Possible Intestinal Obstruction?

Hello everyone!

I adopted a "perfectly healthy" kitten from my local animal control center at the beginning of September. I took him to the vet for his first exam and he was perfectly fine. He was loving and cuddly and playful. Everything a kitten should be. He is only 5-6 months now.

Just last Wednesday, he started acting a bit different. He didn't play or eat as much and I thought he felt better after he had a bowel movement. I was worried since my previous cat died of FIP (yes, I disinfected everything and threw her old litter box and favorite toys out). 

I skipped school on Thursday to take him to the vet. The vet administered fluids and gave me Amoxcicillin in case of infection. My kitty, Lukas, whined every time I picked him up, and I told the vet that. He squeezed his tummy and he did meow. The vet did nothing, just said to bring him in later in case he didn't get any better. $120.

On Sunday morning, Lukas wasn't feeling any better. I took him to the emergency vet. There the vet said there is something obviously wrong with his tender belly. I thought it would be FIP or FIV. They did blood work and tests and everything was fine. They took xrays and told me he had feces and gas in his tummy and that a barium xray overnighter was probably what he needed since there are no obvious obstructions. Without the barium X-rays, my total was $490. They gave him intravenous fluids, syringe and meds, and canned food and told me to go back for the barium xrays if he didn't get better.

Well, hes not feeling better. I have tried simple home remedies such as adding a tiny bit of fiber to his wet food and some pumpkin. My mother insists on human remedies such as pepto or pedialyte for his dehydration. I don't know if it's healthy... I don't know what to do. Hes very young and I am a struggling university student. All I think about is his health and I already put so much into him. Surgery would be so expensive and why would I do that if there are no obvious obstructions. I don't think I can afford it. But I don't want to loose another kitten so fast. Guide me. Please. This is my cry for help.

If he is dehydrated, you CAN give him pedialyte. Is he having diarrhea or does he seem to be constipated? What is he eating? Food allergies, IBD, parasites, bacterial infections and hairballs can all cause abdominal discomfort.

Does Lukas spend time outside? Is he the curious type that might eat something he shouldn't?

He is a little dehydrated. He's very lethargic as well and still in pain when I pick him up or touch his belly. He started with softer stools today, diarrhea like, but only once. No vomiting. He is eating prescribed wet food from the vet and a tiny bit of his normal science diet kibble. No food allergies that I know of and Amoxcicillin has not gotten rid of possible bacterial infections. I don't think he has ever had a hairball. 

He never goes outside. I doubt he got into something he shouldn't have. I take care of stuff like that. He usually just played with his millions of toys of I have for him. 

As long as he is peeing, pooping, eating and drinking, he probably does not have a blockage.  It could be whatever you are feeding him really doesn't agree with him.  What canned food did the Vet prescribe?  Also, since he's just nibbling at the Science Diet, maybe try taking that away and give him extra of the prescription food right now.  The science diet could be the culprit.  The amoxicillan could be making him feel bad too.  One of our cats acts like he's dying any time he takes an antibiotic, they just don't agree with him. 

I would keep giving him pedialite if he still seems dehydrated, then follow up again with the Vet, if nothing else, with a phone call to report that he's not doing any better. 

Pedialyte is excellent against dehydration, but preferably not the human, bough pedialyte with tastes added, but home made pedialyte.

1,5 soup spoon (15-18 grammes) glucose powder (commercial name probably Dextrose, may be other brands too).

You find dextrose at the bakery shelves.  Sport shelves should too have it.

If you dont have it, you can use honey or white caro syrup.  In a emergency even common white sugar.

1 tea spoon (3 grammes)  kitchen salt. Preferably the so called minerale salt with several different salts, but the plain common kitchen salt with NaCl is OK.

a trifle baking soda (=NatriumBiCarbonate) but not necessary if you dont have it home.

1 litre water.   Boil up with stirring, cool down to body temp.

Use.   Use a dropper or a little spoon if necessary. Give at the cheek, NOT down the throat.

Works nicely for humans and for cats, not least with diarrheas or throwing fits.

If he is visibly lethargic, it MAY be because of low blood sugar.   Smear a little wetted dextrose on his gum.

Or honey or white caro syrup.   The glucose goes directly from mouth into the blood, and perks them up, often instantly, just like that, if it was low blood sugar...

Be sure he is warm.   Sick people are always freezing and need  extra bedclothes, no?

Being half frozen, causes him too to lose forces, and digest troubles.

Good luck!

Get the x-ray.  I just lost a cat with some of the same symptoms.  Turned  out he had a massive infection with none of the normal signs.  No fever, normal white blood cell count.  We did the same barium x-ray but it was too late.  X-Ray revealed no blockage, but showed his lungs were collapsed from the fluid in his chest. Fluid was so thick the vet said it was like cottage cheese.  Postmortem revealed that it was infection, not cancer.  Good luck