Artie and his Issues

[artiemom]

tarasgirl06 The psylium is in the dry prescription food. It is part of the fiber component. I do not know what the percentage is, but whatever it is, it helps. The food has other things also. You can google it for information. It is Royal Canin Fiber Response. It is a prescription food.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Hey, Darlin Girl, and Fave FurFace as well. Just checking in, and so pleased that Artie is even attempting the dry food. Maybe this will harden up the stool enough for him to be able to move it on out.

Suzanne came by last night, and I told her a bit about what is happening. She sends her very best wishes to both of you and is putting Artie on her prayer group's list. Suzanne always asks how my "cat friends" are doing.

 

[tarasgirl06]

tarasgirl06 The psylium is in the dry prescription food. It is part of the fiber component. I do not know what the percentage is, but whatever it is, it helps. The food has other things also. You can google it for information. It is Royal Canin Fiber Response. It is a prescription food.

Well, if it is helpful that is good. I do not agree that vet-prescribed diets are necessarily good, however. Most vets push Science Diet, which I would never feed to anyone, let alone a cat. Just sayin'.

 

[Margret]

*Just one thing -- not meaning to be pushing my thoughts, but in Artie's interest, psyllium is a very indigestible fiber that I have seen experts advise against for people including those with any digestive issues. Is it necessary for him to have this? Just thinking of his comfort.*

I'm not sure, but I think the indigestibility may be the point. That means it gets to the colon intact.

Margret

 

[inkysmom]

Good that you're taking care of yourself and sounds like Artie is continuing to be a little fighter. You'll get through this!

 

[2Cats4everLoved]

It's a new day, and I'm hoping that you were able to relax and have a nice time with your friend.

I also hope that you were able to turn off that brain and get some much needed sleep and/or rest.

I agree with inkysmom - Artie is a fighter. How is the warrior doing today

Check in when you can. xoxoHope

 

[artiemom]

Hey all! Yes, I kept busy yesterday, but was mentally out of it. I really had brain mush.
The food last night was really good, and I am very fussy with Chinese food. The place was upscale, yet very casual, and foremost clean! Good food. leftovers today.

Artie was left alone most of the day. I was in and out 3 times. I did give him a cyproheptadine during the day. He managed to eat over 1/2 cup of the dry prescription food! He is kind of reserved, but he has been through so much in the past week.. if I am exhausted, I cannot imagine how he must feel.

He was cuddling with me, in bed, the past couple of nights. Last night, he jumped onto bed, as soon as I settled in. sweet boy.

We are not talking very much.. goes to show how tired we both are. We are communicating mostly my instinct. Strange, we know each other so well.

Because he is eating dry food, Artie is drinking a lot of water. I have 2 bowls set out for him. One near the food, on a separate placemat, and the other in the great room. He prefers the one in the great room. He is also trying to sneak the toilet water. He tries to jump in, immediately when I get up off the pot!! Crazy cat!!

I am not going to hook up his fountain. He is drinking enough.

I did brush him this morning. So much fur!! His belly is shaved, so I am not able to go anywhere near it. I got 2 brushfulls before he decided it was enough.

Not wanting to play much. I took out a mouse on a sting.. a few swats, and that was it. Same with our food game.. took a few throws to get him interested. He ate about 10 pieces of food.

One thing is, every time I go into the kitchen, any reason at all; Artie is right there, up against my legs/feet... how many times have I almost stepped on him? I cannot count.. and with this toe, it is not easy to step around him...

Artie is staying in his tent/quilt.. not venturing out. I had to open up the windows and balcony door to change the air in here. I am getting tired of being closed in with the AC; plus the air needs to be changed. It is warmish in here, about 74 degrees, but a dry heat. I do not mind it.

Artie did poop a tiny bit this morning. It was only a 2.5 x 1/2 inch hard piece, but it was the dry food. I can tell by the color of his stool, and smell.

I gave him 1.5 cc of lactulose yesterday. HE is a BEAR with it...fights, hates the taste. I do not blame him, but I get more on me and on my recliner.. and he drools it out in his spittle...

Today I think I am going to try for 2 cc and see what happens. I am only giving it to him once a day.. It is too much of a fight for twice a day or for a large dose at once..

Artie did not want to watch TV with me last night. He just jumped on my lap several times to 'get "Happy" ".......

I did sleep like a log.. but it was not enough sleep. I think after I give the sub-q's I am going to lie down on top of my bed for a while... I can feel my eyes getting heavy.

Had classical music playing for almost 3 days. Time to change to old style country. Yes, I like old, traditional country music. I was raised on it. My mom was a fan of it. My dad liked it also.. so it is in my roots...but I think I may go back to the classical station, when I lie down...

rambling because I am tired... time to give the sub-q's.. they are warmed up enough...and probably put the ac on..for him... although I am at a point where I want to be warm and have air.....

 

[maggiedemi]

Good job eating your food, our little man, I knew you could do it.

 

[foxxycat]

go Artie! Eat your kibble little Man!

 

[tarasgirl06]

I'm not sure, but I think the indigestibility may be the point. That means it gets to the colon intact.

Margret

Truly. But it is also an irritant according to some knowledgeable people. I've never used it myself.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Hey all! Yes, I kept busy yesterday, but was mentally out of it. I really had brain mush.
The food last night was really good, and I am very fussy with Chinese food. The place was upscale, yet very casual, and foremost clean! Good food. leftovers today.

Artie was left alone most of the day. I was in and out 3 times. I did give him a cyproheptadine during the day. He managed to eat over 1/2 cup of the dry prescription food! He is kind of reserved, but he has been through so much in the past week.. if I am exhausted, I cannot imagine how he must feel.

He was cuddling with me, in bed, the past couple of nights. Last night, he jumped onto bed, as soon as I settled in. sweet boy.

We are not talking very much.. goes to show how tired we both are. We are communicating mostly my instinct. Strange, we know each other so well.

Because he is eating dry food, Artie is drinking a lot of water. I have 2 bowls set out for him. One near the food, on a separate placemat, and the other in the great room. He prefers the one in the great room. He is also trying to sneak the toilet water. He tries to jump in, immediately when I get up off the pot!! Crazy cat!!

I am not going to hook up his fountain. He is drinking enough.

I did brush him this morning. So much fur!! His belly is shaved, so I am not able to go anywhere near it. I got 2 brushfulls before he decided it was enough.

Not wanting to play much. I took out a mouse on a sting.. a few swats, and that was it. Same with our food game.. took a few throws to get him interested. He ate about 10 pieces of food.

One thing is, every time I go into the kitchen, any reason at all; Artie is right there, up against my legs/feet... how many times have I almost stepped on him? I cannot count.. and with this toe, it is not easy to step around him...

Artie is staying in his tent/quilt.. not venturing out. I had to open up the windows and balcony door to change the air in here. I am getting tired of being closed in with the AC; plus the air needs to be changed. It is warmish in here, about 74 degrees, but a dry heat. I do not mind it.

Artie did poop a tiny bit this morning. It was only a 2.5 x 1/2 inch hard piece, but it was the dry food. I can tell by the color of his stool, and smell.

I gave him 1.5 cc of lactulose yesterday. HE is a BEAR with it...fights, hates the taste. I do not blame him, but I get more on me and on my recliner.. and he drools it out in his spittle...

Today I think I am going to try for 2 cc and see what happens. I am only giving it to him once a day.. It is too much of a fight for twice a day or for a large dose at once..

Artie did not want to watch TV with me last night. He just jumped on my lap several times to 'get "Happy" ".......

I did sleep like a log.. but it was not enough sleep. I think after I give the sub-q's I am going to lie down on top of my bed for a while... I can feel my eyes getting heavy.

Had classical music playing for almost 3 days. Time to change to old style country. Yes, I like old, traditional country music. I was raised on it. My mom was a fan of it. My dad liked it also.. so it is in my roots...but I think I may go back to the classical station, when I lie down...

rambling because I am tired... time to give the sub-q's.. they are warmed up enough...and probably put the ac on..for him... although I am at a point where I want to be warm and have air.....

Yay ARTIE! I knew you could do it! Sounds like he's feeling pretty good again.

Food sounds great! I can't afford restaurants any longer so it sounds very special. I used to love Chinese restaurants -- one in particular had a branch out in the Mojave and also has a branch here locally, and both have the best food.

Music sounds great (both kinds). Do you like Waylon at all? I'm a lifelong huge fan. Also Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, all the greats.

Wishing you both a fantastic day/evening/night!

 

[artiemom]

I was lying down, kind of dozing, on my bed. Artie came into my room, and started meowing.. not yowling, just meowing, loud. I called him over.. no, I went to the kitchen. He had eaten every piece of dry food. I put some more down; going back to lay down.

Artie came returned to my bedroom, and meowed several more times! I even picked him up. Nope, he jumped down, and meowed. I looked in the litter box, nothing...

Again, he meowed for me. This time he was in the process of curling up on my computer chair.. I called him over. He cuddled up next to me. Artie must have been anxious over something. We cuddled for a while, then I had to move (hip). He jumped off. At this point I got up, went into the kitchen, had my one spring roll from last night. Artie was right there, up against my feet.

His unspoken language is that he wants different food. He wants wet food. At least, I think this is what he was getting to.

He watched me get his lactulose ready---off into the extra bedroom to hide... then into the litter box to pee. Finally scooped him up.. He was pretty good about the lactulose, but I did it really fast; 2 cc... we will see if this helps... fingers crossed. poor boy..

Then he went to run away. He is now back to his tent...with me on the recliner/rocker....my chair.

He was looking for me.. I guess he has an incredible amount of separation anxiety...poor thing.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Bless his furry little soul! Eating some kibbles with about half the battle you expected! And I know about the toilet water. Hekitty prefers that "bowl" to all others, so I have the cleanest toilet in 17 counties. I tend to think that it is because drinking from the toilet puts them in the same physical position that drinking from a stream bank would, head and shoulders below hips.

 

[Margret]

Truly. But it is also an irritant according to some knowledgeable people. I've never used it myself.

I wonder whether that also might be part of it. Perhaps irritating the bowels provokes a reaction when there are motility problems? Speculating in the dark....

Margret

 

[tarasgirl06]

Bless his furry little soul! Eating some kibbles with about half the battle you expected! And I know about the toilet water. Hekitty prefers that "bowl" to all others, so I have the cleanest toilet in 17 counties. I tend to think that it is because drinking from the toilet puts them in the same physical position that drinking from a stream bank would, head and shoulders below hips.

Interesting theory!

 

[tarasgirl06]

I wonder whether that also might be part of it. Perhaps irritating the bowels provokes a reaction when there are motility problems? Speculating in the dark....

Margret

Yes, that's what I'd theorize, too.

 

[artiemom]

Artie pooped 3 times yesterday!!! It was a bit hard at first, getting progressively more as the day went on; approx 7 x 1 inches yesterday! And it is the Dry prescription food... I can tell by the color, and smell. It does somewhat stick to him. He cannot seem to get rid of the log, on many occasions...

He has eaten over 1/2 cup of the dry food on both Saturday and Sunday. I am not giving him any cypro today. He still insists on wet food, but he is not getting it.

He was so cuddly yesterday and last night.. Would not leave me.

I am going to try to get back on a semi-normal schedule.... as much as I can. My toe is feeling a lot better.. not normal, and certainly not ready to put sneakers on, but it feels a lot better. I have the exercise wrap on a lot looser, just to cushion the toe.

One moment at a time with this cat.

 

[Antonio65]

I wonder whether that also might be part of it. Perhaps irritating the bowels provokes a reaction when there are motility problems? Speculating in the dark....

I've been using psyllium seeds for years on my cats.
I started in May 2015 when my sweet Lola was constipated... again... the vet told me to use those seeds and Lola was alright since.
I'm still giving them to Pallina once a day in her wet food.
Do you really think that they could give irritation? Could they be at the origin of an IBD?

 

[artiemom]

I do not think psylium is an irritant to the colon. I feel they provide additional fiber.. to move things along. They fill up the colon with bulk, initiating the nerves to begin working, the muscles to contract, moving the contents along. I would not think of that as an irritant.

 

[rubysmama]

Maybe, just maybe, Artie will make the connection that the food he doesn't really like (dry) actually makes him feel better. Couldn't hurt for you to keep telling him that it does, and that he's such a smart and good boy when he eats the dry food.

Vibes for a good day for both kitty and human.