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OK, back with some more questions because I'm at a total loss and very confused.
The background as to what we've been dealing with is in my original thread here What's Going on With My Cat??
Where we're at right now is just an absolute refusal to eat. The best I can do is little bits of this and that. In all, he eats maybe 3-4 tablespoons of food in a day (I need to start measuring it out so I can get a better idea of the actual amount). He tries one food and eats it maybe a couple of times, and then won't touch it. Sometimes he acts like he wants to eat but then turns up his nose when I offer something. He's not vomiting and passing very little stool (had X-rays, no blockage). So here are my questions:
1. Are we dealing with something that needs to be treated with antibiotics or steroids? One vet went the gastritis and antibiotic route and the other was going to go IBD and steroids. I have no way of knowing what his root problem is and so have no clue which direction is right. Again, his only symptom right now is nausea (at least I would assume) and not eating. No vomiting - he hasn't really vomited at all during this whole ordeal, except once or twice in the beginning. Both vets we've seen also told me he was dealing with diarrhea but how much of a problem that is and whether it's gotten better or not I don't know because he's hardly passing anything other than urine when he goes.
2. Could he possibly be in pain and need pain medication?
3. He wasn't horribly sick when I took him in last Wednesday (I initially thought his anal sacs were impacted and just needed to be expressed) and now he's hiding and hardly eating - do I just need to stop the meds and give his body a break? He's had Cerenia, Mirataz, and Omeprazole, all with little effect in getting him to eat more.
4. He's very sensitive to medications, so whether it's decided by the vet to give him an antibiotic or steroid, what are some of the safer brands? I want to be aware so I know what to decline and possibly request instead. He was prescribed Metronidazole but I'm on the fence on that one.
5. What can be done about his not eating?? I've been referencing the thread on here that has lots of tips but nothing seems to be working so far. Going to try Nutri Cal today. Is there a good supplement to give him so that what little he eats (especially if I decide to try syringe feeding) will provide some much needed calories and nutrients? Or maybe something that will dissolve in water?
6. I'm taking him off the Mirataz because it's keeping him awake and not helping much anyway. Are there any other appetite stimulants - preferably natural - that have proved helpful for anyone in the same situation? I tried catnip and it sort of helped the first time but is currently having no effect.
Sorry, I know that's a lot of questions! I'm just so confused and don't know what to do or what the next course of action should be. Of course, we're keeping in contact with the vet but he's at a loss too. I just wish I knew if this is something bacterial and I need to get some antibiotics in him ASAP or inflammatory and get him on steroids? Or was nothing really wrong in the first place and it's just and the stress of the vet visits and treatments that have put him where he is?
As I said earlier: I'm at a complete loss.
The background as to what we've been dealing with is in my original thread here What's Going on With My Cat??
Where we're at right now is just an absolute refusal to eat. The best I can do is little bits of this and that. In all, he eats maybe 3-4 tablespoons of food in a day (I need to start measuring it out so I can get a better idea of the actual amount). He tries one food and eats it maybe a couple of times, and then won't touch it. Sometimes he acts like he wants to eat but then turns up his nose when I offer something. He's not vomiting and passing very little stool (had X-rays, no blockage). So here are my questions:
1. Are we dealing with something that needs to be treated with antibiotics or steroids? One vet went the gastritis and antibiotic route and the other was going to go IBD and steroids. I have no way of knowing what his root problem is and so have no clue which direction is right. Again, his only symptom right now is nausea (at least I would assume) and not eating. No vomiting - he hasn't really vomited at all during this whole ordeal, except once or twice in the beginning. Both vets we've seen also told me he was dealing with diarrhea but how much of a problem that is and whether it's gotten better or not I don't know because he's hardly passing anything other than urine when he goes.
2. Could he possibly be in pain and need pain medication?
3. He wasn't horribly sick when I took him in last Wednesday (I initially thought his anal sacs were impacted and just needed to be expressed) and now he's hiding and hardly eating - do I just need to stop the meds and give his body a break? He's had Cerenia, Mirataz, and Omeprazole, all with little effect in getting him to eat more.
4. He's very sensitive to medications, so whether it's decided by the vet to give him an antibiotic or steroid, what are some of the safer brands? I want to be aware so I know what to decline and possibly request instead. He was prescribed Metronidazole but I'm on the fence on that one.
5. What can be done about his not eating?? I've been referencing the thread on here that has lots of tips but nothing seems to be working so far. Going to try Nutri Cal today. Is there a good supplement to give him so that what little he eats (especially if I decide to try syringe feeding) will provide some much needed calories and nutrients? Or maybe something that will dissolve in water?
6. I'm taking him off the Mirataz because it's keeping him awake and not helping much anyway. Are there any other appetite stimulants - preferably natural - that have proved helpful for anyone in the same situation? I tried catnip and it sort of helped the first time but is currently having no effect.
Sorry, I know that's a lot of questions! I'm just so confused and don't know what to do or what the next course of action should be. Of course, we're keeping in contact with the vet but he's at a loss too. I just wish I knew if this is something bacterial and I need to get some antibiotics in him ASAP or inflammatory and get him on steroids? Or was nothing really wrong in the first place and it's just and the stress of the vet visits and treatments that have put him where he is?
As I said earlier: I'm at a complete loss.