Calloway's eating!! update 12/2

[jennielynn1970]

Well, I took Calloway into the vet because he was wheezing really badly. With working 2 jobs I didn't really notice it, but being out on sabbatical I've been able to really see what these guys do all day. He sounded horrible!

So, off to Dr. Hess we went. I knew she wasn't going to be happy because of his weight. He's like a bowling ball with legs. I've tried low cal foods, indoor foods, EVO, California Natural. You name it, I tried it. Nothing has been working, and Cal had managed to GAIN 1 1/2lbs. Not good.

I did notice that he was visiting the litterbox downstairs more often than he should be, and the water dish was being emptied quicker. So, I tell Dr. Hess and she decides to do a glucose test. Not good. 369. Not sure what normal is for a cat, but she was not happy with this number. She did say that with food and weight loss it may be manageable. If it had been higher she would have recommended insulin injections. I'm not a needle person, so I hope this does not happen.

So, now I have to go from free feeding 8 cats down to feeding everyone 2xs a day and making sure Calloway only eats his Purina DM food. He does seem to like it, which I'm happy about. Although I've never seen him turn his nose up to any food, which may account for the portly stature he's acquired.

One thing that cracked me up yesterday was when I was driving home. Calloway was crashed out in his carrier, not paying attention to anything. I pull up to McDonalds for a Sweet Tea (I'm addicted to their tea... but ONLY the tea, lol). Calloway perks up immediately! I'm at the window paying for the tea, and he's meowing at the woman and trying to poke through the crate! I'm thinking that where ever he was before I fostered him, and you can tell he was a beat up stray (his ears are so tattered), he definitely made friends with people at fast food windows, lol. The lady was talking to him, and you could tell he just wanted her to hand over a chicken sandwich, lol.

Anyway.. send some good thoughts out for Calloway so that he can get his glucose down, lose some weight (he was about 19 1/2 lbs at the vet ), and his asthma calms down. I think the asthma is kicking up because the furnace is on now too.

I'll have to get a full length picture of Calloway so you can see all his chubbiness, lol.

[Medusa]

I'll bet that was a sight to see. I can just picture him chowing down on a chicken sandwich. Well, here's hoping that his glucose level goes down as well as his weight. No more sick kitties. We've had enough o' that stuff now.

[jennielynn1970]

Pics of my big boy from the past few months








Calloway when he first came to me, and actually fit behind the fridge, lol.

[Medusa]

Gosh, Calloway looks like my RB Peeka. She was a tuxie w/the same marking on her face except that her moustache was black. She had quite the temper and w/the black moustache I sometimes called her Adolph. Not nice, I know. She became a little watermelon on legs, just like Calloway and when she walked, her udders swung back and forth. She never did lose the weight until she suddenly became ill w/acute renal failure. Maybe chubbiness is a tuxie thing. Anyhow, Calloway is a hottie. Is he a snuggler? Peeka would knead my tummy for 30 minutes or more. Keep us posted on this handsome hunk.

[jennielynn1970]

Cal and Zach both are my snugglers, lol. I love them!

[Taz_Zoee]

I already told you this, but she looks like my friends RB Groucho with the reverse mustache.

He must be a small framed cat. Because my Tazmo got to 21 1/2lbs and never looked round, fat. He was just BIG, all over. And he never slowed down either. He could still jump onto a window sill, or a counter or table. One vet said I had three cats. I didn't get it at first. But he said the average weight for a cat is 7lbs. I couldn't imagine a 7lbs cat. But I think I'll have one, Paizly.

Well, I hope you can get Cal's glucose under control without injections. Best of luck to you, LOL.

[Moesha]

My Morgan was over 19 pounds and his sugar level was over 300 also. He went on insulin shots though. We started at 8 units once a day. Then I think it was 5 twice a day. Progressively we worked our way down unit by unit. He was put on Purina DM also. I've only given him the dry food though. He would get a small teaspoon of canned food, usually Nine Lives Tuna Select because it is very low in carbs with his insulin injection. I am so not a needle person either. But after a time or two, it wasn't a big deal for me or for him. Of course he just wanted the wet food. He would come and tell me when it was time for the insulin. Anyway, the diet worked and he hasn't had to have insulin for 2 years. I just keep strict watch on what he eats. The last time he was at the vet's office, they said he had lost a pound, which was a good thing. Although I am skeptical because they weighed him on a different scale. Everytime they've used this one scale all my animals have lost weight. But whatever. Morgan had been strictly rationed Science Diet Light catfood for years and would gain weight everytime he went in for a checkup. The DM is the only food that he hasn't gained weight while eating. Anyway, the point of my post was to say that I've been where you are plus with insulin injections and it is possible to have diet control the diabetes. My vet doesn't worry if the sugar level is in the mid 100s. He says that the stress of being at the vet causes the sugar levels to be a little on the high side anyway and as long as I don't notice him drinking or urinating excessively not to worry. Feel free to ask any questions you can think of though.

[jennielynn1970]

Geez, i'm telling you, when it rains, it pours!!

I go back to pick up Calloway, and am told that his blood work came in that they drew yesterday. Sigh.

There's an infection somewhere, so Calloway is on amoxicillan and Cipro. He's got something going on with his liver enzymes (they are over 700, and should be under 100). He's not jaundiced, but he could go into liver failure if he doesn't eat.

Doesn't eat. This is the cat that was told to lose weight.

So, I have to make sure he eats, and eats anything (he got a can of Fromm's pate tonight, and was eating away when I last checked). The vet said it doesn't matter what he eats, as long as he eats. She wants to make sure he makes it through whatever he's going through so that he can handle the insulin. She's not sure if it's from him being diabetic or if it's isolated from that.

His thyroid is also low.

So, for now we're doing the amoxicillan and cipro, he is getting 2 units of insulin in the AM and 1unit in the PM. He goes back on Monday for a glucose check and we'll check to see that what his other levels are in about 10 to 15 days. If he's not eating, she wants him on a liver medicine and an appetite stimulant.

I also have to call every day and let them know if he's eating or not.

I did a get a copy of his bloodwork so that I can look at it, and also see what else is going on (love the bold to tell you what's high/low), and so that I can tell the shelter what is going on.

Keep Calloway in your prayers please. He's going to need them!

[jenluckenbach]

Dear Calloway, I am so sorry this is happening to you.

While I can't even speculate what the infection might be, let's hope the liver enzymes are bad because of his NOT eating.

Oh, and actually, the cipro IS an appetite stimulant.

Prayers for you, dear boy.

[Emeraldgreen]

Wow, Calloway has ALOT going on! I hope that he continues to eat the way he has been today. The Merrick food comes in regular and in low glycemic and the cans look identical except for a small yellow star on the bottom right that says 'low glycemic'. I accidentally bought a couple last time that were regular and had to return them. It comes in at least a half dozen flavours and Barney goes mental for them. His absolute favourite is Cowboy Cookout. Yesterday I was dishing some up and my husband said "are you giving him some Blazing Saddles?" LOL Anyway, I hope that Calloway will like the flavours if you can find some. I did show a can to the vet yesterday and she looked at all the ingredients. She said it was pretty good but she wished there weren't pototaoes included because I guess starches aren't good. But she said all in all it was fairly good. And, it's alot cheaper than the Purina DM canned.


I wonder if his previous weight gain was due to the Hypo thyroidism. I'm pretty sure that is one of the symptoms.

Lots of prayers being sent for tuxie Calloway.

[Medusa]

Oh goodness, Jenn, what next? Calloway, you're scaring everybody. Well, we'll just pump up the volume on the prayers and move you to the top of the list since everyone else seems to be holding their own. You and Barney and Gary, the 3 amigos are all sharing top billing. C'mon now, no more surprises unless they're good ones!

[Taz_Zoee]

OH Calloway, I am hoping you get better soon.

Jennie, how are you doing with giving him his shots?

Hugs to you and Calloway!!

[jennielynn1970]

Well, he seemed good all night. slept with me and was a cuddle bug as usual.

This morning... he's not wanting to eat too much. He seems to prefer the juice from the canned food, although he at a bit of the Fromm's canned. I opened a can of tuna and put the juice and some of the mushy tuna in a bowl for him. He was sipping on that a little bit. No dry food this AM though. I'll have to go out a little later on after the kids in the area are all in school and the rush hour traffic dies down. Will see what kind of canned food i can find to tempt him. Dr. Hess mentioned boiled chicken as well. I'll see if I can find any cold cuts for him too, cause he always like smoked turkey from my hoagies.

Wish me luck, I gotta get him to eat this weekend. I've never done forced feedings, and I am so freaked out I'm going to upset him and then he'll just hate me and not eat anything at all. He's getting pissy with me because I have to give him so many meds. Between the asthma/wheezing med, the cipro, and amoxi, then the injections... poor boy must think I'm just here to torture him.

[Medusa]

I remember how Puddy was when it was med time. She'd let out this cry that sounded like "Nooooo!" I felt awful but she always forgave me in short order. Let's hope that Calloway is just as forgiving. You'll get over this hump soon, Jen, once he gets used to med time plus he won't need to be on all of them forever, maybe not even the insulin at some point. How's he doing today? And how are you?

[jennielynn1970]

He's being Mr. Fussy Pants. Never ever was he a fussy eater, but NOW he decides that he wants to be fussy. Does he want to eat the $$$ canned Fromms? No, just the juice please, says Calloway. I put the cipro in the juice, mixed in a little of the pate, what does he do??? Walks the other way! Ok. Let's try some more tuna. Ummmm... no thanks says Calloway.

What does he end up munching on? Friskies/Purina Favorites (it's in that purple bag... I have it for the stray outside ). Well, the vet did say as long as he eats, she doesn't care what. Okie dokie! He went to town on that stuff.

I'm still going to go grab some more canned food. Will try the market selects, since those seem to be popular with sick kitties. I'll wait till the shopping rush is over (I hate shopping when it's crowded), and go later in the afternoon when it's died own. Gotta get the coupons in order too.

I just want him to eat. He ate treats too. Not many, just like 4-5 of the Pounce chicken drumsticks. The insulin went ok this AM. He didn't make a peep. I rubbed him, and have him the treats afterward, so I'm hoping he felt better with that, lol.

Honey is now eating the Fromm''s left overs. He loves his canned food. I doubt the Cipro will harm him, he can eat all he needs to as well. He gets fussy at times and only wants canned. My old guy. Gotta make sure he's well too. He loves the market selects, lol.