So, I updated the spreadsheet and I am pretty comfortable with 0.5 unit for now. I do not want to talk about the insulin dosing right now. Midnight has been having loose bowel movements (not liquid, but not formed like she did before diagnosis--to be rather graphic, they are kind of like thick gravy and no blood or mucus except a rare little spot of red) since the diagnosis of diabetes. Food changes have not made any difference with her BMs. Metamucil and fortiflora didn't make any difference. She is acting normal--playing, preening,peeing normal amounts, purring on occasion. Her appetite and thirst are normal. The bowel movements are the concern right now. The vet wants to put her on a high fiber diet. I think he said Purina WD. I am so afraid that if it is higher carb, her insulin requirement will spike. But what is the higher concern--the bowel movements or the blood sugar? I am starting her on a two week course of flagyl, if I can get the pills into her, that is. He suggested blood work in 2 weeks if the flagyl doesn't help. Any other thoughts, anyone?
Could use some advice!--Loose bowel movements
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BJM
Member Since 2010
Have you had a trial of metronidazole? If it is inflammatory bowel disease, it may be helpful.
Have you been able to identify specific ingredients which are causal? ex Gluten, chicken, etc. Or done any testing for food allergy (blood)?
If treatments alter the glucose, you adjust around it with the insulin, as needed.
And a high fiber is essentially adding Metamucil/psyllium, so the Rx high fiber diet may accomplish nothing. If it is food intolerances, the ZD diet, although higher carb, may be helpful.
Have you been able to identify specific ingredients which are causal? ex Gluten, chicken, etc. Or done any testing for food allergy (blood)?
If treatments alter the glucose, you adjust around it with the insulin, as needed.
And a high fiber is essentially adding Metamucil/psyllium, so the Rx high fiber diet may accomplish nothing. If it is food intolerances, the ZD diet, although higher carb, may be helpful.
BJM
Member Since 2010
If you see symptom improvement on the Flagyl, that supports Inflammatory Bowel Disease. There is a Yahoo Feline IBD group of folks whose cats have this and you may find joining it helpful.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
What color are the poops? Sometimes color can help with diagnosis.
Are the poops really smelly or only normally smelly? Smell can also help with diagnosis.
Are the poops really smelly or only normally smelly? Smell can also help with diagnosis.
BJM
Member Since 2010
Would you briefly summarize the poop issues?
When started?
Consistency?
Odor?
Fiber supplement - how long used & results
FortiFlora - how long used & results
Flagyl was just started - any notes on effects?
Some possibilities:
If it occurred with the food change and the change was done slowly, it well may be an ingredient in the food. You'll need a list of the ingredients for each. Any on both lists are unlikely to be the problem.
If it is Inflammatory Bowel Disease, the Flagyl may help, as may prednisone.
IF there is any possibility a flea could have gotten in an bitten her, or if she goes outside, checking for parasites may be warranted.
When started?
Consistency?
Odor?
Fiber supplement - how long used & results
FortiFlora - how long used & results
Flagyl was just started - any notes on effects?
Some possibilities:
If it occurred with the food change and the change was done slowly, it well may be an ingredient in the food. You'll need a list of the ingredients for each. Any on both lists are unlikely to be the problem.
If it is Inflammatory Bowel Disease, the Flagyl may help, as may prednisone.
IF there is any possibility a flea could have gotten in an bitten her, or if she goes outside, checking for parasites may be warranted.
The poop issue started when she was diagnosed with diabetes. I switched her from Hills RD to Purina DM. It has not changed at all with food changes (EVO and Nature's Variety). Consistency is like thick gravy. Odor is not unpleasant. Smells more like food than poop to me. Metamucil and fortiflora were given for a few weeks or maybe a month, with no changes. Flagyl was started today. There is always the chance of flea bite(s) but I have not seen any fleas and she has not been scratching herself at all like she did the one time she did have fleas. I have her on flea prevention once a month. The ingredients are way too many for me to figure out what it could be!!
EVO: Turkey, Chicken Meal, Chicken, Herring Meal, Chicken Fat, Peas, Egg, Turkey Meal, Pea Fiber, Natural Flavors, Apples, Carrots, Cranberries, Herring Oil, Tomatoes, Pumpkin, Dried Chicory Root, Cottage Cheese, Alfalfa Sprouts, Taur, DL Methionine, Minerals, Vitamins, Direct-Fed Microbials.
Nature's Variety Instinct: Chicken, Raw Ground Chicken Bone, Turkey, Turkey Liver, Turkey Heart, Apples, Carrots, Butternut Squash, Ground Flaxseeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Broccoli, Lettuce, Spinach, Dried Kelp, Apple Cider Vinegar, Parsley, Honey, Salmon Oil, Olive Oil, Blueberries, Alfalfa Sprouts, Persimmons, Inulin, Rosemary, Sage, Clove.
The Purina DM is mostly vitamins and nutrients (Poultry by-product meal, soy protein isolate, corn gluten meal, soy flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), corn starch, animal liver flavor, calcium carbonate, phosphoric acid, fish oil, potassium chloride, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, DL-Methionine, choline chloride, taurine, powdered cellulose, salt, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, manganese sulfate, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite. L-4574). These ingredient lists were cut and pasted from the internet.
EVO: Turkey, Chicken Meal, Chicken, Herring Meal, Chicken Fat, Peas, Egg, Turkey Meal, Pea Fiber, Natural Flavors, Apples, Carrots, Cranberries, Herring Oil, Tomatoes, Pumpkin, Dried Chicory Root, Cottage Cheese, Alfalfa Sprouts, Taur, DL Methionine, Minerals, Vitamins, Direct-Fed Microbials.
Nature's Variety Instinct: Chicken, Raw Ground Chicken Bone, Turkey, Turkey Liver, Turkey Heart, Apples, Carrots, Butternut Squash, Ground Flaxseeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Broccoli, Lettuce, Spinach, Dried Kelp, Apple Cider Vinegar, Parsley, Honey, Salmon Oil, Olive Oil, Blueberries, Alfalfa Sprouts, Persimmons, Inulin, Rosemary, Sage, Clove.
The Purina DM is mostly vitamins and nutrients (Poultry by-product meal, soy protein isolate, corn gluten meal, soy flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), corn starch, animal liver flavor, calcium carbonate, phosphoric acid, fish oil, potassium chloride, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, DL-Methionine, choline chloride, taurine, powdered cellulose, salt, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, manganese sulfate, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite. L-4574). These ingredient lists were cut and pasted from the internet.
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