Home made kitty food for IBD & pancreatitis?

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Julie and Alice

Julie and Alice

Member Since 2014
Hi All,
Does anyone have any ideas or could point me to reliable advice for feeding Alice. I tried to purchase a book recommended on the forum but its not available in UK. She tolerates the newly introduced Hills Diabetic D/M but she hates it! She is not eating too well because of this as she spends time asking for food even though its sitting there. I keep adding bits of lamb to it which only helps a little, then I worry she is having too much protein. I think I'd like to try preparing my own but she has IBD & pancreatitis. She tolerates very little. We have tried the sensitive food from the Happy Kitty Company but it seems to be giving her diarrheoa. I am trying not to give her her Royal Canin Chicken & rice as probably high Carb but I do weaken and give her a little. This is the food she is used to. I feel sad to see her obsessed with food & unable to eat anything that she enjoys.
Any ideas for preparing own food appreciated,
Juliana
 
Hi Juliana, my cat Nikki had a similar problem to Alice, although even an ultrasound showed no abnormalities. We were never really sure what caused her food intolerance. One thing I found after she became diabetic is that hitting the right insulin dose cured her diarrhea up almost overnight. It was amazing to me! My vet has zero idea of why that happened but I suspect she's always had some pancreatic problems and when the insulin gave her pancreas a break, it "reset" itself.

That aside, I was thinking that maybe you could look at the ingredients in the foods she does tolerate and try and find foods with similar ingredients that she'll eat. In Nikki's case, after the diarrhea stopped, I found she has the firmest poo when she only eats chicken and turkey. Red meat seems to set her diarrhea off.

Another option is to feed her the chicken & rice and increase insulin to deal with the carbs. Less ideal, but Alice eating is the most important thing!

Good luck!
 
Hi Julie,

As I understand it it's possible to add up to 20% of pure meat to the diet, as long as the rest of the diet consists of a decent quality food that meets the needs for calcium, vitamins and minerals etc (and all decent canned foods should meet that criteria).

When adding more than 20% meat to the diet it becomes more important that the meat is a 'balanced food'. Plain meat isn't a balanced food. It's rather like feeding 'fillet of mouse' rather than the 'whole mouse'.

Some people make their own raw cat food. Some buy it.
I regularly supplement my cats' diets with whole minced wild rabbit from a company called 'Woldsway'. It's rabbit with taurine added. Rabbit is usually well tolerated by cats.
I also buy a ready made complete raw food called 'Natural Instinct', which comes in 500g trays.
A company called 'Honeys' produce raw cat food too and their stuff is very popular. (They make mainly dog food but do some for cats as well).
And the 'Nature's Menu' people have just started doing a raw food too. (I haven't tried that, but I think Juliet has.)

I do sometimes make a complete raw food by using the minced rabbit as a base and adding extra muscle meat (heart is good), taurine, B vitamins, Vitamin E, egg, fat (a little duck or goose fat) and fish oil for Omega 3.

I'll post some links to the raw food companies here later.

I'm really sorry that the Happy Kitty food is giving Alice loose poo. Do you think she is intolerant to it? Or is it possible that the switchover was just a tad too fast for her..?

Will be back later with links.

Big hug to you,

Eliz
 
Ooh, just had another thought, Julie.

Another UK member, Diane (BaileyUK) has a diabetic kitty with pancreatitis. She may be able to help you with food suggestions, and I think she gives Aloe juice to help Bailey's P'titis. Might be worth PM'ing her...?

Eliz
 
Thanks BMJ, Nikki's mom & Eliz,

Thats great info thanks! I will follow up. Alice has never ever had raw food but I'd like to try it. I don't want to upset the insulin changeover but maybe I could try a small quantity to start with. Rabbit sounds good (poor bunnies!). Also I'll follow up all your ideas. The problem at the moment seems to be time now to learn all this quickly! Time seems to be short lately. Yes its such a shame the Happy Kitty Co food upset her. She still has a funny tummy from that. She has only had the total of one tin spread over 3 days. its probably great food, but like me, she's just sensitive (we have so much in common, apart from the fur!) I gave the new food mixed with her other food. I am so grieved for her as she loved it!. It would be great to find something that is healthy that she can tolerate. I will try a bit more of the Happy Kitty one later when all has settled down but I'm pretty sure that was it.

Its so encouraging to hear about Nikki, great to hear that she improved! Alice has shown some improvement since the Lantus already in that she has started to play (with the 'Happy Kitty' free mouse)!! It is a real tonic to see. She fluctuates throughout the day. Increasing dose next shot so hopefully start to have more normal BGs too.

I wondered if with pancreatitis protein should be low? I know the pancreas makes the enzymes to digest protein, there again protein is so important.
Eliz - you've given me a few smiles!
Plain meat isn't a balanced food. It's rather like feeding 'fillet of mouse' rather than the 'whole mouse'.
Click to expand...
:lol: Makes sense of course. My parents used to have a cat who ate the real thing but always used to leave the gall bladder! :shock: I felt like I'd come to a frustrating 'dead end' with diet - but now there's lots to try.

You are all such a great resource & all so kind too - thank youx
Julianax
 
I'm glad to hear Alice is feeling more playful! That's a great sign. :-D We talk about the whole cat report (WCR) quite a bit. It's just as important to know how the cat is acting and feeling as it is to know their BGs. It's been amazing to me that Nikki runs around like a lunatic now just as much as she did when she was young. She'd been feeling poorly for a while before the diabetes so I hadn't seen her feeling so good in quite some time. Made all those middle of night tests worth it.

You're so far ahead of where I was at this stage! It took me at least a month to get blood from Nikki's ear and she was HORRIBLE about it. :roll: And because of her food sensitivity, I didn't change her from the high carb food (prescription food that is 34% carbs?! :shock: ) to low carb wet food right away. You are doing a great job and it will get easier! :YMHUG:
 
Juliana said:
...I wondered if with pancreatitis protein should be low? I know the pancreas makes the enzymes to digest protein, there again protein is so important....
Click to expand...

More like it may be helpful to provide supplemental enzymes - something to discuss with the vet, especially if the feces are loose, smelly, huge or some combination. Chronic pancreatitis can damage the pancreas' ability to produce digestive enzymes, so its reasonable to ask.
 
Hello Juliana,I have just read your post,and noticed Elizabeth's reference to Bailey who also has pancreatitis.
I started Bailey on Aloe Vera Juice in December with excellent results,if you do some googling you will find that AV is very good for IBS too as they are all linked.you have to make sure it is the right kind of aloe vera,as the outer rind is toxic for cats.
If you want to give it a try this is what you MUST look for
It must be made from ONLY the inner gel (outside rind is toxic)
It must be free from synthetic preservatives
It must not contain potassium sorbate,sodium benzoate or ascorbic acid
The one I have been giving B is Pukka organic aloe vera juice from my local health shop,the owner advised my this was one of the most pure makes on the market,you can also buy it online.I started B on 1 teaspoon a day,and after a few days,when there was no adverse reaction I upped the dose to 1 teaspoon twice daily,I can only tell you that for Bailey we have seen excellent results,if you want any more info just ask.
Hope you give it a try. Diane
 
Thanks for all info again. Hi Nikki's Mom - believe me, doing BGs is still no fun here. I can get the blood now thankfully, today it went a foot radius - on the window & myself! Its not easy hanging onto just one ear! Easier when theres two of us unless she's really dopey at the time!

BMJ, I did as you suggested and asked the vet about digestive enzymes. She said Alice did not need it at the moment but may eventually. I'm not sure if she if prophesying doom over Alice. She said food would come out as it went in & as permanent diarrheoa. I'm not sure that there may be a half way stage where they may be beneficial.

Thanks Diane for info on Aloe Vera juice, I may give it a go. I will wait a little while though as I don't want to change too many things until she is stabilised on the insulin.

At the moment I am concerned about her BGs dropping low today for know obvious reason. I'm concerned about the night. I will check on her but not sure how often this this should be. I'm hoping she would let me know by asking for food.
Thanks again for the info
Julianax
 
If you are concerned about going too low, you can back of the insulin dose. Which one are you using now? (I can't tell from your signature)

As long as the glucose is above 50 mg/dL (2.7 mmol/L) on a human meter or 80 mg/dL (4.4 mmol/L) on a pet meter, that is safe.

Have you got some high carb gravied food or Karo syrup (or other syrup or honey) on hand? We recommend you have a hypo kit of those, and an oral syringe, plus plenty of test strips just to be prepared. And also know where the nearest 24 hour emergency vet is just to be prepared (like if a friend can't read a syringe and gives 10 units, not 1 ... true story. Spitzer survived that.)
 
Hi BMJ,

Sorry, only just seen your post. We survived but it was a long night! I gave the one unit of Lantus (will clarify on my signature thanks). I regretted it as my feeling was to give only half a unit. My vet rang up literally as I was trying to find Eliz phone number which she kindly offered. Vet wasn't worried at all at the PMPS & checked the Lantus guidelines. I'm not sure what would have happened if I had missed the +4.5 low number. She ate lots them but only because I took it to her. Has unnerved me a little! She's so tiny, perhaps she doesn't need so much.

Anyway, she had a good day & was better in herself! Happy Easter!

Juliana
 
That was a beautiful series of blues, despite the stress you had.

One of the things with Lantus is that it has a muxh more gentle onset than Caninsulin. This let's you 'shoot low to stay low', though doing that the first time is nerve wracking!
 
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