11/6 Bama Kitty AMPS 150 +5 119 +5.5 130 PMPS 187 +1 240 +3.5 218 +6.5 249

Bama Kitty Mom (GA)

Bama Kitty Mom (GA)

Member Since 2018
Yesterday: 11/5 Bama Kitty PMPS 141 +1 117 +1.5 106 +2 108 +3 106 +4 112 +5 114 +6 129 +9 161

Something doesn't feel right with Bama Kitty. He didn't eat well this morning. I withheld the psyllium husk powder from his LC wet in case that is the problem. He seems rather thirsty for being below renal threshold for so long, but then, he does have early stage KD. He had one normal sized pee in the litter box shortly after waking up and nothing overnight. He stayed in his bed each time I went in there to get BG readings last night. He ate snacks early-- PM+1, 1.5, 2, 3 & 4--some MC wet [10 or so carb] plus some salmon kibble and Squeeze/Up. He finished 1 tube of Squeeze Up [0.5 oz.] over the course of those hours and less than 1 oz. of the MC canned. He ate his regular LC canned with some kibble at PMPS but less than usual and did not seem as hungry as usual.

Does the gravy containing foods create extra thirst? He did drink some water early in the evening after eating the gravy foods. I measured urine for ketones either yesterday morning or the day before but neglected to note it on his spreadsheet. Will lurk and try to obtain a urine sample ASAP.

Issue could be an arthritis flare as he is moving slowly and has stood more than squatted to urinate the last day or two. I don't like giving the Gabapentin as he stumbles around too much. I do have some bup from last March that I may try if pain seems to be an issue.
 
Discovered I tested ketones yesterday morning. Always use Echo Dot [Alexa] to run my 15 sec. timer for me and she last ran it 11-5 AM so I have notated SS accordingly. Still plan to get a ketone test ASAP. Decided to run Bama's LC and MC opened cans through the Magic Bullet as I can sometimes get him to drink his meals if he won't eat. Plus it will be easier to dispense in teaspoonfuls as needed. Gave 1t--about half and half of each--@ AM+1. He licked it up but not as though he was hungry. Followed it up with a little warm water in the bowl to help rinse it out. Most wet meals get added water plus an oz. or so in the bowl after he is finished eating. He likes drinking warm water from his food bowl so I usually give as much as he'll drink. I like to think of it as a chaser for the psyllium husk powder when he has that.
 
Hmmm....

If your gut is telling you something is off, I'd listen. Keep an eye on your kitty. It could be something simple like his stomach is having an off day or he has a GI bug brewing. Some cats are off their food if there's a dental issue -- it it bothers them to chew, they may not eat solids.

The only other thought I have is that if you're worried, a vet visit may be in order and since tomorrow is Sunday, I don't know if "wait and see" is indicated or if it's best to try to at least talk to your vet.
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
Hmmm....

If your gut is telling you something is off, I'd listen. Keep an eye on your kitty. It could be something simple like his stomach is having an off day or he has a GI bug brewing. Some cats are off their food if there's a dental issue -- it it bothers them to chew, they may not eat solids.

The only other thought I have is that if you're worried, a vet visit may be in order and since tomorrow is Sunday, I don't know if "wait and see" is indicated or if it's best to try to at least talk to your vet.
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Thanks. I would have thought he would be bouncing by now or, if an infection is brewing, would be shooting upward from that.
 
Planning to put a call into to his vet when they open in 20 minutes or so. He is staying put in his bed, not really changing position, just maybe meatloafing in place. Vet is open til 6 pm. They are still only doing drop-offs so I'll try to get a drop-off time for +6 in case the bounce still hasn't kicked in. Fed 1t mix of LC & MC gravy and he licked it after giving it a good sniff. Again, doesn't seem hungry.
 
Will be taking Bama in to his vet [Banfield Pet Hospital] at +6. He seems to have slowed his drop and holding steady @ 112 here in the +3 hour. Fed a t or two of LC liquified canned followed by a little water to wash out the bowl. He didn't lick the bowl clean but seems to have perked up a little. Sat in my lap, purred some when I brushed him but still seems off. Will continue hourly BG checks until just before +6.

He managed to take a pee in his box while I was occupied on the phone with the vet's office so I missed another opportunity for a ketone check.
 
Fed 0.5t Squeeze Up over 1t salmon kibble; he eats the kibble when covered with S/U. Don't know that he is eating from hunger or just because he likes the Squeeze Up. Thinking I will hold this dose [7u] over another week or reduce if he drops below 90. If I weren't taking him to the vet, I'd stop feeding to see if he would drop below 90. Would probably trigger a bounce but at this point, I am wondering how long we can go like this, testing every hour and feeding to maintain a certain level.

This set of cycles at 7u--he has yet to begin cycle 14, he is still in cycle 13--has delivered: 5 trips into the blues with three of those fairly long cycles and the other two were back to back cycles in the blue; 6 trips into yellow--some that ended up in blue; 3 trips into pink; 5 trips into red--3 of which were directly after 1 no shot and 1 fur shot and 1 trip into black which was the cycle following the fur shot. I believe the no shot and fur shot set us back a little bit and we would have had more yellows, less red and black, had we not had the no shot and fur shot. The pinks I put down to simple bounces.

When you all have a moment, would you please weigh in with your thoughts on doses starting tomorrow? Thanks so much for your expertise and willingness to advise.

@Wendy&Neko @Bandit's Mom @tiffmaxee and anyone else who would like to share their thoughts.
 
Sorry to hear that he's not feeling well. Good luck with the vet visit. :bighug:

It's okay to use the occasional higher carb to prevent a reduction and keep them at a dose where they are seeing good numbers. If you find that you are propping him up with higher carbs to avoid a drop below 90, you could let him earn the reduction and see if he holds it.

I know I've asked this before, but can you get him off the kibble so you can follow TR? That way he can spend time in healing greens.
 
Bandit's Mom said:
Sorry to hear that he's not feeling well. Good luck with the vet visit. :bighug:

It's okay to use the occasional higher carb to prevent a reduction and keep them at a dose where they are seeing good numbers. If you find that you are propping him up with higher carbs to avoid a drop below 90, you could let him earn the reduction and see if he holds it.

I know I've asked this before, but can you get him off the kibble so you can follow TR? That way he can spend time in healing greens.
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Unfortunately, he is much like your Bandit--loves his kibble too much. ;) Thanks for giving your thoughts.
 
Here @ +5 he appears to be heading upward; will be leaving for the vet in 30 minutes or so and may try to get 1 final reading so I can inform them of his number when I arrive.
 
Had to leave him at the vet. Does no one do in office visits anymore with patient and caregiver in the same room so one can converse with the doctor? About to go pick him up. They could determine nothing from the exam and rather than do any blood work [which he just had done back in August] today, they are injecting Cerenia and sending me home with Mirtz [?] ointment--appetite stimulant. Watch and wait.
 
Ondansetron is even better than Cerenia for nausea. You'd get a prescription to fill at any human pharmacy.

You asked about gravy foods. Which ones are you using? I found Neko had a wheat allergy and many of the gravy ones use wheat for carbs. So I found some (Weruva) that have potatoes to raise the carb levels.
 
I have some Ondansetron. I assume I should wait until tomorrow to give any. I can't believe he is only at 187 at PMPS and I am worried about him going low tonight. He has eaten some FF mixed grill but I had to hold it in front of him. He is lying in his bed. Should I still give 7u tonight? @Wendy&Neko @tiffmaxee
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Ondansetron is even better than Cerenia for nausea. You'd get a prescription to fill at any human pharmacy.

You asked about gravy foods. Which ones are you using? I found Neko had a wheat allergy and many of the gravy ones use wheat for carbs. So I found some (Weruva) that have potatoes to raise the carb levels.
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Yes, it seems wheat gluten is an ingredient in some of the gravy ones I have been feeding.
 
tiffmaxee said:
Will she eat now?
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He is eating some if I hold the bowl under his face. The vet tech told me that'd had a hard time with him growling, etc. as though he was "going to eat them up". He acts like he is tired and sore. I was thinking of apply the Bup I have left over from last March. Any thoughts?
 
I haven't applied the Mirtz as it says to stay away from the cat for two hours afterwards. I was thinking of waiting until tomorrow. What should I do? Shot is due now.
 
What was the bupe for? It won’t hurt I was told but won’t be as potent or might not work at all. I would still not give more than the dose given. If he won’t eat the cerenia might not be working. Do you have ondansetron? Maybe give a half dose. Can you syringe feed if necessary?
 
I have a syringe but have never done it. Bupe was for arthritis pain. He has eaten about a third of a can of FF mixed grill, a few kibble and some Squeeze Up which is apparently low carb.
 
Do you think you can get him to eat? Even if he will eat as much as he has so far that’s okay. If not I would give a half dose.
 
Dose was 1/2 hour late. Will check do +1 BG check. Now if I just knew what time it was. Queue Chicago. Does anyone really know what time it is? I have some clocks in the fall back mode and watch/computer etc. that are still on DST. Plus I am seriously low on sleep.
 
tiffmaxee said:
Are his eyes glassy from the bupe?
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He is sleeping now so I don't know. He seems like he was just wiped out from being at the vet's office for nearly 5 hours plus not feeling well. I can't say I am disappointed in his rise to yellow at +1. I need some rest. Will get another BG test in an hour or two. I suspect he has started the bounce. I think I'll stay away from gravy foods and try using some honey over his regular LC if needed. My plan is to let him go below 90 and start earning reductions next time instead of trying to keep him in the blue. I'll stay at 7u for the next week in search of that 90 low. Thanks Elise.
 
Ondansetron does not sedate. Neko got ondsetron, Cerenia, and bupe. Good plan to experiment with honey/karo instead of gravy next time. I've seen quite a few cats respond badly to wheat.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Ondansetron does not sedate. Neko got ondsetron, Cerenia, and bupe. Good plan to experiment with honey/karo instead of gravy next time. I've seen quite a few cats respond badly to wheat.
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Yes, the more I think about this, the more I am sure something is up with the gravy. I remember the day after one of his extended surfs when I had been feeding gravy to keep him surfing blue, he seemed like he was off, like a hangover. Going to get one more BG test in a little while then off to bed.
 
He has come down a little since +1 so will set an alarm to test around +6.5. He ate a few bites of FF, not interested in kibble right now so I left some out. He was resting earlier but seems a little restless now.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
I read through this thread last night. I’m concerned about Bama. I hope it’s just the wheat in the food and that he eats today.
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Thanks Suzanne. He already seems better this morning. Of course, the Cerenia from yesterday is still in play. He is getting out of his bed to come up to me when I enter his room whereas he had gotten to where he'd stay put. I did bump the heat up a notch so maybe he's staying warmer. Could have been several factors to his lack of appetite:
1. The wheat or other substances in the gravy;
2. Lack of poops. Never underestimate the power of a good poop. ;) Check out today's condo. That has resolved itself.
3. Arthritis. He was moving slower earlier in the week when it turned colder here so I think he had some pain and stiffness from arthritis that seems better this morning. The bupe has surely worn off by now. Warmer room is helping.

Game plan is to watch him. I've got Ondansetron if needed. The Mertz the vet gave me yesterday. And no more gravy foods. Will try honey over LC FF if needed.

Thanks for stopping by. Wondering if Georgia and Alabama are headed for a showdown in the SEC Championship game. I take it you are a dawg fan? :)
 
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