Diabetes and loose stools?

[Peggy & Oliver]

Just wondering if loose stools play anywhere into this whole diabetes/insulin experience. Ollie has had episodes of loose stools before his diagnosis last week and we always figured it was a pancreatitis flareup. He is getting FortiFlora which usually works. It's a big problem because his bottom legs are still too weak for him to be able to squat and we wind up with a big mess. I clean him up the best I can with warm paper towels and he does the rest. Has anyone else had this issue with their diabetic kitties?

So worried about him as I have my daughter's wedding this weekend (locally) and someone will be coming in to care for him Sunday night. Then I have holidays coming later in September and will be away twice. He always has someone coming in twice daily to give his asthma puffs so hopefully she will be good with the insulin too. I'm worried about whether she will be able to do bg test though. He may give her a hard time. Has anyone ever had to skip a day or two of testing? (Please don't throw rotten tomatoes!) Ollie is on lantus 100.

 

[BJM]

Difficulty standing in walking
- could be diabetic neuropathy, corrected with regulation of the blood glucose, sped up by using methylcobalamin, a specific form of Vitamin B-12.
Or
-could be hypokalemia, aka low potassium levels, detectable with a blood test at the vet and treated with a supplement as needed. Never give potassium unless a vet diagnoses the need; too much can harm the cat.

 

[SpecklesandMe]

bottom legs are still too weak for him to be able to squat and we wind up with a big mess.

I'm not trying to scare you, and I really hope it's just "simple" diarrhea/neuropathy (which is often B12 responsive), but this is how our big issue started. If it keeps up for more than a couple days, I would just run a specfPLI to test for pancreatitis. I wish I had done this sooner. At least that way you will have piece of mind and/or an early start (which you will hopefully not need b/c it will hopefully be negative). I would get the test asap if the poo changes color from normal (becomes lighter/yellower).

 

[Peggy & Oliver]

Thank you. I don't think I've heard of this test. I didn't think there was a definitive test for pancreatitis. Ollie was diagnosed via ultrasound a few years ago and the one he just had did show that he had it, but mild. I always assume that's what it is when this happens. Poop has stayed pretty consistent with color and the fortiflora seems to be helping it - then he swings to a day with nothing. It's been like this off and on for a long time. I'm going to ask about the test when I call in after I do his curve tomorrow. I appreciate this info.

 

[Peggy & Oliver]

More on a favorite topic - output! Ollie seems like he has irritable bowel (not IBD) because he will go a couple days with small but normal stools (or none when I give him FortiFlora) and then he will have a day when he produces puddingy poop, almost syrupy. Today it wasn't as voluminous as usual but still weird and since he can't squat it gets a bit messy. Since it only happened the once I opted not to use the FortiFlora this time and we'll see what happens. Is there anything to normalize this? He used to eat 5 small meals a day, one of which was 1/8 cup of Wellness core dry for fiber. He also used to have some pumpkin. He did have these occasional bouts of sort of diarrhea before his diabetes dx but mostly it was controlled. His diet is different now as the vet wants him eating two servings a day. So he gets two larger portions which he doesn't finish all at once anyway. He is not allowed the dry or the pumpkin anymore. He also just started Zobaline last night. I feel like he needs fiber.

Has anyone else had this issue?

Thanks.

Peggy & Oliver ^~^

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

Canned pumpkin can also help with the loose stools. Make sure it is canned pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling.

 

[SpecklesandMe]

He is not allowed the dry or the pumpkin anymore.

You can try 1/8tsp psyllium husk powder or Benefiber. You can up the amount slowly to about 1/4tsp but be careful not to use more than you need to.
With the Zobaline, if the neuropathy is bad, you can do 2 pills per day instead of just one for the first several weeks. We used to do that, plus B12 shots once every two weeks. They just pee out any extra B12 that they don't need, and it does help with the neuropathy.

 

[Peggy & Oliver]

He used to get the canned pumpkin but vet said to discontinue. Too carb-y?

You can try 1/8tsp psyllium husk powder or Benefiber. You can up the amount slowly to about 1/4tsp but be careful not to use more than you need to.
With the Zobaline, if the neuropathy is bad, you can do 2 pills per day instead of just one for the first several weeks. We used to do that, plus B12 shots once every two weeks. They just pee out any extra B12 that they don't need, and it does help with the neuropathy.

That's an interesting suggestion about the fiber! I'll have to check with the vet. He is a highly allergic kitty and has asthma. Thanks for the ideas!

 

[SpecklesandMe]

Yes, definitely check first.
BTW, how old is your kitty? My boy had asthma too, but it eventually went away I think when he was around 8. In fact, I still have one of those AeroKat chambers that I should prob give to someone who wants it...