HELP. Cat sick for 3 weeks and vet's also at a loss as what to do.

Hi Everyone.

I have a very difficult case with my cat, whom our vet cant even understand what to do anymore.
After noticing our 9month old cat wasnt eating and started vomiting 3 weeks ago we went to the vet.

Our cat has had previous issues with worms, to which we have given medication which worked. On our visit the vet gave a few injections to stop the vomiting and also a tablet to de-worm.

Three days of hell passed, he wasnt getting up, wasnt eating, kept throwing up. We went back to the vet where we then had him on a drip for 3 days. After showing signs of getting better, (appetite was back)... we took him home. I made the mistake of leaving him both dry and wet food in abundace, to which he ate non stop to make up for the days he lost.. but then he threw everything up again. We also were given injections to give him daily to calm the stomach,,, including anti acids.

To cut a long story short, for three weeks hes just doing the same thing again and again. 3 days wont eat (so we put him back on drip) - doesnt want to get up. Then for 2 days gets all appetite back and is in a good old mood like hes himself again. Then on and off vomiting, and the cycle begins again. He poops and pees, but is now VERY thin.

Our vet has currently taken him to his home to care for him better (hes been there a week), and i just spoke to him again. Again the same story, he shows signs of getting better and then re-lapses, and the vet cant understand as hes tried various treatments and meds. There where one set of meds seems to be working the cat changes 180 degrees progress. He's had stomach meds, lubricant pastes, iv drips, buscopan injections, all sorts.

We cant take him to another vet as were live in a remote area and theres litterally nothing near by,,, but either way our vet is honestly trying to do all he can seen as hes taken him home with him for 24hr care (his wifes a vet too) and has taken the case upon himself without wanting money.

In all of this understandibly our cats behavious has changed.. ample crying, howling over water bowel, lip licking, not getting up.
The only time i know he feels better is when he starts miaowing for food, comes to us for affection, purring and "kneeding" his bed.

In all of this i should mention that after the first 3 days of taking deworming pill he had a crazy epeleptic fit here at home where we thought him for dead but then he snapped out of it. He hasnt had one after that. (vet said it could be a build up of toxin from the dead worms he was trying to pass.. which he eventually did start pooping) Seems that the blockage the worms created for the initial vomiting has now been dealt with as he is pooping and peeing... but has created a WHOLE bunch of other issues??? I dont know what to think anymore. Also, he's a stray which we found injured. Despite injuries (couldnt walk for a while)... he fully recoverd and was a normal happy little cat for 5-6 months until this problem now. We didnt manage to start taking him for his shots yet.

Does ANYONE have any idea what this all could be?


 

So sorry about your kitty!!

I'm curious if any laboratory work ups have been done...?

hey..

no they havent.. we spoke about that with vet but hes convinced the problem has something to do with the stomach and small intestine. Kitty seems to feel horrible after 2 days of eating. The 2 days he does its a teaspoon every few hours of baby purred meat, and or just a few pellets so its not heavy on his stomach. We also force fed him but it was hopeless... poor thing hated it and then just threw up again. His water when he does drink has electolyte and vitamin solution in it.. but the days he stops eating he just cries over the water bowl and licks lips.

I also forgot to mention that we had an xray done after we found him injured almost a year ago but it didnt show that anything internal'y was wrong.

aquakat said:

I also forgot to mention that we had an xray done after we found him injured almost a year ago but it didnt show that anything internal'y was wrong.

Click to expand...

What about a more recent x-ray? Would probably be a good idea to see if there's anything going on internally, like some sort of partial blockage or whatever. I don't know if your vet has access to ultrasound equipment, but that would be ideal.

all suggestions that i get from this forum im going to pass onto him! so thanks  ... has anyone ever encountered the same prob we having?
 

Does he throw up immediately after eating, projectile? If so, your kitty might be blocked and that needs to be resolved immeditealy. Has the vet done X-Rays? In multiple angles?


If he keeps ANY meals he is likely not blocked. But if he throws up everything - DO be careful. He needs nutrition and the issue will only be resolved by removing the blockage.

Also, Try plain cooked chicken breast - with nothing on it. Feed him tiny meals often - see if he holds that in. Don't feed him anything else - just plain chicken breast.

Hi Carolina

In the beginning (three weeks ago) .. yes it was projectile and soon after eating. Thats where we all thought yes there is a blockage.. He seemed to get over that and pee and poop ok. The vomitting now is usually the day after. So the vet told me yesterday that things are looking up again.. he ate yesterday and day before... but today nothing again nor is he getting up from his bed, so im expecting a phone call  tomorrow that he threw up again... its been the same thing for weeks now almost a predictable pattern.

Done the chicken breast thing.. and plain boiled meat, on the days he doesnt eat at all he just smells it and looks like he wants to eat it but doesnt and then cries. Tiny meals often is the route weve taken for weeks now... the problem is the 2 days being ok as a kitty and then the rest of the week just not eating and not functioning properly.

Ive already messeged him and said we must do blood work and xrays

Make sure this kitty eats.... The last thing you want is him to develop Fatty Liver.... and you are risking it

It is a huge, huge concern. Keep giving him shots of Cerenia if you must while you don't find out what is wrong, and be VERY proactive on your diagnostics.
Baby food is great - meat and broth only. Halo Treats - the freeze dried meats - Freeze dried Halo chicken - I think they are sold at Petco, if not, they are sold in major pet stores. Cats go insane for them - you can feed them little by little all day long - all it is is chicken breast. They work great to settle a tummy. I have another brand in here I buy online, same thing, and I give to mine whenever they throw up.

Blood test often don't show an issue - if you do one do a full pannel, a Chem 27.
Also if the x-rays don show up anything and he continues getting worst, hurry to an ultrasound.

DO NOT WASTE TIME.

Force feeding him for a week didnt work. it was horrible for him and he threw things up!  On the days he doesnt eat he goes on drip to get nutrients and fluids... i havent spoken to the vet today yet to see what state he is in but we are still at a loss for words what this may all be...

The problem is that the vet doesnt have the facilities for an ultrasound! Im so at a loss for words, having very horrible thoughts of having to maybe put him down if this continues. The amount of crying ive done in three weeks is undescribable!

Vets usually have other vets they can phone and/or email to get ideas.  Has your vet done that?

And just how remote is where you live?  You don't say where you are.

What a situation Aquakat, sorry to hear your cat and you are going through this.   I'll just throw out a brainstorm of ideas, maybe some will be helpful:

- first absolutely x-rays and full bloodwork are essential as you already know

- consider food allergy and see if switching him to a food meant for allergic IBD type cats might help, I think there's one called z/d made by Hills; there's also single unusual protein foods made out of duck or rabbit.

- make sure he's not getting dehydrated.   You've mentioned a few periods on the drip...thinking you mean IV fluids at the vet?   But he may also need daily SubQ fluids when at home and off the drip as long as he continues to vomit

I hope things get better soon! 

hi

he passed away earlier today

devestated

I am so so so sorry

So very sorry. 

I"m so very very sorry, the poor little guy sounded like he really tried, but just couldn't make it. If he was injured to the point of not walking, I can't help but wonder if he didn't have some type of nerve or brain injury that could have affected his intestinal nerve system. The epileptic seizure sure sounds suspicious. Maybe he had a tumor or a blockage that took a while to grow. It breaks my heart to think of him this way, as I'm sure it did yours. But understand, YOU did all you could for the little guy, you and your vet sound very compassionate and caring, and I truly believe you did all you could.I'm happy he knew he was loved. Please know we all share your pain, RIP little one!

So very sorry

thanks for the support...
i know we did all we could and so did our vet. He did an autopsy and his intestines had moved into his lungs from a rapture when we found him hit so many months ago (hence the eating and throwing up all the time).. and created a vacum seal. There was not one worm or hair in him. Vet was shocked at how he even survived and was a normal kitty for so many months. The xray didnt show anything wrong.. He fought hard to live and was truly the most wonderful little character i have ever met with the most expresionate character sounds looks and affection. I miss him. Everything reminds me of him ..

Our vet felt so bad for us and all that we have all gone through that yesterday he came to our house with one of his own cats and insists on us keeping him.. it all got a bit too much for me when i saw him as he brought back my kittys bedding and toys and blanket .. but in hand with another cat. I understand how the prescence of another animal can help ease the pain of loosing my little jeffie but today ive been home with this little creature who shell shocked cause of a new environment.. and me on the other hand grieving another.. ive shown affection to him and hes showing affection back however im in the frame of mind "i miss my jeffies miaow and not this kittys".

I think perhaps the best thing is to kindly return him cause this is really all just too much. Thanks for all your support x