Mirtazapine or Cyproheptadine, which do you use

simka

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I've been using Mirtazapine for over a year on my CRF foster, Sam, as needed earlier and every three days now. She has responded to it well and it's had no side effects on her, apart from making her a little more affectionate, as well as having a good appetite, right after her dose. Sam, after three years treatment, is reaching the point where we can't help her any more (although her quality of life is still reasonably good) and her appetite is waning even though we are not treating her for hyperthyroidism which was diagnosed about 6 weeks ago. I've just requested some Cyproheptadine from the shelter so I can try that on her instead.

Which do you use to stimulate the appetite of chronically ill cats, and why?

On a side note, has anyone found any beefy human foods that cats enjoy? I've been vegetarian for 20 years so haven't a clue. It needs to be tender with plenty of gravy. I've tried the cat gravy, but it was useless - besides being very fishy which she can't have. As of now she's eating only baby food (meat, water, cornstarch.)

Thank you.
 

orientalslave

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While most hyperthyroid cats have a ravenous appetite, some become anorextic without treatment.  Your cat might be one of those.  Some degree of treatment of her hyperthyroid might help her appetite.
 
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simka

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Thank you for that information. I've been wondering about if it could be the case and have talked to more than one vet at the practice on the topic, but they are saying it's most likely the CRF getting worse and it won't be the hyperthyroidism.  She will have a repeat blood test tonight and it will  help in a better assessment. If her CRF isn't getting worse (only the BUN has been higher than normal for the past three years, once she started treatment) then I will be able to push harder at them to consider it's the hyperthyroidism that is causing the drop in her appetite. I was happy not treating it if it didn't harm her and helped with the CRF, but watching her more rapid breathing, feeling her losing weight and seeing how picky she has become has been very difficult. She does eat, jars of all-meat baby food per day, but it takes her 12 hours to get through a plate of one jar.
 

carolina

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I have always used Cypro... Works well, but makes them a little nutty.
In re. To your diet, if you are doing this long term (over 2-3 weeks) you will need to balance it with calcium and taurine at the very least.... Cooking destroys the taurine in the meat, and the side effects of not feeding it are not good.... And the lack if Ca can be just as dangerous..... I am not sure how you would balance the Ca on baby food.... I only know for meat.... I know you can use wysong call if the wild to balance it; that might be an option, if she likes it..... you can balance raw and their au jus line, which is pretty much compatible to what you are feeding.
Anyways, just a note...... :vibes:
 
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simka

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Thanks for the input. I've been concerned about feeding only baby food but she simply won't touch anything else, not one of the 20 brands plus types of foods within those brands I've tried in the past few weeks. She seemed to like the Wellness pouches but went off them within a week.  I've given deli turkey and chicken a few times, which she liked, but more than a small amount and she threw up.  I asked the vet and he said baby food was fine but now I'll check with them again tonight when she goes in for her blood test.
 
 

carolina

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The taurine, I buy on Amazon, taurine powder, from NOW brands, free form, 100% pure.... The calcium, I use eggshells. There is a thread here with all the links, this one: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/246234/taurine-and-other-supplements
Neither taurine ir eggshells add any taste, so you will be fine :nod:..... But if I were you, I would start supplementing.... Those are really important....
 
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