Yesterday we put our beautiful 16 yr old cat to sleep. I had spent the last 5 months online reading suggestions and thought it might be helpful for someone to see it in one post. I am not a vet, I do not claim to know the answers, i am not rich so replies of I should have done this or that sooner are just cruel. I'm trying to help, if it doesn't apply to you or help you. please move on and let it be.
He had always been overweight and we started to notice him 'getting in better shape' (aka losing weight) for a few months. Then the diarrhea started, not just loose stools but liquid stools. We had just got a puppy so thought it was stress, then the food. Here's what we tried thanks to people's post online. Hopefully some of it will work for your cat. All good things to try so you can have peace of mind you tried.
Pumpkin (plain cost about $1)
yogurt
Withheld food for 12 hours, then Boiled chicken and rice for several days. No change
Switched gradually to food with no corn, wheat, gluten. Ate it but I think he missed his Iams
Switched to Newman's organic food Absolutely hated it, refused to eat it.
Sprinkled Fortiflora probiotic over food (from Amazon),
Read Proviable probiotic is better than fortiflora , got that, no affect.
Tried Metamucil powder ..Local stores only had the orange flavor, I got the clear powder from Amazon but then learned it is a different fiber called inulin . It didn't help.
Then I ordered Vetasyl for cats , that is psyllium fiber. didn't help.
On to Imodium . Gave 2.5 mls , didn't help.
Vomiting started, about once a day.
Went to a vet. Complete blood lab work done, fecal exam, test for Gardia (even though cat only indoors and dog was negative),
EVERYTHING normal. Went home with antibiotic Metronidazole ( flagyl ) and kerafate.
He really really hated the metronidazole.
Vet then proceeded to list out what next we could do and the fees $$$... a blood test for toxins for $280, endoscopy upper and lower, ultrasound, x-rays, biopsies all looking for tumors and cancer, which would not show on blood work.
We made the decision not to proceed.
Our desire to know did not over ride his right to a peaceful life, At 16, there would be no surgery, no chemo.
More reading online, sooo many people in the same situation. Claims that raw food is the miracle answer. I got Nature's Instinct Raw bites. Had to sprinkle a little fortiflora on it at first to get him to eat it. Prayed for this to work but nothing changed except his poop really smelled bad.
The stool never changed from day one... runny, no shape at all. There was never blood, mucous or visible parasites. Now starting to get weak as weight loss continues. He eats and drinks but is starving to death. He barely made it to the liter box, exploding diarrhea over floors, then walking in it. We have 2 other cats who never got sick. Another vet visit but this time did research... looked for someone with many years experience (usually their bio is on the website), someone who is an owner of the hospital as I learned from reading that many vets work on commission as insane as that sounds, and lastly word of mouth. I found a wonderful vet. I explained I was near the end, I'm tired, he's tired, he can't be enjoying life, his anus alone must hurt him. He suggested trying cortisone steroid shot. If it's IBD Inflammed bowel disease or even cancer of the lining of the intestines, this would reduce inflammation and stop diarrhea but first for his peace of mind he wanted to just quickly run an ultrasound over his belly to make sure there isn't some obvious tumor. There it was, a tumor. I asked if it was removable... no, it was intermingled in his intestines. Lymphoma or sarcoma I don't remember the term he used. The humane thing to do was let him go.
I agreed and he is in heaven now. The vet never listed fees like the last one did and
when i went to pay the bill - this wonderful vet didn't charge for the 'quick look ultrasound'.
There are truly wonderful caring people out there.
I write this to help people in the same situation. Things I learned, just my opinions.... if the problem is the food then fasting 12 hours and boiled chicken and rice should fix it.
The fortiflora was easy and great for finicky eaters.... Also raw food is controversial , be sure to educate yourself about the good and bad Wysong.net explains the dangers .
I learned so much from others experience and I hope this helps one person out there.
xoxo to you all
He had always been overweight and we started to notice him 'getting in better shape' (aka losing weight) for a few months. Then the diarrhea started, not just loose stools but liquid stools. We had just got a puppy so thought it was stress, then the food. Here's what we tried thanks to people's post online. Hopefully some of it will work for your cat. All good things to try so you can have peace of mind you tried.
Pumpkin (plain cost about $1)
yogurt
Withheld food for 12 hours, then Boiled chicken and rice for several days. No change
Switched gradually to food with no corn, wheat, gluten. Ate it but I think he missed his Iams
Switched to Newman's organic food Absolutely hated it, refused to eat it.
Sprinkled Fortiflora probiotic over food (from Amazon),
Read Proviable probiotic is better than fortiflora , got that, no affect.
Tried Metamucil powder ..Local stores only had the orange flavor, I got the clear powder from Amazon but then learned it is a different fiber called inulin . It didn't help.
Then I ordered Vetasyl for cats , that is psyllium fiber. didn't help.
On to Imodium . Gave 2.5 mls , didn't help.
Vomiting started, about once a day.
Went to a vet. Complete blood lab work done, fecal exam, test for Gardia (even though cat only indoors and dog was negative),
EVERYTHING normal. Went home with antibiotic Metronidazole ( flagyl ) and kerafate.
He really really hated the metronidazole.
Vet then proceeded to list out what next we could do and the fees $$$... a blood test for toxins for $280, endoscopy upper and lower, ultrasound, x-rays, biopsies all looking for tumors and cancer, which would not show on blood work.
We made the decision not to proceed.
Our desire to know did not over ride his right to a peaceful life, At 16, there would be no surgery, no chemo.
More reading online, sooo many people in the same situation. Claims that raw food is the miracle answer. I got Nature's Instinct Raw bites. Had to sprinkle a little fortiflora on it at first to get him to eat it. Prayed for this to work but nothing changed except his poop really smelled bad.
The stool never changed from day one... runny, no shape at all. There was never blood, mucous or visible parasites. Now starting to get weak as weight loss continues. He eats and drinks but is starving to death. He barely made it to the liter box, exploding diarrhea over floors, then walking in it. We have 2 other cats who never got sick. Another vet visit but this time did research... looked for someone with many years experience (usually their bio is on the website), someone who is an owner of the hospital as I learned from reading that many vets work on commission as insane as that sounds, and lastly word of mouth. I found a wonderful vet. I explained I was near the end, I'm tired, he's tired, he can't be enjoying life, his anus alone must hurt him. He suggested trying cortisone steroid shot. If it's IBD Inflammed bowel disease or even cancer of the lining of the intestines, this would reduce inflammation and stop diarrhea but first for his peace of mind he wanted to just quickly run an ultrasound over his belly to make sure there isn't some obvious tumor. There it was, a tumor. I asked if it was removable... no, it was intermingled in his intestines. Lymphoma or sarcoma I don't remember the term he used. The humane thing to do was let him go.
I agreed and he is in heaven now. The vet never listed fees like the last one did and
when i went to pay the bill - this wonderful vet didn't charge for the 'quick look ultrasound'.
There are truly wonderful caring people out there.
I write this to help people in the same situation. Things I learned, just my opinions.... if the problem is the food then fasting 12 hours and boiled chicken and rice should fix it.
The fortiflora was easy and great for finicky eaters.... Also raw food is controversial , be sure to educate yourself about the good and bad Wysong.net explains the dangers .
I learned so much from others experience and I hope this helps one person out there.
xoxo to you all
