old cat - trying some more treatments.

Well, talked to Doc about old Casey today. I was originally to take him to the vet today before Ginger became ill and I substituted her for him. I was planning on talking about when to put him to sleep. But, he's had a few good days lately, so instead I talked to him about what we could do to make him feel better. He's 16, and has had kidney failure for over a year now... will soon be 2 years. He's not moving around much these days which we think is due to arthritis. Tried asprin, doesn't seem to help. Doc gave me liquid meloxicam (Mobic in people) to try and see if it helps.

Casey is also constipated - a side effect of his illness. He won't eat pumpkin. Doc said to get wheat germ oil capsules and give him half of one a day on his food... but I went to 3 places that sell vitamens etc. and can't find it. In the morning I'll call Doc again and see if he meant to say cod liver oil or flax seed oil, since I can't find wheat germ. I found fish oil, salmon oil, vit.E oil, etc etc.... but not wheat germ oil. I have not tried the local health food store yet (quite a drive for me) to see if they have it. All the wheat germ I have seen is a dry flake or sort of like grape nuts.

When I take Mobic it helps, but gives me the ....ahhhh..... trots..... so perhaps it will affect Casey a bit that way, and we can take care of the arthritis and the constipation at the same time.

If he cannot tolerate the Mobic, and I can't find the wheat germ oil, have any of you ever had any success for the constipation that comes with the kidney failure?

Thanks
Jules