1/6 Max AMPS 379 +3 417 + 5 338 +7 254

Max & Lori

Max & Lori

Member Since 2021
Yesterday https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/1-5-max-amps-442-3-359-6-189.257495/#post-2897243
Increased back to 9.5 units this morning. He is still taking Metronidazole 1/4 tab. His BMs are still really soft but not diarrhea. I mentioned this before at the Internal Medicine vet but his BMs have been really dark, sometimes look black. It’s been this way for a really long time. He has a long history of diarrhea and constipation and I noticed about 6 months ago that they were really dark, like black since he started eating wet LC food. Before he was dx with diabetes he was eating Royal Canin GI dry and wet food and the BMs were not dark looking. It seems like lately they all look black. I’m a retired nurse and know that usually signifies digested blood. He also takes Zofran bid and I just started giving him 1/4 tab Famotidine twice a day a couple of days ago. He will throw up especially if his stomach gets empty and acid builds up. The vet gave him Zofran but someone else said Famotidine would help also. He has a vet visit coming up in a week or so but I’ve been concerned about him for a while, about not only his BGs, but these bowel issues as well. I know about the bad things it could be also, but I try not to think about that. He had an abdominal ultrasound back in September at NC State.
 
Last edited:
Good luck with the new dose. I hope his stomach issues are something easily treated and you get clear answers at the vet appointment. Sending prayers. :bighug::bighug:
 
Yes the Pepcid can help with empty stomach acid problems for sure. Aside from the blood possibility, could any of his medications cause dark stool? Just a thought. Did the dark stool begin before or after that ultrasound? Before, right? Since it was about six moago?
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Yes the Pepcid can help with empty stomach acid problems for sure. Aside from the blood possibility, could any of his medications cause dark stool? Just a thought. Did the dark stool begin before or after that ultrasound? Before, right? Since it was about six moago?
Click to expand...
Yes it was way before the ultrasound. I don’t know of any meds that would cause dark stool that he’s taking. Zofran, Gabapentin, Flovent, probiotics, Zobaline, and now Pepcid. I’m thinking it’s just from the IBD causing inflammation in his stomach and intestines. I know if that’s not controlled though it could lead to something worse. The vets around here just stay on me about a prescription diet which I don’t want to do. He doesn’t like it and I really don’t care for the ingredients in a lot of those foods. He does better on Weruva, as far as the vomiting goes, than he did on fancy feast. His ultrasound in September showed thickening of the intestines which is common in acromegaly according to the vet. I’m really hoping my vet will do the Budesonide for him.
 
Max & Lori said:
Yes it was way before the ultrasound. I don’t know of any meds that would cause dark stool that he’s taking. Zofran, Gabapentin, Flovent, probiotics, Zobaline, and now Pepcid. I’m thinking it’s just from the IBD causing inflammation in his stomach and intestines. I know if that’s not controlled though it could lead to something worse. The vets around here just stay on me about a prescription diet which I don’t want to do. He doesn’t like it and I really don’t care for the ingredients in a lot of those foods. He does better on Weruva, as far as the vomiting goes, than he did on fancy feast. His ultrasound in September showed thickening of the intestines which is common in acromegaly according to the vet. I’m really hoping my vet will do the Budesonide for him.
Click to expand...
I hope so too. Maybe that will help clear up the diarrhea and dark stool.
 
What proteins is Max eating now? I find the red meat ones cause darker stool than birds. A novel protein can help IBD.

Does Max have signs of CKD? If no CKD, it's not a good idea long term for GI disease cats. Discussion here.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
What proteins is Max eating now? I find the red meat ones cause darker stool than birds. A novel protein can help IBD.

Does Max have signs of CKD? If no CKD, it's not a good idea long term for GI disease cats. Discussion here.
Click to expand...
He eats chicken, turkey and tuna flavors in the Weruva foods. He has beef only occasionally because he doesn’t like it as well.
What are some novel protein foods that are good to try for a diabetic cat???? He has tried Royal Canin Rabbit. Didn’t like it.
He does drink a lot and urinate a lot so I am not sure about his kidney function. He had +1 protein in his urine back in October when he was at NC State. His BUN and creatinine were on the upper limits of normal. I am supposed to have him checked again when he sees the vet on January 17th. With all of his other problems I sure hope that doesn’t get added to the mix of comorbidities. With him being still uncontrolled it wouldn’t surprise me though but I hope not.
Maybe I should hold off on the Pepcid and just continue the Zofran twice per day. Is Zofran okay?
 
Last edited:
Nature's Variety has rabbit and duck and lamb, maybe venison. Ziwipeak has venison, lamb, lamb/rabbit combo. Koha has some novel proteins, such as duck and I think kangaroo? Also check out Rawz, Hounds and Gatos, Identity and Nature's Logic. That's the canned that I could think of, there are likely more, and there are options with raw. Basically look for proteins he hasn't had before. Chicken and fish are common allergens. Do check the ingredients cause many manufacturers put other proteins in the mix, so you'll see something like rabbit and chicken in a rabbit can. :rolleyes: Ones labelled limited ingredient are typically OK. In addition to the proteins listed above, I've seen cans with cornish game hen, pork.

Zofran/ondansetron is good, you can even give it 3 times a day. It can be constipating, but sounds like not an issue with Max at the moment.
 
RE: the stool color, is it not just dark or black, but black, tar colored? Very dark almost black stool can be ingested hair, like my K.C. had. Has your vet done a fecal occult test yet?
 
Yes it looks black to me. No fecal occult test yet but I’m sure she will do one when we go to the vet on the 17th.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Nature's Variety has rabbit and duck and lamb, maybe venison. Ziwipeak has venison, lamb, lamb/rabbit combo. Koha has some novel proteins, such as duck and I think kangaroo? Also check out Rawz, Hounds and Gatos, Identity and Nature's Logic. That's the canned that I could think of, there are likely more, and there are options with raw. Basically look for proteins he hasn't had before. Chicken and fish are common allergens. Do check the ingredients cause many manufacturers put other proteins in the mix, so you'll see something like rabbit and chicken in a rabbit can. :rolleyes: Ones labelled limited ingredient are typically OK. In addition to the proteins listed above, I've seen cans with cornish game hen, pork.

Zofran/ondansetron is good, you can even give it 3 times a day. It can be constipating, but sounds like not an issue with Max at the moment.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for these suggestions. I will look into these!
 
I wasn’t thinking that you were planning to give the Pepcid daily, but only occasionally at this point. Slippery Elm Bark is good for excess acid as well. I didn’t want to mention it last night as I was thinking…. I am sure I have talked to Lori about Slippery Elm bark before and she probably already knows anyway. Zofran is so good at treating nausea, albeit constipating in some cats. I recommend the tiny mini-melts (orally dissolving tablets) not that I ever dissolve them in my cats’ mouths, but only because they are small and easy to administer in a pill popper and also can be put in a gelcap easily and also combined with other meds in that same gelcap. Not the metronidazole though! That’s too big. ☹️
 
I did know about slippery elm and he tried it once, then had a bad asthma attack just after it. Not sure if it was coincidental or not so I decided to hold off and that and maybe try it again some other time. He was also having all of that diarrhea so I stopped all of his supplements and am gradually starting back on what he needs. Trying too many new things at one time doesn’t work for Max with all of his allergies, IBD and asthma.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top