- Joined
- Apr 27, 2012
- Messages
- 62
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Hi All,
My 17-year-old kitty, Gwen (Gueneviere), has very little appetite now, even for her formerly favorite foods, salmon and tuna. The problem started a few weeks ago with diarrhea (very light-colored, loose stool), so I brought her to the vet, and he did x-rays and blood tests, which showed gallstones and chronic kidney disease. She completed a week of antibiotics and Actigall (to dissolve the gallstones). The stool is better formed after that and has more color, but her appetite keeps getting worse. I was just reading up on chronic kidney disease in cats and read that it can cause poor appetite, nausea, etc. Has anyone else had experience with this, and how can I help her feel better and eat more? I'm calling the vet again today about it, but would also really appreciate feedback from other people here, as he seemed a little unsure of what the main problem is. Gwen is down to about 6.8 pounds, down from her usual 10 pounds, so I need to do something fast.. BTW, I just got some of the Paul Newman's Organic Beef & Liver food, and that's really the only thing she'll eat except a little of the By Nature Turkey & Chicken.. They're both very soft "mushy" type food. Vet said he has special food for cats with CKD, but most cats won't eat it (must taste awful!). Oh, the vet also said she has a tooth/gum abscess, but he thought that was a secondary problem to the gallbladder and kidney problems, but maybe that's affecting her appetite as well? She's never had a teeth cleaning... Do you think that's a good idea for an elderly cat? Thanks for any ideas/suggestions!
My 17-year-old kitty, Gwen (Gueneviere), has very little appetite now, even for her formerly favorite foods, salmon and tuna. The problem started a few weeks ago with diarrhea (very light-colored, loose stool), so I brought her to the vet, and he did x-rays and blood tests, which showed gallstones and chronic kidney disease. She completed a week of antibiotics and Actigall (to dissolve the gallstones). The stool is better formed after that and has more color, but her appetite keeps getting worse. I was just reading up on chronic kidney disease in cats and read that it can cause poor appetite, nausea, etc. Has anyone else had experience with this, and how can I help her feel better and eat more? I'm calling the vet again today about it, but would also really appreciate feedback from other people here, as he seemed a little unsure of what the main problem is. Gwen is down to about 6.8 pounds, down from her usual 10 pounds, so I need to do something fast.. BTW, I just got some of the Paul Newman's Organic Beef & Liver food, and that's really the only thing she'll eat except a little of the By Nature Turkey & Chicken.. They're both very soft "mushy" type food. Vet said he has special food for cats with CKD, but most cats won't eat it (must taste awful!). Oh, the vet also said she has a tooth/gum abscess, but he thought that was a secondary problem to the gallbladder and kidney problems, but maybe that's affecting her appetite as well? She's never had a teeth cleaning... Do you think that's a good idea for an elderly cat? Thanks for any ideas/suggestions!