Still has chronic diarrhea after treatment

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Looks like they have more than one products... this one is 90 capsules but there's also 30 capsules sold on amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AI5EJP8/?tag=thecatsite


If you can find it, this one is probably better because CFU is 2bn.

And I said earlier that Lactobacillus acidophilus but that can't actually survive cat's acidic stomach unless it's in an enteric-coated capsule, but Pediococcus acidilactici is known for its ability to survive harsh environmental conditions making it a good candidate for supplements and probiotic for cats. It contributes to gut health, and in particular it's effective in balancing gut flora when changing diet or environment. It also contains s.boulardii
 
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Yes, the Health Test will also tell you the same thing and likely more to help you understand his overall gut health, but if the diarrhea is caused by something other than dysbiosis, then I'm afraid their products wouldn't resolve the issue entirely. The first time order is 15% off and you can just mail it out after you collect the sample at home.

I haven't tried the soft chew version of Cosequin but my cat accepted the powder form mixed in with his food without any fuss. He's taking it for FIC, not for OA. If Jengo refused to eat, then its pill is small enough for him to swallow it. I would only use Omega 3 in gelcap because they go rancid quickly otherwise. Jengo only needs a drop or two. My cats also hate and repulsed by the smell of fish oil/omega 3. If you could get your hand on Antinol on eBay, that supplement is good for joint health as well, and their gelcap is also small enough to pill, so he doesn't need to smell it.

I've heard of Solensia and that's a good option but unless you can inject it at home, taking Jengo to the vet every month for a monthly shot would stress him out I think. I'm not sure what's causing him to act that way but it's very possible that he has arthritis at his age. Did any of your previous cats have arthritis? What did the most recent bloodwork say about his potassium and phos levels? If I remember correctly, he wasn't losing potassium. As part of his kidney treatment are you also giving him a phosphate binder? You can find rehmannia 6 in the the TCVM and that's supposed to support kidney functions. I've bought rehmannia 6 from Hong Kong and will try it when it arrives.

Hopefully the new food will help, but as you know changing diets frequently upset their GI systems, so a gradual change over 1-2 weeks is recommended. How long have you been giving psyllum husk, s.boulardii and other probiotics? If they are working, you should see improvement within a week or so. Find probiotics that contain lactobacillus acidophilus or this one Amazon.com

That diarrhea accident happened to me once too! I lifted him up to take him to the bathroom but he resisted and my clothes ended up getting brown stains all over... but I still take that over getting peed on while sleeping. When they were young, Valentine would pee right on top of me in bed at an ungodly hour, like 2-3am and we had to change the sheets and do the laundry and shower...

That's a bargain if these BP devices are indeed identical products. You can call the vet beforehand and ask if she'd prescribe BP meds for Jengo. Maybe she wanted to track his BP trends but still with his CKD history, I don't understand why nobody has ever prescribed BP meds. It's a long shot but is it possible for you to take Jengo to vets in Canada across the lake? Or would it take even longer to get there? I just thought you might find a vet hospital with advanced facilities over there.

A catio is a fantastic idea! I also thought about getting one here, but we wouldn't be here long anyway and from mid June to September it's too hot to go outside and soon it'll be cold so it wasn't really worth it. Sometimes I take them out on a leash and a backpack though.

You were in Geneva! I went to school in Rolle by the lake. Ch hasn't much changed since I left school two decades ago, and I love houses over there with little outdoor steps leading up to the windows or cat doors :lovecat: I'm 38 and have been a homebody ever since these kitties came into our lives 6 years ago. Kids are at school in Ch, so the cats get my full attention whether they like it or not. They really do make me housebound, but we took them with us on vacation twice in this country. Can't say they enjoyed the trips :lol:
Had a stressful couple of days. Jengo is getting more wobbly and weaker. I'm very worried about him... especially when he jumps down off furniture and shakes his rear legs as he walks away. I thought it was stiffness from arthritis, but after doing more research it could be a neurological problem. He's had a problem with occasional tremors years ago that the vet said was neurological so maybe that has gotten worse because of all his current health problems.

I had made an appointment for him to get an injection of Solensia last Friday but cancelled it after reading more about it on forums. Some people claim that their cats died after getting the shot!!! The more research I did, the more I found out that it was never tested on cats in Stage 3 or 4 of kidney disease... also that it shouldn't be used on cats with neurological problems!! So now it's bad to trying supplements again... like Cosequin. Could take a long time to see any improvement though. The vet never confirmed that he had arthritis, but I should have tried in 6 months ago... probably too late now. Poor Jengo. :-(

On his Aug. 28th blood work his potassium was in the normal range at 3.9 but his phosphorus was 7.0... normal range is 2.6 - 6.0. I increased his Phos-Bind a bit hoping to get it down. I have read about TCVM using Rehmania 6 for kidney function. Still a bit hesitant to try TCVM.


I have a bottle of Omega-3 with a dropper. I've kept it in the fridge so I assume that it's not rancid yet. Tried adding it to the canned fish but neither cat would eat it. Odd how you can only find Antinol for cats on eBay. I never found it in my research probably because it's not readily available and yet the dog version is. ???

So far Jengo has had normal stools since Friday!! The new Hill's Gastro Biome didn't arrive until Saturday. Only thing I did different was to add digestive enzymes to his food plus fed him a can of Wellness Core Beef/Venison/Lamb that has been on the shelf for months. He liked it for a while then refused it. I syringe fed it to him thinking that the combo of meats would be better than continuing with chicken. Now I'm wondering if it helped his intestines??? Unfortunately Wellness discontinued that flavor.

The vet wrote back and said that she would prescribe a low doese of Amlodipine to try since his BP was tested at 170/180. His previous vet would never take his blood pressure... I asked several times. I get so frustrated with vets!! Seems like they are too quick to write a cat off. As for going to Canada... the closest city is Sault Ste. Marie, ON and it's almost as far as going to Appleton, WI. Plus I don't know if they have any specialty vets there and also what the rules are about bringing a pet into the country.

So you went to school in Rolle!! I went to Ecolint in Geneva for 4 years... graduated there. I was boarding though... live with my parents. Many fond memories of the 8.5 years I lived there. Sound like you move around a lot... government job? I used to love traveling but now I'm a homebody at 79+ years. All I have left from my travels are photos and memories. Ah to be 38 again!

Thanks for keeping in touch.

 
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Looks like they have more than one products... this one is 90 capsules but there's also 30 capsules sold on amazon
Amazon.com


If you can find it, this one is probably better because CFU is 2bn.

And I said earlier that Lactobacillus acidophilus but that can't actually survive cat's acidic stomach unless it's in an enteric-coated capsule, but Pediococcus acidilactici is known for its ability to survive harsh environmental conditions making it a good candidate for supplements and probiotic for cats. It contributes to gut health, and in particular it's effective in balancing gut flora when changing diet or environment. It also contains s.boulardii
Almost missed this post. Thanks for the info and links.
 

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I'm sorry to hear about the recent developments... we can't change the past but can still make his quality of life better.

Good thing you read about Solencia! Looks like anything you give to your CKD cats need to be carefully selected. I hope I remember that when/if one of mine is diagnosed with CKD because I've been giving them so many different herbs and supplements already...

It appears Antinol for cats got discontinued in the US, which is why you can only find them shipped from Canada(?) on eBay. You said you contacted Chewy and got the same answer. In Japan, where Antinol is originally from, both products for dogs and cats are identical and the only difference is the package. Many cats are repulsed by the smell of Omega 3/fish oil, so it's more important to find a small enough gelcap like Antinol for cats. Antinol can be a substitute but there may be other Omega 3 supplements too. It's good for not only joints but hearts and kidneys as well. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties making it an omnipotent supplement. You can also give both Cosequin (capsule form, not chews) and Omega 3 together. Didn't you say TCVM helped your other cat with cancer? I would give Rehmannia 6 a try. Earlier in this threat someone mentioned this site about CKD Tanya's Comprehensive Guide to Feline Chronic Kidney Disease - Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Cat. It also talks about homeopathy and you might find it interesting.

That's great news that his diarrhea stopped! Maybe the digestive enzymes helped? I find it unlikely that wellness core food helps his intestines though. Wellness core has high a fat content (when I last checked back in 2018), so if anything would upset the gut. But if Jengo is doing better with the combo of digestive enzymes and wellness core, you should keep doing that. You still ought to test his stool as soon as possible. From what you've told me your previous vet was almost no help at all. I was under the impression that all CKD cats with high BP were on BP meds. Please start giving Jengo amlodipine and maybe also ask for benazepril or other ACE inhibitors to give together with amlodipine.

What a small world! I have friends from Ecolint. No government; my parents just decided to ship me off to le rosey and I was there for almost a decade before going to college in the US. Care-free, best years of my life till I signed my soul away to work fulltime after college. That didn't last long because I got burned out and now am a housewife/ full-time cat guardian/servant 🧡 I adopted my cats right after my mom died in a car accident at 56 and they helped me through difficult times and can't imagine life without them now.
 

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I searched the reviews of Antinol plus by keyword 'cats' and discovered that there were in fact a few even though the product's main target is canine. One of reviews on Amazon says that the formula remains the same before the product became the dog supplement, and thus it can also be given to cats.

From what I can see, the softgel looks identical to the antinol + for cats sold elsewhere but in the inactive ingredients the US version lists purified water and sorbitol solution. Here it explain why it contains sorbitol: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNBCMC7F/?tag=thecatsite It says you can empty the content of a softgel to avoid sorbitol but that defeats the purpose of giving a whole gelcap for cats who are repulsed by the smell. Sorbitol is sugar alcohol and is commonly used as a sweetener in pet foods, meds and toothpaste and safe in small amount. Having said that, cats have sensitive digestive systems and sorbitol acts as a laxative by drawing water into the intestines, so depending on the cat they might get loose stools. For cats with diabetes, sorbitol might pose an additional concern due to its potential impact on blood sugar levels, although it has less of an effect than regular sugar.

Those on eBay as it turns out appear mostly shipped from Thailand... If you need the one for cats, I can send you the original international version without a markup. They cost AUD89 ($60) or JPY 9999 ($68) per 90 capsules. Also available in 30, 60 capsules. Prices in AUS/JP are actually cheaper than in the EU, the UK, or Canada. Ideally you can purchase online directly from any country but the company restricts the purchase to domestic shipping and in Canada they are only sold at vets.

If you decide to give antinol plus to Jengo, give 2 gelcaps for the first two weeks with food. "Antinol® is a super potent, patented blend of Green-Lipped Mussel oil, containing over 90 Essential Fatty Acids, including over 60 Omega-3 fatty acids."

Reviews: Antinol Plus - Pure, Potent, and Proven Joint & Mobility Support for Dogs

Amazon reviews: Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Antinol Plus, Mobility, Hip, and Joint Supplement for Dogs, Green-Lipped Mussels and Krill Oil - Dog Joint Supplement, Better and Faster Than Glucosamine and Chondroitin, 60 Soft Gels

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I give Antinol Plus to my cat?
"The original Antinol formula, which preceded Antinol Plus, has been given successfully to cats for many years. Antinol Plus is similar to the original Antinol formula, but now with the added benefit of krill. Clinical research in dogs has shown that Antinol and Antinol Plus are equivalent at enhancing mobility and supporting joint health. If the original Antinol has worked for your cat, you should speak to your veterinarian about giving Antinol Plus a try."
 

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FYI - upon further research I've discovered that antinol sold in the EU, the UK and Canada are not the upgraded "antinol plus"! I have to bulk buy them here before we move :lol:
AFAIK the ones sold in Thailand, Japan, and Australia are antinol plus with EAB277. US version is also antinol plus, but as I mentioned previously the capsule contains sorbitol solution.
Sorry, I've been bombarding with links but genuinely want Jengo to get better.

This is the 60 capsule antinol plus from Thailand.
 
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I'm sorry to hear about the recent developments... we can't change the past but can still make his quality of life better.

Good thing you read about Solencia! Looks like anything you give to your CKD cats need to be carefully selected. I hope I remember that when/if one of mine is diagnosed with CKD because I've been giving them so many different herbs and supplements already...

It appears Antinol for cats got discontinued in the US, which is why you can only find them shipped from Canada(?) on eBay. You said you contacted Chewy and got the same answer. In Japan, where Antinol is originally from, both products for dogs and cats are identical and the only difference is the package. Many cats are repulsed by the smell of Omega 3/fish oil, so it's more important to find a small enough gelcap like Antinol for cats. Antinol can be a substitute but there may be other Omega 3 supplements too. It's good for not only joints but hearts and kidneys as well. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties making it an omnipotent supplement. You can also give both Cosequin (capsule form, not chews) and Omega 3 together. Didn't you say TCVM helped your other cat with cancer? I would give Rehmannia 6 a try. Earlier in this threat someone mentioned this site about CKD Tanya's Comprehensive Guide to Feline Chronic Kidney Disease - Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Cat. It also talks about homeopathy and you might find it interesting.

That's great news that his diarrhea stopped! Maybe the digestive enzymes helped? I find it unlikely that wellness core food helps his intestines though. Wellness core has high a fat content (when I last checked back in 2018), so if anything would upset the gut. But if Jengo is doing better with the combo of digestive enzymes and wellness core, you should keep doing that. You still ought to test his stool as soon as possible. From what you've told me your previous vet was almost no help at all. I was under the impression that all CKD cats with high BP were on BP meds. Please start giving Jengo amlodipine and maybe also ask for benazepril or other ACE inhibitors to give together with amlodipine.

What a small world! I have friends from Ecolint. No government; my parents just decided to ship me off to le rosey and I was there for almost a decade before going to college in the US. Care-free, best years of my life till I signed my soul away to work fulltime after college. That didn't last long because I got burned out and now am a housewife/ full-time cat guardian/servant 🧡 I adopted my cats right after my mom died in a car accident at 56 and they helped me through difficult times and can't imagine life without them now.
He had a bad day Monday... was punky all day and ended up having a loose stool at 6 AM... so much for normal stools since Friday. :-( Trying to find out what may have caused it but then last night it was firm again. ??

Yes, one has to be careful when giving medications to a CRF kitty as some meds can cause further damage. I'm upset with myself for not doing more research when Jengo was first diagnosed with kidney disease. The vet just suggested feeding him Hill's prescription diet which he wouldn't eat. Then I found Tanya's Comprehensive guide and found out that giving a phosphorus binder can help extend the "life" of his kidneys. I guess that vets pretty much write off pets with kidney disease because it take dedication to care for them and medicate them to slow the disease down. I wish I had paid better attention back then... he might not be in this situation right now if I had started some of the things I learned sooner. :-(

I'll do more research on the Antinol and see what the difference between the dog and cat versions. Actually when I thought about it longer, what I gave my cat years ago (he had jaw cancer) that extended his life was turmeric. I'm going to check Tanya's site for info on Rehmannia 6 and homeopathic treatments. I've always been nervous about trying stuff like that... hate using him as a guinea pig. :-(

You mentioned that Wellness Core has high fat content. Now I'm wondering if the other Wellness foods I've been feeding him are also high in fat.... Morsels and Tiny Tasters. If so, you may be right that those could have caused his digestive problems. More research for today. I haven't been feeding those since last week. Coincidence that his stools are firmer??

I also thought it was odd that his previous vet... the one who wouldn't take his blood pressure... never mentioned that high blood pressure and kidney disease are connected. My late brother died of kidney failure and it was likely caused by high blood presssure because he tried to manage it with exercise instead of taking meds. :-(

As for Tanya's site... I get overwhelmed by all the info on there! I have posted on the feline group and got some helpful advice, however there are a couple of gals who write such long emails that I have trouble keeping up... printed some out and they were 6 pages long! At my age I need short, concise info or I get overloaded! They mean well and seem to be very knowledgeable but too much info is confusing.

So sorry to hear that your mom. Yes, animal can help us thru difficult times... they are little angels. :redheartpump: Take care now.... thanks for writing.
 
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I'm sorry to hear his diarrhea came back... are you still continuing with slippery elm? Why don't you do the fecal test at your earliest convenience to just ascertain if c.perf could still be contributing to his persistent diarrhea? After that you can ponder your next move.

It's funny you should mention Turmeric. I've started giving my cats Curcumin because the last ultrasound showed slightly thickened intestinal walls. Curcumin (the active compound in turmeric) has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, but I haven't done another ultrasound to see any effects yet.
 
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I searched the reviews of Antinol plus by keyword 'cats' and discovered that there were in fact a few even though the product's main target is canine. One of reviews on Amazon says that the formula remains the same before the product became the dog supplement, and thus it can also be given to cats.

From what I can see, the softgel looks identical to the antinol + for cats sold elsewhere but in the inactive ingredients the US version lists purified water and sorbitol solution. Here it explain why it contains sorbitol: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNBCMC7F/?tag=thecatsite It says you can empty the content of a softgel to avoid sorbitol but that defeats the purpose of giving a whole gelcap for cats who are repulsed by the smell. Sorbitol is sugar alcohol and is commonly used as a sweetener in pet foods, meds and toothpaste and safe in small amount. Having said that, cats have sensitive digestive systems and sorbitol acts as a laxative by drawing water into the intestines, so depending on the cat they might get loose stools. For cats with diabetes, sorbitol might pose an additional concern due to its potential impact on blood sugar levels, although it has less of an effect than regular sugar.

Those on eBay as it turns out appear mostly shipped from Thailand... If you need the one for cats, I can send you the original international version without a markup. They cost AUD89 ($60) or JPY 9999 ($68) per 90 capsules. Also available in 30, 60 capsules. Prices in AUS/JP are actually cheaper than in the EU, the UK, or Canada. Ideally you can purchase online directly from any country but the company restricts the purchase to domestic shipping and in Canada they are only sold at vets.

If you decide to give antinol plus to Jengo, give 2 gelcaps for the first two weeks with food. "Antinol® is a super potent, patented blend of Green-Lipped Mussel oil, containing over 90 Essential Fatty Acids, including over 60 Omega-3 fatty acids."

Reviews: Antinol Plus - Pure, Potent, and Proven Joint & Mobility Support for Dogs

Amazon reviews: Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Antinol Plus, Mobility, Hip, and Joint Supplement for Dogs, Green-Lipped Mussels and Krill Oil - Dog Joint Supplement, Better and Faster Than Glucosamine and Chondroitin, 60 Soft Gels

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I give Antinol Plus to my cat?
"The original Antinol formula, which preceded Antinol Plus, has been given successfully to cats for many years. Antinol Plus is similar to the original Antinol formula, but now with the added benefit of krill. Clinical research in dogs has shown that Antinol and Antinol Plus are equivalent at enhancing mobility and supporting joint health. If the original Antinol has worked for your cat, you should speak to your veterinarian about giving Antinol Plus a try."
I'm way behind on correspondence... had a very stressful week.

Thanks for all the info on Antinol. I've also read that some are using just green-lipped mussel which is easier to find... Amazon has several brands. Well read more on this product.

His chronic diarrhea has subsided... only one soft stool in a week. My focus has changes from IBD/ diarrhea/arthritis to his weakness and wobbliness... that is making me very nervous as I'm afraid he'll fall and get hurt... o that it will progress to the point where he can no longer walk. That's what happened to his brother. The vet seems to have written him off... here's a comment from her last email: "he's on a palliative care option at this point." I'm not ready to give up on him yet.

He has been on Phos-Bind for a long time and I read something about aluminum toxicity so I did some research and found this comment:

Are there any potential side effects?
The most common side effect is constipation. If the dose is too high, a low blood phosphate level and/or increased calcium loss can occur. Rarely, aluminum toxicity can occur with its long-term use, and may cause signs such as weakness, walking difficulty, or stumbling.
This short-acting medication should stop working within 24 hours.


His phosphorus level was 7.0 on his last blood test on Aug. 28th... normal range is 2.6 to 6.0 so it doesn't really make sense but who knows. I did back off on the quantity of Phos-Bind for a couple of days and I noticed that he doesn't shake his legs as often now. Coincidence??

Feeding time again... later. Thanks for your help. Barb

 
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FYI - upon further research I've discovered that antinol sold in the EU, the UK and Canada are not the upgraded "antinol plus"! I have to bulk buy them here before we move :lol:
AFAIK the ones sold in Thailand, Japan, and Australia are antinol plus with EAB277. US version is also antinol plus, but as I mentioned previously the capsule contains sorbitol solution.
Sorry, I've been bombarding with links but genuinely want Jengo to get better.

This is the 60 capsule antinol plus from Thailand.
Wow! Thanks for all your research. I'm swamped here. Trying to find out how to put some weight on him and stop the wobbiness. I'm feeling like time is running out... don't know how much longer he can hold out for help.
 
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Supplements that are made for cats are easier to administer and well tolerated primarily because of the size of each capsule/tablet/gelcap. Liquid omega 3 goes rancid/ loses potency quickly even if you store it in the fridge because they are very susceptible to oxidization. I'm of the mind that anything that's made for pets are lesser quality to human equivalent be it food or supplements but I've learned the hard way that when it comes to supplements the vast majority are just too large or bitter for cats and even contain toxic inactive ingredients for them. I blindly purchased over 20 different premium supplements for humans and only 4-5 were small enough and/or safe to use in cats, so I ended up buying pet/cat specific items. Currently our cats get Antinol (omega 3), Mito Max (pediococcus acidophilus and s.boulardii), Thorne Flora Mend (Lactobacillus gasseri, etc), Cosequin (glucosamine & chondroitin), probiotic drop (Lactobacillus reuteri), Denamarin (for the livers), Astaxanthin, CoQ10 (for the cardiovascular health), d-ribose powder (for the heart), silk fibroin (for the kidneys), Rehmannia 6 (for the kidneys), slippery elm extract and other herbs, curcumin, d-mannose, and NAC. Maybe I missed some but those with the bold letters are pet/cat products.

Is it possible that his wobbliness is attributed to his weak joints? Given his age I don't think it's surprising to see wobbliness and unstableness. There's of course no guarantee but you could potentially help him a little with cosequin and antinol. You're right to be worried that his time is running out, so you ought to act quickly to get your hands on something that could help him. It doesn't sound very likely his wobbliness is a side effect of phos bind. Have you considered using a different phos binder such as Ipakitine? Cooked egg white is another option and that is a great source of animal protein. He will also need an ACE inhibitor/BP med like benezapril which could be taken with amodipine. Amlodipine and benazepril (oral route) and keep monitoring his phos and calcium levels as well as BP.
 
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Supplements that are made for cats are easier to administer and well tolerated primarily because of the size of each capsule/tablet/gelcap. Liquid omega 3 goes rancid/ loses potency quickly even if you store it in the fridge because they are very susceptible to oxidization. I'm of the mind that anything that's made for pets are lesser quality to human equivalent be it food or supplements but I've learned the hard way that when it comes to supplements the vast majority are just too large or bitter for cats and even contain toxic inactive ingredients for them. I blindly purchased over 20 different premium supplements for humans and only 4-5 were small enough and/or safe to use in cats, so I ended up buying pet/cat specific items. Currently our cats get Antinol (omega 3), Mito Max (pediococcus acidophilus and s.boulardii), Thorne Flora Mend (Lactobacillus gasseri, etc), Cosequin (glucosamine & chondroitin), probiotic drop (Lactobacillus reuteri), Denamarin (for the livers), Astaxanthin, CoQ10 (for the cardiovascular health), d-ribose powder (for the heart), silk fibroin (for the kidneys), Rehmannia 6 (for the kidneys), slippery elm extract and other herbs, curcumin, d-mannose, and NAC. Maybe I missed some but those with the bold letters are pet/cat products.

Is it possible that his wobbliness is attributed to his weak joints? Given his age I don't think it's surprising to see wobbliness and unstableness. There's of course no guarantee but you could potentially help him a little with cosequin and antinol. You're right to be worried that his time is running out, so you ought to act quickly to get your hands on something that could help him. It doesn't sound very likely his wobbliness is a side effect of phos bind. Have you considered using a different phos binder such as Ipakitine? Cooked egg white is another option and that is a great source of animal protein. He will also need an ACE inhibitor/BP med like benezapril which could be taken with amodipine. Amlodipine and benazepril (oral route) and keep monitoring his phos and calcium levels as well as BP.
Thanks for all the info!! Had a couple of rough days and I've lost track of where we left off so I'll pick up with this post for now and check back a few later. I'll print his info out and study it. I did get the Cosequin capsules and was a bit shocked when I read the label that they contain FD&C Blue and Red dyes! Why!! I hate it when companies put coloring in pet food! Will those dyes damage his kidneys? Should I just go ahead and give it to him?

He is still having firm stools... just one soft one lately... so I've moved on to other health issues. Back is July I noticed a small pea size lump on his neck. I asked the vet about it in Aug. when he was in for the blood work. The vet just said it was probably cysts since Jengo has had them before. However the other day I felt the lump again and it is larger and hard now. I did some research online about swollen lymph nodes and now I'm worried that he may have lymphoma and it has spread. The article said the vet can do a fine needle aspiration and be sent to a pathologist for examination. So this is my current focus since it could be serious.

Have to leave soon for a doctor's appt. but I have a few questions about the info you provide above. I did get the blood pressure cuff yesterday but haven't learned how to use it yet. Also the Amlodipine should arrive today and will start him on that. Gotta run... not dressed yet! Later...
 

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I don't think Blue #1 and Red #3 are toxic, though I know what you mean. If you give only the content of the capsule it's free of those dyes.

It's great his daily diarrhea has gone away, but I'd still test his stool because a healthy gut flora is responsible for overall health.

The lump is alarming, and yes the fine needle spiration ("FNA") could be performed.
 
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I don't think Blue #1 and Red #3 are toxic, though I know what you mean. If you give only the content of the capsule it's free of those dyes.

It's great his daily diarrhea has gone away, but I'd still test his stool because a healthy gut flora is responsible for overall health.

The lump is alarming, and yes the fine needle spiration ("FNA") could be performed.
Wow! That's quite a list of supplements that you are giving you cats! How do you keep them straight? You must be combining some of them in capsules or you'd be busy all day giving pills!!

See how stressed I am!! Didn't even think about the dyes being in the capsules not in the Cosequin. Duh!

Have to try out the blood pressure cuff today. Got the Amlodipine but wanted to get a BP reading before starting it to see where we stand.

Have to make an appt. this coming week to get him in for blood work (dread that because of his last BUN & Creatinine numbers) and have that lump checked. I hope he is just fighting off an infection... that can be treated... and that it isn't lymphoma that has spread. Lots of reading to do.

Wondering if his wobbliness could be a balance issue?
 
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I started out with a few supplements for just Figaro but now he is an HCM candidate and also has a history of FIC and a recent UTI, and Valentine just had an elevated UPC which could have been transient but you never know, and both of them have diffuse thickening of intestines and their SDMA levels are creeping up albeit still within the reference range, I could just do nothing. Luckily, my kids are at boarding school and I don't work, so I have all the time in the world! They are only 6.5 years old, and I would've never discovered their conditions if I didn't take them to the university hospital by chance, or my obsession with their wellbeing, because they have been acting normal and eating a lot. Zero symptoms.

My cats these day wake me up at an ungodly hour around 3am, probably in protest againt all the pilling, so I take that opportunity to give them Denamarin on an empty stomach, and they get out of bed again around 5am, so this time I give them Rehmannia 6. Then right before or after breakfast I give them Astaxanthin, Antinol with liquid Silk Fibroin and in addition Figaro gets CoQ10 with Hawthorn Berry extract. I mix Mito Max and reuteri drops (both probiotics), Curcumin, Cosequin for Figaro, Zylkene for Valentine, and D-ribose in their breakfast. Then around noon I give them a different probiotic with Slippery Elm and Marshmallow extracts. 2 hours before dinnertime, I give Figaro another Denamarin because he's a big boy, after one hour or so I give both of them the second dose of Rehmannia 6. Right before/after dinnertime I give him another CoQ10 with Silk Fibroin and his sister only gets Silk Fibroin. I mix basically the same things in their dinner minus a few. It's only manageable if you can be home all day and don't have to do much at home, but these early mornings take a toll on me and I find myself having to nap with them in the PM every now and then 😸

I can hopefully discontinue Denamarin, Curcumin and Rehmannia 6 but a part of me says to keep giving them sans Curcumin as preventative support supplements....

Yes, it's a good idea to get his BP readings beforehand. You can also ask for SDMA, FGF-23 for his kidneys and SAA for general inflammation. Have you recently checked his T4, FT4? Remember BUN and CREA also go up when they are dehydrated.

His wobbliness could be attributed to a number of things from his age, OA, to something neurological. X-ray and Ultrasound are usually the first step in assessing what's going on.
 
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I started out with a few supplements for just Figaro but now he is an HCM candidate and also has a history of FIC and a recent UTI, and Valentine just had an elevated UPC which could have been transient but you never know, and both of them have diffuse thickening of intestines and their SDMA levels are creeping up albeit still within the reference range, I could just do nothing. Luckily, my kids are at boarding school and I don't work, so I have all the time in the world! They are only 6.5 years old, and I would've never discovered their conditions if I didn't take them to the university hospital by chance, or my obsession with their wellbeing, because they have been acting normal and eating a lot. Zero symptoms.

My cats these day wake me up at an ungodly hour around 3am, probably in protest againt all the pilling, so I take that opportunity to give them Denamarin on an empty stomach, and they get out of bed again around 5am, so this time I give them Rehmannia 6. Then right before or after breakfast I give them Astaxanthin, Antinol with liquid Silk Fibroin and in addition Figaro gets CoQ10 with Hawthorn Berry extract. I mix Mito Max and reuteri drops (both probiotics), Curcumin, Cosequin for Figaro, Zylkene for Valentine, and D-ribose in their breakfast. Then around noon I give them a different probiotic with Slippery Elm and Marshmallow extracts. 2 hours before dinnertime, I give Figaro another Denamarin because he's a big boy, after one hour or so I give both of them the second dose of Rehmannia 6. Right before/after dinnertime I give him another CoQ10 with Silk Fibroin and his sister only gets Silk Fibroin. I mix basically the same things in their dinner minus a few. It's only manageable if you can be home all day and don't have to do much at home, but these early mornings take a toll on me and I find myself having to nap with them in the PM every now and then 😸

I can hopefully discontinue Denamarin, Curcumin and Rehmannia 6 but a part of me says to keep giving them sans Curcumin as preventative support supplements....

Yes, it's a good idea to get his BP readings beforehand. You can also ask for SDMA, FGF-23 for his kidneys and SAA for general inflammation. Have you recently checked his T4, FT4? Remember BUN and CREA also go up when they are dehydrated.

His wobbliness could be attributed to a number of things from his age, OA, to something neurological. X-ray and Ultrasound are usually the first step in assessing what's going on.
Wow! That's a lot of supplements! How do you keep them all straight? You said that you have a lot of time on your hands so that's good. Do you put these supplements in capsules? Can you mix them together? That's a lot of pilling if you keep them separate! Quite a schedule that you've worked out! Do you see an holistic vet?

Since I'm retired I also have lot of time and spend a lot of it with Jengo. We had a miserable weekend. The blood pressure machine arrived and I've taken his several time and it's been 190s, 180s and today it was 170s. Don't know how accurate it is but that's about what the vet got with her doppler BP machine. He doesn't like the little cuff on his leg and squirms. Started him on the Amlodipine... just two days now. I'm really worried about him because he is so wobbly and weak... it's getting worse. I'm really depressed because I feel like I'm losing him. I was hoping that the Amlodipine might help but they say it takes a week to notice a difference. He is getting whiny about being pilled and getting sub-Q . He used to accept it but now he wants to hide. I feel like I'm torturing him even if it only take a couple of minutes. I'm frustrated because I don't know how to help him.

I'm really worried that the lump on his neck is a swollen lymph node and probably lymphoma that spread from his intestines. I have to get him in to the vet to have that checked but was waiting until he had take the Amlodipine for a few days so she could take his BP and compare it to my machine.

I'll ask about those tests you suggested. I've heard of the SDMA but ot the FGF-23 or SAA. He did have hisT4 checked in last August and another thyroid test that was sent out. Both negative.

Yes, I read the BUN and CREA go up when he's dehydrated, but that is now a big worry. I give him 50 or 60 ml morning and evening but he is still dehydrated in between. This worries me too becaue I don't know how much longer his little body can handle all the liquid.

Thankfully the diarrhea is under control now, but all these other health issues really have me stressed and worried. Thanks for helping and listening.




 
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On the spreadsheet I keep a log of their daily activities, when and how much they eat food, get treats and supplements, pee & poo, etc. and that helps me remember many things most of the time. I also have indoor cameras if I think I have missed some actions and need to review the camera footage 😆

You mean if I can combine a few supplements into one capsule? I thought about it but couldn't really do that without increasing the size of a capsule, and not all of them are in the mixable powder form. For example, CoQ10, Antinol, Astaxanthin are in gelcap or liquid capsule, Rehmannia 6 is a round pill, and it's just easier to sprinkle the other power capsules made for cats and mix with the food, not to mention some supplements and meds need to be given on an empty stomach apart from food or any other supplements & meds.

I haven't seen a holistic vet or Chinese med practitioner yet but will do once they are officially diagnosed with something or things are getting out of my control. I have however told one of the vets all the supplements I've been giving my cats, but like the majority of conventional vets they are not an expert on supplements or nutrition and didn't have anything much to say or add. They didn't even charge me for that consultation. I check their urine almost daily and get it analyzed by the vet every 2 weeks now, though this is only temporary. Until I'm certain they are 100% back to normal they are also getting their blood tested and ultrasound every 2-3 months as well.

Can your cuff be used on his tail? Have you asked for ACE inhibitors such as benazepril as well? Our cats have also become uncooperative with pilling recently, even though it takes only a few seconds each time. I get this is stressful for them, they can't even use the toilet in peace but I fear doing nothing will come back to bite me in the future. Is there any supplements that you can pause? What makes you think he's dehydrated? Have you started giving him Cosequin and omega 3? I assume you still haven't had his stool tested but if I were you I would do it because not knowing bothers me...
 
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On the spreadsheet I keep a log of their daily activities, when and how much they eat food, get treats and supplements, pee & poo, etc. and that helps me remember many things most of the time. I also have indoor cameras if I think I have missed some actions and need to review the camera footage 😆

You mean if I can combine a few supplements into one capsule? I thought about it but couldn't really do that without increasing the size of a capsule, and not all of them are in the mixable powder form. For example, CoQ10, Antinol, Astaxanthin are in gelcap or liquid capsule, Rehmannia 6 is a round pill, and it's just easier to sprinkle the other power capsules made for cats and mix with the food, not to mention some supplements and meds need to be given on an empty stomach apart from food or any other supplements & meds.

I haven't seen a holistic vet or Chinese med practitioner yet but will do once they are officially diagnosed with something or things are getting out of my control. I have however told one of the vets all the supplements I've been giving my cats, but like the majority of conventional vets they are not an expert on supplements or nutrition and didn't have anything much to say or add. They didn't even charge me for that consultation. I check their urine almost daily and get it analyzed by the vet every 2 weeks now, though this is only temporary. Until I'm certain they are 100% back to normal they are also getting their blood tested and ultrasound every 2-3 months as well.

Can your cuff be used on his tail? Have you asked for ACE inhibitors such as benazepril as well? Our cats have also become uncooperative with pilling recently, even though it takes only a few seconds each time. I get this is stressful for them, they can't even use the toilet in peace but I fear doing nothing will come back to bite me in the future. Is there any supplements that you can pause? What makes you think he's dehydrated? Have you started giving him Cosequin and omega 3? I assume you still haven't had his stool tested but if I were you I would do it because not knowing bothers me...
Had a bad week... behind on correspondence.... again. :( I should probably use a spreadsheet instead of a notebook... easier to track changes. I do write important notes in red. I'm always afraid to mix supplements... putting them together in capsules. I always check for drug interaction too. We also have pet cams but only use them when we are away from home to see what they are doing. Usually they are sleeping because it's nice a quiet. :-)

I have to put everything in capsules... never had any luck sprinkling stuff on his food as he detects it and then won't eat. I have found that vets aren't very knowledgable about supplements or vitamins other than B12. Kinda like human doctors. :-)

How do you check their urine daily?? What are you testing for??

The instructions that came with the BP machine said to use a front leg. However research online said either front or rear leg or base of the tail. I tried that and got an error message twice. :-( The vet never mentioned an ACE inhibitor, only Amlodipine. I'll ask her about that on Monday when I have him in for blood work... also about testing urine and stool samples.

Unfortunately he has been slipping this past week and I'm afraid we are losing this battle. I'm probably prioritizing the wrong health issues. He was really wobbly walking to the litter box this morning... also is whining when being syringe fed, pilled and getting sub-Q... I suspect that he's trying to tell me that he's had enough of this. :-( I don't think he's in pain though so I don't want to give up on him yet.

I feel like I'm missing something and the vet isn't much help. Last time she emailed about him she commented: "Honestly, his entire treatment plan is palliative, and the goal seems to make him the most comfortable at this point. "

His old vet isn't any help either... he wouldn't even take his blood pressure. I'm very depressed and upset... I don't want to lose him prematurely because I'm missing something... or the vets are missing something that could be treated. :-(

He had a very loose stool again last night after having mostly normal ones for weeks. :-( I haven't given him probiotics since his stools firmed up. As for supplements I'm only giving him pectin, digestive enzymes, psyllium and Phos-Bind in his food plus CoQ and B12. Someone on another forum said that maybe I was giving him too much B12. I'm going to research that today. I hve to order some fresh omega-3 as the one I have has been in the fridge but is months old.

I give him sub-Q twice a day because when I pinch his skin it doesn't snap back. He seems to feel better after getting fluids. Now I'm wondering if too much fluid is hard on his heart. Caring for him is such a balancing act and I know I'm missing something. I'm feeling depressed watching him slowly slip away and not being able to help him. Have to decide which disease needs priority... kidneys, heart, or intestines. Hopefully his BUN and Creatinine aren't thru the roof on Monday's test. I'll be devastated.

Thanks for keeping in touch.
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I'm sorry to hear he's not getting better... have you tried mixing supplements with treats? Some supplements are bitter or have strong smell like fish oil, but ones that can be sprinkled on food such as Cosequin tend to have flavors cats don't mind. Yes, the vast majority of vets have little knowledge about supplements and feline nutrition, so holistic vets or veterinary nutritionists come in handy. What capsule size are you using? Are you giving pills with some water?

I'm concerned about their kidney functions and was checking how much urine they produce, specific gravity, appearance, smell, and because I have a urine analyzer I also do a dipstick test to check protein levels. The last of 3 bi weekly urinalysis came back normal, so I've stopped annoying them and let them use the toilet in peace for now, but will still check their urine specific gravity once or twice a month.

Can't the vet also do ultrasound on Monday since you are taking him with you?

You said Jengo was dehydrated, but are you giving pectin (soluble fiber) with enough water? I'm not familiar with pectin but thought fiber would deprive water and put a stress on kidneys unless the cat is well hydrated. You are giving psyllium husk on top of pectin too. It sounds like he's getting too much fiber.

I think you are giving CoQ10 for his cardio health but unless you are using the gel cap version made by a reputable company, it's ineffective so you can stop giving him that. In my opinion BP meds is more important for his heart than CoQ10 right now. The only CoQ10 that seems to work in cats and dogs are manufactured by Nord Pharma. I have more readings on CoQ10 but won't overwhelm you with them.

Don't forget to ask for SDMA because BUN and CREA can be influenced by dehydration. And since you are getting urinalysis done, UPC will also help but since Jengo has CKD, UPC is probably elevated along with Urine Protein.

Both for cardio and kidneys, you need BP meds. For GI he needs probiotics assuming there's no more c. perfringens wrecking havoc. You may be giving omega 3, coq10, probiotics etc, but unless you choose the right products they are sadly useless. There are so many pet supplements out there that don't work and are made and sold purely for company profits.

What are you putting in a capsule?
 
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I'm sorry to hear he's not getting better... have you tried mixing supplements with treats? Some supplements are bitter or have strong smell like fish oil, but ones that can be sprinkled on food such as Cosequin tend to have flavors cats don't mind. Yes, the vast majority of vets have little knowledge about supplements and feline nutrition, so holistic vets or veterinary nutritionists come in handy. What capsule size are you using? Are you giving pills with some water?

I'm concerned about their kidney functions and was checking how much urine they produce, specific gravity, appearance, smell, and because I have a urine analyzer I also do a dipstick test to check protein levels. The last of 3 bi weekly urinalysis came back normal, so I've stopped annoying them and let them use the toilet in peace for now, but will still check their urine specific gravity once or twice a month.

Can't the vet also do ultrasound on Monday since you are taking him with you?

You said Jengo was dehydrated, but are you giving pectin (soluble fiber) with enough water? I'm not familiar with pectin but thought fiber would deprive water and put a stress on kidneys unless the cat is well hydrated. You are giving psyllium husk on top of pectin too. It sounds like he's getting too much fiber.

I think you are giving CoQ10 for his cardio health but unless you are using the gel cap version made by a reputable company, it's ineffective so you can stop giving him that. In my opinion BP meds is more important for his heart than CoQ10 right now. The only CoQ10 that seems to work in cats and dogs are manufactured by Nord Pharma. I have more readings on CoQ10 but won't overwhelm you with them.

Don't forget to ask for SDMA because BUN and CREA can be influenced by dehydration. And since you are getting urinalysis done, UPC will also help but since Jengo has CKD, UPC is probably elevated along with Urine Protein.

Both for cardio and kidneys, you need BP meds. For GI he needs probiotics assuming there's no more c. perfringens wrecking havoc. You may be giving omega 3, coq10, probiotics etc, but unless you choose the right products they are sadly useless. There are so many pet supplements out there that don't work and are made and sold purely for company profits.

What are you putting in a capsule?
He's such a fussy boy that he doesn't like any treats I've tried lately so I gave up. I have a drawer full and the 3 yr old cat doesn't like treats either. Weird cats, eh. I use a #4 capsule for all pilling even if I don't fill it. I have arthritis in my hands and can hardly hold these little ones. I always give a little water in a syringe before and after pilling because his thick saliva can make the pills stick in his mouth or throat.

Sounds like you are right on top of things... checking urine, etc. on a regular basis. I wish I had known about these cat forums with knowledgeable people, I may have saved Jengo from some of his health issues early on and he would have lived longer. I don't think most vets want to deal with serious illnesses and write the patient off too soon.

The vet said she couldn't do an ultrasound unless he fasts for 12+ hours. He eats every two or three hours now... that would be torture to withhold food for that long. Plus when he does eat on time, he vomits.

I mix the pectin in his canned food with added water making it soup. Also do that with psyllium. I don't give both at the same time... alternate them.

After he was diagnosed with a heart murmur I bought some CoQ10 for pets and started giving that to him. It's a dry powder so maybe it's not worth it, right? I take CoQ10 myself but it's a liquid gel cap. Never heard of Nord Pharma... with check on that.

Jengo's old vet said it wasn't necessary to do the SDMA test once he is in Stage 3 kidney failure. ???

I'm hoping the C. Perfringens is over since he's had many normal stools in the past couple of weeks. Only a couple soft ones but no watery diarrhea thankfully! I'm sure there are a lot of scams out there... people selling useless products to pet parents like me who are desperate. I try to get advice off the forums now.

I put his meds in #4 capsules... Prednisolone, Zofran, and Amlodipine. Also occasional B-12, folate, COQ10 and sometimes probiotics.

I'm falling asleep and it's only 8:30 PM. Haven't been getting enough sleep at night worrying about him. My heart is breaking because I think we are losing the battle. The last couple of days he has been slowing down... rear legs are weaker and wobblier. I still can't figure out why after tons of research. It can't be arthritis because it wouldn't get worse that fast. I know that muscle wasting can cause weakness but still it seems like it's worsening too fast. Also wondering if it's heart related. Sudden weakness can be caused by a blood clot but his weakness isn't really sudden and his rear feet aren't cold. I also read that kidney disease can make legs weak and so can neurological problems. I'm really nervous about getting his BUN and Creatinine results back after testing tomorrow. They have been getting progressively worse each time he is tested. Won't get much sleep tonight. Take care now. Thanks for keeping in touch. Barb
 
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