Post Surgical Recovery in Senior Cat

[thinkadHi]

Hello all,

My 12 year old stray has went to exploratory intestinal surgery 2 weeks ago in order to clear blockage that she ingested. The vet removed everything, stitched him up and gave us post-op care, and he seemed to make a good recovery until Saturday. He was eating and using the litter box by himself and was looking okay. On Friday night, we gave him a small dose of special cat vitamins to help with his energy level and since then he is refusing to do pretty much anything on his own. He poops and pees standing down in the litter box only if he is carried there and will not eat by himself if there is no food put under his nose. He is also looking like he is scared of something, very lethargic.

We took him in to the vet to get the stitches removed yesterday and submitted him to a completely new line of blood tests and echos which all came back perfect. The vet said that those vitamins probably caused him a lot of stomach acid and he is just fine otherwise, but he is still extremely lethargic and does not move for hous. When he does, his tail is tucked in and he meows any time we try to touch him or pick him up.

About 800 dollars and two vets later, can anyone offer an opinion as to what may be wrong now? He is absolutely pristine judging by the bloodwork and X-Ray scans, but he is still extremely lethargic and will not move for anything or anyone, meows when I try to pick him up. It's starting to get me really worried. Thank you.

 

[daftcat75]

Pancreatitis is not in the standard blood tests. It could be that those vitamins did something to cause acute pancreatitis. Ask your vet if that test was requested. In the meantime, fluids, either subcutaneous or a couple days worth of IV fluids will likely do him a world of good since it sounds like he hasn't eaten in awhile (since the vitamins???) What were those vitamins? You can post a brand name here. I think it could benefit others if it comes down to them causing these issues.

 

[daftcat75]

You may also consider an ultrasound which can see things X-rays and blood tests cannot.

 

[thinkadHi]

I am in Europe so I doubt brand names will do much good, but this was a "complementary cat supliment" made out of chicken and chicken derivates, mineral oils, calcium carbonate and potassium carbonate in small percentages. It then states vitamins A, D3, E, B1, B2, B6, B7 and taurine. 88% humidity, 2,8% protein, 2,1% fat and 3,4% omega 3 acids. These are sold by veterinary practices over here and are made nationally in my country. Since Friday night, he only eats whenever we put a bowl under his nose. He is currently in an animal hospital where he is refusing to eat, but he is on pain medication and IV fluids. Every single bit of blood work or body scans came back perfect, they are at a loss for ideas and they are asking why the cat will not pee or poop or eat by himself at his own home, where he is supposed to be most comfortable, they are saying this might be a mental issue in the cat.

 

[fionasmom]

The only problem with the mental issue diagnosis is that it could be a write off diagnosis as the vet is out of ideas, so is moving the possibilities to an entirely different area. Having said that, there are psych meds for cats if it really and truly is a mental issue, so I would say that your vet is not done yet....hopefully. You are sure that they did a SNAP or Spec fPL test?

 

[thinkadHi]

Well we took him back to the vet, more tests which revealed slight blood anemia, spent a night on fluids, was brought back home and he seemed okay for two days, now he is back to sulking.

The vet gave him Mirataz to rub on the ear once a day, but he seems somehow mentally affected. He goes to poop and pee by himself, he eats every two hours if we put a bowl under his nose, but whenever he tries to move he walks very slowly with his head forward, stretched out, and belly close to the ground. He can be alert if there is a loud noise or activity nearhim, butif everything is quiet he literally looks like a drooling old man. He keeps twitching his ears, for lack of a better word, he bobbles his head slightly whenhe turns and he meows extremely quietly whenever I try to move or pet him.

We are literally at a loss for ideas.

 

[daftcat75]

Can you post a video either here or to YouTube or Instagram and share the link here?

Did the vet suggest he might have something neurological going on? Do you have access to a neurologist?

I can’t say that it is neurological. But it sounds like it could be from the way he is struggling to walk or hold his head up.

 

[thinkadHi]

We barely have competent veterinarians let alone neurologists for cats, but every single piece of bloodwork or xray came back fine. He is clearly ataxic, he can be sharp if he hears a noise but he tremors and sometimes walks sideways like he would be drunk.
I literally cannot understand how we was fine for 2 weeks after the surgery and then suddenly one week ago it's like something clicked in his head.
He just wants to hide under the covers and he mewos slowly whenever I try to touch him.

 

[daftcat75]

This does sound like a neurological issue. My Krista stumbled off the bed at 2am one morning, threw up, and started crawling around on her forearms like she was too weak or too dizzy to get to her feet. She got an ER visit. Obvious stuff was ruled out. She stayed overnight and got to see a neurologist the next morning. The neurologist said these things can be one of five causes: infection, inflammation, stroke, tumor, or idiopathic (“cause unknown.”) Unfortunately, you can’t tell which without a very costly MRI. And there is that 1 in 5 chance it will come back “we just don’t know.” In Krista’s case, it was a severe middle ear infection that required surgery to clear up. The middle ear is technically outside the body as far as antibiotics are concerned making it exceedingly difficult to treat with antibiotics alone.

It is possible that he had a stroke or perhaps an infection has been building and the exploratory surgery pushed it over the edge. I will always wonder what pushed Krista’s ear infection from something I never noticed to a sudden event that commanded such immediate attention and correction.

I would create a new thread asking about a possible neurological issue. This would get fresh eyes and targeted experience. Ask what treatments you can seek given the lack of specialists in your area. Or what things you can do to make him more comfortable. A video would help. Someone might recognize their own cat’s behavior and give you some more experienced advice.