Sick Cat

[BrianL]

Does it calm her if you hold or pet her?

She doesn't like me to grab for her, but if I stroke her back she seems okay - she winces at first, but I think she's afraid I am taking her to the carier.

 

[BrianL]

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.

Thanks. I may start checking around.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Sorry things aren’t better. I agree to getting her seen somehow. Fridays are tough, though. Two weeks ago I was trying to get an appt for my new rescue dog on a Friday and it was no-go anywhere, I called my own vet and multiple other places around me. They all said they’ve been overwhelmed due to the number of pets people got during Covid and had no appts left at all. Fortunately, dog was fine with watching and waiting, and we went in the next week and all was good. Can you show up at your vet’s office in person (without the cat) just to see what the office staff says? Or try calling again to speak with them to let them know what’s going on? Do you have a major veterinary medical center hospital near you?

 

[TLSnell1981]

She doesn't like me to grab for her, but if I stroke her back she seems okay - she winces at first, but I think she's afraid I am taking her to the carier.

She may be in a lot of discomfort. I wouldn’t wait to have her seen. Especially since it’s a weekend

 

[AppleDumpling]

I’ve only skimmed through the thread, but just want to say Brian, that I empathize and I’m sending healing thoughts for your sweet kitty. I know how hard it is to see a beloved pet suffer and feel so helpless, plus how frustrating it can be to medicate when they give you a hard time. I hope she can be seen by a vet soon and they are able to figure out what’s wrong and get her back to good health.

I recently lost my own cat, who was 19 years old and very sick. We knew it was his time, but still heartbreaking. Pets bring so much joy to our lives.

 

[BrianL]

I picked up some chicken broth, but she isn't interested. She's weird about stuff like that - all the things cats are supposed to like, sometimes she just won't have it. Maybe because she never gets it - I'm not terrily surprised by it I guess.

I don't know what to do about this vet. It's so hard to take her in, she'll be very upset. But part of me thinks I should jsut show up - or jsut go elsewhere. Do I ask for her records? This is as stressful to me as the health issues.

 

[BrianL]

On the plus side, I also picked up a Fancy Feast "Hand Flaked Tuna Treat" pack - some foil packed tuna peice things - she absolutely gobbled it up just now! She seemed super into it. If she'll eat it, she gets it!

 

[mom2rtk]

I would go ASAP in person asking for a copy of her records (especially that lab work you just had done) in case something comes up this weekend. Use that as an excuse to beg for her to be seen. Ask for suggestions on what they would do if it was their pet. Ask what to do if it gets worse. Then call more offices in your area. Maybe you will hit a cancellation.

 

[Micca]

Still following along Brian. You have some very good advice here, good luck to you & your kitty.

 

[TLSnell1981]

On the plus side, I also picked up a Fancy Feast "Hand Flaked Tuna Treat" pack - some foil packed tuna peice things - she absolutely gobbled it up just now! She seemed super into it. If she'll eat it, she gets

It’s funny. That is one of my cats regular foods but they go crazy when I make a chicken and broth

Warm the broth and give her a little by dropper. She may decide it’s okay and it really is good for her.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I picked up some chicken broth, but she isn't interested. She's weird about stuff like that - all the things cats are supposed to like, sometimes she just won't have it. Maybe because she never gets it - I'm not terrily surprised by it I guess.

I don't know what to do about this vet. It's so hard to take her in, she'll be very upset. But part of me thinks I should jsut show up - or jsut go elsewhere. Do I ask for her records? This is as stressful to me as the health issues.

She’s eating some and she sounds stable so I don’t think you have an emergency on your hands. If I were you, I’d be calling around to find an internist who can see her next week — then tell your regular vet where to send the records, radiographs, and recent bloodwork. Of course, if something changes or you think she’s not stable then just take her to an emergency hospital at any time (preferably one with an Internal Medicine department). You don’t need any records in hand to do that, although it may save you some expense if you have recent bloodwork so they don’t have to repeat it. If you call around a bunch of places and find no one can schedule you until a month from now, your two options are to have your vet contact an internist and ask for an urgent appointment (though it doesn’t sound like he’s too concerned about your cat’s health status at the moment), or you can take her in through the emergency department and see if they will admit her and set you up with one of the internists for a next-day consult. Which, I imagine they will, if you tell them your cat has been inappetent for a few weeks, crying, hiding, generally dumpy, etc., it’s getting worse, and your vet can’t get to the bottom of it.

ETA: Some referral hospitals have specialists working on the weekends, or at least on Saturdays. Mine does. So, if you’re going to go the ER route of getting a consult, you could potentially take her in tonight to be seen tomorrow, but you need to call first and ask, “Do you have internists working on Saturday? If I brought my cat into the ER tonight and they determined she needed to be seen by IMED, would they be able to set her up with a consult tomorrow?” Don’t waste your money in the ER if you can’t get a consult, unless you actually have an emergency or are worried enough that you want someone to assess her. That’s an option, too — it doesn’t necessarily need to be an internist to figure out what’s wrong with her if an ER vet can see something your vet hasn’t.

 

[AppleDumpling]

Glad to hear she’s eating some. Have you ever tried feeding her canned puréed pumpkin? Some cats love it and it can help with digestive issues.

 

[BrianL]

It’s funny. That is one of my cats regular foods but they go crazy when I make a chicken and broth

Warm the broth and give her a little by dropper. She may decide it’s okay and it really is good for her.

I left the bowl out - using droppers is always a challenge for her. It was pretty warm just from being in the car!

She’s eating some and she sounds stable so I don’t think you have an emergency on your hands. If I were you, I’d be calling around to find an internist who can see her next week — then tell your regular vet where to send the records, radiographs, and recent bloodwork. Of course, if something changes or you think she’s not stable then just take her to an emergency hospital at any time (preferably one with an Internal Medicine department). You don’t need any records in hand to do that, although it may save you some expense if you have recent bloodwork so they don’t have to repeat it. If you call around a bunch of places and find no one can schedule you until a month from now, your two options are to have your vet contact an internist and ask for an urgent appointment (though it doesn’t sound like he’s too concerned about your cat’s health status at the moment), or you can take her in through the emergency department and see if they will admit her and set you up with one of the internists for a next-day consult. Which, I imagine they will, if you tell them your cat has been inappetent for a few weeks, crying, hiding, generally dumpy, etc., it’s getting worse, and your vet can’t get to the bottom of it.

ETA: Some referral hospitals have specialists working on the weekends, or at least on Saturdays. Mine does. So, if you’re going to go the ER route of getting a consult, you could potentially take her in tonight to be seen tomorrow, but you need to call first and ask, “Do you have internists working on Saturday? If I brought my cat into the ER tonight and they determined she needed to be seen by IMED, would they be able to set her up with a consult tomorrow?” Don’t waste your money in the ER if you can’t get a consult, unless you actually have an emergency or are worried enough that you want someone to assess her. That’s an option, too — it doesn’t necessarily need to be an internist to figure out what’s wrong with her if an ER vet can see something your vet hasn’t.

Okay, so he called me back. He was very apologetic about not getitn gback to me. Anyway, next easy step is urinalysys - I will collect it myself. He alwo wants to schedule an untrasound, which can find a lot of things - but is pretty expensive. At this point, my peice of mind is worth the price, but it can't be done immediately. She is stable, and seems okay-ish - she was just eating a bit, so I feel slightly better. I guess it's up and down - for her and me!

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I left the bowl out - using droppers is always a challenge for her. It was pretty warm just from being in the car!


Okay, so he called me back. He was very apologetic about not getitn gback to me. Anyway, next easy step is urinalysys - I will collect it myself. He alwo wants to schedule an untrasound, which can find a lot of things - but is pretty expensive. At this point, my peice of mind is worth the price, but it can't be done immediately. She is stable, and seems okay-ish - she was just eating a bit, so I feel slightly better. I guess it's up and down - for her and me!

Who’s doing the ultrasound?

 

[BrianL]

Who’s doing the ultrasound?

They call someone in I beleive. I kind of wondered about alternatives, but you know, they always have a preference.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I’m glad he called you back. Good luck over the next few days.

 

[Micca]

she was just eating a bit, so I feel slightly better. I guess it's up and down - for her and me!

Is someone looking after you??? Sounds like you need some friends to help out & keep you calm (as is possible.)

 

[BrianL]

Is someone looking after you??? Sounds like you need some friends to help out & keep you calm (as is possible.)

Yeah, but...you know how it is. Thank you for your concern. I have felt...not good over all this. It's been a tough year - just so tough! I mean, I love my cat, but on the scale of family tragedy this year, this isn't even close! I do know that I am not in a great place mentally right now. I talk with my mom regularly, but you know, sometimes the "advice" you get just makes you angrier. I have a close group fo friends who will let me vent and most ly let it alone, because what can they do really? Sadness just kind of permeates my life right now, but oh well.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

They call someone in I beleive. I kind of wondered about alternatives, but you know, they always have a preference.

Sometimes they can do it themselves, sometimes they have a mobile unit that comes to the practice, and sometimes they’ll refer you to a specialty hospital. Personally, if I’m paying good money for it, I’d rather have it done by a radiologist who has more experience. Don’t feel bad asking questions — the vet is not your friend, this is business. You just want to do what’s best for your cat.

 

[BrianL]

Sometimes they can do it themselves, sometimes they have a mobile unit that comes to the practice, and sometimes they’ll refer you to a specialty hospital. Personally, if I’m paying good money for it, I’d rather have it done by a radiologist who has more experience. Don’t feel bad asking questions — the vet is not your friend, this is business. You just want to do what’s best for your cat.

He told me that this guy was an excellent radiologist - I think from a vetrinary school (instructor). I will ask for details, but he did say this was the person that he would use.