My almost 7 year old male cat has been sick for about three weeks. I took him to the vet and he had a fever and was put on antibiotics for week. These didn't appear to work and he stopped eating and drinking. I took him to the vet again and his fever was gone and all of his blood work was normal so he was put on a steroid to make his appetite return. This didn't work and he continued to get worse. I took him to the vet once more and he was given worm medicine and large doses of medicine to kill parasites. He's been on these pills for a few days and still hasn't shown signs of improvement. I've been forcing water and turkey babyfood down his throat with an eyedropper to keep him alive but I don't know what to do! He still won't eat or drink, will hardly move, and when he does move he staggers like he has no sense of balance. He also occasionally makes a wheezing noise. The vet and I are at a loss and I might have to have him put down tomorrow but I really do not want to do that! Has anyone else experienced something like this/have any advice for me?? Any help would be greatly appreciated--my cat's life might depend on it.
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Sick Cat--vet and I are at a loss
- Thread starter rina
- Start Date
This is terrible. Welcome to the cat site btw!
The first thing this makes me think of is a uti/bladder infection. Fever usually means infection. Are the white blood cells elevated?
How was his urinalysis?
He is clearly weakened or suffering with pain from something.
How are his teeth? Is he peeing and pooping?
Did the vet give him sub-q fluids?
I doesn't sound like parasites or worms, sorry.
As I said, fever usually means infection, his body works harder to fight off whatever ails him, which raises the temp.
So there is something going on for sure.
But there is no good reason for a 7 year old cat to be pts that easily.
Has she advised an ultrasound? Does he vomit?
What is his daily diet normally?
It is critical that you continue to syringe him pediolyte and baby food, he needs at least 2 full jars of baby food a day, and about the same amt of pediolyte as well.
I know it's tough but hang in there for him, so the 2 of you can work out what is happening.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
Thank you so much for your reply! It never occurred to me to give him pediolyte but that is a great idea and I will buy some right away.
One of the baffling things about this is that his fever was actually gone by the time I took him to the vet a second time, and it hadn't returned by his third visit so as far as we know he doesn't have a fever currently. His urinalysis was fine and the vet didn't comment on white blood cells so I assume they were normal too. He was peeing and pooping once a day until yesterday--as far as I know he hasn't today either (I have another cat so I'm not 100% sure but I'm fairly certain), and he hasn't vomited. But he took a turn for the worse today and his vet and I just don't know what to do! We can't find anything wrong with him other than the obvious symptoms he's displaying, and while we're trying to figure it out, he's getting worse. Thanks again for your answer--I'll take him to the vet tomorrow and double check about a possible UTI and maybe doing an ultrasound.
One of the baffling things about this is that his fever was actually gone by the time I took him to the vet a second time, and it hadn't returned by his third visit so as far as we know he doesn't have a fever currently. His urinalysis was fine and the vet didn't comment on white blood cells so I assume they were normal too. He was peeing and pooping once a day until yesterday--as far as I know he hasn't today either (I have another cat so I'm not 100% sure but I'm fairly certain), and he hasn't vomited. But he took a turn for the worse today and his vet and I just don't know what to do! We can't find anything wrong with him other than the obvious symptoms he's displaying, and while we're trying to figure it out, he's getting worse. Thanks again for your answer--I'll take him to the vet tomorrow and double check about a possible UTI and maybe doing an ultrasound.
Just work that baby food and pediolyte in to him, this will keep his system functioning fine until something else is exposed that explains what is going on with him.
But you don't want him going in to fatty liver/hepatic lipidosis due to lack of calories, so make sure he gets at least 2 jars a day of the food, plus plenty of the pediolyte
But you don't want him going in to fatty liver/hepatic lipidosis due to lack of calories, so make sure he gets at least 2 jars a day of the food, plus plenty of the pediolyte
I'm so sorry your boy isn't well, @rina. Is he even trying to eat? Sniffing and walking away?
I definitely second some kind of diagnostic imaging at this point - xrays and/or ultrasound - which would pick up things that blood work doesn't, such as fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity, blockages, tumors, gallstones, organ abnormalities, etc. My Sebastian had a fever due to pancreatitis and had to be hospitalized. Something perhaps worth mentioning to your vet.
I definitely second some kind of diagnostic imaging at this point - xrays and/or ultrasound - which would pick up things that blood work doesn't, such as fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity, blockages, tumors, gallstones, organ abnormalities, etc. My Sebastian had a fever due to pancreatitis and had to be hospitalized. Something perhaps worth mentioning to your vet.
