Beeba won't eat the s/d

Well this is just great. I finally got Beeba home yesterday. He had struvite crystals, was on a cath for a day and a half, flushed, poked, prodded the whole nine yards. $700 vet bill. Double ouch!

He is doing well. Peeing, drinking, but turns his nose up at the Hills s/d. The food is part of the meds. How can he get better if he won't eat the food!

I was so worried for him during this whole ordeal. When he got home, I thought good, we are on our way to recovery. Yea right. I could just cry. He is on 2 acidifyers and 1 Baytril per day now. Its a good thing he kept him on the acidifyers, because the food sure won't do him any good. He picks at it a little and probably ate a tablespoon or so since yesterday. His demeanor is great, got me up at the usual 3 am today. Thats a good thing.

Of course today is Thanksgiving and I can't talk to the vet. So I am asking all my friends here.........HELP! I'll even cook him food if I have to. Can I give him turkey?

Thanks in advance, and HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Is it wet or dry? If it's wet, try the dry formula, or vice versa.

I hope he gets well soon! Crystals are NO FUN at all!

Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

Its the wet. I am afraid to do the dry. Isn't the moisture in the wet key to success with crystal formation and keeping the kidneys flushed with as much moisture as possible?

If I do go to dry, I can't get it today. Any ideas in the meantime?

So discouraged.

Well, just now I thought I heard his dish wobbling back and forth on the wood floor. Went and peeked, and some has been eaten. Trouble is I can't leave it out forever being wet. Even though he ate some, I see this as being a problem.

I will call vet tomorrow and see if dry is a possibliity. I had a cat years ago who had the same thing and was on C/D dryfor a time. Managed very well and finally grew out of crystal formation for whatever reason.

Thanks. Didn't think anyone would be up at this hour

i may be wrong but can you not mix it to get him to start eating it? and just keep adding less dry and more wet

Yea, I guess I could mix it. It's just that his crystals were so bad, I am sooo scared to give him even one dry kibble! He would probably just pick out the dry and that would not be good.

Oh cats are so pickey. In my next life, I am going to own dogs. They eat anything!

Originally Posted by farleyv

Yea, I guess I could mix it. It's just that his crystals were so bad, I am sooo scared to give him even one dry kibble! He would probably just pick out the dry and that would not be good.

Oh cats are so pickey. In my next life, I am going to own dogs. They eat anything!

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yeah i know i would be worried to but changing food from one to the other could upset his tummy to

if he picks out the dry chances are its going to of started to absorb the moisture or you could add more water to the mixture also which could help to

I see your point. It may come to that. I am somewhat heartened by the fact he did eat a little. He drinks a good amount of water thanks to the water fountain.

BTW, how is your kitty doing? Any improvement?

its good if hes trying it though

hes actuaaly quite a bit better sine he had anti-inflams / anti biotics hes going fine we got the sample the vet needs so thats going in today to see whats been wrong with him

Oh good. Hope it isn't crystals. That seems to be the popular issue these days.

Do you have an automatic water fountain. I highly recommend one. It will make you feel better too when you see him drinking more.

yeah im going to get one and bring it in not telling my mam first. im hoping not crystals either

i do hope Beeba starts eating more wet and continues to get stronger

FWIW, my guy is on the Hills CD, wet and dry, for struvite crystals, and gets more of the kibble - he's just not that big on wet food. Had a urine sample done Monday, and, thank goodness, the vet said the sample was clear and a great ph balance.

I'd call the vet tomorrow just to get their perspective on the possibility of adding dry, if necesary - also, did you say he was still on Baytril? I wonder if his appetite might be a bit off - although Baytril didn't seem to have that affect on my boy.

I googled side effects of Baytril and lethargy and increased vocalization are listed. He has both. Although he is loving, he kind of just wants to lay around and sleep or take it easy watching birds.

I wonder if a little chicken bouillon no sodium added might help him. I could mix a little in water and put on the food?

Just a thought.

Originally Posted by farleyv

Yea, I guess I could mix it. It's just that his crystals were so bad, I am sooo scared to give him even one dry kibble! He would probably just pick out the dry and that would not be good.

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From my experience and what I have read of others experiences, the dry RX foods are very good at controlling struvite crystals. There are other, non-crystals related, problems that may be related to long term feeding of rx drys.

When I was weaning Toby off of dry food I would mix a little dry with the wet and gradually decrease the dry until he was eating wet only. Some think mixing wet with dry is a bad idea because the wet can activate the bacteria in the dry and cause it to multiple. Toby always ate the mixture pretty quickly so I didn't see any reason to be concerned about that.

You asked about turkey. Maybe you could try a bit of raw turkey. Raw meat increases the acidity of urine and helps control crystal formation. I feed my struvite prone kitty raw only so she doesn't need any of the rx foods.

Originally Posted by mschauer

From my experience and what I have read of others experiences, the dry RX foods are very good at controlling struvite crystals. There are other, non-crystals related, problems that may be related to long term feeding of rx drys.

When I was weaning Toby off of dry food I would mix a little dry with the wet and gradually decrease the dry until he was eating wet only. Some think mixing wet with dry is a bad idea because the wet can activate the bacteria in the dry and cause it to multiple. Toby always ate the mixture pretty quickly so I didn't see any reason to be concerned about that.

You asked about turkey. Maybe you could try a bit of raw turkey. Raw meat increases the acidity of urine and helps control crystal formation. I feed my struvite prone kitty raw only so she doesn't need any of the rx foods.

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Just to clarify, when Jeta was diagnosed with struvite crystals I knew from the statrt I wanted to control the problem by feeding raw food but I fed her the rx dry s/d and c/d until she was crystal free then started her on raw. She has been crystal free for 2 years now.

Wow! Good for you. I hope this is the way it goes with the Beeb. I think he would eat the dry c/d. We'll find out tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving!

Originally Posted by mschauer

From my experience and what I have read of others experiences, the dry RX foods are very good at controlling struvite crystals. There are other, non-crystals related, problems that may be related to long term feeding of rx drys.

When I was weaning Toby off of dry food I would mix a little dry with the wet and gradually decrease the dry until he was eating wet only. Some think mixing wet with dry is a bad idea because the wet can activate the bacteria in the dry and cause it to multiple. Toby always ate the mixture pretty quickly so I didn't see any reason to be concerned about that.

You asked about turkey. Maybe you could try a bit of raw turkey. Raw meat increases the acidity of urine and helps control crystal formation. I feed my struvite prone kitty raw only so she doesn't need any of the rx foods.

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Originally Posted by mschauer

Just to clarify, when Jeta was diagnosed with struvite crystals I knew from the statrt I wanted to control the problem by feeding raw food but I fed her the rx dry s/d and c/d until she was crystal free then started her on raw. She has been crystal free for 2 years now.

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Your vet has given you the information and suggested treatment based on your catâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s signs, symptoms and history. Not following the vetâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s advice could be detrimental to your catâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s health. Please discuss any potential changes in treatment with your vet first. This can usually be done over a phone call if the cat has already been seen about the same problem. If you are not happy with your vetâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s advice, or suggested treatment, get a second veterinary opinion, do not only take advice you have received online from people who do not have your catâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s full medical history.

For today I would have you call the vets office s get the er number ( unless you have it then skip this step) ... call the er number and ask them ..

As has been mentioned even Sd makes a different RX , many brands have RX lines discuss with vet... if you do not want to do RXs DISCUSS that to with your vet

Originally Posted by sharky

Your vet has given you the information and suggested treatment based on your catâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s signs, symptoms and history. Not following the vetâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s advice could be detrimental to your catâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s health. Please discuss any potential changes in treatment with your vet first. This can usually be done over a phone call if the cat has already been seen about the same problem. If you are not happy with your vetâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s advice, or suggested treatment, get a second veterinary opinion, do not only take advice you have received online from people who do not have your catâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s full medical history.

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The OP has made it clear that she is only looking for short term advice until she can talk to her vet after the holiday.

Originally Posted by mschauer

The OP has made it clear that she is only looking for short term advice until she can talk to her vet after the holiday.

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No online advice can replace direct veterinary intervention. If you suspect that your cat may be ill, please contact your vet immediately. You are welcome to look for advice in the health forum while waiting for that appointment, but never delay proper veterinary care waiting for Internet advice. Remember that cats, and especially kittens, are very adept in keeping pain to themselves and delaying treatment may cause irreversible damage.

Originally Posted by sharky

No online advice can replace direct veterinary intervention. If you suspect that your cat may be ill, please contact your vet immediately. You are welcome to look for advice in the health forum while waiting for that appointment, but never delay proper veterinary care waiting for Internet advice. Remember that cats, and especially kittens, are very adept in keeping pain to themselves and delaying treatment may cause irreversible damage.

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Do you think you might be overreacting just a tad? A cat refusing to eat Hill's s/d is hardly an emergency given that he is currently peeing freely.