9/6 Carter: AMBG 72

[Erica & Carter]

Hi all,

Once again, posting from my phone - so cannot find and link my last thread for the life of me.

Carter is a green 72 this morning. I've decided to test him on Mondays and Fridays for the next month, before moving into once a week testing - eep! Today was the exception as we spent Labour Day at my mother-in-laws house yesterday, and Kya (my drooler) had a blast playing with their dog, who is her absolute best friend. The cats, however, we of course screaming for food when we arrived home - as usual.

It's been a week since my surgery and I'm still taking my pain killers, 1 every four hours. I can take two at a time but I really don't enjoy the side effects, it makes me itchy and feel like a zombie all at the same time. I'm still experiencing pain and discomfort though so I have no choice but to take them, as regular Tylenol did nothing. The incision is healing great, but I noticed that is still feels kind of numb around it, something I will address at my post-op consult on September 26th. If all goes well, I should be able to start working again beginning of October. In the mean time, I'm taking this week to rest and then working on immigration paperwork next week if I'm feeling up to it - once less thing to get out of the way before going back to work! I find myself wanting to do all the little chores I do on a daily basis, not before being scolded by Lily and reminded that I don't need to be bending, lifting, stooping or doing much besides lying on the couch.

So after taking Carter off raw and just feeding Weruva's BFF since that unfortunate batch of Nature's Variety, the vomiting has mostly stopped - however I've awoken to a few small liquid piles during the night. Dark brown, like the BFF, so I know it came from him, as the civies are eating Darwin's raw. I will be grinding my own meat with the EZ Complete Premix once this raw runs out, but decided that Carter may have some food allergies and I'm going to put him on a more novel protein canned diet to see if it helps. I picked up Duck, Rabbit and Buffalo Wild Calling - mixed some Rabbit with his BFF, no vomiting and he ate it all. Great! I was looking at Nature's Variety lamb too but I'm skeptical of that brand now. Also looked at Ziwipeak but it is so expensive, and it is my understanding that is is partially raw food - so that might not work for him. Wouldn't it be great if all cats could be on the same thing?? I was going to look into getting a probiotic to help Carter transition back to raw but I just don't want to rock the waters. I've been considering switching Kya to a raw diet as well, with a premix I found, but she is so large (75 pounds) so she'd have to eat about a pound and a half a day of raw - not sure if that's financially in the cards right now. She also has had diarrhea issues with dry foods over 25% in protein - so I don't know if she could stomach a diet basically entirely made of protein? Right now she's on Fromm, and despite it being dry food, I think it's at least one of the best brands she could be on right now.

Sorry for the long post!! Good luck to everyone on an OTJ trial right now!

 

[carfurby (GA)]

Nice start for Carter. I'm glad he's doing better with the food. I hope the switch to the new diet goes well. I know it's hard, but try not to do too much. You don't want to injure yourself. Sending more prayers for healing.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Here's your last condo

I noticed that is still feels kind of numb around it,

That's normal....when they made the incision, it cut through all those nerve endings in your skin ....and nerves are the slowest thing to regenerate and you may have a little numbness there the rest of your life.

It's good to hear Carter's not vomiting anymore....Hopefully you'll find the right food that he can eat....and you can afford!!

Sending healing vines your way, Erica

 

[Erica & Carter]

Nice start for Carter. I'm glad he's doing better with the food. I hope the switch to the new diet goes well. I know it's hard, but try not to do too much. You don't want to injure yourself. Sending more prayers for healing.

Thank you Carla!

 

[Erica & Carter]

Here's your last condo



That's normal....when they made the incision, it cut through all those nerve endings in your skin ....and nerves are the slowest thing to regenerate and you may have a little numbness there the rest of your life.

It's good to hear Carter's not vomiting anymore....Hopefully you'll find the right food that he can eat....and you can afford!!

Sending healing vines your way, Erica

Good to know! I still have some feeling but definitely much less right near the incision, not bothering me or anything though, just happened to notice it yesterday.

Thanks Chris!

 

[Dawn and Peek-a-Boo (GA)]

Hi Erica!

I haven't been on here as much lately, but I am so glad that your healing is going well...and that you've triumphed over the blood drawing phobia. Take care of yourself and enjoy this extra time with your furry children...I'm sure they love having you around more!

Dawn

 

[Erica & Carter]

Hi Erica!

I haven't been on here as much lately, but I am so glad that your healing is going well...and that you've triumphed over the blood drawing phobia. Take care of yourself and enjoy this extra time with your furry children...I'm sure they love having you around more!

Dawn

Thank you Dawn! I'm glad I got over it as well. It made me less afraid to seek medical treatment in the future.

And yes they definitely do I think!

 

[Marilyn and Sheldon]

So glad to hear the healing is going well. Just don't rush it!

Marilyn and Polly

 

[Erica & Carter]

So glad to hear the healing is going well. Just don't rush it!

Marilyn and Polly

Thank you! I will try.

 

[Anne & Zener GA]

Marilyn is right on, don't rush it. Enjoy your time with the critters.
Liz

 

[Erica & Carter]

Marilyn is right on, don't rush it. Enjoy your time with the critters.
Liz

Thank you.

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

You also might start to get the occasional sharp "hello" as nerve endings meet up again like long, lost friends. Glad you are on the mend.

 

[Erica & Carter]

You also might start to get the occasional sharp "hello" as nerve endings meet up again like long, lost friends. Glad you are on the mend.

Ah the fun continues!

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Sending fast healing vines your way.

Good luck with the new fuds for Carter. Natures Variety has canned novel protein foods to. Though their rabbit is more expensive than raw rabbit here. I haven't been able to find the novel protein Wild Calling here, just the boring ones (chicken, turkey, beef, fish). Ziwipeak is not partially raw, I've been feeding some of the lamb to Neko and venison to the civie. And yes they are expensive! Probiotics can help, even on canned.

 

[Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey]

Hi Erica.

I'm so glad to hear that your recovery is progressing. I'll add my voice to the others, encouraging you to take it easy and don't overdo. You don't want to set yourself back a few weeks, do you?

It's good to hear that Carter is doing a lot of throwing up, although a bit troubling that it is still happening occasionally. Perhaps a probiotic would help. A favorite around here is Renew Life Ultra. Good luck with the novel proteins.

Sending vines for continued healing.

 

[Erica & Carter]

Sending fast healing vines your way.

Good luck with the new fuds for Carter. Natures Variety has canned novel protein foods to. Though their rabbit is more expensive than raw rabbit here. I haven't been able to find the novel protein Wild Calling here, just the boring ones (chicken, turkey, beef, fish). Ziwipeak is not partially raw, I've been feeding some of the lamb to Neko and venison to the civie. And yes they are expensive! Probiotics can help, even on canned.

Thank you Wendy!

Good to know about the Ziwipeak. Must've read the discription wrong. Maybe I will grab some just to have it in rotation occasionally. The NV on Chewy sell the LID ones for Rabbit, Lamb, Duck and Venison but the only LID one that is sold in stores around here in the Turkey so I'll have to buy a case just to try it. I will likely order a prioboitic too just for some extra GI support.

 

[Erica & Carter]

Hi Erica.

I'm so glad to hear that your recovery is progressing. I'll add my voice to the others, encouraging you to take it easy and don't overdo. You don't want to set yourself back a few weeks, do you?

It's good to hear that Carter is doing a lot of throwing up, although a bit troubling that it is still happening occasionally. Perhaps a probiotic would help. A favorite around here is Renew Life Ultra. Good luck with the novel proteins.

Sending vines for continued healing.

Thank you Tricia! Yes very true. Can't afford to miss more work than I already have!

I have the Renew Life Ultra in my Amazon basket, will order this Friday when I order more food. I think someone mentioned before but how much does a cat get per day?

 

[Mandarin'sMom]

Sending lots of healing vines your way! Listen to Lily and stay on the couch with a good book or a movie. Since there is nothing more aggravating than immigration paperwork, I would stay away from that too. I feel slightly nauseous even thinking about the fact that I should probably start thinking about renewing my Green Card or becoming a US citizen soon.

 

[Erica & Carter]

Sending lots of healing vines your way! Listen to Lily and stay on the couch with a good book or a movie. Since there is nothing more aggravating than immigration paperwork, I would stay away from that too. I feel slightly nauseous even thinking about the fact that I should probably start thinking about renewing my Green Card or becoming a US citizen soon.

Thank you!

I just renewed my GC back in June, now it's just a waiting game. VSC is slow. But we're moving back to Canada so now I need to redo the process for Canadian immigration to get Lily her Permanent Residency. It never ends!!

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I'm so glad to hear you're recuperating well. I slept a lot with the pain meds!

You start with 1/3 of a capsule of the ReNew Ultra. I think the max is 1/2 a capsule. I haven't used it in a while, though. I'm going to tag @Marje and Gracie since I know she's been using it.

 

[Erica & Carter]

I'm so glad to hear you're recuperating well. I slept a lot with the pain meds!

You start with 1/3 of a capsule of the ReNew Ultra. I think the max is 1/2 a capsule. I haven't used it in a while, though. I'm going to tag @Marje and Gracie since I know she's been using it.

Thanks Sienne! Yes I'm quite sleepy - which makes me feel super lazy because I'm literally not doing anything.

Okay thank you! So would I just break open the capsule, poor a little out, add to food, then close the capsule? Or how does that work lol

 

[Squalliesmom]

Glad to see Carter is doing so well! Now you need to focus on getting YOU well! I know it's dull and boring, but please don't rush your recovery, it will just set you back further. I have had two major surgeries and both times I had numb areas post-surgery. In both instances, I got back some feeling, but not all; fortunately, it never really bothered me.

Sending prayers and healing light for a speedy recovery for you!

Oh, probiotics - I use Renew Life Ultimate Flora 15 billion, I give half a capsule at breakfast and the other half at dinner. Yes, you just break open the capsule, pour out as much as you need, then close it again. Works best and is easiest to handle if you keep it in the 'fridge.

 

[Olive & Paula]

Erica sent you a PM. Go to your inbox.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

When I was using ReNew, I was advised to start with 1/3 of the capsule twice a day and after a few days to a week, increase up to 1/2 a capsule twice a day.

 

[Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey]

It should be refrigerated, as Lucy mentioned.

 

[Marje and Gracie]

Erica

I’m glad Wendy cleared up the ZP not being raw. They do have a freeze dried version but I don’t like it because it doesn’t require that you add water and that makes me nervous. I use EZ Complete and love it. I was using Alnutrin also to vary things up but we just got a kitten and Alnutrin is not formulated for kittens so I’m just using EZ Complete and I also use Primal raw just to have a few things in the mix. I don’t like NV Instinct frozen, myself. When I tried to get some info out of the company, they were very secretive and that seals it for me. There should be full disclosures and if there is any hesitation (Stella and Chewys was the same way), I will not feed it.

I am a firm believer in probiotics every single day regardless of whether the cat has a compromised system, is on a/bs, or is healthy. My cats get Renew Life Ultimate Flora Adult Maintenance 15b CFU. The adult cat dose is 1/2 cap twice a day but start with 1/4 and build up. I also give Tobey Renew Life Saccharomyces boulardi 6b CFU as he had coccidia as a kitten and his GI system has always been his weakness. He gets 1/2 cap twice a day and also start slow and build up. I’ve seen great benefits for him from the raw and the two probiotics. The IBDKitties.net group, the corresponding group on FB, the Raw Feeding for IBD Cats internet and FB group, and the Food Fur Life EZ Complete internet and FB group all recommend probiotics daily regardless of the health of the cat.

Glad your surgery was a success! I hope you continue to get stronger and feel better.

 

[Erica & Carter]

Glad to see Carter is doing so well! Now you need to focus on getting YOU well! I know it's dull and boring, but please don't rush your recovery, it will just set you back further. I have had two major surgeries and both times I had numb areas post-surgery. In both instances, I got back some feeling, but not all; fortunately, it never really bothered me.

Sending prayers and healing light for a speedy recovery for you!

Oh, probiotics - I use Renew Life Ultimate Flora 15 billion, I give half a capsule at breakfast and the other half at dinner. Yes, you just break open the capsule, pour out as much as you need, then close it again. Works best and is easiest to handle if you keep it in the 'fridge.

I just hate feeling useless but the sooner I get better, the sooner I can be useful again! Thank you Lucy! And thank you for the fridge tip!

 

[Erica & Carter]

Erica sent you a PM. Go to your inbox.

Got it.

 

[Erica & Carter]

Erica

I’m glad Wendy cleared up the ZP not being raw. They do have a freeze dried version but I don’t like it because it doesn’t require that you add water and that makes me nervous. I use EZ Complete and love it. I was using Alnutrin also to vary things up but we just got a kitten and Alnutrin is not formulated for kittens so I’m just using EZ Complete and I also use Primal raw just to have a few things in the mix. I don’t like NV Instinct frozen, myself. When I tried to get some info out of the company, they were very secretive and that seals it for me. There should be full disclosures and if there is any hesitation (Stella and Chewys was the same way), I will not feed it.

I am a firm believer in probiotics every single day regardless of whether the cat has a compromised system, is on a/bs, or is healthy. My cats get Renew Life Ultimate Flora Adult Maintenance 15b CFU. The adult cat dose is 1/2 cap twice a day but start with 1/4 and build up. I also give Tobey Renew Life Saccharomyces boulardi 6b CFU as he had coccidia as a kitten and his GI system has always been his weakness. He gets 1/2 cap twice a day and also start slow and build up. I’ve seen great benefits for him from the raw and the two probiotics. The IBDKitties.net group, the corresponding group on FB, the Raw Feeding for IBD Cats internet and FB group, and the Food Fur Life EZ Complete internet and FB group all recommend probiotics daily regardless of the health of the cat.

Glad your surgery was a success! I hope you continue to get stronger and feel better.

Yeah I'm still kicking myself for feeding that NV raw. He was doing so well on the Darwin's, and then the NV completely upset his GI system I think. I might try and give him some raw with the EZ Complete down the road but if it's not happening, I won't push it after that. Plus the raw would likely still have to be mixed with some canned for Carter to eat it all, as he was eating the raw, but only with a little BFF mixed into it. The civies eat the raw as is, hopefully they will like the EZ Complete as well - I'm excited to be in control of their diet more. In a perfect world, all the cats and my dog would be on raw but I just can't afford it at the moment with my dog being a large breed aka eating more - so she will just have to be on ~better quality~ Fromm duck formula dry for the time being. It has stopped her allergies, but I think raw would be better of course.

I will order the 15b from Amazon and give it a try for all of my boys. When you say 1/4 of a capsule, do you just eyeball it I would assume? And I just joined some of those groups on FB but I couldn't find the EZ Complete group, just the page. Do you happen to have the link?

Thank you Marje!

 

[Erica & Carter]

Lily just had her back turned around for a second putting something in the microwave, and caught Carter with his teeth sunk in to a muffin ready to run off of it. Carter I swear!

 

[Madrona and Leda (GA)]

Carter's looking great! Sorry about the food woes--but it sounds like you have good plans for addressing them. Sending continued healing vines to you!

 

[Erica & Carter]

Carter's looking great! Sorry about the food woes--but it sounds like you have good plans for addressing them. Sending continued healing vines to you!

Thanks Madrona!

 

[Erica & Carter]

While this thread is still active, can anyone provide me with more information on Slippery Elm Bark? I heard it helps with vomiting/reduces stomach acid, would this be something Carter could benefit from? Which brands are diabetic safe? What is the dosing usually?

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

There are links here on slippery elm bark and one on probiotics that Marje referred to, both in the section about "my cat's not feeling well/has a special condition".

Take care of yourself!

 

[Erica & Carter]

There are links here on slippery elm bark and one on probiotics that Marje referred to, both in the section about "my cat's not feeling well/has a special condition".

Take care of yourself!

Thanks Julie! Always poppin' by with the handy links!

 

[Marje and Gracie]

Yeah I'm still kicking myself for feeding that NV raw. He was doing so well on the Darwin's, and then the NV completely upset his GI system I think. I might try and give him some raw with the EZ Complete down the road but if it's not happening, I won't push it after that. Plus the raw would likely still have to be mixed with some canned for Carter to eat it all, as he was eating the raw, but only with a little BFF mixed into it. The civies eat the raw as is, hopefully they will like the EZ Complete as well - I'm excited to be in control of their diet more. In a perfect world, all the cats and my dog would be on raw but I just can't afford it at the moment with my dog being a large breed aka eating more - so she will just have to be on ~better quality~ Fromm duck formula dry for the time being. It has stopped her allergies, but I think raw would be better of course.

I will order the 15b from Amazon and give it a try for all of my boys. When you say 1/4 of a capsule, do you just eyeball it I would assume? And I just joined some of those groups on FB but I couldn't find the EZ Complete group, just the page. Do you happen to have the link?

Thank you Marje!

On FB, just search for Food Fur Life and you'll see their FB page.

Yes...I just estimate the amount. Before the EZ Complete was out, I was giving Tobey raw with alnutrin and also Primal. When I started with the EZC, he wouldn't eat it and the owners told me to just put a tiny portion of the protein with EZC on his plate next to his regular food and do it every single meal. Eventually, he would get used to the smell and eat it....and he did within about five days. I was religious about it, too, and it worked.

While this thread is still active, can anyone provide me with more information on Slippery Elm Bark? I heard it helps with vomiting/reduces stomach acid, would this be something Carter could benefit from? Which brands are diabetic safe? What is the dosing usually?

I buy SEB powder in bulk a the health food store and I buy the organic, certified. I usually get 1/4 cup which will make a ton of SEB so you can get less if you want to try it first. I mix 1/4 tsp of SEB powder with enough water to make a slurry and then I syringe feed it a couple times a day. It needs to be separated from meds/supplements by 2 hours. When I used it for CKD cats, I gave it the very last thing at night to help with the acid tummy they usually get early in the morning. It's great for constipation and diarrhea as well but the S. boulardi really helps with diarrhea unless a cat has exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

 

[Erica & Carter]

On FB, just search for Food Fur Life and you'll see their FB page.

Yes...I just estimate the amount. Before the EZ Complete was out, I was giving Tobey raw with alnutrin and also Primal. When I started with the EZC, he wouldn't eat it and the owners told me to just put a tiny portion of the protein with EZC on his plate next to his regular food and do it every single meal. Eventually, he would get used to the smell and eat it....and he did within about five days. I was religious about it, too, and it worked.


I buy SEB powder in bulk a the health food store and I buy the organic, certified. I usually get 1/4 cup which will make a ton of SEB so you can get less if you want to try it first. I mix 1/4 tsp of SEB powder with enough water to make a slurry and then I syringe feed it a couple times a day. It needs to be separated from meds/supplements by 2 hours. When I used it for CKD cats, I gave it the very last thing at night to help with the acid tummy they usually get early in the morning. It's great for constipation and diarrhea as well but the S. boulardi really helps with diarrhea unless a cat has exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

Thank you Marje! I hope the EZ Complete transitions well, if not, I will do what you suggested. Civies aren't too picky, thankfully. But we'll see how Carter does with the addition of a priobiotic and SEB - perhaps he can transition as well.

 

[Marje and Gracie]

Thank you Marje! I hope the EZ Complete transitions well, if not, I will do what you suggested. Civies aren't too picky, thankfully. But we'll see how Carter does with the addition of a priobiotic and SEB - perhaps he can transition as well.

I always want to make the food as palatable as possible so I syringe all supplements including probiotics. You can even mix it with a tiny bit of food to make a slurry but if he's easy to syringe, that might help the conversion.

I do know some people sprinkle the SEB powder on the food but I've never done that.

 

[Erica & Carter]

I always want to make the food as palatable as possible so I syringe all supplements including probiotics. You can even mix it with a tiny bit of food to make a slurry but if he's easy to syringe, that might help the conversion.

I do know some people sprinkle the SEB powder on the food but I've never done that.

From what I was reading you essentially want it as a thick paste to line the GI system, correct? So sprinkling it as a powder would kind of defeat the purpose? I have a syringe, not sure if Carter would be easier to syringe or if I should attempt to disguise it in food but I also read that it has a strong taste cats can usually detect. I think the priobiotic would be easy enough to hide though. It will be some trial and error.

 

[Marje and Gracie]

From what I was reading you essentially want it as a thick paste to line the GI system, correct? So sprinkling it as a powder would kind of defeat the purpose? I have a syringe, not sure if Carter would be easier to syringe or if I should attempt to disguise it in food but I also read that it has a strong taste cats can usually detect. I think the priobiotic would be easy enough to hide though. It will be some trial and error.

I think it works better as a slurry/paste and that's why I've never sprinkled it on food but I've heard others that have and said it works.

 

[rhiannon and shadow (GA)]

adding to the healing vines.....

good time for lots of kitty cuddles while you heal.....