Cole to the whitecoats on Tuesday Update #11

[Catty1]

Cole's soft poop problem seemed to ease up - but nope. I took a sample into the vet's office, and the tech suggested I bring Cole in along with a sample. Testing alone is $60+ as they have to send it out and everything would be tested for. A vet visit is $75 and can narrow down the testing costs as only one or two things might be tested for.

It doesn't really seem to be related to food change. I buy a good quality canned food, and decided to buy the slightly more expensive stuff last time. When Cole's trouble started, I dumped the open can and opened the next new one, which had different ingredients. That didn't help.

He ate Oscar's CD food - wet mixed with dry - and I let him, in case that would help. Nope.

It's not liquid, but very squishy. And it STINKS like crazy. I had the one sample in a knotted baggie on the fridge overnight, and you could still smell it anywhere in the kitchen.

I am going to the vet, but I am concerned. I would like to hear any experience you have had with this.

BTW - I bought canned pumpkin (not the pie filling) and put a bit of his dry food on top. He ate some...but not much. Or course Zoe wandered up and seemed to really like the pumpkin! SIGH.

Good thoughts for my fluffy boy appreciated.

[Pinot's Mom]

Good thoughts and prayers, hon, but I have no advice. Keep us posted.

[phesina]

Prayers and good thoughts and healing energies are being sent for dear Cole.

[mrspunkysmom]

You have my prayers. Emily and possibly Jane have similar issues, but I can't find a single cause. Emily's is her medicine plus food, but how to regulate it? Jane it must be just food, but she mainly eats dry so I'm not sure if Jane has problems.

[Felicia's Mom]

Sending prayers and positive thoughts to Cole.

[cassiesmom]

Prayers and good thoughts and healing energies are being sent for dear Cole.

From here too!

[moosmom]

Canned pumpkin is for constipation. Try giving him boiled chicken or cooked rice mixed in with the canned food.

The smell sounds like he could have some kind intestinal parasite. Good luck at the vet! Please keep us posted.

[Queen of Poop]

So sorry about your tummy troubles Cole. I hope the vet can come up with a solution. Soft, stinky poop is no fun for anyone!

[Catty1]

Donna, I had read that about pumpkin on PT - but thought I had read it about helping diarrhea also! Maybe that was Metamucil....

In any case, he did get a bit in his system last night, and some more this morning - and it sure seems to have made a difference! I can breathe the air in here, and the poor boy is not leaving mushy clumps on the floor, or meowing after having a bm.

He's otherwise eating, drinking, playing, being himself - so I hope it is as simple as a parasite. When he first came to live with me he had a bit of diarrhea with some blood. I took a sample in and the result was coccidia. (He'd been dumped on an acreage in the country). However, it was so low that it was barely detectable, and they asked if I still wanted the meds. I did, and 5 days later he was fine.

Thanks so much for all your good thoughts!

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm sorry to hear that Cole is having loose stool problems. I've read and heard that canned pumpkin is supposed to help both constipation and diarrhea. I'm glad to hear that he's starting to do better now and I hope he'll continue to do well. I know that if cats eat a high protein diet then their stools will be very stinky. Both of my boys Alani & Blaze have very sensitive tummies so I found that by feeding them a diet with a high fiber content seems to help them. Unfortunately canned food seems to make them worse so they're on an all dry diet with some chicken both in the evenings. Good luck.

[Catty1]

First, Cole weighs 20 lbs, so a diet is definitely in order. He has some muscle atrophy in his hind legs, so arthritis may be indicated.

Sadly, he has 3 teeth that indicate FORL, so here we go again...could be more if the x-rays show more resorption symptoms. $1200....

One side of his mouth is good, and I hope to have my disability approved and the back pay in the next couple of weeks.

His poop problem has resolved after feeding him the pumpkin, and not feeding him the wet food I was giving him.

They gave Cole a good butt shave...the really glued fur was stuck right to the skin on his man parts! But he is feeling much more comfy.

Thanks for all the good thoughts.

[Karen]

Glad to hear he's more comfy at least! And I won't tell him the d-word if you don't! Still it is up to us! At least the pumpkin is relatively low-calorie!

[krazyaboutkatz]

I hope that Cole's new diet will go well. I'm sorry to hear about his teeth, I know how expensive it is to have a cat's teeth cleaned and extracted. I'm glad that he's much more comfortable now and I hope he'll continue to do well.

[mrspunkysmom]

Sorry to hear about his teeth. But glad he is more comfortable.

[Catty1]

Cole's surgery is scheduled for April 26th. I know he has to have at least 3 teeth extracted, and hopefully the x-rays will not show any further evidence of the disease. If the x-rays show the disease starting in any of the other teeth, they will be extracted as well.

So another 10 days on Metacam and antibiotics. I hope Cole likes pill pockets!

My full time disability finally came through several weeks ago, and I am getting a chunk back on my income tax. Thank God Mom won't have to help me with this situation!

Zoe will go for a checkup in May. I hope her teeth are good!