Well I watch Patches closely anyways.....but now.

HDrydr

Well I've been watching Patches for a couple of weeks and she is loosing weight. So I started last week offering her soft food in conjunction with the dry that's out. She turned up her nose to the soft food (she has never been a soft food type of girl). So I put water in it and mushed it up to syringe it in her she didn't budge and took it in. I've been doing this 2 times a day. Along with some nurtrimalt and her cosequin for her kidney issue 1 time a day.
I got her up a half a pound in a few days. Today I offered her more when I got home from work because she looked hungry and she ate it without even me doing anything to it. Then about 2 hours later she wanted more. I don't really want to keep her on soft food because it's not good for her teeth but maybe she is at the point in her life that she needs soft food now and I should just go with it. What do you think?
She is almost 11 years old and has Kidney Disease it was progressing quickly approx 5 years ago when my vet discovered it and put her on Cosequin and the progression stopped.
Any ideas??

Mary_NH · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject:

there is no actual proof that dry food only diets make a difference in a cats teeth. They need wet food for moisture purposes and since cats are true carnivores there is more meat in wet food than in dry.
My current foster, Catnip, was fed only dry food and she just had a $700 dental!!! Her teeth are a mess.
With renal failure cats can get upset tummies and just don't want to eat.
Try giving her 1/4 of a tablet of Pepcid AC (only Pepcid AC not regular Pepcid - I buy the WalMart brand they are little white pills).
It does help settle their tummies.
My little sealpoint is a puker and she goes on puking sprees (barffest) and I give her a Pepcid AC (1/4) and she is fine for weeks.
It's important a cat with kidney failure eats (as you know) so if she wants wet food what the heck - isn't going to hurt her, she's eating, she's happy, you're happy. Try the Pepcid AC and see if her appetite gets better. Won't hurt her

HDrydr · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:27 pm Post subject:

good Idea Mary I did have her on Pepcid because she was puking at night but that stopped and I stopped giving it to her well about 2 weeks plus ago. Maybe I'll give her some again and see. I know she needs to eat with her kidney issue that's why I watch her closer than the others. I think also that when she is eating Harley hears it and comes running thinking he's missing out and maybe bugs her and she stops eating before she is done. So I've been feeding her while I'm in the shower I lock her in there with me. Kinda worked this am. Thanks for the advice.

Auspetian · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:16 pm Post subject:

The type of dry food is also very important. The food must be somewhat chowy so it actually cleans the teeth while the cat is biting through it. There are many types of really bad dry foods out there so you need to watch out as they may actually encourage dental issues (suprmarket brands can be realy bad for your pet).

Science diet has a number of realy good dentaly geard dry foods which i highly recomend.

Max (our dog) is having no more dental problems since we've put him on science diet dry food. We suplament twice per week with raw chiken wings and strips of raw meat and NO can food exepet for very very special occessions. Dry food worked realy great in his case.

HDrydr · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject:

She normally eats Nutro max cat (i dont buy store bought foods) I used to work in pet stores all through high school so I learned alot.

Chessmind · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:11 pm Post subject:

Yes, it's true that soft food does not cause tooth decay. The most important thing is to feed your cats quality cat food (hard and soft). Meaning the first ingredients are not by products (i.e. chicken by product) and do not contain any fillers like corn. The first ingredients should always be meat (i.e. Chicken).

HDrydr · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:58 pm Post subject:

vene · Super Senior Member Plus Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 4220

Big hugs for Patches and meowmmy too. I feed my furbabies both dry and canned foods so I think they get the best of both worlds. Hopefully, she'll bounce back to herself in no time.

HDrydr · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 2:25 am Post subject:

BIG thanks to all of you!!! You guys are the best it is nice to get kind advice. I've been on some of the other boards and they are not always nice they tell you what to do not advise.....
Hopefully Patches will bounce back she acts fine she is always out with us and looks happy just a bit skinny. we'll see.
Mr. Green

HDrydr · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:52 am Post subject:

Update time: Well I continue to give Patches moist food 2 times a day in the bathroom with the door closed so that she can eat without the other food mungers lurching around her. Seems to be working but she is still on the skinny side. I mix some nutrimalt in with her food one time a day. Would love to put some weight back on her. Otherwise she is doing well I think.

Chezza · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 3:25 am Post subject:

I let my cats have both dry and wet food, and a bit of roo meat raw, dogs raw chicken wings in between there dry and wet food too..

HDrydr · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:18 am Post subject:

Well Patches can have soft now and the dry is out all of the time for when ever she wants to go back to eating that. Harley is big enough the dry is good enough for him for now.
For now I'll stick to the dry diet for Buster it works for him.

Chessmind · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:40 am Post subject:

Yes, everyone is pretty nice here. That's why I like it here.

Since you found out about her kidney disease, do you take her to get check-ups with the vet now and again? There always seems to be new drugs coming out for various treatments. I suppose you could also just call and ask. She's a beautiful girl. I wish her all the best. It's hard when our fur animals get older and they have health issues.

HDrydr · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:28 pm Post subject:

Yea I take her in more frequently she just went to the vet in feb and her kidney panel came back exteremly good!! Almost like she didn't have kidney issues. She has been on Cosequin for about 4 years and it has "stopped' the decline the vet said. Since I keep her really healthy and watch her closely she does really good. it will be hard when she gets bad. Crying or Very sad

HDrydr · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:28 am Post subject:

So here's a question for all of you: Is there anything else I can add to her moist food to help put some good weight on her? Like I said before I put Nutrimalt for nutriments in it and her Cosequin for her Kidney health. I can feel her back bone and to me that's skinny. She weighs in at 9.5 pounds which I know that's not bad but she used to be between 10.5 and 11.5 and she looked "healthy" then now she looks skinny and kinda sickly. Her fur is not as shinny, her skin is kinda dry. Maybe I just need to realize that she is getting old Crying or Very sad

but I don't want to.... She acts better since she is getting more moist food in her.

vene · Super Senior Member Plus Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 4220

I really don't know. How about adding some moist kitten food? It breaks our hearts to watch our little lose weight or get sick. You are doing a great job taking care of her! Surprised

HDrydr · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:44 pm Post subject:

Thanks Vene I just wish I could do more for her. She isn't unhappy and still is spunky so that's good.

vene · Super Senior Member Plus Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 4220

You are a terrific meowmmy and you are doing an amazing job taking such great care of her! Surprised

HDrydr · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 12:18 am Post subject:

Thank you Vene I really try to make sure that all of my guys get what they need to be happy and healthy. They are my kids.... And yes I now give her adult moist food I don't have any more kitten moist food good idea I should get some of that it is high in protein...

HDrydr · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:46 am Post subject: Update time on Patches...

Well I guess that it is update time: I have been struggling with Patches for quite a few weeks now with her eating.

But I am happy to say that I think that she is on the upward mend. She went from not eating and me noticing that she was looking very skinny and her coat looked dull. To me forcing wet food with a syringe mixed with nutrimalt, nutrical and her cosequin. To her eating a couple of tsp of wet in the mornings on her own and me feeding her in the evenings. To her waiting for me in the mornings in the bathroom and eating and waiting for me in the evenings after I get home and yes eating on her own.

She doesn't seem interested in the dry food maybe too hard for her to chew now? but all I care is that she is wanting to eat and now is up to almost a half a can of moist nutro cat or kitten food each feeding. YEA Surprised

Her coat is looking much better and she acts more feisty....

She still looks skinny and still ranging at about 8-9pounds closer to the 9 mark...(she used to be 11 pounds) she looks more alert and her eyes look happy again. Now she is asleep curled up in a ball on her part of the couch with us. Mr. Green

I just hope that she continues to eat more and gains back some weight.