Heather & Seasaidh (GA)
Active Member
DCIN foster Albert needs a forever home...his blog is here: http://fdmb-cin.blogspot.com/2012/04/albert.html
Neuropathy question first. Is it possible that neuropathy can affect the taste buds as well? My mother just went through six months of chemo and got neuropathy. She described to me the numbness she felt in her feet and hands, as well as how she couldn't taste anything and it was difficult for her to eat (because of the lack of taste). Albert has neuropathy and does not want to eat anything. Well, he'd like to have a little dry, but even when I've given that to him (I was desperate for him to eat) he didn't eat a whole lot. It seems only the smelliest foods get his attention, such as tuna and cooked chicken livers. I wonder if his neuropathy has affected his taste buds.
Update: What little appetite he had has gone downhill and I have to make him eat his pill pockets (which have his Methyl B12). It might be that particular flavor (salmon); it was a new bag, but I have another flavor I'll try on him that he may like. I've been syringe-feeding him FF. I wish he would eat on his own, but he won't. He won't even drink tuna juice anymore. I've tried Parmesan cheese and FortiFlora but he won't touch either. He will drink water, however.
Last weekend I fed him some dry because I was desperate for him to eat something. I'm not sure how high he went, but the highest number I got was in the low 200s. I didn't give him insulin because his numbers were going down. He started walking on his hocks again, whereas before his walking had been getting better. He hasn't had any dry food since. His numbers are now excellent and I haven't had to give him insulin. He seems to be staying around the 80-90-100 range.
I take him outside on a leash everyday and he is able to get up and down from his window on his own, although I'm sure it must be difficult for him. I've tried to make everything easy for him by putting objects around for him to climb on to get to the bed, etc. He's met the other cats and they all like him. Well, Bingley was a little jealous at first, but he's coming around and not hissing or growling anymore. Spirit liked him from the beginning. Sometimes I let Albert go in other parts of the house, but he prefers to stay in his room where he feels safe. He is sometimes vocal, but he's always a sweetheart. We (meaning I and some of the others here on the board) think he's part Bengal. You can't see his Bengal markings in this latest pic, but in my last post about him you can. He has a little bit of dander, but that's gotten better since I've been fostering him.
edited to add: we have a flood watch for the next couple of days, and Albert's room tends to get water in it sometimes so I'm going to have bring him into my bedroom.
Neuropathy question first. Is it possible that neuropathy can affect the taste buds as well? My mother just went through six months of chemo and got neuropathy. She described to me the numbness she felt in her feet and hands, as well as how she couldn't taste anything and it was difficult for her to eat (because of the lack of taste). Albert has neuropathy and does not want to eat anything. Well, he'd like to have a little dry, but even when I've given that to him (I was desperate for him to eat) he didn't eat a whole lot. It seems only the smelliest foods get his attention, such as tuna and cooked chicken livers. I wonder if his neuropathy has affected his taste buds.
Update: What little appetite he had has gone downhill and I have to make him eat his pill pockets (which have his Methyl B12). It might be that particular flavor (salmon); it was a new bag, but I have another flavor I'll try on him that he may like. I've been syringe-feeding him FF. I wish he would eat on his own, but he won't. He won't even drink tuna juice anymore. I've tried Parmesan cheese and FortiFlora but he won't touch either. He will drink water, however.
Last weekend I fed him some dry because I was desperate for him to eat something. I'm not sure how high he went, but the highest number I got was in the low 200s. I didn't give him insulin because his numbers were going down. He started walking on his hocks again, whereas before his walking had been getting better. He hasn't had any dry food since. His numbers are now excellent and I haven't had to give him insulin. He seems to be staying around the 80-90-100 range.
I take him outside on a leash everyday and he is able to get up and down from his window on his own, although I'm sure it must be difficult for him. I've tried to make everything easy for him by putting objects around for him to climb on to get to the bed, etc. He's met the other cats and they all like him. Well, Bingley was a little jealous at first, but he's coming around and not hissing or growling anymore. Spirit liked him from the beginning. Sometimes I let Albert go in other parts of the house, but he prefers to stay in his room where he feels safe. He is sometimes vocal, but he's always a sweetheart. We (meaning I and some of the others here on the board) think he's part Bengal. You can't see his Bengal markings in this latest pic, but in my last post about him you can. He has a little bit of dander, but that's gotten better since I've been fostering him.
edited to add: we have a flood watch for the next couple of days, and Albert's room tends to get water in it sometimes so I'm going to have bring him into my bedroom.
