Junga update

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jldnvjld

jldnvjld

Member Since 2010
Our story: in the previous episode, the vet (Dr. D.) agreed Junga didn't need an in-office glucose curve or fructosamine curve; my spreadsheet gave enough info.

At this week's appt., the did a blood draw to check on liver and kidney values (liver values were high at diagnosis) and checked Junga's gimpy *left* front leg. By the end of the exam, Junga was really done with the vet visit, so we decided x-rays were best left for the following day.

Junga's lab values were pretty good. His albumin and BUN were a bit high, but the vet felt that might indicate just some dehydration. I'm going to borrow a cat water fountain from a friend just in case Junga needs to drink more water. The vet prescribed glucosamine and Tramadol for the arthritis in his elbows (I'm thinking maybe spine too). Junga hates the glucosamine powder (flavored for cats, but he doesn't care), but so far I've been able to disguise the taste in food with some parmesan cheese. The first 1/4 Tramadol I gave Junga made him loopy, but I think he felt better. Since then we've had pilling failures; I'm going to rename that painkiller 'trama-doll.' I'm buying pill pockets and cheese today. I need a non-traumatic way to give him the pill. I don't want Junga cringing every time I approach him.

Junga's sleeping in the sun right now; looks pretty happy.

J.
 
Here's another trick that I use for my cat (yes, he gets several different things and this one is too big for the cheese ball trick). In the morning I crush the pill in his dish and mix it with about a quarter of his food and a bit of Fortiflora. He usually snarfs it and doesn't notice the pill taste. I then put the rest of his food in his dish and he leaisurely eats it over the next hour or so.
 
Just-As-Appy said:
[....] [T]his one is too big for the cheese ball trick). In the morning I crush the pill in his dish and mix it with about a quarter of his food and a bit of Fortiflora. He usually snarfs it and doesn't notice the pill taste. I then put the rest of his food in his dish and he leaisurely eats it over the next hour or so.
Click to expand...

I'm using essentially the same method for the glucosamine powder, although I don't have Fortiflora as my vet didn't have any when I asked and I don't want to buy a big box of it online without knowing if Junga would like it. So parmesan cheese it is, and he does like that. So I mix the glucosamine powder with two teaspoons of food, sprinkle with a little parm, top with another teaspoon of food (hide the remaining smell), sprinkle with parm, feed first while he's really hungry.

The tramadol tastes *sooooo* bad that I don't think it's a candidate for hiding in food. I hope one of the other techniques work.

J.
 
Good job - you're on it! I did the same thing with the Fortiflora - bought a few envelopes ($1 ea) and then the box. I think there are 30 in a box and it cost me <$18. I know its a bit cheaper on line, but by the time I added shipping and exchange (oh yes, you might think that the Can$ and US$ are at or near par, but not if you try having something shipped!) it was quicker and cheaper to pay and take it with me. FWIW 2 of my cats that have tried it love it.
 
We have pilling success: duck pill pockets, rolled in parmesan.

Of course, now he wants parmesan on *all* his food. If I don't sprinkle parmesan on it, he looks up at me and meows: "Waiter! Parmesan!"

J.
 
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