Calling in the experts--urgent please

Artiemom said:

 
Great for the treats!!! Hooray!!

If he was seriously sick, he would not be playing.. and would not be so alert. HE would be crouching and meat loafing..

I think his bum is really sore from the enemas.. the scooting is from it. I found Artie doing it once, after an enema. You could perhaps put a little vaseline on a Q-tip to rub on his bum, but be advised that he will lick it off and he will be very sensitive to you touching that area.

I think his appetite needs to be jumpstarted.. Do you have any cheese in the house? My guy goes crazy for cheese! you could use that to start his appetite, or mix a bit with his food...wet food is better..

What about the tuna water? you could just add that to his food.

If he suffers from reflux, all the more reason to be on daily pepcid or cerenia or zofran.. all these are different drugs and work differently.. You need to ask your Vet and we can help you more, once they are prescribed.. some are injectable, most are not.. but you can get a pill gun and use it and some empty gel caps... give some water after pilling to make it go down easier.. a few cc's in a syringe.. 

I will be leaving soon, but as soon as I get to the hairdresser, I will be on line....that is what I do...

Good Luck... and breathe.. remember, we are here for you!!

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Thank you so much!  I know your ongoing struggle--hope Artie is pooping!

He's not crouching and meatloafing, he is truly up and around and sitting up, looking out windows.  Last night he wanted to meatloaf and be left alone, but I think that was exhaustion from being stressed from the stay at the vet.  He is deaf, so it makes it much more challenging.

He was prescribed pepcid by his former vet, but not long-term.  I'm going to discuss a long term acid reducer today with our vet now that is treating him.  He is very open to my suggestions and at least he has even said nobody knows my cat the way I do...so he is open to things.  Thank goodness or we would be driving 2 hours to another vet.

He refuses tuna juice and the tuna--and normally he will tear your head off to get to tuna.  It's odd.

Gonna try the vaseline thing.  He LOVES vaseline, so I figure it will make him lick it, but maybe it will help a bit.

Do you have any salmon or shrimp in the house? that could help also.

My trick was cat tuna--Solid gold Brand Tuna with Mackerel.. Artie loves it...

Or any cold cuts? just to start the juices running..  or even whipped cream.. just to lick ...

or bacon fat to just put a couple drops on his food?? whatever he likes.. 

The chicken is a great idea.. you could even try pureeing it in the food processor or blender with some of the juice from the pan...

butter!! cream cheese? Plain yogurt, plain vanilla icecream? These are things honeybee licks when she is off her food..I don't feed her a ton but it's a nice in between snack.

He won't touch dairy, unfortunately.  I have a weird cat!  He won't even do butter---but he eats vaseline---crazy.

Well, the chicken just clicked off, we shall see what happens!  Normally he LOVES plain cooked chicken or plain grilled chicken.  Let's see what happens!

Coconut oil.. my kitty licks it off the spoon.. i put a little on his back too for him to lick off and moisturize his fur..  I also have given coconut water for hydration.. no sugar added Fluids electrolytes .

When Thirteen will eat absolutely nothing else, she'll still munch down on chicken skins.  She'll eat them fine raw but I also boil them on occasion for her.  I'm so sorry you're going through this.  Thirteen has pancreatitis too so I totally feel your pain. 

Don't feel bad=pumpkin face won't touch anything human. except shrimps that are shredded up in my fingers-she won't eat them out of a bowl.

Well, after reading all of your cat's peculiarities, I don't feel so alone at least!

He ate about 2 or 3 bites of the chicken and seemed pleased.  Drank more water, peed, and has gone room to room in the house and looked out all windows with perches--he is just doing his usual routine it seems.

I swear other than not eating, he acts his normal self this morning.  If I didn't know for a fact he hadn't eaten, I wouldn't suspect anything is wrong at all by watching him.  He is even getting annoyed at me for following him watching him.

I called the vet office, but didn't get to talk to my vet.  He was out on a farm call.  I talked at length with the vet tech that cared for him though.  She told me that since he is drinking, and has eaten a few bites of something (no matter what) here and there this morning, to give him more time.  I'm supposed to call and update them at 3pm again, and she was going to tell my vet as soon as he came back in, and if he says anything different she will call me.  She said that him going to the litter box and doing nothing, then hopping out, may be due to all the air in his tummy now.  She said she knew he had some cramping after the enemas, she had observed him and knew he was passing a lot of gas yesterday morning, and that he did the same thing by getting in their box (full of shredded newspaper) and passing gas.  She said they also think his reluctance to eat may be due to some pain from all the vomiting he did.  I told her about him scooting his butt---she didn't think that was related to the enemas.  She said usually that either is worms or anal glands, and he was checked on both.

I'm supposed to watch for signs of dehydration even though he is drinking well--I've seen him drinking many times this morning.  Give him more of that nutrical/enercal stuff every 2 hours, since that seemed to spur his appetite to eat the cat treats. 

Guess I'll be making a trip to the store for various smelly things in a bit.  Maybe some baby food and some canned tiny shrimp to see how those go over.

My hardest challenge today is keeping the other two at bay!  I tried closing Wurp off in the bedroom with foods, water, litter boxes...he got very angry and meowed at me because he hates closed doors!

Seventhheaven said:

 
Yay!  it's a start 

 if your cat is  seriously sick  he /she will Not eat Temptations  

 

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I meant to tell you earlier...he's been on the fortiflora for a long time.  We started it when he had his allergies flare up and he's been on it ever since.  Great stuff.

I don't have much to add, as everyone else has given great advice, but I am reading it all.  Since he was checked for worms, & anal glands checked, maybe the scooting is just because it's irritated, or maybe a little itchy from being irritated, like when people get a hemorrhoid??  Just a thought. So yes, maybe some vasaline will help it feel better.  The meat loafing the night before was probably the gas pain. Have you tried rubbing his belly? You want to do it in a clockwise direction, the descending Colon is on the left side, like on us. So start on the right side going up, then across where our belly button would be, then down & out on the left side. Hopefully that will help, if he lets you do it. 

Yes, eating the treats are a good sign. I know you said he didn't like toppers, but do you think since that's what he's eating, he would eat w/ those crumbled up on food?

Even 3 bites of the chicken is a good start, so yes, maybe once he gets more of the nutracal like stuff, it will make him want to eat. The baby food is a good idea too!

"Fingers & paws crossed that he will eat more soon!" 

I used to leave powdered catnip out in a bowl for Brian to self-regulate feed upon.  It reduces gas, indigestion, cramps, insomnia, and anorexia, amongst other things.  Brian didn't get the zoomies when self-regulating, he just had a mouth-full as and when he needed some.  I could get out a catnip filled toy and he would still go bonkers over it.  I don't know how you'd do this in a multi-cat household but it's worth looking into though.

Sounds like he has haemorrhoids to me.

Well tonight I tried turkey and chicken baby food (the kind with no garlic or onion), more boiled pressure cooked chicken, Fancy Feast, those tiny shrimp in a can, and some crabby sauce Friskies. Nope nopey nope. But--I bought 3 more bags of different flavor temptations treats, and he eats those! Probably in total today he's had about 20 or so of those treats, probably more because I give him 6-7 at a time, one at a time. Two bites of the chicken I cooked. About 6 dollops off my finger of the nutrical stuff. He has drank quite a bit of water and is peeing just fine...just absolutely won't eat food. I'm worn out trying. Do you guys think I made any progress today??? At this point--keep in mind I'm tired--I'm just celebrating he eats the treats [emoji]128542[/emoji]

Brian007 said:

I used to leave powdered catnip out in a bowl for Brian to self-regulate feed upon.  It reduces gas, indigestion, cramps, insomnia, and anorexia, amongst other things.  Brian didn't get the zoomies when self-regulating, he just had a mouth-full as and when he needed some.  I could get out a catnip filled toy and he would still go bonkers over it.  I don't know how you'd do this in a multi-cat household but it's worth looking into though.

Sounds like he has haemorrhoids to me.

:rub:

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I'm going to try the catnip!! Thank you so much for the suggestion!!!!

Does he like eggs?  You could try separating a yolk, scrambling it, and serving it at mouse-blood temperature.  Maybe with some of the temptations treats pureed into a gravy with some of your chicken broth.  Gourmet cat  

Mirtazapine has been mentioned already, I've had one cat who responded well to its appetite stimulating properties.  But, catnip's a far friendlier option, and he can sniff it up as well as eat it.  I hope it works, it can't hurt.  Catnip tea is nice & relaxing too....  

Brian007 said:

Does he like eggs?  You could try separating a yolk, scrambling it, and serving it at mouse-blood temperature.  Maybe with some of the temptations treats pureed into a gravy with some of your chicken broth.  Gourmet cat  :cat:

Mirtazapine has been mentioned already, I've had one cat who responded well to its appetite stimulating properties.  But, catnip's a far friendlier option, and he can sniff it up as well as eat it.  I hope it works, it can't hurt.  Catnip tea is nice & relaxing too....  

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I haven't tried eggs, but normally he snubs them. I'm going to give it a try. On a good note--he is very alert and pretty active. Just still snubbing food. Got a few more treats down. Keeping my fingers crossed!

have they given him an appetite stimulant? the mirta works for 3 days-how close is your vet? they have to break the tablet into 4 pieces and they could do it for you. then you can see how he does in the next 3 days.

Have they checked his mouth?! I don't know what else to suggest..either a kitty cold but he would sneeze and runny nose..Honeybee used to get fussy if I fed her a different food. She did this just this month.Last night got her usual food and she was snacking last night on it. I try to get a better quality food and nope nopey nope! I am surprised about the babyfood!! Honeybee LOVES LOVES baby food and would eat that instead!

I still think he needs an appetite stimulant and an anti-nausea drug.. Not eating will create more acid to sit in his belly.

In my opinion, he needs something .. like Mirtazapine or Cyrpoheptadine and an anti nausea drug.. Pepcid, or Cerenia.. 

I would definitely pretty much ask the vet to prescribe it.. just a few treats is not going to work.. he needs real food.. 

Artiemom said:

I still think he needs an appetite stimulant and an anti-nausea drug.. Not eating will create more acid to sit in his belly.
In my opinion, he needs something .. like Mirtazapine or Cyrpoheptadine and an anti nausea drug.. Pepcid, or Cerenia.. 

I would definitely pretty much ask the vet to prescribe it.. just a few treats is not going to work.. he needs real food.. 

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I agree, especially before any more time slips away of him not eating enough real food. You don't want other issues to develope from not eating for too long. I say call ASAP & get an appt. Or since you've already been in for testing, just give the vet a call w/ an update & request what you need. It's been too long of not enough food.

Artiemom said:

 
I still think he needs an appetite stimulant and an anti-nausea drug.. Not eating will create more acid to sit in his belly.

In my opinion, he needs something .. like Mirtazapine or Cyrpoheptadine and an anti nausea drug.. Pepcid, or Cerenia.. 

I would definitely pretty much ask the vet to prescribe it.. just a few treats is not going to work.. he needs real food.. 

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He is already on Pepcid, twice a day.  It has probably helped more than anything.  He has been on Pepcid for a very long time for other reasons, they have just upped his dose to twice a day now.

My vet won't give him either mirtazapine (he had a horrid reaction to it in the past) or cyrpoheptadine.  He has been given cyrpoheptadine in the past and tolerated it, but he also has been on another antihistamine daily and the vet does not want to mix the two.  The one he is on has a long half life and he does not want to combine the two in his system.

He had mirtazapine last year and it caused a reaction that made him completely lose control of his body.  I thought he was dying.  He lost bowel and bladder control, could not walk, and barely raised his head.  At that time it was given to him due to him not eating because of his allergies.  His chart has been marked never to give it to him again.

I asked for both of them and my vet said he would try other medications before either of those two in his case.  So...unless he steps up his intake today, he goes back in tomorrow morning. 

Angels mommy said:

I agree, especially before any more time slips away of him not eating enough real food. You don't want other issues to develope from not eating for too long. I say call ASAP & get an appt. Or since you've already been in for testing, just give the vet a call w/ an update & request what you need. It's been too long of not enough food.

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I did speak to them 3 times yesterday, but since he is gradually increasing his intake of food, they want to wait--as long as I continue to supplement with the nutrical and he does not show any signs of dehydration or lethargy.

I do worry because a cat can go from fine to down in a matter of minutes, hours....but I'm just taking it step by step.