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10917657 tn?1413985780

Cat with fatty liver disease and feeding tube

Hi, I have a question but here's a little background first. My cat Lucy (9 years old) gradually stopped eating. She would pick at her food but her sister from the same litter is aggressive and pushy and will push her out of the way when it's time to eat, so I assumed that was her problem, and that she was going back to eat after her sister was done. However eventually she stopped eating anything at all. She'd walk up to the food, sniff it, turn around and away. After 3 days had gone by after I noticed she had stopped eating my husband and i brought her to an emergency vet, and the diagnosis was a bad UTI (she had shown no signs, aside from one episode of peeing where she wasn't supposed to, so I had no clue) and this is likely what caused her to stop eating, and because she stopped eating her body began to process her own fat causing fatty liver disease. Other than that she had a clean bill of health. She had to spend a few days at the vet hospital and was given a E-tube for feeding since she wouldn't eat on her own while at the vet. She has had the feeding tube since Wednesday last week, it is now the following Monday. She still won't even attempt to eat and I have offered her everything under the sun before every feeding tube feeding. Things I have tried include but are not limited to- various fish flavored cat food, various chicken and beef cat food (both the brand she was used to and other brands), beef or chicken baby food (no onion or garlic, don't worry), canned tuna, and her favorite cat treats. She will not even try.

I was just wondering if anyone had any experience like this? She seems so nauseated all the time. The vet gave her Reglan but it doesn't seem to be helping. i'm going really slow with the tube feeding, feeding her about 1mL per minute. They want me to give her 55mL per feeding, but we've had to cut it back to about 30mL so far because she'd throw it all up (and that left me extremely frustrated after spending an hour feeding her only to have it all end up on the floor). This morning I fed her 20mL, waited a half hour and gave her another 10mL, then when I came back to check on her an hour later found some cat vomit on the floor nearby. I have her in a separate part of the house from her sister, so it was definitely hers. The vet said it could take a couple of weeks, but I just feel so bad for her, she looks so depressed. I guess I'm just looking for some optimism from someone? I will definitely take any advice. I have been in constant communication with the vet, the vet we chose is 24 hours and I can call them any time, even in the middle of the night, so I already know what they say and think. I'm just looking for other's experiences.
Best Answer
7052683 tn?1392938795
Hi Allison,

On page 5 of these posts there is a BellaBinky who posted that his cat was not eating because of depression. He reviews much of what he went through to get her back in shape. I know she too was on a feeding tube.

There were some 53 comments, so a lot of discussions on this kind of situation. This may help you to reread this post.

Also , might be a good Idea to private email BellaBinky and privately ask them any questions you may have. I am sure they would be more than willing to help out.

By the way Bella is doing great now, so things will get better.

Keep us posted.
CML  
38 Responses
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506791 tn?1439842983
Great to read the news about Lucy.
Helpful - 0
10917657 tn?1413985780
Thank you! i will definitely be sticking around. I'd love to offer support and advice where I can. Plus with my two girls Lucy and Bella there's never a dull moment so who knows if I'll need more support in the future lol
Helpful - 0
7052683 tn?1392938795
I know exactly what you mean about" that" look. I think we can all attest to feeling our kits love emitted through their Beautiful eyes.

Just something about them knowing we have made them feel better, saved their life by giving them a life filled with love and caring.

They truly know what we have done for them. I remember when Meezy went thru her dental surgery. She had to stay in the clinic for 4 days. She would not eat for the staff, but would wait for my twice daily feedings, by MY hand. The staff said for how sick she was as soon as I walked into the outside office Door she would  pep right up to see me.

Oh Yes they know how much we do for them and how much they mean to us...I believe that!

Lucy is devoted to you. Without you she would not have made it. Enjoy and love every moment you two have together.......and I believe that is a very long time, thanks to your special care.

Yay for Lucy and You too, Allison.
Like Opus said , you are part of the "family" now so you and Lucy must visit often. You will now be able to help others with the experience you have gone through.

Best Wishes to you and Lucy,
CML











Helpful - 0
10917657 tn?1413985780
Thanks so much for the kind words! Lucy continued to eat on her own through the day so my husband called the vet and they said it sounded like she ate enough on her own so she was not tube fed once today.  My son gave her some treats and she ate those happily. She was also out of her room a lot today,  just wandering around the house.  

Sometimes the way she looks at me,  I can just feel her love.  I think she knows she's going to be ok now and that she's loved very much. I knew it wasn't her time yet.
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506791 tn?1439842983
I am so very happy to read of Lucy's eating on her own.  May the Holy Powers that smile on kitties continue to favor her recovery.
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7052683 tn?1392938795

Yes, Allison, that is fantastic news. It just was not Lucy's time to leave you.

Opus is so right, we all needed to hear this great news.

I am one of those who does not believe in coincidence--it was the universe telling you Lucy is yours hopefully for a Long time.
Your angel came through with the help you needed at the time you needed it.

God Bless you, Lucy, ....and that great friend of yours!!

CML
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
Wonderful news.....Yeah!!!  I am so happy to read this, we needed some real good news this morning....good for Lucy, may this be a start to the road of 'recovery'...♥
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10917657 tn?1413985780
That is really funny!! My other cat is named Bella. If you have a cat named Bella too then that is REALLY scary lol
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10917657 tn?1413985780
Fantastic news!  Lucy started eating today! I brought her some wet food this morning before her first tube feeding, fully expecting her to sniff and bury like always.  But she spent more time sniffing it, licked it, then actually started eating! She ate about a quarter of a can of food, then I brought her some dry food and she started chowing on that too! She ate so much I felt comfortable skipping the tube feeding. Then 4 hours later I went to check on her and found her eating her dry food all on her own! It's like someone flipped a switch, out of no where she's eating again!
Helpful - 0
152660 tn?1291755571
Go Lucy!

This is almost scary... I have a grey tabby named Lucy and my name is Alison...
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506791 tn?1439842983
Yay Lucy!

Heal kitty, heal!
Helpful - 0
242912 tn?1660619837
COMMUNITY LEADER
We are glad you found us too~
Helpful - 0
10917657 tn?1413985780
Last night Lucy came out of her room on her own free will last night and wandered around the house and visited all her favorite spots - the kitchen window, the livingroom window, and finally she settled on the sofa for a nap. This is another good sign because she hasn't left her room willingly in a couple of weeks. She isn't eating on her own yet, but she did sniff her food for a lot longer before burying it in her blanket today. She also purred through her entire 55ML feeding this morning. I feel so much better now that I'm seeing progress.

Thank you all for the advice and well wishes. You all are really great, I'm glad I found this community and decided to post.
Helpful - 0
242912 tn?1660619837
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm so happy to read this.  Very encouraging news.  It sounds like Lucy's tummy is finally feeling well enough to accept the extra calories.  This is definitely a good sign.  

You know, when I had those ulcers I mentioned, my stomach hurt so much, I was so nauseated, I could only eat a few bites of food every few hrs.  It took months...a long arduous process in getting back to normal.  What Lucy is going through is very similar.

My kitty has IBD (with ulcers dx'd last yr via ultrasound).  Small feedings are key in keeping food down because ulcers are ulcers whether cat or human.  I'm glad you went with what felt right with the smaller feedings spread out rather than so much at once as the vet suggested.

Prayers and fingers crossed that Lucy will begin to get interested in eating very soon.  
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874521 tn?1424116797
thats wonderful news Alison......we've all got our fingers crossed for Lucy. yes one day at a time, she is making headway!!!
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10917657 tn?1413985780
So yesterday, for the first time since this whole ordeal began, Lucy kept down ALL of the food we gave her yesterday. I thought for sure yesterday would be a disaster because we increased the amount of food we were giving her, but she did great. I'm taking it as a good sign. She's still not interested in eating on her own, but one day at a time...
Helpful - 0
506791 tn?1439842983
good on ya, hope for more good news.
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10917657 tn?1413985780
Yes, with the vet's approval I have been adding Pepsid to her food.
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10917657 tn?1413985780
Thanks everyone! I am VERY lucky to have such awesome people in my life.

Lucy is still doing ok, sometimes better than others. She still looks like she feels very nauseas. I have cut her feedings wayyy down in size, but she has more of them througout the day. The vet wants me to work up to the equivelant of two cans of food per day, and right now she's getting MAYBE one. She still won't tolerate more without throwing up, but I feel like some nutrition is better than forcing her to eat more and having her throw it all up. She's still getting around really well, still jumping and climbing which is good because her bed of choice happens to be an unused baby crib. She also hasn't had diarrhea since I stopped the Reglan.

I've been reading more and more things all over the internet from people who had a cat with the same problems, feeding tube and all, and it seems like the common thing is it takes about 4-6 weeks, and then the cat will all of a sudden start eating again, out of nowhere. I hope lucy follows suit! Today isn't the day though, because I offered her food and she tried to bury it under her blanket again. She's a good patient though, she doesn't object to the feedings too much and she lets me check the area where the tube goes into her neck without trying to get away from me. The biggest problem I'm having is getting her to stop trying to scratch the protective collar off.  The vet wants a gauze type pad on top of the incision under her collar, with a slit in the gauze to go around the feeding tube, but she ALWAYS tears it out. She leaves it alone until I leave the room, and when I come back the gauze it's torn to shreds all over the floor and she's sleeping peacefully like nothing happened. I've figured out a way to keep it there though, I used medical tape around the edges of the gauze to tape it to the inside of her collar and then I put more medical tape on the outside of her collar where she scratches at it, so her claws slip off instead of dig into the fabric of the collar so she can't twist or move it. That seems to be working quite well.
Helpful - 0
7052683 tn?1392938795
Ya know just when I thing this world just ***** with all it's problems. along comes some beautiful compassionate soul to show me how wrong I am.

How very grateful you can be to have known this angel in your life.

God Bless and Best Wishes
CML
Helpful - 0
242912 tn?1660619837
COMMUNITY LEADER
Your update brought tears to my eyes.  So many out there willing to go the extra mile for others.  You can't blame your granddad for his feelings.  Obviously he has never been able to experience the intelligence of an animal, or the pure, unconditional love they offer.    

It sounds like Lucy is making good progress.  Slow going, yes, but that is normal.  That Reglan...there was a class action lawsuit on it (like about a hundred other rx'd meds today).  I was given it myself during an acute case of stomach ulcers 7yrs ago.  I couldn't tolerate it.  

Is Lucy on an acid reducer of any kind?  If not, that might be an option.

We look forward to your update (when you can) after the vet visit.  

You are doing just awesome!  
Helpful - 0
506791 tn?1439842983
A big thumbs up to you AND that family friend who helped.

Does read like you have a vet who is a healer.
Helpful - 0
10917657 tn?1413985780
I was visiting my grandparents last night and was telling them about Lucy, and my grandfather told me I should just put her down and end her suffering. I held back my anger pretty well, but I imagine he just doesn't understand. She gets around quite well, she can jump and climb and run just fine. She purrs when I pet her, and if she's not feeling sick she rolls over on her back so I can pet her tummy. This is not a cat that needs to be put down. I'm sure I've said all this already, but I just need to get my feelings out, haha. You guys have been so great, so I don't think you mind.

The vet asked me to call today so we can discuss how she's doing, so I've left him a message and I am waiting for him to call back. I'm going to let him know that the Reglan was giving her diarrhea so I've stopped giving it to her. I know it was the Reglan because she literally only had diarrhea an hour or so after I gave her, and never any other time. Yesterday was ALMOST vomit free, but she threw up her last feeding of 15ML at 9pm. So, we will see what he says. I imagine he will want me to bring her in this weekend for another xray to make sure the tub didn't reverse itself at all in her esophogus from all the throwing up, but at least I know he won't charge me for the xray because they didn't charge last time. I'm so glad I've found such an amazing vet.

Also wanted to share a little "feel good" story with you guys. I have been posting about Lucy and her progress on my Facebook because I have friends and family that love her just as much as I do. I mentioned something about vet bills once (the context was something like "I may have to sell my soul to pay the vet bills but as long as Lucy is ok") and then the other day I got a card in the mail with a check for $500 to go towards Lucy's vet bill. It was from a woman who owned a camping store that was downstairs from the apartment my husband lived in when he was a kid. He used to hang out at the store, and the woman just adored my husband and his family so they always kept in touch through christmas cards and now Facebook. It was so completely unexpected but boy did it make my day. All that good kharma has come and helped me out!
Helpful - 0
242912 tn?1660619837
COMMUNITY LEADER
Oh, I get it.  Sorry.  Thanks for explaining.  For some reason I thought there was a mixture of 'special' food used when on a feeding tube.

Great to hear of her noticeable weight gain.  And your description of her spine made perfect sense.  Good news!

Recovery from fatty liver does take a while.  Bless your loving heart, Lucy is a lucky girl to have you.    
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