Manny's not eating again...

[luckystar]

What are some reasons that he might not be eating?

It's not something he swallowed, which we confirmed with the rather expensive surgery about two weeks ago. This is only the second time it's happened, but I'm still concerned. He ate last night, but had no interest this morning. I'm waiting on biopsies which should be back either Friday or Monday.

Is it possible that it's related to him getting hairballs up? He never had a problem with them before, and he had two before the surgery, and one last night - both right before he didn't feel like eating. The problem is that before, he had a fever that jumped up to 105 until the vets started the surgery. So if it's the same thing, I'm worried he could get a fever at some point today and really need some medical attention.

I'm so confused, worried, and my money won't last forever. I wish the doctors could just snap their fingers and know what's wrong, and give me some meds that'll keep him feeling good.

 

[cattitude]

What are some reasons that he might not be eating?

It's not something he swallowed, which we confirmed with the rather expensive surgery about two weeks ago. This is only the second time it's happened, but I'm still concerned. He ate last night, but had no interest this morning. I'm waiting on biopsies which should be back either Friday or Monday.

Is it possible that it's related to him getting hairballs up? He never had a problem with them before, and he had two before the surgery, and one last night - both right before he didn't feel like eating. The problem is that before, he had a fever that jumped up to 105 until the vets started the surgery. So if it's the same thing, I'm worried he could get a fever at some point today and really need some medical attention.

I'm so confused, worried, and my money won't last forever. I wish the doctors could just snap their fingers and know what's wrong, and give me some meds that'll keep him feeling good.

Sorry to hear that. Did they test him for any diseases...leukemia? aids?

What are you feeding him?

 

[luckystar]

Sorry to hear that. Did they test him for any diseases...leukemia? aids?

What are you feeding him?

You know, I thought they did, but looking over the bill all I see is a urinalysis, which probably wouldn't answer much. I have a 6:00 reserved at All Kinds in Callaway in case he doesn't eat when I go back for lunch either.

After his surgery the vet asked me to feed him real chicken and rice. Later I transitioned back to his regular wet food (Purina Pro Plan) and eventually back to his regular diet, which is a 1/3 cup of Purina Healthful Life in the morning, and 3 oz. of the Pro Plan in the evening.

Cats can get AIDS? Or is it a feline version?

 

[cattitude]

You know, I thought they did, but looking over the bill all I see is a urinalysis, which probably wouldn't answer much. I have a 6:00 reserved at All Kinds in Callaway in case he doesn't eat when I go back for lunch either.

After his surgery the vet asked me to feed him real chicken and rice. Later I transitioned back to his regular wet food (Purina Pro Plan) and eventually back to his regular diet, which is a 1/3 cup of Purina Healthful Life in the morning, and 3 oz. of the Pro Plan in the evening.

Cats can get AIDS? Or is it a feline version?

Feline version.

 

[vraiblonde]

Cats can get AIDS? Or is it a feline version?

But it's pretty much the same thing. You cannot catch it from him, but he can transmit it to other cats. Like Mittens.

How is he acting? Is he obviously sick?

 

[luckystar]

But it's pretty much the same thing. You cannot catch it from him, but he can transmit it to other cats. Like Mittens.

How is he acting? Is he obviously sick?

He's acting just a little weird, he's usually more playful with me in the mornings. He's not nearly as lethargic as he was the day we had to take him to the emergency vet though, so that's good.

I wouldn't say he's obviously sick, though. Just not eating, and puked up a hairball last night. He was trying to get it up yesterday but it wouldn't come out. Guess I was passed out when he did get it up, I'm lucky I didn't step in it when I got out of bed this morning it was so close.

It's just the fact that he's acting similar to that morning that worries me, and by that night he had a high fever.

I'm taking him in at 6:00 this evening with the bill from MASH to see if there was bloodwork done (there's a lot of things on the bill that I can't translate). If not, I'm going to get it done. Won't set me back as far as the biopsies did.

 

[mAlice]

But it's pretty much the same thing. You cannot catch it from him, but he can transmit it to other cats. Like Mittens.

How is he acting? Is he obviously sick?

She said he was eating last night, but not this morning. She says his coat looks different, which I can't really see. He does the "just sitting still" thing, not his usual active behavior. He's usually ADHD. Doesn't really want anyone to pet him. Nose is cool, not particularly moist. She said he had a cough, which I didn't hear, so can't describe it. :shrug:

 

[luckystar]

She said he was eating last night, but not this morning. She says his coat looks different, which I can't really see. He does the "just sitting still" thing, not his usual active behavior. He's usually ADHD. Doesn't really want anyone to pet him. Nose is cool, not particularly moist. She said he had a cough, which I didn't hear, so can't describe it. :shrug:

Oh no - I was asking if that could have been a coughing fit. Since I saw the hairball at my feet getting out of bed this morning, I'm sure he was just trying to get it up yesterday and couldn't.

I was asking because the vet asked me last time if he had been coughing, and I said I didn't know because I've never heard a cat cough. The vet told me it's similar to their gagging sound, and sometimes hard to differentiate.

And his fur... it's just not laying flat like it usually does. Looks like it might if a cat could get goosebumps. It's normally so flat and slick that it looks greasy, but it's just really shiny. It was like that Sunday morning :\

 

[cattitude]

I just gave her a "list" of ideas to talk over with the vet. I hope it helps. Cats are very good at hiding illness, it can be frustrating.

 

[mAlice]

Oh no - I was asking if that could have been a coughing fit. Since I saw the hairball at my feet getting out of bed this morning, I'm sure he was just trying to get it up yesterday and couldn't.

I was asking because the vet asked me last time if he had been coughing, and I said I didn't know because I've never heard a cat cough. The vet told me it's similar to their gagging sound, and sometimes hard to differentiate.

And his fur... it's just not laying flat like it usually does. Looks like it might if a cat could get goosebumps. It's normally so flat and slick that it looks greasy, but it's just really shiny. It was like that Sunday morning :\

Okay. Got it.

 

[mAlice]

I just gave her a "list" of ideas to talk over with the vet. I hope it helps. Cats are very good at hiding illness, it can be frustrating.

Thanks.

 

[denisend]

Okay, this may be WAY out in left field, but it's a theory based roughly on my experiences (which are bizarre and something that have thoroughly puzzled the vets, so I'm going to throw it out there for you to think about).

Acute vomiting episodes can cause meso-esophagus in some cats. Why, don't know, but it happens with Yates, and then he won't eat (his esophagus is nearly as wide as his stomach - I've seen the x-rays- so I suppose I wouldn't want to eat either). Most recently, we experienced this when we adopted Juliet and she seemed to have some GI bug that he had never been exposed to, causing him to vomit. Just a normal GI bug that Juliet didn't really have a problem with.

So, it could be the hairballs (for whatever reason) are causing him to gag, or a GI bug, or a combination.... and the esophagus is enlarging for the vomiting, but not shrinking back down like its supposed to.

The good news is that this is easy (and relatively cheap) to diagnose. Just a normal x-ray of his esophagus. They may have already done it at MASH, but it sounds like they were concentrating on his intestines... my vets don't take x-rays that large, but you'd have to ask MASH.

If that is the case, I'd be curious if he has a hiatial hernia, because Yates did (and I suspect that's why he gets meso-esophagus when he vomits, but the vets haven't really been able to answer that question). Hiatial hernia means that his stomach goes into his esophagus and is really common in pugs and persians - smooshed face breeds. I wouldn't think your cat would have it. Yates did probably because he has a soft palate defect and his digestive and respiratory systems aren't separate like they should be. Once I can afford the $4k surgery, we're going to fix that.

Good luck with Manny!

Denise

 

[denisend]

I'm taking him in at 6:00 this evening with the bill from MASH to see if there was bloodwork done (there's a lot of things on the bill that I can't translate). If not, I'm going to get it done. Won't set me back as far as the biopsies did.

You should be able to get his records (the vet's notes) from MASH. Maybe not in time for the appointment, but if you call the vet you're going to tonight and tell them that MASH saw him 2 weeks ago, they may be able to get them faxed over.

It won't include x-rays or anything like that, but it will include the results from the urinalysis and any bloodwork that was done, as well as basic things like weight and temperature.

*hugs*

Denise

 

[luckystar]

If that is the case, I'd be curious if he has a hiatial hernia, because Yates did (and I suspect that's why he gets meso-esophagus when he vomits, but the vets haven't really been able to answer that question). Hiatial hernia means that his stomach goes into his esophagus and is really common in pugs and persians - smooshed face breeds. I wouldn't think your cat would have it. Yates did probably because he has a soft palate defect and his digestive and respiratory systems aren't separate like they should be. Once I can afford the $4k surgery, we're going to fix that.

Good luck with Manny!

Denise

I actually saw something similar to the soft-palate defect on one of those Discovery channels the other day. I've never heard of the meso-esophagus problem though. Thanks, it's definitely worth mentioning. I wouldn't want to eat either if my stomach was trying to come up into my esophagus. Glad you were able to find out what was wrong with your baby! We should start a donation fund for our kitties.

 

[denisend]

I actually saw something similar to the soft-palate defect on one of those Discovery channels the other day. I've never heard of the meso-esophagus problem though. Thanks, it's definitely worth mentioning. I wouldn't want to eat either if my stomach was trying to come up into my esophagus. Glad you were able to find out what was wrong with your baby! We should start a donation fund for our kitties.

Meso-esophagus just means that his esophagus is really big, and after reading above where you said that he was trying for awhile to get the hairball out, it sounds more likely that that could be the problem, since it can be caused by repeated vomiting.

If it (the vomiting) went on long enough I imagine that it *could* cause a hiatial hernia, but if this is just his 3 hairball I REALLY DOUBT IT. It's really uncommon (none of the cat health books I have even mention it). I only mention it here because it is a life threatening condition and the signs are kinda subtle. The diagnostic for it is a barium swallow (I think... the vet called and said "your cat has a life threatening condition, can we do surgery?" so I was in a bit of shock).

*hugs*

Denise

 

[jp2854]

Lucky

My male cat had the same problem greasy looking fur and it standing up I took him to the vet and his red bloodcell count was extremely low and they could never figure out what was wrong with him...They gave me this prescription diet wetfood and got him back to eating as he had lost 4lbs in the matter of 3 days. he was eating very little of the wetfood I bought him at the store to get me through the weekend as I had no way of getting to the vet. I saw Dr. Autumn Terry at all kinds and she was the one who told me she wasn't sure but she thought my cat might have cancer (this was last summer that she told me this and hes still doing pretty good and has put on his 4lbs plus some.

Lucky please let us know how your cat made out at the vet today if you get a chance. I know it has to be hard on you knowing your cat isn't feeling good again. I have been through a lot.. I have had 2 cats with health issues. My male cat that I had to put to sleep due to continually having diabetic seizures and my male cat that I have now hes has a heart murmur and possibly cancer. I can't afford to send him to a general practioner for cats as they are extremely expensive as I have already spent close to 3,000 on him in the last 2yrs as the general practioner is going to want to put him through a ton of tests to figure out what is really wrong with him (that is what the vet told me) so for now I just plan to keep him comfortable til his time comes.

 

[jp2854]

I actually saw something similar to the soft-palate defect on one of those Discovery channels the other day. I've never heard of the meso-esophagus problem though. Thanks, it's definitely worth mentioning. I wouldn't want to eat either if my stomach was trying to come up into my esophagus. Glad you were able to find out what was wrong with your baby! We should start a donation fund for our kitties.

Lucky

I have to say I agree with you on the start a donation for the kitties as going to the vet always seems to cost 100.00 or more every time you walk in the door wether the animal is healthy or sick.

 

[luckystar]

Lucky

My male cat had the same problem greasy looking fur and it standing up I took him to the vet and his red bloodcell count was extremely low and they could never figure out what was wrong with him...They gave me this prescription diet wetfood and got him back to eating as he had lost 4lbs in the matter of 3 days. he was eating very little of the wetfood I bought him at the store to get me through the weekend as I had no way of getting to the vet. I saw Dr. Autumn Terry at all kinds and she was the one who told me she wasn't sure but she thought my cat might have cancer (this was last summer that she told me this and hes still doing pretty good and has put on his 4lbs plus some.

Lucky please let us know how your cat made out at the vet today if you get a chance. I know it has to be hard on you knowing your cat isn't feeling good again. I have been through a lot.. I have had 2 cats with health issues. My male cat that I had to put to sleep due to continually having diabetic seizures and my male cat that I have now hes has a heart murmur and possibly cancer. I can't afford to send him to a general practioner for cats as they are extremely expensive as I have already spent close to 3,000 on him in the last 2yrs as the general practioner is going to want to put him through a ton of tests to figure out what is really wrong with him (that is what the vet told me) so for now I just plan to keep him comfortable til his time comes.

Thanks for the heads up on that, but he ate when I went home for lunch! He's still being a little lazy, but I'm really starting to wonder if it's just him having trouble getting hairballs up.

At first we were still worried, because we tried wet food, then some eggs that my mom cooked for lunch while I was checking Manny out, even put some bacon grease on it later, but still not interested. I started scraping the eggs off the plate into the trash can, and he comes running. I figured he may have thought it sounded like the bin of dry food, so I put some in a bowl and viola! Hungry kitty

So just for now, I'm going to postpone the vet visit and see how he does with the hairball remedy. I called MASH, and they said they had run some blood tests as well as a urinalysis which all came back fine. I'm just going to wait for the biopsies and see if they say anything, and by then I should know if the hairball remedy does anything.

Crossing my fingers in hopes that's all it is!

 

[jp2854]

the stuff the vet recommended to me for hairballs for the cats is called laxitone (sp)and I use it with my male cat and it works wonderful (he eats it right off the tip of my finger when I give it to him).

 

[denisend]

Yay for eatings!!!

If it's going to be an on-going issue, Vaseline is the cheapest remedy (petroleum is the active ingredient in all of the hairball remedies, the other stuff is mostly just flavor). Some cats will eat Vaseline just fine, others won't mind if you dab it on their nose, but some will be really offended and the best thing to do is get the flavored stuff that they'll eat themselves.

Still, THE cheapest remedy is exercise (which stimulates the intestines to move instead of allowing the hair to sit there) and grooming. I LOVE the furminator brush that I have. Nothing gets hair off like that thing! The key is to get them used to it gradually. Leave it around the house for awhile... then show it to them... then one swipe and give a treat... etc.

Unless you have a brush whore like Yates. He LOVES it. I can brush him for hours.

I'm so happy for you and Manny!

Denise