Phyos Kitten Tummy Saga continues...

[Deleted]

Okay, so months ago I posted about our kitten's tummy troubles.  The cheap vet was not able to improve his diarrhea issues, so when I got a real job I took him to Aggies vet ($$$). 

He tested a stool sample, which showed Phyos had Giardia.  He was treated for that, which did clear up the parasite (retest showed it was clear), but made no improvement to the poopy issue. 

So, vet says to try a different brand of cat food with a different protein.  He was eating Blue Buffalo Kitten Grain Free food, which has chicken in it. 

So we found one dry food  - Wellness Poultry Free Whitefish and Salmon food, and a canned food that was just tuna and some vitamins. Started the new food Monday night. Wednesday AM - viola! Normal poops!  That was yesterday.  Today his little booty exploded!  OMG. It was the worst ever. 

So - He is a MAJOR food thief, and will eat anything he finds, including if he can get on the counter to lick the used dishes. He will lick the floor if it smells good.  And I know yesterday he got one nugget of Aggies cheapo food from the garage (mad dash out the door straight to the bowl). So I'm wondering if that one nugget could have reacted so badly in his tummy that he had the blowout?  Or were the normal poopies a fluke? Vet says he probably is really starving hungry because of the diahrrea. Poor kitty!

Have any of you wise kitty people heard or experienced anything like this?  It's crazy, and we have now spent OVER $700 on our "FREE" kitten!

Thanks all! Help me!

Laurie
 

ETA:  He has access to the dry food at all times.

[kritter]

Can you feed Aggie the same food for awhile and get the cheap food out of the way?

How much of the canned food are you feeding him? Maybe increase the amount of canned food so he won't be so desperate to eat anything in sight. How often are you feeding the canned food? Maybe increase the amount and in more frequent servings if your schedule allows. Once the diarrhea clears up and his system readjusts, he should not be so desperately hungry.

Keep on with what you are doing and keep the cheap food put away for now. Cheap dry food is doctored up to taste good so cats will always chose it over healthy food. Kinda like cupcakes over vegetables.

Giardia can really take a toll on their digestive track so his system could still be recovering from it. Normal poops do not happen by accident so I think you are headed in the right direction with the new foods.

[Deleted]

Thanks Kritter - You give me hope.

I was feeding him the canned food just at night. I have to go get some more today, and will increase it to several times a day in smaller amounts. Both cats think it's awesome food - they both gobble it down. Phyos will growl if you try to move his bowl while he's eating it. Too cute. He growls while he's gobbling "rowl, rowl, rowl..."

I'll remove the cheapo food. We have Aggie eating the new food in the house already anyway, so I'll just put it out in the garage for her too.

[Deleted]

I was going to recommend dropping the canned food, lol. Mine have never had it & live to very ripe old ages. I would also get some probiotics for him (they make kitty ones) - you would be surprised at the wonders they can work.

[kritter]

Sometimes cats with digestive issues do better on canned food. If he is eating the canned food and likes it, and has good poop, its all good. I think if you start feeding him the canned throughout the day in addition to the dry, he won't be so frantic to eat anything in sight.

There could be some additive in the cheap dry food that is irritating his digestive track. With poop issues, it can sometimes be a trail and error but it sound like you are on the right track if you saw good poop after starting him on the new food.

Shop, all my cats do fine on dry food too but none of them have digestive issues. I did have a cat with poop issues from small kitten times and she has to eat a certain canned food or she has diarrhea. My friend, Linda, has her now and if she gets into the dry food, Linda knows it because her poop goes south.

[Deleted]

Thanks for sticking with the poor little guy - some people would decide it was all too hard and get rid of him.

Cheapo food can be BAD. Two of my cats will vomit directly after eating it. I think it's the colouring in it, but maybe it contains other bad stuff too, I've never investigated. I now buy mid-range dry food without colouring and all is well. So I really wouldn't be surprised if one little bit of cheapo got him going again.

The vet money sucks, but after this you'll probably get 10+ problem-free years out of him, and that will defray the expense.

(((Phyos))) (((and Aggie too)))

[Deleted]

Nov 12, 2015 22:31:54 GMT @misspettigrew said:

Thanks for sticking with the poor little guy - some people would decide it was all too hard and get rid of him.

Cheapo food can be BAD. Two of my cats will vomit directly after eating it. I think it's the colouring in it, but maybe it contains other bad stuff too, I've never investigated. I now buy mid-range dry food without colouring and all is well. So I really wouldn't be surprised if one little bit of cheapo got him going again.

The vet money sucks, but after this you'll probably get 10+ problem-free years out of him, and that will defray the expense.

(((Phyos))) (((and Aggie too)))

He's a sweet kitty, with lots of personality.  I could never drop him off at the shelter, or dump him. I'd never get over the guilt.

He's super lovey when he's not in lunatic mode.  And when he's in lunatic mode he's soooo funny.  He thinks he's invisible when he puts his head under the couch, but his whole body is sticking out.   And he loves my DH, whom Aggie despises.

[Deleted]

Awwww, that's cute. I love it when they do their invisibility act.

Where does he sleep? Not on your head like Aggie, I hope.

[Deleted]

I'm sorry you're going through this. It's heartwarming how much you're doing for this little guy.

[Deleted]

Nov 13, 2015 0:55:39 GMT @misspettigrew said:

Awwww, that's cute. I love it when they do their invisibility act.

Where does he sleep? Not on your head like Aggie, I hope.

No, he's not a cat hat. He snuggles up next to us, if I stir in the night he'll come lick my hair (don't know what that's about).  Last night he slept for a few hours with my arm around him.  He purrs so loudly he wakes up my DH, though.

[Deleted]

lol, maybe he's grooming you to comfort you back to sleep. Or it might be your hair products? When I come home from the hairdresser one of my cats won't stay away from my hair. And another licks my legs after a shower.

[Deleted]

So day five, and success! Normal poops again! I think we're on the home stretch now.

Thanks for all your help!

[kritter]

YAY I love it when a plan comes together.

[Shirley U Geste]

For Phyos and your sake I am glad the poops are finally what they should be.

Hmm, that has to be one of the strangest sentences I have ever typed.

[Deleted]

Oh, I'm so glad! Poor little guy, I hope this continues and you can all concentrate on other things. Like becoming invisible, lol.

[val2525]

Pictures. We need pictures!

[Shirley U Geste]

Of the poop?? 

[kritter]

Nov 15, 2015 2:01:50 GMT Shirley U Geste said:

Of the poop?? 

[Deleted]

And pics of Aggie too! I like her a lot. (((Aggie cat hat)))

[val2525]

Nov 15, 2015 2:01:50 GMT Shirley U Geste said:

Of the poop?? 

No silly. Pictures of the Phyos now that he's bigger and doing well.

We all know what poop looks like.

[Shirley U Geste]

Whewwww, I was beginning to wonder about you there for a minute.