Nutri-CAT

Hi,

I've been posting about my cat - she has a 1.5 cm hepatic mass in the
center of her liver..She has not been eating. I found out about Nutri-Cal
through this site and I think it really has made a difference in her
appearance.. She doesn't have that "gaunt" look..I give her about two 1
inch portions per day. I also give her appetite stimulant pills from the
vet twice per day as directed.

She does eat, but sporadically and in very small amounts. I take her dry
IAMS food, pour about 25 pieces in a bowl and wet it with warm water. That
works ok..she gobbles a few pieces down, then loses interest.

Only unusual thing is that she sniffs and sneezes at the food..sniffs and
sneezes..Other unusual thing is that she follows me in the kitchen, even
though she's disinterested in the food. It's like she's looking for
something, but can't say what.

Question is..is Nutri-cal ruining her appetite, so that she doesn't eat her
food? Can she survive on just Nutri-cal?

I'm worried about her digestive tract "freezing up"..It's been about two
weeks and she hasn't had a bowel movement..

thanks
David

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"David via CatKB.com" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I've been posting about my cat - she has a 1.5 cm hepatic mass in the
center of her liver..She has not been eating. I found out about Nutri-Cal
through this site and I think it really has made a difference in her
appearance.. She doesn't have that "gaunt" look..I give her about two 1
inch portions per day. I also give her appetite stimulant pills from the
vet twice per day as directed.

She does eat, but sporadically and in very small amounts. I take her dry
IAMS food, pour about 25 pieces in a bowl and wet it with warm water. That
works ok..she gobbles a few pieces down, then loses interest.

Only unusual thing is that she sniffs and sneezes at the food..sniffs and
sneezes..Other unusual thing is that she follows me in the kitchen, even
though she's disinterested in the food. It's like she's looking for
something, but can't say what.

Question is..is Nutri-cal ruining her appetite, so that she doesn't eat
her
food? Can she survive on just Nutri-cal?

During a critical phase of anorexia, yes, but it takes about 5 or 6
teaspoons/day. Nutri-Cal isn't designed to replace the cats normal diet,
its only supposed to provide minimal nutrition for energy and to avert HL
and also so the cat doesn't catabolize body protein.

If she's not eating, try offering her canned kitten food - its packed with
nutrition which will help offset her losses and keep up with her daily
energy needs.



I'm worried about her digestive tract "freezing up"..It's been about two
weeks and she hasn't had a bowel movement..


Two weeks? Did the vet take an x-ray of her colon and digestive tract? She
may very well be constipated - if not obstipated. Constipation will sure
make a cat not want to eat!

The longer feces remain in the colon, the drier and harder they become and
more difficult to eliminate. She may need a stool softner and/or a laxative
or even manual evacuation.

Constipation in cats can be a real problem because whatever the cause, it
tends to be self-perpetuating because dry and hard stools can be painful and
difficult to eliminate - which makes the cat voluntarily inhibit pooping.

Did you tell your vet she hasn't pooped in two weeks?


Best of luck,

Phil

Hi,

Since she basically hasn't been eating, there's nothing to poop..She's been
drinking, though.

She was checked for constipation - they didn't find anything..

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They did a coag test and it came out ok, however, the vet and I decided
that it was 99% sure tumor in liver was cancerous. Surgery would be $1,000K
+..too much money with the accompanying risk. Also, tests came back as
strong chance of FIV...which would only cause more tumors.

Vet recommended quarterzone injections..said that sometimes that
helps..We're going to try this weekend..

David

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I would agressively pursue hand feeding her. Ask the vet for a/d and a force
feeding syringe. What are they thinking?

"David via CatKB.com" wrote in message
...
They did a coag test and it came out ok, however, the vet and I decided
that it was 99% sure tumor in liver was cancerous. Surgery would be
$1,000K
+..too much money with the accompanying risk. Also, tests came back as
strong chance of FIV...which would only cause more tumors.

Vet recommended quarterzone injections..said that sometimes that
helps..We're going to try this weekend..

David

--
Message posted via http://www.catkb.com

"David via CatKB.com" wrote in message
...
They did a coag test and it came out ok, however, the vet and I decided
that it was 99% sure tumor in liver was cancerous.


All the more reason to cut it out! Where's your vet from, Krypton? Most
vets I know need histopathology or cytology to distinguish benign tumors
from malignant tumors. I seriously think you should find another vet.


Surgery would be $1,000K
+..too much money with the accompanying risk. Also, tests came back as
strong chance of FIV...


"Strong chance of FIV"? WTF is your vet talking about? If the in-house
ELISA produced a postive result, the results should be confirmed by the
Western Blot. A negative ELISA snap can become a positive if the test isn't
performed properly.





which would only cause more tumors.

FIV is a *Lentiviruses* and not oncogenic. FeLV is oncogenic
(Oncornavirus).

Where did your vet get his DVM? Mail order from a matchbook cover? This
guy sounds like a real moron! Get your cat away from him! Quick!




Vet recommended quarterzone injections..said that sometimes that
helps..We're going to try this weekend..

David, you seem like a very caring companion to your cat but your vet is an
idiot and grossy incompetent and giving you bogus information. *Please*
find another vet because the vet you have is actually dangerous.

Good luck,

Phil

Whoa!! I'm not a vet, I could be repeating things wrong..Don't get so down
on the vet...

It was my decision not to do the biopsy, the vet wanted to. I felt that
whether the tumor was cancerous or not, it would have to be removed. Why
expose the cat to extra procedures...I said it was my feeling that the
tumor was cancerous, and the vet said that she would agree...

In other words, they were doing the biopsy as a matter of procedure and for
back-up..but all the evidence was that it was cancerous.

The vet didn't do an FIV test because he said they have a high rate of
false-positives. The cat was not showing many FIV symptoms (fever, for
example) Also, the sonogram did not show the FIV symptoms (scarring on the
organs).

I also did force feed the cat successfully last week, and she crapped brown
spots all over the floor and my bed. Plus she was miserable and shaken..She
is eating some, I weigh her every day (get on my digital scale with her,
then without her and subtract the weight) and her weight is stable..she's
even gone up half a pound..

The $1000 surgery cost is just too expensive for me..we will have to go
with a less invasive procedure.

I respect my vet, his receptionist is also my cat sitter who first alerted
me to problems way back last October..I brought the cat in for tests then,
but nothing was found..

The facility is excellent, well run, has been around for years and has many
happy people in the waiting room..If you're getting a bad impression of
him..it's because of me being in the middle of everything.

I feel overwhelmed and sad.

--
Message posted via http://www.catkb.com

"David via CatKB.com" wrote in message
...
Whoa!! I'm not a vet, I could be repeating things wrong..Don't get so down
on the vet...

It was my decision not to do the biopsy, the vet wanted to. I felt that
whether the tumor was cancerous or not, it would have to be removed. Why
expose the cat to extra procedures...I said it was my feeling that the
tumor was cancerous, and the vet said that she would agree...

In other words, they were doing the biopsy as a matter of procedure and
for
back-up..but all the evidence was that it was cancerous.

The vet didn't do an FIV test because he said they have a high rate of
false-positives. The cat was not showing many FIV symptoms (fever, for
example) Also, the sonogram did not show the FIV symptoms (scarring on the
organs).

I also did force feed the cat successfully last week, and she crapped
brown
spots all over the floor and my bed. Plus she was miserable and
shaken..She
is eating some, I weigh her every day (get on my digital scale with her,
then without her and subtract the weight) and her weight is stable..she's
even gone up half a pound..

The $1000 surgery cost is just too expensive for me..we will have to go
with a less invasive procedure.

I respect my vet, his receptionist is also my cat sitter who first alerted
me to problems way back last October..I brought the cat in for tests then,
but nothing was found..

The facility is excellent, well run, has been around for years and has
many
happy people in the waiting room..If you're getting a bad impression of
him..it's because of me being in the middle of everything.

I feel overwhelmed and sad.

--

David, who are you talking to?

Hi Mary,

I'm talking to Phil..

Well, I called vet at lunch, bringing in Kitty for the Combo FIV/FLV
test..If it's negative for both, will probably go for surgery...$$$$$Ouch

David

--
Message posted via http://www.catkb.com

"David via CatKB.com" wrote in message
...
Whoa!! I'm not a vet, I could be repeating things wrong..Don't get so down
on the vet...


I sure hope you're misinterpreting the vet!



It was my decision not to do the biopsy, the vet wanted to. I felt that
whether the tumor was cancerous or not, it would have to be removed. Why
expose the cat to extra procedures...I said it was my feeling that the
tumor was cancerous, and the vet said that she would agree...

In other words, they were doing the biopsy as a matter of procedure and
for
back-up..but all the evidence was that it was cancerous.


All the more reason to remove it and send the entire mass to a lab for a
determination -- Which is what I would do.



The vet didn't do an FIV test because he said they have a high rate of
false-positives. The cat was not showing many FIV symptoms (fever, for
example) Also, the sonogram did not show the FIV symptoms (scarring on the
organs).

Then I don't understand what you meant by:

"Also, tests came back as strong chance of FIV...which would only cause more
tumors".

I am I missing something?




I also did force feed the cat successfully last week, and she crapped
brown
spots all over the floor and my bed. Plus she was miserable and
shaken..She
is eating some, I weigh her every day (get on my digital scale with her,
then without her and subtract the weight) and her weight is stable..she's
even gone up half a pound..

That's not a very accurate method for monitoring a cat's weight.



The $1000 surgery cost is just too expensive for me..we will have to go
with a less invasive procedure.

I respect my vet, his receptionist is also my cat sitter who first alerted
me to problems way back last October..I brought the cat in for tests then,
but nothing was found..

The facility is excellent, well run, has been around for years and has
many
happy people in the waiting room..

Sounds like you have a good relationship with your vet. He should have no
problems with accepting installment payments for removing the mass and
follow-up treatments.


If you're getting a bad impression of
him..it's because of me being in the middle of everything.

I feel overwhelmed and sad.


Speak to your vet about a payment plan.

Good luck,

Phil



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