6/14/2019 Leoberry - not eating again

JeffJ

JeffJ

Member Since 2016
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Leo has been barely eating for the past month. Usually I feed him every 2 hours, whatever he will eat. We are still trying to keep him going, and keep weight loss to a minimum. He usually eats some crunch then a little wet food.

Today he ate a bit around 10am, then nothing until 9pm.
Another low point for Leoberry.

Thursday June 13
- barely ate anything until evening
- 9am/9pm 0.2 ml bupe
- 1:30p mirtaz ointment (hunger stimulant)
- 6:00p cerenia
- 9:00pm - cat treat crunches (junk food)
- 9:00pm - 4mg Ondansetron
- 1:00am - finally ate 1/2 TB Frommes chicken crunch (healthy)

He seems interested in food, but then backs off.

Today he was purring a lot, a sign of stress. He was also very lethargic.

Theresa and I will continue to evaluate his health. Our cat-only vet said to just keep him going however we can. So I have been trying my best (this month and the last 4 years). We know this can't continue, but I want his last weeks and days to be happy and comfortable. Oh my sweet Leoberry.:(

I took Leo out back for a short laptime break on Thursday. He loves it so much. Pic from June 13.
Leo and LD - enjoying the world 06-13-2019b.jpg
 
That's a lovely photo Jeff. I'm sorry that Leo is not eating much. It must be so hard for you and Theresa. Sending lots of love and many vines to dear Leo.
 
Sweet Leoberry :)

You've probably tried this (I'm thinking you've probably tried everything) but why not give cerenia and ondansetron at the same time (I know cerenia is supposed to last 24 hrs, but still) and earlier in the morning?

thinking of you all with love, Nikki
 
I don't know if this is right, but my vet told me I could give cerenia twice a day. I don't know what dose your giving, maybe an increase is needed. Could possibly need more pain med.

:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Thanks everyone. We are out of emergency mode for the morning.

Ondansetron - given last night and this morning
Cerenia - gave yesterday (a 2 day dose)
Bupe - will increase from 0.20ml to 0.25ml/dose - twice daily

Leo ate 1 TB crunch and a little wet food this morning. For Leo, that is a normal meal. He also ate some carb treats. I will buy some Friskies crunch (junk food) today to see if he will eat that as well.


Leo and LD relaxing on back porch after brekkie.
Leo and LD - back porch naps 06-14-2019b.jpg
 
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You have really good looking cats! Leo is so so handsome :)

I'm glad to hear he ended up having a normal meal and I hope he gets his appetite back soon. Sending warm thoughts and well wishes :bighug:
 
Sweet! They look so happy out there! Hoping the fresh air & critter watching helps him with his appetite :cat:
 
Just hugs and hugs and hugs - oh how I get what it does to our hearts and heads when they don't feel well. Those 'few more days' and 'few more days' are such gifts.
 
2pm - cerenia, and he ate about 10 crunchy treats. Then he complained and went back to his bed.
He also drank a lot of water, probably to offset the high BG.
AMPS+6 - BG 375

We are hoping this is just a 1 day dip. He is currently on both cerenia and ondansetron.
 
I've never used Mirtazapine as an ointment, but with another med that I was giving it was clear that the oral worked *much* better than the transdermal ointment. It's a long shot, but have you ever given Mirtaz in pill form instead?

I know it's tough to not be sad, but I also know that you both know to treasure every moment. Most of us have been where you are, and it can be hard to remember to be grateful that you are in "extra innings" ("overtime" if you prefer a hockey/basketball analogy instead of baseball), but it is so the truth. We've all gone the distance for our babies and every extra day/week/month(s) that they are here and not suffering is truly a gift. You've got some wonderful boys. Give LD an extra orange boy squeeze from me, that poor little guy has to know something is up with his little buddy too. :bighug:
 
Good suggestion Sandi. We have mirtazipine pills. We will apply that as the dose tomorrow.

Thanks for the hugs. This is a hard time for us. We've been through it before, and Leo is giving us the signs. If we don't see improvement, then we will probably call it on Monday.

Leo was such a good boy when he was younger, and such a good patient through all his medical issues. It seems just yesterday when he was just a baby, then a teenager.
 
I’m glad he’s eating some. I bought Colin some Friskies Seafood Sensations dry junk food too. It made him happy and he ate a little more than he had been. I also found that adding Forti Flora on top of his wet food helped stimulate his appetite. We’re rooting for you Leo!!!
 
This is the hardest time of all...with that pit of your stomach feeling :( Do your best....try to make the best of the time...sending prayers and hugs your way.:bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Hey Jeff, I am keeping fingers and paws crossed that Leo's appy picks up. I am sure you have tried everything on the list of how to entice.

I am sending lots of hugs. It's hard to watch a decline...

:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Thanks for more hugs. Leo is having a small healthy respite this evening. And he is slightly more active. Part of that could be the mirtazipine effects since it is an anti-depressant.

6:00-7:00pm
  • mirtazipine pill
  • 1TB crunch treats, and 1/2 TB of wet food, plus special "hand water" from Dad's bathroom sink
  • peed - 0.0 ketones, thankful for that
  • 1.25F units
Dosing is a challenge. The 1.25 units should be enough for him to process the calories he ate, without a hypo.
 
Just read about Leo's journey, it just breaks my heart. Leo looks like such a prescious boy. Leo I such a fighter. My prayers are with you? I just hate when I read something like this , What wonderful parents Leo has. Gentle hugs
 
Jeff, thinking about you and Leo and sending "hungry" vibes in that direction (for Leo, not you, lol, but feel free to partake)..

I've been following Leo's journey since day one. Tubby and I headed to CSU for SRT shortly after your trip. The Tubmeister didn't fare nearly as well as Leo and the next year was spent battling one thing after another until we finally "called the game."

Acro is brutal and ravishing to their little bodies and just so unfair. I cheered when Leo did so well post-SRT. Tubby never really got that reprieve.

Here's hoping the game goes quite a few more extra innings for Leo.
 
Thanks everyone.

@JL and Chip - I remember when Tubby went to CSU, and then he just didn't really respond. Acro is a cruddy disease, and the effects are hard on our kittehs. I was so sad when Tubby passed so soon after SRT.

Leo did well after his CSU trip for the SRT (radiation) - in Sept 2016. But it seems to be catching up with him.

Today Leo is a bit active. But he will only eat treats. We are giving the proper meds - cerenia, mirtazipine, bupe, (sufficient) levemir. We are happy that he is not exhibiting any pain. Vomit is rare. He is peeing and pooping. But the (cat treat only) diet is not sustainable.
Sat A.M. - 1.5 TB treats and a little soft food for brekkie

I'm getting some (junk) Friskies dry food after lunch for him.
The boys are resting on the couches this morning.
Leo relaxing 06-15-2019b.jpg


LD relaxing 06-15-2019b.jpg
 
Precious boys! Many hugs Jeff and Theresa, this is so very hard. You have done, and are still doing everything you know to do. Your devotion to your little Leoberry, and the rest of your 'pack' is so wonderful. Soft head kisses to Leo, belly rubs for LD and chin scritches to Chinus and the puppies. Keeping you all in my thoughts.
 
A.M. - cerenia, 0.25 bupe, 1.5 TB treats
P.M. - karo at AMPS+6, then 5 TB dry (Friskies and treats)
12.96 Lbs in P.M.

Leo got real hungry at PMPS and ate 3 TB Friskies in addition to the 2 TB (tablespoons) he ate in the afternoon. That is the most he has eaten in 4 hours - for the last week.
 
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Leoberry is temporarily out of danger. He has a new affinity for junk crunch food - Friskies, etc. We don't care as long as he eats.

So far today he ate 4TB of crunch, and his BG is decent. Much better than the alternative situation.

We just stopped a course of Zeniquin. I wonder if that put off his (minimal) hunger, and caused the issue.
 
Hi Jeff and Theresa. You are such wonderful parents. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
And doing such a good job looking after Leo. It is so hard when they won’t eat and of course you know the reason why this is happening.
I hope the improvement in apply continues. If he’ll only eat junk food, I would feed that too.
Sending a plane load of strong Aussie hungry vines to dear Leo. And more hugs to you:bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Its SO stressful when they won't eat & like you, I would be giving him what he will eat. Through issues with pancreatitis my team has always reminded me of the importance of eating. Sending healing & appetite thoughts Leo's way!!
 
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