4 year old male cat - VERY lethargic, won't eat, won't drink, vomiting

Carolina said:

Ok.... I will be blunt here -
Sorry about that.... but today is day 4 of an obese cat that has gone without food. On the top of it, he has pancreatitis.
This is very serious - like deadly serious. There is no waiting for tomorrow for him to eat - he can die from this. If he gets Hepatic Lipidosis on the top of pancreatitis you are looking into a devastating situation - do not put yourself there.
Everyday you wait, this get way worst.
Sorry I am being this blunt - but it is this serious.
it is already afternoon, and this cat hasn't eaten yet. Tomorrow is the weekend... You are risking putting yourself into an emergency situation, and if you are thinking about money, I would highly recommend you going back to the vet today and getting this feeding tube in.
He is not eating now, he is not going to eat today..... and the more he doesn't eat, the worst it gets - it is a vicious cycle you do not want to play with it.
Is your vet open Saturdays for non-emergencies? Do you have a plan in place if he doesn't eat until the end of the day?
Again, sorry for saying these things..... but....

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The vet is open tomorrow for non emergencies until 4pm.  We are doing assist eating today (not waiting for him to eat) because of the success the vet had while we were there.  If that does not work we will be calling the other vet

rattlemebones said:

The vet is open tomorrow for non emergencies until 4pm.  We are doing assist eating today (not waiting for him to eat) because of the success the vet had while we were there.  If that does not work we will be calling the other vet

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Do you know how much he had to eat at the vet's office today?

About 1/2 oz. My girlfriend is trying for more now because I'm at work

rattlemebones said:

About 1/2 oz. My girlfriend is trying for more now because I'm at work

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good

He just vomited very violently... leaving work to take him to the emergency vet to see what we can do

OH NO!!! Oh I'm so sorry. Please let us know what happens. 

Loads of vibes going your way

This vet said that she feels something in his abdomen, like a mass, or it could be his pancreas and liver inflamed. He is going in for ultra sound now and we will know more in an hour. She is holding off on the tube this minute because he doesn't look very stable. They're going to get him rehydrated via iv and on antibiotics. I'm not feeling confident of a positive outcome at this point.

Just try and wait until the ultrasound is done. Inflamed organs can really make them very, very sick. I'm glad he's getting an ultrasound now. Please let us know what they find.

I know it's VERY scary when stuff like this happens. :heart2: But our kitties are fighters! My Lazlo had a lump in his tummy. His turned out to be a "massive" tumor - cancerous. We opted for chemotherapy. He tolerated it well, and after the treatments were over (16 of them over 6 months), there was no more detectable mass.

So hopefully this is "just" inflammation, and treatable!!!! Hugs to you and vibes to your kitty! !!!!!!!!!

:cross: that's "just" the inflamed organs..... :cross:
If he can't have the tube done today, please, don't get out of there without an anti-emetic, a strong appetite stimulant and pain meds
Sure, he needs hydration, but his poor liver desperately needs nutrition too....
to you

The ultrasound showed that he is suffering from an extreme case of pancreatitis.  The mass in his stomach is his swollen pancreas and stomach which is distended for an unknown reason.  The way he was positioned they could not see inside the stomach to see if he ingested something.  He does not show any abnormalities in the actual liver or the kidneys, however his liver values were higher than she has ever seen before.  She did state that he does not have hepatic lipidosis as of right now. 

He is checked in the hospital for the night on IV fluids, painkillers, and nourishment.  Her first priority is to get the vomiting to stop.

His prognosis is "guarded" and she doesn't even know if he has a 50/50 chance.  She said his pancreatitis is very bad.  She thinks he will make it through the night and she is going to call me in the morning to let me know if there has been improvement.  Tomorrow we will decide on the feeding tube or IV nourishment. 

I can't believe he has gotten so bad... 4 days ago he was totally normal.  I lost it when I saw him in the kennel hooked up to everything.  The way he looks I honestly don't think he is going to make it. 

We are now $2000 in and have no idea what's going to happen.  But I am so happy with this new vet.  Its like a super center vet that's staffed 24 hours a day.  The area where they work looked like a laboratory.  The doctor that helped us was extremely patient, understanding, and proactive which was a change from the other vet who didn't really seem to care.

I just really hope I didn't just take him away from home for the last time.
 

WOW! Well, he's in the best care now and you'd be surprised at how much hospitalization can help. That other vet really should have put him in immediately. Thank goodness you found this one now and we're praying it's not too late. Hang in there! I've seen really REALLY bad cases come out of it. 

Oh hun, I am so sorry...
Now he is at the best place he can be though, and he is getting much needed nourishment and treatment, which is essential for him to get better :cross:
Have you tried to apply for carecredit? Maybe they accept it in there..... Many vets should, that should help you a bunch

We have care credit.. couldn't find the card though. Its going on visa for now.  It's $300/day in hosp, 600 for feeding tube if we go that way, 400 for ultrasound, plus meds and procedures.
 

I read your thread and I am so sorry to hear what is happening to your little boy :-(. I am treating my boy for cancer, the same as what LDG had with her kitty. Like your boy, mine also had a "mass" which turned out to be lymphatic tissue and small intestine lymphosarcoma, but he had to have exploratory surgery for them to make a complete diagnosis, and now he is on chemotherapy.

I will pray for your little boy, that they can get him stable for now. Did they say what the overall treatment is for pancreatitis? Also, if they get him stabilized, do they think there is anything more they need to do (i.e. see if there is anything else inside his stomach since they could not see in there) to arrive at a complete diagnosis? 

I am sending you vibes and prayers for your kitty and you. You have been a wonderful parent. I know how it is when something happens quickly like this, you can't just let them fall apart. You think about the money and even though you can't afford it, you also cannot turn away from your pet and you have to help himand be there for him. You are doing a wonderful thing for your boy. 

BarbB said:

I read your thread and I am so sorry to hear what is happening to your little boy :-(. I am treating my boy for cancer, the same as what LDG had with her kitty. Like your boy, mine also had a "mass" which turned out to be lymphatic tissue and small intestine lymphosarcoma, but he had to have exploratory surgery for them to make a complete diagnosis, and now he is on chemotherapy.

I will pray for your little boy, that they can get him stable for now. Did they say what the overall treatment is for pancreatitis? Also, if they get him stabilized, do they think there is anything more they need to do (i.e. see if there is anything else inside his stomach since they could not see in there) to arrive at a complete diagnosis? 

I am sending you vibes and prayers for your kitty and you. You have been a wonderful parent. I know how it is when something happens quickly like this, you can't just let them fall apart. You think about the money and even though you can't afford it, you also cannot turn away from your pet and you have to help himand be there for him. You are doing a wonderful thing for your boy. 

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I hope yours makes it, too.  There is no treatment for pancreatitis other than nourishment and fluids.. it has to heal itself.

My replies keep being caught up in the moderator filter because I'm new.  So if you don't here from me for awhile, that's why
 

Oh boy.  All my best thoughts and vibes headed your way.  I sure hope you have some really good news tomorrow...
 

NutroMike said:

Oh boy.  All my best thoughts and vibes headed your way.  I sure hope you have some really good news tomorrow...

 

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You and me both