Hi, all. Need your thoughts on reasons and solutions for decreased appetite, please. Sorry so long.
My 6-year-old cat has had a decreased appetite over a couple of weeks, so much so over the weekend that I took her to the vet Monday. No vomiting. No diarrhea. Still playful. Her blood work came back "beautiful," with one type of WBC "slightly" elevated (the doctor did not specify but is not concerned about the WBC).
Background: Kitty has environmental allergies and receives an allergy injection every two weeks (we are 6 months in on these injections); she most likely has food allergies and I am still working on her food (feeding raw and canned). She has always been food-motivated ever since she came to live with me 1 year ago. She started CannaCompanion about 6 weeks ago for hip/low back discomfort.
I got her off steroid altogether about 12 days ago, but she increasingly became reactive (licking, tearing out fur), so I have to get her back on steroid.
The doctor gave her Cerenia to stimulate appetite on Monday, and she did eat some. She ate about half her total daily food amount Tuesday - I was happy with her intake after I got home from work yesterday. This morning, however, she barely ate again. Our routine had been that I would leave out her food so she could finish her morning meal at her leisure, but yesterday I picked up her leftovers and then gave her dinner when I returned home from work. That is my plan for today as well - trying to "reboot" and start a new routine. I will follow-up with the doctor today and see if we'll watch for another 24 hours. May have to get imaging if she doesn't cooperate and eat more. The vet notes that she has been gradually losing weight - and she did need to lose a couple of pounds (but she has been on steroids because of her allergies).
She eventually refused to eat her raw cavie altogether, so I tried some raw turkey (which she liked before)- also a no-go. She is now not as interested in her favorite raw rabbit, either. I have a couple canned food varieties I am trying. I have tried adding a topper, but I am restricted in what I can giver her because of her sensitivities. Again, she eats a little but does not eat for as hungry as I think she should be. She did get excited about her dinner last night and eventually finished everything I gave her (she finished the raw rabbit from the morning and then I gave her some canned lamb to supplement her dinner).
Sorry this is so long. Can it be that she is just going through a phase? Just odd ... As I said, I will be talking to her doctor (who is an integrative vet and is great!) again today, but I want to see if anyone has some suggestions for me. I have recently been considering whether I can afford to adopt a friend for her. I hate to think she is depressed, but would that be a consideration?
Thanks!
My 6-year-old cat has had a decreased appetite over a couple of weeks, so much so over the weekend that I took her to the vet Monday. No vomiting. No diarrhea. Still playful. Her blood work came back "beautiful," with one type of WBC "slightly" elevated (the doctor did not specify but is not concerned about the WBC).
Background: Kitty has environmental allergies and receives an allergy injection every two weeks (we are 6 months in on these injections); she most likely has food allergies and I am still working on her food (feeding raw and canned). She has always been food-motivated ever since she came to live with me 1 year ago. She started CannaCompanion about 6 weeks ago for hip/low back discomfort.
I got her off steroid altogether about 12 days ago, but she increasingly became reactive (licking, tearing out fur), so I have to get her back on steroid.
The doctor gave her Cerenia to stimulate appetite on Monday, and she did eat some. She ate about half her total daily food amount Tuesday - I was happy with her intake after I got home from work yesterday. This morning, however, she barely ate again. Our routine had been that I would leave out her food so she could finish her morning meal at her leisure, but yesterday I picked up her leftovers and then gave her dinner when I returned home from work. That is my plan for today as well - trying to "reboot" and start a new routine. I will follow-up with the doctor today and see if we'll watch for another 24 hours. May have to get imaging if she doesn't cooperate and eat more. The vet notes that she has been gradually losing weight - and she did need to lose a couple of pounds (but she has been on steroids because of her allergies).
She eventually refused to eat her raw cavie altogether, so I tried some raw turkey (which she liked before)- also a no-go. She is now not as interested in her favorite raw rabbit, either. I have a couple canned food varieties I am trying. I have tried adding a topper, but I am restricted in what I can giver her because of her sensitivities. Again, she eats a little but does not eat for as hungry as I think she should be. She did get excited about her dinner last night and eventually finished everything I gave her (she finished the raw rabbit from the morning and then I gave her some canned lamb to supplement her dinner).
Sorry this is so long. Can it be that she is just going through a phase? Just odd ... As I said, I will be talking to her doctor (who is an integrative vet and is great!) again today, but I want to see if anyone has some suggestions for me. I have recently been considering whether I can afford to adopt a friend for her. I hate to think she is depressed, but would that be a consideration?
Thanks!
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