Eating slowing down again, what is this?

Miss is an IBD cat. She has had some issues, and was on metronidazole (sp) for months. Her liver enzymes were over 500 during a senior panel, and we took her off it to see it if helped. Her last panel showed it went down to 320, and I just had another done last week where the results will be back tomorrow. She is on a probiotic to help her belly issues.

She was having appetite issues so a few weeks ago we had her on one  dose of mirtzapine (sp). It worked and she got her appetite back for a few weeks. She was eating regularly but the last few days has started slowing down again. She is 19 pounds, so I need her to eat enough to lose weight, but not too fast.

I don't understand this. She will eat if I put the bowl in front of her. But she only voluntarily goes to her bowl a few times a day. It's been a struggle the past few days to get get her to eat almost the full amount. But she is eating, and enthusiastic about it, but doesn't eat a lot. 

Can the liver enzymes possibly still being a bit elevated cause the slow down?

She is not vomiting, she's drinking, she is peeing and pooping. She plays as well. 

I want to give her a 1/8 of a mirtazapine tonight, just to jump start the eating again, but not the full 1/4. 

I just want some insight. She doesn't seem *sick*, just low appetite.

Anyone been through this? What's it sound like?

Yes, liver enzymes can play a part and I'm glad you took her off the Flagyl because my Alex had inflammation of the liver and the Flaygl put her into hepatic lipidosis so you did the right thing. Flagyl should not be giving with liver inflammation. Please do give her some more mirtazapine and what you are experiencing is unfortunately very normal for an IBD kitty. Appetite is very OFF with IBD and especially with liver inflammation. But you want to make sure she eats enough with that liver problem because it's a tricky and dangerous situation. I don't think right now is the time to put her on any kind of diet as she's got to get her liver enzymes down first. What did the vet say about this? What is it you're feeding her btw?

Hi Finn!

I talked to you before about my Miss-I remember you telling me about Alex.

She is on the I/D dry, as she's a dry addict. I am going to offer more wet food during the mirtazapine. She just started slowing down the last two days. I take her not eating VERY seriously since she is overweight, so tonight she is getting the mirtazapine, even though just a 1/8 of a dose at the moment. If she needs her other 1/8, I will give that to her. The drug did kick start her appetite for two weeks, so I can't complain. She is 19 pounds so they don't want her gaining more weight, but they want to make sure she is eating enough, which is why they gave me the stimulant.

Can you switch over to grain free in the next month? Do it very slowly? This will get her to lose the weight naturally by taking out the bad carbs. That's great that you are giving a smaller dose of the mirtazapine, if she responds to that, wonderful. Sometimes the full dose sends them flying and they become too agitated. If you plan to switch to wet food my advice would be to start with a grain free dry FIRST and get her used to that. Then slowly switch over to grain free wet food. That way it's not such a shock. 

I would be interested in trying a grain free dry. I've tried some high quality grain free foods in the past and I have had some trouble, as her problems escalated when she is on anything but I/D. It scares me to try. I *think* she may be sensitive to peas, as when she was having problems, the ingredients all had peas. But I'm not really sure. The vet is hoping she can transition to wet, as he says it's better for weight loss and for them in general, as it's closer to their "real" diets protein wise and all.

When she has flared in the past, I would give her a few days of metro and then stop, and it would pass, as I didn't like her on medicine.

They were  adamant about her being on the metro while she was on the diet food to try and keep her symptoms under control while she lost weight. But look what happened. Argh. I am not happy about her being on a gastro diet food, as it makes her stools too bulky and hard to pass. I had to give her luctralose all the time for her to poop. Which I think is ridiculous.

IBD confuses me. She doesn't really have diarrhea. She has had some constipation on her other diet food, but she's not on it now. When she flares, she slows her eating, she starts barfing and acting sick. She used to have loose stools ALL the time. She hasn't (knock on wood) really done that as of late. I'm hoping the probiotic (even though it's only fortiflora at the moment) helps get her system in order. I just feel like no matter what I do, I do it wrong. 

What will they give her now if she has a flare up? Since she can't take the metro? I will have to ask my vet tomorrow I guess. I am praying her enzymes are still going down. 

I just don't get why she will eat when I put the bowl in front of her, but doesn't really go over much to the bowl herself. It's odd. 

Jen, that is EXACTLY what my Alex did. I exhausted myself following her around putting that bowl in front of her all day and all night long. Never got any sleep! IBD is confusing so please don't feel like you're alone. This is a tough thing to deal with and you have every right to be frustrated on what to do. But please do not feel like you are doing anything wrong because it's the disease sweetie, not you! Can you try some Merrick Before Grain dry food? That's a good one, not sure if it has peas though but if it does, look to see about the Nature's Variety Limited Ingredient one. Your vet is completely right and oh my gosh! To hear a vet say wet food is better, is a huge step in the right direction. Kudos to that vet! But one step at a time. Right now she needs sustenance without getting drastic about change. What you should do is get some Denosyl for her liver. It's an all natural SAMe pill that helps to heal the liver and works very well. Did you happen to read my switching foods page on my website?

What a debacle! I put the pill down her throat, and she started drooling and spit most of it out. I wrapped the rest of it in a pill pocket, but it was a mushy mess, and falling apart. I hope that it was ok to give her it like that. I'm a total mess It must melt easy, but I hope it doesn't release too much at one time. I'm so worried. 

Thanks finn. I did read it. I am such a mess.

Aw Jen, I feel for you. I know how stressed you are. It's fine like that, it'll be fine. Next time just give it in a pill pocket if you can. Do you have a pill gun to give pills?

She is normally not hard to pill-I guess I just didn't get it all the way down her throat. My husband freaked when he saw her drooling, panicked, and said, "What did you do to her?" Him saying that just destroyed me, even though I know he was just scared and didn't mean it. Because I do everything for this cat. I don't sleep, I try and just do the best I can, and I worry about her constantly, so it just cut me, and I started crying. Great circumstances to try and give her a pill in! Such stress. I wrapped the rest of it in the pill pocket, but it was a big pile of mush. But she is eating and drinking, so it's starting to work, thankfully!

Finn, you are a real source of comfort. I know I don't really know you, but you are very giving with your experiences and I really appreciate it!

Oh Jen, you are breaking my heart. I know how absolutely awful this is!!! I was always so exhausted and cried and cried an cried when I went through this. You are so very tired, I can get that through your writing. Does your husband help with any of this? If not, maybe it's time to teach him some of this stuff so he can help you and understand what you're going through. 

Oh, I am sorry, I don't mean to upset you! Really. I am very, very tired. He leaves most of this to me, but I should probably teach him a bit. He scared me a bit just now when he said Miss's pupils were a bit larger than normal, but I think that happens on this. She gets meowy on it and affectionate. Last time she had a bigger dose, so I wanted to cut it down by half.

No Jen, I am fine. I feel bad for you because I know how tired you are and I can read how hard you're trying. I remember this all too well. I really do think it's a good idea to share the responsibility if you can. He needs to know what you go through and he needs to be a part of this if it's his cat also. Her pupils probably are a big larger, because Mirtazapine does that. As long as she's starting to eat and drink and seems otherwise okay, she's fine. 

Yes, he does need to get more involved for sure. Boy she sure is meowing big time!

She's otherwise okay though right? Is this what she did last time? She doesn't seem uncomfortable at all? Mirtazapine is actually an anti-depressant and the side effect is massive hunger. So I'm glad you gave her a smaller piece than normal. Maybe she's meowing a lot and having a little bit of a stronger reaction because of the way she took it. 

She is walking around a lot and meowing. She is eating, and drinking.  I remember it did make her slightly meowy last time for the first few hours afterward. I don't remember her being *quite* so meowy, but yes, it could be because of the way she took it. Oy vey. I don't need another thing to worry about! It did make her restless last time, I remember that. It seemed to calm down after a while. 

Okay, deep breath. I'm sure she's fine. If she's eating and drinking then it's doing it's job. You need to get some sleep Jen! Now that she's taken that she'll be eating all night and probably meowing her little brains out all night. Try to get some sleep. 

Thanks Finn

How much is she eating exactly? In ounces or cups?