Good Intentions...

are sometimes just that san!

Our plan to give Megat less meds backfired on us. Last week he got only 3 days of meds and fought us very hard on those days. He is not usually so contrary and would take his meds quite easily (with some fight as usual) but last week, it was all fight and very little meds!

So we decided to give him his lingzhi as usual so he would just expect to get it every day (5 days a week with weekends off) as usual. I think he forgot he has meds to take and considered each alternate day, the first day he was ever given meds!

Megat's Review

Today is Megat's review after 3 months. Dr L said now that he has recovered, we only have to see him 4 times a year. He is doing well and there are no signs of lumps that I can feel and he is healthy and happy. He had coughed 3 or 4 times these last 3 months but I do not think those were significant but will tell Dr L nevertheless.

I have given him the sang hwang suppository only 4 days out of the week. He gets none in the weekends because grandma is not strong enough to hold him and he gets no sang hwang or supplements on Fridays when he gets his subQ as I thought he has enough aggravation on one day. But I would put in the liquid sang hwang in his supplements as he sometimes manages to pop out his suppository. I have taken to putting his suppositories in the fridge as if not they lose their firmness and would break off when I am trying to give them to him. He sometimes growl deeply and kick his legs when I put them in though because they are cold I guess.

I took out his carrier just now to put on the table and when he saw it, he immediately ran into the bedroom and then peeked out at me, to see if I am going to grab him. But his appt is at 3.15 and so he would have time to relax and he would come out later when he realised that no one is coming to grab him at all :) It is always easier this way with Megat, even with his supplements.

Patchwork Cat

Cousin R and I tried to give Megat his suppository today but it was not successful. I was not able to push it into his anus and it crumbled as it is made of beeswax and sang hwang. Aiyah kitty! All that money in the drain...and you would have to take the awful liquid later then. There is nothing for it...sorry. It has been easy as pie the other days...

Solution

I was just trying to get away san...

The solution to our problem..worked rather well...

I used the lining that I still had from last year when I had to bring Callie (the community cat who died of Ataxia in 2008) to the hospital. After the supplements, Megat was put in his lined cage. he very meekly went inside as it is a familiar place and where he feels safe. He sat for the rest of the time on his side, which is important for this exercise to be successful. As he did not ask to be let out and he fell asleep most of the time I did not let him out.



At about 10, which is bedtime for Megat and the boys, I cleaned his cage, got rid of the lining and cleaned Megat as well. I used warm water, some shampoo and a soft cloth. I must say he quite enjoyed the experience and allowed me to clean his butt quite readily. I think its the sensation of warm water. I know he would enjoy the warm water as when we first got him, the vet told me to clean him up with warm water and salt solution everyday until his very fragile skin and the clotted leaves and dirt could be separated. :) After that, I gave him his night snack (Waltham's Renal) and one salmon treat :) This was much easier than all those nights ago for him as well as for me.


I suppose using the liners would be a pretty expensive option so I am exploring the idea of using newspapers.

Poor Kitty Megat

No..I dun want you to clean me all the time san...

Now that we have found a neater way for Megat to have his supplements, we hit on another difficulty. It has to do with his sang hwang suppository. It leaks out and poor Megat goes about sometimes with a trail of sang hwang following him. Of course I would also have to follow him and clean up after my poor kitty...even after the 1 hour of compulsory immobility. I don't think I should subject him to much more cleaning as he needs to rest after his night supplements. But as he and all of us need to be clean, I have to clean his anus several times after and sometimes I need to give him a wash with warm water and shampoo because he smells of poo. And of course the places that he goes to for respite also smells and sometimes has traces of poo. :( Since he cant help these things, I am not upset nor angry. Its just that I wish it could be easier for him.


He is very patient with all of this but I foresee that I might need to change his bedding daily or not allow him to walk about even after the 1 hour confinement. This kind of stress would freak out his immunity I am sure. I have yet to find a resolution for such a thing so will probably just keep him in his cage immediately after the 1 hour time-out so he could use the bin in there. Then I would clean him up and change the bedding. This seems to be the best option.

Our Mushroom Defense

picture from i.herb.com

Description :16-Mushroom Complex
Dietary Supplement
Source Naturals Mushroom Immune Defense is a blend of mushroom mycelia and extracts from 16 of the most well-studied species of health-supportive mushrooms. Although the exact mechanisms of action in the body are not yet fully understood, researchers propose that constituents of these mushrooms may support natural killer (NK) cell, T-cell, and macrophage activity, and cytokine production. By carefully combining these mushrooms and fortifying them with extracts, Source Naturals Mushroom Immune Defense offers a broad-spectrum, high potency, complete mushroom product.

Calories 10
Total Carbohydrates 2 g DV <2%
Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) 100 mg DV 170%
Shiitake Mycelia Biomass 200 mg †
Reishi Mycelia Biomass 200 mg †
Maitake Mycelia Biomass 200 mg †
Turkey Tail Mycelia Biomass 150 mg †
Proprietary Blend: 1.3 g †

Agaricus blazei Mycelia Biomass, Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Biomass, Flammulina velutipes Mycelia Biomass, Tremella Mycelia Biomass, Schizophyllum commune Mycelia Biomass, Artist's Conk Mycelia Biomass, Poria Mycelia Biomass, Zhu Ling Mycelia Biomass, Pleurotus ostreatus Mycelia Biomass, Cordyceps sinensis Mycelia Biomass, Cordyceps militaris Mycelia Biomass, Armilleria mellea Mycelia Biomass, Shiitake Mushroom Extract, Reishi Mushroom Extract (6:1), Maitake Mushroom Extract (10:1), Turkey Tail Mushroom Extract (8:1), Cordyceps sinensis CS-4 Standardized Extract (0.1% adenosine), Agaricus blazei Mushroom Extract (4:1), and Dr. Nanba's Maitake Beta-Factor™ (beta-glucan) Fraction††.

The mushrooms in bold were thought to be integral to improving the immune system. I can only make an effort and I have yet to see if indeed they would help Megat.

NB: Pic and information taken from i.herb.com

Milk Thistle

Milk Thistle liquid form

Thanks to anonymous who told me of the homeopathy meds for Megat. I went to read up on it and it seems that some people found this useful for their cat's liver functions. One owner even used this to help her cat deal with chemotherapy. One recommended that milk thistle is given 2 days on with 3 days off.

I had alreday started giving Megat Milk thistle but that was the pill form and I had to cut it up into several pieces. Then I had to ground each small piece into powder to put in his food. This one would be easier. I can give it to him from the dropper or put it in his food.

The recommeded dosage from http://www.petwellbeing.com/cat-liver-disease-p64.cfm

To be given to pet twice daily. One drop for every 2 lb (1 kg)
Please note that the product comes with an eye dropper to count out the drops. This dropper is marked at 0.5ML and 1ML. The 0.5ML line is equal to 10 drops.
Product can be given with food or directly in the mouth with eye dropper.
Product will last for 6 months. Please refrigerate after opening.

However the one that I had brought came from a different company as this company did not have any international services to Singapore. I got this from iherb.com, thanks to Fresh Fry. iherb.com works fast and I got this supplement in a space of 4 days. Not bad.

Letter to my cat

Dear megat

I hope you don't mind me trying all this on you. It seems like a long shot but I think all shots are better than none. It won't be bad tasting I think. No I have not tasted it yet but you have had to eat many things more foul tasting than this and you had taken it in your stride. I do not know if this will work but I promised that I will try anything at all. I know you would tell me if I should stop trying but for now I think we will just have to take this one step at a time.

Btw I told grandma that she could take this supplement too, for her liver. She said, "Then I will meow like a cat!" She can be funny, that grandma. Anyway we are going to the vet to see Dr FP. I hope she can help us.