- Joined
- Oct 19, 2016
- Messages
- 68
- Purraise
- 63
Does anyone have experience with cats with chronic IBD vs. Lymphoma symptoms?
My 9-year-old cat, Ruby, recently stopped eating normally. Usually she eats about a cup of dry food a day and suddenly one week she started tapering off until she wasn't really eating anything. She would still take me to her food dish and act like she wanted to eat, but then wouldn't. I also noticed that her poop had gradually started becoming smaller, darker and harder. I assumed hairballs and constipation (occasional vomiting had preceded this by about a week). I gave Laxatone and encouraged her to eat wet treats. No response to this.
I took her to the vet who said everything felt normal and blood tests were completely normal. She suspected IBD and noticed a low grade fever. She gave a Covenia injection, an anti-nausea med, and a short acting steroid. Ruby perked up and started eating again, not as much as normal but I was happy to see her eat anything. After a few days though she was back off her food.
I went back to the vet and another Dr. at the same office told me to switch her to a high fiber prescription food. We did and she began eating again and normal poops for about a week or so and then, suddenly, back to not eating.
Today we went back to the vet. She gave a longer acting steroid (Depo) and another Covenia shot just in case we were missing an infection. But she also mentioned that lymphoma could be a possibility, which is scaring the hell out of me. Hours later Ruby is sleepy, disinterested and zero interest in food. Vet says to come in tomorrow for anti-nausea meds if no improvement.
I'm extremely worried now because Ruby has eaten very, very little for almost 5 days and nothing I do or try seems to interest her in food, wet, dry or treats. For now that's the priority. But then, what about the possibility of lymphoma? Should I seek diagnosis of that? We had a bout of these exact same symptoms last year, but they resolved with similar treatment in just a couple weeks. That would make me think it's not lymphoma, but rather chronic IBD. But the fact that symptoms are worse and longer lasting now could maybe point to something worse?
I don't know. I'm a little distraught at the moment and just seeking ideas. I've never had her not eat this long and I'm very worried.
My 9-year-old cat, Ruby, recently stopped eating normally. Usually she eats about a cup of dry food a day and suddenly one week she started tapering off until she wasn't really eating anything. She would still take me to her food dish and act like she wanted to eat, but then wouldn't. I also noticed that her poop had gradually started becoming smaller, darker and harder. I assumed hairballs and constipation (occasional vomiting had preceded this by about a week). I gave Laxatone and encouraged her to eat wet treats. No response to this.
I took her to the vet who said everything felt normal and blood tests were completely normal. She suspected IBD and noticed a low grade fever. She gave a Covenia injection, an anti-nausea med, and a short acting steroid. Ruby perked up and started eating again, not as much as normal but I was happy to see her eat anything. After a few days though she was back off her food.
I went back to the vet and another Dr. at the same office told me to switch her to a high fiber prescription food. We did and she began eating again and normal poops for about a week or so and then, suddenly, back to not eating.
Today we went back to the vet. She gave a longer acting steroid (Depo) and another Covenia shot just in case we were missing an infection. But she also mentioned that lymphoma could be a possibility, which is scaring the hell out of me. Hours later Ruby is sleepy, disinterested and zero interest in food. Vet says to come in tomorrow for anti-nausea meds if no improvement.
I'm extremely worried now because Ruby has eaten very, very little for almost 5 days and nothing I do or try seems to interest her in food, wet, dry or treats. For now that's the priority. But then, what about the possibility of lymphoma? Should I seek diagnosis of that? We had a bout of these exact same symptoms last year, but they resolved with similar treatment in just a couple weeks. That would make me think it's not lymphoma, but rather chronic IBD. But the fact that symptoms are worse and longer lasting now could maybe point to something worse?
I don't know. I'm a little distraught at the moment and just seeking ideas. I've never had her not eat this long and I'm very worried.