Hepatic Lipidosis? Home remedy of force feeding?

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chrinsky

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My 3.5 year old shorthair indoor kitty stopped eating and drinking as much in the past week and a half.  There is visible weight loss.  I brought her to the vet last night and they did blood work and gave her an antibiotic shot as well just in case, the vet did state that she seemed dehydrated.  The vet called me back this morning with her results; her liver enzymes and gallbladder enzymes are off the chart.  He said that it could be hepatic lipidosis, but without further testing there's no definitive diagnosis.  He suggested a very aggressive (and costly) treatment of admitting her to a hospital in Boston and giving her a feeding tube through her stomach to make sure she's getting proper nutrition.  Based off of my research, it seems as though as long as she starts getting proper protein/nutrition intake you can almost "reverse" the hepatic lipidosis or "jump start" her liver back into being well.  I guess hepatic lipidosis occurs because for some reason the cat stops eating as much as it normally does?  I quite frankly do not have the financial means to admit my cat to a hospital and do tons of more testing, feeding tube, etc.  But based on my research, if I force feed her the amount of a high protein food (put through the food processor and water added) that she should normally be eating (but broken down into frequent intervals) this can work just as well.  I will be using a syringe, wrapping her up nice and snug in a towel and holding her close as I give her the food...I've already successfully given her one "dose" of food this way!  Has anyone else tried this approach?  I love my cat more than I can express, but we just can't afford all of these vet bills right now.  Her visit, blood work, and antibiotic shot was $240 alone!  I'm looking for some hope out there that someone else has been able to help their poor kitty "reverse" hepatic lipidosis and nurse them back to health!

Also, this website http://www.hepatic-lipidosis.com/ has been EXTREMELY helpful.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!
 

feralvr

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Welcome to TCS :) - and am so very, very sorry your kitty is sick. :(. Hang on because I am sure other's will be coming along soon. We have many here who have experience with Hepatic Lipidosis.... AND, yes, many here have had to resort to syringe feeding their kitties. It is not uncommon. :nod: I will be sending you and your kitty many vibes today and am sure other's will offer support too! :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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carolina

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Hi There.... Sorry you are going through this.... yes, you can syringe feed her back to health BUT - keep in mind that she has to eat her daily food intake for that... consistently.... Think about several meals of at least 1oz each - my meals are of 1 1/2 oz. That's why the vet told you about the feeding tube...
I for one, have no problems syringe feeding, but a lot of people do..... Better then towels, get yourself a cat bag - this is going to be a long road.... HL takes a while to get reversed..... Food is her medicine... so just keep on going strong feeding her, and don't let yourself get down :hugs:, or frustrated :vibes::vibes::vibes: This is what is going to make her better....
Others will come in and give their opinion as well - there are some supplements you can give her for the liver...

I have a thread with good tips on feeding and links here http://www.thecatsite.com/t/227858/syringe-feeding-lucky-video-if-your-cat-is-not-eating

Good luck! :hugs: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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mschauer

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Hey Carolina. What is a "cat bag"?? Maybe it is obvious in your video but I can't play it.
 
Hi There.... Sorry you are going through this.... yes, you can syringe feed her back to health BUT - keep in mind that she has to eat her daily food intake for that... consistently.... Think about several meals of at least 1oz each - my meals are of 1 1/2 oz. That's why the vet told you about the feeding tube...
I for one, have no problems syringe feeding, but a lot of people do..... Better then towels, get yourself a cat bag - this is going to be a long road.... HL takes a while to get reversed..... Food is her medicine... so just keep on going strong feeding her, and don't let yourself get down
, or frustrated
This is what is going to make her better....
Others will come in and give their opinion as well - there are some supplements you can give her for the liver...
I have a thread with good tips on feeding and links here http://www.thecatsite.com/t/227858/syringe-feeding-lucky-video-if-your-cat-is-not-eating
Good luck!
 

carolina

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Hey Carolina. What is a "cat bag"?? Maybe it is obvious in your video but I can't play it.

 
Here are examples of cat bags - I have both:
The Cat Sack
Klaw Kontrol

The Klaw Kontrol runs small, but is a wonderful bag..... The Cat Sack is a tough, life long bag - this is the one I have for Bugsy.

These bags hold the kitty inside, much like the burrito technique, but with zippers, and once the kitty is restrained, you have both your hands free to administer food, meds, clip nails whatever - it takes the stress out of the process, saves time, it gives control, and it just makes your life much, much easier.... To me, it has been a lifesaver..... I have used with all my kitties.... And it worked every time.
 
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chrinsky

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Thank you ALL for your support, good vibes, suggestions and input!  I am going to check out a local pet store to see if I can get a cat bag...I'm sure it is much easier than our towel technique!  And don't worry, I am making sure that she will be getting the proper amount of food daily.  I heard 1/2 ounce-1 ounce per pound?  She currently weights 10 lbs (but did weigh more).  Do you think 6 oz per day is enough, or should I start off with a little bit more to bulk her up at first?  I am planning on feeding her one ounce each feeding and at least 6 times per day.  Thoughts?
 

carolina

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Thank you ALL for your support, good vibes, suggestions and input!  I am going to check out a local pet store to see if I can get a cat bag...I'm sure it is much easier than our towel technique!  And don't worry, I am making sure that she will be getting the proper amount of food daily.  I heard 1/2 ounce-1 ounce per pound?  She currently weights 10 lbs (but did weigh more).  Do you think 6 oz per day is enough, or should I start off with a little bit more to bulk her up at first?  I am planning on feeding her one ounce each feeding and at least 6 times per day.  Thoughts?
Go to your vet, and get her A/D - it is an excellent food for syringe feeding, as it is syringe ready, no need to dilute - it goes through the syringe very smoothly, doesn't clog, and it is nutrient packed. It is made for these types of circumstances - for kitties in recovery and Hepatic Lipidosis.
It is also very palatable, making it that much easier to feed - kitties love this food :) You might even be able to supplement some of her food intake by spoon feeding...


[VIDEO][/VIDEO]


Remember, the more you dilute the food, the more you have to feed.....

Get ALL your syringes filled/ready at the time of the feeding - that is probably the single best tip I will give you.... and make sure the syringes are at least 1/2 oz in volume. Forget the syringes from the vet.... they are tiny tiny..... Four Paw sells at PetsSmart - you can find them at the small pet/ferret/puppy session - they are great syringes.... Get several sets, as you will only use the cone shaped tip ones.... They are 1/2oz each.

Cat bags are not sold in stores to my knowledge, but you can buy online and get them delivered next day. If you buy the Klaw Kontrol, get one size bigger.

Here is the feeding guide for A/D: http://www.hillspet.com/products/pd-feline-ad-caninefeline-critical-care-canned.html
:vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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ldg

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I'd start her with 4 the first day, 5 the 2nd day, and 6 the third day.

You may have seen the info on the link you provided, but just in case, to make it easier to translate ml into ounces, 30ml is one ounce. :nod:

Also, I think Carolina is now using different syringes, but originally she recommended these, and I love them: The Four Paws Easy Feeder. They are 15ml each. You just snip the ends, and you can use both (they come in twos). As you may have to syringe feed her for some time, you might want to order a number of sets online. They clean up easily, and don't get stuck when feeding. :)

Vibes for you and your baby. :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes:
 

carolina

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I'd start her with 4 the first day, 5 the 2nd day, and 6 the third day.
You may have seen the info on the link you provided, but just in case, to make it easier to translate ml into ounces, 30ml is one ounce. :nod:
Also, I think Carolina is now using different syringes, but originally she recommended these, and I love them: The Four Paws Easy Feeder. They are 15ml each. You just snip the ends, and you can use both (they come in twos). As you may have to syringe feed her for some time, you might want to order a number of sets online. They clean up easily, and don't get stuck when feeding. :)
Vibes for you and your baby. :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes:
Thanks for reminding to snipping the tips!! I still use Four Paws also - and for A/D, they work very very well.... More importantly, they are available in different pet stores, such as PetSmart, for example.

One more tip about these syringes: Take the plunger off, and fill them from the top - put the plunge back in.

As feeding quantities, I would just use the A/D feeding guide...... (LDG is correct - you start with lower amounts - but it depends where the kitty is on recovery - this IS a rich food, and you do not want tummy problems..... the 1st and 2nd day you start diluting a bit - refer to the guide)

Here is the thing...... Nutritionally, wet food vary greatly. Feeding A/D is very different then feeding Fancy Feast of Freasky, for example - those you would need to feed much more to achieve their daily needs. So stick with the label per weight.

Royal canin also has a Recovery RS food, but in my experience, it doesn't slide as well in the syringe as Hills A/D. That is, IMHO really the best food to syringe feed.
 
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mschauer

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Oh!  A Kitty Strait Jacket! 

The thing about those is if the cat is hard to handle, which is when you most need something like that, you ain't goin' get 'em one of those.

I might get one to try with my fosters that stop eating because of a URI. For the ones I can get in it, it might reduce the mess of force feeding.

Thanks for the info!
Here are examples of cat bags - I have both:
The Cat Sack
Klaw Kontrol
The Klaw Kontrol runs small, but is a wonderful bag..... The Cat Sack is a tough, life long bag - this is the one I have for Bugsy.
These bags hold the kitty inside, much like the burrito technique, but with zippers, and once the kitty is restrained, you have both your hands free to administer food, meds, clip nails whatever - it takes the stress out of the process, saves time, it gives control, and it just makes your life much, much easier.... To me, it has been a lifesaver..... I have used with all my kitties.... And it worked every time.
 

carolina

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Oh!  A Kitty Strait Jacket! 

The thing about those is if the cat is hard to handle, which is when you most need something like that, you ain't goin' get 'em one of those.


I might get one to try with my fosters that stop eating because of a URI. For the ones I can get in it, it might reduce the mess of force feeding.

Thanks for the info!
Good thing to have at all times for sure.... :nod: :rbheart: Gracie :rbheart: Was one tough to handle kitty - she went ballistic when held.... The way I did was, of course talking softly to her.... Then I would open the bag flat on the floor, scruff her, lift her off the floor, place her inside of the bag, close the neck first then zip her in. You work on calming them down with soft talking, petting, etc..... but IMHO..... there is no comparison with anything out there when you need to restrain a cat. With a towel, you need to hold the towel.... paws do come out... cats can be strong.... The advantage of the bag is that it does completely restrain them and it leaves both hands free - one to hold their heads, the other for the syringe, pill popper, whatever the case. :nod:

Sure, there have been parents who haven't been successful with the bags.... I have been VERY. So have many many..... It has saved my relationship with Bugsy..... It came soooo handy when Lucky had her blockage and had to be syringe fed for days..... Recently for :rbheart: Gracie :rbheart:.....
 
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carolina

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Oh sorry, Carolina, didn't see you mentioned the Four Paws! (And I didn't know they were available at Petsmart LOL).
Oh yes, they are, which makes them that much better!

The only advantage of my newer ones, is that they don't get clogged with any food - thick and grainy food included :nod:
But for A/D and well blended foods, Four Paws are a beauty! :nod:
 

mschauer

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It's worth a try.

It would be interesting to see how Toby reacts to it. I can't clip his claws because he gets down right violent if I mess with his paws.
 
Good thing to have at all times for sure....
Gracie
Was one tough to handle kitty - she went ballistic when held.... The way I did was, of course talking softly to her.... Then I would open the bag flat on the floor, scruff her, lift her off the floor, place her inside of the bag, close the neck first then zip her in. You work on calming them down with soft talking, petting, etc..... but IMHO..... there is no comparison with anything out there when you need to restrain a cat. With a towel, you need to hold the towel.... paws do come out... cats can be strong.... The advantage of the bag is that it does completely restrain them and it leaves both hands free - one to hold their heads, the other for the syringe, pill popper, whatever the case.

Sure, there have been parents who haven't been successful with the bags.... I have been VERY. So have many many..... It has saved my relationship with Bugsy..... It came soooo handy when Lucky had her blockage and had to be syringe fed for days..... Recently for
Gracie
.....
 

denice

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I went through this with one of my kitties a year ago.  I had the feeding tube put in because it was less stressful and I was working 12 hour shifts which would make force feeding difficult.  The amounts for feeding should be the same.  My cat weighed 10 pounds at the time, hes up 14 now, and was on the AD.  For the feeding tube it was diluted half and half with water because it has to be water thin for the tube.  I was feeding 60 ml of the diluted food four times a day.  They worked him up to that while he was at the clinic so I don't know what amount he started on.  The A/D is both calorie and nutrient dense so they don't have to eat as much of it.  It is a little on the pricey side but I think all the prescription foods are.  Patches survived it and has been in good health since.
 

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I'm so glad you're getting the advise you need and are not afraid to jump right in and force feed!
for a quick recovery.  Not sure if it was mentioned, but keep force feeding even after your furbaby starts eating on his own again, just to make sure he gets enough food.
 
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chrinsky

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Thank you SO much everyone!!!  I spoke with the vet again not too long ago and I let him know that I am definitely going to go with the force feeding w/ syringe option versus the feeding tube in the stomach.  I am picking up some A/D tonight and will start using that.  I'm lucky enough that my husband has an incredibly flexible work schedule, so I can feed the kitty in the morning before work and a few times after work when I get home, but he can stop at home throughout the work day a few times to feed her.  I'm praying this works for my poor little Meowzers!  She is such a good little kitty and has the most awesome temperament-we just wrapped her up loosely in a towel and held her close and she was OK with the syringe feeding.

Just so there's some measurements for you all to go by, the vet said her liver enzymes AST are 414 and high normal is 100, her ALT is 727 and high normal is 100.  There was another liver enzyme (sounded like vet said "alcfoss", but I can't find that online) that was 588 when high normal is 102.  Her gallbladder bilirubin level is 2.6 and high normal is .4.  Again, this is all according to her vet.

I really, really, really am hoping for the best here!  I hope I can save my poor kitty!
 
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