update- Rudy's not eating much

[Karen & Rudy]

About a month ago he was 14.2 lbs and now he is 13.2. He went from eating friskies a few months ago to wellness. He started eating about 3-4 oz a day of wellness at first- but now I can barely get 2 oz in him a day! I know that it isn't good for him to not be eating this much. He is currently on Pepcid twice a day and antibiotics for his pancreatitis. Is there anything I can do to get him to eat? He is only interested in our grilled or raw chicken. I've given him a little, but that isn't a meal. He also has declining kidneys and has been off insulin for just a few weeks now. I am so confused. Just as we crossed one bridge with diabetes, all this pops up :-(

***update****
he has been on Zofran for 3 days now and has DOUBLED his food intake! from about 2 oz a day up to 4 Thank you SO MUCH for all of your help and to my awesome vet who is willing to put up with me ;-)

 

[BJM]

Have you read our Pancreatitis Primer? You may need to give some pain meds, more intensive anti-nausea meds, and appetite stimulant.

 

[Critter Mom]

Hi Karen,

I'm very sorry to hear that Rudy and yourself are still having a hard time of things.

Here's the link to the nausea and appetite page of Tanya's site. I found this to be an invaluable resource. It goes through the various symptoms and treatment options. Ondansetron can help a lot with nausea (a problem common to both pancreatitis and renal insufficiency) and cyproheptadine can help stimulate appetite. Saoirse gets ondansetron and famotidine every day and her appetite has been pretty steady (helped by a food she can tolerate but with which I need to give a small amount of phosphorus binder every other day). It's best to try to address nausea first and then add the appy stimulant if needed.

I hope the above helps Rudy a little.



Mogs
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[Critter Mom]

Here are the IDEXX guidelines on pancreatitis treatment. They cover pain meds as well as the anti-nausea stuff.

In line with recommendations from Tanya's Site, I've started supplementing Saoirse's diet with B complex. That definitely helped her. Be careful with B12 supplementation because of the CKD. It helps with pancreatitis but it's not so good for the kidneys. Tanya's site recommends no more than 1mg per day of oral B12 supplementation.

 

[granadilla]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I've been giving Marshmallow Ondansetron for nausea for about a week (for IBD) and it really helps her.

What about chicken from Nature's Variety Instinct? It's commercially prepared raw food so it's low carb and it might be similar enough to plain raw that he might like it, but it is formulated for cats so it's a complete meal.

 

[Louellen]

Could it be that he just doesn't like the Wellness????
Perhaps, since he IS interested in your chicken...might you want to look up some homemade recipes, get some vitamins/supplements from your vet and make his meals????

I would look into the suggested list of kidney diet foods and see what out of that list, keeping carbs in mind, he might eat.

It might just be that. He is not liking the Wellness anymore???? Cats *can* suddenly just stop liking a food. If he's interested in your chicken (depending on how much he's interested), it may not be a lack of appetite but, rather an appetite for what he likes???