Seeking vetrenarian advice on ailing cat.

many944s · 09-05-2008, 09:02 AM

Ok, so my 6yo black cat has been experiencing stomach issues for the last few months. It started out with random vomit spots all over the house. As soon as it happened 3 days in a row, I took him to the vet (feline specialists). At that time he weighed in at 12 lbs. They examined his eyes, coat, mouth, and manually probed his belly and found no issues. At the time he was eating Iams hairball formula dry food. Also, he is an indoor cat, and always has been. The vet gave us some "easier to digest" food (at d@mn near $80 a pound) and some Metoclopramide 5mg tabs broken in half. Dosage was twice a day for a full 5mg each day.

He seemed to be doing better until yesterday when I couldn't find him in any of his favorite spots. Finally, I found him beneath my bed. He had some dried vomit beneath his nostrils and was experiencing some labored breathing (assuming he aspirated some vomit). I then found the... puddle that he left on the laundry room floor. It consisted of mostly digested food and liquid with a couple of kibbles here and there. But said puddle was almost 19" across!! Granted, it was on concrete, but this was a HUGE puddle of vomit. I took him back to the vet last night around 5:30 and they weighed him in at 9.8 lbs. he wasn't dehydrated, and had no sensitivity while being examined. After much thought, I gave the doctor the go ahead to open him up this morning as she suspected a foreign blockage somewhere (x-rays showed excessive gas build up last night). Oh, and all his blood workup came back fine last night!!

So, she just called to let me know that the surgery went fine, and he was waking back up. They relieved the gas pressure but found no blockage??? they were able to pass a scope both directions from the stomach. They also took biopsies from all the major organs to see if they can find anything.

They are going to keep him for the weekend to see how he does. I figured I would ask here to see if anyone had any ideas or insight on what the issue may be or had seen a similar case.

Thanks in advance!
-Nick

BReif61 · 09-05-2008, 09:06 AM

No changes to his diet or new pets?

many944s · 09-05-2008, 09:20 AM

No new pets, no change in diet.

scottmandue · 09-05-2008, 09:23 AM

Sorry to hear,

Sure he didn't get into something (poisonous)? Check around the house for any open containers?

Hope the little guy pulls through.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

They didn't do any blood or urine tests?

One of my cats had similar symptoms (occasional puking, lethargy, etc.) a couple weeks ago. Took her down and blood tests revealed an elevated WBC count and high kidney markers (creatine, etc.) Kidney infection, prescribed antibiotics. She's doing 1000X better now.

Maybe time for a different vet? Cats are very prone to UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections) and other excretion problems. Another thing I've read about is blockages if they get into yarn, string, feathers, etc. Their digestive tracts can get plugged and they end up puking up a lot. Is she pooping regularly? Stuff making it all the way through or not? Could be very telling if not.

Dehydration is a serious issue if they're throwing up a lot and/or not drinking water. Make sure they get enough water! Very important with cats!

304065 · 09-05-2008, 09:53 AM

What is the specific gravity of his urine? Was it tested?

Mule · 09-05-2008, 09:58 AM

Kidneys are what I'd check.

Rikao4 · 09-05-2008, 10:00 AM

Persian ?
use Pedi-lite clear when he/she comes home.
Get's them hydrated quickly.
it's safe.

Rika

many944s · 10:02 AM

Well, the poison issue is a definite no, I also have a 2yo daughter in the house, so anything remotely dangerous is either stored in the shed, or in a secured cabinet.

At this point, I'm waiting on the biopsies to come back.
All blood tests are ok, and the vet practically passed a scope from North to South!!
I would normally consider a different vet, but she also works on my older cat, and has practically worked miracles with my parents cats, she is d@mn good at what she does!

My daughter keeps asking where Merlin is "cat's name", as they are almost inseparable! Looks like it is going to be a long weekend!

-Nick

(edit:not sure on the urine test, I will have to ask about that when I stop by to see him this evening, thanks!)

masraum · 09-05-2008, 10:03 AM

My thought too. Has he been pooping?

Rikao4 · 09-05-2008, 10:04 AM

had a Merlin,black Persian..he was HUGE, my Rott's gave him the right ALWAYS.
Lived to be 15,resides on the mantle till we meet again.
Rika

many944s · 09-05-2008, 10:08 AM

It really is a mind boggler at this point, both the cats use separate litter boxes, and they get changed every Wednesday night (for trash pickup Thurs morning) there was both urine and feces in his litter box, so he used it sometime between Wednesday at 5:00PM and Thursday 6:30AM (found him ill Thursday morning @6:30AM)

john walker's workshop · 09-05-2008, 10:14 AM

i just lost a cat that started out with the same symptoms. vomiting, loosing weight, very boney feeling, lethargic. vet thought thyroid, but the meds did nothing. finally had it put down. they said it was probably cancer, but who knows. i hope it gets better.

stomachmonkey · 09-05-2008, 10:21 AM

What plants are in the home. Have 4 cats myself and they do not all chew the same stuff.

pwd72s · 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

i just lost a cat that started out with the same symptoms. vomiting, loosing weight, very boney feeling, lethargic. vet thought thyroid, but the meds did nothing. finally had it put down. they said it was probably cancer, but who knows. i hope it gets better.

FWIW, there are radioactive iodine treatments for feline thryroid treatments. We did that with one of our cats...the treatment was tough on her, but the turnaround was miraculous.

Alas, she only got a couple of years after that...liver failure this summer. She took that final trip to the vet in July. Still hard to write about.

serge944 · serge944's Garage

Ever thought about getting a large Python? It makes these kinds of problems...well...disappear.

pwd72s · 09-05-2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serge944

Ever thought about getting a large Python? It makes these kinds of problems...well...disappear.

My pool cue case has decorations made of Python hide...

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

mine had similar thing when he went to a pet hotel when i was traveling
got really bad, went to the vet, got antibiotics and anti fever stuff
bounced back... by evening, he was puking again...

back to the vet, he stayed there for a week on antibiotics and fever medicine...and fluids
he pulled through, said it was some kind of infection/disease he caught in the hotel

here's the thread
any Vets ?

scottmandue · 09-05-2008, 01:25 PM

FWIW I have had one cat with kidney problems and another large male that had ongoing urinary problems... It has been a few years but I don't remember them throwing up a lot... other than the usual occasional hairball.

many944s · 09-08-2008, 05:05 PM

Well, after 4 days and almost $1k my little guy is back at home...
And, I don't know anymore than I did the day I took him to the vet.

I should know the results of the biopsies tomorrow, but all the blood and urine tests were fine (even had a friend of mine that is a vet across the river in animal sciences at Purdue re-run them for me). He even looked over the entire stack of info from the current vet, and couldn't give me any more insight.

Merlin started eating again yesterday morning, but still had a fever of 103. Today his temp was back down to 102 and is looking alot more like himself. He is still a little sluggish, but with a 6" row of staples on his belly, I don't blame him.

Thanks for all the info on questions to ask the doc, I think I gave her a run for her money a couple of times with all the questions. Right now I'm just glad he is home in a familiar environment. I'll just have to wait and see how he does from here.

Here's the little guy chilling on a blanket next to me as I type: