Part Two: Input On Diagnostic Testing For Tummy Troubles?

[P+P's Meom]

ps. He managed ok without famotidine today. Still had simethicone tho.

 

[P+P's Meom]

Sorry! messed up.

Part One: Input On Diaignostic Testing For Tummy Troubles?

Part Two:
Pitter and I spent 2.5 hours at the vet Tuesday – May 7. A good chunk was waiting for labs.
[I'll see if i can post the results . . .]

As I was filling her in on what's going on, she hit on the fact that I only feed him home-made food. BAM. She decided right then that he is sick because he isn't getting the right nutrients. She hadn't examined him or done the blood-work yet.

I explained why he and Patter don't get commercial food – neither, but Pitter especially - just cannot process any kind of starch in his food. It took over a year and a half, 15 different brands, and hours of reading ingredient labels - to figure that out.

I told her they've been on the same diet, with the same ingredients for 2.5 years. Both Pitter and Patter eat the exact same thing. Why is it just now making him sick? Why isn't it also affecting Patter?

She tried hard to not roll her eyes at me.

Labs finally get done. Based on an elevated BUN level, [and my improper care of him,] she tells me 1) he has GI bleeding and 2) kidney disease.

She wants me to feed him canned food, or even better: prescription kibble. For kidney disease!? [I am also giving him the wrong probiotic and need to switch to a cat-specific kind.]

For the umpteeth time, I tell her that those things are not an option, and I try to explain to why to her. I'm frustrated, but not angry. I really want to try to find a workable compromise! She doesn't and gets ready to walk out the door.

I said “Wait – what can I do to give Pitter some relief from his pain?”
Her: “I already told you.” And that was that.

She never did any kind of actual exam. The only time she even touched him was to take his blood.

Once she heard “home-made food” she passed judgment on me and knew that was the problem.

I can't believe that her ego is more important than the fact that one of her patients is in pain every. Single. Day.

I am exhausted and coping with a couple of other crappy things right now.
I just want to help him not hurt until we can start catch our breath and start looking for a new vet to address the issues like an adult.

I'd really appreciate any thoughts on what might help give Pitter some peace!

 

[LTS3]

Is there another vet you can take your cat to? It's important to have a vet who listens to your concerns and not treat you like an imbecile if you choose to do things different, such as a home made diet.

Cats on a homemade diet often have higher than average BUN levels and vets are all too often quick to point to kidney issues. It's because of the higher protein content in these foods. The normal reference range for BUN and creatine levels were set decades ago and are based on cats who eat commercial cat food, mainly dry. Raw and home cooked diets have only been popular in the past decade or so.

Looking for the links with info about elevated BUN/crea in raw fed cats

 

[P+P's Meom]

Is there another vet you can take your cat to? It's important to have a vet who listens to your concerns and not treat you like an imbecile if you choose to do things different, such as a home made diet.

We're going to start searching on Monday.
[There's been so much drama the past few weeks, i just need to shut down a few days.]

Thank you too for the link! It looks like an excellent place to start learning.