Please help! I'm desperate. All advice appreciated!!

I have a 14 yr old calico mix named heckle and he is my best friend I love him with all my heart and would do anything for him. And he just recently within the past few months started losing lots a weight. He is all skinny and you can feel his bones. He has been throwing up and having diarrhea and going outside of his litter box. I have taken him to the vet already and they did a full blood panel test and a thyroid test and a urinalysis and they found nothing wrong with him other then he was dehydrated. They gave him a shot of electrolytes and some antibiotics and kept him for the whole day. And he is not really getting any better, I don't really have any more money to take him to the vet again. But the money is not important if I had to I would. I'm looking for other alternatives to get him eating regular again. He eats something one day then the next day he won't eat it anymore. I've tried everything I can think of to keep him eating, various varieties of canned food, dry food, home cooked plain chicken. He sleeps a lot but he is older and isn't that what most cats do...he is drinking plenty of water now he is not dehydrated anymore. But I'm so worried because he is so thin. I'm going to try Gerbers baby food today. Any other ideas  I would greatly appreciate I don't want to lose my friend and I don't think he is suffering, Please help me and my dear kitty heckle.

Since all his blood work checked out you could be dealing with IBD.  I would ask for a steroid trial.  If the steroid clears this up then it probably is IBD.  There are further diagnostics that can point to IBD but they probably won't give a definitive answer.  Many vets will use a steroid trial like a diagnostic tool.

Ok, I already made another appt. at my vet for Monday morning. That:s the soonest I could get in and I have a regular vet so I don't really want to go somewhere new. I will ask about doing the IBD test. I just hope he makes it until Monday....

I would get a second opinion. It will be helpful to take all the test results with you, if you already have copies.

The only thing I can think of is your cat might have IBD if all the tests results are normal. Vomiting and/or diarrhea can be anything.

Make sure your cats' gums are sleek and not sticky. This is a better way to check for hydration.

Have you tried a protein that your cat hasn't eaten like for example rabbit? I would avoid any grains, fruits, or veggies. Less carbohydrates the better.

Perhaps you can finger feed him. Not enough food in his system can cause hepatic lipidosis, not something you want to deal with on top of everything else.

Hi,

I would try taking him to another vet to get a second opinion.  I know you said you don't have alot of money, but they should know whats going on with your kitty. There is a carecredit card that can help if your low on $. Did they do x-rays?  Hope you get some answers. Let us know

Heckle said:

 
Ok, I already made another appt. at my vet for Monday morning. That:s the soonest I could get in and I have a regular vet so I don't really want to go somewhere new. I will ask about doing the IBD test. I just hope he makes it until Monday....

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in the few days before heckles monday vet appointment, try the gerber or beechnut stage 1 meat (ie, chicken & gravy, turkey & gravy, or ham & gravy -- the ones that only have meat, water, and some have a bit of cornstarch for the ingredients) baby food. this baby food is very easy on the tummy and easy to digest. it's important that heckle continues to try to eat, otherwise there's the risk of fatty liver disease.

keep him warm enough and as comfortable as possible. try to keep things calm and relatively quiet in your home.

it might be helpful if you could write up a list of symptoms and when they started, the foods you've tried for heckle, and from now until the appointment write down how often/how much/consistency of his pee and poops. make note of heckles water intake and if he's able to keep any food down (and what kind of food stays down/doesn't result in vomiting or diarrhea). these things may be of help to your vet in diagnosing. also, write down any questions you have for the vet -- it's very easy to forget some questions when you're focused on keeping heckle calm during the appointment.

Thank you all for the quick response. I'm new to this and I didn't think anyone would respond so quickly.   I am going to go to a different vet then I originally went to. And I will be getting a copy of his test results today to take with me Monday. And I'm going to ask about IBD. I am also going to try rabbit for his food, good idea, I haven't thought of that yet. I have tried the duck and he won't eat it. And I have already been avoiding foods with grains.I think I'm going to have to force feed him, since I can't get him to eat out of my hands either. And no they didn't do x-rays. I will update this after  I go to the vet Monday. Thanks again and anymore suggestions would be great to get me thru to Monday. 

I think you can tell by the quick responses that IBD is unfortunately fairly common.  I have an IBD kitty that used to get really bad flares, his symptoms have been well controlled for about 3 1/2 years now.

Denice said:

 
I think you can tell by the quick responses that IBD is unfortunately fairly common.  I have an IBD kitty that used to get really bad flares, his symptoms have been well controlled for about 3 1/2 years now.

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What do you feed your kitty that has IBD? I'm feeding grain free right now canned foods. I'm pretty much offering anything that I can get him to eat.  And like I said he is very picky and he is not liking what I have. I'm going to try Gerber baby food today. Do you have to regularly give your kitty meds? If so, what are they?

My kitty is on a low dose of a steroid but many people have managed to maintain control without the steroids.  I feed mostly canned, a little kibble because both of mine are kibble addicts.  I feed different brands, Hounds and Gatos, Nature's Variety Instinct LTD, Wild Calling.  He can't tolerate beef and has developed a chicken allergy so I stick with things like pork, rabbit, buffalo.  What works varies with each kitty.

Right now what ever he will eat is good.  You may have to syringe feed him to avoid liver issues.  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/227858/syringe-feeding-lucky-video-if-your-cat-is-not-eating   This thread includes a video that shows how to do it.  The main thing is to use the side of the mouth and slowly feed small amounts.

Thank you all for your advice, today is a much better day with heckle. He has been eating Gerbers Baby food chicken and beef since last night and he is keeping it down! I'm so happy. I know it's going to take some time but I'm really excited that he is eating on his own. Hopefully he will keep eating it until we can go back to the vet Monday.

Went to the Vet today.....now I'm scared he could possibly have lymphoma. They took more blood, so more waiting on the results for that.....hopefully tomorrow. He has been consuming lots of baby food since Friday. So that's good news. And keeping it ALL down. I've got all my fingers and toes crossed that its not cancer. All I can do is pray and keep my little kitty as comfortable as I can. So far I don't think he is in pain. Other then the weight loss he acts his normal self. Thanks for all the advice.

What blood tests are being done at this time?

Don't be at all surprised if nothing shows up on the blood tests.  A definitive diagnoses for IBD isn't easy and usually requires a biopsy.   My kitty was either/or IBD, lymphoma.  He was very sick I went with starting the steroid and assuming that it was IBD.  He did have an ultrasound and a needle biopsy, still nothing definitive.  That was 3 1/2 years ago, he is still here and doing well.

Yea that's what I'm afraid of.....that the results will still be the same. I have thought about it for a long time and I think I have decided to try to steroid thing after my vet calls back with the results...I hope that I'm making the right decision...  

My vet just called and...... the blood work has changed. His kidney levels before were normal now they are abnormally high and the vet is concerned. I'm so sad. She said she's not 100% sure because I cant afford a biopsy and I don't really want to put my kitty thru that but she's thinking it's lymphoma...    I don't know what I am going to do if I lose my kitty. I have had him since he was born. I'm trying not to get upset because I don't want him to see me and get upset too. ... This is very hard to have to do and I'm not sure what the right decision to do is.  I can do the steroid trial  but if it is cancer I don't want to make my kitty feel worse...why cant kitties just live forever?! But he still doesn't appear to be in any pain or discomfort so maybe I will just make him as comfortable as I can and be with him for the time I have left...

I am sorry and it's a tough decision.  A steroid may make him feel better, stimulate his appetite and buy you some more time.  It's your choice and I know it's a tough choice to make.