Intestines in wrong place

Hi all. I just got back from the vet with my 19 year old boy. Over the past few days, he had been having diarrhea and was straining to have a BM. He was also eating about half of what he usually does. I took him to the vet Tuesday, and they put him on Metrodinazole. Tuesday night, he began "grinding" occasionally while he ate. He had never done this before, so I was very concerned. I read this can be caused by dehydration and may also be the beginning of renal failure. He has had kidney issues in the past, so I was terrified. I scheduled another appointment for this morning.

The vet did an X-ray. There are two circles taking up half his stomach, but the vet thinks it could be something (such as his gallbladder) in the background. He was most concerned with his intestines. He is not constipated and there is no blockage, but they have moved to the bottom of his belly. You can see a bit of them where they should be, but the majority is down too low.

We scheduled an ultrasound for tomorrow, at the vet's recommendation. He said it may be a mass or an enlarged pancreas pushing them down. I was also told they would treat cancer the same way we are treating him now -- with Metrodinazole and prednisone.

1. Has anyone had experience with intestines moving, or know of any possible causes other than what the vet mentioned? His blood panels have always been relatively stable, with the only recent change being high cholesterol.

2. Is it worth stressing him out with an ultrasound if we may just be treating it the same way? He's great with X-rays but I hate to drop him at the vet for the day and probe him, since he is older and arthritic. The ultrasound is $400, but I am not concerned about that if it will really help us to help him.

Any advice is appreciated.

Sorry to hear your kitty is sick. Normally, I would be the first to say that if the treatment is going to be the same, then don't put the cat through more stressful tests. However, I think the situation here is not clear because of possible mass in the stomach AND and unknown issue with the intestines. So, in this case, I do think that an ultrasound may be very helpful to determine the best treatment. If you can afford it, I would do it.

Also, I'm not sure what "grinding" is. Could you elaborate on that?

Grinding sounds like they are chewing rocks, but I believe it's caused by them grinding their teeth together. It's very unnerving. YouTube has several videos of kitties doing it, if you'd like to listen.

I think I would ask the Vet what purpose the Ultra Sound will serve, if they would treat cancer the same way they are treating him now.  I'm guessing here is definitely a reason for it, or he wouldn't have suggested it.  

But my real question is...WHY would they treat cancer the same way?  There have been several cases of cancer on here on the past years, and they have had either surgery or chemo, or both.  Why would they not consider any options?  Because of his age?

I'm assuming because of his age. The first vet I talked to said chemo is expensive and probably wouldn't add much in terms of his life quality.

I did go back in and talk with the vet. I was worried that both cancer and pancreatitis--the two best guesses he has for the problem--are death sentences, but he said pancreatitis shouldn't be viewed that way just yet. I decided to go ahead and schedule the ultrasound.

Just to give an update...we had the ultrasound done today and my boy has a large mass in his abdomen. It is cancer, and the vet said it doesn't look good.

I don't know what else to say. I'm devastated. He found me when I was 5 and has given me the greatest life.

Oh l'm so very sorry to hear that.

Sending hugs and vibes to both of you 

xthoroughbred said:

 He found me when I was 5 and has given me the greatest life.

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And I'm sure he would say that you have given him a wonderful 14 years as well.  I'm so sorry.  Even though we know our pets won't live as long as we do, it's so hard to face these things, they always seem to take us by surprise. 

I'm so sorry to hear this.  I guess now you will spend what time he has left spoiling him rotten and just letting him do what he wants to do.  Sometimes it seems life is so unfair   Did the Vet tell you what to look for as far as signs if he might be suffering?  Of course, you want to let him go before that happens

Again, I am so sorry.