Smokie Threw Up Again....Long Sorry

This morning Smokie threw up again. Twice. I had to give him his antibiotic again.

I called the vet and he said that if he doesn't get better by next week, I'll have to bring him in and he'll do a blood test because it could be something with his liver.

So now I'm panicking. I talked to my Fiance and that of course started a huge argument between us. He won't let me use any money from the savings account to help smokie. Most of the money in there except about $300 is all his money. He has about 6 months worth of money in there in case he looses his job. I only work part time and that's so that I can feed the cats and buy cat litter mostly. I also pay for the internet/cable. He said that I can use the $300 some dollars I had started saving up for vet bills to help smokie and after that he will not help after that. He said I could start selling my things to pay for the extra stuff. So, I'm a bit upset right now. To me he'd probably need medication and a food change which would seem manageable. But if it costs more than the $60 dollars a month we have budgeted for cat food and cat litter then it's extra that I don't have. I had a car accident in January so I have back problems. I have trouble just working the 2.5 hours a day that I already work. The doctor put me on a 2.5 hr a day restriction. I can't work more than that. So if I get another job to help pay for what he needs, I may end up hurting myself worse. I have one disc in my back that is loosing fluid and one that's bulging.

How expensive is it to take care of a cat with a liver problem? I know that they have to have special food. It shouldn't be expensive for that. I would though have to put all 6 cats on it. Because I always leave food in the bowl so that they can eat whenever they want. It makes it easier than to have to separate them when they are eating. But I'm not sure about the medication either. If I don't have the money I may have to give him up which I really don't want to do. It's really upsetting. With all the cat health issues I have not been eating much. When I'm super stressed I just can't eat right or sleep.

My fiance is upset because he feels that I apparently care more for the cats than I do him. That I'd risk our well being Financially and put us in the poor house to save a cat. He likes the cats but is not an animal person. He likes them but if they die or have to be given away it doesn't affect him. These cats are like my children and of course he doesn't see it that way. So it's hard. I know that if we had the money outside of the savings account he would give me the money to help the cats. But right now he sees it as we do not have any money.

I had a cat peaches who I spent nearly $2000 to try and figure out what was wrong and help her and then she passed away on the ride home from having a feeding tube put in. He thought I was crazy when I told him about it. I went through care credit and all my credit cards to try to help her. I did whatever I could to help her and didn't care what it did to my credit score. We were not together then. And now he will not let me do that again.

I have been praying that it's something simple. I'm so tired of going through this stress and worry. I have been praying that all my cats live a long healthy and happy life and just die of old age in their sleep when they are about 20.

I think it's even harder now because when my parents were sick I couldn't do anything to help them, and I had to watch them suffer. They both died of cancer. Then I had two cats who died of unknown causes and I couldn't do anything to help them either. Now I probably can do something to help smokey and help him live a rather healtyh life for a while longer but I can't because I don't have the Money.

If I had already been taking him to the vet and doing what I could and he just was obviously sick and had to have him PTS...I could then deal with the sadness of the loss. It would take me a long time to get over but at least I'd have closure. Having a cat who needs a special diet and medication I could help, IF I had the money is a LOT of stress and heartache. Giving him up to an animal rescue or shelter who may have to have him pts because he's a special needs cat and no one wants him is scarier to me. What if the people who get him end up not being able to take him and he gets to someone else who abuses or mistreats him. Or just let him die. Then I have to sit there wondering is he still alive? Is he okay. At least if he's under my care I KNOW he's okay. If it's going to be this way, I may end up having to get rid of all my cats when it comes to a point I can't afford them any longer.

Are there any places that help people take care of pets with special needs if they don't have the money? I know there's IMOM but most of those places are just for life saving operations and stuff. Not ongoing treatment and management of the animal.

I just really want him to be healthy and happy with me. He helped me through my father's death and all the other problems in my life. He would lick my tears away. So I'm just going crazy with worry right now falling apart.

Anyone have any advise or wisdom?

Mel

Somehow you've got to stand your ground with the fiance. Your cats are part of your family, and deserve the same treatment any family member would deserve. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but I would be seriously seriously rethinking marrying someone who is going to put such financial restrictions on me and my cats.

If you allow him to force you to give up on Smokie (and frankly sending him to a shelter will probably just be a death sentence anyway, so having him euthanized in your arms would be better) it is likely to continue this way throughout your life, him controlling what you want and need to do. That's no way to live, and I speak from experience.

Praying for your beloved Smokie that you are able to get him the treatment he needs.

Anyone I'm in a relationship with understands the importance of my pets and that its a package deal, otherwise its hit the road. I would be very clear where you stand and if he isn't on board I would question his commitment to you

We did talk again after I was calm. He said that if smokie needs medicine or food change that was fine. But we don't have the money for expensive operations and such. He sensitive and when it comes to financial stuff he stresses. And I know that I am not very level headed when I'm upset like that.

He said that we can start setting aside another savings account just for the cats so we have money when they are sick and maybe look into vet insurance if I can get another job. I know that it probably won't help with smokie now but it would help with the other cats. I already have considered getting a second job to make more money. I might have another job at the end of the summer. A friend heard where she's employed they will be hiring again around that time and would put in a good word for me.

I'm really hoping that smokie is okay that maybe it's the food that's causing his stomach upset. I've done some research on failing livers but he doesn't show any of the signs except for throwing up. He's still playful. Always wants to eat, and has been drinking. So in every other way he's normal except he's throwing up. He has not thrown up since this morning though. I gave him some baby food after re-giving him his antibiotics. He lapped it up I also put a water dish upstairs so he could drink when he needed to. At night he's playful and sleeps during the day. Normal life of a cat. So I'm praying that it's nothing too serious. His weight is still 10lbs so he hasn't lost any or gained any.

Hopefully he'll stop throwing up. Not sure if I should try changing the food or not. I don't want to make things worse either.

Not sure what to do.

Mel

That's terrific, that with cooler minds a compromise has been worked out. Sorry for the mean words about your fiance, but I just get so angry about that sensitive issue....well anyway.

What is Smokie's health history? Is there another thread that talks about what's wrong with him and what has been done so far?

I'd like to help, but want to know the whole story first.

I posted this past week with telling about Smokie here is the post
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=216927

Then updated again with the post "further update on Smokie"

He's never had really any health issues. He was coughing a while back few years ago and took him into the vet. They did an xray and said that he does have a very light form of asthma. So heavy perfumed stuff and smoke set him off. Other than that he's been healthy otherwise. I've never seen him have a hairball at all. And he's the kid of cat that likes to groom everyone too. I have a few cats who have that problem, but never saw him have one at all.

I have one other cat that has had allergies to the cat food. She's been pulling her fur out in places so I've been switching foods every couple of months to find one that they can all eat. Then about two weeks or so Smokie was throwing up I thought it was probably from all the food changing that set his stomach off. The vet thought it was too because his stomach was irritated. Usually when he throws up there is food first and then he throws up a second time just fluid. It's not whole food. He did that a few times, but mostly it's partially digested. Looks like wet cat food does when you mush it up.

I may try to get some wet cat food and try that. A friend of mine had a cat that would throw up all the time if he had dry cat food. she had to feed him the wet stuff. I may buy some this weekend and give it a try. It could be that the new cat food is irritating his stomach and a switch to wet might help it.

Here is the cat food that I've put him on:

http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com...eline_formula/

Mel

Melissa

When I first read your post, I thought, get rid of the fiancee. But I'm glad you two have worked that out.

Now, about Smokie, alot of cats throw up on antibiotics. I'm wondering why your Vet is assuming he might have liver issues. Why is he on antibiotics inthe first place. Does he have a UTI or something? I know when my Sven is on antibiotics (and it doesn't seem to matter what antibiotic, and we have tried different ones) he doesn't tolerate them well at all. Last time we even tried giving him Pepcid AC while he was on them, and even that didn't work.

Now, my last comment is, if the dr. has put you on 2.5 hours restriction at work, might not you qualify for some sort of short term disability for the hours you are missing? Did you used to work 8 hours a day? It's worth checking into!

Definitely check into the short term disability. I was put out of work for two weeks a few years back because of chest pain, and I got a check, albeit not for much, but it was better than none.

I am sorry you are so worried about your kitty and totally understand how much of a part of your family they become. I practically don't see them as cats anymore, they are human.

I hope it isn't anything serious and I am glad you and your fiancee talked it out. I work with some men that get so rough and puff-chested about cats and how much money they'll spend before they say "well that's just ridiculous, it's over" but come in the next day spouting about what their kitty did. Most of them are big teddy bears on the inside

Vibes for you and your kitty (and some for your fiancee )

When you changed Smokie's food did you do it gradually or all at once. It is better to mix it and decrease gradually the food you are trying to wean them off of. Has this cat had any bloodwork done at all. I believe he should have a full bloodpanel done. That will show any elevated liver enzymes. I wouldn't jump to conclusions thinking there may be something wrong until you see some reason to believe it. It sounds like your vet just suggested liver, when maybe he should not have mentioned it. It only made you worry and you don't have any evidence yet of anything really being wrong with his liver. I do know there are special foods to put a cat on with liver problems. There are some supplements Denosyl and Denamarin that are Sam-e and Milk Thistle that enhance liver function. In the meantime, monitor your cat for throwing up this weekend. If still persisting then try to get the vet to at least do a liver panel to check his liver enzymes. I hope it turns out to be nothing serious

When I switched the food I try mix it in with the old stuff. I usually wait until the food bin his about 1/2 the way empty and then put in the new food and mix it up.

When I took him to the vet I told him that he'd throw up partially digested and some that looked like whole food. Some of the stuff was pinkish like there was blood in there. He said that he might have an infection in his stomach which would make him queasy and throw up.

He didn't do a blood panel yet on him. He seems to be the kind of vet that only does tests like that unless it's necessary. I moved to Fort Atkinson about 2 years ago. He seemed to be the most reasonably priced, and was willing to do payment plans with me. He was also had the most experience. The other vet in town wouldn't let me do a payment plan. I've brought all my cats into him since and he's been right on with all their diagnosis so far.

He's got him on Albon Suspension antibiotic. I guess it's for bacterial infections. I just did a search. It does say that a side affect is vomiting. But it also said that it's not to be used with animals that have liver or kidney disease. So now I'm concerned. It says to tell your vet if your animal shows any of the side-effects which vomiting is one of them. I will be calling him right away to see if he can prescribe him a different antibiotic. I'm not sure I like this kind.

When faith had a UTI he gave her this pink stuff that had to be refrigerated. This stuff apparently doesn't because it's not listed on the page or the directions on the label.

Here's a pic of Smokie



As for the disability. I had not been working for like 6 years and then just found a part time Job I work about 2.5 hours a day. I'm still going through physical therapy. I've been in it since February. Not sure if I could get disability if I've only been working 2.5 hours a day to begin with. Plus I work with an after school program with our local YWCA. So working with kids doesn't help either because I'm on my feet. But when my back gets irritated it doesn't matter if I'm sitting or standing it will still hurt. I aggravated it when I took smokie to the doctor because I'm only supposed to be lifting between 10-20lbs but I find even 10lbs aggravates my back. I worked in a law firm that handled disability so I know it can be difficult to get. But I guess it couldn't hurt to try.

I awoke out of a dream about 1:45 thinking I heard some meowing coming from the basement. We keep the cats out of the upstairs at night because they either keep pawing at our door to come in or are racing around keeping us up at night. Anyway went down there and on our pool table (it's covered by a tarp) was some partially digested food so even though I have not seen smokie throw up since this morning..I know it was him. So now my mind is just racing, and the nerves in my stomach are eating away at me again. My heart is racing and I feel like I'm going mad. I try to tell myself that he acts normal in every other way. He's eating, playing drinking. The only way I knew something was going on was because he was throwing up. And I try to tell myself it could be anything. Maybe he's just allergic to the food. I mean he throws up but he will go right back and eat after he's thrown up. So if he was truly ill why would he keep eating and drinking and acting normal?

I couldn't sleep and didn't go to bed until probably 11:30 or so and have been up since about 1:45 or so. I can't sleep even though I feel tired. I had to take one of my anxiety pills to see if it could calm me down a bit so I can get sleep. I do have problems with bad anxiety so I've been put on 1-2mg of Lorazapam. I've been on that for a few years now. I only take it when I need it. And I do need it right now. Part of me wants to rush him to the ER here in fort and make them do a blood panel on him immediately. But that's expensive and I have only $300 right now for vet bills and stuff. An er visit would eat up more than half of that at least. I'm trying to rationalize with myself that he doesn't warrant an ER visit. He's fine in every other way except throwing up and he's eating and drinking. That he can wait until Monday morning. I do get impulsive when I'm in this crazy state. There have been many a time when I was freaked out about something on one of my cats and rushed them to the ER at 1 and 2am only to find out it wasn't anything terrible at all. When one of them is sick I always panic right away think of the worse possible scenario.

I just heard his yowling again and he did throw up again. He ate a little bit after the last time he threw up so there was a little food in it. However I applaud him for doing it in the cat litter box. Makes it easier to clean. Than after he that about 10 minutes later he was playing with a toy in the basement.

I have been praying non stop that god could give me a sign to let me know he'll be alright. Because right now I'm beside myself with worry and I really need an answer. I have a friend who's mom passed from cancer also about two years ago or so. This last week she heard her son in his room talking to no one saying that of course he makes mommy smile, he does it every day. When my friend heard this she asked him who he was talking to and he said his busha (sp?) which I believe in German is grandmother. And while her mom was alive she always told her to smile because she had such a beautiful one. And during this last week she had a stressful day at work and that made her smile. So she got a sign that made her feel better. I really could use mine right now. Both my parents are gone so any one of them could come to me or a strange kid and have them tell me Smokie is fine. Don't worry. Then I think I would be more calm about this situation. Why did she get the sign that made her feel better and I'm still beside myself. I really need it right now.

I've been doing research on food intolerance and food allergies. Signs of those allergies are vomiting. Though they say other signs can show also like itching and swelling of the face. He doesn't have any of those. But could have intolerance because intolerance of foods can also cause vomiting. That would make more sense to me if he is having a bad reaction to all the different foods I've been having them try that he's built an intolerance to them. Because before probably around September or October of 09 is when I noticed yak spots on their kitty condo. I thought it was from the food change so I let it go. If that was from smokie all this time, then it has to be some type of allergy because if he had something wrong with his liver it would have gotten a lot worse by now with out treatment. That's over what 10 months or so? It would also explain why he's still eating and drinking and acting normally. It would explain that he would have had a little bacteria infection in his stomach from all those months of intolerance. The pinkish stuff when he throws up is gone now. so the antibiotic has been doing it's job in that area, but he'll still be throwing up from the food intolerance. If he did have a liver issue wouldn't the medication prescribed to him by the vet have shown some adverse signs in him if he had been dealing with a liver issue?

I keep trying to wrap my brain around the fact that he throws up but still goes back to eat after the fact. He eats and drinks, plays and is acting normal.

Here's hoping that I can go dream and will get a sign that smokie is okay. It's 4:41am.

I am now rambling. My Lorazapam has kicked in and I'm now getting sleepy. So I'm heading for bed.

Night all and Thanks for letting a mad woman ramble!

Let me know if any of what I'm saying makes any sense so I know I'm not deluding myself.

What Smokie really needs is a blood work up. This will tell the vet what is going on with his organs. He needs a superchem, which checks all organs, all blood levels (blood calcium for example) thyroid should be included in the test, and a urinalysis should be done too, just to be thorough.

I'll be calling the vet first thing in the morning. Because since I last posted smokie threw up again. I don't know where but my fiance told me this morning. I don't like the fact that every-time he eats not too shortly after he throws up. He seems to be getting worse. It used to be once a day now he's thrown up 3 times within the last 7 hours. Yesterday he didn't throw up since the morning. and was fine until 1am

I called an Emergency Vet Clinic to see if I need to bring him in. One of the Dr.'s on call answered. I told him that Smokie was 9 and that today he was throwing up almost every time he ate within a few hours. The food was partially digested. From what I told him he said it sounds like something is irritating his stomach. He also said that there could be something in there irritating his stomach or it could be the food. Since I had been changing the food for so long he could have built up an intolerance to dry food. He said to try giving him wet cat food and see if that helps.

So, I promptly went to the store and bought some friskies because this is a trial. I put it in a plate and put him in a seperate room to eat. I gave him half the can. He ate it like he had been starved for days. He loved it. I fed him around 11:30 and so far no throwing up hopefully this will help him.

He has a vet appointment tomorrow morning at 10am and he's still getting a blood panel done on him just to be sure.

Need lots of that this works

Mel

that he has a good night, and that you can get some sort of diagnosis tomorrow - it can be so tough with digestive issues. And if Friskies works, more power to Friskies!

Funny, Friskies must really be kitty crack - the E-vet practice I've gone to also recommends wet Friskies to jump start a cat's appetite if kitty seems fairly perky otherwise.

He was hungry again around 4:00 so I fed him. I've been giving him half a can at a serving So I'll probably have to feed him another half a can before bedtime. So far he has not thrown up at all yet. I've pulled up the dish from down stairs and when he eats I leave him in there for about 30 minutes and pull the bowl of cat food down and let the others eat and when everyone is done eating then pull it back up for the night. I'm crossing my fingers that he won't throw up tomorrow at all or during the night tonight.

My anxiety is getting the better of me. I've had to start taking my Larazapam again so that I can relax and at least sleep. I did get outside and try a bike ride it went fine while riding but, now my back hurts. So I probably won't be able to ride my bike this summer That sucks.

Sounds like it's going great with the small portions you're feeding him so he doesn't bolt it down and toss his cookies - and I bet you'll get a good night's sleep once he does as well.

I hope you feel better too - I know when I'm worried I have a hard time sleeping and feel tense all over. Sometimes just brisk walking seems to help - or my feeble attempts at yoga.

It's 9:09pm here and still no throwing up. He started walking around down stairs by where the food usually is and whining at me. So I took that as he was hungry. I put him in the bathroom downstairs and gave him the whole can this time. Only because as I was trying to get it out (ocean white fish flavor chunked) it all came out. So I'll wait to see what he eats. What's left over I'll just put in the fridge and feed him in the morning. The can says that you have to feed 3/4 to 1oz per pound of cat. I'm thinking "he is 10lbs and there is 5.5 oz per can so I'd have to feed him a can and a half at each serving??" That seems a little too much. When I was feeding my first cat peaches wet food as an adult she got just half a can three times a day And she was fine. So I think that's what I'm going to do for feeding.

Also another question. Those that feed their cat wet foods, what do you do when you go on vacation? Where I live I only have one person that would be able to come over and feed him. And that's only if she can do it that weekend. I realize we won't be able to go camping for a week anymore. I'm not sure I like the idea of taking him camping with us. Traveling in a car with him...I don't know if I like that. Sometimes we travel 6 or 7 hours away. It would be easier if we had like a motor home or something that we could drive cause he could roam around free inside while we drove.

Any ideas on that would be great. I don't have a lot of money so paying someone to come and take care of him is out. Not sure I would trust a stranger in my home anyway.

Originally Posted by darlili

Funny, Friskies must really be kitty crack - the E-vet practice I've gone to also recommends wet Friskies to jump start a cat's appetite if kitty seems fairly perky otherwise.

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Oddly, my cats don't like canned Friskies. They like 9 Lives, Special Kitty, and store brand, but not Friskies. Silly kitties.

Originally Posted by mizmelzyMFCCMA

The can says that you have to feed 3/4 to 1oz per pound of cat. I'm thinking "he is 10lbs and there is 5.5 oz per can so I'd have to feed him a can and a half at each serving??" That seems a little too much. When I was feeding my first cat peaches wet food as an adult she got just half a can three times a day And she was fine. So I think that's what I'm going to do for feeding.

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The feeding guidelines are per day, not per serving. So a can and a half per day would be just about right.

No, it certainly would not be good for a special needs cat to be traveling in a car like that. He needs to stay home.

It's not really safe to leave him without someone checking on him though. Pet sitters aren't that expensive. Most charge about $15 or $20 a day for one visit. How long are you going to be gone?

As for what I do, well I don't go away. I haven't spent a night away from home since Tolly's seizures started 8 years ago.

Glad the friskies is working out. You might want to add a probiotic. A sudden change in food like this almost always causes diarrhea or other stomach upset. Ask your vet of course, but some forti flora, benebac or probios will be needed during the transition.

Half of of a 5.5 oz can at one serving sounds like a lot to me. My cats get one forth of a 3 oz can per serving! Each serving is separated by 5-15 minutes.

Actually, with so many special needs cats over the years, I've found that cats eat better with smaller servings. A huge plate full of food for a kitty who doesn't feel good can be overwhelming and discouraging. Less chance of scarf and barf, too. So it's just evolved that all my cats are fed that way.