To Jim Cristea and Cody:
 
> Now it seems that every time I feed him by syringe (Pureed "Duck
> Soup") he has a seizure immediately afterwards.  The vet ...  gave him
> two oral doses (0.1cc) of Azium (instead of prednisone--prednisone may
> inhibit his healing right now).
> 1) How can I feed him by syringe and still prevent seizures?
> 2) Why are the seizures happening when I feed him?
 
    Jim - Cody's seizures following feeding is probably due to the high
glucose load.  Residual insulin-producing tissue will respond to the
presence of high levels of glucose in the bloodstream following a meal by
producing insulin.  But since there is excess insulin-producing tissue in
Cody's pancreas, he often goes into hypoglycemia and will seizure.  A
post-op glucose reading of 43 is not a good sign.
 
      The best way to treat this is to feed small meals every 4-6 hours.
I realize this can be a problem - but hopefully you will be able to wean him
off of the syringe and back on to free choice feeding, and he will be able
to monitor his own glucose needs (somehow they know when to stop eating) and
we should see those seizures decrease and hopefully disappear.  But as long
as you are having to force feed him, we can expect the seizures.
 
    REgarding prednisone - it is much more effective than Azium at raising
the glucose.  I don't think you will have much problem with retarded
healing at the prescribed dosage (0.5-1 mg/kg divided into two dosages.)
Ask your vet to give it a try.  You can always switch back to Azium if you
have to.
 
Bruce H. Williams, DVM         Dept. of Veterinary Pathology
Chief Pathologist, AccuPath    Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
[log in to unmask]         Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
                               [log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 1229]