First, let me start off by saying hello!
I am a newbie to this forum and about losing my mind over my cat's poor health, so, I was hoping some of you may give me some ideas since you have experience with felines.
So...I took in my cat who was a stray approx 4 months ago. (my 1st cat!
)
She doesn't seem to be gaining any weight and weighs a measly 4.5lbs; yes, she is fur, skin, and bones at this point.
Initially, I had her vaccinated, tested for FIV/FeLV, and de-wormed (drontal). I was also attempting to get her spayed through a non-profit here in TX, but they denied it and stated she looks to be around 15 and they don't spay over 6. So it appears I have a senior kitty! The vets have given me an estimate of age from 8-15yrs, depending on which vet you ask.
I figured it would take some months for her to put on noticeable weight, so I wasn't too concerned until she had an "episode", as I call it. She generally was very weak and unsteady on her feet. Vet thought she was anemic and gave her some l-lysine but didn't run any tests. She perked up for a while, but still didn't gain any weight.
On Christmas eve she wouldn't eat, drink, or really get up at all. When she did get up, she had a "sideways" walk. She seemed very confused, unsteady, low temp, and generally very weak. I took her to the vet and they gave her fluids as well as tested her kidneys. They found blood in her stool when taking her temp but kidney test showed nothing remarkable.
She recently had another "episode" of the same manner. Didn't really use her back leg to walk this time (walking in circles, kind of), one front paw and one rear paw had a "parkinsonian-like" tremor. Again she didn't want to eat or drink, and again, I took her to the vet. This time her thyroid was tested. Nothing remarkable. Her face also looked like it was retaining fluid...very strange.
I've been to three different vets now and none of them seemed very concerned that she weighs all of 4.5lbs, which is really frustrating me. She has no energy and with these "episodes" I fear she may die soon. Vet thinks she has mild inflammatory bowel disease IBD, but she rarely vomits and rarely has diarrhea. I'm really at my wits end with my vets and their lack of concern. This little one is too precious to just waste away.
Any ideas from your own experiences?
I am a newbie to this forum and about losing my mind over my cat's poor health, so, I was hoping some of you may give me some ideas since you have experience with felines.
So...I took in my cat who was a stray approx 4 months ago. (my 1st cat!
She doesn't seem to be gaining any weight and weighs a measly 4.5lbs; yes, she is fur, skin, and bones at this point.
Initially, I had her vaccinated, tested for FIV/FeLV, and de-wormed (drontal). I was also attempting to get her spayed through a non-profit here in TX, but they denied it and stated she looks to be around 15 and they don't spay over 6. So it appears I have a senior kitty! The vets have given me an estimate of age from 8-15yrs, depending on which vet you ask.
I figured it would take some months for her to put on noticeable weight, so I wasn't too concerned until she had an "episode", as I call it. She generally was very weak and unsteady on her feet. Vet thought she was anemic and gave her some l-lysine but didn't run any tests. She perked up for a while, but still didn't gain any weight.
On Christmas eve she wouldn't eat, drink, or really get up at all. When she did get up, she had a "sideways" walk. She seemed very confused, unsteady, low temp, and generally very weak. I took her to the vet and they gave her fluids as well as tested her kidneys. They found blood in her stool when taking her temp but kidney test showed nothing remarkable.
She recently had another "episode" of the same manner. Didn't really use her back leg to walk this time (walking in circles, kind of), one front paw and one rear paw had a "parkinsonian-like" tremor. Again she didn't want to eat or drink, and again, I took her to the vet. This time her thyroid was tested. Nothing remarkable. Her face also looked like it was retaining fluid...very strange.
I've been to three different vets now and none of them seemed very concerned that she weighs all of 4.5lbs, which is really frustrating me. She has no energy and with these "episodes" I fear she may die soon. Vet thinks she has mild inflammatory bowel disease IBD, but she rarely vomits and rarely has diarrhea. I'm really at my wits end with my vets and their lack of concern. This little one is too precious to just waste away.
Any ideas from your own experiences?