Starr's A Very Sick Little Boy

[smokey the elder]

For two weeks I have been petsitting for a 13 year old cat with IBD. She was already under control when I got her, on Wellness wet only. I have no clue how long it took to get under control. Her purrents are visiting today, and I can find out her history. Good luck with your Starr baby! He's had more than his share of issues, poor thing.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Thanks again everyone. He seems to like his new food but it's a litter bit crunchier than his old food so it makes it a little harder for him to eat. I'm supposed to mix in some of his old food with it for 3-5 days so I really won't know much until he's on the new food exclusively.

Yesterday was a good day with no accidents but sometime between 8-10am this morning he pooped all over the place again. It was mushy poo but not black and tarry looking like before so it looked more normal. I had just cleaned out all of the litterboxes at around 7:45am so they weren't dirty. I just don't know if some of this is still due to behavioral problems or health related. Nancy e-mailed me and she'll be talking to Starr in a few days. I hope he's able to let her know what's going on.

I've also noticed that when I give Starr the bene-bac that he seems much better the next day. When I gave it to him 2 days in a row though, this is when he had the black tarry stools so it may have been related to this. I know it may take some time for his system to get under control so I'm trying to stay positive about this new food. Thanks again.

[jazzcat]

Just checking in for an update. Hope the new food helps.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Starr didn't really want to eat very much this morning and I thought that he just didn't like the new food. He went to the litterbox a few minutes ago and had very bad diarrhea and then a few minutes later he had very runny diarrhea again and he did this on one of my little rugs. His tummy must really be hurting him.

I called the vets office and left a message with receptionist to let the doctor know that Starr is still having diarrhea. I hope that he'll be able to give me something that will help calm down Starr's colon. I'm also having some minor surgery tomorrow morning so I'll probably be out of it for most of tomorrow so I was hoping that I could get Starr back on trackbefore this. Please continue to send some good vibes his way. Thanks.

[jenluckenbach]

Poor Starr.

Try Metamucil! This was the one thing that helped Lucas with his diarrhea. Also ask about Endosorb. It worked wonders on the babies Chip and Dale when they had diarrhea.

Neither of these things will "fix" whatever the underlying cause, but if it firms the stool, he may begin to feel better.

Is he on antibiotics right now? Could this be causing the diarrhea? Also, you can get (Lactose free) Lactobacillus acidophilus tablets in a drug store. Giving him that would be the same as giving him yogurt.

[jennielynn1970]

Awe... poor Starr!! That little guy must have a tummy ache! I hope you can figure something out at the vet! Gentle hugs for the little guy!

[krazyaboutkatz]

The vet called me at home again and I wasn't home yet. He said to call him tomorrow because he'll be there. I have to be at Kaiser at 8am for my surgery tomorrow and will hopefully be home by 10:30am or so but I'll probably be too sleepy to call him. The only thing I can do is call at 7am and leave another message about Starr and let them know exactly what's been going on.

He said Starr should probably be put on another round of metronidizale or however it's spelled and some probiotics and maybe a diet change. I know he needs a diet change because he's having problems with his current diet. I think his tummy needs to calm down before he starts a new diet. I've read that in cases like this that you should fast the cat for 24-48 hours and then feed them some rice and then slowly start to feed them their diet again. This is what I'm going to try to do. Because I need to rest the next couple of days and I don't need the extra stress of cleaning up diarrhea.

I put Starr in my bedroom tonight while I fed the others. When I let him out he started searching for food. It was so sad to watch him. He seems fine now though. Thanks again for all of your advice and well wishes.

Jen, Starr isn't on any medication right now. Even before all of these episodes, he's always had mushy stools. It's just gotten much worse lately.

[kimlovescats]

Gosh Tracy, I'm sorry to see that Starr is still having tummy troubles! I am also sorry that you are having surgery tomorrow. I hope everything goes well for you, and the vet can get little Starr's problems corrected as well!

Hugs,
Kim

[rosethecopycat]

I've also noticed that when I give Starr the bene-bac that he seems much better the next day. When I gave it to him 2 days in a row though,

Follow the package directions for Bene-bac, I think it call for one tube, then another 3 days later.

I hope he feels better and the vet can find the cause of this.

[gini]

Tracey, I haven't posted recently, but I have been following this thread.

Good success with your surgery and I hope you recover rapidly.

Poor baby Starr - I sure hope that this problem can be solved for you soon.

Hugs - Gini

[krazyaboutkatz]

Thanks everyone. My surgery went well but I've been in a lot pain and felt very nauseated for most of the day. I'm finally starting to feel better.

I had my roommate pick up Starr's meds for me tonight since I wasn't able to drive today. He's on another round of metronidizale liquid 2 times a day and is also taking panacur liquid 1 time a day and I'm putting fortiflora in his food. The fortiflora comes in packets and it's dry and it says to use it once a day. I tried it and there's so much in there that I think I'll give him half of it in the morning and the other half in the evening.

I fed him some rice mixed with chicken broth earlier this evening and then later I gave him a little bit of wet food mixed with the Venison and Green Pea dry food with 1 whole packet of fortiflora. He was so hungry that he gobbled it down but about an hour and a half latter he threw it up. It may have been too much for his system.

Nancy the pet psychic checked in with him and she feels his problem is more physical than behavioral. He told her that his stomach feels funny and gurgly and that he has no control at times. My guess is that he has colitis or IBD. I'm going to try to feed him small portions of the new food and I also need to buy some of it in the cans so I can mix in the fortiflora. I had to use some of Storm's Royal Canin Urinary S/O this evening and this may have upset his stomach. I just hope that I can get his condition under control and then hopefully he'll stay this way. Please send some more positive vibes his way. Thanks.

[shais_mom]

My guess is that he has colitis or IBD.

You might try talking with Kelly - she isn't online much now due to living with her parents and work but if you have her number, give her a call sometime. Her Micah has the feline equivalent of IBD or Chron's (? not sure which) and she feeds him a raw diet when he has flare ups. He loves it and it reallllly helps him a lot. He is the only cat of her's that gets it and I think only when he has flare ups.

[emily_the_spoiled]

Tanner was diagnosed this summer with IBD. After alot of trial and error I decided to switch him over to a raw diet. In doing so I switched everyone in my house (it would have been too difficult to feed just him different food). He is doing much better and Nancy "talked" with him and she told me that he is feeling fine and his tummy isn't bothering him any more. I decided to keep them on the raw diet permanently because then I don't have to deal with flare-ups and they see much happier with it.

[ramanth]

Chipper can sympathise Starr.

We hope you feel better real soon! *Hugs and headbumpies*

[krazyaboutkatz]

Sorry for the delayed update but I've been very sick for the last few days. I must have picked up a virus either while picking up my meds before my surgery or sometime while I was in the surgery center. I'm just now beginning to feel better.

Starr seems to be doing much better. He sure is acting much happier, perkier, and very goofy. He did have an accident yesterday afternoon on my new carpet runner. One of his stools was very firm but the rest were still on the mushy side. He loves his new food and I give him some wet mixed with dry in the morning and evening and this is also when I mix in the fortiflora. His other 2 meals are the dry. Tonight is his last dose of panucur liquid which he hates. I think he still has several more doses of the metronidizale liquid. Hopefully after the meds he'll still continue to do well and also continue to go in the litterbox. Thanks again for all of the advice and concerns.