Cat vomiting, vets stumped?

She is booked in for an ultrasound today. And this vet clinic also has a video endoscopy, as well. Here hoping of a diagnosis today!

Oh that's great.  It will be a relief when these tests are done.    

So much for relief. Not good news for my kitty. All they could find was a tumor on her liver. It is the size of a marble. Here's praying that it is benign and operable. She going into surgery tomorrow. Please say some prayers or send some healing vibes for Raiya.

Well, by relief I meant that the tests would either show something you can't possibly know about any other way, or things would basically look okay. But you would have answers.

I'm really sorry about the tumor on the liver. Hopefully surgery will be able to help with that.

One of mine had a liver tumor and the only sign that something was wrong was an elevated liver enzyme level and some reduced appetite. They could only see the tumor with the ultrasound. Because of its location it wasn't treatable but, incredibly. when she died, it wasn't this tumor that killed her. If it hadn't been for heart disease and kidney disease, she could've lived a lot longer because the tumor wasn't growing and causing her any serious problems.

I hope and pray surgery will be successful. The location of the tumor makes all the difference in a situation like this. You have my heartfelt best wishes for a good outcome.

(((HUGS)))

 for you, and prayers and vibes for Raiya's full recovery 

Thanks Violet. I guess I should count my blessings. We caught it early. And the vet didn't immediately dismiss surgery. He said as long as it isn't attached to anything importamt it should be operable. Her liver functions were normal on her last bloodwork. One of my other cats, by the time he showed any symptoms of being sick, the tumor was huge and it was too late.

Sending lots and lots of   and  . Sounds promising that her liver function has not been affected, but surgery is always so scary.   to you.

She made it through the surgery. The lump turned out to be nothing. Yay! But still more questions. All her organs looked good, but her liver was yellow. They think it could be hepatic lipodosis. She hasn't eaten in almost 3 weeks. They took some samples, sent them to the lab. And are starting the process of feeding her.

WOW! I hope she starts to eat soon. Maybe she should have a feeding tube at this point?

finnlacey said:

WOW! I hope she starts to eat soon. Maybe she should have a feeding tube at this point?

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I'm just catching up on this thread. I'm so sorry for all you and Raiya have been through! I'm so glad the tumor was found, removed, and is benign... but I'm just stunned that the vet wasn't assist feeding her, and that she was strong enough for the surgery since it's been so long since she's eaten! No wonder she has fatty liver...

Having gone that long, I have to agree, the feeding tube is probably the best idea. :rub:

Many vibes for you and your baby.

They are going to try an force feed her, but If that don't work out, then its's a feeding tube. There was no tumor. It looked like there was one on ultrasound, but when they went to remove it there was nothing there.

Kind of wondering why they didn't just do that when they had her under looking for the tumor. Wouldn't it have been easier to do it then?

It is extremely difficult to force feed a cat and even with some success, it isn't enough to sustain their caloric requirements. If she has HL, it requires very aggressive feedings. Best of luck!

DanaCbus said:

It is extremely difficult to force feed a cat and even with some success, it isn't enough to sustain their caloric requirements. If she has HL, it requires very aggressive feedings. Best of luck!

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Not true.... I have successfully force-fed every one of my cats giving them all the nutritional requirements they needed. It depends on the cat and your experience.

To the OP - this cat has to eat. I can't believe the vet didn't put a tube in while she was under already :doh3: If she hasn't eaten for three weeks, she probably has HL for a little while already. Don't be fooled - it kills, and kills fast. Do not wait around. Food is the medicine here. If she is throwing up, give her a shot of cerenia, and keep giving it until she stops. But it is CRUCIAL for her to get food and get it NOW.

It took along time to get a diagnosis. We still don't know what causes the original loss of appetite. She started off at one vet and is now hospitalized at another. Not sure why they didn't put the tube in today.... They have been giving her cerenia injections and have ordered he a special liquid diet that will be there tomorrow. I will call them tomorrow to see how she is doing with her eating and maybe ask for the feeding tube. She has only been at these new vets since yesterday afternoon. They have been giving her IV fluids, vitamins, and Glucose i think. The old vets didn't believe me when I told them she hadn't been eating because she was so active. And I was working all day, so I was second guessing myself.

I agree with Carolina, force feeding saves lives and I have proof of that with my sister's cat!!! The feeding tube saved my Alex's life when she had HL and even though she's gone now, I'd do that tube again in a heartbeat! After going through what I did with her, when my sister's cat wouldn't eat longer than one day, I whipped out the syringe and the blender. It helped her get through a tough time and she's here because of it. 

Finnlacey, I believe my statement was misread as force feeding is NOT the same as a feeding tube. Force feeding is putting a syringe down a cat's mouth and hoping enough food is consumed to sustain life. My cat has HL and has a tube it is much different than force feeding.

yes, I know what force feeding is and I know what a feeding tube is since I have experience with both. And BOTH save lives. 

The vet phoned today and said that she is doing well. The have been successfully force feeding her recovery. They have been giving her 4-6 small meals a day for now. so far she is keeping it down. They have been giving her Zantac and metoclopiramide. He also said that a feeding tube may still be needed. She's going to be staying there for awhile. He'll call me tomorrow with another update.

That's good to hear that she's keeping down the food. One day at a time! Hopefully she won't need the feeding tube but if she does, it'll be there to help her get well.