Our twinkle is not eating and throwing up?

[klinkerstinker]

Hi Folks.

I normally trawl the motorbike forums so I'm sort of used to this....

Our problem....

....our cat just cost us fortune...so far. She's 9yrs old and a British short hair Blue.

Just had a major opp but they found nothing!

Think she's had a stroke as she will not eat and when we force feed her, she sicks it up after a few hours. Not the same cat, lathargic but still loving.

Vet found nothing wrong at all. Checked everything inc blood, ex rays, kidneys and took samples while she was opened up, the lot. Now we're feeding her with a needlessss syringe full of special high protein food and that's being thrown up so I reckon it's a sad Christmas ahead for us. Very sad. Her cat really, follows her everywhere or did before something went wrong. Vets said she's clear and there is absolutely no reason not to eat. Though after feed her she has started to drink a little....vet reckons it's a neurological problem and that's untreatable in cats.....

Your thoughts please?   Any advice is very welcome.

 

[arlyn]

Honestly, my first thought was blockage, but as she's been checked out I think that can be dismissed.

Are you, or your vet aware that cats suffer acid reflux and nausea same as humans?

Run it by your vet, it could be as simple as giving her a daily dose of a cat friendly antacid or anti-nausea meds.

I would be willing to bed she is nauseated as she refuses to eat on her own.

An ape5tite stimulant may be needed as well.

 

[ldg]

Oh, I'm so sorry!

So cancer and a blockage have been eliminated, it would seem. :nod:

There's no blood in her stool, right?

Quick question - did they give her an antiemetic? (Something to stop her throwing up?) An acid reducer pill? An anti-nausea med?

I'd ask the vet about starting her on something as simple as an acid reducer, and/or an anti-nausea medication. :nod:

Why do they think she had a stroke? Are there other symptoms besides the vomiting?

Also, did the vet discuss the possibility of allergies to her food? Those can develop. What do you feed her? Have any steroids been tried?

Is she indoor/outdoor or indoor only? They've eliminated the possibility of parasites? Did they give her an antibiotic before the surgery, just to see if it did anything?

 

[katiesmummy]

very sorry to hear about your poor little girl - she is relatively young to be going through something so unpleasant and traumatic and I think the vet is rather vague to dismiss it as an "untreatable neurological problem" which is why I strongly suggest you get a second opinion and a referral to a veterinary consultant neurologist - not cheap but what price for peace of mind? If u are in the UK I can recommend the Liverpool small animal hospital. Also consider consulting a feline nutrition expert  (one who is also a vet) as it could be an absorption problem. Failing that a cat behaviourist could help if there is a psychological element involved. It does sound like the problem is multifactorial so I feel it is best to consider different optioons to achieve an optimal result. one further thought - have her teeth been checked? Cats suffer with resorptive lesions, which often make it painful to eat - it could be something as simple as that, which would just necessitate extraction of offending tooth. Remember also that cats are experts at masking pain, so any discomfort your little girl is in may not be evident! Good luck, hope this is of some help and keep me informed x

 

[biscuity]

I also have a lovely British blue Shorthair girl who is sick & not eating. Xrays tell very little, for stomach problems it needs an ultrasound & endoscopy. Ask your vet to refer her to a specialist for further tests. It sounds as though your vet does not know what is wrong & is therefore not treating the problem.

 

[klinkerstinker]

Thank you all for the interesting reply's.

She did have antibiotics before the opp but she just got worse quick. So we got her back there sharpish before she was too weak. Fatal leaving a sick animal till it's in a sad state. No blood in the stools. No sign of anything. I even thought perhaps she'd had a migrain! Or today I was thinking toothache??

I don't think it's an acid problem as it's not all the time. But if this persists I will mention that one as that sound like it could be another avenue if things go wrong.

She's on another type of food now and we have seen a marked improvement. She is more warey of me now so almost on the mend? We bought her from Stert Cattery in Burford (UK) and she was kept in a cage most of her early days. She was brought to us in their kitchen and placed on the table. They pulled up the lid and she rose up slowly, so scared. We felt so sorry for her we handed over the money and left. I also think she was the runt of the litter as she's not as big built as out British 'red' male Tony (looks ginger to me and he's a bit of a thick'o). So we bought her thinking she was a kitten only to find out on her records when we got home she was 22 weeks! The woman was very rude on the phone when I explained there must be something wrong as she was so small compared to the documents....she wanted to give us a refund and said 'if don't love animals bring it back'. NO chance she's going back to them!! She's a nervey cat indeed. Took her years to get to the point of trusting me let alone men in general. We bought Tony from a propper breeder up near Liverpool the second time we went looking. We actually saw the mother and father!! They were HUGE!

Anyway....she's picked up a bit today! Been in the utility sink licking the taps, so getting about more.

The opp was a waist of time. The antibiotics and forced (asissted) food is working as this encouraged her to drink (salty food?).

She's having daily shots of antibiotics. She had a temperature after the opp but she's okay now.

The food we are now giving her is called Royal canin vet diet 'gastro intestinal'...feline. She has 15ml 3 times a day. 8am/1pm/5pm.

She has kept this down so far.

Sorry to hear yours is sickly too Biscuity. Sad. Is she elderly?