Ongoing Digestive Issues

rnsophie · Jul 8, 2015

So, I continue to have trouble with George and Susan with their digestive issues. If I feed them the kind of food Susan needs (high fiber), she makes nice solid poops but George throws up and doesn't gain enough weight. If I feed them George's food (high calorie), Susan gets diarrhea. I tried mixing them together for a while, and I get kind of a milder form of both problems. Susan has soft gooey poop that isn't total soup like she gets with no fiber. George throws up once a week instead of once a day and still is underweight.

Thank you to the person who sent me the links on the special food bowls that only open for a particular cat. I can't really afford them, but if all else fails I might have to try. The latest thing we're going to try is something called tylan powder to help Susan with her diarrhea. Have any of you ever tried that, or heard anything either good or bad about it?

Thanks,
Sophie and the Kits

goholistic · Jul 8, 2015

Perhaps I'm being overly simple here, but it seems to me that each of the cats should be fed the food that they do well on.

I have three senior cats, each with different health issues, and they all eat something different. They are on timed meals and I "supervise" so that they don't wander to each others' bowls. They don't like to be separated or locked away in rooms, so they have their "feeding stations" about 2-3 feet apart from each other. It took some training, but they eventually learned. They wait at their designated spots. They WILL wander if I walk away, so I stay and supervise. If I allowed them to wander or I fed them all the same food, I'd have issues like yours to the nth degree and, honestly, at least one of them would probably be dead.

Tylan is an antibiotic. I have used it in the past for bacterial overgrowth. I, personally, wouldn't advise it in your situation since you're dealing with dietary indiscretion, which can be avoided just by maintaining control over who eats what. An antibiotic could potentially disrupt Susan's natural gut flora and cause further digestive issues, IMO.

mrsgreenjeens · Jul 9, 2015

GoHolistic said:
Perhaps I'm being overly simple here, but it seems to me that each of the cats should be fed the food that they do well on.

I have three senior cats, each with different health issues, and they all eat something different. They are on timed meals and I "supervise" so that they don't wander to each others' bowls. They don't like to be separated or locked away in rooms, so they have their "feeding stations" about 2-3 feet apart from each other. It took some training, but they eventually learned. They wait at their designated spots. They WILL wander if I walk away, so I stay and supervise. If I allowed them to wander or I fed them all the same food, I'd have issues like yours to the nth degree and, honestly, at least one of them would probably be dead.

Tylan is an antibiotic. I have used it in the past for bacterial overgrowth. I, personally, wouldn't advise it in your situation since you're dealing with dietary indiscretion, which can be avoided just by maintaining control over who eats what. An antibiotic could potentially disrupt Susan's natural gut flora and cause further digestive issues, IMO.

Ditto this. All three of my cats eat different food too, and I just supervise to make sure my little piggy stays out of the others' food since he always finishes up first. It's not that difficult once you get them on scheduled feedings, if they aren't already.

Assuming they are NOT, here is an article telling you how to do that: http://www.thecatsite.com/a/transitioning-free-fed-kibble-kitties-to-timed-meals

One thing that might help Susan is by adding canned pumpkin to her food. It's a good kind of fiber that doesn't cause their stools to bulk up too much. Just add about 1 teas per meal. Some cats love it. (use plain canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie mix). another think that might help her would be to add a probiotic to her food. This helps keep their gut flora in balance. I give all my cats daily probiotics...the same ones WE humans take

rnsophie · Jul 9, 2015

Thank you both for your input. I read every word of that transitioning article, and it totally makes sense. The issue is that both cats are underweight. Susan a little, and George almost 5 pounds underweight. I'm scared if I try to take their food away between meals they will lose even more weight. If I stay right there, I can keep them from eating each other's food. They just eat so little of it right then. It takes them a long time to finish it, and sometimes I get home ready to feed them again and they still haven't finished what I gave them before.

I agree about not using antibiotics unless absolutely needed, in humans or cats. I'm just kind of at my wits end trying to get these babies healthy. I haven't tried the pumpkin yet. I will totally try that first before I give Susan any tylan powder. George's vomiting sounds like the "bile vomiting" that was mentioned in the article about timed feedings. He definitely isn't doing that thing that some cats do where they wolf their food and then throw it right back up. George throws up a long time after eating and it looks like bile.

Thank you again for the suggestions, and I will try pumpkin!

Sophie and the Kits

mrsgreenjeens · Jul 11, 2015

RNSophie said:
Thank you both for your input. I read every word of that transitioning article, and it totally makes sense. The issue is that both cats are underweight. Susan a little, and George almost 5 pounds underweight. I'm scared if I try to take their food away between meals they will lose even more weight. If I stay right there, I can keep them from eating each other's food. They just eat so little of it right then. It takes them a long time to finish it, and sometimes I get home ready to feed them again and they still haven't finished what I gave them before.

rnsophie · Jul 11, 2015

I got George and Susan from a friend of a friend Maine Coon breeder. It's the last time I'll use one, that's for sure! She somehow got a vet to sign a certificate of health when I got them at 9 weeks. They were definitely NOT healthy. They both had an eye infection, upper respiratory infection, and giardia.

It took me over 6 months and two kinds of meds to get rid of the giardia. When they both finally tested negative, they were underweight. They both continued to have diarrhea. Susan had developed colitis and had blood in her poop. George had had some kind of neurological damage from the second more powerful med and his head was tipped to the left like he had torticollis and he kept falling over to that side. I started feeding them the high fiber food and the diarrhea did improve. George eventually stopped having the balance problems, I guess because the drug worked its way out of his system. He never totally recovered his coordination. He still klutzes out all the time and he doesn't chew his food.

Susan started gaining weight and doing better, and George started throwing up every day. He should be 15 pounds and he is 10 and a half. That's when the vet suggested switching to the duck and green pea food and she had me give him famotidine once a day. Straight duck pea food made Susan's diarrhea come back, so I started mixing the two together. Susan has sort of half loose poops now and George only throws up like once a week, but he isn't putting any weight on. So, still searching for the right answers.

Also, they both still have sneezing and congestion and George's eyes and nose run constantly. Thanks for asking and listening!

Sophie

rubysmama · Jul 11, 2015

Just quickly read over this thread, so may have missed something.

Does each cat have their own dish? Or do they share one?

If they have their own dish, you could feed them each their preferred food.

Do they eat canned or dry food? Or some of each?

My cat, Ruby, used to vomit clear liquid between meals when she ate a mix of IAMS canned and wet food. A switch to canned hypo-allergenic (duck) only, cured that problem.

rnsophie · Jul 11, 2015

They have their own dish but they eat out of each other's. When I'm home I can watch them but I work nights and am gone off and on and it's hard.

Sophie

rubysmama · Jul 11, 2015

RNSophie said:
They have their own dish but they eat out of each other's. When I'm home I can watch them but I work nights and am gone off and on and it's hard.

Sophie

Maybe you could still put their own food in each of their dishes, and then they'd at least get most of "their" own food. Unless one likes the other's food better and they both eat from just one dish.

rnsophie · Jul 11, 2015

Yup, I've tried all that. Someone posted a link to special bowls that only one cat can access. I might have to use those but they're expensive.

Sophie

mrsgreenjeens · Jul 11, 2015

What EXACT foods are you feeding...Nature's Variety Ltd, or what, and is it kibble or canned, or both? Are you adding anything to it....probiotics, digestive enzymes, L-Lysine, etc, or just the famotudine for George?

mrsgreenjeens · Jul 11, 2015

BTW, we give our Callie famotudine, but for excess stomach acid, which produces a frothy type vomit, NOT a bile type vomit. I'm really surprised that you are giving it for a weekly bile type vomit. Here is a website that has lots of links to vomiting that you may find interesting. I gather you are a nurse, so you might REALLY find it interesting: http://www.felinecrf.org/nausea_vomiting_stomach_acid.htm#vomiting

rnsophie · Jul 13, 2015

The high fiber food is kibble and is called Overweight Management. But I soak it first so it's more the texture of canned. The other food is canned Natural Balance Duck & Green Pea.

I decided to try the pumpkin route before using Tylan powder because I'd rather not give more drugs especially antibiotics. Both cats ate the duck and green pea mixed with a spoonful of pumpkin last night and this morning. George has not vomited. Susan pooped once this morning and it was still diarrhea, but it looked a little less soupy. I'm going to keep doing that for a few days and see if her poops firm up.

The vet originally wanted omeprazole for George, not famotidine. But there wasn't any omeprazole at the store that I could cut the pills because they were all extended release. They have an appointment at the vet August 13, and we will revisit George's meds then.

Thank you all for the suggestions. I'm hoping the pumpkin is the answer!

Sophie

brendabiz · Jul 13, 2015

My cat is nine years old and never had any issues He has been throwing up for the past three nights which worries me. He seems ok in every other way, eating drinking water, grooming. I have over reacted once when he sneezed a few times the vet told me to bring him back if he sneezes 10 times!

mrsgreenjeens · Jul 14, 2015

Sophie, is George's food dry or canned? I'm just re-read your thread and see where he doesn't chew his food. My little piggy sometimes doesn't chew his treats, and when he does that (NOT chewing), sometimes he will vomit later and I will see his unchewed treats in it. I'm thinking the best food for George is definitely canned, and definitely pate. Is that what HE is getting?

Next, I would add a good probiotic to Susan's food, if nothing else, since she's got digestive issues. Many people here use this one (I do): http://www.thecatsite.com/products/natural-factors-double-strength-acidophilus-bifidus-10-billion OR this one: , and some people even do a combination of both, one one day and one another day.

Digestive Enzymes might be good to use for both of them too, as this helps the food digest better, helping all the nutrients go where they are needed. Many people actually have to cut back on the amount they use because of too much weight gain! I use Prozyme for my senior, since she is underweight. Problem with her is, she seems to be able to taste it if I use too much

Has the Vet ever mentioned IBD as a possible issue with either of these two? I have no experience with it, but @GoHolistic does, and it almost sounds like they both might have it, since it manifests either with diarrhea or vomiting, or both.

For the sneezing and running noses, have they been diagnosed with Feline Herpes? Most people whose cats have that issue (where it isn't seasonal allergies) give their cats L-Lysine twice a day, every day. It seems to really help. (It can be mixed into their food) If the sneezing is seasonal, then it's usually allergy related and they give allergy pills, like Zyrtec. I don't know the dosage though. Your Vet would need to tell you based on the size of your cat.

mrsgreenjeens · Jul 14, 2015

Brendabiz said:
My cat is nine years old and never had any issues He has been throwing up for the past three nights which worries me. He seems ok in every other way, eating drinking water, grooming. I have over reacted once when he sneezed a few times the vet told me to bring him back if he sneezes 10 times!

Vomiting for 3 nights in a row is NOT normal and I would definitely take him in to be seen by a Vet if he were MY furbaby. Have you changed any food? Does he do it at the same time every night...say a specific number of hours after eating? Did you check to see if his food is has been recalled? Is he throwing up a clearish froth, or actual food, or what?

brendabiz · Jul 14, 2015

Thank you for your response I am going to take him to our vet I think it may be the treats I have been giving him but I'm just not sure. I got him no grain food he seems to like the food and he didn't throw up last night but I am going to take him to see the doc just to be sure. Thank you so much for your response I worry so much about my Jimmy

mrsgreenjeens · Jul 14, 2015

Brendabiz said:
Thank you for your response I am going to take him to our vet I think it may be the treats I have been giving him but I'm just not sure. I got him no grain food he seems to like the food and he didn't throw up last night but I am going to take him to see the doc just to be sure. Thank you so much for your response I worry so much about my Jimmy

Ah, well, if you tried out some new treats about the time he started the throwing up, that could be it.

Of course you worry. We all do anytime something odd occurs.

Hopefully it was just the change in diet that did it and it will cease and desist

rnsophie · Jul 15, 2015

1) George's food is canned and pate.
2) both cats get L-Lycine treats twice a day.
3) both cats get probiotics
4) Vet has called Susan's issue "fiber responsive colitis" but she hasn't given me a diagnosis for George.
5) I will ask the vet both about feline herpes and digestive enzymes.
6) thanks for responding! People here have been very kind and helpful. :-)

Sophie

mrsgreenjeens · Jul 15, 2015

RNSophie said:
1) George's food is canned and pate.
2) both cats get L-Lycine treats twice a day.
3) both cats get probiotics
4) Vet has called Susan's issue "fiber responsive colitis" but she hasn't given me a diagnosis for George.
5) I will ask the vet both about feline herpes and digestive enzymes.
6) thanks for responding! People here have been very kind and helpful. :-)

Sophie

Since they both have "herpes" like symptoms continually, I wonder how much L-Lysine is in each treat. I've heard that 250 mg twice a day is the norm to give, then if they are having a flare up, go to 500 mg twice a day. Do those treats have that much? Some people add Lactoferrin in addition to the L-Lysine, but that might be counteractive to Susan, with her colitis. George, however, might benefit from it. Something else you might ask your Vet about.

What kind of probiotics are you using? A multi-strain one? In Susan's case, I would say she needs the best of the best, seems like.

that eventually you can get these two healthy

Ongoing Digestive Issues

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