Meal sizes for fatty liver kitty

[ldg]

Some of the posts are only meant to dispel apparent misunderstandings. Many helpful links have been provided. I do hope you find the information in Cage's thread (that BarbB posted a link to) helpful. It addresses many of your questions and concerns. :heart2:

The link to the information on feeding tubes at catinfo.org provided by BarbB is a site written by a vet.

I understand you're done with this thread, but for anyone else that stumbles across it looking for info on fatty liver, having a feeding tube inserted is a very basic procedure that takes just 10 to 15 minutes, does not require a specialist, and is something just about any vet should be able to do. :rub:

for you and Kip.

 

[denice]

When Patches got one it went into the side of his neck.  His neck was wrapped in gauze and had one of those stretchy bandages over the gauze.  I remember the stretchy bandage was red and the vet put a pink felt heart on it.  It didn't seem to bother him at all and he tolerated it very well.  I didn't take him to an advanced type practice it's a cat's only practice but it's a general practice.  I still take my cats there even for their annual check.

 

[carolina]

I know you don't want to post here anymore, will you just update on how your kitty is doing?

 

[runekeeper]

I'm sure I will be judged harshly for this, but no, Kip does not have a feeding tube yet. However, he has begun eating his cat food again on his own and without coaxing, and I got him some different kibbles for a change of pace. He will not touch any canned food despite him having only half a dozen teeth left, so if dry is what he wants, that's okay with me. I got him some Purina food and what is probably considered "junk" cat food from Dad's. Nothing spectacular, but he likes both; in fact, he likes Dad's more. I just assume that eating cat food regularly will be better for him nutritionally than feeding him tuna every day.
.

Kip's progress has been strange too. He's drinking water on his own, I don't know if I mentioned that before. So no more fluids. Also since his appointment 3 or so weeks ago, he has gained 10 ounces. Not monumental, but I think any weight gain right now is great. However, his liver enzymes went up, which is odd. Then again, when they went down before, the vet wasn't sure if it was real progress or just a little blip since the change was so small. His liver enzymes were 8 when I brought him in the very first time, then they were 5 when I was syringe feeding (but he also lost a few ounces during that time, which I do not get at all), and now it's up to 7. So I don't think it was a massive leap.

.

I understand cat liver enzymes should be 1 or below, so while Kip's are a little wacky, I'm guessing they are on the lower end of abnormal. And both vets who have seen Kip are still pushing for the teeth cleaning despite the risks of putting Kip under for so long, and feeding tubes have not been mentioned at all again because I think the vet feels Kip might not have fatty liver disease after all. She thinks it could be something different because he gained weight and his overall behavior improved, but his liver levels did not decrease. But for now what she's telling me to do is provide short-term supportive care by feeding him Hill's L/D and giving him some kind of oral supplement for his liver that contains milk thistle.

.

Two issues with this. One, Kip didn't want anything to do with the Hill's food and he probably associates the smell with force feeding like he did with cream. Second, I refuse to shove things in his mouth when it stresses him out so badly. He was completely out of it for the last few days just from me taking him to the vet for blood work, and I can't risk putting him off his food again with pills. The vet also wants me to bring him back in 2-4 weeks to check his liver again.

.

Personally, I think he's made progress in the right direction with eating on his own and weight gain. He started showing interest in cat food only about a week ago, so I don't know if the weight gain was from just that week or from all three weeks of him recovering from stress, eating tuna and cheese and me having to persuade him to eat.

 

[catspaw66]

No matter what the reasons, having him eat and gain weight is a great improvement. I agree with you that him eating the food he wants to eat versus trying to force him to eat more healthy things is more productive.

 

[ldg]

No matter what the reasons, having him eat and gain weight is a great improvement. I agree with you that him eating the food he wants to eat versus trying to force him to eat more healthy things is more productive.

I'm so glad to hear he's doing well - gaining weight and eating. That's what counts!

Have you tasted the milk thistle? I have some here. Maybe you don't need to pill him with it. Have you tried putting it in or on any of his food?

OK, I just tasted it. It's got a bit of a "sharp" taste, but doesn't seem overly bitter. If you haven't tried just sprinkling it on or mixing it in, I'd give that a try just once. :dk:

Continued

 

[peaches08]

Good job on getting him to eat and gaining weight!

Have you tried soft treats or cheeses to mix the milk thistle in?

 

[ldg]

Oh good call! You know he likes cheese! And bear in mind, you don't need to get the whole dose in him at once, either. I think some spread out over the course of the day is better than none at all? Maybe 1/3 or 1/4 of the capsule at a time in a "cheese pocket" or something? :dk:

 

[jtbo]

I'm sure I will be judged harshly for this, but no, Kip does not have a feeding tube yet. However, he has begun eating his cat food again on his own and without coaxing, and I got him some different kibbles for a change of pace. He will not touch any canned food despite him having only half a dozen teeth left, so if dry is what he wants, that's okay with me. I got him some Purina food and what is probably considered "junk" cat food from Dad's. Nothing spectacular, but he likes both; in fact, he likes Dad's more. I just assume that eating cat food regularly will be better for him nutritionally than feeding him tuna every day.
.
Kip's progress has been strange too. He's drinking water on his own, I don't know if I mentioned that before. So no more fluids. Also since his appointment 3 or so weeks ago, he has gained 10 ounces. Not monumental, but I think any weight gain right now is great. However, his liver enzymes went up, which is odd. Then again, when they went down before, the vet wasn't sure if it was real progress or just a little blip since the change was so small. His liver enzymes were 8 when I brought him in the very first time, then they were 5 when I was syringe feeding (but he also lost a few ounces during that time, which I do not get at all), and now it's up to 7. So I don't think it was a massive leap.
.
I understand cat liver enzymes should be 1 or below, so while Kip's are a little wacky, I'm guessing they are on the lower end of abnormal. And both vets who have seen Kip are still pushing for the teeth cleaning despite the risks of putting Kip under for so long, and feeding tubes have not been mentioned at all again because I think the vet feels Kip might not have fatty liver disease after all. She thinks it could be something different because he gained weight and his overall behavior improved, but his liver levels did not decrease. But for now what she's telling me to do is provide short-term supportive care by feeding him Hill's L/D and giving him some kind of oral supplement for his liver that contains milk thistle.
.
Two issues with this. One, Kip didn't want anything to do with the Hill's food and he probably associates the smell with force feeding like he did with cream. Second, I refuse to shove things in his mouth when it stresses him out so badly. He was completely out of it for the last few days just from me taking him to the vet for blood work, and I can't risk putting him off his food again with pills. The vet also wants me to bring him back in 2-4 weeks to check his liver again.
.
Personally, I think he's made progress in the right direction with eating on his own and weight gain. He started showing interest in cat food only about a week ago, so I don't know if the weight gain was from just that week or from all three weeks of him recovering from stress, eating tuna and cheese and me having to persuade him to eat.

What Kip did eat when kitten or very young adult?

My Miuku actually did only eat food that I had given him when he was still feral kitten, after his fatty liver, but he has slowly learned to eat other foods too after that, but right after he started eating, it was only that food.

I did use same when force feeding, but mixed it in blender, but blender mixed was not one that he ate, it had to be in large chunks :lol3:

It is great news that Kip is eating and drinking on his own, he will be better in few months and might like to try other foods too, that was at least how it was with my Miuku, but it took some months of time.

One of mine likes also lot from cheese, but how did he frown when I gave him other brand cheese with much stronger taste, so not all cheese are equal :lol3: