Help needed— sick cat (not diabetes related)

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Kiera said:
So I definitely think trying a different food could help. Do you think fancy feast turkey is enough of a change from the salmon?
Wondering if I need to concern myself with phosphorus or not? It certainly makes it much higher finding something for a sensitive stomach, that’s low carb and low phosphorus. It also has to be a pate. He won’t eat chunks or strips of things. Weruva has food that checks a lot of the boxes but he didn’t tolerate those well, unfortunately.
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I’m not sure what he will eat or what might work. You would know best. It will be trial and error. And the real kicker is that food changes usually have to be made gradually in cats in order to avoid giving them diarrhea! But since he already has severe diarrhea then I am not sure what to think about how to approach it.

I did not see evidence in his bloodwork that his kidneys are bad at all. I do not think he has kidney disease at this time. His Creatinine was within normal limits (WNL) his Phosphorus was WNL, only the BUN was barely out of range and that can be caused by the diarrhea causing dehydration. His USG from the urinalysis was also good, which shows that his kidneys are functioning and concentrating urine as they should be. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am a proponent of feeding lower end phosphorus cat foods to all of my middle aged and senior cats, in order to reduce the workload of the kidneys. However, if you have to prioritize right now, you may have to feed a food that is not as low in phosphorus as you would like. Stopping the diarrhea trumps everything else for the time being, wouldn’t you say? Right now his phosphorus is low normal so it could even go up a bit and you would be fine. If he actually does get kidney disease in future years, you could use a phosphorus binder to keep his blood phosphorus levels down —- but you are absolutely nowhere’s near that stage! I do not believe he has any indication of kidney disease at this time (based upon his bloodwork.)
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
I’m not sure what he will eat or what might work. You would know best. It will be trial and error. And the real kicker is that food changes usually have to be made gradually in cats in order to avoid giving them diarrhea! But since he already has severe diarrhea then I am not sure what to think about how to approach it.

I did not see evidence in his bloodwork that his kidneys are bad at all. I do not think he has kidney disease at this time. His Creatinine was within normal limits (WNL) his Phosphorus was WNL, only the BUN was barely out of range and that can be caused by the diarrhea causing dehydration. His USG from the urinalysis was also good, which shows that his kidneys are functioning and concentrating urine as they should be. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am a proponent of feeding lower end phosphorus cat foods to all of my middle aged and senior cats, in order to reduce the workload of the kidneys. However, if you have to prioritize right now, you may have to feed a food that is not as low in phosphorus as you would like. Stopping the diarrhea trumps everything else for the time being, wouldn’t you say? Right now his phosphorus is low normal so it could even go up a bit and you would be fine. If he actually does get kidney disease in future years, you could use a phosphorus binder to keep his blood phosphorus levels down —- but you are absolutely nowhere’s near that stage! I do not believe he has any indication of kidney disease at this time (based upon his bloodwork.)
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Thank you for all of that information! I will read through it again after work
 
Kiera said:
Thank you for all of that information! I will read through it again after work
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Thanks. I didn't want to get technical about the GI blood panels, so I didn't. I think you are really overwhelmed right now, but the vets know what this is and I would ask them about it. You already did the stool testing and that was negative, so this is probably the next step before an ultrasound. I'm so sorry that you are going through this. Believe me, I've been in your shoes before. I know you asked about how do you know if you would not spend money on tests and then everything comes back negative. There is no guarantee. It's just that if you work incrementally you may be able to find some answers. Unfortunately, you even had to switch vets and that ended up costing you more money.

Oh, by the way, the Care Credit that I mentioned is a credit card (owned by Synchrony Bank) that allows you to finance expenses like veterinary bills (well and people use it for medical bills) with zero interest if the "promotional balance" is paid off before the expiration date. You would have to ask, but certain amounts are six months interest free and larger amounts are 12 months interest free. The only thing you really have to be careful about with Care Credit is making sure that they apply your payments to the promotional balance that is expiring first so that you don't end up paying interest on the balance. I do this all the time. It's not a problem if you only have one promotional balance, but if you have more than one then they apply your payments all over the place and not in your best interest. I always make a payment on their website or app. Then I write a message to them telling them exactly where to apply the payment. If I don't do this then they just apply my payments to a promotional balance that is expiring a long time from now -- and not to the one that is about to expire (and that I am about to pay interest on if I don't pay it off!) So I think it's kind of a scam, but I will say that, to date, I have never paid them one cent of interest on my purchases at the vet! They're not actually making money off of me -- so from that standpoint, it's bad for them. I'm sure plenty of other people are paying interest though, so they stay in business.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Hi there. I was just checking in today and I hope you and Bailey are doing okay.
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No, not really. It’s been almost a week on prednisolone and metro and his diarrhea hasn’t stopped. Not even for a second. It’s awful! I switched from fancy feast salmon to the turkey and giblets but that didn’t make a difference. I’ve been giving him a teaspoon of organic probiotic yogurt — also not helping.
I’m so overwhelmed and stressed over how much money I’ve spent and really don’t know how I could possibly afford even more testing. Plus, he does so horrible at vets (he’s gets gabapentin prior but it doesn’t help. The vet said his anxiety is an extreme case). I’m worried the stress alone of going to a 4th place could kill him.

I’ve spent countless hours researching and trying to find answers— but the more I read the more confused I get.

I got liquid bupe (very expensive for a very tiny amount— I even asked the pharmacist, “is this supposed to be almost empty”). My vet also sent over the Bupe in a transdermal gel when I asked after doing more research but I haven’t bothered to call and find out how much that’s going to be. Or if that’s the best thing for him. Not even sure he’s in pain, except for the short amount of time that he cries before going to the bathroom. I just imagine he has to be.

While my vet doesn’t seem like he has any idea how to help me, he does seem very willing to prescribe anything I ask for. The problem is… I don’t know what I need.

He gave a b12 injection last week but it didn’t help. Am I supposed to keep doing that anyway? Or was one time enough? Maybe not necessary since it made no difference. Again, I don’t know.

I’m guessing the diarrhea is IBD or lymphoma (either way it came on so suddenly and unexpectedly). That’s just what I keep reading about anyway. Not sure what my next steps are to try to treat one or the other. Or if it’s something else entirely.

I have zero idea what’s causing the blood in his urine which is also upsetting me. I’m not sleeping much and I just wish I had a plan or felt like I was on the right track.

I was thinking about trying a food other than fancy feast— but I get so confused reading the charts. I don’t know how to find what’s good for a senior cat with all of these issues and diabetes and possible early kidney issue so phosphorus has to be watched. When I manage to find something that looks like the carbs and phosphorus is low— I can’t figure out if it’s good for possible IBD. He’s picky and will only eat pates. Won’t eat chunks of anything. I know he was eating duck for awhile that he seemed to like but then I found out the one I was feeding was very high in carbs (after his diabetes dx— because prior to that I was clueless).

I’ve seen probiotics mentioned but I don’t know which is best or how to use them. My hands and arms are literally covered in deep puncture wounds from dealing with his current meds. It’s a miracle I haven’t needed an antibiotic myself. So I can’t even imagine adding more pills. But I will if I have to. I tried putting medicine on food in the past to no avail but I’m sure it tasted bad. Maybe they don’t all taste so awful?

I’ve seen other supplements mentioned but all of the information is honestly overwhelming and I don’t know which to use or what combo.

What I really need—(even though it’s not going to happen)… I wish I had a vet or someone that would just tell me exactly what to get, how much to use and how often. Someone to tell me exactly what food to get, what medicine to give and what other supplements or probiotics to try with detailed instructions that a child could understand (that’s my comprehension level). But no such luck.

I’m scared and upset about the meds not working and wondering what it means. Is there a different medication that I should be trying? Or do I continue with what I have? I have no idea…

plus, I’m worried that I’m ignoring the blood in his urine but the vet is clueless on how to help with that too. How am I supposed to figure it out if he can’t?

Bottom line— I’m just spinning in circles and no better than I was when this started.

Sorry for the rant. I know you’ve already given me TONS of info. and I’m beyond grateful. You are a lot smarter than me though and I can’t make heads or tails of it all. You’ve mentioned lots of stuff but I don’t know which ones would be best to start with, where to get them or how to use them. I imagine certain things can’t be given with others and I don’t want to try too much at once. Or do I? And I keep coming back to the fact that I’m doing nothing about the blood in his urine. Am I overreacting?

In case it wasn’t obvious— I’m a mess. If Bailey was someone else’s cat, they would prob be helping him more. But the poor thing is stuck with me who hasn’t been able to help him yet. He whines as if he’s asking me to help him… and I don’t. I just force gross liquid in his mouth and pills down his throat and it doesn’t make him feel any better. At least with insulin, I think he understood that I was helping. He deserves better than me
 
Can you describe what his stools currently look like (color, consistency, oily vs not, etc)? What were they like before this started?

Is there any vomiting (other than the two times you mentioned)?

Are there any other symptoms or ways he’s acting that are out of the norm? (Wobbly gait, incoordination, etc)

Has he lost weight?
 
On a positive note, he still has a very strong appetite and drinking plenty of water. He’s still chewing on boxes and playing with toys occasionally. He’s jumping up on the bed fine and otherwise acting like his normal self. No vomiting either.

Just LOTS of diarrhea— lots in terms of both frequency and size. I’m pretty sure there’s blood in there and in his urine too unless that miraculously resolved on its own with no treatment. If only! There’s no chance that’s the case.

I have to wipe him multiple times after each episode too, which seems strange to me but otherwise he drags his butt and licks to get clean.
 
JL and Chip said:
Can you describe what his stools currently look like (color, consistency, oily vs not, etc)? What were they like before this started?

Is there any vomiting (other than the two times you mentioned)?

Are there any other symptoms or ways he’s acting that are out of the norm? (Wobbly gait, incoordination, etc)

Has he lost weight?
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I answered some of that in my message I just posted before seeing your questions.

But he’s not losing any weight or acting different. Other than being more vocal— especially prior to the diarrhea. He has a strong appetite. Almost more so that usual.

No vomiting.

He’s sleeping more.

Nothing else that I’ve seen. He may be having some weakness or pain because he’s been lying on the hard floor lately which isn’t like him. Almost like it’s easier than going on the bed, couch or into one of his cat beds. He will jump up on the couch or bed still though so I’m not sure.

His diarrhea has been a yellowish brown— almost a little greenish at times. Sometimes is looks like there’s blood but not an obvious amount. I’m not even positive on that. The consistency is always between VERY soft or complete liquid. It’s been going on for weeks like this with no break. There’s always a lot of it too. A lot more than there should be. Not sure how he’s even producing so much.

Prior to when this started happening they were solid and dark brown and relatively small amounts. He’s never had tummy issues or diarrhea except for when we’ve changed his food to Weruva.
 
JL and Chip said:
Can you describe what his stools currently look like (color, consistency, oily vs not, etc)? What were they like before this started?

Is there any vomiting (other than the two times you mentioned)?

Are there any other symptoms or ways he’s acting that are out of the norm? (Wobbly gait, incoordination, etc)

Has he lost weight?
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This will prob sound weird, but when it’s not liquid— it looks almost sticky. Not that I’m touching it, but that’s how I would describe it. If that makes any sense at all?

I haven’t noticed any times where it looked oily but now that you say that, I’m not 100% certain. It hasn’t been oily in a way that stood out to me at least.
 
Oh, one other thing out of the ordinary… He doesn’t like when I pick him up lately. Not that he ever loved it. But he would tolerate it for a short amount of time— for example. to bring him into another room or something. Lately, when I do that, he whines and tries to get away. Acts like I’m hurting him… But that could be because I have been forcing all this medicine on him and he could think that’s what I’m about to do. Or maybe picking him up like a baby is bothering his stomach or bum. I can’t tell. Both vets did a physical exam and didn’t feel anything out of the ordinary.


Probably not worth mentioning but he has cold symptoms— stuffy nose, sniffling, watery eyes. This is nothing new. He’s had this issue on and off for his entire life. I forget what the vet told me it was because it was so long ago. But I was told there’s nothing that can be done for it.
If it’s a symptom of some thing else, I wouldn’t know the difference.
 
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I would like to mention again that even though I have been told by several vets that Solencia didn’t cause whatever is going on— my gut still says otherwise. Perhaps it’s not a direct cause. I believe Solencia may have had a side effect that resulted in another side effect/problem.

Maybe I feel so strongly about it because the GI issues began immediately after the first injection. They continued and slowly worsened after the second. However, the last injection was in February so it can’t be a direct cause still.

I’ve been reading the medication booklet/insert (whatever it’s called) but it’s honestly another language to me. It shows that diarrhea and vomiting are side effects but that they resolve quickly. I think? I wish I was able to see info past the study. Here is the manufacturer medication info:
https://www.zoetisus.com/content/_assets/docs/solensia-pi.pdf

It mentions some rare side effects that I don’t understand at all. Words like serum lactate dehydrogenase and bilirubinuria and Serum creatinine and lipid sediment. Umm… what?

Could anything like that cause something that would present as GI issues? I’m probably WAY off base though…

Just trying to find an answer when the vet has none. Trying to avoid even more texts after I’ve done so many,

Solencia is a monoclonal antibody and I could’ve sworn I remember reading about a link between that and infections in humans. I might be wrong though because I can’t find it now
 
Kiera -

Have you given any thought to either a diet of novel proteins or a raw diet? If IBD is a factor, you would need to switch to a diet of proteins that are not part of Bailey's normal food. IBD is almost like an allergy/inflammation caused by the proteins that your cat has been eating. I fed my cats turkey and chicken forever until one of them developed IBD. Now both cats eat pork, venison, or bison. Many IBD cats (and other cats) who have problems with diarrhea do very well on a raw diet. This is a link to the website for Raw Feeding for IBD Cats. There's information in the Meds & Supplements section on treating diarrhea. The group also has a very active Facebook page where you can get questions answered.
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
Kiera -

Have you given any thought to either a diet of novel proteins or a raw diet? If IBD is a factor, you would need to switch to a diet of proteins that are not part of Bailey's normal food. IBD is almost like an allergy/inflammation caused by the proteins that your cat has been eating. I fed my cats turkey and chicken forever until one of them developed IBD. Now both cats eat pork, venison, or bison. Many IBD cats (and other cats) who have problems with diarrhea do very well on a raw diet. This is a link to the website for Raw Feeding for IBD Cats. There's information in the Meds & Supplements section on treating diarrhea. The group also has a very active Facebook page where you can get questions answered.
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Thank you! Not sure if it is IBD or not because of his white blood cells that indicate and infection. I will check out the link.

I don’t think raw food is going to be an option because he won’t even eat chunks of food if it’s in his cat food. It has to be a pate —like fancy feast classics.
Do you have any recommendations for a brand to look at? It’s so hard when trying to find something for IBD that’s low carb and low phosphorus. Impossible actually…
 
I use ZiwiPeak. It's pate style. My guys love the venison. There's also a rabbit and lamb flavor. One of my cat's isn't crazy about that flavor but will begrudgingly eat it. I'd suggest calling around to pet food stores or checking online to see who stocks the brand. They also make an air dried raw food in many of the same flavors.
 
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