Hi all,
I took in a new rescue in the beginning of August - so I've had him nearly 3 months. He had fleas & ear mites & was starving. I took him to the vet to get treated for everything back in August, and they told me the abdomen distension was likely from worms. I have given him two doses of Strongid 2.5 weeks apart, plus one dose of praziquantel (I saw no evidence of tapeworm infestation, but gave him the med anyway just to be absolutely sure). The vet also suggested his sides could be distended simply from getting regular food from me versus whatever he was scrounging around and eating outside (We think he had been outside for quite a long time before I brought him in).
But today, nearly 3 months later, both his sides are still distended. I do think it has gotten a little better, but they are definitely still distended. It feels more distended after he eats (which makes sense). Also, he wolfs down his food. He can inhale a 5.5oz can in literally less than a minute! Not sure if this indicates a real medical condition, or if it just psychological from food being hard to come by for so long.
I am going to take him to the vet again, but I wanted to be prepared with questions that I can ask. When you feel his sides, they feel pretty firm (not watery and squishy) but not rock hard or anything like that. I can press in both sides and it doesn't seem to cause him any pain. He eats, drinks, poops, and pees normally from what I can tell. He is active, but not super active (but we think he is an older cat, so his activity level may be totally normal). I think I know the cat well enough by now to tell that he is not in pain or anything.
What are some possible causes of abdominal distension that matches what I have described?
When I have been searching online, the main causes seem to be: Parasites, FIP, or cancer
Pretty sure it's not FIP because he'd have way more severe symptoms, and probably wouldn't still be alive after these past 3 months.
Cancer or parasites I guess are a possibility.
I have limited money to help him, so what questions/tests do you think would be the most important to have done at the vet?
I wanted to be fully prepared with info and other folks' experiences before my vet visit on Friday.
Thanks!!
I took in a new rescue in the beginning of August - so I've had him nearly 3 months. He had fleas & ear mites & was starving. I took him to the vet to get treated for everything back in August, and they told me the abdomen distension was likely from worms. I have given him two doses of Strongid 2.5 weeks apart, plus one dose of praziquantel (I saw no evidence of tapeworm infestation, but gave him the med anyway just to be absolutely sure). The vet also suggested his sides could be distended simply from getting regular food from me versus whatever he was scrounging around and eating outside (We think he had been outside for quite a long time before I brought him in).
But today, nearly 3 months later, both his sides are still distended. I do think it has gotten a little better, but they are definitely still distended. It feels more distended after he eats (which makes sense). Also, he wolfs down his food. He can inhale a 5.5oz can in literally less than a minute! Not sure if this indicates a real medical condition, or if it just psychological from food being hard to come by for so long.
I am going to take him to the vet again, but I wanted to be prepared with questions that I can ask. When you feel his sides, they feel pretty firm (not watery and squishy) but not rock hard or anything like that. I can press in both sides and it doesn't seem to cause him any pain. He eats, drinks, poops, and pees normally from what I can tell. He is active, but not super active (but we think he is an older cat, so his activity level may be totally normal). I think I know the cat well enough by now to tell that he is not in pain or anything.
What are some possible causes of abdominal distension that matches what I have described?
When I have been searching online, the main causes seem to be: Parasites, FIP, or cancer
Pretty sure it's not FIP because he'd have way more severe symptoms, and probably wouldn't still be alive after these past 3 months.
Cancer or parasites I guess are a possibility.
I have limited money to help him, so what questions/tests do you think would be the most important to have done at the vet?
I wanted to be fully prepared with info and other folks' experiences before my vet visit on Friday.
Thanks!!
