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Lightning-Strike Pet Loss Support Forum _ Pet Disease and Sickness Support _ Miss Mindy Is Sick

Posted by: DannysMom Jul 29 2013, 08:02 PM

My sweet Miss Mindy is sick. She hasn't been herself these past few days. I noticed her eating less and starting to hide under my bed a lot. Then when she does come out she acts restless and wags her tail a lot and can't sit still much. She spent the whole afternoon yesterday hiding under my bed and only came out late last night. Tonight when I came home she ate just a bit and then went to hide again. So, I took her to the emergency vet. They did x-rays, blood work, and a pancreatitis test. Everything is normal. CBC count is normal, test for pancreatitis is negative, x-rays are fine, no tumors, no masses. Her stomach was empty on the x-ray and she showed a lot of gas in her small intestines, but evenly distributed. She was slightly dehydrated. She has also gained almost another half pound and is up to 12.94 pounds. Sigh!

The vet said it looks like Mindy is having some gastroenteritis. They gave her some fluids, anti-nausea meds and an antacid and meds for me to take home. She's had an episode a few months ago when she had some tummy troubles and got put on antacid and got better. But back then she wasn't hiding like she is now. Even though everything came back normal I still worry about her and I have no idea what is causing this. Maybe she just has a sensitive tummy. Mindy definitely needs to lose weight and I'm at a loss as to what else to do. I'm already feeding her lo-cal canned food and lo-carb dry food and I do watch her portions. If anyone knows of any good weight loss foods by all means share it with me. Mindy is not very active to begin with so it's kinda hard to get her to lose the extra weight, but she is at the point where she HAS to lose it. I'm just so worried about my little girl. When she started hiding and acting strange and eating less I feared the worst and was prepared for the worst kind of news at the vet. Does anyone know what good be causing her to have this excess gas in her intestines?

Posted by: Tom's Dad Jul 30 2013, 07:50 AM

Oh, DannysMom

I am SO sorry to hear about Miss Mindy's difficulties. I'm afraid I do not know any more than what your vet has told you. Could you get another opinion? I will keep her and you in my thoughts and prayers. Please let us know how she is doing. Take care.

TTT

Posted by: moon_beam Jul 30 2013, 08:56 AM

Hi, DannysMom, please permit me to add my sincerest comfort to you during this time of great concern for your precious Mindy. Our precious companions' physical bodies are subject to the same ailments as our human physical bodies. So, they too deal with gas in their intestines. As with our bodies when they eat something that is not agreeing with us or they feel more stress for whatever reason or other unknown factors arise gastric upsets can occur. The fact that the gas in her intestines is evenly distributed is good, - - with the caution of course that excessive gas can pose problems if not helped along the intestinal tract. You did the very best thing for your precious Mindy by taking her to the ER vet for tests and evaluation. The antacid will help with the gas in her digestive tract along with the other meds the ER vet gave you. And as Tracy has so appropriately encouraged you, if you have any doubts it is within your prerogative to seek a second opinion.

I truly identify with your precious Mindy's dilemma as my beloved beautiful baby girl Abbygayle had the same challenge - - as do some of the human population including me. The only encouragement I can offer you is to continue to work with her veterinary care provider on her weight issue. There are many advances coming to light about causes for weight challenges in people, and some of these advances may also apply to our precious companions. Talk to your veterinary care provider again. When my beloved Oslo was having his many delicate health challenges his veterinary care provider went onto a blog she belongs to to seek information on certain meds and procedures from her peers before she changed or added medication or performed a procedure on him - - not because she felt incapable of providing his medical care but rather to seek the counsel of her peers first in her effort to fulfill her Veterinary Oath - - "First Do No Harm". Perhaps your veterinary care provider has access to identical veterinary websites where he can seek the counsel of his peers with regard to your precious Mindy.

I hope your precious Mindy is feeling better today - -which I know will help YOU to feel better as well. Please know your precious Mindy and you, and your precious Shelley, are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how things are going.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Posted by: DannysMom Jul 30 2013, 05:49 PM

Tom's Dad, thanks for thinking of us. Sadly, Mindy is not doing any better today. She even hissed at Shelley tonight when she just wanted to get some lovin' from Mindy. And she has NEVER done that before. Mindy likes grooming Shelley. I can tell my little girl is in pain because of her constant hiding. When she does come out of hiding she is very agitated and her tail wags back and forth and she can't seem to settle down. She'll walk around nervously only to go back into hiding under my bed. I am so worried about her! My regular vet suggested waiting for the meds to take effect before bringing her in. They also gave me buprenorphine to relieve her pain, but that can cause gastric upset so I really don't know why they gave me that. It is more of a narcotic painkiller that lowers the respiratory rate and makes them sleepy. I am giving Mindy probiotics now to help with her excess gas.

Posted by: DannysMom Jul 30 2013, 05:59 PM

moon_beam, thanks for stopping by and for your suggestions. I think the ER vet did a really thorough job and I was happy with that. My regular vet doesn't even want to see her just yet, but how long is it supposed to take for these meds to work??? This is driving me crazy and I was so worried about Mindy all day. When I came home the ER vet called and they asked about Mindy. They're more concerned than my regular vet! I think the antacid they gave her last night helped some as she did eat a good portion of food later on. But during the night she was so agitated and restless. She would lie down on the bed with me and start grooming herself only to get agitated and jump off the bed again. She did this like four, five times in a row and it had me so worried I didn't sleep well. This morning she didn't do her favorite activity which is looking out the window. She NEVER misses that so I know she is not feeling well!!! She didn't even eat any food this morning before I left, but tonight after I got home she ate some and had a normal bowel movement after that. But right after going potty she went to hide under the bed again. Even though all the blood work came back normal I am still worried about Mindy. She's never gone into hiding like this before. I am thinking about ordering some digestive support pills online and see if those help. I started giving her probiotics last night.

You can't imagine how upsetting this is for me to see Mindy like this. Early this morning she laid down beside me on the bed and just wanted to be comforted. She enjoyed it when I petted her and just talked to her. My poor girl so much wanted to be comforted. She's had gas before, but not like this where she goes into hiding and is uninterested in her favorite activities.

Posted by: Tom's Dad Jul 30 2013, 08:32 PM

DannysMom

I'm so sorry to hear Miss Mindy is still in distress. I know from experience that antacid really does not do anything for gas in humans; I would imagine it's the same for cats. There is anti-gas medicine for humans (simethicone) Perhaps you can ask the vet if there is something similar for cats? I'm sure the probiotics help some. I know you say the blood work came back normal, but what about x-rays for some kind of blockage. I'm just trying to think of things to help. I have asked Theresa and Tang to say special kitty prayers for her. And of course both of you and Shelley are in my thoughts and prayers. Please let us know how she is doing. Blessings.

TTT

Posted by: DannysMom Jul 30 2013, 08:35 PM

I am just beside myself. I broke down and cried and cried and cried. I am so worried about Mindy. I am afraid that I might lose her, that she's going to die. I remember how Tina used to hide under the bed all the time in the weeks before she died and Mindy doing the same thing is freaking me out. She came out for a few minutes and sat up and did some scratching, but when Shelley jumped on the bed she went hiding again. It's like she's hiding from Shelley and she didn't used to do that. They are best friends and Shelley is a gentle cat. I've read that cats hide when they are in pain and so weak that they can't defend themselves. That scared me. Even though her blood work was normal and the x-ray didn't show anything unusual I am still worried. I spent some time sitting by the bed and Mindy came close to the edge and allowed me to pet her. In fact she seemed to enjoy it very much and liked my company. She rubbed her head on my hand and looked at me with those beautiful golden eyes and that touched my heart so much. She gently placed a paw on my arm and laid her head on my hand. She even rolled around playfully, but when I went to rub her tummy she gave me a warning bite. So I know her tummy is real tender and the gas is causing her pain. I think I may just take her back to Bay Beach and see what else they can do for her. It breaks my heart that she is still hiding so much.

Posted by: moon_beam Jul 31 2013, 08:00 AM

Hi, DannysMom, I can very well imagine how worried you are about your precious Mindy. When our precious companion's behaviors change so negatively so radically that truly is a call for action. If I may offer you a word of caution - - you need to be careful how much "additional" meds you give her - - even holistic remedies / preventives - - because this, too, can add misery to an already sensitive digestive system. Sometimes when we are doing the right thing it can be at the "wrong time". It may be better to wait to add the holistic preventives after she is over whatever is causing her current distress. It's just a thought - - for whatever it may be worth. I think you are very wise to continue to seek veterinary care for your precious little girl as you as her Forever Mom know her the best.

I hope you and your precious Mindy and Shelley were able to get some rest last night, and that this morning your precious Mindy is doing better. Please know you and your precious Mindy, and Shelley, are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how your precious girl Mindy is doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Posted by: DannysMom Jul 31 2013, 05:39 PM

QUOTE (Tom's Dad @ Jul 30 2013, 09:32 PM) *
DannysMom

I'm so sorry to hear Miss Mindy is still in distress. I know from experience that antacid really does not do anything for gas in humans; I would imagine it's the same for cats. There is anti-gas medicine for humans (simethicone) Perhaps you can ask the vet if there is something similar for cats? I'm sure the probiotics help some. I know you say the blood work came back normal, but what about x-rays for some kind of blockage. I'm just trying to think of things to help. I have asked Theresa and Tang to say special kitty prayers for her. And of course both of you and Shelley are in my thoughts and prayers. Please let us know how she is doing. Blessings.

TTT


Tom's Dad, thanks for your suggestion about the anti-gas medicine. I've been looking for digestive support for cats online. Apparently they can have gas if the food is not properly digested and that's where the probiotics and digestive enzymes come in. They did do an x-ray on Mindy but found no blockage, just gas.

Posted by: DannysMom Jul 31 2013, 05:49 PM

moon_beam, thanks for the word of caution, but I really do think probiotics and digestive enzymes will help. Cats can have gas if their food is not properly digested and most cats foods lack digestive enzymes because the kibble gets cooked at such high temps that the enzymes don't survive. I did a lot of research on what's causing gas in cats and it seems to me that giving her probiotics and digestive enzymes will help not harm her. But I appreciate your caution. I'm just so distraught over my poor Mindy's condition and want to help her.

Last night Mindy woke me up when I heard her meowing loudly. She came and hopped on the bed and snuggled with me. She even did come out for a while last night and laid down in the dining room. I put her up by the window and she looked out the window for a while. This morning Mindy and Shelley both came to greet me in the bedroom and Shelley was sniffing on Mindy which didn't seem to bother her. But later on Mindy hissed at Shelley when she came near her, twice! She just didn't want anything to do with Shelley and normally they are best friends. Mindy sat in the window for a while this morning and watched the birds and I almost breathed a sigh of relief, but she abandoned the window seat after just a few minutes and went into hiding again. Mindy didn't mind getting her tummy rubbed this morning so I take that as a good sign. Still, this evening she went into hiding as soon as I came up the stairs. She came out just a few minutes ago, meowed to make her presence known and ate some food.

I am very very distressed about her behavior change toward Shelley. It's so sad that she hissed at her. I just feel so helpless in dealing with this situation.

Posted by: Tom's Dad Jul 31 2013, 07:27 PM

Hello DannysMom

Thank you for letting us know how your precious Mindy is doing. It sounds like she is making some progress, but I certainly understand your concern. Especially in her short temper with Shelley; poor girl must be wondering what she did wrong. You mentioned taking her back to Bay Beach. Have you been able to consult with them at all? I do hope she feels better soon. We will all keep her, Shelley and you in our thoughts and prayers. Take care.

TTT

Posted by: DannysMom Jul 31 2013, 08:24 PM

Tom's Dad, I remembered I had some Gas-X at home, so I cut off a tiny sliver for Mindy and gave it to her in a pill pocket. She took it, but I guess I'll have to wait and see what it does for her. She did come out again, but stayed to herself and did not come into the living room where I was with Shelley. I was able to keep her out here by playing with her for a bit, but when I stopped playing she went under the bed again. She acts like she is feeling a bit better, but it bothers me that she still keeps to herself. Bay Beach said I can bring her back anytime. I think I will give it another day and see how she does before taking her back in. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and thank Tang and Theresa for their special kitty prayers! smile.gif

Posted by: Tom's Dad Aug 1 2013, 07:21 AM

Hello DannysMom

Thank you for letting us know how Miss Mindy is doing. You may want to be careful about giving her even small doses of human meds before checking with the vet. It sounds like she's doing a little better each day. As for hissing at Shelley, maybe it's something other than not feeling well. Is there anything different or new around the home? Any new smells? I can understand it's distressing that Mindy is pushing away her friend. Perhaps the vet can shed some light on that too. Meanwhile, we will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers (both kitty and human) Take care.

TTT

Posted by: moon_beam Aug 1 2013, 10:37 AM

Hi, DannysMom, thank you so much for sharing with us how your precious Mindy, and Shelley, are doing. I do so empathize with you in your concern about the drastic change in your precious Mindy's health and behavior. There is no doubt that SOMETHING is / has definitely happened. Part of the distress we experience as their caregivers is that our precious companions cannot tell us in a common language what happened or where they hurt.

One thing that stands out at me about Mindy's not enjoying looking outside - - I'm wondering if she saw something that frightened her so much that she is now terribly frightened - - thus causing her to seek shelter under the bed for refuge. And whatever she saw frightened her soooo much that is has caused extreme stress which has upset her digestive system. It's just a thought - - may or may not be helpful or useful.

The good news is that she seems to be responding to your attempts to comfort and reassure her, and hopefully she will once again find comfort with her sister Shelley. Whatever happened / is happening, there is no doubt that she is blessed to have you for her Forever Mom.

I also know all too well what it is like to have to go to a job all day long when your heart longs to be home with your precious Mindy, and Shelley, as your precious Mindy needs you. I hope today is treating you and your precious Mindy and Shelley kindly, and that this morning finds your precious Mindy doing better. Please know you and your precious Mindy, and Shelley, are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how your precious girl Mindy is doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Posted by: DannysMom Aug 1 2013, 05:32 PM

Tom's Dad, I did some research on the Gas-X and it is safe to give them, in the infant formula that has no dyes. So I picked some up at the drugstore today. Late last night I saw Mindy out on the stairs with Shelley and she seemed comfortable. During the night Mindy snuggled on the bed with me again. This morning things were looking up a bit more. Mindy was up and about and she did sit by the window for a while, watching the birds. Only when I left for work did she go hide under the bed again. Tonight when I came home she greeted me at the top of the stairs and nibbled on some food. I gave her the antacid and 1/2 a probiotic tablet. She didn't eat much though and soon went under the bed again. So, a bit later I gave her an appetite stimulant from the ER vet. I'm hoping she comes out later so I can give her some more Gas-X. They can get 0.1 ml which is safe for them.

Moon_beam, thank you for suggesting that something might have frightened her. You could very well be right. Although this morning she did look outside and seemed to enjoy it. But she doesn't sit with me and Shelley in the living room like she used to. She'd always be close by, and now she stays away and hides. I don't know if something disturbed her or she witnessed something very upsetting. The only thing that's changed is that my neighbor below seems to be away and it's quieter with the dog not barking (which I don't mind). That's really the only thing I can think of. Mindy seems happy enough when I come visit her in her hideout and she enjoys being petted. She even crawled out from under the bed and looked out through the balcony door, but then when I opened the door she was unsure and went back into hiding. I'm wondering if my other neighbor's obnoxious teenage son maybe tried to climb up on my balcony. School is out and he is home during the day. I don't know that he would really try that, but then again...

I just feel so sad when Mindy is not out here with us. I really do miss her presence and her sweet little face.

Posted by: DannysMom Aug 1 2013, 08:02 PM

Just a quick update on Miss Mindy...she came out and ate some food and I gave her a drop of Gas-X in her mouth. I asked her to open her mouth and she did and I squirted the drop right in. It seemed to help her as she stayed out and I played a round of "chase the teaser" with her which she enjoyed. She even sniffed on Shelley, but then I heard her hiss at Shelley again when they were both downstairs by the door. Shelley backed into a corner and looked at Mindy as if to say:"I meant no harm, sis'". Mindy went potty and came back upstairs and sat on my lap for a while. Then she hopped on the couch and is still curled up there, napping. I think the Gas-X liquid really must have helped. I will give that to her until I get the digestive enzymes in.

I also talked to Mindy and tried to calm her down and told her that she is safe here. She purred so much while she was on my lap. It makes me feel so much better that she came out and is here with me.

Posted by: Tom's Dad Aug 2 2013, 01:44 PM

DannysMom

Thank for letting us know how Miss Mindy is doing. It sounds like she's making fairly good progress. It's a little disheartening that she is still hissing at poor Shelley. Perhaps as she starts to feel better that will stop, hopefully. Are you still going to have her checked out at the vet again? I hope today is treating you all very kindly. Take care.

TTT

Posted by: moon_beam Aug 2 2013, 02:04 PM

Hi, DannysMom, thank you so much for sharing with us how your precious Mindy is doing. There is no doubt you are doing everything in your power to comfort her and help her to feel better. I'm hoping and praying that whatever has happened to upset her will soon be resolved.

I hope today is treating you and your precious Mindy and Shelley kindly, and that your precious Mindy is doing better. Please know you and your precious Mindy, and Shelley, are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how your precious girl Mindy is doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Posted by: DannysMom Aug 3 2013, 12:08 PM

Tom's Dad and moon_beam, thank you both for your concern about my sweet Mindy. It was disheartening to see her hide again yesterday morning and not sitting in the window. A few minutes after I gave her the probiotic pill for cats she started to get the twitchy tail again and jumped up a few times and then ran into the bedroom again to hide. Last night she ate good and did come out and lay at the top of the stairs which is part of her usual routine. When I went to bed she came to snuggled and started licking herself and getting all twitchy again so I talked to her and petted her and told her that it's okay. That calmed her down and she did the sweetest thing...she snuggled close to my arm and laid her head on my arm and touched me with her paw. Of course I thought about feline hyperesthesia symptom, so I did some research and watched a video on what that looks like in a cat, but it's not what Mindy does. I read it could also be a sign of dehydration or lack of magnesium or simply stress. She seems to be okay when I talk to her and pet her and calm her down. She was so thankful that she happily snuggled with me all night. This morning she even tried to initiate play with Shelley when Shelley jumped on the bed and sniffed at Mindy. When I got up Mindy thought about hiding but changed her mind and sat in the window instead. She did eat some dry food and so far she seems to be okay. Last night when we were still up she had another episode of the twitchy tail and so I talked to her and calmed her down. I remember that in the weeks before she was hiding constantly she started to hide under the bed for a bit at a time, but I didn't think anything of it.

Tom's Dad, I haven't taken her back to the vet yet. I'm going to watch her this weekend and see how she does. Mindy and I had a good game of "teaser chase" last night and I think that helped her too.

Posted by: moon_beam Aug 3 2013, 03:22 PM

Hi, DannysMom, thank you so much for sharing with us how your precious Mindy, and Shelley, are doing. It sounds like your precious Mindy is responding to your comforting encouragement, and this is very good news - - evidenced by her snuggling with you and playing "teaser chase". Encouraging her to do things she used to do is a great help to her.

I hope today is treating you and your precious Mindy and Shelley kindly, and that your precious Mindy is doing better. Please know you and your precious Mindy, and Shelley, are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how your precious girl Mindy is doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Posted by: Tom's Dad Aug 3 2013, 04:45 PM

Hello DannysMom

Thank you for letting us know how Miss Mindy is doing. It sounds like she is making pretty good progress. I'm thinking moon_beam may be right about her getting "spooked" by something. Mine will do that (hide, etc) if say the bug man or maintenance is in while I'm gone; but not for such a long period. Oh, and they will act strange if I/we sense a visit from Tom. Just some possibilities.

In any case, it sounds like she is improving under your loving care. We will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers. I hope today has been kind to you all and that your evening goes well. Take care.

TTT

Posted by: DannysMom Aug 4 2013, 02:43 PM

Tom's Dad, it looks more and more likely that she has the dreaded FHS after all. I watched her back "roll" a couple times, it was like a ripple going through her back muscles. At first she started to panic again but I talked to her and she stayed on the couch and had a long nap. She was out on bug watch with Shelley last night and snuggled with me on the bed through most of the night. This morning she acted fairly normal, going through her usual routine of sitting in the window and watching the birds. But this afternoon, just a few minutes ago I watched her back "ripple" again and she started to panic and headed for the bedroom. I picked her up and put her on my lap and calmed her down. She seemed okay after that. What sickens me is that this could potentially get worse. In extreme cases the cat will attack and mutilate her own tail and will become very aggressive. Usually this strikes mostly Siamese and Oriental cats and that's what puzzles me, because Mindy doesn't have any of that in her, at least not that I can tell. Shelley is part Siamese and you can definitely see that, but not Mindy. Cats with FHS will hallucinate and act like something is chasing them. This is all so weird. Mindy has always been such a calm cat and she and Shelley have been best friends. Now Shelley is much more cautious around Mindy. I've read that it's important to keep a low-stress environment for cats with FHS, but I honestly don't know how I could make this place any more stress-free. My place is basically an oasis of quiet. I don't play any loud music, there are no screaming kids, etc. It's just quiet all the time. I've read that cats with FHS are usually put on anti-depressants or phenobarbital. There is NO WAY I would ever give that junk to my Mindy!!! NO WAY!!! I know there's some natural stuff out there, so I will try that first.

Posted by: moon_beam Aug 4 2013, 03:00 PM

Hi, DannysMom, thank you so much for sharing with us how your precious Mindy, you, and your precious Shelley are doing. I can certainly understand your not wanting your precious Mindy on prescribed drugs unless it is absolutely necessary. You must remember, however, that the "natural" homeopathic medicines have the same properties as the pharmaceuticals - - which is why it is essential not to give "natural" remedies of the same nature if someone - - be they our precious companions or humans - - are on prescribed medicines as this can cause an overdose reaction. I hope the "natural" supplements you give to your precious Mindy will help her. Please let us know how things go, and how your precious Mindy is doing.

I hope today is treating you and your precious Mindy and Shelley kindly, and that you and your precious girls will have a very peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Danny's and Tina's sweet Living Spirits to comfort you. Please know you and your precious girls are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I look forward to knowing how things are going.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Posted by: Tom's Dad Aug 4 2013, 05:05 PM

DannysMom

I'm sorry to hear Mindy is still in distress. But it may not necessarily be FHS. I would check with the vet and see what they have to say and any tests they can do. It could be that something is spooking her and causing her to react that way, and not the other way around. I would tend to agree with moon_beam about caution in what you give her, at least until you know what you are dealing with. We will keep her, Shelley and you in our thoughts and prayers. Please let us know how she is doing. Take care

TTT

Posted by: DannysMom Aug 5 2013, 06:26 PM

moon_beam and Tom's Dad, thank you both for your concern and for your suggestions. I'm still keeping a watch on Mindy to see how she does. I hesitate to subject her to testing for FHS as that is diagnosed by exclusion. They would run all sorts of test including skin scraping and all of that could very well cost me about 2000 dollars or so which I really cannot afford right now. Her previous vet visit already ran 528 dollars. My main thing right now is to provide better nutritional support for Mindy, especially the Omega fatty acids. Those are important. I'm still not quite sure if she really does have FHS as cats with that disorder cannot stand to be touched when they have an episode, but not so Mindy. She seems to like it when I pet her and calm her down and it doesn't bother her having her back touched. It could be just something like a flea crawling up her back, but then again that doesn't explain her getting so spooked and hiding.

This morning she seemed to be fine. She jumped on the bed and got real frisky playing "catch Mom's fingers" under the sheets. She acted more her usual self today, swatting Shelley when she did her usual song and dance for the canned food. She also sat in the window as usual and swatted Shelley when she took Mindy's place, but Shelley was unperturbed and did not yield her spot. This evening Mindy greeted me at the top of the stairs and she ate good and played by herself with a piece of paper. She's been keeping me company while I'm here at the computer and that's also part of her usual routine. I'm still giving her the antacid and also the cat probiotic twice a day. Tom's Dad I know you had suggested she may have been spooked by maintenance coming in, but they haven't been here. They don't come in unannounced, and even if they had they would have left a note. She may be distraught over my downstairs neighbor being away and not hearing her dog. That's the only change that happened in Mindy's environment. She may also have witnessed something outside that frightened her, but then again Shelley doesn't seem scared. I live on the second floor, so there's no chance someone can just "walk" up the windows and frighten my girls. I'm just trying to pamper her and love her and engage her in play to help feel her more at ease.

Posted by: Tom's Dad Aug 5 2013, 07:27 PM

Hello DannysMom

I'm glad to hear Mindy is improving somewhat. I had no idea they did so much before deciding it's FHS; just though there was a specific blood test. Shows what I know unsure.gif I can certainly understand the stress of the expense (better than most, perhaps) But as you say she has no issue with you touching her, that sounds promising. I didn't suggest it was maintenance that scared her; just an example of what has spooked my babies. But, it sure does sound like she's on about something. Any changes in their environment, how ever small, can just upset their whole apple cart.

It sounds like you are doing all you can for her and Shelley. We will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers. Please let us know how she is doing. Take care.

TTT

Posted by: moon_beam Aug 6 2013, 10:55 AM

Hi, DannysMom, thank you so much for sharing with us how your precious Mindy, you, and your precious Shelley are doing. I did some reading up on FHS as well, and I, like you, am hesitant to have your precious Mindy undergo the rigors of the "elimination" tests to obtain a definitive diagnosis. It sounds from what you share with us that she is responding to your loving attention and care - - and is showing signs of regaining some confidence again. This is very good news, and I will continue to keep your precious Mindy in my thoughts and prayers that she will be able to resume her normal routines completely without any concern of a "relapse." Please let us know how things go with your precious Mindy.

I hope today is treating you and your precious girls kindly, my friend, and that you and your precious Mindy and Shelley will have a very peaceful, blissful, and cozy evening blessed with your beloved Danny's and Tina's sweet Living Spirits to comfort you. I thank you for the blessing of your friendship, DannysMom, and of your precious girls. Please know you and your precious Mindy and Shelley are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you and your precious girls are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Posted by: DannysMom Aug 6 2013, 08:00 PM

Tom's Dad and moon_beam, thanks for being there for me. This whole health scare with Mindy has left me so exhausted, and I so appreciate your comments and your concern. Moon_beam, thanks for reading up on FHS. It is kind of a strange disorder and usually affects Siamese and Oriental breeds of which Mindy is neither (that I know of). She seemed okay this morning until she started grooming herself and then her back and her tail started twitching again which scared her and sent her running into the bedroom. But she came back out soon. I have noticed she tries to "control" the twitch by not wagging or swishing or tail and I know that's got to be a bit frustrating for her. She did fine tonight with no hiding episodes, but she showed some tuxie-tude when we played with the feather wand. Mindy lost interest and then Shelley started going after the wand which really riled Mindy. She had that look in her eyes that said:"How DARE you play with the toy when I ignore it!" So she chased after poor Shelley. Mindy did her usual routine of bird watching this morning, so that was encouraging as well. This evening she stayed in the living room with me which is pretty much routine for her. I am glad that she is doing better, but I will keep a watchful eye on her.

Posted by: moon_beam Aug 7 2013, 11:07 AM

Hi, DannysMom, thank you so much for sharing with us how your precious Mindy, you, and your precious Shelley are doing. I'm glad to know that your precious Mindy girl is showing some signs of returning to her normal activities - - and "tuxi-tude". It is always concerning when we see our precious companions' behaviors change so drastically and we haven't a clue why. You did the right thing in seeking medical assistance for her which at least ruled out all the things that "could be" causing her distress. I know seeing her interact with Shelley once again is helping you to know that your precious Mindy is back on the road to normalcy.

As always, I hope today is treating you and your precious girls kindly, my friend, and that you and your precious Mindy and Shelley will have a very peaceful, blissful, and cozy evening blessed with your beloved Danny's and Tina's sweet Living Spirits to comfort you. I thank you for the blessing of your friendship, DannysMom, and of your precious girls. Please know you and your precious Mindy and Shelley are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you and your precious girls are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Posted by: Tom's Dad Aug 7 2013, 03:34 PM

Hello DannysMom

Thank you for sharing how Miss Mindy is doing. It sounds like she's making fairly steady improvement. I do hope this trend continues for the better. Keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers.

TTT

Posted by: DannysMom Aug 7 2013, 05:43 PM

Tom's Dad and moon_beam, thanks so much for your continued concern for my precious Mindy. Right now she is on the floor next to me and quite relaxed. This morning she gave me quite a scare though as she took a turn for the worse. She started getting agitated and restless again and had the tail twitch and back twitch and was running around on the stairs trying to chase her tail and then ran into the bedroom and hid under the bed. She would not come out as much as I coaxed her. It scared me so and I left for work with a heavy heart. Last night I was doing more research on FHS and came across a website where a lady reported her cat having FHS and she suspected it had to do with the food she was feeding the cat. Other people's comments said similar things. Some brands of no-grain or low-grain food apparently seem to cause these FHS type symptoms. I wondered if perhaps the canned food that I'm feeding is the culprit. It has L-Carnitine in it, 25m/kg. Humans should take no more than 3 grams or they can get these symptoms:

Nausea and vomiting
Stomach upsets
Heartburn
Diarrhoea
A stuffy nose and headache
Seizures for those people who are prone to seizure disorders. Anyone who has had a seizure in the past should avoid using carnitine.
Some people have reported restlessness and problems sleeping so it best to take carnitine earlier in the day.
Changes to blood pressure and a fast heartbeat.
High energy levels

Kinda sounds like what Mindy has. Her tummy is affected and she is also restless. That would definitely fit her symptoms. I'm going to try and feed her a different canned food tomorrow morning, one that doesn't have the high levels of L-Carnitine, and see how she does. I originally got this food because L-Carnitine helps metabolize fat and I thought that would help Mindy lose weight. I only feed her the canned food in the morning, not at night. Right now she seems fine. The dry food that I'm feeding doesn't have the L-Carnitine in it. Right now they're getting Merrick Purrfect Bistro for Adult Cats and sometimes I feed Mindy some Orijen for Kittens and Adults. Thankfully I have some cans of Holistic Select canned food left. She always did good on that. I've researched some other canned food, but I'm trying to avoid those that contain carrageenan, because it can cause stomach upset in cats and people. It's used as some type of binder.

I was so anxious all day, worrying if Mindy was okay at home. I'm glad that right now she is relaxing so good and not having any issues.

Posted by: Tom's Dad Aug 8 2013, 07:25 AM

Hello DannysMom

Just stopping by to say thanks for updating us on Miss Mindy. I hope the change in diet is helpful. As always, keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers. Be well.

TTT

Posted by: moon_beam Aug 8 2013, 01:44 PM

Hi, DannysMom, adding my sincere thanks to Tracy's for keeping us informed as to how your precious Mindy is doing. It is very challenging finding the absolute "right" food that will settle on our precious companion's tummies without causing any kind of upset. I'm so glad you found the website that gave you some valuable insight and information which I hope will help you help your precious Mindy. Please know your precious Mindy, you, and your precious Shelley, are in my thoughts and prayers that the change in food will help your precious Mindy, and please let us know how she's doing.

I hope today is treating you and your precious Mindy and Shelley kindly, my friend, and that you and your precious girls will have a very peaceful, blissful, and cozy evening blessed with your beloved Danny's and Tina's sweet Living Spirits to comfort you. I thank you for the blessing of your friendship, DannysMom, and of your precious girls. Please know you and your precious Mindy and Shelley are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you and your precious girls are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Posted by: DannysMom Aug 8 2013, 06:09 PM

Tom's Dad and moon_beam, thanks for caring about my sweet Miss Mindy. Last night she had a lot of twitching going on. She got so annoyed that she tried to bite her tail several times. She got restless after a while, and when she started grooming herself the tail twitch and back twitch started. I felt so bad for her. This morning I did NOT feed them the usual C&P canned food, but instead gave Mindy Holistic Select canned food which Shelley doesn't like so she just ate some dry food. Mindy seemed calm and relaxed after eating the Holistic Select. She didn't have any twitching and didn't go hide. She went about her usual bird-watching routine and even tried to groom sister Shelley. Tonight when I came home she seemed her usual self, so I guess I'm on the right track. I fed her just some dry Orijen tonight to see if that causes her any problems. I'm thinking that maybe the other dry food, the Purrfect Bistro, may be causing her some problems as well. That lady's website was talking about how too much Thiamine (B1) in cat food can make cats restless and aggressive. Shelley seemed really wired this morning after eating the Purrfect Bistro, so I'm glad Mindy didn't eat it.

I've found some new canned cat food that I've ordered which they both may like and which doesn't have carrageenan or the L-carnitine. It's RedBarn's "Tricky Chicken" canned cat food and it seemed like something they both would like. Plus it doesn't have much more calories than the C&P canned food which is good for Mindy.

Last night she had the twitches real bad though which made her want to snuggle close to me again when I went to bed. I can tell it scares her and she is looking for comfort. It scared me too to see her like this. It's just awful that these pet food manufacturers can't make more decent food that doesn't harm our fur kids. Even the so-called super premium food isn't always what it's cracked up to be. If I just had more time I would probably go to home-made food.

Posted by: Tom's Dad Aug 9 2013, 04:16 PM

Hello DannysMom

Thanks for sharing Miss Mindy's progress with us. It is sounding like it's diet oriented from everything you have posted. Like people, as cats get older I guess their tolerance to certain foods changes. I'm glad you seem on a good track toward helping her get better. Hoping today has been kind to you, Mindy and Shelley and that you all have a wonderful evening and weekend. TTFN

TTT

Posted by: DannysMom Aug 10 2013, 02:46 PM

Tom's Dad, I think that maybe in this batch of canned food they got a bit too much of the L-Carnitine in there. I know accidents can happen, and I suspect that's what happened here. Now I don't know if it was Mindy or Shelley, but one of the two vomited this morning down by the door. It was just bits of food and lots of clear bile. But Mindy seemed okay today. She has been calm and relaxed and really sweet, even grooming sister Shelley again. Mindy really seems to be back to her old self and for that I'm thankful. I just hope she likes the new canned food and that it doesn't have anything in it that disagrees with her. It's made in the USA, so that does make me feel better as I don't trust pet food ingredients from China.

Posted by: Tom's Dad Aug 10 2013, 05:37 PM

Hello DannyMom

I'm glad to hear that Mindy seems to be doing better. Sorry to hear either she or Shelley's tummy didn't agree with the food. You're probably right that food made here is safer than China. I hope you have all had a good day and have an even better evening.

TTT

Posted by: DannysMom Aug 11 2013, 02:47 PM

Well...it seems I've wasted my money on the "Tricky Chicken" canned food. I poured it in the bowl this morning and it looks so yummy and good that I thought this was definitely a winner. But no....Shelley sniffed at it and walked away and demanded dry food and Mindy just ate a few pieces and left the rest. Ugh! ohmy.gif

So this afternoon I went to the pet store and got single cans of different food to try out. Not going to waste another 35 bucks on a whole case of canned food! I got a can of Weruva, 2 cans of Merrick, and 1 can of EVO. Tried the Weruva "Paw Lickin Chicken" food this afternoon. Both cats just sniffed on it and wouldn't touch it. Ack!!!

Then...a surprise...Mindy changed her mind and ate a good portion of it. Shelley unfortunately is THE pickiest cat I've had as far as food goes. I guess I'll try the Merrick tomorrow and see how it goes. I have got to find one type of canned food that they both like and that won't give Miss Mindy the twitches or stomach upset. Well, I guess I will donate the unused cat food to a shelter or rescue.

Miss Mindy seems her usual self today, playful, calm, and loving.

Posted by: Tom's Dad Aug 11 2013, 05:47 PM

Hello DannysMom.

I'm glad to hear that Mindy is doing better, but so sorry that you seem to have wasted so much of your resources on food neither seems to like. I know all about finicky. Was a time when Theresa would only eat Friskies pate tuna or whitefish. Then she stopped wanting that even. Tang only seemed to want 9 Lives (any flavor) For a while I kept both on hand but stopped after several failed attempts on Theresa and the Friskies.

I hope you can find a solution that both like. I hope today has treated you, Mindy and Shelley well and that you all have a pleasant evening. TTFN

TTT

Posted by: moon_beam Aug 12 2013, 02:59 PM

Hi, DannysMom, thank you so much for sharing with us how your precious Mindy, you, and your precious Shelley, are doing. Our companions can indeed be very finicky about their food - - but I am glad to know that your precious Mindy gave the Weruva food a chance after all, and hope that it is indeed "Paw Lickin'" good!! Perhaps seeing Mindy give it a try will encourage Shelley to do so as well -- it reminds of the "Life" cereal advertisements "I'm not going to eat, YOU eat it - - hey, let's get Mikey - - he'll eat anything!!! Hey, he likes it!!"

So glad to share your news that your precious Mindy seems to be getting back to her normal self - - I know this makes you feel MUCH BETTER, too!!!

I hope today is treating you and your precious Mindy and Shelley kindly, my friend, and that you and your precious girls will have a very peaceful, blissful, and cozy evening blessed with your beloved Danny's and Tina's sweet Living Spirits to comfort you. I thank you for the blessing of your friendship, DannysMom, and of your precious girls. Please know you and your precious Mindy and Shelley are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you and your precious girls are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Posted by: DannysMom Aug 12 2013, 06:10 PM

Hello moon_beam, I am so chuckling about your comments! laugh.gif Yes, the Weruva was indeed "Paw Lickin" good, at least according to Miss Mindy. She ate pretty much all of it and I just had to throw out the last few bites as they had been sitting out too long. She ate some and came back for seconds. In the reviews I've read of this food one lady said that her cat lost its big girth, so I'm hoping the food will do the same for Mindy. Since she likes it I've ordered a case for her. I may just feed the C&P to only Shelley as she seems to like it and doesn't get the twitching from it.

Today I tried the Merrick "Grammie's Pot Pie" and when I opened it the food looked so delicious that I almost wanted to eat it! But...it received two paws down from both Mindy and Shelley. They both ate a little bit, but weren't interested after that. Thankfully I will get the "Paw Lickin Chicken" tomorrow afternoon. Now it's down to the Merrick's "Cowboy cookout" and the EVO "Turkey and Chicken". The good thing about the "Paw Lickin Chicken" is that it doesn't have carrageenan which is a carcinogen and can cause stomach upset. Their cans are also BPA free.


Posted by: DannysMom Aug 14 2013, 06:20 PM

Miss Mindy is still doing well. I tried a little experiment yesterday and gave my girls just a bit of the Ultramix canned food (the one that I thought was causing her problems), but this one from the new case that I had bought before all this happened. Mindy ate some and seemed more energetic and playful after having eaten the food with the L-carnitine, but she didn't attack her tail or go into hiding. I gave the girls the rest of the Ultramix can this morning and Mindy seemed fine. I think I will use the rest of the cans, but mix it with the "Paw Licking Chicken" that I got in today. Shelley really likes the Ultramix food and gives two paws down to all the other canned food I've tried. She is a very finicky eater!

Posted by: moon_beam Aug 15 2013, 08:33 AM

Hi, DannysMom, thank you so much for sharing with us how your precious Mindy, you, and your precious Shelley are doing. I am so smiling at your precious girls' "reviews" of the food you have been trying with them "two paws down" for the "bad" food. It sounds like you are on the right track with their food. Companies have a tendency to change their products all in the name of "new and improved" marketing - - while the changes cause upsets with our precious companion(s) digestive tracts - - and we are left wondering "what in the world is happening" with them when they become sick for no "apparent reason." Your astuteness and determination to provide the best quality food possible for your precious girls is a credit to your loving care for them, and I know they deeply and sincerely appreciate you being their Forever Mom.

I hope today is treating your precious Mindy and Shelley and you kindly, my friend, and that you and your precious girls will have a very peaceful, blissful, and cozy evening blessed with your beloved Danny's and Tina's sweet Living Spirits to comfort you. I thank you for the blessing of your friendship, DannysMom, and of your precious Mindy and Shelley. Please know you and your precious girls are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I look forward to knowing how each of you are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Posted by: DannysMom Aug 15 2013, 06:41 PM

Moon_beam, thanks for caring about my sweet Mindy. Yes, pet food companies do change their ingredients and most of the time it's because they'll use some cheaper stuff. I found out to my dismay that Orijen has changed their formula somewhat, but their food is still very good and high in protein.

This morning I mixed the "Paw Lickin Chicken" with some of the Ultramix canned food. Mindy happily ate some while Shelley just nibbled a bit at the Ultramix. When I came home tonight there were just a few scraps of food left which Mindy quickly ate, leaving only little bits of the "Paw Lickin Chicken" in the bowl. To my surprise Shelley came and ate it. I guess she is warming up to the new food after all. Maybe she figures that if Mindy likes it then it has to be good! laugh.gif

I really hope that Mindy can lose her extra weight safely. I may still decide in the future to feed them some homemade food, like boiled chicken with a few veggies and a vitamin supplement mixed in. Even if I get the organic chicken it should still be pretty inexpensive. After all my girls are just small cats and don't need all that much. My mom used to feed all of our dogs fresh meat from the butcher and they all lived long healthy lives. I think the less processed the food the better it is for our fur kids. There are some nice and easy recipes for homemade cat food and treats that I've found.

Posted by: moon_beam Aug 16 2013, 06:22 AM

Hi, DannysMom, thank you so much for sharing with us how your precious Mindy, you, and your precious Shelley are doing. Sounds like your precious girls are becoming accustomed to the new food. I am so glad to share your news that your precious Mindy is continuing to be her normal self again. I admire you for considering - - and attempting - - to fix your precious girls homemade food. You are right about the difference between fresh food and processed food. I wish you the best in your endeavors to give your culinary abilities a try on behalf of your precious Mindy and Shelley. Please let us know how it goes.

I hope today is treating your precious Mindy and Shelley and you kindly, my friend, and that you and your precious girls will have a very peaceful, blissful, and cozy evening blessed with your beloved Danny's and Tina's sweet Living Spirits to comfort you. I thank you for the blessing of your friendship, DannysMom, and of your precious Mindy and Shelley. Please know you and your precious girls are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I look forward to knowing how each of you are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Posted by: xxForeverxx Sep 23 2013, 05:56 AM

DannysMom

I feel awful I have missed all this and not been there for you. How is your Mindy doing? How awful that she has been in pain and whats worse is not knowing what it is as everything came back normal. She is in the best hands with you and I am glad to that the ER vet was extremely good.

How is Shelley coping with Mindys ups and downs. I am sure she is coping quite well as she is an amazing cat.

xxForeverxx

Posted by: DannysMom Nov 27 2013, 08:09 PM

My poor Mindy is sick again. Sigh! When I came home this afternoon and petted her I noticed a big, red rash above her right eye. I called the vet and fortunately they were able to take us at such short notice. I mentioned to the vet that Mindy has been very restless lately, that she get a "twitchy" tail and back and that she attacks her tail sometimes. The vet said it looks like atopic dermatitis and they gave her a shot of depo-medrol to calm down the inflammation. He thought it could be caused by a food allergy, but he doesn't want me to change her food just yet. I've been reading up a bit on this and it looks like it could be caused by allergens in the air such as dust mites, or it could also be a flea allergy masked as atopic dermatitis. I remember that earlier in the summer I had given her a treatment of Revolution when she was so restless and had the twitchy tail, and after that she seemed more calm. I feel so bad that I didn't address this sooner. I hope it doesn't get worse as I don't want her on heavy duty drugs that suppress the immune system. I will probably get her some Omega 3 supplements as that is supposed to help. Poor Miss Mindy! I really feel bad about this. She has been so patient in dealing with it, and after we came home tonight she seemed much more calm.

Posted by: Tom's Dad Nov 28 2013, 07:04 AM

DannyMom

I'm so sorry to hear Miss Mindy is not feeling well. But you are doing everything you can to make her comfortable and help her get better. Don't beat yourself up, she knows how much you love her. I hope she feels better soon.

Posted by: Pippin's Mom Kel Dec 5 2013, 03:23 AM

QUOTE (DannysMom @ Nov 27 2013, 08:09 PM) *
My poor Mindy is sick again. Sigh! When I came home this afternoon and petted her I noticed a big, red rash above her right eye. I called the vet and fortunately they were able to take us at such short notice. I mentioned to the vet that Mindy has been very restless lately, that she get a "twitchy" tail and back and that she attacks her tail sometimes. The vet said it looks like atopic dermatitis and they gave her a shot of depo-medrol to calm down the inflammation. He thought it could be caused by a food allergy, but he doesn't want me to change her food just yet. I've been reading up a bit on this and it looks like it could be caused by allergens in the air such as dust mites, or it could also be a flea allergy masked as atopic dermatitis. I remember that earlier in the summer I had given her a treatment of Revolution when she was so restless and had the twitchy tail, and after that she seemed more calm. I feel so bad that I didn't address this sooner. I hope it doesn't get worse as I don't want her on heavy duty drugs that suppress the immune system. I will probably get her some Omega 3 supplements as that is supposed to help. Poor Miss Mindy! I really feel bad about this. She has been so patient in dealing with it, and after we came home tonight she seemed much more calm.



Danny's Mom, this must be so stressful for you! Know that dermatitis and other skin problems can be treated successfully in cats, though! My Strider has allergies - it's taken prednisolone every 3 days & allergy shots, but he's doing much better.


Kel

Posted by: DannysMom Dec 7 2013, 11:36 AM

Kel, thanks for your post. Mindy is doing a bit better. She doesn't like it when I put the ointment on her, but it surely does help. I have ordered some Omega-3 supplements for her and will try those first before I go the pharma route. I've also ordered Nupro nuggets for cat, but Mindy doesn't like those, however Shelley like them! Go figure.

Posted by: xxForeverxx Dec 21 2013, 01:27 PM

I am so sorry to hear about poor Mindy again.

She definitley is in the best hands with you. I hope she feels a little better for Christmas. It cant be nice dermatitis. I suffer from eczema on my hands and I moan about it all the time I hate it so I feel even more sorry for your little Mindy who cannot even tell you exactly how she is feeling.

xxForeverxx

Posted by: DannysMom Dec 26 2013, 12:14 PM

xxForeverxx, thank you for visiting. Mindy is doing better. Those two red bumps on her head have almost healed up. I am thinking that maybe it is a seasonal allergy, but she didn't have it last year at this time. I just don't know. Oh I feel for you about the eczema on your hands. That has got to be painful too, especially with washing your hands all day long. Have a look at this site and see if maybe some of these things will help you: http://www.eczema.net/best-eczema-treatments/

Posted by: xxForeverxx Jan 27 2014, 05:40 AM

Thanks DannysMom

I am going to check that out! Pixie has come up with scabs on her back again for the third time. I think hers might be a seasonal allergy too although she got her last ones only 6 months ago!

Glad to hear Mindy is doing better.

xxForeverxx

Posted by: DannysMom Jan 29 2014, 07:30 PM

xxForeverxx, yes Mindy is definitely better. I need to perhaps keep giving her those Nupro nuggets that are supposed to help with itchy skin and swab her chin with witch hazel once a week. That is safe to use on cats. So sorry to hear that Pixie has scabs again. That sounds painful! Our poor little tuxie girls! Maybe it could be from the dry indoor air as well.

Posted by: DannysMom Feb 22 2014, 02:22 PM

Poor Miss Mindy has taken a turn for the worse. She developed a rash on her tummy and had pulled out her fur there, plus the pustule is still on her ear. Took her to the vet yesterday and they gave her a shot of antibiotics for the rash and a steroid for the skin allergies. Could be environmental or food, they just don't know. Vet suggested feeding her a hypoallergenic food to find out if it's food allergies. Sounded good as I was not prepared to put her through a bunch of tests and all that.

Looked up the food this morning and to my dismay I discovered the hydrolized protein in it is from soy...yup, no meat, soy. I mean, I don't even eat soy, why would I give that to my cat? They surely don't eat soy in the wild. Read some reviews and one lady said her cat got so sick on this food and died from kidney failure. Yikes!!!! I was hopping mad. Went back to the vet today and returned the food. Hadn't opened it yet. Considering raw food or cooking my own pet food as my girls have gotten so chubby on the dry food. I feed them LESS than the recommended guidelines and they are still getting fat. Mindy is up to 13.01 now. Can't have that. Fed up with all this junky pet food. There has to be something better out there that won't make my girls fat and that's good for them. Soy! Pah! The worst thing is that Royal Canin wants 50 bucks for a 7 pound bag of that junk!!! Yeah, that's right....50 dollars! And it doesn't even have one tiny bit of real meat in it! I'm really upset.

Gave Mindy some Nupro Nuggets last night. She seems to be better today, not restless or itchy. But I don't want to have her on steroids all the time either. I really believe the best solution is proper nutrition. I'm against all this pharma stuff....rather have something natural and holistic.

Posted by: Tom's Dad Feb 22 2014, 05:27 PM

Hi DannysMom.

I'm so sorry to hear that Miss Mindy has taken such a bad turn. I hope the medicine helps and that you can settle on a food that will work with her and Shelley. I feel you on the costs. The RX food for Diabetes is up to close to 30.00 for a 3.5 LB bag ohmy.gif So per Dr. Mills advice I had to settle for a premium brand senior formula as the "next best" thing.

We are sending our positive thoughts and wishes for a speedy recovery for Miss Mindy. Hoping you all are otherwise doing well. TTFN

TTT

Posted by: DannysMom Mar 15 2014, 12:05 PM

Tom's Dad, thanks for caring about Mindy's condition. I do not like the Science Diet food, period. It's just not good food. You are much better off with the Iam's.
Since Mindy had that shot of antibiotics and the steroid shot there hasn't been a red bump on her face or even acne on her chin. The fur on her tummy has started to grow back. Someone told me that cats can get staph infections very easily. I switched out her dry food to "Life's Abundance". Both Shelley and Mindy like it, but Mindy did not want the canned food from that brand even though it's got good ingredients in it. I may try to get some canned food from DrsFosterandSmith and mix that with the "Life's abundance" canned food. Sigh! She is real finicky about canned food, even snubbing the "Paw Lickin' Chicken" a lot of times. But it's so much better for her as it helps her lose weight. At the last vet visit she was up to 13.1 which means she gained a few ounces. I sure wish these pet food companies would make better food that doesn't make our fur kids so fat! I think eventually I really need to cook my own cat food, even if it's just boiling some organic chicken or something.

Posted by: xxForeverxx Mar 25 2014, 07:15 AM

Hi DannysMom

Poor Mindy really isnt have much luck with al theses rashes etc. I can understand your frustration in not knowing what keeps causing it. Have you started her on this hyperallergic food yet? How is she? I hope the rash has not come back again as I see you have said it has gone down.

I bet Shelley is helping look after Mindy although I can imagine Mindy being quite independant and not making a fuss.

xxForeverxx


Posted by: DannysMom Mar 26 2014, 07:43 PM

xxForeverxx, thank you for stopping by. Mindy's rash has not come back. I took the hypoallergenic food back to the vet. It was too expensive and not only that, but it is made entirely of soy and I would not feed that to my cats as it is not good for them. I switched out her dry food to a new brand and she seems to do well on that. I am also trying out some new canned food as she seems to be tired of the "Paw Lickin' Chicken". The fur on her tummy is slowly growing back. She had some episodes with itching, but so far no rashes.

Posted by: DannysMom May 21 2014, 06:28 PM

My poor Miss Mindy is VERY itchy again! I discovered a rash on one of her front legs this morning, high up on the inside of the leg so it's hard to spot. Took her to the vet this evening. They suggested hypoallergenic food again. Why do they think it's the food? It could be an allergy to fleas. Some cats are highly allergic to fleas. I remember Mindy had some relief when I gave her Revolution one time last summer. I shy away from these topical flea remedies as they are not really good for cats (questionable ingredients). The vet gave her a steroid shot again, depo-medrol. She cautioned that doing steroid shots on a regular basis may give her diabetes. Great! sad.gif

I tried fish oil capsules, but Mindy doesn't like the smell of fish. The vet suggested some hypoallergenic canned food with limited ingredients, such as rabbit from Royal Canin. Not crazy at all about Royal Canin as I don't like their food. I may just take her to an allergy specialist to do some skin scrapings or something to find out what she is allergic to. I just don't buy the food allergy thing. They're just guessing anyway. She had been fine thus far, but noticed she got itchy again in the past couple weeks. And it got worse over the past few days. I haven't changed her food since. I'm just not convinced it's the food, but I sure wish I knew what it was that is causing her rashes and intense itchyness.

Posted by: xxForeverxx Jun 2 2014, 06:33 AM

Hi DannysMom

How is Mindys rash now? Pixie has currently got dermatitis on her back again but she never itches it which is strange. Thinking of trying her on a special cat food. Poor Mindy suffering on and off with it. Pixies first rash was an allergy to fleas when she got bitten once even though I flea them. So your right it might not necessarily be the food!

xxForeverxx

Posted by: DannysMom Jun 3 2014, 08:15 PM

Hello xxForeverxx, thanks for sharing with me about Pixie's rash and her flea allergy. I noticed last year when I put some Revolution on Mindy for flea treatment she seemed to be better, but I hesitate to use this stuff all the time simply because it is not all that good for cats even though it does kill the fleas. I did buy some ampules with ceramides and fatty acids that I can put on her skin and that is supposed to help. I just haven't had the time to put it on Mindy as I have been so busy. I am hoping that will make a difference. Mindy is doing better now since she had the steroid shot, but the vet cautioned me that giving her steroid shots all the time can lead to diabetes. If Pixie likes it you could give her some Salmon oil or Omega3 supplements for cats. That should help with the dermatitis. Unfortunately Mindy does not like the fish smell, so it won't work for her.

Posted by: xxForeverxx Nov 4 2014, 04:30 PM

Hi DannysMom

I am glad to hear Mindy is doing ok. Thanks for the advice I will try it as she loves fish and still has small bits of dermatitis. Your just so knowledgeable! Have you had time to try the fatty acids etc yet? Would be interesting to hear if they helped your Mindy.

xxForeverxx

Posted by: DannysMom Nov 28 2014, 02:10 PM

QUOTE (xxForeverxx @ Nov 4 2014, 04:30 PM) *
Hi DannysMom

I am glad to hear Mindy is doing ok. Thanks for the advice I will try it as she loves fish and still has small bits of dermatitis. Your just so knowledgeable! Have you had time to try the fatty acids etc yet? Would be interesting to hear if they helped your Mindy.

xxForeverxx



Hello xxForeverxx, thank you for thinking of my Mindy. She was doing okay over the summer. I think the fatty acids helped some, but she didn't tolerate it well when I squirted that stuff on her neck. It is a lot in these small bottles, and some of it got her fur wet which she did not like! I give her probiotics once in a while and that seems to help some, but she is still itchy. And now she is having a hard time again with blackheads on her chin and she scratched up one of her ears real bad. sad.gif I just really wish I knew what is ailing her and how to fix it, but I know my vet would have me try this awful hydrolized soy protein again to find out if it's food allergies. Well, I am not feeding that to her, no way!

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