Sick cat.

luvzmykatz · Jan 18, 2011

Looks like my older cat Ricky is having another IBD flare up. I got a new cat recently and started feeding him half dry and half wet. He had been on all wet food but wouldn't eat it as I was feeding the new cat dry food which was what she is used to and she won't eat wet food. So now the dry food has caused a flare up which is what I was afraid would happen. It looks like I'll have to put them both on all wet food. Rasta the new cat will just have to eat it. They eat out of each others bowls so I have to feed them the same thing. I guess she'll break down and eat the wet stuff when she gets hungry enough.

I've started Ricky on some left over meds form the last time he was ill. An antibiotic and some antinausia meds. They are both expired by a couple months as luck would have it but I'm hoping they still do something for Ricky. If he doesn't look any better in a day or so I'll take him the vet. He is eating only a tab bit and this morning he was definitely looking like he was out of sorts and not very responsive. Just down right depressed is what he looked like. I'm sick myself with a bad cold and have both jobs today ugh! Lucky the vet is open to 2am if I need to take him.

Any suggestions?

carolina · Jan 18, 2011

Hi, the first suggestion is not never ever medicate your cat without the knowledge of your vet... I am guessing (and hoping) you are giving him Metronidazole?
Also, this might not be a flare up - this might simply be due to the fact that you added the dry food into his diet. Any drastic change/addition of dry food will cause diarrhea, which can last up to 2 weeks. When adding dry to the diet of a cat who is only eating wet, it needs to be done very slowly... Instead of an antibiotic, I would put him on a probiotic - get yourself some Bene-bac or Fortiflora from your vet. Proviable-DC is the one my vet prescribed to my cat, and is by far the strongest one - you can get it cheaper at Amazon, here. Since you already started on antibiotics, I highly recommend you taking him to the vet.

luvzmykatz · Jan 18, 2011

Originally Posted by Carolina

Hi, the first suggestion is not never ever medicate your cat without the knowledge of your vet... I am guessing (and hoping) you are giving him Metronidazole?
.

Yep that's what they always put him on and it seems to do the trick. He has a flare up maybe every 6-8 months so I had some from the last time. He's not had diarrea yet but is on the road. I've been with him through years of constant illness so I know when it's coming and try to nip it in the bud before he starts bleeding in his urine or diarrea which both seem to follow swiftly if not delt with right away. Also I don't want the other cat to get sick.

my4llma · Jan 18, 2011

Originally Posted by luvzmykatz

I've started Ricky on some left over meds form the last time he was ill. An antibiotic and some antinausia meds. They are both expired by a couple months as luck would have it but I'm hoping they still do something for Ricky.

If the meds are expired, will they still work for him? If you know those are the meds he needs to be on, could you call your vet, and get new ones?

carolina · Jan 18, 2011

Originally Posted by luvzmykatz

so I know when it's coming and try to nip it in the bud before he starts bleeding in his urine or diarrea which both seem to follow swiftly if not delt with right away. Also I don't want the other cat to get sick.

Bleeding on his urine is a sign of an UTI and Metronidazole would do nothing for it. If your cat has that, he needs to be taken to the vet immediately, especially being a male. Also, IBD is not transmissible, so there is no risk for the other cats - if your other cats are getting sick along with him you need to take them to the vet to figure out what is causing as it is not IBD, it might be a parasite, such as Giardia.

luvzmykatz · Jan 19, 2011

I gave him a can of tuna with some Pedialyte mixed in just in case he was dehydrated. He has been acting unusually latharhic non social since past few days but no bowel problems or vomiting yet. I,ve been trying to get him better before it progressed to that. He's had a look ok misery on his face as well as moving slowly like he wa in pain. He alsl hasn't been eating much.

carolina · Jan 20, 2011

Originally Posted by luvzmykatz

I gave him a can of tuna with some Pedialyte mixed in just in case he was dehydrated. He has been acting unusually latharhic non social since past few days but no bowel problems or vomiting yet. I,ve been trying to get him better before it progressed to that. He's had a look ok misery on his face as well as moving slowly like he wa in pain. He alsl hasn't been eating much.

I hope you do realize you have to take him to the vet... This doesn't sound good at all IMHO...

my4llma · Jan 20, 2011

Have you taken him to the vet? Is he ok?

feralvr · Jan 20, 2011

I have a cat with IBD and have metronidazole on hand as well. But I always check with my vet first. I just call him and we discuss on the phone and he usually doesn't need to see Pipsqueak and approves the meds. I have also used the meds if they have expired but only up to six months past.

I really would you encourage to take your cat to your vet immediately. This sounds more involved than just IBD especially since you mentioned blood in the urine issues in the past which is extra serious for male cats.

your vet will get your kitty feeling better and then you will feel better too

.

luvzmykatz · Jan 21, 2011

Thanks again everyone for the advice.

I took Ricky to the vet yesterday. The vet said he did have a fever but couldn't find anything else wrong with him. They did some blood work and were going to do a urinalysis but couldn't get any urine (he went in my car on the way to the vet) anyway results from the blood work will hopefully tell us something today. The vet gave him some antibiotic shots and put him on a oral antibiotic which I gave him this morning but he's still wouldn't eat more then a tiny bit and vomited this morning as well and he's still looking miserable. I guess time will tell and all I can do it wait to see if the blood work shows anything. I might try and give him some pedialyte again tonight just to make sure he's staying hydrated. The vet said it was ok to give it to him if he liked it.

carolina · Jan 21, 2011

Originally Posted by luvzmykatz

Thanks again everyone for the advice.

I took Ricky to the vet yesterday. The vet said he did have a fever but couldn't find anything else wrong with him. They did some blood work and were going to do a urinalysis but couldn't get any urine (he went in my car on the way to the vet) anyway results from the blood work will hopefully tell us something today. The vet gave him some antibiotic shots and put him on a oral antibiotic which I gave him this morning but he's still wouldn't eat more then a tiny bit and vomited this morning as well and he's still looking miserable. I guess time will tell and all I can do it wait to see if the blood work shows anything. I might try and give him some pedialyte again tonight just to make sure he's staying hydrated. The vet said it was ok to give it to him if he liked it.

Hi, do not let your cat go without food or with little food for more than a few days, as he runs the risk of developing liver failure/fatty liver disease very quickly... Make sure to force feed him with a syringe if need be, but he HAS to eat, no matter what. Hydrating is important, but nutrition is extremely important too... See, cats are not like dogs... Dogs will go without food and lose weight... Cats will go without food and their liver will shoot down. Your vet can give you a feeding syringe, or you can buy them at a pet store. I have bought at PetSmart, Pet Supplys Plus, gotten from a vet and a pharmacy. Do 4-5 feedings a day, but try to feed almost a full can of food. Blend it with a bit of water to make it easier to go through a syringe. You can also get an excellent and very nutritious/palatable food from your vet called Hills A/D. Give him 1-2 ml at a time, wait for him to swallow and do it again. Do not shoot it on his throat, put it on his tongue or on the side of his mouth; on his throat he can aspirate it.
Try giving him some Fancy Feast (warm it up on the microwave for 10-15 seconds to make it smell a little stronger), treats, boiled chicken, whatever he will eat, but be proactive. Also, ask your vet for a good nausea medicine and a, apetite stimulant... As far as nausea medicine, Reglan worked like a charm for my Bugsy.

luvzmykatz · Jan 21, 2011

Originally Posted by Carolina

Hi, do not let your cat go without food or with little food for more than a few days, as he runs the risk of developing liver failure/fatty liver disease very quickly... Make sure to force feed him with a syringe if need be, but he HAS to eat, no matter what. Hydrating is important, but nutrition is extremely important too... See, cats are not like dogs... Dogs will go without food and lose weight... Cats will go without food and their liver will shoot down. Your vet can give you a feeding syringe, or you can buy them at a pet store. I have bought at PetSmart, Pet Supplys Plus, gotten from a vet and a pharmacy. Do 4-5 feedings a day, but try to feed almost a full can of food. Blend it with a bit of water to make it easier to go through a syringe. You can also get an excellent and very nutritious/palatable food from your vet called Hills A/D. Give him 1-2 ml at a time, wait for him to swallow and do it again. Do not shoot it on his throat, put it on his tongue or on the side of his mouth; on his throat he can aspirate it.
Try giving him some Fancy Feast (warm it up on the microwave for 10-15 seconds to make it smell a little stronger), treats, boiled chicken, whatever he will eat, but be proactive. Also, ask your vet for a good nausea medicine and a, apetite stimulant... As far as nausea medicine, Reglan worked like a charm for my Bugsy.

Yeah it's been very stressful his not eating. I have been heating up his food but that only worked a few times. He will eat the dry stuff but that makes him vomit. I've even tried mixing the dry food with the wet and he won't touch it. I'm thinking of trying tuna again. Last time though he just gulped up the water in the can and left the tuna. It's like he's determined not to eat. Force feeding him is too stressful for him he goes nuts. The last time I tried it he just got sicker and vomited perfusely. I'm wondering if he doesn't have a cold. I've been noticing some snot continualy on is nose. This is fairly normal to see some but not as much. I've heard if their sense of smell is impaired that can cause them to lose their appetite. I haven't heard on the blood test yet but I hope it shows something. I checked him at lunch and he was looking bad again. Of course he wouldn't eat either.

carolina · Jan 21, 2011

Originally Posted by luvzmykatz

Yeah it's been very stressful his not eating. I have been heating up his food but that only worked a few times. He will eat the dry stuff but that makes him vomit. I've even tried mixing the dry food with the wet and he won't touch it. I'm thinking of trying tuna again. Last time though he just gulped up the water in the can and left the tuna. It's like he's determined not to eat. Force feeding him is too stressful for him he goes nuts. The last time I tried it he just got sicker and vomited perfusely. I'm wondering if he doesn't have a cold. I've been noticing some snot continualy on is nose. This is fairly normal to see some but not as much. I've heard if their sense of smell is impaired that can cause them to lose their appetite. I haven't heard on the blood test yet but I hope it shows something. I checked him at lunch and he was looking bad again. Of course he wouldn't eat either.

You HAVE to get him eating, I can't stress that enough... Even if it is temptations treats... Anything... but he has to eat...
Try running the hot shower, as hot as you can with closed doors so you can get the bathroom really steamy, and stay there with him for a while - that should help clear his nasal passages a bit and help with his breathing. Because hot air goes to the ceiling, I like holding the kitty on my arms standing up instead of sitting down....

luvzmykatz · Jan 21, 2011

Originally Posted by Carolina

You HAVE to get him eating, I can't stress that enough... Even if it is temptations treats... Anything... but he has to eat...
Try running the hot shower, as hot as you can with closed doors so you can get the bathroom really steamy, and stay there with him for a while - that should help clear his nasal passages a bit and help with his breathing. Because hot air goes to the ceiling, I like holding the kitty on my arms standing up instead of sitting down....

Didn't think of that but will try it if he doesn't eat the dry food tonight. I just spoke with the vet. The blood work didn't show any problems and the vet thinks he just has a bad cold that will take a few days to recover from. I hope I didn't give it to him I've been struggling with one the past week myself. The vet said to give him whatever he'll eat so that I will do.

I'm just happy they didn't find any IBD related issues. I can deal with a cold. I'll still keep a good eye on him though.

Thanks again Carolina and everyone else for all the advice.

carolina · Jan 21, 2011

Originally Posted by luvzmykatz

Didn't think of that but will try it if he doesn't eat the dry food tonight. I just spoke with the vet. The blood work didn't show any problems and the vet thinks he just has a bad cold that will take a few days to recover from. I hope I didn't give it to him I've been struggling with one the past week myself. The vet said to give him whatever he'll eat so that I will do.

I'm just happy they didn't find any IBD related issues. I can deal with a cold. I'll still keep a good eye on him though.

Thanks again Carolina and everyone else for all the advice.

Good deal! Yep, whatever he will eat, treats, tuna, whatever, the important thing is to get some calories into him! Tons of vibes for your lil' boy!

carolina · Jan 21, 2011

Hey, I just thought of something that might work for you - it works here like a charm! It is cheating with treats.

If you have a food processor or a smoothie maker, get some temptation treats - needs to be the crunchy type - get like 6-7 of them and crumble them into a powder on the processor.
Then sprinkle that powder on the top of his dry food and mix it well - now all of his dry food will be coated and smell like yummy junk temptation treats, but with the nutrition of the dry food.

I have been doing this on my food transition - my kitties all of the sudden HATE their food, but LOVE the new food... Since I need to transition slowly, I mix some in, and sprinkle the new food powder on the old food - they eat it the whole thing to the last bite!

Hope it works there too!

luvzmykatz · Jan 24, 2011

Thanks again everyone. It's nice to see Ricky back to normal. He's still on meds but was playing with Rasta my other kitty and is eating well again.

carolina · Jan 24, 2011

Wonderful wonderful wonderful!!!!

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