Need help-open sores and vomiting!!!

kittycorner

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 4, 2006
Messages
470
Purraise
1
Location
Colorado
I am having a problem with Uno-back in December I noticed he had developed a small scab on his back and just thought that it was a small bite wound from one of the other kitties or a claw mark. We were in the process of moving so I kinda did not pay as much attention as I should have. In early Jan. I noticed that it had turned into a medium sized open sore-so I took him to the vet and she said it was a skin infection and to treat it with an anti-biotic cream for 2 weeks. I did-no change at all. I had let it go for a few more weeks thinking maybe it would get better-no such luck. I took him in to work with me on Friday and had him sedated for a teeth cleaning and while he was under we did a skin scrape and a fungal culture. Basically it was still a skin infection, so we chose to treat it with the cream again and oral antibiotics. I have yet to keep the ointment on for more that a minute before he licks it off and the oral meds don't get anywhere near his mouth-my husband and I just get war wounds instead. On Sunday I noticed that he has developed another sore further down along his spine and today he has started vomiting. I am at my wits end as to what to do for him, he won't let us treat him yet he continues to get worse. Any ideas on what I can do different or what may have caused this???
 

jen

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 27, 2001
Messages
8,501
Purraise
3,009
Location
Hudson, OH
You might have to use an E-collar when you put the ointment on him so he can't lick it. Also, for the antibiotics, how do you attempt to give it to him? Do you scruff him? I have given meds to very aggressive cats before just by wrapping them in a towel, having someone hold them down and scruffing them.
 

carolpetunia

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 25, 2005
Messages
9,669
Purraise
17
Location
Plano, Texas
The bloodwork question is a good one. But also... in my relatively short career as a kittymom, I've seen far more sloppy vets than good, thorough ones. I'm always in favor of a second or third opinion...
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

kittycorner

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 4, 2006
Messages
470
Purraise
1
Location
Colorado
I have not run bloodwork, since he is only 2 yrs old, but I am seriously considering it as an option. He has since stopped the vomiting but the sores continue to get worse. I am taking him back to the vet tomorrow to see what else can be done. As for the e-collar there is not a chance that he will ever keep it on and with only one eye-I hate to limit his vison even more. I just wish that there was something easier to give to him, because now every time we go near him he acts like we are going to torture him and runs away from us now. I will let you know how it goes after the appointment tomorrow!
 

momofmany

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
16,249
Purraise
70
Location
There's no place like home
So sorry to hear that you are going thru this!!

If the infection is spreading, you can be getting to a life threatening situation. As hard as it will be for all involved, you can't let him NOT take his meds.

If he licks off his meds, he needs an e-collar, and if this doesn't work in your house because he is missing an eye, then you need to somehow isolate him. Have you read thru some of the threads for ideas on how to pill a cat? Here's a good one: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...ht=pilling+cat

There are times when I get to the point where treating the cat is beyond my means. For those times, I've actually boarded the cat at a vets for them to treat. Life threatening illnesses sometimes call for extreme measures. When you live with a lot of cats, its good to know your limitations.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8

kittycorner

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 4, 2006
Messages
470
Purraise
1
Location
Colorado
I am a vet tech so I am an expert at pilling cats-and Squeeker gets meds 2x a day so I am pretty experienced. I am not opposed to the e-collar as much as he is-no matter what I do he gets it off-he is a sneaky little guy!!! I am going to try and give the meds again tonight and see how it goes, I know how important it is to give them to him I am just not sure how it is going to happen. I am going to ask the vet tomorrow if there is maybe an injection that will last longer and might be effective. Thanks to everyone for their ideas and support.
 

momofmany

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
16,249
Purraise
70
Location
There's no place like home
Originally Posted by kittycorner

I am a vet tech so I am an expert at pilling cats-and Squeeker gets meds 2x a day so I am pretty experienced.
Sorry, did not know that and hope you did not take offense with my advice.

I have resorted to taking my cats in for shots on a regular basis for those cats that could not be pilled (I have had those).
 

ldg

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Messages
41,310
Purraise
842
Location
Fighting for ferals in NW NJ!
From your initial post, I wouldn't have had any idea that you had experience pilling cats.

Pilling willing kitties and pilling cats at the vet is entirely different than pilling an unwilling kitty at home. The vet and vet techs can do so many things to our cats that we can't because they're terrified out of the home environment!

To give him his meds in the home environment, and to avoid the war wounds, have you already tried the method hubby and I use -

Do you feed a wet food meal? If not, consider wet food as a treat. When he's eating, I pretend I'm going somewhere else - but quickly turn and kneel down behind the eating cat. I'm sitting on my legs, knees bent, butt on heels. Cat is trapped. I scruff until hubby can get there. He can't back up, he can't shake his head around, he can't go anywhere. Hubby scruffs cat and hands me the meds. While scruffed and trapped between my legs, I pop his mouth open, insert liquid or pill as far back in throat as I can. Cat bites down, and it hurts, but it doesn't penetrate my finger (if it's a pill). But he still can't move. I hold his mouth shut until he swallows whatever is in his mouth. But he can't shake liquid out because hubby's still got him scruffed while I hold his mouth.

It isn't pleasant - but it works. For pills, my finger gets a bit chewed, and it hurts after a few days, let alone 2 weeks. But... kitty gets the meds.

Just a thought in case you hadn't tried it yet.

Laurie
 

jean44

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 15, 2006
Messages
1,252
Purraise
1
Location
Oahu island, Hawaii
As a vet tech I'm sure you're aware of this. But is there a trans dermal antibiotic that would work for Uno? That's what I'm currently using for Palekana as there is no way to get a pill down her and she refuses any food that has meds hidden in it.

Good luck finding something that will work for Uno.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #12

kittycorner

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 4, 2006
Messages
470
Purraise
1
Location
Colorado
Well we just got back from the vet and we now have a new plan of action. We took another skin scraping and still nothing that is diagnostic. We are going to try an antibiotic injection once daily for 10 days and if not better after that then we are going to have to do a skin biopsy. I am not sure how the injection thing is going to go since my husband hate scruffing kitties and is therefore not that good at it, but we will give it another shot, practice makes perfect right???
 

beandip

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 1, 2007
Messages
2,322
Purraise
2
Location
under a pile of cats
Originally Posted by kittycorner

Well we just got back from the vet and we now have a new plan of action. We took another skin scraping and still nothing that is diagnostic. We are going to try an antibiotic injection once daily for 10 days and if not better after that then we are going to have to do a skin biopsy. I am not sure how the injection thing is going to go since my husband hate scruffing kitties and is therefore not that good at it, but we will give it another shot, practice makes perfect right???
Oh yes, I can sypathise.
My husband loves the cats, is more than willing to help - however he's terrified of claws and teeth.
so that makes him not a very good helper. Problem free injection vibes to you!
 

kittenkiya

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 30, 2004
Messages
2,196
Purraise
2
Location
Tucson, AZ
I am not a tech or anything, but I have a question. Have you had your baby checked for diabetes? My old Pete had sores on him that simply refused to heal no matter what was done. Later on we found out that he had diabetes.

Perhaps you can check with your vet to get some testing done?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

kittycorner

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 4, 2006
Messages
470
Purraise
1
Location
Colorado
Poor Uno, unfortunately since he would not let me treat him with any type of medication he had to undergo surgery today to remove the lesions that have been soo troublesome. He is home now and doing ok, but very drugged to keep his pain level down. We also sent in a biopsy to make sure it wasn't any type of tumor. Poor little guy, he looks very pathetic tonight. Keep your fingers crossed that the diagnosis is nothing bad.
 
Top