Syringe Feeding/milk Thistle

Sherry333

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 7, 2018
Messages
64
Purraise
68
I have been reading post about liver problems, and syringe feeding. My cat Emmitt is having issues. He was hospitalized last week. He seemed to be doing better there. We brought him home and he hasn’t eaten on his own since. I have been syringe feeding him since Friday. I am calling my vet again tomorrow. He is also listless and still jaundiced. I read some post about some thing called milk thistle. Anyone used this before? Winding if it works. I want to help my baby get better ASAP
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #2

Sherry333

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 7, 2018
Messages
64
Purraise
68
My cat has liver issues. He’s been to the vet and was doing ok but not so good since we brought him home. I have been syringe feeding him since Friday. He is still listless. I am calling the vet tomorrow. I read something about milk thistle for liver health. Has anyone used this? Will it help my Emmitt?
 

Artscats

Georgie Boy
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 6, 2018
Messages
41
Purraise
96
Yes, I believe it will. My vet highly recommends it. He said it's a herb that's had 100's of studies done and it's proven to not only detoxify but help the liver rebuild. But it is slow acting if you make a tea or tincture. Most vets carry the active ingredient which is sylimarin in different brand names. I had a cat years ago that was diabetic and had pancreatitis. My vet explained the the liver, kidneys and pancreas work closely together. In fact, they have their own circulatory system called the Hepatic Circulation. And when one of them is having problems it usually affects the other 2. With my cat's blood sugar so high he was almost comatose. My vet didn't have any suggestions other than to treat him with insulin shots, like a human. I did some research and found an old "human" treatment to stimulate the pancreas to start producing insulin again. It was eating a sun choke every day or every other day, depending on sugar levels. I ran this all by my vet and he said it wouldn't hurt and supported me in trying it. A sun choke tastes like a potato without the starch. But I knew my cat was too sick to chew it or probably wasn't a veggie eater to begin with. So, I juiced it and mixed it up with my special beef juice recipe(which is great for anemic cats, or people). I gave 2 eye droppers full 3 times a day every day for 9 days. On the 10th day that cat woke up from the stuper she was in and acted perfectly normal. It was amazing, like someone flipped a switch. I had her blood checked later and her sugar levels we're normal. My vet said "Whatever you did, it worked".
 

duckpond

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 13, 2017
Messages
3,905
Purraise
4,346
I am sure it is. and i am so sorry he, and you are going through this. I have never dealt with liver problems myself. Others on here have and will come in when they have time i am sure. I know Milk thistle is used with good results. I have read some that said their vets recommended it, talk to yours about it if you have not. I know a lot of members stay away from Vitamin k in their cat foods, as the synthetic form has supposed links to liver problems. I dont know if this is an issue or not, a lot of debate about it, but if my guy had liver problems i think i would do my best to avoid it, just i case. Kind of hard sometimes as so many foods have it. sending you guys hugs :grouphug:
 

Furballsmom

Cat Devotee
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Jan 9, 2018
Messages
39,271
Purraise
53,927
Location
Colorado US
Hi! I'm almost late here - sorry about that!!

As commented, Milk thistle is a supplement that provides liver support and can help the liver regenerate, which is important to note--that the liver can repair itself.

Also, as the excellent comments you've received have already mentioned, can you make some changes regarding what he's regularly ingesting/consuming?

If you can filter his water, and also check his food ingredient lists for vitamin K3, also called menadione sodium bisulfate and eliminate those foods when he gets back to eating more regularly.

You may want to ask your vet about denamaryn, there are different formulations but which I believe has both Sam-E and milk thistle, or Sam-E and Silybin...

This is information from @furmonster mom ;
Denosyl = s-adenosyl = sam-e
Marin = silymarin= milk thistle
Both Denosyl and Marin are often prescribed by vets, but usually the dosages are kinda low (which are fine for maintenance, but suck for battle).

mikameek mikameek do you have a moment to chime in for the OP?
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

Sherry333

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 7, 2018
Messages
64
Purraise
68
I am sure it is. and i am so sorry he, and you are going through this. I have never dealt with liver problems myself. Others on here have and will come in when they have time i am sure. I know Milk thistle is used with good results. I have read some that said their vets recommended it, talk to yours about it if you have not. I know a lot of members stay away from Vitamin k in their cat foods, as the synthetic form has supposed links to liver problems. I dont know if this is an issue or not, a lot of debate about it, but if my guy had liver problems i think i would do my best to avoid it, just i case. Kind of hard sometimes as so many foods have it. sending you guys hugs :grouphug:
Yes, I believe it will. My vet highly recommends it. He said it's a herb that's had 100's of studies done and it's proven to not only detoxify but help the liver rebuild. But it is slow acting if you make a tea or tincture. Most vets carry the active ingredient which is sylimarin in different brand names. I had a cat years ago that was diabetic and had pancreatitis. My vet explained the the liver, kidneys and pancreas work closely together. In fact, they have their own circulatory system called the Hepatic Circulation. And when one of them is having problems it usually affects the other 2. With my cat's blood sugar so high he was almost comatose. My vet didn't have any suggestions other than to treat him with insulin shots, like a human. I did some research and found an old "human" treatment to stimulate the pancreas to start producing insulin again. It was eating a sun choke every day or every other day, depending on sugar levels. I ran this all by my vet and he said it wouldn't hurt and supported me in trying it. A sun choke tastes like a potato without the starch. But I knew my cat was too sick to chew it or probably wasn't a veggie eater to begin with. So, I juiced it and mixed it up with my special beef juice recipe(which is great for anemic cats, or people). I gave 2 eye droppers full 3 times a day every day for 9 days. On the 10th day that cat woke up from the stuper she was in and acted perfectly normal. It was amazing, like someone flipped a switch. I had her blood checked later and her sugar levels we're normal. My vet said "Whatever you did, it worked".
I am sure it is. and i am so sorry he, and you are going through this. I have never dealt with liver problems myself. Others on here have and will come in when they have time i am sure. I know Milk thistle is used with good results. I have read some that said their vets recommended it, talk to yours about it if you have not. I know a lot of members stay away from Vitamin k in their cat foods, as the synthetic form has supposed links to liver problems. I dont know if this is an issue or not, a lot of debate about it, but if my guy had liver problems i think i would do my best to avoid it, just i case. Kind of hard sometimes as so many foods have it. sending you guys hugs :grouphug:
Thanks. We had his blood work done. His vet did say he has pancreatitis. He doesn’t have a sugar problem but does have hyperthyroidism.
Hi! I'm almost late here - sorry about that!!

As commented, Milk thistle is a supplement that provides liver support and can help the liver regenerate, which is important to note--that the liver can repair itself.

Also, as the excellent comments you've received have already mentioned, can you make some changes regarding what he's regularly ingesting/consuming?

If you can filter his water, and also check his food ingredient lists for vitamin K3, also called menadione sodium bisulfate and eliminate those foods when he gets back to eating more regularly.

You may want to ask your vet about denamaryn which has both Sam-E and milk thistle
This is information from @furmonster mom ;
Denosyl = s-adenosyl = sam-e
Marin = silymarin= milk thistle
Both Denosyl and Marin are often prescribed by vets, but usually the dosages are kinda low (which are fine for maintenance, but suck for battle).

mikameek mikameek do you have a moment to chime in for the OP?
thanks! That’s good advice. I do have a drink well fountain for their water.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

Sherry333

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 7, 2018
Messages
64
Purraise
68
thanks! That’s good advice. I do have a drink well fountain for their water.
I checked my food. I thought I was buying a good food but it has those ingredients in it. I need to find a new food quick before the other get sick
 

Furballsmom

Cat Devotee
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Jan 9, 2018
Messages
39,271
Purraise
53,927
Location
Colorado US
I'm not a vet, but has your vet prescribed anything like Ursodiol? Ursodiol is a generic med alternative to Actigall. (Antacids or medications including aluminum may cause this to be ineffective).
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

Sherry333

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 7, 2018
Messages
64
Purraise
68
thanks! That’s good advice. I do have a drink well fountain for their water.
Any reccomendations on which food does not have those ingredients?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #14

Sherry333

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 7, 2018
Messages
64
Purraise
68
I'm not a vet, but has your vet prescribed anything like Ursodiol? Ursodiol is a generic med alternative to Actigall. (Antacids or medications including aluminum may cause this to be ineffective).
No they haven’t. He’s does take methimezole for his thyroid and gavipentin for arthritis.
 

Furballsmom

Cat Devotee
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Jan 9, 2018
Messages
39,271
Purraise
53,927
Location
Colorado US
Can you talk with your vet about these things for the liver? Or maybe find a different vet who is more focused on your baby's liver.
Let me get some food brands..
 

mikameek

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 2, 2018
Messages
474
Purraise
628
Location
Austin, Texas
Hi there! Do you know where your babies ALT and ALP are at? I went through liver disease with my baby Mika. We never used milk thistle but I was ready to jump on that bandwagon if her medication didn't work. I would ask your vet about Denamarin. It's a liver protectant, like furballsmom said. I swear it was the only thing that helped get my baby's number slightly under control.

Did your vet tell you if your cat has hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver)? If so, this is only going to make things a little more challenging to get through. Calories are your new best friend. Syringe feeding is great! What are you syringe feeding him and how often?

You want to be shooting for your cats recommended calorie count daily. Take whatever weight your cat is supposed to be (8 lbs for mine) and multiple it by 20 for an indoor cat or 25 for an active/outdoor cat. Thats your magical goal for daily intake. For my cat, it was 160 daily. Getting your baby to eat will help the liver keep working and functioning properly.
 

Furballsmom

Cat Devotee
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Jan 9, 2018
Messages
39,271
Purraise
53,927
Location
Colorado US
To add to what you're syringe feeding, and borrowing from mikameek's excellent advice in another thread, try some Kitten Milk Replacer and probiotics, possibly goat milk, canned kitten food.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #18

Sherry333

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 7, 2018
Messages
64
Purraise
68
Can you talk with your vet about these things for the liver? Or maybe find a different vet who is more focused on your baby's liver.
Let me get some food brands..
I will talk to them tomorrow. Thanks!
 

Furballsmom

Cat Devotee
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Jan 9, 2018
Messages
39,271
Purraise
53,927
Location
Colorado US
For food brands, I think some of the Tiki Cat varieties don't have menadione but you'd have to check the ingredient list, Merrick BackCountry doesn't have it, nor do Caru, Luvsome, Koha, Nutro or Natural Balance, or Nulo --but double-check the ingredients for menadione also called Vitamin K3, due to the fact that manufacturers change their formulas all the time.

Luvsome is at King Soopers, these others can be found either at big pet stores or chewy, or if you want to order online but don't want big quantities try Only Natural Pet - they have their own brand but also sell other brands and allow small quantity ordering.

The Big Bad Woof allows small quantity orders as well, as does Koha and LifesAbundance
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #20

Sherry333

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 7, 2018
Messages
64
Purraise
68
Hi there! Do you know where your babies ALT and ALP are at? I went through liver disease with my baby Mika. We never used milk thistle but I was ready to jump on that bandwagon if her medication didn't work. I would ask your vet about Denamarin. It's a liver protectant, like furballsmom said. I swear it was the only thing that helped get my baby's number slightly under control.

Did your vet tell you if your cat has hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver)? If so, this is only going to make things a little more challenging to get through. Calories are your new best friend. Syringe feeding is great! What are you syringe feeding him and how often?

You want to be shooting for your cats recommended calorie count daily. Take whatever weight your cat is supposed to be (8 lbs for mine) and multiple it by 20 for an indoor cat or 25 for an active/outdoor cat. Thats your magical goal for daily intake. For my cat, it was 160 daily. Getting your baby to eat will help the liver keep working and functioning properly.
I do not know what his numbers are she didn’t say Fatty liver she said pancreatitis and liver shutting down. She told me it’s reversible. That we needed to get him to eat . That’s why I’m syringe feeding because he won’t eat on his own. I did buy some kittens milk. He’s almost 15 pounds. I am trying to give him 300 calories a day. I am trying to feed him 3 times a day. He’s not liking it much . I’m having a hard time making up that many calories.
 
Top