#1
|
||||
|
||||
Help with kitty diet - health issues
I love this forum, and I browse and lurk frequently. I have a few questions about my kitties' diet in relation to health issues, and while I've found some amazing information on the boards, I was hoping the experts could help me with a specific situation.
I'll try to be as succinct as possible! I have 2 kitties, a boy and a girl, Fitzy and Daisy, they're littermates and about 6.5 years old (they're rescues). They each weigh about 9 lbs., so they're at a good weight and don't seem to overeat. Until the grain recall, I was completely ignorant regarding what my babies needed. :sad: They had been on Science Diet Z/D Dry, and then we switched foods - we tried a few different types of foods (Innova Evo dry, Innova Evo wet, Wellness wet, Natural Balance wet), but finally settled on 1/6 of a can of Innova Evo 95% Duck (per each cat) twice a day with a pinch of psyllium mixed in and Now! Grain-Free Senior/Weight Management Formula dry whenever they want it (we leave a little bit in their bowls all day). Here's the problem: Daisy Mae has hard stools, and Fitzy has a tendency to vomit. Fitzy used to have loose stools, but since he's been eating the Innova Evo 95% Duck, his stools have been well-formed. His issue is that he eats too much at once and then pukes it all up! We clean up piles of kibble vomit at least once a week - this week he's vomited 3 times (twice kibble, once bile). He also does this horrible hacking thing - the "I need to puke up a hairball but I'm not going to yet" kinda hacking. I freaked out and thought he may have lung cancer or something, but the vet said he was in great health and his lungs sounded good, and suggested giving him Laxatone (which he abhors and we have to put it in a syringe and force feed it to him), but I haven't seen a marked improvement yet. He hasn't hacked up any huge hairballs lately, but there has been some hair in his vomit. I'm so worried about him - I was hoping you guys would have insight on that. He's always had a sensitive tummy - he vomited a lot as a baby, so this isn't a new thing. And then there's Daisy Mae - she has hard stools! Which is why we tried the Now! dry food - the nutritionist told us it was high in fiber and low in fat, and that it should help her. No dice. That's also why we give them psyllium powder - the vet thought it may help with her stools, but I don't really think that's working, either. Otherwise my babies are in good health, their fur is nice and shiny and there's no dandruff or allergies or anything, just the vomiting and hard stools that I'm worried about. Please help me - I love my babies more than anything in the world and I want to make sure they're as healthy and happy as possible. Any insight or advice is greatly appreciated! Whew, I'm verbose. |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Have you tried eliminating the dry food out of their diet all together? Possibly adding a small amount of pumpkin or butternut squash or Slippery Elm to their diet? If you are worried about weight loss increase the wet food a little. Give it a few weeks and see if that helps. Also, a little yogurt on the side never hurts.
__________________
Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me. We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD! |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
|
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Can you try leaving wet food down all the time instead of the dry? That way the novelty might wear off with Daisy so that she doesn't eat it all at once, and then Fitzy can snack on it when he wants. I would also eliminate the psyllium husk, which can actually make constipation worse for some cats, especially if you aren't adding extra water along with it.
As for the Now Senior kibble, there are better options. Even though it's grain-free, it's still high carb because of all the potato starch. If you absolutely have to feed dry, something like Wellness Core or Innova Evo would be better (except that you might have to measure the portions because they're pretty high in calories).
__________________
"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb “We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
I am far from being the food guru here. I am sure SCM or growler or L4H will be along soon to answer your questions a little more fully. Let's see if I can help you out a little first.
Giving plain yogurt will help repopulate good bacteria in kitty's intestinal tract. This site explains the benifits of pumpkin and squash for our pets......... http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1817/
__________________
Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me. We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD! |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Oooopps, sorry SCM!!
__________________
Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me. We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD! |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
Nothing to apologize for!! The yogurt/squash advice is great.
__________________
"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb “We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
I also say cut out the psyllium the one and only time my cat had food with psyllium mixed in it gave her such bad constipation - never again. Try salmon oil instead, I have found for my cat that works even better than the butternut squash.
Is Fitzy a long haired?
__________________
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
I had no idea that psyllium husk could constipate kitties - no more psyllium in Daisy's food, that's for sure. I think it has helped Fitzy a bit because he used to have loose stools, but thank you for that tip because Daisy certainly doesn't need anything that will bind her up more. Quote:
Quote:
You guys are awesome - I appreciate your help so much. Do you think the pumpkin will help with Fitzy's vomiting? I think removing the psyllium and adding pumpkin and some yogurt sound like a great first step for Daisy, I'm just curious if it will help with Fitzy's vomiting, too. ETA: growler, just saw your post - Fitzy is a short hair. Do you have a certain brand you'd suggest for the salmon oil? I'm literally tossing the psyllium tomorrow when we break out the pureed pumpkin. Speaking of which, is canned pure pumpkin okay? I have quite a bit of it. And because they appreciate your help, here they are, in all their glory - Daisy Mae is the tortie and Fitzy is all black: |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
So do I give them 1/4 tsp each once a day or twice a day? And how much yogurt should I give Daisy? ETA: Quick question - how do you keep the pumpkin fresh? I have a big can of it, so I put a little scoop in a tupperware container to use for this week, and then I used a cookie scoop to make little pumpkin puree balls to freeze - the idea being that I'll just defrost one little ball per week. How do you guys keep it fresh? |
#11
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Pure canned pureed pumpkin is fine as long as it is not pie filling that has too much spices and such. 1/4 tsp twice a day is fine to start. The pumpkin works to rebalance the water level in the bowels so if there's too much or too little the natural fibre works it out/in. Aww Daisy Mae is gorgeous , she looks a bit like my grrl and Fitzy handsome little guy
__________________
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying |
#12
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying |
#13
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
As far as yogurt, how much is a good amount to give her? Fitzy turned his nose up at it (which isn't surprising), but Daisy LOVED it. I gave her like, 1/2 tsp. Should I start out with 1/2 tsp. once a day, or does she need a larger serving? It was cute, I put it on a little plate for her and she had "dessert" after dinner. I love the pumpkin puree in the freezer idea - that's brilliant. I think my little scoops will work for now, but next time I'm definitely doing the ice cube tray trick - less messy. Awww, you have a tortie, too?! Daisy is a unique little girl - she has quite the personality! Fitzy is my baby - the little guy is always in my lap, in my arms, or in bed with me. MAN I love cats! Thanks again for all the great info. |
#14
|
||||
|
||||
I've never given yogurt cuz I can't stand the stuff myself so i'll leave that for others.
Yes I have a tortie she's in my avatar pic and can be seen here
__________________
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying |
#15
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
I love yogurt. |
#17
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
|
#18
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Regarding the probiotics, there are capsules you can buy from the health food store (refrigerator section) that can be used if you have a reluctant yogurt-consumer. If you get something high potency (10-12 billion organisms) you only need a pinch mixed in with wet food a couple times a day. Most cats aren't going to notice or mind the addition. You're cats are adorable, by the way.
__________________
"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb “We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler |
#19
|
||||
|
||||
Forgot to add that one of the good things about squash/pumpkin has to do with how it balances water in the intestines, which is why it works well for both diarrhea and constipation. It's milder than the insoluble fiber of psyllium husk, and if your cats like it, all the better.
__________________
"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb “We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler |
#20
|
||||
|
||||
Strange, nope no catster & I don't want to hijack the thread anymore but if you click on my avatar you should be able to see the pic in the album on the right side
__________________
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying |
#21
|
||||
|
||||
Another idea I would like to throw in is to add some water into the canned food when feeding. I make my cats food into a chunky soup. This way I know they are getting enough water into their little bodies for hydration.
Please keep us updated on how the cats are coming along!
__________________
Khari Mom to Libby (4 Month Old Kitten) 🐈 |
#22
|
||||||
|
||||||
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
|
#23
|
||||
|
||||
IMO - as long as you leave fresh water out for them and they are drinking it it is not necessary to add it to the food. Some cats don't like soupy foods. Mine won't touch it if it is too moist.
The only time I add water is if the food is starting to get a little crusty after a few hours. I add a little warm water and it's good for another few hours. Canned food can be left for up to 12 hours with no ill effects.
__________________
Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me. We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD! |
#24
|
||||
|
||||
Just thought I'd add a link to one of growler's threads with Duffy pics.
http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=60129
__________________
Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me. We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD! |
#25
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Quote:
Since you're also feeding dry, I think it would be a good idea unless your cats object. I add a few tsps of extra water to my cat's wet food, partly to slow down the drying out process since he takes a few hours to eat it. It can certainly help in some constipation cases.
__________________
"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb “We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler |
#26
|
||||
|
||||
Just saw this thread. I don't have any further suggestions than what everybody has offered. Yogurt is always a great idea for good intestinal health. Another veggie that is great for your kitty is zucchini.
__________________
Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#27
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Quote:
Is it okay to feed them wet twice a day with no kibble at all to snack on during the day? I leave for work at 9:15 but we don't get home until 7ish, I'd be worried they'd be hungry. Quote:
Quote:
|
#28
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Quote:
As for feeding them twice a day, I think it depends on the cat. Some do fine, some just don't eat enough in one meal to carry them through for the rest of the day. My guy is a nibbler and I did try early on in his diabetes treatment to get him on only 2 meals a day. Didn't work and caused him some major stress. Now I just leave enough wet food down for him to eat at his leisure, which may or may not be an option for you. However, a little hunger in a cat's life isn't necessarily a bad thing! As long as they're getting enough calories overall, feeding twice a day is fine. You could also feed in the morning before you leave for work, right when you get home, and then again before you go to bed, to spread things out a bit. Some people also have success using timed automatic feeders, although I've never tried one.
__________________
"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb “We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler |
#29
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Quote:
I was also gonna suggest trying an automatic feeder, but find one that has a money back guarantee in case they refuse to eat out of it. Then you could try it first on a day you'll be home then you can tell who's eating how much. I guess it would be ideal if only Fitzy ate from it that way he's sure to get his portion and Daisy Mae (having eaten hers from a regular dish) wouldn't be eating too much.
__________________
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying |
#30
|
||||
|
||||
My little Daisy hasn't had a BM yet, that I know of. This may be TMI, but it's usually easy to tell their stools apart, and this morning my husband saw one while he was cleaning the box and we're not sure whose it was. I'm home sick with strep throat, so I'll be home all day with her, so I'll be able to see if she uses the box during the day.
I'm just worried - she always "goes" once a day, usually in the morning, and she doesn't look like she has any inclination to do so right now. I just want my baby to have "smooth moves". Should I be worried? Do you think the exclusion of the psyllium and the inclusion of the pumpkin could mess her up? I didn't think it would. I'm a worrywart. ETA: Daisy has also been VERY affectionate the last day or so. I can't tell if it's because I'm sick (she knows when I don't feel well and will curl up on me all day until I get better), or if she feels different or weird. Last night she crawled into bed with me and snuggled up under my arm like a teddy bear - she RARELY does this (and it made Fitzy very angry). I know I'm overanalyzing everything because I'm worried about her, but I can't help it. Don't get me wrong, I love the extra snuggles, I just wonder what's bringing them on. Hi, my name is Jessica and I'm a crazy cat lady! Last edited by MissPurryJess; February 17th, 2009 at 08:54 AM. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|