Geoffrey ~ Diarrhea~

[Antonio65]

EDIT:
We tried just everything! New FOOD, gastro-intestinal food, grain-free food, probiotics, clay tablets, gels, antibiotics, and so on.

Sorry, I mistyped Food in my previous post

 

[angels mommy]

@Margret , & @neely ,
All very good points!

 

[Kflowers]

No matter what 'tricks' you used to pick Geoffrey up, he let you pick him up, hold him and put him in the carrier. Trust me on this one, if a cat truly doesn't want to be picked up it ain't gonna happen.

For example when SG doesn't want to cuddle and is sitting on the floor. I go over to her. She stands up. I reach under her to pick her up, she falls over on her side, gets real heavy and solid, does a flip wiggle and is suddenly 4 feet away from me.

This is why ferals are usually trapped in traps before they are picked up by hand. You can't trick an animal that knows it's prey. Cats/ferals who don't want to be picked up fight - as one person said, "You know it's a feral because it's like putting your hand in a blender."

Geoffrey let you pick him up. That's okay, that's good. You need to start giving your relationship some credit. In fact, if I were you, I'd get a calendar, they should be on sale now, with fairly big squares for each day, then put a sticky star on each day for each interaction with Geoffrey that isn't a fight.

Wait, you say, you and Geoffrey don't fight, he runs and hides, but you don't fight. Well, there you are. A bit of sensory overload reaction, and... wait for it... most cats enjoy a game of chase. I think he's playing with you and moving slowly out of respect for your speed ability. This cat loves you. Cats who don't love you won't come out from their hiding places, they won't make eye contact. Why won't you let yourself see that?

 

[angels mommy]

K Kflowers , Also very good points.
I agree!
Yes, a calendar is a great idea. A date book kind w/ individual days would ne a good idea too. Then you'd have a whole small page to write on. .. .. or just a nice new notebook & you could just put the date at the top of the page, & write down notes from the day. It could be a way to also see any patterns, etc. .. When I was trying to see if any of Sammies food was causing her soft stools, I wrote down what she ate at each meal, (& how much), & also recorded her "litter box cronicals." You could do that, along w/ behavior stuff, like "we played for 10 minutes tonight," Or hiding (& for how long) or any particular reason, etc. .. ..
I think once you see things written down, you will see how much things really are improving. ...at his pace, but its happening.

 

[artiemom]

blood test came out normal..urine also..

Dr W suggested the GI Panel, and a visit with Internal Med.. Told her I was woking on that today.

Geoffrey goes in to see Dr B (NVet) on Tuesday.. When he was informed of our situation, he said: "NO, no.. she can't have another cat with it... tell her to make an appointment with me"..

When the GI blood panel came up-- as to having it before his appointment, Dr B said:
"NO, I will do it"...

Geoffrey is also on stand-by for an ultrasound that day.. if needed..

Love Dr B and Jen, his secretary..

Dr W, RVET, is fine with us seeing Dr Brum.. in fact, she suggested it.. Seems excited to have Dr B's notes.. She said she does not know him, but said that he very highly respected.

I had to block off access to under my bed. Geoffrey is not happy about it. He has been hiding under my quilt all day. I have been bringing some food to him.. to eat under my quilt, as I hold it up.. He finally ate a good amount late this afternoon.

I am giving him the pill version of the flagyl. I think it is easier and faster to just put it in a gel cap, use a pill gun. With the liquid, I think he can spit it out much easier..

G needs to have consistent dosing. I think that is part of the issue.

Since I lost so many doses of meds, I have to pick up some more pills either tomorrow or the next day..

Wouldn't you know it.. I am getting sick.. well, I feel sick.. a tiny fever.. had cold sweats last couple of nights.. chilled to the bone.. exhausted..

G had more watery diarrhea late yesterday and a couple in the litter box.. poor thing..

Not eating much today.. he is exhausted both mentally and physically..
but I think I said that.. sorry..

I need to go. cannot think straight..
love..

 

[artiemom]

Yes, a calendar is a great idea.

I have a couple of calendars for Geoffrey..
One for poop, one for meds..
and I have an empty calendar for anything else..

 

[angels mommy]

I agree about him needing regular doses of the flayl. Its hard to really tell anything until he is. Hopefully once he is getting it regularly, the diahreea will improve.
Is there a reason you're puttting it in a capsule, instead of just pilling it itself?
Since theres water in the gun to follow, it should go down ok. Just wondering.

 

[Kflowers]

angels mommy is the gun a pill popper? If not what is the name or is there a picture of one some where?

 

[artiemom]

It is a regular pill gun/popper. No Water behind the capsule.

The pill is foul/bitter tasting. The gel cap hide the taste.
I found some chicken flavored vegetarian gel caps. Using them.

 

[angels mommy]

It is a regular pill gun/popper. No Water behind the capsule.

The pill is foul/bitter tasting. The gel cap hide the taste.
I found some chicken flavored vegetarian gel caps. Using them.

Gotcha.

 

[angels mommy]

angels mommy is the gun a pill popper? If not what is the name or is there a picture of one some where?

Yes, same thing.

 

[angels mommy]

Hi Cindy, just checking in to see how things are going.

 

[artiemom]

A lot is going on.. sorry for not updating

Geoffrey is not happy about the blockage of his access to under the bed.

He has resorted to hiding under my quilt.. all day.. and sleeping with me all night..

He is not happy with my decision to just pill him. Not happy at all.. He really withdraws at that point.

I have to pretty much chose when I pill him. The easiest time is first thing in the morning, after an attempted play===he is not playing much..
and while he is under the quilt.

I grab him, hold on to him tightly.. try some kisses.. and then put him in the corner of my chair.. He fights.. but he is more afraid than fighting.. After pilling, he hides his head behind my back.. curled into a meatloaf position. So Frightened.

I talk gently to him, telling him he is a good boy, stroke his back, top of his head.. wait until he is ready to leave.. and let him go...

Still waking me up so early.. I cannot get any rest at all.. I am totally exhausted.

He has taken up the entire bed.. cuddling right up against me..

Since being consistent with the Flagyl (metro), his stools have improved. After 4-5 doses they began to firm up.. so no more diarrhea.

Another issue: his appetite.. He is not eating much at all. I know the flagyl causes a horrible taste in your mouth.. and this is true.. Not eating dry or wet.. on his own.. just a few nibbles of dry.

I had to resort to taking the food to him, under the quilt, so he would at least get the probiotic mixed in with the food.

He associates the kitchen food with medicine. I am not going to continue this, once the flagyl is discontinued.

The prozac: I think it is helping.. he is calm, yet still afraid.. he is hiding constantly.. he does not walk around crying, but he is not as active.

He still comes out, every 4 hours or so, just to pace around-- then goes back to hiding.

I was applying (transdermal) the prozac around noon.. but changed it to later in the day, to see if that would calm him down a bit more at night, and I could get more sleep..

I honestly do not think anything will stop him from waking me up at 4AM...
That seems to be his routine..

This morning, up early.. found a different wand toy.. we played, he went over for some dry food. I could not pill him.. I do not want to have that associated with the kitchen or food.

He is under my quilt right now.. I am going to pill him..

He is seeing Dr Brum on Tuesday.. I am so tired, I cannot even think straight..
I have to get my thoughts together as to why we did all we did..

The Regular Vet sent ALL G's records to Dr Brum, and also sent me a copy of them.
She is awesome.. documented everything, just like a real physician.. I am so happy with her.

Dr W cannot wait to hear what Dr B's thoughts are on Geoffrey...

I did pretty much resign from the Humane Society.. told them I have too much going on.. I do.. apartment, Geoffrey, sleep deprivation. I cannot be relied upon to have a regular shift, but perhaps some fill-ins.. They were not happy, and feel I am jumping the gun with the Vets.. so be it..

Geoffrey's behavior is very subdued.. It has to be the Prozac kicking in.. hiding all day.. and night..

He has lost some weight. I can see it.. he is not eating much..

anyway.. gotta go.. Flagyl is calling..

 

[artiemom]

I forgot to add that he is not peeing much.. not much at all.. that does have me concerned. His basic blood test and urinalysis were normal..

Guess it is all related to his decreased appetite.

 

[angels mommy]

I'm so sorry to hear you are still struggling.
I am glad to hear thst the meds worked, & there is no more diahreea. The fact that he's sleeping with you says a lot. That's good.
Now we just have to figure out how to get him to stop waking you up at 4:00 am.
Does he settle down if you ignore him ?
As far as hiding under your quilt all day, maybe he is just taking longer to adjust. Especially with new meds going on as well.
I don't have any experience wirh this.
He definitely has to eat though, so as long as you can get him to do that, hopefully the rest will work out soon. Once he's eating better with you bringing him the food under the quilt, maybe you can start just leaving it on your bedroom floor, so he will come out to eat, & not get used to it being brought to him.

 

[artiemom]

I am hoping that once I can stop the flagyl, I can open up the beneath the bed area, and we can try again, from scratch..

But, what caused the diarrhea??? Was it too much of a variety of food? Was it all stress?
Was it a food allergy?

I really do not think we will ever know the answer to that question. It is just going to be trial and error..

No, If I ignore G, it does not stop him from waking me up..
Believe me, I have tried. He is just so persistent.. walking all over me, sitting on me, crying in my ear.. it does not stop.. it may stop for a minute, then it starts back up again.

I went through something similar with Artie. It did not take long to break him of the habit..

Geoffrey, just seems to be untrainable on this.

I thought it was to tell me that he pooped.. While he did that, when he had diarrhea, it did not seem to be the case this morning.

He pooped during the night, was cuddling with me this morning. He has automatically conditioned me to wake up after sleeping only 4 hours. I kind of woke up, turned..

G was cuddled up against me. I went to turn.. straight jacket on me. He woke up, and then insisted it was time to get up...

nothing I could do to persuade him to ignore me.

I really cannot wait until I can take down the barriers. I really need to change my sheets and really make a good bed.. and turn my mattress. I need a new one.. a permanent impression in the center..

It is a gel center with foam around it.. and is about 10 years old.

It is really hard to make a bed, with all the barriers in place..
like going back to sleep in an unmade bed.. not comfortable to me..

I think I will have another night on the sofa, watching TV.

Last night, he did, for less than an hour, come out, and curled up on the sofa at my feet..

There is something about fleece which he is dislikes/fearful of. So it has to be directly on the sofa material.

 

[Kflowers]

I can't help with much, but Sweet Gum plays a little before I wake up. hangs out with me until she gets her medicine then goes under the cover and pretty much sleeps there until 5 pm when we make dinner. The only time she comes out is to stare at the birds on the deck or smack the window if another cat is one the deck.

When I go to bed she spends an hour with me then spends the rest of the night sleeping on other places in the house. Apparently, different chairs have to be slept in every day.

I'm just saying this because there is nothing wrong with Sweet Gum except the arthritis and the new dog, whom she still hasn't gotten closer than 5 yards to. Cats just sleep a lot. I think they sleep more in the winter. I think sleeping is good for them. I know sleeping is one of the best things for healing so all the hours Geoffrey sleeps is him doing the best he can for himself.

Yes, he'll probably be happy when he can go under the bed again. SG can't go under the bed because we gave up on bed frames years ago. It's hard to sleep if the cats are fighting under the bed.

 

[Kflowers]

I just thought of something. Stopping volunteering at the HS is probably the best thing you could do for Geoffrey's nerves. Every time you go there you come home smelling like strange cats. In his mind he has to wonder if you're going to bring one home. Are you going to make the home you share with him less safe? Are you going to love another cat rather than him?

Remember you said he wasn't doing all that well at the shelter. I think it's quite likely that he is afraid of the strange cats he smells on your clothes when you visit there.

don't let those ladies make you feel guilty for doing what you need to for yourself and your cat.

 

[Antonio65]

He has taken up the entire bed.. cuddling right up against me..

Despite all that he's going through, the stress, the pilling, and so on, he still sleeps against you.
That's great, he loves you, he trusts you!

 

[artiemom]

I just thought of something. Stopping volunteering at the HS is probably the best thing you could do for Geoffrey's nerves. Every time you go there you come home smelling like strange cats. In his mind he has to wonder if you're going to bring one home. Are you going to make the home you share with him less safe? Are you going to love another cat rather than him?

I have not taken a shift at the shelter for a while; before Christmas.

and when I did, I immediately put my clothes in the washer, wash my hands, jump in the shower, wash my hair.. I am afraid of bringing anything home..

So, it is not really the shelter smells....
Although, I did go in, yesterday, quickly to drop off some food.

I have a 'bag of tricks' that I take to the shelter. It is in my store room, off the laundry area/entrance to apartment. I am going to go through it, most likely throw most of it away.

It contains disposable gloves, first aid stuff.. some litter box smelly spray--Natures Miracle.. but I know it smells like the shelter.. I am purging things, anyway...