Re: Ember's troubles - your thoughts?
Lance, What you are describing sounds like what Lucy has sometimes. It usually means there is a problem in the colon or lower intestines, like colitis. Bowels start normal and end loose. If there is every any red blood on the outside, that is another sign. I would not worry about the flagyl. I was worried about it too, but it always helps Lucy. I have yet to actually hear anyone say it made their cat sick in any way. Lucy has been on it for over 2 months now, every day. It helps her a lot. I would at least do a week's course of it and see. Michelle
Re: Ember's troubles - your thoughts?
Psyllium flakes is the same thing as Metamucil and probably better--less processing. I'm not sure about the apple pectin but I think about 1/4 teaspoon with every meal. I believe the dosage is about the same as the psyllium flakes/Metamucil (which is what my regular vet recommends). Have you checked for food allergies? This may have been addressed. To be honest, I can't remember. The Royal Princess Kitty Katt had severe food allergies and we put her on an elimination diet that helped tremendously. Also try adding probiotics (probably in larger amounts than normally recommended). I don't think you can give too much but some vets are conservative to keep you from wasting money. I've used Fastrack for cats successfully as well as various ones I picked up at the health food places. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis - Original Message - From: Lance [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 8:23 PM Subject: Re: Ember's troubles - your thoughts? Thank you Nina, Phaewryn, Marylyn, and Michelle. I appreciate the information. I don't know, but I may have to change course in some way, I think, because things aren't going back to normal. On the 10th, Ember didn't have a bm. This morning, there was a small, normal poop in the box for me to clean up, and when I got home, there was more, and like two days ago, some of it was runny and malformed. It's as if some waste goes through properly, but then other waste rushes right out after it. Ember doesn't seem to be exhibiting any other bad signs. She eats, plays, sleeps and grooms like normal. I'm not as worried as I was, but I still really want Ember to have normal bms back. Marylyn, do you know roughly what amount of apple pectin or metamucil I could give her? Ember's holistic vet recommended flax seed or flax lignins, or psyllium flakes, if the pumpkin didn't do the trick. When this started up, Ember's allopathic vet recommended Centrine. I read that Centrine can cause a thickening of the intestinal walls, so I'd rather not use it. Michelle, I have some Flagyl from Ember's bout last summer with diarrhea. I never had to use any. I worry that the Flagyl might hurt the good bacteria in Ember's intestines. Lots to think about. Did Lucy have similar hit or miss bms? When did her IBD start, and how has it progressed over time? I hope she's feeling better these days. Best wishes to all of you and your feline friends. Lance
Ember's troubles - your thoughts?
For the last two and a half weeks, I've been fighting intermittent diarrhea (and possibly constipation) with Ember. I haven't resorted to any medicines like Flagyl or Centrine. I'm trying to treat as lightly as possible. I introduced pumpkin into her diet a few days ago, and it really seemed to help, but today, I found a malformed poop in the box, alongside seemingly normal stuff. I've been making daily notes on this problem, since I realized it would be a good idea about a week into it. Apologies in advance for giving such a blow by blow account, but this seems like the best way. Please have a look and tell me what you think. Aside from opinions, I ask your prayers for Ember. Thank you, Lance - December 21, 2006 - Two days after vet appt. with good cbc, weight, coat, etc., hairball thrown up, then diarrhea. December 22-29 - Held food back, discontinued dry food, no treatment other than normal FeLV supplements. Long time between stools because of less food (?). Still some diarrhea. December 30 - Solid, normal bowel movement. Ember is getting most of one can/day of EVO. January 2 - Large stool (or two?). Some runny and a little malformed. Small vomit on bathroom tile with small bits of fur in it. Smaller vomit in sink with very small bit of fur. January 4 - No bm since 2nd. 3/4 tablespoon of pumpkin in nearly one can of food. She's eating it. January 4 - 9PM - small to medium size stool - normal. Some hair sticking out of one piece. Had more food afterwards. January 5 - PM - Found small to medium size stool - normal consistancy. Ember's ears and paw pads feel warm. [30 minutes later] Ember's ears and paw pads don't feel as warm as they seemed to earlier. 1 tablespoon of pumpkin again tonight. January 6 - PM - Small, normal stool. Had pumpkin in food again, tonight. January 7 - PM - Small, normal stool. Had pumpkin in food again, tonight. January 8 - PM - Medium, normal stool. Less pumpkin tonight. January 9 - Just home from work. Found large bowel movement (or two smaller bowel movements?) in the box. Some of it was firm and dry like normal, but there was a substantial portion that was runny and only somewhat formed.
Re: Ember's troubles - your thoughts?
Sounds like maybe you scaled back the pumpkin too much to me, go back to the amount you were feeding on the good days. Phaewryn http://ucat.us The easy way out has a bad reputation. Why would anyone take the hard way out? The door? No thanks, that would be the easy way out. I'm jumping out the window. Quote by: Les U. Knight
Re: Ember's troubles - your thoughts?
Hi Honey, From your notes, it doesn't sound like anything to be alarmed about. She is having bowel movements, even if they aren't every day. If she were constipated and still eliminating it would more likely be liquid, (sort of edging around the blockage). And you thought you were graphic :). I would add the pumpkin consistently, (same amount, each feeding) and see if things even out. Is she long haired? Has she had a problem with hair balls before? There doesn't seem to be that much vomiting, I don't know, it just doesn't seem like it's time to worry. Nina Lance wrote: For the last two and a half weeks, I've been fighting intermittent diarrhea (and possibly constipation) with Ember. I haven't resorted to any medicines like Flagyl or Centrine. I'm trying to treat as lightly as possible. I introduced pumpkin into her diet a few days ago, and it really seemed to help, but today, I found a malformed poop in the box, alongside seemingly normal stuff. I've been making daily notes on this problem, since I realized it would be a good idea about a week into it. Apologies in advance for giving such a blow by blow account, but this seems like the best way. Please have a look and tell me what you think. Aside from opinions, I ask your prayers for Ember. Thank you, Lance - December 21, 2006 - Two days after vet appt. with good cbc, weight, coat, etc., hairball thrown up, then diarrhea. December 22-29 - Held food back, discontinued dry food, no treatment other than normal FeLV supplements. Long time between stools because of less food (?). Still some diarrhea. December 30 - Solid, normal bowel movement. Ember is getting most of one can/day of EVO. January 2 - Large stool (or two?). Some runny and a little malformed. Small vomit on bathroom tile with small bits of fur in it. Smaller vomit in sink with very small bit of fur. January 4 - No bm since 2nd. 3/4 tablespoon of pumpkin in nearly one can of food. She's eating it. January 4 - 9PM - small to medium size stool - normal. Some hair sticking out of one piece. Had more food afterwards. January 5 - PM - Found small to medium size stool - normal consistancy. Ember's ears and paw pads feel warm. [30 minutes later] Ember's ears and paw pads don't feel as warm as they seemed to earlier. 1 tablespoon of pumpkin again tonight. January 6 - PM - Small, normal stool. Had pumpkin in food again, tonight. January 7 - PM - Small, normal stool. Had pumpkin in food again, tonight. January 8 - PM - Medium, normal stool. Less pumpkin tonight. January 9 - Just home from work. Found large bowel movement (or two smaller bowel movements?) in the box. Some of it was firm and dry like normal, but there was a substantial portion that was runny and only somewhat formed.
Re: Ember's troubles - your thoughts?
I would do a course of flagyl at this point. I have never had a cat react badly to it. For regular diarrhea, it always has cleared it up. For IBD, which Lucy has and Ember might have, it works really well as an anti-inflammatory. Michelle In a message dated 1/9/2007 6:05:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: For the last two and a half weeks, I've been fighting intermittent diarrhea (and possibly constipation) with Ember. I haven't resorted to any medicines like Flagyl or Centrine. I'm trying to treat as lightly as possible. I introduced pumpkin into her diet a few days ago, and it really seemed to help, but today, I found a malformed poop in the box, alongside seemingly normal stuff. I've been making daily notes on this problem, since I realized it would be a good idea about a week into it. Apologies in advance for giving such a blow by blow account, but this seems like the best way. Please have a look and tell me what you think. Aside from opinions, I ask your prayers for Ember. Thank you,
Re: Ember's troubles - your thoughts?
Try apple pectin and/or Metamucil (unflavored and a very small amount). The objective is to add fiber to the diet. Also watch for dehydration. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis - Original Message - From: Lance [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 5:04 PM Subject: Ember's troubles - your thoughts? For the last two and a half weeks, I've been fighting intermittent diarrhea (and possibly constipation) with Ember. I haven't resorted to any medicines like Flagyl or Centrine. I'm trying to treat as lightly as possible. I introduced pumpkin into her diet a few days ago, and it really seemed to help, but today, I found a malformed poop in the box, alongside seemingly normal stuff. I've been making daily notes on this problem, since I realized it would be a good idea about a week into it. Apologies in advance for giving such a blow by blow account, but this seems like the best way. Please have a look and tell me what you think. Aside from opinions, I ask your prayers for Ember. Thank you, Lance - December 21, 2006 - Two days after vet appt. with good cbc, weight, coat, etc., hairball thrown up, then diarrhea. December 22-29 - Held food back, discontinued dry food, no treatment other than normal FeLV supplements. Long time between stools because of less food (?). Still some diarrhea. December 30 - Solid, normal bowel movement. Ember is getting most of one can/day of EVO. January 2 - Large stool (or two?). Some runny and a little malformed. Small vomit on bathroom tile with small bits of fur in it. Smaller vomit in sink with very small bit of fur. January 4 - No bm since 2nd. 3/4 tablespoon of pumpkin in nearly one can of food. She's eating it. January 4 - 9PM - small to medium size stool - normal. Some hair sticking out of one piece. Had more food afterwards. January 5 - PM - Found small to medium size stool - normal consistancy. Ember's ears and paw pads feel warm. [30 minutes later] Ember's ears and paw pads don't feel as warm as they seemed to earlier. 1 tablespoon of pumpkin again tonight. January 6 - PM - Small, normal stool. Had pumpkin in food again, tonight. January 7 - PM - Small, normal stool. Had pumpkin in food again, tonight. January 8 - PM - Medium, normal stool. Less pumpkin tonight. January 9 - Just home from work. Found large bowel movement (or two smaller bowel movements?) in the box. Some of it was firm and dry like normal, but there was a substantial portion that was runny and only somewhat formed.
