Newbie needs help

[Mickey Rooney]

My Cat Mickey is in trouble with his diabetes.
Last Wednesday evening we rushed him to the Emergency Hospital because he wasn't walking when my husband and I got home from work.
Turns out he has Diabetic Neuropathy. Our Vet has changed things up for him. We now have him on Lantis after being on Humulin for quite some time.
After looking at the suggested diabetic food choices on your website we purchase the Fancy Feast.
He is 10 years old and a very big boy. The Vet suggested 4 units but after plenty of discussion with some of your members we are doing 1 unit for now.
I'm worried because he is barely eating. He is drinking somewhat and peeing but has yet to do a bowel movement since Thursday.
He is on Benazepril for his heart now because after doing an ultrasound on Thursday they discovered he has a lil issue. Additionally he is on Amoxicillin due to an elevated white blood cell count. Vet has not suggested that we home test but now we are. I will never let this happen again. He doesn't like the blood testing and we are not very good at it yet but we will keep going.
My question this evening is : Can I give him Miralax or something else to go to the bathroom that will not interfere with the meds and if so what is the dosage?

Thanks very much for your time.

Mickey's Mommy
Maryann

 

[Larry and Kitties]

You "I'm worried because he is barely eating" and I am worried too. How long has he not been eating? Could that be why he is not defecating?
Have you taken his BG?
Have you tested his urine for ketones? Not eating and a high BG can cause ketones as can the an infection (you said you are giving Amoxicillin for hign WBC count). Amoxicillin can cause inappetance. A cat has to eat otherwise then can develop fatty liver disease, hepatic lipidosis.
Have you contacted the vet today? I would.

 

[BJM]

Do the whites of his eyes or skin anywhere look yellowish? If yes, that is jaundice and a sign the liver is in trouble.

If you gently pull up the scruff of fur at his neck and let go, does it snap right back, or stay pulled up ('tented') and only slowly go back down? That is a sign of dehydration and puts great strain on the body.

If you observe either of these, or if food has not been eaten for 2 or more days, he needs to go to a vet now. Hepatic lipidosis may occur that quickly and it deranges the entire metabolism. It is diffcult to treat and requires hospitalization.

Also, fat breakdown for calories results in ketones as a by-product of the fat breakdown. Too many of these may indicate diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a potentially fatal, expensive to treat complication of unregulated diabetes.

 

[TheBowHuntress]

If Mickey still doesn't want to eat, following is a list put together by another member on some ideas of how to get kitty to eat. Please let us know if he starts eating:

Enticing a Cat to Eat

Here are some things you can do do entice your cat to eat:

-sometimes in order to get a cat to eat you even have to resort to dry it is more important that they eat. there are a couple low carb / grain free brands -- EVO and wellness core.

-making a buffet to give him choices
- heating food

sprinkle food with :
FortiFlora -- a probiotic you can get at vets or online. is very smelly and cats love the taste of it.
parmesean cheese
smashed crumbles of dry food
bonito/tuna flakes (Can be found at Asian markets or sometimes in the Asian food section of a large grocery store.)
halo chicken treats (freeze dried chicken) -- crumble into dust over food -- my Wolfie loves this stuff.
pour a little water from tuna in water over food (I use low sodium/no sodium added as other kinds in water has veg. broth in it and I assume that means onions, which are toxic to cats and it shouldn't contain soy -- check labels)
powdered oregano. yep sounds weird . but some cats like it and it will entice them to eat.

other ideas of foods to offer your kitty to stim appy:
trader joe tuna for cats
baby food -- beechnut or Gerber Stage 2 -- you want a baby food that is only a protein + broth (although the Gerber contains cornstarch). It should have no onions or other additives. some babyfoods have onions . please read labels if you can't find beechnut.
kentucky fried chicken
deli turkey /chicken
plain cooked ( boiled or baked ) chicken breast
canned chicken for people (watch the label that their are no onions)
chicken broth -- low sodium

If enticements don't work, you should consider:
-assist feeding ( syringe or make little meatballs and place in mouth)
-and/or talking to your vet about appetite stimulents ( mirtazapine or cyproheptidine)

 

[Blue]

My Cat Mickey is in trouble with his diabetes.
Last Wednesday evening we rushed him to the Emergency Hospital because he wasn't walking when my husband and I got home from work.
Turns out he has Diabetic Neuropathy. Our Vet has changed things up for him. We now have him on Lantis after being on Humulin for quite some time.
After looking at the suggested diabetic food choices on your website we purchase the Fancy Feast.
He is 10 years old and a very big boy. The Vet suggested 4 units but after plenty of discussion with some of your members we are doing 1 unit for now.
I'm worried because he is barely eating. He is drinking somewhat and peeing but has yet to do a bowel movement since Thursday.
He is on Benazepril for his heart now because after doing an ultrasound on Thursday they discovered he has a lil issue. Additionally he is on Amoxicillin due to an elevated white blood cell count. Vet has not suggested that we home test but now we are. I will never let this happen again. He doesn't like the blood testing and we are not very good at it yet but we will keep going.
My question this evening is : Can I give him Miralax or something else to go to the bathroom that will not interfere with the meds and if so what is the dosage?

Thanks very much for your time.

Mickey's Mommy
Maryann

Hi Maryann,
I am so glad that you are home testing now..... what dose were you at when giving humulin?
What dose did you start with the Lantus... I hope not the 4u twice a day.

What did the vet say to do about the neuropathy? Most people give B12 pills and it works well; others give B12 shots.

What is the exact problems with his heart, is it enlarged? The benaz is good; what is the dose you are to give?

When was the last time he ate?
When was the last bowel movement?
Yes, you can give Miralax, and you can start with 1/4tsp in his meals, but be sure to soup up his wet food as the Miralax will draw moisture from his body and dehydrate him. You can start with 1 part water and 2 parts wet food, then work up to equal parts water and food.

How big is Mickey?
Please kindly post the dose you are giving Mickey now, and the times, plus post the numbers you are getting from home testing - what meter are you using and be sure to post about any problems you are having with home testing.... I don't think you can have a problem that someone else here has not had and been able to solve.

Last note on the constipation: if he is still not eating and not passing any stool, then starts to vomit, you need to get to the vet and have the stool removed. A couple enemas by the vet should help at least loosen things up for passing.

Gayle