ha ha, love it Nicola....my lot can all be out in the cat pens, but they wait until they come in during the evening, just when I've sat down for the first time all day, they head for the litter tray, arghhhhhh.

Doris has been having a spoon full of Natural Instinct raw meat mixed with her Porta 21 wet food for the past 3 days -she's eating it and she's still solid, yeay!!

That's really good news!! Hope she continues to do well. Riley will not eat and sort or raw meat..I keep trying when I have any meat, but he just does not get that it's food!! I will be interested in your updates with her progress..

Oh and any tips getting cats to eat raw?? Mind knowing my luck, Riley will react to raw food as well I have looked into getting raw kangaroo but could not get any single bits to try..not sort of thing you find in the local supermarket

 

That's really good news!! Hope she continues to do well. Riley will not eat and sort or raw meat..I keep trying when I have any meat, but he just does not get that it's food!! I will be interested in your updates with her progress..

Oh and any tips getting cats to eat raw?? Mind knowing my luck, Riley will react to raw food as well I have looked into getting raw kangaroo but could not get any single bits to try..not sort of thing you find in the local supermarket

My local Lidl had some - worth a look if you have one near you

 

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My local Lidl had some - worth a look if you have one near you

I will look to see where my nearest one is, thanks Lynn..if not I'm sure it will make a tasty dinner for me

 

My reason for this late response is simply to clear up what may have been a misunderstanding about what happened with your Doris and what may have lead to her huge improvement. Its something I'd been thinking about quite a bit. You Never Know ... it may help someone .... somewhere .....
:devil: :Yawn: :devil:

Anyway, if you look at the ingredients list of Feline Porta 21 Chicken with Rice Sensitive, you will see it contains
"Chicken meat (37%), rice (8%), chicken broth (55%)"
NB 55% Chicken Broth!!

Feline Porta 21 - 6 x 156g: Free P&P on orders £25+ at zooplus!

If you then compare this with guidelines for "Treating IBD - Using an Introductory Diet - Homemade Meat and Fish Stocks" written by Lyn Thomas BVSc at Feline Nutrition Org ......

"Meat and fish stocks provide building blocks for the rapidly growing cells of the gut lining and they have a soothing effect on any areas of inflammation in the gut. Bone broth is rich in minerals including calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulphate, fluoride, all delivered in an easily absorbable form. The minerals will improve immune function and support healthy digestion. Bone broth is also rich in collagen. Collagen is a protein containing two important amino acids, proline and glycine, and it will help heal the lining of the gut to relieve intestinal inflammation. Broths also contain glycosaminoglycans, also called GAGs, important building blocks for tissue repair.

"This is why broths aid digestion and have been known for centuries as healing folk remedies for the digestive tract.¹ "
1. F Guarner, F Casellas, N Borruel, M Antolín, S Videla, J Vilaseca and JR Malagelada, "Role of Microecology in Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases," European Journal of Clinical Nutrition no. 56, Supplement 4, Dec 2002, S34-8.

.... you will see this adds to the justification for using bone broth for IBD :001_tt2::001_tt2:

Given this experience it does make me wonder what, if any, part the Digestor or other fibre actually played in saving Doris's little life.

I do like clarity and control in my life .. and think this may explain a few things.

Also hope she continues to do well ... as Sally too is at the mo .... thankfully.

Kath

Thanks Kath.

I've no idea which bit actually worked, but I had fed her home boiled chicken, broth, pumpkin, taurine etc as advised by her breeder, she was fed this for some time but it didn't help. Whether it was the Porta21, whether it was the digestor, or maybe a combination of both, I don't know, but whatever it was - it worked thank goodness.

I'm trying to introduce other foods so that she's not reliant on one and to try to toughen her up - she's now eating Natural Instinct and motions are still first class. So fingers crossed all will be well now.

Glad Sally is well too.

Edit... forgot to add - improvement started within days of starting digestor in food, so guess must have had some sort of effect, maybe just good with Porta

 

That's really good news!! Hope she continues to do well. Riley will not eat and sort or raw meat..I keep trying when I have any meat, but he just does not get that it's food!! I will be interested in your updates with her progress..

Oh and any tips getting cats to eat raw?? Mind knowing my luck, Riley will react to raw food as well I have looked into getting raw kangaroo but could not get any single bits to try..not sort of thing you find in the local supermarket

Nicola, when I tried Doris on raw previously she looked at me as though I was nuts and wouldn't touch it, but all my cats seem to like the Natural Instinct (think it's chicken and lamb). I give them a very small amount with their normal food and then increased the amount of raw, decreasing their usual one each meal, fed them 4 small meals - so far so good and Doris is passing REALLY solid and good motions.

By the way, Aldi have tins of pumpkin at the moment, know you use it

 

Nicola, when I tried Doris on raw previously she looked at me as though I was nuts and wouldn't touch it, but all my cats seem to like the Natural Instinct (think it's chicken and lamb). I give them a very small amount with their normal food and then increased the amount of raw, decreasing their usual one each meal, fed them 4 small meals - so far so good and Doris is passing REALLY solid and good motions.

By the way, Aldi have tins of pumpkin at the moment, know you use it

My friend also said they had pumpkin, I searched my store but could not find the pumpkin anywhere. I will ask tomorrow if they have some..thanks!

I'm limited a bit with Riley as there are some proteins he can't have and many he won't eat! Still food is lower down on priority at the moment. He seems to be out of the flare up and we are controlling his condition right now. I'm trying to get some weight on him, he looks so skinny poor boy. I'm also really hoping he does not end up with a problem with his liver.

He will have his bloods check again when we go back for his weight check..tho I'm not sure if the vet will manage thus time to get his bloods. I'm going to call her few days before to discuss this. I don't really want him to have to be knocked out for them, so am going to ask if there is maybe an oral sedative I can give just before we go to chill him out a bit..if there is such a thing

 

Nicolaa...Hopefully your vet is still 'working' with the referral centre vets to resolve Riley's issues. I think you need to press them for more definite reasons as to his weight loss. Frankly this concerns me given his blood results didn't reflect severe protein loss. My understanding is that weight loss is a feature of more advanced (not necessarily untreatable by any means) IBD and from what I can gather this doesn't appear to be the case with Riley.

I'm actually reverting to what I said earlier ie trying pancreatic enzymes. My reasoning now as well as former ones, is based on recent concerns about his liver. If his liver is affected it's perfectly feasible (dual involvement is very common with IBD) his pancreas may also be in which case enzyme production may well be affected. I realise his fTLI test was normal but do remember about the dog I told you about who's tests were OK but who actually thrived (weight gain and no diarrhoea) nonetheless when these were added to his food.

 

Nicola - the pumpkin in our store is in with all the 'weekly offer' stuff if that helps.

Really hope Riley puts some weight on soon, good luck at the vets.

 

Nicolaa...Hopefully your vet is still 'working' with the referral centre vets to resolve Riley's issues. I think you need to press them for more definite reasons as to his weight loss. Frankly this concerns me given his blood results didn't reflect severe protein loss. My understanding is that weight loss is a feature of more advanced (not necessarily untreatable by any means) IBD and from what I can gather this doesn't appear to be the case with Riley.

I'm actually reverting to what I said earlier ie trying pancreatic enzymes. My reasoning now as well as former ones, is based on recent concerns about his liver. If his liver is affected it's perfectly feasible (dual involvement is very common with IBD) his pancreas may also be in which case enzyme production may well be affected. I realise his fTLI test was normal but do remember about the dog I told you about who's tests were OK but who actually thrived (weight gain and no diarrhoea) nonetheless when these were added to his food.

We will only know about the liver on the next blood tests as it could be the overgrowth in bacteria, hopefully the blood tests will show the liver is fine after the course of antibiotics..

Now the flare up is under control ( I'm putting that mainly down to the chlorambucil ) we can get some weight back on to him and we can the control his condition, knowing what to give when a flare up happens.

If on his next weight check he has lost or not made a gain I will certainly be asking more questions around the weight issue as it does not make sense to me. Polly did want to do the full thickness biopsy, but I said no as I could not put him through it..

Also I had decided if no weight gain I will ask or source enzymes for him to try and see if makes a difference, right now I want to try and minimise the stuff he is on to see if he is making any progress in his own right (if that makes sense).

I also think that there is not much known about feline ibd, hence there is no cure just managing through diet or meds or combination. I've seen many requests for clinical trials, but yet to find any of the findings..mainly in the us to be fair..

He is good in himself right now which I am so happy about, hopefully we will see a gain and the liver is fine and we have a way of treating and further flare ups..

 

We will only know about the liver on the next blood tests as it could be the overgrowth in bacteria, hopefully the blood tests will show the liver is fine after the course of antibiotics..

If on his next weight check he has lost or not made a gain I will certainly be asking more questions around the weight issue as it does not make sense to me. Polly did want to do the full thickness biopsy, but I said no as I could not put him through it..

Also I had decided if no weight gain I will ask or source enzymes for him to try and see if makes a difference, right now I want to try and minimise the stuff he is on to see if he is making any progress in his own right (if that makes sense).

..

I suspect the vet meant that intestinal bacterial overgrowth has spread to the liver (it can also to the pancreas) hence the elevation in these enzymes. I'm not sure how useful a full thickness biopsy would have been to be honest.

My observations are based on the blood results which did not reflect protein loss ( I would expect this with weight-loss) and the biopsy ones which mentioned about the possibility of a contribution to weight-loss. So ruling out protein loss through intestinal malabsorption, logically something else must be responsible for Riley's 'failure to thrive'! You have mentioned he's quite thin.

 

I suspect the vet meant that intestinal bacterial overgrowth has spread to the liver (it can also to the pancreas) hence the elevation in these enzymes. I'm not sure how useful a full thickness biopsy would have been to be honest.

My observations are based on the blood results which did not reflect protein loss ( I would expect this with weight-loss) and the biopsy ones which mentioned about the possibility of a contribution to weight-loss. So ruling out protein loss through intestinal malabsorption, logically something else must be responsible for Riley's 'failure to thrive'! You have mentioned he's quite thin.

He is thin, I can easily feel his spine with out any pressure and his hips, you can also see his hips. His shoulders you can also feel. His ribs you can feel with slight pressure..he is under weight that's for sure..he needs a good kg on him.

If its not the ibd I have no idea what it could be as he has been tested for a lot of things. I am feeding him lots! He sleeps for 80% of the day!! But, he may now he is out of the flare up put on weight..that's what I hope as otherwise I'm stumped!

 

Following reports I have removed some unnecessary, petty comments. If you wish this thread to remain open and a sticky please use it in the way it was intended - as advice and support for those whose cats suffer from this problem - and if you have any personal issues with other members keep them off the open forum. Thank you.

 

Following reports I have removed some unnecessary, petty comments. If you wish this thread to remain open and a sticky please use it in the way it was intended - as advice and support for those whose cats suffer from this problem - and if you have any personal issues with other members keep them off the open forum. Thank you.

It is really sad the thread has come to this. Its really quite upset me to be honest. That's all I have to say..

Oh and Lynn if this does disapeer into the deep void, could I at least print the pages as its a lot of info I've shared about rileys journey through ibd and would be gutted to loose it.

 

At the moment this thread will remain here and open.

 

Nicola - the pumpkin in our store is in with all the 'weekly offer' stuff if that helps.

Really hope Riley puts some weight on soon, good luck at the vets.

Found the pumpkin!! £1.29 in aldi..£2 in waitrose!! Going to stock up as the best before is September 2015!! Thanks Angela..

.......now kitchen will be full of cat food and tins of pumpkin ut:

 

Found the pumpkin!! £1.29 in aldi..£2 in waitrose!! Going to stock up as the best before is September 2015!! Thanks Angela..

.......now kitchen will be full of cat food and tins of pumpkin ut:

I've got a wardrobe full of discontinued cat food We really do need help

 

I've got a wardrobe full of discontinued cat food We really do need help

Yup!!!!

Bit concerned Riley has just been sick it's the watery, frothy type of sick. He had not eaten any of his dinner from when I came home..to being sick and has not eaten as yet.

I know he has not been sick very often, think last time was a couple of weeks ago (will check) I am a bit concerned if this is another stage or symptom of ibd..think I will call the vet tomorrow and ask her opinion. With out checking its been last month or so where he has been sick maybe 3-4 occasions, always on an empty stomach and always frothy liquid type sick..

..my poor little man never just rains for him..

Edit..he has just eaten..I swear this boy will make me grey

 

I think this weather is causing a few problems with many cats,I'm hoping that is what has caused Meeko to be sick a few times.They always contain fur balls so I'm hoping that it is not the famotidine stopping its effect but excess grooming to blame.

Glad to see that Riley has eaten at last

 

I think this weather is causing a few problems with many cats,I'm hoping that is what has caused Meeko to be sick a few times.They always contain fur balls so I'm hoping that it is not the famotidine stopping its effect but excess grooming to blame.

Glad to see that Riley has eaten at last

Yeah he seems ok..we have been having monsoons here

Hopefully for Meeko it is just a furball issue..and not a flare up..how is his eating at the moment?

 

Yeah he seems ok..we have been having monsoons here

Hopefully for Meeko it is just a furball issue..and not a flare up..how is his eating at the moment?

He's up and down but then that is normal for him.One day he will stuff his face the next hardly eat anything,sometimes I think he lives on fresh air
I had hoped the fresh air would have helped his appetite but it doesn't seem to be making any difference.

 

He's up and down but then that is normal for him.One day he will stuff his face the next hardly eat anything,sometimes I think he lives on fresh air
I had hoped the fresh air would have helped his appetite but it doesn't seem to be making any difference.

Riley is just tucking into his 2nd dinner of the night he has eaten 300g of food today and a moth

Now on my lap chewing his nails..goes right through me that does!

It's funny that we find their behaviour as "normal" I was thinking this earlier how you can not accept as such but do accept (for want of a better word) the ups and downs of ibd..

On another note..during winter I'm looking forward to the grrrrrrrrrrrr cat run thread as you sit outside with Meeko frozen :devil: :ihih: or will it be heated

 

I went into Aldi tonight seeking pumpkin but there wasn't any

 

Riley is just tucking into his 2nd dinner of the night he has eaten 300g of food today and a moth

Now on my lap chewing his nails..goes right through me that does!

It's funny that we find their behaviour as "normal" I was thinking this earlier how you can not accept as such but do accept (for want of a better word) the ups and downs of ibd..

On another note..during winter I'm looking forward to the grrrrrrrrrrrr cat run thread as you sit outside with Meeko frozen :devil: :ihih: or will it be heated :D

Will it hell He's on his own when the temp drops
We have just finished a small lean-to run over the back door so that he can go out and in to suit himself (door open ) although it is small he seems to prefer it

 

I went into Aldi tonight seeking pumpkin but there wasn't any

It took me a while to find it..I think they have about 30 tins so will buy one each day

They were where Angela said, in my local store they were where all the stuff they change on a regular basis the offers of the week stuff..

 

Will it hell He's on his own when the temp drops
We have just finished a small lean-to run over the back door so that he can go out and in to suit himself (door open ) although it is small he seems to prefer it

I'm really good at knitting scarves what colour would you and Meeko like for Christmas?? Riley will "help" too so forgive any holes..:001_unsure: