Sick Cat

[BrianL]

Well if anyone’s interested. I mentioned my dog ate some rabbit poop the other day. He happened to sit next to me on the sofa last night and the flatulence that came out of his butt nearly knocked me out! He was out of sorts for a couple of days but he seems mostly back to himself tonight. We have a family of baby bunnies living under our shed!

It's that double poo!

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I understand. This has definitely been somewhat sudden, though not completely. It could be that she was sick from something before, and while the antibiotics cleaared that up, they brought on their own issues.

She is eating and drinking well, tonight and seems on the better side.



I didn't get the call in until after 3 PM our time, so he did not get back to me today. I would expect him to call in the morning. She did seem to eat much better tonight, though she is still meowing at me like she wants something - maybe just attnetion! Conisdering I camp out int he living room right now to be closer to her at night, I don't know what else I can do there. One thing she does that botehrs me is when she stares at the food/water, but doesn't do anything with it - that's odd, for her anyway. My old cat used to do that all the time, but he also used to just eat, then plop over and fall asleep right there. He was a bit of a lazy boy!

I have a cat who takes medication that sometimes makes her a little nauseous and she’ll respond the same way to her food if she’s feeling queasy. It’s like she feels well enough to want to eat but she can’t quite bring herself to do it. If I give her pepcid, she’ll usually go back and clear the plate within an hour or two. My really sick cats in the past didn’t even care to look at the food when they weren’t feeling well. Lip licking is a sign of nausea, fyi.

 

[BrianL]

I have a cat who takes medication that sometimes makes her a little nauseous and she’ll respond the same way to her food if she’s feeling queasy. It’s like she feels well enough to want to eat but she can’t quite bring herself to do it. If I give her pepcid, she’ll usually go back and clear the plate within an hour or two. My really sick cats in the past didn’t even care to look at the food when they weren’t feeling well. Lip licking is a sign of nausea, fyi.

Yeah, she has done some lip smacking at times, so I wonder. I am going to ask the vet tomorrow if more nausea meds may be in order, but I want a little more direction first. Considering she ate pretty well tonight I'm a little calmer than I was earlier today.

 

[kymom99]

I had a cat who, after I moved out on my own, stayed with my parents. They didn’t want to give her up. She was a sweetie. She was also a petite thing, and when she got older she would occasionally go on these hunger strikes. She didn’t act like she felt bad, she just wouldn’t eat. My mom would call and say Sammy won’t eat again. I’d come out and take her to the vet. They could never find a problem. As she aged they had to pull a couple teeth, but never could find why she didn’t have an appetite. They would give her a prednisone shot to stimulate her appetite and she would start eating again. Eventually she got down to about 6 lbs, but she never looked sick or acted sick. She was an indoor/outdoor cat and one morning she went out and never came back.

She was eating and acting normal up until that day so we never knew what happened unfortunately. She was about 16 when she disappeared.

 

[Mango7100]

@BrianL I’m glad she ate well tonight! Hopefully she’s turned the corner. You said you had a call in to the vet — did you speak to him?


@Mango7100 Not sure if you’re going to remember this conversation, but my cat still doesn’t have platelets. Been more than a year now!

I do remember this now, and I remember you had an extensive work up done about it. Cats are crazy little creatures—I guess that’s why I love them!

 

[ThistleMae]

I had a cat who, after I moved out on my own, stayed with my parents. They didn’t want to give her up. She was a sweetie. She was also a petite thing, and when she got older she would occasionally go on these hunger strikes. She didn’t act like she felt bad, she just wouldn’t eat. My mom would call and say Sammy won’t eat again. I’d come out and take her to the vet. They could never find a problem. As she aged they had to pull a couple teeth, but never could find why she didn’t have an appetite. They would give her a prednisone shot to stimulate her appetite and she would start eating again. Eventually she got down to about 6 lbs, but she never looked sick or acted sick. She was an indoor/outdoor cat and one morning she went out and never came back.

She was eating and acting normal up until that day so we never knew what happened unfortunately. She was about 16 when she disappeared.

It's so hard when you don't know what's wrong but you know something is! My current cat is on meds for her thyroid. I'm always watching for out of the norm behaviors, eating and bathroom changes. She is the one whose bloodwork is not normal. Since the last test, she is doing just fine. The vet doesn't know what's wrong with her. So I just keep a close eye and that's all I can do. Pets are such an integral part of our family. They are like our children.

 

[BrianL]

She doesn't seem too good this morning - she's crying at me a lot. She ate some treats, but didn't seem that into it.

I will talk to the vet today and see what more can be done, but I'm feeling like there won't be enough. The universe wants to take her from me, and it's already taken so much this year. WHY?

 

[mom2rtk]

She doesn't seem too good this morning - she's crying at me a lot. She ate some treats, but didn't seem that into it.

I will talk to the vet today and see what more can be done, but I'm feeling like there won't be enough. The universe wants to take her from me, and it's already taken so much this year. WHY?

I'm so sorry to hear this. Don't write her off yet. We have been in a bad way with cats before and brought them back from the edge. Keep asking, keep pushing, don't be afraid to have someone new look at her.

 

[Skywalker3]

She doesn't seem too good this morning - she's crying at me a lot. She ate some treats, but didn't seem that into it.

I will talk to the vet today and see what more can be done, but I'm feeling like there won't be enough. The universe wants to take her from me, and it's already taken so much this year. WHY?

I'm so,so very sorry. I hope the vet will be able to help, and I hope your sweet kitty will get better. I know how hard this can be.

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

I’ve been following along. I hope your vet is able to help. I’m thinking of you and hoping for the best.

 

[BrianL]

I have all of these thoughts in my head this morning. Could it be lymphoma or a cancer of some kind? I should probably not read the internet.

As I typed this a neighbor cat came up to the door and they did their little fight through the glass. Silvian does not like that cat and this happens all the time. I don't know if it's good that she was feisty towards him, or bad because she doesn't need the agitation.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

She doesn't seem too good this morning - she's crying at me a lot. She ate some treats, but didn't seem that into it.

I will talk to the vet today and see what more can be done, but I'm feeling like there won't be enough. The universe wants to take her from me, and it's already taken so much this year. WHY?

1) Have you given her anything for nausea yet? That antibiotic is still in her system, right?
2) If your vet seems to have reached the limit of what he can do, my suggestion is to have her seen by an Internal Medicine specialist. You can look for one at any veterinary referral/emergency hospital near you, such as a BluePearl, or a veterinary college.

 

[BrianL]

1) Have you given her anything for nausea yet? That antibiotic is still in her system, right?
2) If your vet seems to have reached the limit of what he can do, my suggestion is to have her seen by an Internal Medicine specialist. You can look for one at any veterinary referral/emergency hospital near you, such as a BluePearl, or a veterinary college.

Thanks.

I have not given her any of the anti-nausea, but may try. The long-acting antibiotic should be effective for about 10 days, but I've also read that it shouldn't cause nausea (though Iv'e read some other potentially disturbing things about it).

I wanted to talk to the vet first. I don't think we are at that point - I called late yesterday and he should get back to me this morning.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Thanks.

I have not given her any of the anti-nausea, but may try. The long-acting antibiotic should be effective for about 10 days, but I've also read that it shouldn't cause nausea (though Iv'e read some other potentially disturbing things about it).

I wanted to talk to the vet first. I don't think we are at that point - I called late yesterday and he should get back to me this morning.

Do you know if it was a Convenia injection? Because those last about two weeks and the primary side effects are lethargy, vomiting, and inappetence. In other words, nausea. Now, you did say your cat was a bit off before her first vet visit, which is why I’m not completely convinced this is all a side effect of the drug, but I don’t think it should be ruled out, either.

 

[BrianL]

Do you know if it was a Convenia injection? Because those last about two weeks and the primary side effects are lethargy, vomiting, and inappetence. In other words, nausea. Now, you did say your cat was a bit off before her first vet visit, which is why I’m not completely convinced this is all a side effect of the drug, but I don’t think it should be ruled out, either.

I do believe it was "Convenia." I always thought the vet was calling it a "convenience shot" as in easier to give than oral. Yes, I do beleive that can cause decreased appetite, but not specifically nausea, which is why I am hesitant to give the anti-nausea meds.

EDIT: Also, she has had that before and tolerated it well, at least to my memory.

She was off, but in a sort of different way. My thoughts are maybe she had something, and while the meds have wiped that out, they have caused problems of their own. At least, that's what I HOPE is going on.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I do believe it was "Convenia." I always thought the vet was calling it a "convenience shot" as in easier to give than oral. Yes, I do beleive that can cause decreased appetite, but not specifically nausea, which is why I am hesitant to give the anti-nausea meds.

She was off, but in a sort of different way. My thoughts are maybe she had something, and while the meds have wiped that out, they have caused problems of their own. At least, that's what I HOPE is going on.

The “convenience shot” is Convenia. Honestly, all antibiotics have the potential to cause GI issues because antibiotics kill bacteria, both good and bad, and that can upset your GI flora.

You feel nauseous before you vomit, right? If you feel nauseous, you don’t want to eat, right? Vomiting and inappetence, the side effects of this drug, are a result of nausea. The waxing and waning appetite aligns with her feeling more or less nauseous at different times throughout the day. Just give her some damn pepcid already, Brian!

 

[BrianL]

The “convenience shot” is Convenia. Honestly, all antibiotics have the potential to cause GI issues because antibiotics kill bacteria, both good and bad, and that can upset your GI flora.

You feel nauseous before you vomit, right? If you feel nauseous, you don’t want to eat, right? Vomiting and inappetence, the side effects of this drug, are a result of nausea. The waxing and waning appetite aligns with her feeling more or less nauseous at different times throughout the day. Just give her some damn pepcid already, Brian!

Should I give her pepcid, or the Metoclopramide? If Pepcid, what exactly should I get?

Thanks.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I know you were having problems with the liquid metoclopramide so I thought crushing a pill into a little bit of whatever food she’s willing to eat might be easier. Pepcid is also sold under the name famotidine. A cat dose is 0.25mg to 0.5mg per pound. So, if she weighs 10 pounds, that’s 2.5mg at the lower end and 5mg at the high end. Pills are sold in 10mg and 20mg. Last time I bought it the 10mg had fallen victim to the pandemic and was hard to find, so you’ll probably end up with the 20mg. A ten pound cat would get 1/4 of a 20mg pill (5mg). I’d probably just give it twice a day, morning and night, and see how she responds.

 

[mom2rtk]

Have you ever used Pill Pockets? If you can get some meds to a solid form, you could try those. I give my cat 1/4 of a thyroid tablet twice a day using a tiny bit of Pill Pockets (sort of a cookie dough consistency treat) to attach it to her favorite treats.

 

[BrianL]

Okay, I will give it a try. Maybe jsut with the liquid first, see how it goes.