Six months ago, I was not so sure that we would be celebrating this day.

This past April Bear developed colitis and became anorexic. He stopped eating almost completely. After several vet visits it was determined that Bear had developed Triaditis. Triaditis is the term used for the combination of cholangiohepatitis, pancreatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Bear’s blood work also showed that his liver had been affected and he was in danger of developing Hepatic Lipidosis. Without proper treatment the mortality rate was 70 - 90%.

At the time I did not realize just how prevalent this illness is in cats. Since then I have learned (the hard way) that if a cat stops eating and starts to utilize its own fat stores, the cat’s liver cannot metabolize the fat effectively and the result is liver failure. The medical term for this is Feline Hepatic Lipidosis. This can happen very quickly and by the time the owner realizes that the cat is not eating it may be too late. The biggest lesson here is: if your cat stops eating or drastically cuts down on its intake please take him to a vet.

The main treatment for this condition is food. Sounds easy, doesn’t it.. well believe me, it is not! If a cat decides he is not going to eat .. he will not eat. I tried a smorgasbord of cat delicacies. Bear would eat none of it.

When it became all to apparent that Bear was not going to eat, I tried syringe feeding him pureed cat food. This works with some cats, but for us it was a disaster. Food ended up everywhere.. on the walls.. on me.. very little in Bear. In the mean time, Bear was getting increasingly weak. He had no appetite for food or life. He just wanted to find a quiet place to hide.

My vet suggested that we try tube feeding via an e-tube. An e-tube (esophagostomy tube) is a small rubber tube that enters a surgical incision on the side of the cat’s neck. Placement of the tube through this incision allows food to enter the esophagus and then flow down into the stomach.

This was a scary time for us. After much soul searching I decided to have an e-tube placed in Bear. The first day was the hardest. After he returned home on the day of the procedure, he was withdrawn and lethargic. My first attempt at feeding him through the tube resulted in him vomiting. He just lay there.. quiet.. not moving. My heart was breaking. I remember sitting beside him.. tears running down my cheek. “Have I done the right thing Bear?” I quietly whispered as I patted his head. That day neither one of us was sure.

The second day went a little easier. By the third day Bear was retaining all of the tube feeds. After the first week it actually became very easy. I fed Bear four times a day.. everyday for five weeks. At the end of that time his blood tests were normalizing and the e-tube was removed (actually he barfed it up.. bit it off .. and spit it out.. causing everyone to go into panic mode.. but that is another story).

Today you would never guess that Bear has ever been sick. He is healthy, active and eating well ( almost too well .. he is starting to look a little chunky ).

So bring on the chocolate mouse .. let’s celebrate!!

Post Note:

I would like to extend my profound thanks and appreciation to Dr. Tim Bowles and the staff at the Transcona Veterinary Hospital for the care and support they provided during Bear's illness.

During Bear’s ordeal, I discovered a Yahoo Group whose focus is feline assisted feeding. Here I received much needed support, knowledge and advise. If your cat is not eating or has been already diagnosed with Feline Hepatic Lipidosis please visit this group.

Link: Feline-Assisted-Feeding