Lazlo's been vomiting...

With 8 cats and three boxes, it can be difficult to tell, though I usually can. Lazlo's been on a night-pooping schedule the past few weeks, and I think he did, but can't be positive. However, he has been ravenous the past two days.

Another interesting - I was vacuuming this morning and he hid, so I couldn't give him his mid-morning dose of the antacid (I've moved his dose to 10:30am and 10:30pm). He came out and promptly threw up at about noon - a little bit of digested food. So still some kind of motility problem going on, because there should have been no food in his stomach by then.

Vibes that it's nothing serious!!!

Cat puking can really be a mysterious thing, and frustrating when the vet can't figure it out. We've tried all sorts of things with Genever over the past year+, and just finally a few months ago, the last thing before a pricey endoscope (i appreciate my vet's trying less expensive treatments first!) was to try prednisolone, in case it's some sort of inflammation in the digestive tract. Well, that has reduced her vomiting significantly! She still does puke sometimes though, but wow. I actually want to call the vet soon to give her an update and make sure it's still ok for Genever to be on the pred.

I hope Lazlo can get sorted out soon!

I do know cats tolerate pred much better than people do (long term).

Our vet explained that if the zantac doesn't work, we can either try the pred or go for the endoscope. If we have to proceed beyond the zantac, she explained that if we tried the pred and it helped, it indicates inflammation, but the pred treats the symptoms - and if it didn't work and he did need an endoscope, we'd have to wait six weeks after stopping the pred. When the do the endoscope, they always take biopsies - which if there aren't ulcers or something obvious, can at least be used to determine if the problem is IBD - and the only way to diagnose IBD is via biopsy.

So we've pretty much already decided that if the zantac doesn't work, we'll go with the endoscope rather than the pred. In fact, we put a huge credit at the vet because we recently got paid. If we don't need it for the endoscope, it'll be there for other emergencies (knock wood).

Originally Posted by LDG

He came out and promptly threw up at about noon - a little bit of digested food. So still some kind of motility problem going on, because there should have been no food in his stomach by then.

Click to expand...

I'm sorry Lazlo is still sick

Originally Posted by My4LLMA

I'm sorry Lazlo is still sick

Click to expand...

Me too. I'll be knocking wood.


Robin

Well, he got his pill like normal last night, and no vomit last night. Also, if he meowed at 6:00am, I didn't wake up. But he also got his morning pill, so we'll see what happens today....

Laurie, I am so sorry about baby Lazlo! I have not been on the board for a while and missed this...
I am sure you know that Zantac inhibits acid production. I find it strange that he does not vomit right after he eats but hours later if he does not take Zantac...

I know from my ND that in some people there is too little acid in the stomach and the food sits in there undigested causing GI problems. Oddly enough Zantac and like meds provide comfort but only for a while.

Probiotics provide GI relief too...

Yeah, it was the hours later that concerned me. Right after, and it's usually hairballs. Then we thought maybe he was backed up, thus undigested food that hadn't progressed - but I thought he'd pooped the night before. However, he didn't. He pooped yesterday evening (or late afternoon) - and a LOT of it. Definitely slightly constipated, as he did go in two different boxes and strained a little bit. But you can tell from the shape he got all of it out. So that may have been part of the problem.

Anyway, we'll stick with the zantac for the week and see what happens and go from there. Now that he's pooped, if he's still throwing up undigested food....

He won't eat pumpkin. But I'm going to try adding a little oatmeal to his food this evening.

I know others have a real issue with vaseline as a hairball preventative, but the vet confirmed information I received here. The molecules of vaseline are too large to be absorbed, and it helps bind the hair and coat the intestines. He can't STAND any of the other hairbaill stuff I've given him - and much of it is mostly petroleum jelly anyway (some has mineral oil too). So I am going to give it to him 2x a week.

Yes, if he is backed up and there is no way for the food to go he will vomit. Our RB Heidi Ann did that...I am hoping you can regulate this

I forgot to ask this. Is he around 8 year or so? If it is a motility problem, you might have to add a motility agent but here is hope you will not have to...

Originally Posted by LoveWhiskers

I find it strange that he does not vomit right after he eats but hours later if he does not take Zantac...

Click to expand...

But, stomach inflammation (from any cause) will also affect digestion times. Its one of those things that if it doesn't get better may just need to be looked at (endoscope) to make sure the stomach is ok.


And petroleum jelly is fine if you're careful about when you give it and when the cat is it eat - just like with every other hairball remedy. If nothing passes and Lazlo gets sicker it's moot point about how healthy petroleum jelly is long term...

Lots of for Lazlo. I hope you can get this figured out and a treatment plan that works effectively soon.

Yup, he's 8 - almost nine now. (Where DOES the time go???????????) Now that I know his colon is (was as of last night) empty, we'll see what happens. But thank you for the info.

It makes sense to make sure he stays regular along with the zantac before going the endoscope route. I really hate talking about money, because we've always been willing to spend whatever it takes - and we already have two "million dollar" kitties (we never added it up, but certainly one of them was well over $10,000) - so $600+ for the endoscope seems like a pittance in comparison. But these days it's something I'd rather not spend if I don't have to... and Chumley is definitely going to cost us a pretty penny along the way.

Such is life.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

But, stomach inflammation (from any cause) will also affect digestion times. Its one of those things that if it doesn't get better may just need to be looked at (endoscope) to make sure the stomach is ok.

Click to expand...

Yup. The Doc thought it might be a cycle of gastroenteritis started by the hairball problem (which he definitely had). The x-ray did show he was full of poop - so that could have explained the vomiting digested food.

Now that he's cleared up on that end, we'll see what happens with the zantac. Next step will be the endo.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

And petroleum jelly is fine if you're careful about when you give it and when the cat is it eat - just like with every other hairball remedy. If nothing passes and Lazlo gets sicker it's moot point about how healthy petroleum jelly is long term...

Click to expand...

Are you saying there's a risk the petroleum jelly causes a blockage?

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Lots of for Lazlo. I hope you can get this figured out and a treatment plan that works effectively soon.

Click to expand...

Thanks. Me too.

Originally Posted by LDG

Are you saying there's a risk the petroleum jelly causes a blockage?

Click to expand...

No, there's the risk of malabsorption of nutrients. But again, that won't matter if he can't keep the food down in the first place, so you need to do what you have to.

Oh gotcha. Thanks.

Hurray for poop!

I don't use petroleum jelly for hair ball remedy myself but hadn't ever heard any reason not to. What reason do the nay sayers give for not using it?

Lazlo

Originally Posted by otto

Hurray for poop!

I don't use petroleum jelly for hair ball remedy myself but hadn't ever heard any reason not to. What reason do the nay sayers give for not using it?

Lazlo

Click to expand...

Excessive petroleum can cause possible deficiency as it completely coats the insides and NOTHING is thus digested ... I had the discussion with my vet and she said well which is worse missing a meal or having surgery?

Originally Posted by sharky

Excessive petroleum can cause possible deficiency as it completely coats the insides and NOTHING is thus digested ... I had the discussion with my vet and she said well which is worse missing a meal or having surgery?

Click to expand...

But that goes for any hair ball remedy? I mean they all contain some petroleum product and/or mineral oil. Or is it because it is pure, straight, petroleum with no other junk added (commercial hairball remedies contain flavorings, corn syrups and other crap, which is why I rotate formulas)

I always advise people to give hair ball remedy on an empty stomach at least an hour before a meal. I generally make the cats wait 2 hours after dosing.

Originally Posted by otto

I always advise people to give hair ball remedy on an empty stomach at least an hour before a meal. I generally make the cats wait 2 hours after dosing.

Click to expand...

The remedy tubes themselves typically advise at least two hours. One isn't enough for digestion time.

I usually give it 3-4 hours after a meal and when there won't be another one for another 4 hours (like early morning).