Sick Cat

[TipsyTraveler]

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

Sounds like a plan. If it helps to reassure you, you’re not going to hurt your cat with a few days worth of pepcid, I promise. It may help or it may not, but it’s not going to cause any harm. And no vet is going to be upset that you gave it either, probably not under any circumstances but especially not in this case. Her bloodwork is fine, she’s showing signs of nausea, and it’s an OTC drug with cat doses readily available online. It’s a sensible thing to try, though you can always wait to talk to the vet first if it will make you feel better. Good luck!

 

[BrianL]

Sounds like a plan. If it helps to reassure you, you’re not going to hurt your cat with a few days worth of pepcid, I promise. It may help or it may not, but it’s not going to cause any harm. And no vet is going to be upset that you gave it either, probably not under any circumstances but especially not in this case. Her bloodwork is fine, she’s showing signs of nausea, and it’s an OTC drug with cat doses readily available online. It’s a sensible thing to try, though you can always wait to talk to the vet first if it will make you feel better. Good luck!

The trick is getting her to take the stuff!

 

[mom2rtk]

The trick is getting her to take the stuff!

Try watching some Youtube videos on medicating cats. Maybe you can find some suggestions that will help. It's so awful when your pet feels bad already and you have to have these very negative interactions with medication.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

The trick is getting her to take the stuff!

I know, that’s why I think a pill will be easier. You can leave it whole and mush it into something like a pill pocket or a small piece of meat or you can crush it and mix it into a teaspoon of baby food, wet food, tuna, whatever she’s eating. Just offer the medicated food first, alone, and wait for her to eat it before you give her a full meal. I even think pills are easier to give directly by mouth because they’re either in or out in one whole piece, unlike liquid that tastes bad and ends up everywhere, leaving you unsure of how much she actually got. Plus, pepcid is available OTC and is dirt cheap so it doesn’t matter if you end up wasting a few doses before you can get one in her.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Can you wrap her in a towel and use a syringe or dropper?

 

[BrianL]

Can you wrap her in a towel and use syringe or dropper?

At great risk of bodily harm to myself and anyone nearby, maybe.

No, it can be done, but she just HATES it. I only want to do it if it's actually going to help.

 

[BrianL]

Okay, trying with some metaclopromide. Got a good dose down her. They say it takes a couple of hours to kick in which will be dinner time. We'll see.

 

[ThistleMae]

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?

OMG....so, so sorry! It's just heartbreaking to have a sick pet, especially when you know something's wrong but you don't know what it is.

 

[BrianL]

I don't think that medicine helped at all. She's really bad this morning. I am too - mentally speaking. I don't know what I can do.

 

[ThistleMae]

I don't think that medicine helped at all. She's really bad this morning. I am too - mentally speaking. I don't know what I can do.

What's she doing this morning? I know you're on high alert every minute.

 

[BrianL]

What's she doing this morning? I know you're on high alert every minute.

She jsut didn't eat much overnight, and was crying and hiding. I brought her a plate of wet food and she ate it pretty well, so I don't know. I am trying to get in touch with the vet.

 

[LSUmiss]

She jsut didn't eat much overnight, and was crying and hiding. I brought her a plate of wet food and she ate it pretty well, so I don't know. I am trying to get in touch with the vet.

I think they need to do an ultrasound.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I think they need to do an ultrasound.

Yep, my next step would be a consult with an internist who can then decide the next diagnostic steps, which will likely include ultrasound.

How many days has it been since the convenia injection?

 

[BrianL]

Yep, my next step would be a consult with an internist who can then decide the next diagnostic steps, which will likely include ultrasound.

How many days has it been since the convenia injection?

It has been one week exactly.

 

[LSUmiss]

It has been one week exactly.

So has the vet still not called you back? If so, imo, that’s a problem. He/she should have checked on you by now w/o you calling, but, if not, at very least retuned your call!

 

[BrianL]

So has the vet still not called you back? If so, imo, that’s a problem. He/she should have checked on you by now w/o you calling, but, if not, at very least retuned your call!

I know - it's starting to agitate me. I know he's very busy, but still. Even if I am coming off as overbearing! He's a good vet - I've been using his place for 20 years. He moved heaven and earth to help my old cat toward the end. I am not sure what to do here, but I am thinking of just taking her elsewhere. There is a vet specialist place, but you need a referral to even go.

 

[TLSnell1981]

How much is she drinking? Is she possibly dehydrated? I would offer her small meals since she hasn’t been eating well, Again… warm chicken broth will encourage drinking and help stimulate appetite. Boiled or baked chicken is easy on her stomach too. Has the excessive crying been consistent? Or maybe only after a meal or meds? Do you feel she’s worse overall or just not improving?

 

[BrianL]

She only cries when I approach - like when I got up this monring. She seems like she wants something that I can't give her.

I am not sure. When I first got up, I pretty much saw a cat with problems, but now, she ate some, and she seems back to where she was (not great, but stable). She did fight with her friend cat at the window again so that's something I guess.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I know - it's starting to agitate me. I know he's very busy, but still. Even if I am coming off as overbearing! He's a good vet - I've been using his place for 20 years. He moved heaven and earth to help my old cat toward the end. I am not sure what to do here, but I am thinking of just taking her elsewhere. There is a vet specialist place, but you need a referral to even go.

I saw you mention in another thread that you’re near Memphis. Here’s a place that allows owners to book an appointment without a referral:

https://www.stageroadanimalhospital.com/site/vet-services-north-memphis/internal-medicine

Oftentimes, hospitals call themselves referral hospitals but that doesn’t mean you must have a referral to be seen, so call and ask to be sure.

You can also take your pet in through the emergency department and then get referred by them to another department the following day for a consult.

Or, just ask your vet for a referral.

 

[TLSnell1981]

She only cries when I approach - like when I got up this monring. She seems like she wants something that I can't give her.

I am not sure. When I first got up, I pretty much saw a cat with problems, but now, she ate some, and she seems back to where she was (not great, but stable). She did fight with her friend cat at the window again so that's something I guess.

Does it calm her if you hold or pet her?