Picky eater

[Benshuman]

I am a bit frustrated what to do about Ben. Some days he eats better then others. He has diabetes and kidney failure. He still likes to eat the DM Savory Selects diabetic diet sometimes. He wont eat it everyday, some days he just picks at it. I also try to feed him Wellness Grain Free Turkey. I tried the Neo Hi Tor Kidney diet and he didn't like it and he didn't like the Hills K/D diets. I have tried adding water, adding tuna water, adding parmesan cheese and he isn't into any of them. I even put down some Purina DM and Purina kidney diet dry food jus to try to get him to eat. I have not tried appetite stimulants yet as I would have to put them in food to get him to eat it and same with a phosphorus binder. I even tried giving him a little Fancy Feast Class this morning on top of his DM Savory and tried Wellness Turkey and he ate a little bit.

Does anyone ever give medical marijuana to their cat to stimulate their appetite, where do you even get it? Can a prescription be prescribed for cats? And is there a high phosphorus or calcium content in it?

Thanks

 

[BJM]

Have you read over the tips at Feline CRF? Many cats with CRF develop upset stomach. There are a couple of options described there such as a small amount of antacid 20-30 minutes before feeding, slipper elm bark, and so on.
There's an entire section on Persuading Your Cat To Eat

 

[Cat Ma]

Does anyone ever give medical marijuana to their cat to stimulate their appetite, where do you even get it? Can a prescription be prescribed for cats?

Just as with many plants, that is VERY TOXIC to cats.

See under toxicity: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/marijuana

It is also listed as a poison at Pet Poison Helpline.com.

I have not tried appetite stimulants yet as I would have to put them in food to get him to eat it and same with a phosphorus binder.

Crushing and stirring an appetite stimulant in food and feeding your cat via a syringe may get your cat eating again.The same with a phosphorus binder. Fancy Feast is too high in phosphorus and isn't good for CKD cats. See this chart and aim for low carbs and lower phosphorus (the lower, the better).

http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPhosphorus9-22-12.pdf

 

[Benshuman]

I tried giving him the food I originally gave him when I first found him and he had no problem eating it at all. He ate almost the entire can today. Unfortunately the food is Friskies Ocean Tuna Pate and the carbs and phosphorus are too high for him. I am going to add the food he is supposed to eat to it slowly. I was looking at the links you have and have tried some of the suggestions they didn't work with the food he didn't like but worked great with the food he does like. Oh I am not running out and buying marijuna for Ben. It was just sad seeing him picking at the food. I will look into getting him an antacid and an appetite stimulant just in case. I am also going to try some other wet foods. I printed out a food chart but it seems slightly different then the one in this link. Its by the same Dr and same year though.

 

[Cat Ma]

The chart you're probably looking at is: http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf
The link I gave you shows the phosphorus content in ascending order. You are correct; they are from the same doctor, Dr. Pierson, DVM.

Are you monitoring Ben's glucose at home yet?

There are a lot of CKD/Diabetic cats in the forum that do well with tips mentioned in the links in BJM's post above. Hopefully something will work to help improve your cat's appetite soon.

 

[Benshuman]

The chart you're probably looking at is: http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf
The link I gave you shows the phosphorus content in ascending order. You are correct; they are from the same doctor, Dr. Pierson, DVM.

Are you monitoring Ben's glucose at home yet?

There are a lot of CKD/Diabetic cats in the forum that do well with tips mentioned in the links in BJM's post above. Hopefully something will work to help improve your cat's appetite soon.

I just got the glucose meter and am taking it with me to the vet tomorrow to make sure its accurate with Bens glucose check at the vet. I just printed out the link about phosphorus foods in asceding order.

 

[Cat Ma]

I just got the glucose meter and am taking it with me to the vet tomorrow to make sure its accurate with Bens glucose check at the vet. I just printed out the link about phosphorus foods in asceding order.

It will be helpful to add the name of the meter you are using at home in your signature line. Note that vet glucose readings may be higher, especially with a stressed cat. CJ always has higher glucose numbers at the vet than at home.

 

[Benshuman]

The vet uses an Alphatrak 2 for glucose checks so I decided to get the same kind to try to be as accurate as possible in case there was a problem with his glucose. Once I learn how to do the glucose checks I will be doing that on my own and the same goes with the LRS sub q fluids. I am checking into getting a prescription for that tomorrow as well. I have so much to learn and have no idea what I am doing half the time.

 

[Cat Ma]

It is overwhelming but you're on the right track and are learning a lot by being on FDMB.
Using an UTW (Ultra Thin Wall) needle (Terumo) really makes a difference and is easier on the cat than the Monoject needles many vets use. I get the UTW needles from here: http://www.thrivingpets.com/index.php/terumo-needles-box-of-100.html. I use the #20 needles but many use the #18 or #19 needles, too.

You don't need an RX to order the needles. You do for fluids. You can have your vet fax in the rx to whatever online site you order fluids from. Thriving Pet is more expensive than other sites for sub q fluids. Tanya's CKD site has good links to places to order fluids from.

There is a great video on how to give fluids at this link: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-give-subcutaneous-fluids-video.144366/
Also watching a tech at the vet show you will make it easier, too.

In another post of yours, someone gave you the link to home testing. If you have questions, ask. That will get easier, too.

 

[Benshuman]

It is overwhelming but you're on the right track and are learning a lot by being on FDMB.
Using an UTW (Ultra Thin Wall) needle (Terumo) really makes a difference and is easier on the cat than the Monoject needles many vets use. I get the UTW needles from here: http://www.thrivingpets.com/index.php/terumo-needles-box-of-100.html. I use the #20 needles but many use the #18 or #19 needles, too.

You don't need an RX to order the needles. You do for fluids. You can have your vet fax in the rx to whatever online site you order fluids from. Thriving Pet is more expensive than other sites for sub q fluids. Tanya's CKD site has good links to places to order fluids from.

There is a great video on how to give fluids at this link: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-give-subcutaneous-fluids-video.144366/
Also watching a tech at the vet show you will make it easier, too.

I have watched the vet give fluids twice now. I think tomorrow I am going to try to do it myself in front of her and be shown how to get blood for glucose test too.

I saw LRS for 6.49 a bag I think through Tanyas site, thats alot cheaper then my vet. My vet charges 40.50 a bagand thats for 5 doses and Ben gets 200 ml twice a week. I think its ml. I know the bag is 1000. Last time he leaked alot, the fluid didnt seem to last as long in him or he just absorbed it faster and the time before that he didnt seem to leak and the fluid lasted longer in him. 7 hours later he still had a fluid pouch.

Do the Termo needles allow the fluid to go through as fast as the needles the vet uses? I need to get an IV stand too since I may be sitting on floor when I give Ben fluids, I have no idea yet.

 

[Cat Ma]

Yes, the Terumo needles work as well and as fast as the ones the vet uses.

The link here tells you how fast the fluids work with each needle size. Scroll down to Choosing Needles: Size and Speed at http://www.felinecrf.org/subcutaneous_fluids_tips.htm#fluid_types

I just hang the bag on a wire coat hanger and affix that to the top of a door or attach it to a hook on the wall. The higher you place the bag, the faster the fluids will flow. An IV stand is a good idea, too.