[Gpdd] [HEALTH] Weight loss and increased water intake

[Cazza177]

Dear Debbie and Fidget

I can't diagnose your problem but would strongly advise you take Fidget to
the vets.  I too had a cat who was very thin and had chronic renal failure
and drank loads of water.  We too saw no point in putting her through
surgery as she was so old, and she was able to continue a good quality of
life for quite some time.

With an increased thirst and no weight gain it may be that Fidget does have
a kidney problem.  I am also wondering if there may be a secondary problem
connected with making no weight gain even though he eats so well.  The only
way you'll know for certain is to get him to a good vet -- there can be
several reasons for no weight gain in this situation and at best all you can
do is speculate until you go to a vet.  If you are in the UK, there's the
Cambridge Cavy Trust or Caveis Castle.  Even if you can't drive there, a
call to them may help you to know what's really going on.

Carole
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From: DebJonSara at aol.com
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 12:27:20 EST
To: gpdd at gpdd.org
Subject: [Gpdd] [HEALTH] Weight loss and increased water intake

Fidget (d.o.b. 03.02.03, son of Poivre and brother to Cherub, Cayenne and
Red Dandy, all now at The Bridge) weighed 898g when he was returned to me by
his 
 adoptive family who were moving into an apartment in June 2004. Within
months it  had settled in the region of 1100 to 1200g, and it reached an
all-time 
high at  1250g in July this year. Since then, it has been steadily
decreasing, 
reaching  an all-time low this week at 907g, and I am worried. I am almost
certain there  is no dental problem, as he is eating very well. I have
watched 
him demolish  huge chunks of homegrown carrots, and would say if anything he
is 
munching more  pellets and dried food than ever before. He's not just
chewing 
the food and  spitting it out - he is consuming it, I have watched and
checked! The only  change in his behaviour, other than the weight loss, that
I have 
noticed, has  been an increased water intake. He and cagemate Scrabble are
gettting through  300ml in 12 hours, and he is very frequently at the water
bottle, which I have  checked and it doesn't leak.
 
I have often seen similar symptoms mentioned on here before - Alge, didn't
Wilson show the same symptoms? I seem to remember diabetes or kidney disease
were possible diagnoses. I should be really happy to hear from anyone who
has  
dealt with such symptoms, and particularly to hear advice as to what I can
do 
to  minimise the weight loss and maximise Fidget's life. I don't think it
can 
be  diet-related, as none of the other what were 22 Dolly Mixtures have
shown 
these  symptoms, and they are all fed the same diet. Red Dandy did lose
weight, but had  dental problems and stopped eating. I am putting a Vitamin
C 
supplement in  Fidget's water, just in case. I can't see syringe-feeding
would 
achieve  anything, as he is eating really well.
 
I do have an 18 year old cat whose systems have collapsed. She looks and
feels like a skeleton wrapped in skin, but eats like a horse and lords it
over  
the other cats and dogs. Each morning we expect to find she has left for The
Bridge, but instead she wakes us demanding her next meal, and she has been
like 
 this since she was 16! We spoil her because we know her days are numbered.
Could  this be what is happening with Fidget?
 
All advice gratefully received
 
Debbie (and the 14 Dolly Mixtures)