby food, boiled up Chicken cut into little pieces, A/D, dry food, nothing worked! We had to force feed him last night before going to bed.

I can't help but think that the Pepcid is making things worse. Last night we decided to once again take him off of it. I just dont want him to start throwing up again or suffer from heart burn.

Today he ate a jar of baby food with some coaxing. So Im happy about that and again kind of confirms my Pepcid suspicions. Perhaps he just needs a smaller dose? Like 1/4 pill every other day or somthing? Right now we're waitng for the DR to call us back with the blood results.

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[NewRagdoll]

Since cat's seem to go through vomiting phases and he wasn't vomiting his food, I didn't think it was anything serious

Vomiting on a regular basis is always serious if its not hairball related.

The problems with his kidney's were not that severe. He noted that Gilligan had lost yet another pound and that he needed to be force fed.

Those two sentences are completely contradictory. The loss of another pound would normally indicate the kidney problems were serious. A recheck is defintely in order.

As to the pepcid, any person or pet can react negatively to anything and there are always alternative similar medications if that would ease your mind. Ask the vet for another. However, I'm very much afraid pepcid isnt your problem. Your cat sounds seriously ill to me and needs far more than pepcid.