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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:	Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:	FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:	MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO

Created:	Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:	Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5089
Total number of notes:	60366

3409.0. "Rusty back to the vet again......." by BOOVX2::MANDILE () Mon Mar 12 1990 09:34

    Well, Rusty went back to Dr. J's Sat morning.  He is again blocked
    up due to the stricture in his bowel.  My husband accompanied Rusty
    and I to the vet.  He had the vet laughing so hard he couldn't work
    on Rusty.  My husband held Rusty while the vet did the "Oil Treatment".
    Which left me a chance to play with the puppies & cat up for adoption.
    Not much in results as of yesterday, but hopefully I can pick him
    up tonight.  Further discussion has thrown out the idea of surgery.
    Seems surgery would just cause another type of stricture.  The vet
    will probably have to knock him out again, and clear the bowel.
    Then we have to figure out a diet.  I think I will try some of the
    suggestions I have read about in the notes file.  Cut out the dry
    catfood...Add water to the canned catfood....Add Metamucil to the
    food.  The only other problem is what about the other cats? 
    If I can just get his poop soft, then the problem will be
    solved.  Of course, you understand, that Rusty & Pepper were to
    be "barncats" when they were old enough.  But, hubby has become 
    resigned to the fact that we will have four housecats.    
             
    Does anyone out there currently use Metamucil or whatever?  Any
    suggestions on a soft diet would be appreciated.  What about the
    other cats?  They love their dry catfood, and unfortunately, so
    does Rusty.  How can you keep one from eating it so the others
    can have it?  I don't want to deprive them, or have one not get
    enough to eat, and lose weight.  It keeps the tartar down, too.
    I feed the dry free choice, as I know that one of the guys eats
    this the most.  Does Science Hill dry have high fiber?  Or any
    of those special foods?
    
    Lynne & the gang

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
3409.1		FSHQA2::RKAGNO	A Cat Makes a Purrfect Friend	`Mon Mar 12 1990 12:17`	11
	Lynne, the "light" varieties of food, such as Iams and Science Diet light, contain more fiber and "fillers"; however, I'm not quite certain that this is the answer if Rusty is of normal weight, or a solution at all. You might have to stop free feeding, and feed Rusty separate from the others so you can monitor his condition. Here's hoping you can nip this problem in the bud. --Roberta
3409.2		CIRCUS::KOLLING	Karen/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.	`Mon Mar 12 1990 21:44`	7
	One of my cats gets Metamucil for his problem, and all the other cats get it because they each out of each others dishes. That is, every dish gets a dose. Please check with the vet to gbe sure Metamucil will help and not cause harm in Rusty's case. Also, I am a little puzzled about surgery just causing an additional problem; do you thinkm maybe you want to get a second opinion?
3409.3	Rusty's home again.....	BOOVX1::MANDILE		`Tue Mar 13 1990 10:30`	24
	Well, Rusty's back home. The vet doesn't think its the food causing the backup, its the stricture, but he sent me home with a bag of SH Maint dry & said Metamucil wouldn't hurt. I made up the first trial concoction of moist catfood, water & Metamucil, mixed it up in the blender, and poured (yes, poured!) it into a bowl. He went after it like he hadn't eaten in a week! Pepper thought it was pretty good stuff, too. Casey & B.K. are still staring at it. They all could use a little more moisture by the way the "stuff" in the litterbox looks. The stricture has narrowed the bowel, and Rusty trying to "go" has caused a pouch to form behind it. Everything jams up behind the stricture, packs into the pouch, and hurts like H_E_L_L! So, if I can keep the poop soft, no problems. (I hope!) I discussed the surgery aspect again with the vet. The surgery would probably cause another type of stricture, as it would be like sewing the ends of two hoses together, and the healing would be scare tissue in a circle, which would have no elasticity like the bowel needs to push along the stuff. Surgery has not been completely ruled out, though. I will see how the diet change works. Wish me luck! L- & the gang
3409.4	hhmmmmm, I think you've got something....	FRAGLE::PELUSO	There's ALWAYS room for ONE more	`Tue Mar 13 1990 12:44`	4
	hmmmmm, I never thought of using the blender...... I mix bran in w/ the SD canned sometimes, but she can usually tell and won't eat it....so I use baby food, but maybe if I use the blender.....
3409.5	I wonder if bran lowers their cholesterol, too	VAXWRK::SKALTSIS	Deb	`Tue Mar 13 1990 15:32`	5
	I started mixing bran in with the moist food when Argus was troubled with constipation. Now, my seven won't eat their moist food unless it is mixed with bran. I guess they like the texture bran gives it. Deb
3409.6	shaken, not stirred...	CSCOA5::MCFARLAND_D		`Tue Mar 13 1990 17:23`	5
	good news that rusty likes the "poured" concoction. wishing the best for him that the diet will be enough to alleviate the problem... diane & the gang
3409.7	Bran! Now why didn't I think of that...	BOOVX1::MANDILE		`Wed Mar 14 1990 11:27`	9
	I never thought about mixing in bran. Hmmm, looks like the horse gets to share some of his bran with Rusty. The blender does work great in mixing the "concoction". Maybe a little bran to help soften up the stool might be a good idea. L- & the gang
3409.8	mix w/ baby food	FRAGLE::PELUSO	There's ALWAYS room for ONE more	`Wed Mar 14 1990 11:38`	14
	Lynne- thats where I get my bran from (tee hee). Nippa isn't real keen on it though. bu tI find if I mix about a table spoon(???) of bran w/ a spoon of strained (baby food) chicken, and a bit of hot water - she'll eat it..... Michele p.s. have we talked about our other kids?????