Bugsy has gone finicky - frustrating and scary

carolina

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SO frustrating.... I knew, I knew this was going to happen one day........ It happened before a couple of times... Bugsy and Hope just get sick and tired of eating the same food day in and day out, and got finicky... Bugsy more so than Hope. Hope still eats her wet food, but Bugsy is on a complete hunger strike. Neither like their kibble anymore.
THIS SUCKS.
Sucks because they are both on hypoallergenic food...... and Bugsy just came out of that world record breaking diarrhea..... AAAAHHHHRRRRRR!!!!
Making changes to his diet was SO not in my plans!
I guess it could be a problem with the new bag... So that is my first hope... Calling the vet and see if they will take it back/replace it. It is a big bag, and I paid a LOT of $$$ for it too... I mean - he is spitting off the food!
I am having to spoon feed him and chase him around the house so he gates a proper amount of food... Because he is eating less than a can, I am mixing Nutrical in it.
The thing is, I have to fix this situation before I leave to my next trip, because I KNOW he can't be like this... I, his momma, will feed him... but really.... who else will? My next trip is a week long

Last time this happened they were just plain sick and tired of the food Z/D dry -so I changed to HP and immediately they ate it normally.
I think I will go back to Z/D for a change of taste tomorrow....
Otherwise, all is good with both of them - I just HATE having to feed one food only

Sorry for the vent.... I am just scary for my boy right now....
 

auntie crazy

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I can only imagine how you feel, Carolina! I get worried, too, when my cats start refusing their meals, and none of mine have dietary restrictions.


I'm sending many calming vibes for you and eat-already! *smile* vibes for Bugsy and Hope...

I hope they're back to eating eagerly long before you have to leave on your trip.


AC
 
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carolina

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Thanks Auntie....
I will tell you that in trying to get them out of the single Hypoallergenic diet, I tried giving them little pieces of raw - as it was the purest meat I could think of. I have 3 bags of it in my freezer - Lamb, beef and Turkey... Hope couldn't take it, she threw up badly, and Bugsy with his tummy the way it is, it would take me a while to get him settled on it not risking his health.
At these times......... I wish I was home for longer periods of times where I could give it a try - at least they would have more choices, I think. (BTW, I did give to him, cooked - did not dare to give raw, he had no problems, but did not eat enough either....)
But oh well..... Such is life!

Who knows one day my vet and I will be able to work on that? I am getting tired of being on the edge with his diet - that's for sure.... Freaks me out being out of town for longer periods of time, you know? In the end of August I am going to be gone for 2wks straight (out of the country) and I am already in a fear that is beyond words.
Thanks Auntie
 

auntie crazy

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Originally Posted by Carolina

Thanks Auntie....
I will tell you that in trying to get them out of the single Hypoallergenic diet, I tried giving them little pieces of raw - as it was the purest meat I could think of. I have 3 bags of it in my freezer - Lamb, beef and Turkey... Hope couldn't take it, she threw up badly, and Bugsy with his tummy the way it is, it would take me a while to get him settled on it not risking his health.
At these times......... I wish I was home for longer periods of times where I could give it a try - at least they would have more choices, I think. (BTW, I did give to him, cooked - did not dare to give raw, he had no problems, but did not eat enough either....)
But oh well..... Such is life!

Who knows one day my vet and I will be able to work on that? I am getting tired of being on the edge with his diet - that's for sure.... Freaks me out being out of town for longer periods of time, you know? In the end of August I am going to be gone for 2wks straight (out of the country) and I am already in a fear that is beyond words.
Thanks Auntie
I really, really feel for you, Carolina.
I'm supposed to leave tomorrow morning for a single night's stay at my cousin's cottage on the beach and I'm badly stressing the three meals I've asked my neighbor to handle. I can only imagine how much greater your distress must be.


It's crazy how much we go through, sometimes, for our beloved kitties.

Hopefully, offering the previous accepted Z/D will do the trick! At least for a while. <<<Hugs>>>

AC

PS. Since you mentioned bags, I'm guessing the raw food you have is a commercial mix. Just a thought - totally not important now but maybe something to ruminate over in the future - commercially-produced raw foods sometimes contain objectionable ingredients just like their canned and kibble counterparts.
 
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carolina

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Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy

PS. Since you mentioned bags, I'm guessing the raw food you have is a commercial mix. Just a thought - totally not important now but maybe something to ruminate over in the future - commercially-produced raw foods sometimes contain objectionable ingredients just like their canned and kibble counterparts.
I do understand this, however, it is balanced, and with my lack of knowledge, my babies issues, my travel schedule and the fact that they are often on the hands of a petsitter, that is the only alternative if I ever want to consider raw. The brand is Stella & Chewy's BTW. In life, we need compromises.... Nothing is perfect.... My life isn't... I do my best
 

auntie crazy

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Originally Posted by Carolina

... In life, we need compromises.... Nothing is perfect.... My life isn't... I do my best
Oh, I absolutely get that. Heck, my own life is so full of compromises that sometimes, I hardly recognize it as mine!


I only meant to offer a potential avenue of discovery for Hope's reaction, if and when you wanted to try raw foods again. Nothing more, truly.

Many thoughts and vibes to you and Bugsy and Hope!!!

AC
 
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carolina

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Not sure if all well just yet, but I went to the vet and they replaced the large bag for two medium bags - one of HP and one of Z/D. I mixed 1/4 of Z/D into it and offered to all of them - Bugsy ate and ate and ate
So did Hope and Gracie

Let's Hope transitioning them for a while will satisfy their needs for a new taste!
Meanwhile, he has a vet visit on the 23rd for his liver panel follow up, so I will make sure to discuss diets with him, including adding some raw.
 

auntie crazy

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Carolina, that's great news!!! I'm very glad to hear it!


Go, Bugsy, go Bugsy!!


AC
 

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Truthfully, only time I had cats refuse food is when I switched it up too much.

Feed one food, without change. And I mean single flavor, etc. Once kitties get a taste of different foods, they get super finicky!

I feed royal Canin 36 dry to my 7 month old siblings, with wellness wet, only turkey flavor.
 

aprilyim

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I'm so sorry to hear about Bugsy's diarrhea.
Hope the new food + raw helps a lot. I know he's in capable hands so there's no need to worry about him. You're a great mom to your cats! Feel free to vent at any time!
 
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carolina

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Originally Posted by RarePuss

Truthfully, only time I had cats refuse food is when I switched it up too much.

Feed one food, without change. And I mean single flavor, etc. Once kitties get a taste of different foods, they get super finicky!

I feed royal Canin 36 dry to my 7 month old siblings, with wellness wet, only turkey flavor.
RarePuss, I am not sure if you are aware, but Bugsy has been on one food only for years. Day in and day out. Morning and night. For dry HP, for wet, ZD. He has allergies, and I am dealing with a diarrhea since October.
Thing is, during a hunger strike because he has gone finicky- I HAVE to do something- he has to eat to avoid fatty liver. I do not agree that a hypoallergenic food for life might be the best solution for him either- his body is getting no protein- none. His dry food has no meat- yep, vegetarian. So, I have to find a solution for him. I can not have him going on hunger strikes as I am out of town; he can die if I am out too long, and that is a very scary thought. The reason why I need to find a solution now, is that I am going on a week long trip in a couple of weeks, and for two weeks in the end of August. Those are the long trips- besides that, I am always on the road.
 

momto4kitties

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Hi Carolina:

I'm sorry you have been through so much with Bugsy, but I"m glad you were able to get a food he eats. The poor babies get tired of the food, it has happened to my kitties.

Right now, Lucas is eating the Blue Wilderness grain free duck formula and he loves it so much, they all do. And he is doing so well right now, I also have the Natural balance I ordered, but since Lucas likes the Blue Wilderness so much I'll keep him on it.

I'm sorry you have to travel so much and I can only imagine how much stress you have when you leave them with a sitter, but you are a wonderful mommy to your kitties and I admire you


I hope everything goes well
 

rarepuss

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Originally Posted by Carolina

RarePuss, I am not sure if you are aware, but Bugsy has been on one food only for years. Day in and day out. Morning and night. For dry HP, for wet, ZD. He has allergies, and I am dealing with a diarrhea since October.
Thing is, during a hunger strike because he has gone finicky- I HAVE to do something- he has to eat to avoid fatty liver. I do not agree that a hypoallergenic food for life might be the best solution for him either- his body is getting no protein- none. His dry food has no meat- yep, vegetarian. So, I have to find a solution for him. I can not have him going on hunger strikes as I am out of town; he can die if I am out too long, and that is a very scary thought. The reason why I need to find a solution now, is that I am going on a week long trip in a couple of weeks, and for two weeks in the end of August. Those are the long trips- besides that, I am always on the road.
Carolina, didn't know the history, but seems like you're doing everything right
I can emphasize regarding the long trip - I myself have to go on vacation for 1 week, and I'm going crazy over leaving my two alone for that long. Even though they'll be 9 months when I leave, I feel it's still too young. They'll be visited daily, but again, I'll worry all the time anyway.

Keep looking for the right solution, sorry could not help.
 
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carolina

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Originally Posted by Momto4kitties

Hi Carolina:

I'm sorry you have been through so much with Bugsy, but I"m glad you were able to get a food he eats. The poor babies get tired of the food, it has happened to my kitties.

Right now, Lucas is eating the Blue Wilderness grain free duck formula and he loves it so much, they all do. And he is doing so well right now, I also have the Natural balance I ordered, but since Lucas likes the Blue Wilderness so much I'll keep him on it.

I'm sorry you have to travel so much and I can only imagine how much stress you have when you leave them with a sitter, but you are a wonderful mommy to your kitties and I admire you


I hope everything goes well
Thank you Tammy!
Please know Lucas is always on my thoughts... Sorry if I don't respond to the threads as often as I should, but know that I am following him close and I am SO SO happy with how well he is doing - he looks AMAZING
Your Lucas is to you like my Bugsy is to me, our
kitties.... We just love them so much, don't we?
I had been spoon feeding Bugsy for the last several days - he will eat his whole wet meal from a spoon
It is really the cutest thing
But then a I thought... Gosh, who really would be here, on their knees, spoon-feeding their cats to make sure they eat everything? All it was missing was to play the little airplane game.... Bugsy.... Open your mouth.... here comes the plane zooooommmm


Originally Posted by RarePuss

Carolina, didn't know the history, but seems like you're doing everything right
I can emphasize regarding the long trip - I myself have to go on vacation for 1 week, and I'm going crazy over leaving my two alone for that long. Even though they'll be 9 months when I leave, I feel it's still too young. They'll be visited daily, but again, I'll worry all the time anyway.

Keep looking for the right solution, sorry could not help.
Hi RarePuss... yes... no pun intended, but Bugsy is MY RarePuss!

Believe me, I do not get frustrated easily... I would not vent about him... You have no idea what we have been through... But my thing is not the frustration - is the fear. I would be fine spoon-feeding him as he eats the whole thing... But then what happens when I am not here? Living with Bugsy is a balancing act. Everything I do has consequences. Every single medicine he has ever taken, from flea meds to antibiotics, to vaccines, to steroids, gave him bad reactions. Vaccines almost killed him. This never ending diarrhea started with a dose of antibiotics - never stopped. Sometimes I have to choose the lesser of two evils, as there is no other way around....... Such as now.
I know that by changing the food, his poop that just got formed will go back to soft. But I know that if I don't I risk fatty liver - I choose soft poop - anytime.

So.... with that stated:

He continues to eat a little more of the dry every time - now he is actually seeking it - I don't need to put it in front of him. The plates are all empty in the morning which is a great sign.

For the wet:
IMHO the best chicken-free wet food is Ziwi-Peak; hands down. He has done well on it in the past and it is very nutritionally packed. There are 3 flavors: Venison, Venison and Fish, and Lamb. They are grain free, additive free, and contain pretty much meat and organs. VERY expensive at $2.60-$2.79 a can, well worth it since he, Hope and Gracie all love it!
With Ziwi-Peak there is no need for spoon-feeding - he licks the plate clean

Because Ziwi is not really processed (just cooked inside of the can on low temps), the texture is kind of nasty - Bugsy HATES texture; I blend it on their (yep, not mine) smoothie maker into a puree so it is puuurrfect for him.
I have decided that Ziwi is the way I am going to add meat into his diet for now - as far as canned go, there is no more natural than that.

His poop is soft, as I expected, but he is going only once a day. It is also brown, not yellow yucky like when he has problems; not water-like either.

I think he is going to be just fine once he is used to these changes - for now I just want him to eat eat eat!

For the curious and those who don't know, here is the info on Ziwi-Peak: Highly recommend it!
Lamb:

INGREDIENTS: Lamb - Meat, Liver, Tripe, Heart and Kidney, Green-lipped Mussel (Meat content min 66%); Guar Gum; Sodium Tripolyphosphate; Vitamins; Minerals; Carrageenan; DL-Methionine; Taurine. Calories 535 KJ/100g.


Venison and Fish:
INGREDIENTS: Venison - Meat, Liver, Tripe, Heart and Kidney, Hoki Fish, Green-lipped Mussel (Meat content min 66%); Guar Gum; Sodium Tripolyphosphate; Vitamins; Minerals; Carrageenan; DL-Methionine; Taurine. Calories 457 KJ/100g.


Venison:
INGREDIENTS: Venison - Meat, Liver, Tripe, Heart and Kidney, Green-lipped Mussel (Meat content min 66%); Guar Gum; Sodium Tripolyphosphate; Vitamins; Minerals; Carrageenan; DL-Methionine; Taurine. Calories 488 KJ/100g.
 

momto4kitties

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OH Carolina, I've been there, feeding Lucas with a spoon, syrynge, for weeks when he gets very very sick. ne time I thought I was going to lose him and I just cried over him, but thank God oyr kitties are strong and they get better and I hope it happens with both , with Bugsy and Lucas.

And I feel exactly like you, I worry whenever I can't be here if he is sick. In fact, Lucas loves me so much that he doesn't eat much when I'm not home.

Aww I can picture your beautiful boy eating like a baby with a spoon, god bless him
I will keep him in my prayers



HUGs, tammy
 
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carolina

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Originally Posted by Momto4kitties

OH Carolina, I've been there, feeding Lucas with a spoon, syrynge, for weeks when he gets very very sick. ne time I thought I was going to lose him and I just cried over him, but thank God oyr kitties are strong and they get better and I hope it happens with both , with Bugsy and Lucas.

And I feel exactly like you, I worry whenever I can't be here if he is sick. In fact, Lucas loves me so much that he doesn't eat much when I'm not home.

Aww I can picture your beautiful boy eating like a baby with a spoon, god bless him
I will keep him in my prayers



HUGs, tammy
Wait wait! you can see it! he is very cute... and spoiled! He has the cutest little tongue

Click on the image to watch the video


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPGS_RQWgh8Attachment 15588
 

momto4kitties

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AWWWWWWW soooo cutee!! he is so beautiful
he looks so adorable and healthy, you take such great care of him Carolina
thank you soo much for sharing
 

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Hi Carolina,

I love the video. You also make me feel better that I have to be in the same room with my Savannah or he will not finish his whole meal
. So once a day for about a year I stay in "his room" and he finishes his whole cup of food
. I have always jokingly said what do you want me to do feed it to you
? I now see he might learn to expect that
. I love my Loki but I am not spoon feeding him unless he is sick
.
 

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Oh Carolina, I'm just now catching up and so sorry for that spot of worry... but I REALLY hope that's all it was - a "spot" of worry. Sounds like you found the solution (yet again!).


 
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carolina

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Originally Posted by LDG

Oh Carolina, I'm just now catching up and so sorry for that spot of worry... but I REALLY hope that's all it was - a "spot" of worry. Sounds like you found the solution (yet again!).


Hi Laurie
I am watching him Like a hawk
Believe me, he will never go without eating

He is eating much better now - It is also great that Ziwi is so nutritiously dense - for example: One can is good for a 9lb cat for 2 days. He is eating on his own again, although I need to follow him a bit, he is licking his plate clean. He is also eating dry much better. I think he will be just fine.
Of course Hope is in heaven!
I am glad she is able to eat meat again - frankly, I am glad both are back on meat!
Regardless, Bugsy is going to the vet on the 23rd for a full checkup, CBC and liver enzymes. I am sure he is going to be fine, but I will consider getting some appetite stimulants just in case - 2 weeks out of town kind of scare me.
 
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