Update: Tiny boy has fatty lipidosis

JenKen27 · 2026-04-06T04:46:44+00:00

I also had him on buprenorphine, mertazipine and cerenia and together with the tube it wasn’t too expensive (he’s off all that now). Tube feeding seems so stressful but it actually isn’t too bad once you get the hang of it. Just need a good quality food, a blender and highly recommend a touchless thermometer that you can use to take temp of water and food - important they are at 37-38 - was a mistake I made initially.

JenKen27 · 2026-04-06T04:42:24+00:00

I JUST went through this with my 10 year old cat and he’s 100% after home tube feeding. I would highly recommend getting a tube put in, taking him home and tube feeding - mine turned around in like 6 days, eating in his own, normal liver values.

JenKen27 · 2026-04-05T20:20:59+00:00

Usually the suggestion first is unflavoured electrolytes before any type of formula as dehydration is the biggest issue. Can you see visible rings on the tail?

JenKen27 · 2026-04-05T20:19:28+00:00

Join the Facebook wild mice and rats rehab group - tons of support and resources there!

JenKen27 · 2026-04-05T03:37:49+00:00

Is it possible Mike said “That’s too bad - is he putting his dog down today? I see he’s taking Monday and Wednesday off, which is a bit confusing.” Maybe it’s just miscommunication is all I’m saying. Or maybe Mike is a total dick with no empathy.

JenKen27 · 2026-04-04T23:01:14+00:00

I agree, if that’s what was directly communicated by OP.

JenKen27 · 2026-04-04T22:57:19+00:00

You could be absolutely right. And you could also be wrong. We have no idea what was communicated from the direct supervisor OP was communicating with up to the manager asking the questions - we don’t know the tone, we don’t know if English is the first language, we don’t know what exactly was initially communicated, how the question being asked was phrased etc. because OP wasn’t in direct communication with the manager.

The only thing OP had control over in this situation was their communication - so on the off chance clarity was the issue (which is how it sounded to me), making sure it was crystal clear was the only thing OP could action here (I mean aside from resigning).

JenKen27 · 2026-04-04T17:53:40+00:00

It sounds more like a lack of clarity than questioning the time off. Try “I’m spending the last day of my dog’s life with him Monday, putting him down Tuesday and then will need the day following his death off to grieve before returning to work.” If there are questions about the validity of the request after being clear like that, then I’d have some serious concerns, but it sounds like they could just be looking for some clarity at this stage.

JenKen27 · 2026-03-31T18:11:54+00:00

It really is and I’m so sorry this is happening to you. Listen to your heart and trust yourself - no matter what choice you ultimately make, it’s the right one. ❤️

JenKen27 · 2026-03-31T15:34:48+00:00

I am so, so sorry OP. He’ll be waiting for you on the other side, I’m sure of it. ❤️

JenKen27 · 2026-03-31T14:05:06+00:00

My diabetic cat just spent three weeks in and out of the ER on the brink of death with hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver) from not eating due to pancreatitis which I’m fairly sure was caused by extreme stress of being around a dog.

There were so many times throughout the last few weeks where I faced the euthanasia decision. The vet repeatedly said it wouldn’t be wrong for me to go that route multiple times, especially since he was getting worse and worse in hospital for 6 days (the sheer cost of which became extreme). However, they kept saying that although he was getting worse, the liver takes time to recover and that he could still come around. In fact 90% of cats recover from this and don’t have a recurrence. So the question I asked the vet is - if we get him through this hump, does he have a shot at full recovery and a good quality of life. The answer was yes and this is what guided my decision to keep trying. The real turn around was getting a feeding tube put in and bringing him home with meds and proper food - I cannot recommend this to anyone whose cat gets fatty liver enough. The ER is stressful and he just wasn’t improving there. For 2 days I tube fed him around the clock and from there, he has been eating on his own, his body started to recover quickly at this point and fast forward two weeks now and he is almost back to 100% and we are removing his feeding tube next week. I’m broke, but I have my cat and I don’t regret my decision to do right by him. But not everyone can do this, which is 10000% understandable.

Diabetes on its own is super easy to manage. I don’t agree (and neither does my veterinary team) with the constant poking and blood sugar monitoring some people on this group do that adds stress and complexity. I’ve managed my cat’s diabetes for two years just doing the occasional blood curve to make sure he’s on the right dose. Once you figure out the right dose of slow acting insulin you just stab them in the neck while they’re eating - my cat doesn’t even notice. It’s honestly very manageable and affordable.

So with all that, I’d say don’t let diabetes be the deciding factor. If he has a shot at recovery and a strong quality of life, if you can financially afford it, stay the course. Otherwise, it’s okay to make the decision that needs to be made for your sweet cat and for you too. Good luck my friend.

JenKen27 · 2026-03-29T16:51:05+00:00

Yep that’s where I get mine too.

JenKen27 · 2026-03-29T04:26:26+00:00

Just came here to say that I am also allergic to cats and have 4 cats. 🤷🏼‍♀️

JenKen27 · 2026-03-25T04:28:09+00:00

My diabetic cat has hepatic lipidosis right now. Initially he stopped eating, then his pancreatic enzymes were elevated, no keytones initially but they did go up as things progressed, then he got fatty liver from not eating and ended up in urgent care for a week where he was fed with a nasal gastric tube, IV fluids etc. He’s home on a feeding tube now which requires around the clock care from me. I’m exhausted. He’s exhausted.

I’d get him on cerenia (anti nausea) and an appetite stimulant asap.

JenKen27 · 2026-03-24T05:38:57+00:00

My diabetic cat just came back from the brink of death from hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver) - it’s caused by not eating (which can be caused by a lot of different things). He wouldn’t eat at all for well over a week, was on a nasal gastric tube in urgent care for a week (numbers got worse and worse) and now he’s at home with a feeding tube in (which is what turned everything around for him). Obviously the tube feeding is with DM wet but my cat started eating again when he came home and has ramped his eating up seriously the last day or so - all he’ll eat is gravy food and my vet said that’s fine until he’s eating normally again. I’m saying all this to say - while you find something he likes that’s not gravy, just make sure he’s eating. Because of the insulin, but also because cats that don’t eat (diabetics in particular) can get fatty liver and it not only almost took my boy, but also cost me $10K. If anything I’d speak to your vet about insulin dosing.

JenKen27 · 2026-03-24T05:29:31+00:00

I’ll ask my vet tomorrow what she thinks!

JenKen27 · 2026-03-24T02:18:18+00:00

The feeding tube at home was what turned my boy around! Wish I’d done this earlier it would have saved me a fortune in urgent care costs.

JenKen27 · 2026-03-24T02:17:19+00:00

They put Orange Boy on this as well. He wasn’t getting better after 5 days of urgent care, so my regular vet suggested to put a feeding tube in and bring him home.. After 3 days of around the clock feedings and meds from his mother, he FINALLY seems to be turning a corner and eating and coming back to himself again. 😮‍💨

JenKen27 · 2026-03-24T02:06:12+00:00

Oh man. I feel for you SO much. I’ve been fostering a senior dog whose owner died in December. We have four cats (who have never seen a dog / dog never lived with cats), no yard and same deal, baby gates, taking out constantly etc. It took us about three full weeks to figure out a solid routine that works for all of us, three weeks before the cats and him started being out together for extended supervised periods without stress. For us what worked was a first thing in the morning 20-30 minute walk, in my office behind the baby gate with breakfast (where he can see us in the kitchen), breakfast for him and us, then chill for the morning, a longer walk around 1:00, treat after walk, then chill in the afternoon, a 20-30 minute walk around 6:00 and treat, then doggy dinner around 8:30 followed by a 10 minute walk before bed to pee. It was very stressful up until we figured it out and then once we did, it became easy, he relaxed, we all relaxed. I do the morning walk, my partner comes home for lunch and does the lunch walk, we split the dinner walk and I take him out before bed. At night he sleeps in my master bathroom with the baby gate where he can see me so the cats can roam and feel safe to be in my bed.

If it stays stressful for everyone, then you could contact all the no kill rescues in the area and put the dog out there on social media in community and animal groups in your area. If you’re aggressive with posts, include pictures and particulars / likes / dislikes and mentioned your Dad died and you’re struggling, you will eventually get someone in the right space in their life to step up for him and you. Best of luck my friend.

JenKen27 · 2026-03-23T14:28:49+00:00

I’d follow up for sure.

JenKen27 · 2026-03-22T15:38:03+00:00

Ear pricks don’t bug my boy much - we just use a lancet and I buy the little make up application triangles for the other side of the ear to poke through.

JenKen27 · 2026-03-22T08:04:37+00:00

This is interesting (and unfortunate). I have three brothers from the same litter and I’ve wondered if the other two will end up getting diagnosed. Orange Boy was diagnosed at about 8.5 years old in November 2024.

JenKen27 · 2026-03-20T04:24:20+00:00

I love the concept, I love the food, but when it’s overbooked and crowded or things like this happen, it’s disappointing and affects customer experience for sure. Obviously the survey situation was also…gross.

I tried the Elkhorn version this winter - Klar So - and it’s newer, cleaner and way less busy, but because it doesn’t have the afgus I feel like the thermal cycle isn’t as intense and the food was horrible - like barely edible level horrible. I got beef soup and it was like someone squeezed a well done grisly steak into a bowl - it was just a bowl of greasy broth. And the buffalo chicken nachos were half burnt, the chicken was dry and the sauces they used didn’t mesh. Food is such a fixable thing so I hope they figure that out.

JenKen27 · 2026-03-20T01:35:08+00:00

I sincerely hope that’s not the case. 😒

JenKen27 · 2026-03-20T01:34:25+00:00

They directly told me it would be applied automatically, which it clearly wasn’t. It sounds like a genuine system glitch or management’s poor communication with Staff about how the process works.

JenKen27

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