Cats and dairy...

[4_Legs_Good]

Hi everyone!

Thanks to everyone who's responded to this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=3043865&mesg_id=3043865

and for all the help and good wishes.

A lot of people on that thread have suggested some dairy products - yogurt, cream cheese, etc.

I have always been under the impression that cats shouldn't have any dairy after they're like 6 months old.

The thing is Albert is going for the cream cheese big time. It's the only thing she doesn't give up on right away. She's still not eating a lot, but I'm only giving it to her in small doses. Maybe a thimble full twice a day.

She ate a little frozen yogurt yesterday until she got brain freeze.

Anyway what are tips on dairy? I'm sure she'd eat sour cream too, and I'm really just wanting her to get anything into her that might get her eating more seriously again.



History (if interested): She's been out of the hospital where she was treated for insanely high creatinine (sp) numbers (up as high as 19 and should be under 2.5), which are still a little elevated (3.8, but stable). We're giving her subcutaneous fluids every day (150mL of Normosol-R) along with antibiotics to treat her mouth ulcer and possible infection along with some pepcid type deal which I can never remember the name of. So anyway, dehydration isn't a big fear and key nutrients are in the fluids as well. I just want to get her back to the eating, and she seems interested, but gives up pretty quickly. When I open a can of food, she certainly perks up, sometimes walks over, and then usually walks away.

david

[DrDebug]

1. Cats can't digest cow milk because lactose

However any chance they'll get they'll eat it especially in the form of whipped cream. It's not really good for them, so don't overdue it, but the occasional slip up isn't that bad for a cat. The problem is that it might give the cat diarreah, so check the litter box LOL

[Beaverhausen]

2. In my experience too much dairy causes diahhrea in cats

But my vet does recommend yogurt sometimes when they are sick.

have you tried the baby food again?

[4_Legs_Good]

5. Yeah, still only the beef

and she wasn't intersted. I keep thinking I'm finding something but she loses interest pretty quickly.

I'll whip out the other flavors this weekend/tonight.

david

[Southsideirish]

3. I forgot to tell you the most important thing the other day! Brush her!!!

The skin and the kidneys are very very closely related. Get a nice medium to soft brush and brush her for as long as she will tolerate it (they usually adore it) You will be amazed at the changes. My cat had very high levels too and I used to go to the vet and visit him while he was getting his fluids. I would bring my radio and play classical music to relax him (actually I would just leave it in his cage playing all the time) and lift him out and brush him for 30 minutes at a time 2 times per day. They said it was a miracle (no lie) and in a few days his levels were normal.

[4_Legs_Good]

4. Thanks!

I visited her every day she was in the hospital (except when I was out of town) and she did seem very affectionate. I brought the brush a couple times too. I'll definitely up the brushing at home. My wife will be at home on bedrest starting tomorrow until she's given birth so she should be able to give a lot of brushing love too!

Thanks again!

david

[Mutley]

6. i've always

been under the impression (i'm no vet though) that most cats are lactose intolerant. but some cats can handle it.. like my parents one cat drinks cow milk all the time with no problems.

[4_Legs_Good]

7. I wonder if I can get lactose free cream cheese

Hmmmmmm...

david

[MissMillie]

8. I'm glad she's eating better

I know you were terribly worried about it.

[4_Legs_Good]

9. Thanks!

:)

david

[yewberry]

10. Glad for the update!

About the dairy: as far as I remember, it's not great for most cats, but not a big deal in small doses. I'd skip the lactose-free cream cheese--it's really highly processed and full of chemicals.

I haven't had a cat for a long time, but I had a dog who, in her declining years, had trouble with food. Lots of trouble. What worked for her was white rice tossed with lamb baby food (room temp or slightly warmer.)

Oh, man, now I'm gettin' all sad.

Hey, good luck with Albert. Hope things get easier for both of you.

[sakabatou]

11. What happened when she got a brain freeze?

[4_Legs_Good]

12. Well, I had the frozen yogurt on a spoon...

it was vanilla flavor and not very much. She was just licking away, then she obviously got brain freeze, hissed at the spoon and totally and immediately lost interest and walked away.

I had to laugh like hell.

david

[sakabatou]

13. In the words of Jamie from Megas XLR

"Amateur."