We're baaaaaaack....

[AndreaM]

Reposting here, as the Levemir forum is quiet today and no responses.

Hi Everyone,

Hoping this is a brief stop here. Schroeder has been OTJ for almost 2 years. I've brought him into remission twice with the amazing guidance from this forum. I've noticed Schroeder drinking more and more water over the last month, he appears to have lost weight and his energy is down. Appetite is waning. He has been eating mainly wet food, but I free feed my 2 cats Evo Dry cuz Schroeder is always a little underweight and needs all the calories he can get. Kane always ends up eating Schroeder's wet food while I'm at work... I'm looking forward to spring when I can toss Kane outside for the day and Schroeder can eat in peace!
Down to brass tacks.... On Jan.6 - 203. Took him off the Evo dry and got him to 123. Went to Mexico, so told caretakers they could leave down the dry during the day. Schroeder hasnt seemed quite right over the last couple days and sure enough he was 422 this afternoon (fed).

Another peice of the puzzle is Schroeder's kidney's are underfunctioning a bit and his poops are petrified. Had to take him to the vet before Christmas for an enima. Since then I have been sprinkling 1/8 tsp Restoralax over his wet food, which has helped immensely to soften his bowels, but it may be putting extra strain on the kidneys.

Time for Levemir? Should I take up the dry for another week and keep testing? I know the numbers can go really wonkey if they are fighting an illness or infection, and then correct themselves. Thoughts?

Thanks everyone.

 

[BJM]

Two good resources for you to read:

Feline Constipation

Feline CRF

Add water to his food - he needs that too, especially as you're adding an osmotic laxative.

You want to go with the lowest phosphorus foods you can find to reduce strain on the kidneys.

 

[AndreaM]

Thanks for your reply. I do already mix his wet food with water - a lot of water. It's like soup when it's blended. His poops are still hard, hence the Restoralax. I will reaad those resources. Thank you.

 

[BJM]

Adding some plain pumpkin or psyllium fiber will help hold the water in the feces and soften them. Start small and build up to about 1/4 teaspoon in a meal.

 

[AndreaM]

1/4 tsp of the psyllium fiber? or the pumpkin? In place of, or in addition to the Restoralax?

Thanks.

 

[BJM]

In addition to. The Restoralax draws water into the bowel; the psyllium helps keep it there.

See Feline Constipation to understand more about how the GI tract in cats works and ways to help it work better.