Hill's Prescription i/d Diet Cat Food Is A Lifesaver...
Written: Jul 12 '04 (Updated Jul 26 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: This food will help your cat feel so much better!
Cons: Prescription Diet formulas are available only through veterinarians.
The Bottom Line: Hill's Prescription Diet i/d food has saved my little friend's life and that's the best "Bottom Line" there is.
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| Jev04again's Full Review: Hill's Prescription Diet Feline i/dCanned |
How It All Started:
My experience began four months ago, March 4, when my beloved cat, Sam, suddenly became very ill. He was only three days shy of his 14th birthday. In all of his years in my care, he had never once – and I mean never – been sick a day in his life.
That late afternoon, we had our play and exercise time and he seemed fine. Just a few minutes later, however, he was exhibiting signs that something was terribly wrong. His face had what I call a "scrunched up" look, like a profound flinch or wince when we humans are in pain. His nose was running like crazy and he was swallowing repeatedly, eyes squeezed tightly shut. He was low to the floor with his neck extended out in front of him. My first instinct was to be afraid that he’d swallowed something sharp, or that he was choking on string. I watched him for several minutes and even though he was looking at me like, "Help me", I was afraid to irritate him too much because as we all know, a pet who’s in pain can sometimes turn on us – even if they haven’t done so even one time in their life.
After a few minutes of this behavior, I called my veterinarian’s office. I knew that whatever this was, it was serious enough to take him in to see the doctor. The veterinarian’s assistant suggested that it could be signs of a respiratory infection, and we made an appointment for 7 a.m. the next morning. That seemed forever away! But since he was breathing normally, the morning appointment was made.
That evening, I stayed up all night with Sam and he never moved once from the bed. He stopped eating and drinking, and even stopped using his litter pan. Every time he would move, just to try and turn over, he would be in terrible pain. Sam’s always been a very vocal, sociable cat and the minute he stopped "talking" to me, I knew he was in trouble. He’s always been very active for a "Senior" cat, so when he even stopped walking it was frightening.
Over the next two weeks Sam endured having a cortisone shot for pain, multiple and detailed blood tests, an enema with fluid therapy, a series of two different antibiotics, and an extensive X-ray. My veterinarian suspected an inflamed pancreas due to "shadowing" in Sam’s abdomen so a specific test was ordered for this, a "Feline TIL" test, which tests a cat’s pancreas. Now all we had to do was wait. Several days later, it was confirmed that his panel of numbers was "elevated", at 107.7. It was for certain: Sam was diagnosed with Pancreatitis. No cure. No known cause – some possibilities are feeding a diet high in fat or table foods that are rich in fat, infections, disease, and even trauma. Sam hardly ever ate table foods and when he did it was mainly a bite of meat or pasta - so I didn't feel that it was something due to his diet. Well, at least we knew what we were dealing with, so in a big way it made me feel less hopeless.
How Did We Deal With This?
My veterinarian expressed how important it was to change Sam’s diet to a food that was highly digestible and one that would "soothe" his pancreas. He also needed a diet that was high in soluble and insoluble fiber combined with uniform fat levels so that these painful episodes would be at a minimum. That was very important to me because the way the doctor described it, a pancreatic attack is very, very painful – it’s worst symptoms being stabbing pain, nausea, horrific acid reflux, and inflammation. So the doctor prescribed Hill’s Prescription Diet Feline i/d, which is formulated specifically for cats who suffer from various gastrointestinal diseases, such as colitis and pancreatitis. The doctor told me that this food is very bland and most cats don’t like it, because they’re used to the high flavor and fat content of "over the counter" canned cat foods. Sam had never been raised on wet food – it was mainly given to him as a treat once or twice a week, but his main diet was dry cat food from Iams. So when the veterinarian suggested Feline i/d, I was certain that this is what Sam needed. I felt comforted knowing that eight out of ten veterinarians recommend Prescription Diet formulas for pets with specific diseases and I’d do what it took to help my dear friend.
Hill’s Prescription Diet Feline i/d – (information taken from web site):
For the nutritional management of cats with gastrointestinal disorders. Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders affect both the stomach and intestines, creating painful symptoms that can have an impact on your cat’s overall health. The most common symptoms associated with GI disorders are vomiting, regurgitation, flatulence, weakness, diarrhea or constipation. Prescription Diet Feline i/d is a highly digestible formula created specifically to help manage cats with GI disorders. There are several types of GI disorders that affect cats, including colitis, constipation/diarrhea, gastroenteritis and pancreatitis.
Pet food can have a significant impact on GI tract health. Veterinarians recommend feeding a food that is highly digestible to help prevent irritation to the sensitive stomach and intestines. Also, foods high in soluble and insoluble fiber combined with moderate fat levels help support proper intestinal function. Because several of these conditions may be ongoing, long-term nutritional management of the disorder may be required. If your pet displays any of the warning signs of a GI disorder or disease, talk to your veterinarian immediately.
How Do We Do This?:
When I asked my veterinarian how much food I should feed to Sam, he replied with a smile "I can’t answer that." I was taken aback because I really needed to know how much was too much and how much wasn’t enough, because I’d never fed Sam a steady diet of canned cat food, not to mention a prescription diet. Basically, my veterinarian told me that it was up to Sam how much food to feed him. Sam started out on 1/8th of a 5/5 oz. can – not much, for sure, but he was still trying to get his legs under him at this point. I was very happy that he liked the taste of this food because my veterinarian had told me that most cats hate the bland taste. Thankfully Sam loves the food so it makes it easier for him to accept this special, important diet that he needs for the rest of his life. Sam is now eating one can of food per day, divided over 4 times a day, which seems to be perfect for him. This food must be covered and refrigerated – Sam’s spoiled because he likes his 1/4 helping meal to be "nuked" for 5 seconds before he will eat it. Heh. Actually, my veterinarian told me that heating it up will help release the aroma of the meat, so maybe that’s why Sam prefers it this way.
The amount of food per meal can be adjusted to your cat’s specific appetite. The important thing to remember is that the Prescription Feline i/d is to be fed as the sole food. Supplementation with other foods is needless and may decrease the effectiveness of the food. It’s important to mix the food with increasing amounts to his old food, until eventually his old food is no longer in the mix. This should take 7 days to accomplish – anything faster will upset his stomach.
From Web site:
Adult Maintenance – using 5.5 oz. can:
5 to 9 pounds: 3/4 – 1 can
10 to 14 pounds: 1-1/4 – 1-3/4 cans
15 pounds: 1-3/4 – 2-1/3 cans
Product Characteristics:
Protein, Fat, Carbohydrate Digestibility: High
Fat: Moderate
Potassium: Increased
Mixed Fiber Source: Added
B-Complex Vitamins: Increased
Target Urine pH: Normal acid
Ingredients:
Water, turkey, poultry liver, corn flour, rice flour, soy fiber, xanthan gum, locust bean gum, taurine, minerals (calcium sulfate, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, salt, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), vitamins (choline chloride, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement).
The food is ground very fine, into a smooth paste – almost a paté consistency. It’s very light beige in color and has a distinct "meat" aroma to it. This is definitely thanks to the turkey and poultry liver ingredients. Because of the main meat ingredients, this food is filling and nutritious, as well as good for Sam. I buy a case (24) of 5.5 oz. cans per month, which costs nearly $28.00. Money well spent. I also purchased a 4-pound bag of the dry Hill's Prescription Diet i/d, so that he can nibble between his main meals. He doesn't eat much of the dry, but at least it's there in case he has a touch of the munchies.
How Is Sam Doing Today?
It has been four months since Sam was so sick. He and I both have been through the "wringer" together. There for a several weeks I was seriously wondering if I was going to be forced to say a very painful and sad goodbye to a friend who will always have my heart. Thankfully that has not been the case.
Hill’s Prescription Diet Feline i/d has been Sam’s lifesaver. He hasn’t had another pancreatic episode on the scale of what was happening before. My veterinarian told me that he will always have some acid reflux and I know when this is happening when Sam will suddenly swallow multiple times and have this "ew, that was gross!" look on his face. He will then run – not walk – to get a drink of water to wash that terrible taste out of his throat.
He’s back to his playful self; playing hide and seek, taking a running leap onto the love seat, and playing with his "Clifford" finger puppet toy (hey, any time he can beat up a dog, even if it’s an idiotic toy, is a good time for him!). He’s eating well, talking – A LOT – and just plain happy. He is 14, so he sleeps a bit more during the day and he is understandably slower, but he’s had a good life up to this point and I pray for many more happy years with him.
^,,^ Meow!
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Hill’s Contact Information:
Phone:
1-800-445-5777 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CST, Monday-Friday
Web:
http://www.hillspet.com
Address:
Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.
ATTN: Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 148
Topeka, KS 66601-0148
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UPDATE 7/26/04: Please click here http://www.epinions.com/content_149182844548 to read my review on Hill's Science Diet Prescription Diet Feline i/d Dry food. Thank you! :-)
Recommended:
Yes
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Jev04again
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Member: Sunni
Location: Perso in un sogno.
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