Well, let's hope things have firmed up for him! :cross: 
!!!!! And glad to hear he's eating. :nod: Let's hope that keeps up too!
!!!!! And glad to hear he's eating. :nod: Let's hope that keeps up too!-
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Diarrhea won't subside for Opie, help please
- Thread starter mslemon
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That's great news!!! IMHO.... I would not stop the probiotics...... That is something he should be on for life IMHO..... removing the fiber is ok.... I would not remove the probiotic when he is on raw, however..... :nod:
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- #43
Latest update:
Last evening he didn't seem very interested in food - so I put some chicken broth on it that came from the stuff I poached. That went over much better! So he had several small meals of raw with the broth yesterday and 2 so far today.
I also found a formed dark hard stool in the litter pan this morning, I'm assuming it was one of his as it was very different from any I've seen to date, and it was in his usual spot. Later this afternoon, he pooped again and this time it was well formed, more yellowish (more like pics of cats on raw) but it seemed very dry. These are the first appropriate poops he 's had since he's been with us! I feel better about things, and will keep up the small feedings with the broth added in.
So of course we get him showing some progress and now my former feral and rather difficult boy is deciding he doesn't want to eat. He had been doing very well with the raw. *sigh* We managed to put some dollops of nutrical on his paws.
Just when I think we're all moving in the same direction, I get another breaking the ranks!
Kinda like that old EDS commercial about herding cats.
Last evening he didn't seem very interested in food - so I put some chicken broth on it that came from the stuff I poached. That went over much better! So he had several small meals of raw with the broth yesterday and 2 so far today.
I also found a formed dark hard stool in the litter pan this morning, I'm assuming it was one of his as it was very different from any I've seen to date, and it was in his usual spot. Later this afternoon, he pooped again and this time it was well formed, more yellowish (more like pics of cats on raw) but it seemed very dry. These are the first appropriate poops he 's had since he's been with us! I feel better about things, and will keep up the small feedings with the broth added in.
So of course we get him showing some progress and now my former feral and rather difficult boy is deciding he doesn't want to eat. He had been doing very well with the raw. *sigh* We managed to put some dollops of nutrical on his paws.
Just when I think we're all moving in the same direction, I get another breaking the ranks!
Kinda like that old EDS commercial about herding cats.
Yeah, that's what I'm finding. As soon as everything seems to settle down, someone new has an issue.
But
for formed poops! 
That is just GREAT! I don't know how hard they are - the poops here are dry and crumbly, but not hard. Lighter when on chicken than on lamb. :nod:
But
for formed poops! That is just GREAT! I don't know how hard they are - the poops here are dry and crumbly, but not hard. Lighter when on chicken than on lamb. :nod:- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #45
The formed poops were short-lived. After the one I witnessed, about 2 hours later, there were 2 more smaller ones, softer but still formed. Then about 2 hours later we're back to the very loose pudding. He's been in the box several times. So we're back to square one. I'm feeding again in about 45 minutes and he's getting more psyllium and of course he'll get that with tomorrow's meals, too. I know he's not feeling well, because he's napping in a carrier downstairs. Monday can't some soon enough.
awwwThe formed poops were short-lived. After the one I witnessed, about 2 hours later, there were 2 more smaller ones, softer but still formed. Then about 2 hours later we're back to the very loose pudding. He's been in the box several times. So we're back to square one. I'm feeding again in about 45 minutes and he's getting more psyllium and of course he'll get that with tomorrow's meals, too. I know he's not feeling well, because he's napping in a carrier downstairs. Monday can't some soon enough.
when did you remove him from both fiber and probiotic? did you ever put him back on the probiotic?
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- #47
Carolina, I only skipped both yesterday. I thought the tastes might be interfering with getting him to eat. This morning he got probiotic only - I hadn't seen poops from him for 2 days and he was fed breakfast before I did litter boxes and saw the dark formed stool that I presumed was his. For late lunch today he got neither, and tonight psyllium. Tomorrow morn, he'll get both. I found out yesterday afternoon he will eat if his raw gets about 2 tablespoons of chix broth. So he's eating about 3/4 ounce or so a feeding, 3-4 times a day.
Yeah..... that's the thing with these guys..... when you find that something is working, you keep going, don't stop..... Probiotics - keep on for life... I can't say this enough.... and if psyllium works, keep him on it too.... don't stop when you see formed poop - you want to keep him playing the winning game :nod:
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- #49
Carolina,
Ah! So, with the psyllium I don't have to worry about him getting constipated? I just stick with a workable dose and monitor the "outcome"? I was thinking, wrongly- I guess, that he'd get constipated if I kept it up.
Last night he got his dose of psyllium, and this morning psyllium and probiotics. He came up to eat, which was encouraging. After a cursory look, I didn't see any loose poops in the downstairs pans, but I haven't scooped them yet.
He'll be getting probably 4 meals today and another dose of psyllium and probiotics this evening.
Ah! So, with the psyllium I don't have to worry about him getting constipated? I just stick with a workable dose and monitor the "outcome"? I was thinking, wrongly- I guess, that he'd get constipated if I kept it up.
Last night he got his dose of psyllium, and this morning psyllium and probiotics. He came up to eat, which was encouraging. After a cursory look, I didn't see any loose poops in the downstairs pans, but I haven't scooped them yet.
He'll be getting probably 4 meals today and another dose of psyllium and probiotics this evening.
You should never give more than 500mg a day of psyllium.... if that work for him, he should not get constipated. Psyllium is one fiber that works very well for IBD kitties.... The probiotcs is essential...
Usually with these kitties that's how it works - once you find what works, you keep going with that plan - you don't change it - you don't stop :nod:
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- #51
Gotcha! He's not getting more than 500 mg a day. In fact, it's probably a tad less because the caps I found were 650 mg, and using one cap to dose twice, we always leave a pinch out. The 500 mg psyllium should be here this week.
Psyllium actually regulates water in the bowl, so it actually helps with diarrhea OR constipation, it won't cause either. 
Taking psyllium without adequate water can actually cause constipation:Psyllium actually regulates water in the bowl, so it actually helps with diarrhea OR constipation, it won't cause either.
http://www.medicalinsider.com/mucoid.html#psyllium
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- #54
I have been making sure he gets extra liquid with his food and he is drinking. I don't believe he's constipated, but we are holding the diarrhea at bay. He has a 10 am vet appointment tomorrow.
Thanks everyone for the help and concern. I'll post an update tomorrow after we get back from the vet.
Thanks everyone for the help and concern. I'll post an update tomorrow after we get back from the vet.
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- #55
Opie will be staying at the vet at least overnight, and maybe until Wednesday.
He got a blood test and xrays.
I don't have his blood results in front of me, but he's anemic, and has an elevated WBC, along with bilirubin problems and something else that points to possible pancreatic problems.
She also checked his mouth thoroughly and we could see the red irritated areas in the back where the jaws hinge and along several back teeth. She felt these could be sore and not helping with the lack of appetite.
Xrays revealed fluid in the abdominal cavity along with being dehydrated.
He is getting heavy antibiotics, IV fluids, and a sample of the abdominal fluid will be sent out for testing.
The new vet is so much better! We were very impressed with her. We had to make a second trip back to take his raw food.
Thanks for the help, everyone. Please keep your fingers crossed for Opie!
He got a blood test and xrays.
I don't have his blood results in front of me, but he's anemic, and has an elevated WBC, along with bilirubin problems and something else that points to possible pancreatic problems.
She also checked his mouth thoroughly and we could see the red irritated areas in the back where the jaws hinge and along several back teeth. She felt these could be sore and not helping with the lack of appetite.
Xrays revealed fluid in the abdominal cavity along with being dehydrated.
He is getting heavy antibiotics, IV fluids, and a sample of the abdominal fluid will be sent out for testing.
The new vet is so much better! We were very impressed with her. We had to make a second trip back to take his raw food.
Thanks for the help, everyone. Please keep your fingers crossed for Opie!
Oh my goodness! Thank Goodness you took him to the vet..... for that fluid to be nothing :cross:
Hang in the momma
for that fluid to be nothing :cross: Hang in the momma
Poor little guy! I'm glad he's getting some good vet care, and I hope he'll be feeling better soon!
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- #58
Thanks, Ladies.
We've got our fingers crossed that it's not FIP. That is what she is sending out the fluid for. I understand how the testing may produce inaccurate results, but it's a place to start.
He was a good boy for the fluid draw and is resting comfortably. I will check on him about 9am tomorrow.
We've got our fingers crossed that it's not FIP. That is what she is sending out the fluid for. I understand how the testing may produce inaccurate results, but it's a place to start.
He was a good boy for the fluid draw and is resting comfortably. I will check on him about 9am tomorrow.
Oh no, no, not FIP! for your baby - and for you! PLEASE keep us posted!!!!!!!!
for your baby - and for you! PLEASE keep us posted!!!!!!!!- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #60
I know, LDG. I am heartsick just thinking about this.
He's supposedly 2.5 years old. We've only had him a month, and he hasn't had a 100% day since he's been here. He's the sweetest, most gentle boy. I had to let my longtime best boy kitty, Elmer, go last September, and I really missed having a sweet boy. Opie fits the tall order so well. I haven't even taken any pictures of him yet!
He's supposedly 2.5 years old. We've only had him a month, and he hasn't had a 100% day since he's been here. He's the sweetest, most gentle boy. I had to let my longtime best boy kitty, Elmer, go last September, and I really missed having a sweet boy. Opie fits the tall order so well. I haven't even taken any pictures of him yet!
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