09/01/2013 Dusty ~ day 8 of OTJ trial, still good

[BJM]

previously

I was running late, then Jo had company, so I didn't get many tests in. Got to love those numbers, though!
+4 ~ 72
+5 ~ 64
+7 ~ 59

He's 8.6 lbs; still a bit boney.
Much more alert and active.
He's grooming himself fairly well.
Still having issues with diarrhea; making it to the litterbox most of the time.
I'm wondering if part of it is neuropathy making it difficult to detect he needs to go and to hold it until he gets to the litterbox.
The other piece - maybe food allergies? He's an indoor only kitty. He is on the Forti Flora.

Asked Jo to add 1 teaspoon of plain canned pumpkin to his food daily, to see if that helps.

Jo would have a great deal of trouble giving him metronidazole (Flagyl) given how nasty it tastes.

 

[nckitties3]

Glad to hear he's hanging right in there! I know you're pleased with his progress.

Ya know, with the problems the poor lady has trying to care for him, it would sure be a blessing if he stays OTJ.

She does understand that she can NEVER give him dry food right? I realize there is some that is acceptable, but few of us can afford that.

You, her and kitty will be in my thoughts. :YMHUG:

 

[BJM]

...She does understand that she can NEVER give him dry food right? I realize there is some that is acceptable, but few of us can afford that.

No, she really doesn't get it. And someone wrote on Health recently that the Wellness Core Original Dry, may have 17% calories from carbohydrates. I've got to see if she'll go for the Evo Cat and Kitten dry instead.

Plus, she persists in giving him some milk, and I think that may be part of the diarrhea he's having. She doesn't understand that it doesn't matter if its lactose-reduced or whatever, it makes him sick. *sigh*

 

[nckitties3]

Not only upset tummy, but human diabetics use milk and orange juice when they're low. He really doesn't need milk. Isn't there a 'milk type' drink that you can buy for animals? I swear I've seen it at some point in my life, but of course, have no idea how many carbs is in it, etc.

Anybody out there drink soy milk or almond milk? Would be interesting to see how those stack up and if they'd be safe for FD cats. Lucian loves milk and it does not bother his tummy, but he hasn't had any since he was dx'd. He gives me the most pitiful look when I have cereal and he can't have a spoonful of milk afterwards. That was always a big treat for him. No dang wonder he's got FD! Between the milk and the sugar in the cereal. @-) Not that he ever had more than a tsp, but all those tiny tsps add up over time. ohmygod_smile

It's so funny to watch. I'd give him a tsp and hold it while he drank it out of the spoon. He likes it SOOOO much, his knees buckle, literally! He'd do that about 3 times by the time he finishes the spoonful. I wish I had that on video, it's hysterical! :lol: If I could find a 'milk' that had the same effect, that he could have, I'd record it.

OH and 17% is still way too high of a carb content for a diet controlled diabetic! There's one that's about 8 isn't there? I know the stuff you get online that is real low or zero is made of gold by the price.

 

[nckitties3]

You know I'd have to check out the 'milk' thing. :lol:

In comparing Almond Milk, Organic 2% Cows milk, Coconut Milk by Silk, Soy Milk and Rice Milk, I found that Almond Milk, organic and unsweetened, might be usable. Might, if they'll actually drink it.

Here's the breakdown:
Organic, Unsweetened Almond Milk
1 Cup has:
35 Calories
1 gram Protein
2 grams Carbs
2.5 grams Fat
0 grams Sugar

The rest run from:
45-130 Calories
1-9 grams Protein
5-13 grams Carbs
2-5 grams Fat
0-12 grams Sugar

Almond Milk is NOT included in that list.

As for myself, I have tried the Vanilla Almond Milk on cereal and it's not bad. Now whether or not Lucian would accept the unflavored/unsweetened variety, I don't know. But at $4 a half gallon at Aldi's, which is much cheaper than anywhere else, I dunno if I'd try it. I may see if they have the right one next time I go and give it a shot. I could probably use it on cereal even if I don't like it in a glass. The Vanilla one I had before was fine on cereal, but I couldn't just drink it.

So if anyone else was curious, there ya go!

 

[BJM]

He probably is milk intolerant, so any form of it is problematic. She just can't hear me say it, though.

Soy isn't good for kitties due to the phytoestrogens which act like hormones.

 

[BJM]

...

Here's the breakdown:
Organic, Unsweetened Almond Milk
1 Cup has:
35 Calories
1 gram Protein
2 grams Carbs
2.5 grams Fat
0 grams Sugar...

For cats and dogs, 1 gram of protein or carbohydrate has 3.5 calories; 1 gram of fat has 8.5 calories. This makes the calorie count 31.75 for them.

which works out to the following:
% calories from
11.0% ~ Protein
22.0% ~ Carbohydrate
66.9% ~ Fat

 

[nckitties3]

That's per cup? Would it still be 22% carb even in a small amount I guess? I have no idea how to break it down, that'a why I said MIGHT be ok, not having a clue.

Was hoping to find something that would be usable for her kitty since she seems to want to give him milk.

Of course, there is no milk in Almond Milk. Being intolerant of milk wouldn't make him intolerant of almond milk would it? It's ground almonds and water, no milk to be found. But I guess if they named it 'Ground Almonds and Water' it wouldn't sell very well. :lol: :lol: Too funny!

If it's 22% carbs, then I'm not gonna bother trying it on Lucian. :sad: I was gonna give it a shot because he does love milk and has no intolerance to it. :sad: Shoot.

 

[Deb & Wink]

So are we at something like day 11 OTJ trial for Dusty? So tired, not sure I can count that high! :shock: :shock:

 

[BJM]

Next Sunday will be day 15.

I hope he's still in good numbers; it eats up a chunk of my time to go down there and hang out to test!