Charlie: The Food Trial Diaries (ibd / Food Allergy (sensitivity) Or Stress)

Rylka

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Fingers crossed for pork working out! And maybe you can think of the Rayne as medicine - we try to use it short term to deal with illness but long term we look for solutions that are better for our overall health?
 

sidneykitty

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Oh hey well that's great the pork one might help with the crystals! ohh I really hope Charlie likes it and will eat it, that would be great since it addresses both issues.

Yep, its true about fish. That was the only wet food flavor I could get Amber to eat for more than a year! But it eased her into dry to wet food so that's good. I'm glad I finally got her off just the fish, though.

No worries about the name confusion! You've got a lot on your mind! I know its confusing I signed up to the site when I had my first cat, Sidney. :) Time does go fast. Snuggle them close! <3
 
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FeralHearts

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Well, Charlie goes in to see his Doctor on Monday morning.

I've been monitoring him the last few days as he's not been right lately and last night around 1 -1:30 am he had a really bad Asthma attack. Worst I've ever seen. Besides the eating issues lately (and the crystals) he's been snoring a lot, and hard, when he lays on his side (he's often snored) but this is all the time now. When he lays upside-down - no snoring. His nose is watery too.

BUT

When I gave him his puffer last night he took it fine - like his airways were clear. This freaks me out; although you would think that was good - in this case, it may not be - because that means it could be his heart. etc.

So I'm worried. Very actually.

I'll continue to stalk ermm I mean watch him.
 
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FeralHearts

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I came home to him throwing up white foam. This is a first. So his tummy might be upset. I don't see anything he could have gotten into. Because of the weight gain (a pound so not fat yet but a touch overweight) due to the food I think I'll ask about testing his pancreas if the DR thinks it's a good idea.

Watching him like a hawk!
 
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Rylka

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Oh no...glad you have the vet visit scheduled, and I hope they're able to figure out what's going on with him. From your mention of weight gain, sounds like he's back eating at least?
 
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FeralHearts

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Yes and no.

He not eating much atm - the weight gain is from the near year he's been on the new food from his original food trial. That's working in our favor atm. He had gained a full pound in a fairly short time at the start of the trial. I managed to stabilize the weight gain, but he never lost the extra gain.

He's not lost much the past two weeks for me to be crazy at this point. One of the reason is that the new dry food (I call them new because they are from the original food trial) gets enough calories in him for it not to be dangerous. Where I worry is that Charlie is known to go on full on food strikes. That's when we end up with a serious issue. So when he starts to not really eat - or barely eat - I know I'm on a slippery slope that I have to manage ASAP.

All the cats get 3 wet food meals a day and then a handful of dry at night as sort of a snack - it also helps to offset issues too in case of this kind of situation. Dry food, as we know, is far higher in calories, so it helps to offset these moments a bit.

His Doctor wants him on just the dry food for two months but he won't eat enough of it to sustain for two months properly. So we run into issues there. (Charlie is one freakin' stubborn cat let me tell you.)

He was not eating / barely eating the wet. So let's say, two of his wet meals, he would take two bites and nothing more. Then maybe he might eat half, or nothing of the third. Other days he refused full stop to eat anything save for the dry. I'd give him more dry - refusal. One day he might refuse everything and only take a few bites of the dry. It's a very big back and forth and monitoring. The dry atm is the only thing that stops his eating issue from become an emergency situation *knock on wood*

Make sense?

The doctor visit - yup after last night I was like - "Okay Charlie, we talked about this - that's just one thing too many. We are not waiting until January - you are going now mister." If I have to take him again in January (though I hate to stress him) I will. I doubt we'll get pee from him Monday as he is an early AM pee'er and we are 10:45 am for his appointment.

-------


Now here's crazy for you. Here is the list of what's currently in the house just for him. These are the most recent - it doesn't include all the girls food, or the dryfood - and keep in mind this doesn't include the only wet food he will eat right now (Simply nourish Duck and Pea) - I have four cases of that):

(Some of these I will be trying a second and third round of.) He only usually likes pates - but you can see I've tried to deviate a bit in desperation sometimes.

Hills - Z/D - Rejected
Hills - D/D Duck - Rejected
Royal Canin - Sensitivity V/R - Rejected
Natural Balance L.I.D - Salmon and chickpea - Rejected
Natural Balance - Salmon and Green Pea - Rejected
Natural Balance - Duck and Green Pea - Rejected
Medi-Cal - Sensitivity V/R - Rejected
Go Sensitivity and Shine - Rejected (Has Turkey liver but I wasn't too worried)
Instinct - Real Rabbit Recipe - Rejected
Nulo - Beef and Lamb Recipe - Rejected (There is Turkey in this one that I didn't notice so I'll be feeding it to the girls)
Merrick - Perfect Bistro - Savoy Trout Dinner - puked it up all over the place but he might not have been feeling well so I will try again.
Weruva - Asian Fusion - Rejected
Beyond - Trout and Catfish Recipe - Rejected (Then re-ead lable and CHICEN) so nope


Not tried, or can't remember if he did (some I know he did and - yup - rejected - but I've lost the sheet somehow and can't double check. Still I don't mind retrying in case I get lucky:

Nutrience Sub-Zero - Canadian Pacific Pate
Nutrience - Grain free - Ocean Fish Pate
Nutrience - Salmon Recipe
Natural Balance - Venison and Green Pea
Weruva - Cats in the kitchen - Lamber-ini
Merrick - Perfect Bistro - Surf and Turf Recipe (Chicken liver and broth but I think that will be ok)
Merrick - Cowboy cookout
Merrick - L.I.D - Real Salmon Recipe
Merrick - Back Country - Real Salmon Recipe
B.F.F.- Tuna and Bonito Be mine diner in glee
B.F.F -Tuna and Tilapia Twosome dinner in Glee
Nulo - Duck and Tuna Recipe (He can't have this as I missed there was of course CHICKEN in it.)
Only Natural Pet - Seafood Dinner
Solid gold - Salmon and beef recipe in gravy.

Yup I kid you not. It's insane! :stars::runaround:

and he will probably reject all the ones I haven't tried.

I've tried with different toppers, different times, different days. Most fail - totally - he won't even taste. One smell and off he goes.
 
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Furballsmom

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Are you able to utilize handfeeding with canned food? I couldn't tell for sure in your other post but it sounded like you were able to get him to eat kibble.

With wet food, using a popsicle stick/tongue depressor, or even a butter knife that doesn't have any serrations so no sharp edges, put a little food on the end of it, gently open his mouth where the jaw is hinged and scrape the food off on his tongue.

Utilizing this method takes so incredibly much stress out of having a reluctant cat.
 
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FeralHearts

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Are you able to utilize handfeeding with canned food? I couldn't tell for sure in your other post but it sounded like you were able to get him to eat kibble.

With wet food, using a popsicle stick/tongue depressor, or even a butter knife that doesn't have any serrations so no sharp edges, out a little food on the end of it, gently open his mouth where the jaw is hinged and scrape the food off on his tongue.

Utilizing this method takes so incredibly much stress out of having a reluctant cat.
I've not tried this and totally will. :thumbsup: If I can do it in such a way that I don't piss him off, maybe at the very least it can be a method of getting him to at least taste the food without rejecting it by smell alone.

I hand fed him some extra kibble with ok success and same with his current wet food, on my fingers - got pretty messy lol but he ate some and started to eat a bit more on his own.

Omg you have gone through the ringer on foods for him! Charlie, you gotta cut your momma some slack here.
From your lips to Charlie's ears!

And just think - that is only the current list of "alternative" stuff in the house. It took 3 years to get us here as it was only February of last year we successfully got him to eat something different that he wasn't allergic or had a sensitivity too. Three years to do that!

It was Furballsmom Furballsmom list of food toppers that got it done. Reddi whip to be exact. A tiny bit on the new food and he ate. It was stop and go for a bit but that was what got him to try it. It didn't last but that didn't matter - it got him to try it and he's stuck with it. That at the very least made it so his tummy have a chance to heal a bit and his ripped apart legs healed too... and *knock on wood* have not returned. He still has issues with foods but that was a major success. It was the small break-through I (and he) needed to start him on a better path.

Saving grave with having other cats in the house that aren't too picky. Not much goes to waste. I can feed the remainder of a can to the girls if he rejects it - or rather lol *when* he rejects it. lol

I'm surprised I'm still remotely sane.
 

Furballsmom

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If they only knew how much thought is put into them, their lives, their wellbeing....and just to prove otherwise this morning, I'm a bad mama cuz I won't let Poppycat out in 18 degrees, and am being told so lol
 
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FeralHearts

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I agree... but... I think if they didn't know they still wouldn't care lol - they want what they want!

You're a good mama and Poopycat will just have to love the warm toasty bed (and air) they are probably snuggling in at this very moment! *nods*
 
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FeralHearts

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LOL, you were right, all I had to do was crack open the door so he could tell how icky cold it is outside :)
Poopycat is wise :-)

---

Charlie and I returned from the vet.

Naturally he was fine all day yesterday and the remainder of the night on sat. - you know - make a doctors appointment and all of a sudden "Look ma - I'mma fineeee"

No changes to his heart *phew* and all sounds were symmetrical (I had to ask what that meant lol).

He's up in weight - how - freakin' good question considering the issues as of late.

General consensus is that he's having a bout of inflammation in his upper area intestines / lungs etc again. It most likely appears worse this time because of the added weight putting more pressure on him. Charlie isn't fat at this point but he is overweight. He should be about 13 -13.7 as he is a very big cat body wise. (The girls looks like tiny things next to him.)

Bless his vet for not making me feel like a paranoid freak. She said with all the symptoms he was having it was good to bring him in to have a look see.

So I'll continue with his vitamins and try to reduce the weight gain.

Weight chart from this year:

March 2019 He gained 0.6 and hit 14 pounds.
May 14.6
Sept 15.0
and today 15.3

So... hmmm.
 
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Rylka

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It always amazes me with how finicky cats can still gain! Frida managed to even while she was rebelling against her hypoallergenic food.

So glad Charlie's symptoms are abating, and that your vet is so supportive. A good vet can make all the difference between feeling like you're drowning alone vs having a life line.
 
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FeralHearts

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No kidding??
I know right *sigh*

It always amazes me with how finicky cats can still gain! Frida managed to even while she was rebelling against her hypoallergenic food.

So glad Charlie's symptoms are abating, and that your vet is so supportive. A good vet can make all the difference between feeling like you're drowning alone vs having a life line.
It defies logic doesn't it? Bizarre.

Thank you.

She is amazing. That is the perfect description too!
 
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FeralHearts

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Okay this was shocking...

Charlie ate a small amount of Merrick - L.I.D - Real Salmon Recipe - and then rejected it the next two times. That's not what's shocking though.

All three girls rejected it. They've never rejected anything before. There is stuff that they don't like all that much, but, they eat it. Never have they tried and then rejected completely.

So that's off the list.
 
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