Martha Keeps Losing Weight

[Hosanna]

Unfortuntely, Martha continues to lose weight. I don't know what else to try. She has an excellent appetite and is always eating. She is down from 18 pounds to 8 pounds! What happens in a case like this? Do they just fade away? She's only skin and bones now, I don't know how much more she can lose and still live. I have her on Morelli's pancreatic enzymes now (he refuses them totally) and hope this will help her absorb her nutrients.
On that note, how does one determine just how much of her medicines she might actually be absorbing? The IM vet is only looking in the direction of euthanasia at this point, but it is not his decision! She has her issues, but her quality of life is too good for this kind of decision.

 

[terri1962]

WOW, why would they want to PTS Martha if she still has a good quality of life. Have they checked her thyroid? What bloodwork have they run on her? What have they told they think is wrong with her? If her appetite is good and she is always eating they are missing something.

Terri

 

[Hosanna]

Her thyroid is tested regularly and is always within normal bounds. She has complete blood work done every 2-3 months. Martha has a lot wrong with her---diabetes, kidney issues, heart disease, IBD and the dreaded Pancreatitis---so she has some bad days. The vet only sees her at those times. I see her every day, 24/7 so I see all the good times.
Vets say it is malabsorption or possibly, lymphoma. I am thinking the IBD is causing the malabsorption. We cannot do any tests on her that require anesthesia because she went into heart failure both times she was put under. They say there is nothing that can be done.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Not infrequently IBD transitions to small cell intestinal lymphoma

 

[rhiannon and shadow (GA)]

I am wondering about the Iams MaxCal http://www.iams.com/cat-food/iams-veterinary-formula-maximum-calorie-canine and-feline foods.
I see it often used here for cats needing more calories and are lower carb. ( especially if one needs to be syringe fed)

If Martha's heath is declining, it might give her some more time with you.

 

[Hosanna]

Just ordered the Iams Max Cal. Hated to order a whole case but so be it. I hope she likes it and will eat it, and that it will help put weight on her! Thanks for the tip.

 

[BJM]

Higher protein and fat content foods may help - look at kitten food, which is formulated for growth and development, and at the food chart on Cat Info for higher fat foods. Fat has 8.5 calories per gram; protein has 3.5 calories per gram.

What are the feces like? Perhaps there may have been some damage to the part of the pancreas that produces digestive enzymes or there is a bacterial overgrowth issue. Discuss with your vet if the use of enzymes and/or probiotics might be helpful. Forti Flora is one probiotic that can be helpful at times.

8/18 = 44% of her original body weight. Is she able to maintain her normal temperature or is she cold? If she is just skin and bones, unable to maintain her body temperature, weak, frail, etc., that is why the vet is suggesting it is time to let her go.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Just note that most food is good for both adult and kittens (the label will say good for all life stages) and thus kitten food may not actually be higher in calories that "adult" food

 

[BJM]

Higher fat generally equates to higher calories, unless more water was added to the food. That's another thing to check - how high the moisture content is. Do check the calories per serving or can or ounce.

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

Hows her poops? Big puffy smelly /runny? Or normal formed ?

Feed her more if she will eat it. My Bailey is like that - he has exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and needs enzymes to process food. And he is diabetic. He eats 3.5 cans of fancy feast a day and he is only 6lbs so its way more than he should in theory need. But that amount of food stops any weight loss.

Wendy