need advice fast

I have a very serious problem with my male cat (ca.14 yrs old). It all started with 2 bad teeth.
He had 2 teeth pulled last Oct. and recovered just fine. Now last week he had another tooth problem. Two teeth and the gums were infected. He had the teeth pulled and the infection is cured. This was last Saterday. But sence then he wont eat (5 days now). The Vet has done a blood test, and the results are all good. The cat shows no sign of pain. The mouth has healed so thats all good. We´ve tried many meds. and even appitite stimulants, but nothing is working. The Vet gave me a what I call a power paste, it has Vitimens and minerals in higher doses. The cat seems to like the taste of it, and will lick some off my finger, He is also drinking alittle water, thank god. The Vet also checked the liver, kidney, stomich and intesteins, but found nothing. The Vet says he is at a lose for words, because he has no idea why the cat won´t eat. It is so said to see my Bear (that´s the cats name) like this. If anyone has any suggestions, or knows of any experts that I might ask, PLEASE let me know.

Thank you very much
Jack

Jack, as I explained in pm, this is an emergency! Bear is at risk for Hepatic Lipidosis, a very dangerous condition, and requires immediate intervention! If your Vet has nothing more to say than he is at a loss for words, I recommend that you seek the advice of a new Vet promptly!
Please go to this site . I would recommend you join this group. They are not a replacement for Vet supervision and advice, of course, but it gives info you need regarding your kitty not eating and also lets you know that many people are in your same position. It helps to know you are not alone, and to read tips that have worked for other people with their beloved kitties. Please read the information given in the second paragraph "Important information about your cat not eating" and go the link about Hepatic Lipidosis.
I want to stress to you that this is an emergency and requires immediate attention! I know this must be so painful for you to see your baby not well. I am praying for Bear. Please let me know if this has been of any help and if I may help you in any way at all!

Hi Jack,
Let me try again, my very long and detailed reply just got deep sixed by an error (grrrr).

I agree...even though your vet tested liver values and said all was normal, it can change all too quickly when your cat is not eating. Please get a second opinion, and ask about assist-feeding Bear. Hills Science Diet A/d is an excellent food for assist-feeding, or you can take his favorite canned food, add water, blenderize it and use that (have your vet discuss how to safely use a feeding syringe to assist-feed).

Other things to try - go to an Asian market, and get dried bonito flakes - sprinkle this atop his favorite food
make up plain chicken broth (cook a bit of chicken with skin, without salt or onions) and use some of this atop his food
sprinkle a bit of catnip atop the food
try plain meat baby food (with no onions listed)

I hope you'll keep us posted, wishing you and Bear all the best,

dawn, thx so much for your quick response. i checked the site and it has alot of info, i printed out the report about FHL. i will let you now how things with bear turn out. i think the hardest part about all this, is the feeling of being helpless. so again I say, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

pat i want to thank you also for your help. i am going to try your tips, i will let you know how it turns out.

so im going off line to try to get bear to eat.´i´ll try to get back before i go to work ( i live in germany ) and post a small note about bear.

Thank you for keeping us updated, Jack. This must be so difficult, you and Bear will be in my thoughts and prayers!

And in mine as well...hope today is a better day for Bear.

BEAR UPDATE:

I tried the chicken broth, at first I thought it was going to work. He got up as if he was going to eat, he just smelled it alittle bit, then laid back down.
We are going back to the Vet today, and I´m going to talk to him about force feeding. I will keep you posted.

One thing I don´t understand is why this all happened. The cat was fine except for the teeth and gums. But after the OP when I brought him home, it seems like his whole character had changed. He´s very scared now and seems depressed. Which is the total oppisite from what he normaly is like.

Again thanks for your help.

i hope bear's ok. have you tried feeding bear kitten food? its in smaller chunks and might be a bit easier to manage? or try kitten glop (recipes on here somewhere). you'll have to check with more experienced memebers here to check if thats ok but its a suggestion?

jack please take a look at my article on this disease

http://www.thecatsite.com/content/view/178//


I wish you the best of luck with your kitty- 5 days of not eating anything is not a good sign. Ask your vet for Cyproheptadine if available it may not be to late to give it to your buddy-

Thank you for the update, Jack. Although tuna is not recommended for cats, you may want to try pouring a bit of the water from a can of tuna packed in water over Bear's food. Tuna has a strong smell that appeals to kitties and may spark his appetite.
That's a great idea for Bear, here is the recipe, Jack!

Home-made kitten formula (Kitten Glop)

* 8 ounces water (boiled then cooled)
* 1 envelope Knox unflavored gelatin
* 8 ounces whole evaporated milk (not skim)
* 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (not low fat)
* 2 tablespoons plain yogurt (not low fat)
* 1 large or 2 small eggs yolks (raw)
* 1 teaspoon clear Karo syrup
* * 1-3 drops liquid pet vitamins
* * 1 capsule acidophilus
* * 1 drop Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE)
* * Optional, though very beneficial.

Boil the water, add the gelatin and mix well. Add the following ingredients in order, mixing well after each addition:

1/2 of the canned milk
Mayonnaise and Yogurt
Rest of the milk
All other ingredients

You can substitute canned goat's milk for the canned evaporated milk, if you prefer it. This mixture will keep in the fridge for up to four days. It is jello-like in consistency in the fridge so you can just scoop out as much as you need and warm. It can also be frozen in ice cube trays and defrosted as needed. You can find pet vitamins at a pet store or your vet, and acidophilus and GSE in the liquid form at a good health food store.
Look forward to hearing how Bear's Vet appt goes today!

BEAR UPDATE:

We are at the point of force feeding. We were already to go, everything was set. Believe it or not, Bear ate or better said licked two tablespoons of chicken baby food mixed with kitty vitamins within two hours. Sence he hasnt eaten in five days, we don´t want to try and stuff him. We are not sure on how much to give him, so, we are going with one tablespoon per hour tonight (it´s going to be along night, but as we all know they ARE worth it). We are so happy. I know the war isn´t over, but the first battle is ours. I really don´t want to get my hopes up to high, because I know this is going to be a tough fight, and Bear is still in serious trouble. If the night goes well, tomarrow he may eat (and we are praying that he does) all the baby food he wants.
We are still taking him to the Vet, to watch out for FHL. If we are lucky, we caught it in time.
I want to thank everyone for thier kind words and advice, it really helps at times like this.
And once again a very special thanks to Dawn and Pat&Alix. For your quick response, kind words and your help, you will always have a place in my heart.

More Bear updates to come.

You need to feed this cat- please more than you are right now. Talk to your vet about how much to feed him, but don't hold back. he needs more than you are giving him now if he is to survive this. His body is basically consuming itself, and you need to give him nutrients to stop this from happening. If you haven't read the article above, please do so now.

I would try the baby foods and the a/d if okayed by the vet.

Jack,

I agree...I can tell just how much you love Bear, and I understand not wanting to overdo it, but this truly, would be too little. Please contact your vet, he can advise you based on bear's weight and what he feels he needs at a minimum. I recall my vet being able to tell me how much every 3-4 hours to get into my sweet Bookie<RB> when she was so ill. I wish I could remember specifically the number of cc's my vet said she could tolerate at a time, but even if I did, she was a tiny cat, so what she could tolerate might have been different than Bear.

Ignore that this link is for cats with a kidney condition, it is a superb site, and this link goes to her section on assist-feeding - go read it now, please.

Tanya's Site

It *is* great he did any eating on his own, but you must help him get the rest of what he needs in on a daily basis until he's eating enough.

Originally Posted by hissy

You need to feed this cat- please more than you are right now. Talk to your vet about how much to feed him, but don't hold back. he needs more than you are giving him now if he is to survive this. His body is basically consuming itself, and you need to give him nutrients to stop this from happening. If you haven't read the article above, please do so now.

Click to expand...

I have read the article, thats why my wife and I are so scared. I tried calling my Vet but I cannot reach him. (it is now 8:30pm here in Germany). Bear goes about 10 lbs right now, any suggestions on about how much to give him. We were afraid that if we started to force him that it might turn him back off towards his food. After he eats what he wants by himself, should I still force feed him? Please, I am open to ALL advice, for I really don´t know what to do.

Jack, thank you for Bear's update! How wonderful that he has eaten a bit of baby food that you so lovingly fed him. This must give you such a sense of hope!
It is very true that Bear needs more food than this in order to help his body pull through this illness. HL can become deadly quite quickly, and now is definately the time for you to intervene. Please read the links provided, and heed the advice of our experts here. Many have experienced situations with their own precious babies very similar to that of your own. One tablespoon of baby food an hour just isn't enough for him. If he shows interest in his food, please allow him all he will eat.
If he refuses his food, please, please consider the assisted feeding techniques outlined at the site provided by Pat and the Assisted Feeding Group I sent earlier. I have many times utilized this technique in order to keep my sweet baby girl healthy when she was ill. It may aggravate him at the time, and I know you don't want this, but believe me, it is for his own good and may very well be the very step that saves his life.
I know you love Bear so very much and will do anything at all for him to be healthy. Again, I'm right here for you anytime and continue to pray for Bear.

Jack,
Read the info on assisted feeding on the site link I gave you, it should help...but at the least, consider this...a 10 lb. cat, if getting a food such as fancy feast, would be per the guidelines for that food, eating at least 3-3 oz. cans per day. Try...to blenderize OR make little meatballs of the canned food, to gently pop into the side of his mouth - not towards the back, you want to minimize any chance of him trying to swallow it whole,you want him to have to chew it...some try little meatballs along the side of the mouth/teeth, I've tried smearing a bit on the upper palate (be careful, you can easily be bit inadvertently). If you do have a feeding syringe, blenderize a 3 oz. can, see if you can get in 24-32 cc's, slowly so he has no choking...technique may be gone over on Tanya's site, and joining the assist-feeding group (the link Stephanie aka dawnofsierra, gave you) and posting a I need help now note, should bring a response from another european member (I'm sure they have some).

If you think you might be feeding too much go for less but more often. If you can get 24-32 cc's in, then every 3-4 hours... just keep in mind, I'm not a vet or vet tech, this is just based on what I've personally done when assist-feeding. Your best guide is your vet, or more experience folks on a assist-feeding support group.

Yes, though he's eating a bit, feed him. Sometimes my fellow with anorexia due to his kidney issues needs assist-feeding for several days in a row, and then he begins eating again - for weeks at a time on his own. Go figure!

ps until you reach your vet, I'm not saying to be up all night trying to get 9 ounces worth of canned food in, but do try feeding every 3-4 hours, set a goal of say 1-1/2 ounces wet food (as meatballs or smeared in his mouth) or 24-30+ cc's of blenderized food.

Jack,

I have a line to someone who did this with their cat, your cat needs 30 cc of food AD or the baby food with the nutritional drops. When the kitty can't take anymore food, he will just start squirming to get away. You want to feed him a entire can of AD which is 5 ounces a day, that is what it takes to get the liver back to working order.

There is a food called AD that you can get from your vet, and you can make a slurrie out of it by adding water, the cat may have just stopped eating because it hurts his mouth. If you put a feeding tube down this cat that might be a better bet for you, and for him. Your vet can put a tube in for you. Also make sure that the baby food you are giving, doesn't have onions or onion powder in it. Onions are toxic to cats, and some baby food companies put onions in.

Also fix some homemade broth, cook up a piece of meat, or some chicken, add NO spices and cook it up and feed him the broth. Best of luck!

@ Dawn, Pat and Hissy,

Thanks for the advice. I will have to go with the baby food for now. I can´t get any AD right now. I will see if my Vet has some tomarrow. Which I hope.