Feline HCM-Holistic Treatments for Cats Should Assist the Meds Not Replace Meds

Facebook post from July 6 about holistic treatments, when to use them (to help but not to replace meds) and cautions and concerns to address:

A reader asked about holistic treatments. I don't support trying to treat HCM, congestion, prevent clots, and support and improve heart function with only plant based materials. It would take too much of the plant to have an effect on the symptom, to do what a pill can do. And there are plants to avoid and here is a link to a list:
http://www.cat-world.com.au/plants-a-other-chemicals-toxic

It's not that we can't use these at all. There are many things that can assist the medications as a diuretic, or to calm the stomach if there's stomach acid, to get rid of diarrhea. I'm using apple cider vinegar instead of Pepcid; and use sweet potatoes and bananas as additional potassium sources; and have used rice and rice water to combat diarrhea. There are many things I use for Myrna that vets do not think to recommend such as COQ10, vitamin paste, lysine, etc. (granted not "natural" but holistic treatments often use them.) Some give their cats fish oil (she can't tolerate it.)

Whatever we use-natural and/or medications-we need to be aware of symptoms our cats show, what they mean, and how to treat. Holistic treatments can lead to some of the same problems that we see in cats that take medications. Dehydration is caused by the use of a diuretic material. A dehydrated cat is run down, might have a lack of appetite, all due to low electrolytes-one of which is potassium-which leads to an increase in potassium supplements. And the use of diuretics, even natural/holistic methods, can adversely affect kidneys (due to low potassium and dehydration and blood volume in kidneys.)

A holistic cat may not live as long as a cat on medications. A cat with minor heart disease may do very well with natural treatments while a cat with a severe form or suffering from clots or congestion, may have little relief from only using natural materials.

If you want to use any holistic product, please consult a holistic vet or discuss it with your regular vet before trying to develop a recipe for a natural medication. But I urge you to use medications as needed especially lasix as a diuretic to prevent congestion, ease breathing. 

http://www.cat-world.com.au/plants-a-other-chemicals-toxic

Cooper and Hypercalcemia Update

Cooper Update:

Cooper chillin' out

The vet from Michigan State, who is handling his hypercalcemia, said that we do not need to have him tested monthly for calcium and other blood chemistry levels since she is positive that his hypercalc is idiopathic. So, we won’t retest his parathyroid or his blood and urine for a few months unless it seems his condition worsens.

With more water by mouth-6ccs TID (three times a day), 3ccs of water in his food TID; with inulin fiber added to his food; and by allowing him to eat between meals when he indicates he’s hungry, we believe those are the reasons his calcium levels are beginning to decline-which is a great thing since they are too high.  The increase water helps the kidneys flush out the calcium while the fiber and the extra food helps the body bind the calcium in the gut and to excrete it.  And eating more keeps up his weight.  

We give Buprenex at .35 TID which allows him to sit more when using the litter box.  We do not know why he might feel discomfort when using the litter box but we do know that we see an increase of him standing and going in the box (but the urine actually shoots out of the box) when he has lower amounts of Buprenex.  We haven’t had his urine retested for October but since he only had crystals last time, the only way to get rid of them is to give more water which we are doing.  And we were giving him Methigel-an acidifier that will lower the PH of the urine and help get rid of and prevent crystals.

We will continue the water, the fiber, the daily vitamin paste, the Methigel, and the Buprenex.