This was from last Christmas and I am reaching out to see if anyone has advice. It all started bc he kept throwing up so he had an ultrasound and they thought he had cancer bc he had a mass in his small intestine and a lot of inflammation. He had surgery to remove it and was not getting better his intestines where tested and it is not cancer but 3 doctors can't figure out what is wrong. He is currently on steroids, anti nausea, anti diarrhea, pro biotic, b12 shot and something to increase his appetite. He seemed to be doing better a week ago but the last two days wont eat and he's now only 4.3lbs. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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Cat sick and doctors don't know why
- Thread starter skyley
- Start Date
how old is kitty? what are you feeding him, what have you tried in way of diet changes? I think adding some more info will help brainstorm ideas. I hope you figure out what the problem is, it is very upsetting to see our kitties in any distress
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- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
He is around 5 years old my fiancé' mom found him as a stray in bad shape and the vet said he wouldn't make it so he found another vet and he was doing really well for awhile. When we took him to our original vet they kept telling us he had a good allergy so he was eating strictly duck for awhile and not really getting any better which is why we went to a new vet when they biopsied a piece of his intestine that was removed they saw no sign that he had an allergy. His sample has been tested twice bc they thought it may be fungal as well and it all came back inconclusive I spoke with his vet today bc he isn't eating and although we have fungal medicine she doesn't seem to think it will help and says it may just be one of those time we never find out what was wrong
I am glad you are not giving up. Have you tried other types of protein rabbit, lamb, fish pork, venison etc? are you feeding kibble, canned or raw? Make sure that the food is grain free I have heard that many cats have problems with grain in their diet.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #5
We have tried everything and he's on canned bc he only has 4 teeth on top of the fact it's better for his intestines not trying to get hard food through. At this point the vets have said to give him anything he will eat which isn't much he hadn't eaten today and we have tried everything we can think of. He has had a lot of inflamation in blood tests and on the ultrasound his lymph nodes where swollen which is why they originally thought cancer
poor little guy. I would double check to make sure there is no grain in the food, Here is a good site that lists some of the best foods
http://www.naturalcatcareblog.com/2010/12/the-7-best-natural-commercial-cat-foods-so-far/
http://www.naturalcatcareblog.com/2010/12/the-7-best-natural-commercial-cat-foods-so-far/
I'm not sure looking for 'the best foods' is the way to go.. it's more about getting any food into him, as the vet says.
Some of the things I've seen our members feed cats that need tempting are:
- raw goat's milk, (especially for cats with a sensitive stomach)
- baby food that doesn't include garlic or onions
- lightly cooked pieces of chicken, tuna, beef, lamb.. whichever is his favourite..
I really hope you get some answers soon.
Sending
Hi Mani you made a very good point, they need to get food in him ASAP. I was told that cats go nuts for raw liver. My mom told me she had a cat that was dying and would not eat anything but fresh liver. Just be careful as that can't become his diet, they could die from vitamin A overdose. I hope you can help the poor boy
I'm not sure looking for 'the best foods' is the way to go.. it's more about getting any food into him, as the vet says.
Some of the things I've seen our members feed cats that need tempting are:
I'm sure you know that he must eat.. not eating for over 24 hours is not good for a cat's liver.
- raw goat's milk, (especially for cats with a sensitive stomach)
- baby food that doesn't include garlic or onions
- lightly cooked pieces of chicken, tuna, beef, lamb.. whichever is his favourite..
I really hope you get some answers soon.
Sendingthoughts to your boy.
Yes, I would be very careful about feeding raw liver to an ill cat..
Suggestions: Poultry, turkey, chicken, (same as above
Drink: Campbell's chicken broth no sodium or low sodium
Liver, just light to medium cooked. Chopped up
fine served alone if not mix with a tinned gooey gravy cat food.
Probiotics you can buy @ any pharmacy if you have none. For good flora.
Ionic silver solution is great for any inflammation. 20.00 ish @ health food store
it's pure water (better than collodial water) you can feel it work.
Great for arthritis in older animals, eyes, ANY inflammation. Cats drink it just like water.
Not sure if you're syringe feeding yet but it's easy to blend up ingredients serve warm...
Hope he improves soon.
Drink: Campbell's chicken broth no sodium or low sodium
Liver, just light to medium cooked. Chopped up
fine served alone if not mix with a tinned gooey gravy cat food.
Probiotics you can buy @ any pharmacy if you have none. For good flora.
Ionic silver solution is great for any inflammation. 20.00 ish @ health food store
it's pure water (better than collodial water) you can feel it work.
Great for arthritis in older animals, eyes, ANY inflammation. Cats drink it just like water.
Not sure if you're syringe feeding yet but it's easy to blend up ingredients serve warm...
Hope he improves soon.
These are the safe baby foods to temporarily feed to a cat: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/225595/anyone-else-have-an-only-gravy-licker/60#post_3749885
It's important to get food into your cat, even if its the cheapest junkiest grain and by product filled dry food out there. A sick cat need calories any way it can get it.
Ask the vet for FortiFlora. It's made with animal digest which very few cats can resist, even sick inappetant ones. FortiFlora is a probiotic but many people just use it at a topper to get cats to eat.
With a sick cat, ask the vet before giving anything like silver solution or Internet recommended treatment. The vet needs to know exactly what the cat is eating and drinking etc because that may have an effect on the illness and any medications the cat may be on.
Skley, have you tried a specialist? An internal medicine vet may be able to figure out what is wrong with your cat. Or ask your vets to do a consult with a specialist. VIN.com is a popular vet only web site where your vet can post on to get help from other vets. Vet schools are also a good resource and often do consults.
It's important to get food into your cat, even if its the cheapest junkiest grain and by product filled dry food out there. A sick cat need calories any way it can get it.
Ask the vet for FortiFlora. It's made with animal digest which very few cats can resist, even sick inappetant ones. FortiFlora is a probiotic but many people just use it at a topper to get cats to eat.
Campbell's chicken broth looks ok to give to a cat. But many other brands contain garlic and onion which are harmful to cats. It's better to encourage a cat to drink plain water or soupy canned cat food.
With a sick cat, ask the vet before giving anything like silver solution or Internet recommended treatment. The vet needs to know exactly what the cat is eating and drinking etc because that may have an effect on the illness and any medications the cat may be on.
Skley, have you tried a specialist? An internal medicine vet may be able to figure out what is wrong with your cat. Or ask your vets to do a consult with a specialist. VIN.com is a popular vet only web site where your vet can post on to get help from other vets. Vet schools are also a good resource and often do consults.
Hi Skyley,
Just curious what is the brand name of Probiotics that the Vet prescribed to you?
Just curious what is the brand name of Probiotics that the Vet prescribed to you?
Have you had him checked for inflammatory bowel disease? That's what my Rista has. She started throwing up as a kitten, and for the longest time no one could figure it out. She was on probiotics and stuff for nausea and hair balls... My usual vet had her on depo steroid shots for a while. Those seemed to work for nearly a year, then not so much. I took her for a 3rd opinion, and the vet did a blood test to check her B12 and folate levels. Her folate levels came back a little high, which means IBD. He prescribed a special hypo-allergenic diet for her. I haven't gotten the food yet to see if it works, but that's my best suggestion.
OK, I am just kind of skimming over these posts...please forgive me if I am re-interating or repeating what has been suggested..
First off, just from my own experience and what I have read...by no means am I an expert in this...
Have your tried bone broth..it is vey nurishing ...it is bones, which are boiled down to a broth. Very good for healing sick kitties..
Yes, your cat must eat..baby food..without onions or garlic is best..even plain tuna...
My guy has Inflammatory Bowel Disease..kind of similar...
Again, as has been asked before: what probiotic has been recommended?
If it is Forti-Flora, I would be a bit concerned. That is a good probiotic, but not good for kitties who have issues with allergies or Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
The most common irritant in cats with IBD is chicken...Forti-flora contains animal digest. We do not know the source of that. It could be chicken.. I know from my own experience. My guy is allergic to chicken. I discovered it when I noticed he vomited immediately after eating chicken. His specialist explained this to me. Artie is now taking Proviable probiotics...no animal digest.
My guys's symptoms were almost immediate, daily vomiting---sometimes more than once a day; and right after eating..
weight loss and constipation..
I ended up taking him to an Internal Medicine Specialist at a referral Hospital. I am so glad that I did. it has been a long haul, but I think we have things, not under control;; but under an understanding....He is holding his own now...
I have also put him on a single protein diet....in our case it is rabbit and nothing else...not even treats..
You do need to get some food in your "love"----that is what is crucial at this time..
I hope I am not sounding 'boss-ish".... I really do care. I have been through a lot with my guy and I just wanted to share with you what I discovered..
(((hugs)))
First off, just from my own experience and what I have read...by no means am I an expert in this...
Have your tried bone broth..it is vey nurishing ...it is bones, which are boiled down to a broth. Very good for healing sick kitties..
Yes, your cat must eat..baby food..without onions or garlic is best..even plain tuna...
My guy has Inflammatory Bowel Disease..kind of similar...
Again, as has been asked before: what probiotic has been recommended?
If it is Forti-Flora, I would be a bit concerned. That is a good probiotic, but not good for kitties who have issues with allergies or Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
The most common irritant in cats with IBD is chicken...Forti-flora contains animal digest. We do not know the source of that. It could be chicken.. I know from my own experience. My guy is allergic to chicken. I discovered it when I noticed he vomited immediately after eating chicken. His specialist explained this to me. Artie is now taking Proviable probiotics...no animal digest.
My guys's symptoms were almost immediate, daily vomiting---sometimes more than once a day; and right after eating..
weight loss and constipation..
I ended up taking him to an Internal Medicine Specialist at a referral Hospital. I am so glad that I did. it has been a long haul, but I think we have things, not under control;; but under an understanding....He is holding his own now...
I have also put him on a single protein diet....in our case it is rabbit and nothing else...not even treats..
You do need to get some food in your "love"----that is what is crucial at this time..
I hope I am not sounding 'boss-ish".... I really do care. I have been through a lot with my guy and I just wanted to share with you what I discovered..
(((hugs)))
