Akila not gaining weight

[Akila]

Thank you for the advice. I will definitely try some add ons to her food. I have tried raw goats milk, but she would not drink it.

 

[Manu+Horde]

I used normal lactose free milk which you can buy for cats - it could be that goats milk could smell different and is eventually disliked. As opportunity there is instant kitten milk powder available from royal canin (must be mixed with hot water and then cooled down) - maybe she likes that as extra add on supplement to the standard

And reconsider the spaying appointment when Akila is not healthy enough ...

Good luck and keep us informed ...

 

[Akila]

Thank You Manu + Horde, I will look for that milk at the pet food store. I am also going to look for a fish tasting kibble...I know Merrick makes one but it is a all stages food not just for kittens. I have been trying to stay with the kitten food because of the calories and fat. I boiled her some chicken and she almost bit my finger off trying to get more. LOL I just don't want to give her too much because I don't want her to end up with diarrhea.

I will definitely push back the spay if I feel she is not healthy enough.

 

[Manu+Horde]

That sounds great - just see what is possible - stay by the main food - and try one meal of the day some other sort to get a feeling what Aklia likes - I'm confident that some food will taste good for her and you have a bit more variants for the rotation - a very good vet here in germany told us years ago - never feed a cat only one and the same food look what the cats like and rotate - this will also help to avoid food allergy.

Do you know if Akila tends more to meat or fish yet ?

My (fishy) kittens where massively attracted to thuna with anchovi fishes (wet) here in germany it was the product from GimPet but for the US i only found something similar from applaws or fussi-cat but i don't know if the aspic would be liked (the GimPet was pure) nothing for every day but 1-2 times a week was fine

As you mentioned she is not really in kibble - so i really don't know if she will accept that so easy, when Akila is preferring wet food - Lina my small DSH one - she would never ever touch any kibble - she would rather starve then eating dry things - so any cat is different ...

Ok boiled chicken is good for enhancing protein - so as extra's to the main food why not ...

 

[Manu+Horde]

out of fish made kitten dry food - maybe a seller in the US have it ?
https://www.bozita.com/cat-food/feline-function/kitten-dryfood

Alternative is i could send you a 250g package for test - on ebay.com i found for shipping US only 2*10kg - for testing a bit much ...

 

[Ninja-n-Bear]

I boiled her some chicken and she almost bit my finger off trying to get more. LOL I just don't want to give her too much because I don't want her to end up with diarrhea.

As far as I know, boiled chicken won't cause diarrhea, if she likes it that much I'd give her more. Agreed with making sure she's healthy before having her spayed, most vets will let you drop off a stool sample for testing. Make sure it's fresh (ew!).

 

[David Z]

My vet did blood work and stool samples the day of Amara and Squeakerz spay, before she preformed the surgery to make sure they were healthy. Dont know if thats common practice but it probally should be.

 

[Akila]

I will have to check with my pet food store and see if they can get the Bozita.....it looks like great quality food. My 4 year old Mau is eating a food made in Italy. If they can't get it I will definitely reach out to you Manu + Horde. Much appreciated

Ninja-n-Bear I think she would eat the whole chicken if I gave it to her. I don't want her to stop eating the kitten canned food because of all the vitamins and minerals in it.

The vet drew blood a few weeks back to make sure everything was ok for the spay. She said her blood work was great, but I will make sure that they do another poop test and another blood test.

I know that the vets try and spare our pocket books, but they should give me the option of what I want to pay!

 

[Akila]

So I took Akila to the eye doctor today and her eye is all healed, but since August 31st she has only gained 1oz. I called her vet and told her that I am extremely concerned and know she wants to run some tests! The vet wants to deworm her again ( this will be the 4th time), draw blood to run for FIP, feline leukemia ( which she has already tested negative for) and toxoplasmosis.

I reached out to her breeder and told her what was going on and she basically said she will say some prayers and that I am probably stressing Akila out by having all these tests done , and that it is her hope she doesn't stop eating from the stress.

So obviously Akila's spay appointment is being pushed back.

My questions are 1- Has anyone ever had this happen?
2- Am I taking her to the vet too much?

Also I told the vet that I wanted a smear done of her ears. She shakes her head entirely too much and has for the last month.

 

[David Z]

Does Akila get really stressed when she goes to the vet? How often has she been in the last month?
Are u weighing her everyday around same time? What type of scale?
Have a fecal pcr test done, if she doesn't have worms why stress her out with more deworming.
Definitely get ears checked, find the cause of head shakes.
Get a small food scale and weigh her food when u feed her, to see if she in taking enough food.
If she's not in taking enough food there are meds to stimulate her appetite till you can get the underlying cause diagnosed.
Get a copy of her bloodwork post it here many on here can read it. Have t4 levels checked, if they are taking blood anyways, highly unlikely theres a thyroid issue but might as well have it checked on the lab work.

Has she had a xray? What did it show?

Does she vomit often?
Stools still firm or loose?

With her having a lot of head shaking going on maybe she has a inner ear issue, making her nauseous and lowering her appitite.