Hi there! Just joined so we'll see how this goes..
My boyfriend and I decided a while back that a kitten would be a good addition to our little family (Him, our 2 year old morkie, and I). I've always been a cat person and haven't had one in years so I was excited when we finally agreed we would start looking. Well, a few months back he surprised me and brought home a sweet little black kitten we named Archer from a rescue here in town. Because he had surprised me, we didn't have any supplies, so after saying hi and getting my kitty love on for a good thirty minutes, I rushed off to the only place open, Walmart. After reading and reading I finally decided on Purina One. For the sake of not changing food too quickly I kept him on it for a couple months. A few weeks ago the diarrhea began. I didn't notice at first, until it started smelling SO bad. The litter would clump before I would realize how loose it really was. I began my research. Fasted him for 13 hours or so, providing plenty of fresh water, then for a few days fed boiled rice and chicken. Plus a Tbsp a day of pumpkin puree. In the meantime I visited a small pet store we have in our town and decided on Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach. I transitioned him into that, but he HATES it so far. Unless of course you give the dog a kibble or two and then he gets jealous and will eat it. But not near as much. I know with higher protein and such foods your don't have to feed them as much. But I think he just really doesn't like it. Also, in the last couple days the throwing up has began.
So basically I'm asking... food suggestions? I'm pretty much sold on the raw food diet. But need to be able to buy commercially made. Not sure I completely trust myself with making it on my own, plus with our location it may be hard to get a hold of a few ingrediants I've seen others are making their's with. The pet store here has Nature's Variety Frozen Raw medallions and such, which some reviewers have said are basically a God-sent product for problems like Archer's. I would order online, but I need to get a new food asap and don't want to wait for a shipment, and the nearest Petsmart or anything like it is a nice 45 min drive away. If this is an ok food source to try, are there any suggestions on transitioning.. or links for me to read so you don't have to re-type answers I'm sure you type all the time. And to get all the nutrients and such, any extra food I need to add? Kibble.. canned.. whatever. I just want him to feel better! Oh and probiotics were mentioned too somewhere on here.
By the way Archer is now 5 months old. Healthy seeming as can be. I did the scruff hydration test and all seems well. He acts like nothing is wrong. The only problems are his diarrhea and the few times he did throw up. He has been spayed and had his shots, but those have been his only vet visits. I'll end up taking him if my next food attempt fails, but for now, I'd rather spend a bit extra on food, rather than the possible hundreds of dollars or more on a vet bill I may get, if food could be the answer. Any help would be greatly appreciated. And I know Archer will appreciate it too.
OH and I wanteed to apologize if these questions were already answered on another thread, but I felt like I read a lot and can't figure out exactly what I need to know.
My boyfriend and I decided a while back that a kitten would be a good addition to our little family (Him, our 2 year old morkie, and I). I've always been a cat person and haven't had one in years so I was excited when we finally agreed we would start looking. Well, a few months back he surprised me and brought home a sweet little black kitten we named Archer from a rescue here in town. Because he had surprised me, we didn't have any supplies, so after saying hi and getting my kitty love on for a good thirty minutes, I rushed off to the only place open, Walmart. After reading and reading I finally decided on Purina One. For the sake of not changing food too quickly I kept him on it for a couple months. A few weeks ago the diarrhea began. I didn't notice at first, until it started smelling SO bad. The litter would clump before I would realize how loose it really was. I began my research. Fasted him for 13 hours or so, providing plenty of fresh water, then for a few days fed boiled rice and chicken. Plus a Tbsp a day of pumpkin puree. In the meantime I visited a small pet store we have in our town and decided on Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach. I transitioned him into that, but he HATES it so far. Unless of course you give the dog a kibble or two and then he gets jealous and will eat it. But not near as much. I know with higher protein and such foods your don't have to feed them as much. But I think he just really doesn't like it. Also, in the last couple days the throwing up has began.
So basically I'm asking... food suggestions? I'm pretty much sold on the raw food diet. But need to be able to buy commercially made. Not sure I completely trust myself with making it on my own, plus with our location it may be hard to get a hold of a few ingrediants I've seen others are making their's with. The pet store here has Nature's Variety Frozen Raw medallions and such, which some reviewers have said are basically a God-sent product for problems like Archer's. I would order online, but I need to get a new food asap and don't want to wait for a shipment, and the nearest Petsmart or anything like it is a nice 45 min drive away. If this is an ok food source to try, are there any suggestions on transitioning.. or links for me to read so you don't have to re-type answers I'm sure you type all the time. And to get all the nutrients and such, any extra food I need to add? Kibble.. canned.. whatever. I just want him to feel better! Oh and probiotics were mentioned too somewhere on here.
By the way Archer is now 5 months old. Healthy seeming as can be. I did the scruff hydration test and all seems well. He acts like nothing is wrong. The only problems are his diarrhea and the few times he did throw up. He has been spayed and had his shots, but those have been his only vet visits. I'll end up taking him if my next food attempt fails, but for now, I'd rather spend a bit extra on food, rather than the possible hundreds of dollars or more on a vet bill I may get, if food could be the answer. Any help would be greatly appreciated. And I know Archer will appreciate it too.
OH and I wanteed to apologize if these questions were already answered on another thread, but I felt like I read a lot and can't figure out exactly what I need to know.