Help! Harry: throwing up blood and now missing

ginny

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I'm hoping that starting a thread will magically make him reappear. Again I'm panicking.  

Harry had some vomiting after I changed their diet to accommodate Nat's early renal failure. It was the last of October when I noticed not only vomited food but blood.  It's like he kept throwing up until there was blood and saliva coming back. This lasted a couple of days and then went away on it's own.  It was accompanied by bloody diarrhea too.  Then all of a sudden it stopped.  Good thing because I never could get him in a carrier to go to the vet.  That was the same week before Nat's blood work was due so I notified that vet who was coming out to my house to draw his blood, about Harry and what was going on with him.  He said of course to take him to the ER or at least to the vet.  

This situation resolved on it's on the very next morning.  And no body threw up at all for the next 2 weeks.  I was hoping it was behind us but still quite disturbed at seeing blood and still on edge and watching closely for any changes.  They seemed to be adjusting to the new diet which wasn't much of a change but to a cat any change is a lot.  I took away their Friskies Ocean whitefish/tuna out of their rotation and put in Friskies poultry platter and began mixing a little bit of water in with the food.

Yesterday when I came home from work all was well.  I took a nap on the sofa and awoke to 3 large spots of mainly water and kibble vomit, no blood.  Harry was still interested in food, and was this morning as well! But during the night he threw up more partially digested food, no blood, a fur ball, and then several spots of pink-tinged saliva and several spots of red saliva.  That was during the night.  Harry then ate some breakfast and sat on the back of a chair in my bedroom.  

I don't see where there has been any more vomit since during the night.  But I can't find Harry! I've looked everywhere.  Today is trash day so I had to move my cans from the garage to the street.  I didn't see him at all at that time so I don't think he got out.  Oh lord I hope not!  But I've looked everywhere, under sofas, on top of cabinets, in closets, under beds and even furniture too.  
 
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margd

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I'm hoping that starting a thread will magically make him reappear. Again I'm panicking.  

Harry had some vomiting after I changed their diet to accommodate Nat's early renal failure. It was the last of October when I noticed not only vomited food but blood.  It's like he kept throwing up until there was blood and saliva coming back. This lasted a couple of days and then went away on it's own.  It was accompanied by bloody diarrhea too.  Then all of a sudden it stopped.  Good thing because I never could get him in a carrier to go to the vet.  That was the same week before Nat's blood work was due so I notified that vet who was coming out to my house to draw his blood, about Harry and what was going on with him.  He said of course to take him to the ER or at least to the vet.  

This situation resolved on it's on the very next morning.  And no body threw up at all for the next 2 weeks.  I was hoping it was behind us but still quite disturbed at seeing blood and still on edge and watching closely for any changes.  They seemed to be adjusting to the new diet which wasn't much of a change but to a cat any change is a lot.  I took away their Friskies Ocean whitefish/tuna out of their rotation and put in Friskies poultry platter and began mixing a little bit of water in with the food.

Yesterday when I came home from work all was well.  I took a nap on the sofa and awoke to 3 large spots of mainly water and kibble vomit, no blood.  Harry was still interested in food, and was this morning as well! But during the night he threw up more partially digested food, no blood, a fur ball, and then several spots of pink-tinged saliva and several spots of red saliva.  That was during the night.  Harry then ate some breakfast and sat on the back of a chair in my bedroom.  

I don't see where there has been any more vomit since during the night.  But I can't find Harry! I've looked everywhere.  Today is trash day so I had to move my cans from the garage to the street.  I didn't see him at all at that time so I don't think he got out.  Oh lord I hope not!  But I've looked everywhere, under sofas, on top of cabinets, in closets, under beds and even furniture too.  
Remember that cats are masters at hiding.  If he's not feeling well, Harry is probably holed up somewhere quiet. I have a tiny apartment and still have not found the hiding place into which Chula periodically disappears.  This recent thread might reassure you a bit:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/330211/lost-kitten-in-apartment#post_4148638   They can find some very odd little hidey holes.

Sigh. I guess this means when you find him, he really does need to go to the vet.  

Good luck finding Harry, that rascal.  
 Let us know what happens!
 
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ginny

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I have an appt with the mobile vet for 8am tomorrow morning.  I also just now spoke to the vet who saw Honey last week.  She was just following up and I told her about Harry.  She suggested coming to the office to get a few cans of Hill's IB to try before bringing him in.  She said it sounds like the food changes recently made to get Honey to eat (I added back FF tuna and Friskies ocean whitefish/tuna)  was irritating his tummy and the vomiting wasn't helping either.  

Anyway, the mobile vet couldn't come out today :(  Harry is the most wild of all my kitties and the most difficult to do anything with.  He's like Nat, very sweet but easily scared.  Bless.  And Nat will bite if he's scared enough even though he's much more social and was easily tamed.  

Harry, please reappear!  I don't think he could have gotten outside.  
 
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ginny

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I found him.  Whew.

He was underneath the big sofa, all the way at the back of it one side.  I'd checked there a number of times but didn't see him. This time instead of looking under the front, I looked under the side and there he was full of attitude and he hissed at me.  What an ungrateful little turd.  I KNEW if I started a thread....  Gosh and I even searched for him outside and out back where there's a small forest and creek.  
 

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Whew!  I'm so glad to hear that!!!  Of course, he knew you were looking for him the whole time, the little stinker!  
 

 I'm glad to hear the mobile vet is coming.  Hopefully between the vet visit and the Hill's IB, Harry will be on the mend again. And then sending out many vibes that all the kitties stay healthy for a good long time. You need a break!  
 
 
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ginny

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Thank you!  I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.  

No vomiting so far today since before breakfast, but the night is young :(  I gave a small sample of the Hill's ID on each plate.  Harry was the only one at the bowls at first.  So he's eating better than the others.  Crossing my fingers, holding my breath!  I really need to vacuum but I will save that for in the morning, before the vet comes.  
 
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ginny

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No one ate very much at supper time last night, but Harry did.  I took up their bowls and washed them, hoping for the best.

So I woke up to hearing Harry vomiting.  It was pink tinged the first time and then a little darker tinged the 2nd time.  :(

The mobile vet came about 8:20 and I was STILL trying to coax Harry to get in the carrier without any luck.  He was on top of the kitchen cabinets when the vet came.  The only way to get him down from there was to use a broom to "encourage" him to come down.  Well, "encourage" is putting it mildly.  Harry doesn't know the difference between encouragement and an attack, so he went full on Feral Cat Mode (FCM).  He bolted like lightening around the house, poor baby :(

Anyway, the vet says he didn't feel any masses or nodes, no swelling and no reactions in pain from palpating his belly.  His gums are pink and he's got major attitude right now.  The vet is very gentle and did not get scratched or bitten.  But he did get hissed at!.  He gave me some Forti-flora to put on his food and said to not change anything else that I'm giving them right now.  Continue the current rotation and see if he will settle down again like before.  And he gave me a bottle of Metronidazole to give once a day for 5 days.  I can see that happening!  But I will get some pill pockets and try.  He's still very interested in food which is good and he's not been losing weight.  Right now all is quiet and there are no kitties anywhere to be found!  They are all hiding.  

Oh, and my pocketbook is $211.00 lighter  :(
 
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margd

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Ah, geez.   What a nightmare.   If only there was some way for our kitties to know all this torment is for their own good.  At least the vet didn't find anything worrisome.  Did he say anything about the blood?   I have to admit I'm curious about that.

I really hope Harry falls for the pill pockets!  

Ouch re: the cost. 
 
 
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ginny

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Yeah, it wasn't fun.  But at least he got checked out.  I collected a sample of the bloody-looking vomit and gave it to the vet for analysis.  He seems to think it could just be the color of the food.  
  So he's going to look at it under the microscope to make sure.  He's had no diarrhea so far this time.  He thinks he could have gastroenteritis which is why he ordered the Metronidazole.  He also thinks pepcid might be a good idea but wants to try the Forti-flora first.  I've already been giving a pro-biotic.  I think of Forti-flora as more of a topper to stimulate the appetite.  Could I be over-dosing him on probiotics?
 
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BonitaBaby

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If he's throwing up a lot again, he might need fluids because the throwing up could dehydrate him. My cat baby started throwing up one night to afternoon and was severely dehydrated afterwards. She went to hide under my bed and was so lethargic that she didn't even fight me when I pulled her out. Good thing I took her to the vet that afternoon or I don't know what might have happened to her. Probably was some of the human food I started letting her have a bit of.
 
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ginny

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The vet said he wasn't dehydrated this morning but I will certainly keep an eye on him.  So far today, no more throw ups since early this morning.  

I feel so bad having to close all the doors this morning.  I keep my washer/dryer room door cracked for Harry so he can hide form Oreo when Oreo chases him.  I think Oreo is just playing but he is an alpha cat and Harry hisses at him.  He's not having fun, even if Oreo is. 

Well, this morning I closed that door, and when he came down from the kitchen cabinets, he went to the washer/dryer room to hide and of course it was closed.  He scrambled madly and dug furiously at the bottom of the door to make it open.  Broke my heart!  Poor baby.  It's not like he was in any danger but it was tough to watch him react so desperately.  

It's made me wonder if having a mobile vet is such a good thing.  It is and it isn't.  It's convenient for me and the kitties so they don't have to suffer the trauma of crating and a car ride and a visit to a strange place.  But having the vet come to their home means home isn't always a safe place for them.  It's a mixed bag.  
 

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The vet said he wasn't dehydrated this morning but I will certainly keep an eye on him.  So far today, no more throw ups since early this morning.  

I feel so bad having to close all the doors this morning.  I keep my washer/dryer room door cracked for Harry so he can hide form Oreo when Oreo chases him.  I think Oreo is just playing but he is an alpha cat and Harry hisses at him.  He's not having fun, even if Oreo is. 

Well, this morning I closed that door, and when he came down from the kitchen cabinets, he went to the washer/dryer room to hide and of course it was closed.  He scrambled madly and dug furiously at the bottom of the door to make it open.  Broke my heart!  Poor baby.  It's not like he was in any danger but it was tough to watch him react so desperately.  

It's made me wonder if having a mobile vet is such a good thing.  It is and it isn't.  It's convenient for me and the kitties so they don't have to suffer the trauma of crating and a car ride and a visit to a strange place.  But having the vet come to their home means home isn't always a safe place for them.  It's a mixed bag.  
I have to say, I read your thread, and I just wanted to give you a hug, for some reason. It's hard when our cats get sick, and I know that you must be going through so much stress right now. Your cat is ill and you don't have a cause for it yet. That's horrendous. I have no advice on what you should do, since you're already doing everything that I would if I were you. I hope you can find an answer soon. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread. I don't know you, but I'll be thinking about you and your cat. Hang in there, okay? You got this! 
 


Also, do you know when you'll get the results back from the tests...?
 
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ginny

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I have to say, I read your thread, and I just wanted to give you a hug, for some reason. It's hard when our cats get sick, and I know that you must be going through so much stress right now. Your cat is ill and you don't have a cause for it yet. That's horrendous. I have no advice on what you should do, since you're already doing everything that I would if I were you. I hope you can find an answer soon. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread. I don't know you, but I'll be thinking about you and your cat. Hang in there, okay? You got this! 
 


Also, do you know when you'll get the results back from the tests...?
Thank you so much!  It does help to know others care.  So far today I've seen no throw ups.  Fingers crossed!!  Harry let me pet him last night.  I wrapped a Metronidazole pill inside of a pill pocket.  He sniffed it and turned away.  Will try again.  
 
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ginny

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Oh btw the test result will come back on Monday. I really thought it would be much sooner. There is a way for doctors to check for blood and get the result at an office visit, but that's for humans. I just thought there would be a test like that for animals too.
 

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Thank you so much!  It does help to know others care.  So far today I've seen no throw ups.  Fingers crossed!!  Harry let me pet him last night.  I wrapped a Metronidazole pill inside of a pill pocket.  He sniffed it and turned away.  Will try again.  
 
Thank you so much!  It does help to know others care.  So far today I've seen no throw ups.  Fingers crossed!!  Harry let me pet him last night.  I wrapped a Metronidazole pill inside of a pill pocket.  He sniffed it and turned away.  Will try again.  
Oh btw the test result will come back on Monday. I really thought it would be much sooner. There is a way for doctors to check for blood and get the result at an office visit, but that's for humans. I just thought there would be a test like that for animals too.
That's good news! The wait must be agonising, though. Hopefully he'll be right until you can find out if there's anything wrong with him. I certainly hope so! This might be a silly question, but have you tried putting his medication in his food? If he's eating, that might trick hi into taking his medications as well.

Yeah, you'd think there would be, wouldn't you? It seems odd, since the tests go to the same type of scientists that test human blood. Either way, I hope the tests come back clean, or as something treatable. What a horribly long wait. Hang in there!
 
 
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Ok well I came home from work and saw one trail of tiny spit ups.  No blood noted.  I'm afraid to breathe a sigh of relief yet, so we'll see how it goes!  Harry acts normal.  He was the first one at the dinner table.  
 

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Ok well I came home from work and saw one trail of tiny spit ups.  No blood noted.  I'm afraid to breathe a sigh of relief yet, so we'll see how it goes!  Harry acts normal.  He was the first one at the dinner table.  
That's good news!  It's a shame Harry didn't go for the pill pockets but it seems like maybe he's feeling better anyway.   Excellent sign that his appetite is back!  [emoji]128077[/emoji]
 
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He really never lost his appetite.  That was Honey.  I didn't find any throw ups this morning OR tonight when I came home from work!!  Could this just be a nervous stomach?  Possibly an ulcer?  So far, they've all been tolerating, maybe even liking the Forti-flora which I use as a topper.  Tonight they cleaned up their bowls, first time in a long time.  Overall they are all eating less.  I think they are tired of what I'm feeding them.  Tonight I didn't put out as much.  And I'm giving them a much shorter window of time to eat all they're gonna until I take it up the bowls to wash them.  If they feel like "I got all day" they are less likely to be hungry or interested at the next meal.  
 

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Hi ginny ginny
Just saw your thread about your sweet Harry. I am sorry he is not feeling well. I do hope the results show nothing serious. I know the pain you must be feeling, your kitty is ill and you have no answers. I feel your pain. I wish I had some words to comfort you. Just wanted you to know that I care. My thoughts will be with and your sweet Harry. I will be waiting for the results right along with you.
Hugs to you and Harry!
 
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ginny

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Thank you, @Loving Mickey!!  I appreciate your kind words.  


I feel like once again I'm on the lookout for a new vet because this vet saw the blood-stained vomit (Harry vomited just before he arriived) and said that it could be the color of the food.  I think it's blood and I'm sure that's what the test will show.  That's all the test was for, to make sure it's blood.  Yesterday there was no vomit at all and none this morning as well.  One day at a time!
 
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