Uveitis?

[Tina B and crew]

Well, he's definitely not feeling well this morning. Not eating and staying on the bed. He slept curled next to me all night. No vomiting. I don't think there is any diarrhea but I'll check the box. His eye is looking good at least. He started the doxycyline yesterday at the vets office so I'm hoping maybe it's that that is messing with him. He also had his rabies vaccine (3 year non-adjudavant).

[Tina B and crew]

Just talked to my vet. She suspects it is the vaccine causing home to feel bad. Told me 1/2 an 81mg aspirin just once was ok and to try to get him to eat some food mixed with water. I gave him his doxy followed by some watered down food with a syringe, which he took fine. She said if he did not improve or start eating to bring him in for observation/fluids. We did talk about pancreatitis but given the timing of the onset she believes its more likely the vaccine. I'll continue to watch throughout the day. I have him isolated so I can see if he eats.

Update: He ate. Not the OM that he's supposed to eat, but he ate! He seems to be feeling a bit better, just moving a little slower than usual. He's using the litter box too. I'm still keeping him isolated for the rest of the day. Going to try to get him to eat the OM a bit later. Letting him rest quietly but checking on him often.


You can he's quite bright eyed in spite of it all! (That's catnip on the sheet behind him)

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[Traci]

Ugh, why on earth would she suggest part of an aspirin, please don't give it to Doc.

I suppose it could be a combination of both the vaccine and doxy - not quite sure why she has him on doxy, this is a medication that usually requires a lengthy course.

Just make sure he's comfortable, not vomiting or feverish.

As for feeding, only you know yours and their schedule best, and if they usually eat their entire amounts in one sitting. Scheduled feeding usually ensures that the required amount is eaten.

I feed my diabetics on the counter, everyone else on the floor by their feeding stations. Since I give canned to the diabetics, they always finish their amounts within a few minutes.

Are you feeding the canned version of OM for Doc? If not, that might be a good way to ensure he eats what he needs to during each feeding. Same for Chunk.

[Tina B and crew]

Well, he's definitely feeling better. Still not quite up to par and moving a little slower than usual. No vomiting. No diarrhea. He heartily ate half a can of the OM around noon. Didn't quite finish the rest of that can just now when I fed them their evening meal.

Can't do counters. They stick to their own bowls just fine while their eating, but they just don't always finish what they are given. And honestly, what amount of canned should they each be eating? I divide 4 cans between the 3 daily - 2 cans in the morning and 2 in the evening. Most of the time they finish them, as I said, within an hour - some days much quicker. Rarely do they finish before walking away from the bowl. Do I just remove the bowls after a prescribed amount of time. Toss it? Refrigerate it? I'm going to tell you right now that none of these cats will eat refrigerated food well at all. I warm it with a little water I heat in my tea kettle and mix it up good to make sure it's not cold. Throwing out the leftover OM is going to be painful given the cost, but no way will he eat an entire can at one sitting.

Lucy is about 8-9lbs
Chunk is 20lbs
Doc is 15lbs

Speaking of amounts....according the the Purina website Doc should be getting nearly 4 cans of a day?! Am I reading that correctly?

https://www.purinaveterinarydiets.com/p ... anagement/

My dividing 4 cans daily between the cats has maintained their weight. Doc lost a little but he needed too. What's your thoughts on amounts? I cannot seem him, or even my big boy Chunk, eating nearly 4 cans per day.

Also, what do you think about the OM for Chunk who is predisposed to diabetes? It has rice as an ingredient. I would love to find a low fat/low carb alternative that they could both eat.

[Tina B and crew]

And he's pretty much back to his normal self this morning.

Let's just hope this is the last issue for a long time! Still have to work out the feeding routine.

[Traci]

What is Chunk eating? What is Lucy eating?

Are ALL of the cats eating ONLY canned food?

Are you still trying to get Chunk to lose weight, or is he at a maintenance level now? If he is at maintenance level, you probably shouldn't change his diet, nor the amount, as long as it has been consistent and his weight has been consistent and optimal at this point.

You can certainly ask your vet about the OM for Chunk, since it's designed for both weight loss and maintenance. If she agrees, that would help keep the diet consistent at least for two cats.

Your vet should have told you how much to feed for Doc - I mean when prescribing a weight loss/maintenance diet, one just does not give it to the client without instructions on amount - this would be based on his body condition score. I realize it is primarily prescribed due to the lipemia, but the entire goal needs to be taken into consideration.

If you're NOT feeding either Doc or Chunk any dry food in the same prescription brand, then you might have to feed more of the canned. If you were feeding dry, you could divide portions of each to meet the total dietary requirements for each cat. (example: 1/4 cup dry, + 1 or 2 cans - this is only an example, and I wouldn't go by Purina's guide, it seems a little excessive. This is where your vet needs to determine by body condition scores and daily nutritional requirements for each cat in order to determine the exact amounts to be fed at each sitting.

Just an example I do for my cats that require prescription food:

Gandolf (diabetic) - 1 can of non-prescription food (usually Fancy Feast) mixed with 1/4 cup DM dry - twice a day - he is allowed to nibble a little non-prescription dry during the day, but usually he doesn't. He would probably eat more canned if I let him but he has a tendency to gain weight if not restricted. Depending on his glucose levels, he may get a bit more canned.

Cere (diabetic) - 1/2 can DM twice a day, barely nibbles non-prescription dry food during the day. This is all she will eat, she is good about letting me know when she's done with her meal. She could probably stand to gain just a little weight but I can't force her to eat more.

Both cats are maintaining - both cats eat their meals within 5-10 minutes. I only portion everything, so nothing is wasted. Anything remaining in a can goes in the fridge in the original can with lid on it because it's going to get used that evening anyway. I too put warm water in it in the eve and as long as Gandolf gets the DM dry mixed in, he isn't bothered if it's cooled alittle by refrigeration. Cere doesn't care either way because she has meds in her meals and I also give a small amount of Laxatone mixed in which she loves (and needs) which ensures she eats her amounts.

I NEVER leave canned food out when the cats are finished.

Tenshi gets CD dry, twice a day, he only eats about 1-4 cup twice a day, sometimes a bit more. His weight is normal and optimal.

The other cats get their dry non-prescription food, "sort-of" scheduled. I fill the dishes 3/4 full, and I'm fortunate enough that they take turns, eat what they want and by the time everyone is done, there is still about 1/4-1/2 cups left which they can nibble throughout the day between them.

Ultimately, your vet has to calculate what is optimal for both Chunk and Doc, please call and ask her.

[Tina B and crew]

We are all good now. Still working on getting them to eat when they are fed. I've been taking the food up after 30 minutes or so if it isn't all consumed. Chunk and Lucy aren't too happy with this arrangement but Doc seems to be doing fine. I have noticed they do seem to be staying at the bowls longer. Lucy is the tough one. She tends to eat for maybe 5 minutes and then go to the litter box. But I have noticed she's now eating, going to the litter box, then coming back to her dish.

And Doc is doing great. No set backs!

[Traci]

Woohoo! What wonderful news!

I find it usually only takes a few days for the cats to adjust to any new feeding routine, hopefully your kiddens will adjust soon!

[Tina B and crew]

I figured that. I'm sticking to my guns though. I wanted them to get use to this before I go back to work next week. I know that's going to be an adjustment for all.