Old Cat Lost Weight, Won't Eat, Vet At A Loss

solaritybengals

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Hello everyone. Its been a long time since I've posted here. The cat I had when I was growing up is now 14 years old. He went to live with my dad 7 years ago while I went to college and we felt it was in his best interest to remain there. I still love him though and it pains me to see him going through this.

In the last 5 months or so he's really lost a lot of weight. He is downright bony and he used to be on the hefty side. He just won't eat. This all started when he got really backed up. The vet felt a mass and they realized he was extremely constipated. So they gave him some meds to clear him which seemed to work. They thought he had a tooth that needed to be taken out so they went ahead and did a full dental. It turns out the tooth did not need to be extracted after all but there was a lot of cleaning needed. This didn't work! He picks at his food and eats less and less. My dad has gotten all kinds of different foods and he will nibble and then the next day he won't eat it anymore (both wet & dry). His favorite treats he will eat out of your hand and sometimes you can hand feed him some kibble but he won't eat much.

He's now developed a limp which I'm starting to think is from malnourishment. The vet did x-rays and there is nothing structurally wrong. I asked my dad to call the vet to verify that he was given a dewormer at his last physical. The sudden weight loss and malnourishment (he's an indoor/outdoor cat) could be a sign of worms and maybe even the constipation but I would have thought the vet would have taken care of that first thing so I doubt this is the cause.

Can anyone give me any ideas? My dad has put quite a bit of money into this and my dad is not the type of person to spend much on an animal and I know he won't tolerate anything to expensive. Yet I know he's having a hard time seeing Clover like this.

Oh he has a heart murmur as well...could that be a factor at all? The vet monitors it but not much they can do.

My dad is leaving for 3 weeks due to family illness. He normally has a neighbor come feed him but thinks with so little attention he will not make it over the 3 weeks. I said that I will take him and put him in my spare bedroom but this is really not ideal. I have 4 cats and they don't like "intruders" even if I keep the door shut. However, I think its his best shot so I can really monitor the litter box and be more hands on (I live a bit far to stop by daily).

Sorry its so long. We really don't know what to do.
 

pat

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What bloodwork has been done? I'd first want to rule out hyperthyroidism and chronic renal failure (crf). Crf kitties can lose their appetite, get weak in the back legs from muscle wasting and also be weak if their potassium levels drop from the higher volume of urine they produce.

If by some chance neither of these have been ruled out, that would be the first thing I'd check next.
 

white cat lover

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I'm with Pat....rule out those things, then perhaps consider a 2nd opinion. You never knwo what a new set of eyes can find!
 

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I also strongly agree with Pat's suggestion. Bloodwork should have been the first thing the vet did. If he didn't already do that, or if it hasn't been done recently, please find a new vet. It sounds like a second opinion would be a very good idea at this point.

You're right to keep Clover at your house while your Dad is away, even though it's not an ideal situation. Clover needs lots of attention, and he's better off being kept indoors only, with you caring for him.

Since Clover is debilitated from lack of food and weight loss, I wouldn't give him any deworming treatment. Worming meds are very harsh, and Clover doesn't sound like he's in any shape to be taking them. Even when a cat is healthy, deworming should only be done if there is actual evidence of a specific parasite.

Undiagnosed kidney disease could be causing the limp but it could also be due to arthritis. However, the more important problem is the inappetence and weight loss. If Clover is able to pee and poop, but still not eating enough on his own, you should assist-feed him. I can recommend a very helpful website that will show you how to do that. Please do that ASAP.

At 14, Clover is a senior, but not an old cat. Lots of TCS members have cats close to 20. I hope you'll soon be able to get him the help he needs so you'll have more years together.
 
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solaritybengals

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Thanks everyone. I also think he is too young. I'm going to try and get all of his medical records today. While I have him I might look into going to the vet school as I think they are not quite as expensive and a bit more up to date. The other alternative is to take him to my current vet but they are very very expensive but at least I trust them.

I think he had blood work done about a month ago and I don't recall them saying anything was unusual.

I would definitely be interested in assisted feeding. I'll have much more control when he is under my roof. It might actually be a great opportunity for me to take care of him because I am more patient with these things than my dad.
 

ktlynn

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Good idea to try the vet school. If your current vet is a board -certified feline internist, it will be worth the extra $ to have him/her examine Clover. The vet's office where Clover was most recently seen can fax his records wherever you decide to go for a second opinion.

Bloodwork done only a month ago is recent and if the results were normal than you need a vet who will dig deeper into the cause of Clover's weight loss. Make sure the bloodwork done was a *complete* panel that showed liver and kidney values, thyroid testing, blood cell counts, potassium, phosphorus levels, etc.

For lots of good info about assist-feeding, go to www.assistfeed.com. Read through it all, especially "Feline Anorexia and Assist Feeding" which is in the box to the left. You'll also see a link provided to an additional Yahoo Groups website. It has a message board where you can ask questions and get help from others who have experience with assist-feeding. I've been assist-feeding my oldest kitty for a long while now, so I'll be happy to help too - just PM me. Start assist-feeding ASAP since Clover's lost so much weight. Ask your vet for a few feeding syringes to get you started (I use 10mL size even though I only feed 1 mL at a time - it's just easier for me to hold, but a 6 mL would be fine too.) You can use Clover's current wet food if it's the ground ("pate) kind, not chunks or slices. Also try Hill's a/d (180 calories/can) and/or Eukanuba's Max Cal (about 330 calories per can!), both of which are very smooth and easy to syringe. The average cat needs 200 calories per day, usually more when they're ill.

Lots of good wishes going out to you and Clover - please update us soon.
 
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solaritybengals

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Ok heres an update. My dad decided to take him back for updated blood work. He was supposed to hear back on Monday. They left him a message saying his fecal was fine and said nothing about the blood work! He finally got up with them today and they said his blood work was even better than last time but didn't bother telling him right away. My dad was really angry. They are telling him everything that it isn't and not offering any advice. He finally got upset with the vet and said that Clover is skin and bones and is withering away before his eyes and is going to die! The vet seemed taken aback by this, could they not see this for themselves? Wow...I'm never going there and my dad has finally agreed not to go back. I have a vet I really trust and from now on Clover will be seeing her.

Anyway you guys are great! I suggested the assisted feeding to my dad and he asked them about it and they provided the syringes and said it would be good to do. Had he not suggested it, the vet never would have brought it up!!

They did suggest that my dad get some baby food. The one my dad picked was not a great choice but at least it didn't have any onion or garlic in it. It did have veggies and stuff though. I'm going to pick up something else, more along the lines of a single protein recommended in the article.

We also think he is still constipated but the baby food should help this. I might get some pumpkin and yogurt too...

The vet didn't say anything about how much my dad should feed him! AAAah! I just sent the article to my dad so he can read it. Luckily I'll be taking over in a couple days. He has a 3ml syringe and a large syringe he said that had no markings. I'm looking at the amount he should be feeding and I'm thinking why would the vet have given a 3ml if he needs around 40ml?

Anyway he did one session with Clover and he swallowed the food without much complaint. This is a relief. I think he will be fine he just needs the extra encouragement until he gets some energy back to regain an appetite.
 

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i'm with you on the vet thing - that'd be the last time they ever saw me!

for Clover to regain his appetite ASAP!
 

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I would talk to the vet that you trust and see if you can get some Hills a/d to syringe feed. It is a high calorie food, and most cats find it highly palatable. I really think that you need to get a second opinion for Clover, as the original vet doesn't appear to be very pro-active about treating anything...and also doesn't appear to be paying attention to your concerns. You should probably take Clover to another vet soon, to see if he is, indeed, constipated again, and address that issue. Constipation can adversely affect his appetite. Please see if you can get Clover's bloodwork results and post them here. At the very least, some of us could look at it and suggest things that another vet could look into for you and Clover. You both are in my prayers.
 
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solaritybengals

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He was actually given some prescription food, I think it might be the Hills diet mentioned but don't remember. Its all very frustrating for me because I love this cat but sort of have very little control over the situation since I'm not the one directly responsible. I'll see if I can get the blood work results.
 

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Originally Posted by SolarityBengals

I have a vet I really trust and from now on Clover will be seeing her.
Thank goodness. The original vet sounds like he should find another line of work...

Originally Posted by SolarityBengals

Anyway you guys are great! I suggested the assisted feeding to my dad and he asked them about it and they provided the syringes and said it would be good to do. Had he not suggested it, the vet never would have brought it up!!
See my comment above!

Originally Posted by SolarityBengals

We also think he is still constipated but the baby food should help this. I might get some pumpkin and yogurt too...
Unfortunately, baby food can cause constipation because it contains no fiber.1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per meal of *plain* canned pumpkin mixed into his meals for a day or two should help. Is Clover able to poop at all? If not, get him to the vet quickly since he could be blocked and toxins are building up in his body that aren't being eliminated.

Originally Posted by SolarityBengals

The vet didn't say anything about how much my dad should feed him! AAAah! I just sent the article to my dad so he can read it. Luckily I'll be taking over in a couple days. He has a 3ml syringe and a large syringe he said that had no markings. I'm looking at the amount he should be feeding and I'm thinking why would the vet have given a 3ml if he needs around 40ml?
It's ok to use any size syringe as long as it's comfortable for you to use, and it's marked. The 3mL is probably a little small for your Dad to handle, but it's fine to use since it's marked. Food should only be fed 1mL at a time anyway - if you load the syringe with more you run the risk of pushing a little too hard and potentially choking the cat with too much food. It's good to give Clover a few seconds to swallow the food, and the time it takes to re-load the syringe with another bite (1mL) will help the feeding go at a comfortable pace. Remind your Dad to put the syringe into the corner of Clover's mouth, don't aim the syringe straight down the throat. It's a good idea to pause every few bites to give Clover a little "breather".

As far as amount of food, you should probably shoot for about 2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons per meal, feeding 3-4 times per day. It will be easier on Clover's digestive system if he gets smaller meals more frequently rather than say, two large meals. Make sure to leave at least 4 hours between meals to give him a chance to digest the food. Also, it's very important that he stay hydrated. Is he drinking water on his own?

Originally Posted by SolarityBengals

Anyway he did one session with Clover and he swallowed the food without much complaint. This is a relief. I think he will be fine he just needs the extra encouragement until he gets some energy back to regain an appetite.
Your Dad's doing great! I give him lots of credit for diving right in and doing this for Clover

I hope your vet can get to the bottom of Clover's weight loss and lack of appetite.

Thanks for letting us know how it's going...
More good wishes going out to Clover to feel better soon!
 

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Has the Vet prescribed appetite stimulants, such as Periactin?
My cat wasn't eating and this worked.
 
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solaritybengals

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Ok my dad left for his 3 week trip. I'm now house/cat sitting. It is much worse than last I had seen him. Last time I saw him was bad enough, all skin and bones. Now he's a big oily mess on top of skinny! You can tell he's not grooming. Also the last time I was over I noticed a slight limp that once pointed out my dad became very concerned about. Now I see why, the limp is extremely pronounced and he holds his paw up (again the vet found nothing physically wrong). Could this be arthritis?

KTLynn thanks for the info about feeding. I did my first round of syringe feeding tonight and I can see where taking the time to refill might be better. I think I went to fast for him. Ok I learned. About the water... It was a little unnerving actually. He went to his water dish and spent considerable amount of time there drinking water. I'm not used to seeing a cat drink for that long. So at least he is drinking on his own but I wonder if its abnormally much.

So it looks like the vet gave us Hills a/d and Eukanuba Maximum-Calorie foods. If some falls off onto my hand he will lick some up on his own.

I have tomorrow off so I can go pick up some pumpkin. The difficulty with feeding 3-4 times a day is I work all day and I was planning on going home first to fix dinner with my husband then coming over here for overnight and doing this for three weeks. Now I'm not so sure. Maybe I should have my husband come over here for dinner instead, its just a foreign kitchen to me. But at least that way I could feed Clover right after work and then again before I go to bed. Luckily I have tomorrow off and I might take Monday off so that will help me get a routine with him. I'll keep an eye on his litter box habits and see how he does.

missK - I hadn't thought of some kind of appetite stimulant. If I decide to take him in I will ask about it.
 
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solaritybengals

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Ok I just talked to my dad and he gave me the ok to take him in to get him check for being plugged up again. He said he hasn't had a bowl movement in several days. I'll call my vet in the morning and see how soon I can get him in. It looks like my dads previous vet only gave us one can each of those eukanuba maximum-calorie & hills a/d to try. It also looks like previously they had given my dad a ton of hills k/d which I guess is for CRF? CRF would show up in the labs right? So there is no need to feed him that food?

Is Eukanuba or Hills better? I'll need to go pick up some more.

Also that syringe I mentioned is 12cc's. I was able to look up the brand and model number. So if he takes 3 of these that is 36 cc's. He's been doing this twice a day plus 6 cc's of baby food a day. So if I can squeeze in another feeding and increase the amount a little we should be doing ok on quantity.
 

ktlynn

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Originally Posted by SolarityBengals

Ok I just talked to my dad and he gave me the ok to take him in to get him check for being plugged up again. He said he hasn't had a bowl movement in several days. I'll call my vet in the morning and see how soon I can get him in.
I just read your last two posts this morning. I'm very concerned that Clover looks worse to you than the last time you saw him, and even more worrisome is the fact that he hasn't pooped in days. Please get him to the vet ASAP!!! He needs to eat but if he can't eliminate, giving him more food will only make the problem much worse! The toxins from the uneliminated stool are building up in his body which is why he looks so bad, as you said "a big oily mess". By now you will probably have called the vet- I hope you told them that Clover has been unable to poop for days and how skinny he is -they should see you right away since this would be considered urgent.

I can't imagine them not getting you in quickly, but if for some reason they don't, do not wait - take Clover to any other vet since he needs help *now*.
 
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solaritybengals

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Ok I just got back from the vet.

He isn't as skinny as I thought he was (I mean weight wise). His weight is low but not horrendous like I thought. I guess maybe I'm just not used to seeing him this way. He's probably 1.5-2lb's underweight. They were surprised that he isn't showing any signs of liver labsidosis (ok can't remember the name of the condition but it was something like that).

They felt some fecal material in there and said it was a little dry. They said an enema would be good but the stress of the procedure wouldn't be good for his heart. They decided to put him on a stool softner to see if that works, it might need to be a long term thing. They were shocked that the previous vet did a dental on him with a 4-5 heart murmur. She thought she heard an arrhythmia but couldn't confirm it a second time.

So when they took a look at his paw he started growling and throwing a fit (mostly vocal, he doesn't have the energy for anything more). They touched the swollen area and it started bleeding pretty bad. Yet another thing to add to the mysteries. They put him on clavamox in hopes it will clear it up as it seems to be some kind of infection. They want to see the x-rays from the previous vet but they are hoping we'll see improvement in a week with the antibiotics.

They decided the next step from the x-rays & labs from the previous vet is to do an abdominal ultrasound. They said his labs do not indicate crf. She is concerned about what his lymph nodes might look like as that could cause a sudden disinterest in food. He's scheduled for monday morning.

The only thing in the lab that was unusual was slightly elevated kidney levels, but they said it could be just from slight dehydration. They gave him fluids today.

They also tested him for FIV/Leukemia as that would correlate with his symptoms but these were negative.

They put him on an appetite stimulant, its a quarter tab every 3 days.

When we got home I gave him some food. It seems if I pay attention to him and encourage him, he will eat off a spoon. Often he will turn his head away but if I persist and get it right up to his nose he will lick it up. I wonder if I can get him to eat all of his food this way. I've got purina c/v and hills a/d. He's supposed to eat one can a day.

I moved some water next to his sleeping spot. I'm thinking the only reason he is dehydrated is because he doesn't have the energy (and his paw hurts to much) to go back and forth between bed and the area the water is kept.

Most of the things the vet talked about are not good. Cancer, heart disease, etc. Then so many people I know say he's almost 15...he's an old cat, it might be time to let go. We'll do the ultrasound but we can't do much more after that. Most of these tests will just confirm a fatal condition (even cancer, most of the treatments will only prolong life). I know my dad won't be up for that.

I still have a little bit of hope inside that its all fine and that he just needs to regain enough energy to regain his appetite and then jump-start the cycle again. I hope.
 
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