Hi we got a new cat a few days ago, older (10 years at least). Very thin, declawed, not sure if spayed. Found on the street, a little old man fed her for a few days before bring her in to the spca and then to us. Few symptoms, diarrhea, vommiting, very upset. Gave her Arnica 30ch in water last night. This morning she went into the vet. We did 1st panel bloods which revealed, elevated ALT levels although other liver levels were normal. She also had slightly high blood glucose level of 12mmol/L. A fecal smear revealed a tremendous amount of overgrown camplibactor. No fever this morning. Some dehydration. The intestinal bacterial overgrowth is no doubt caused by extreme anxiety and fear. She is difficult to handle. She looks emaciated. Originally I was thinking ars, but given the dehydration and liver and (blood glucose-I think this is already covered in ars),thinking lyc, phos**? Any suggestions ASAP would be great.
Thanks!!
Sorry forgot to mention she is drinking and I have goven fluids, but the urination is not at all excessive. She has eaten small amounts however that has been causing diarrhea or vommit; she has nausea

[ 22. March 2003, 21:22: Message edited by: kkrista ]

Hi,

Wish I could help but will only be able to bump 'er up!

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Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.

Hi Kkrista,
Nux Vomica was my first thought, especially if she's chilly.
LEts see what comes up next.
All the best,
doctorleela

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Hi Krista,

This isn't purely homeopathy, but I thought you might like to know about a book written by someone I know who raises cats naturally. In this book a raw food diet that mimicks one cats would eat in the wild is outlined: it is very supportive of cat health.

Take a look at this link:
www.blakkatz.com

it connects up to a "preview" of the book with a discussion of the research conducted by Dr. Pottenger on feline nutrition. Pottenger was a real stickler for sticking to the dietary traditions animals developed over time, particularly with people: but he also observed this principle at work with cats.

For this kitty, I would give something to address the fear of the ordeal it has survived; Nux vomica covers that, as Dr. Leela suggests...but so does the phos you mentioned. I'd lean towards the Nux v. if the kitty were extremely irritable though, and think about phos only if the irritability occurs even if the kitty wants and needs the consolation of company.

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Thanks for all the suggestions, I really didn't even consider Nux, but I should have.

Unfortunately I had a heck of a weekend, my vehicle was stolen (limiting my mobility). I was able to check the computer for replies Saturday night, but nothing yet; given the condition of the cat and that I was not confident in my homeopathic skills for this particular case, I made the decision to treat the acute with minimal allopathy.

We have effectively controlled the nausea and diarrhea. My plan is to get her eating on her own and then retake the case to address the more chronic problems with blood sugar and liver (there may also be minimal kidney damage).

The cat is still very scared, but appears to have a little more strength this morning and I believe is improving.

Divina, thanks for the link, its great to see cat breeders are starting to catch up to the dog breeders and are "doing things right" from the beginning! Interestingly enough, the only food that this old bird ate on her own was the raw I offered to her. I am continuing to offer the raw, and I hope she will start to eat on her own soon. I wish we could afford to feed all our shelter cats raw food! We do feed cats (especially TOMS with digestion problems) raw food for a while, but unfortunately finding adopters to carry on the good work is extremely difficult (in many cases where cats can not digest commercial food, I have been forced to adopt them myself -and my house is soooooo full!!!).

I'm not very keen on Anita Frazier (grains) and Feline Future Diet (bone meal), but I will definitly check out your friends book as she appears to have put her own spin on things (ground, fresh, raw bone)! If it reads simply, I think it might be a good resource; it may be a book we can loan to new adopters to introduce them to "Natural Feline Husbandry".

It reads very simply--with lots of information on "diet polish"--the things you can add to enhance feline health. She tries to stick as closely as possible to the optimum natural nutrition a cat would get "in the wild", and grains are definitely not in that diet--nor is cooking.

When I compare the cost of this diet to what I've been feeding my kitty in dry food--Neura Wellness at almost $30 a bag!--it actually costs much less to feed raw meat to supplement my Bubba's mouse and rabbit hunting. Yesterday he got some nice veal shank cause I was making osso bucco for some guests...and fresh chicken hearts and livers too. Very inexpensive to buy, especially if you do so in quantity and freeze it till its needed.

Sure beats making polenta mixtures for him once a week (Pitcairn's diet) and I don't have to starve him to get him to want to eat the food.

Anyway, Michelle's book has gone over really well in our office waiting room--lots of interested buyers sending away to her for copies. Hope you encounter the same response. The book's also got a wonderful chapter on homeopathy!

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I'm glad to hear that she doesn't cook or use grains. I have tried to appeal to cost concious petowners, unfortunately most of the vets around hear will tell clients that it is better to buy the cheapest processed **** than to feed a potencially "dangerous" raw food diet. Its ridiculas. I remember one of our vets jumped all over me when one of our shelter cats was found to have pancreatitus. In that case however I smuggly pointed out that the cat had been feed kibble and further suggested that had he been fed a natural raw food diet he would never have suffered from pancreatitus. That vet doesn't discuss the "food issue" with me anymore. For the shelter, all our food is donated (no way we could afford to buy food for 35 cats daily); the best we can do is supplement with fresh food when needed.

Sorry to hear about your car Kkrista.
HOpe you got things sorted out now.

In the meanwhile, you could still give the cat a dose of Nux Vomica 30 once she finishes with the antibiotics!

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Thanks Dr. Leela, The cat actually hasn't had a bowel movement (or vomit) for days now. She appears to have small interest in food. The meds are being curtailed, I'll let you know whats left after I give her a few days to get everything out of her system.

They found my van, it appears they used my anti-theft device to bash in my windows, what irony!!!

Poor Krista. Hope your weather is warming up enough for open air driving. I imagine you use your van in your rescue work. (It's why I drive a gas guzzling van, too.) To me it's on the same level as when a wheelchair is stolen. That kind of thing makes the news resulting in donations! Also results in getting more calls and *donated* animals....oh, well. Sometimes there just isn't any way to win.

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Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.