17 Year Old Male Cat...not Himself One Day, Overnight Had Bad Diarrhea,threw Up Bad..now Sickly

daftcat75

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He could have had a hairball. He could have had an acute pancreatitis flare-up from something he ate or something in his environment. It could be literally anything in between those two. The vet may not even be able to tell you why he got sick. But he can run some tests to tell you if he’s getting better or at risk to get sick again. With symptoms as vague as those, no-one, not even another vet, could tell you what’s going on with him without physically examining him and taking blood and urine at a minimum. It’s distressing that he got sick but it will be a relief to know it was nothing serious or to catch something before it becomes serious.
 
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empirefalls

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As i mention earlier, i am reading posts although i may not reply right away.


Good news and not so bright news-
My 17 yo cat is feeling, acting normal, up and around, jumping on tables for the fun of it and prancing around like 'look at me'. His nose is wet, his fur has puffed out which it does when he is healthy.Not sure if it is obvious by looking at his photo, he is a hairball cat. Been tossing up hairballs his whole life.

The not so bright news. As i mentioned, i live in early extremely poor area for vets. About 1 vet for thousands of people ratio--among 'other detriments'.
When i called the Vet for Oct 7, Because my cat was what i described in my first paragraph they could not schedule him in til this Saturday, the 20th. Pleading does not work. Also as i mentioned, no vets in my area will see cats or dogs after 5pm, even if the cat, dog, is a client, even they are dying a horrible death. You get a prerecorded message to go to a 24 hour clinic , 90 miles away.
My own stomach hurts just thinking about the limited, prehistoric, health care available for cats in my area.

So anyways,Saturday the vet.
I want to do my homework before i walk in. What tests? can i ask to be done for a 17yo male. I really dont know what to be asking for: I am thinking blood tests, urine,a test for hypothyroidism, pancreas, a test for urine blockages maybe.
thanks for helping
He is still throwing up about once every 7 days--that can be normal with his hairballs, but he is eating alot--which i believe can make a cat throw up, but then again, i think it may be pointing to a health ailment.. And he seemed to be have been constipated a couple of times.
 
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daftcat75

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Sounds like it was just hairballs and constipation. But given how difficult it is to get a vet appointment, you may as well cover your bases. Ask the vet if a fast is needed since some of the blood tests require a fast (12 hours I think.). How’s the poop? If he’s mostly regular (hairballs can cause constipation or loose stools as they are passing), eating well and maintaining weight, his disposition is good and he’s generally acting like a healthy cat, you can probably skip on most of the add-on tests and go with the standard blood and urine tests. Or a Senior Screen if your vet has that option. That’s a bundle of tests appropriate for a senior cat check up.

For hairballs you can try egg yolk or egg yolk powder as an add-in to his diet.
How Best to Manage Hairballs
 
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empirefalls

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Just left the Vet

Vet determined he was constipated. But that is a start.
My 17yo had an xray
He was given anti constipation gel.
He was given an antibiotic shot...not the one time 7 day one. I will bring my cat to the vet 6 more times in the next 7 days for another antibiotic shot.
He was given a cortisone shot...i believe, going to have to check my receipt.

He is back home, already looking better. He ate and drank and went the bathroom.
Now its wait and see in the coming week(S) if he stays better or not.

I did not have blood work done. Will be having that done on the next 6 days when i bring my cat for the antibiotic shot treatment shot....If your wondering---> My cat is calm and collective but very very difficult to give an antibiotic pill.

Thanks for staying with me on my cat.
 

FeebysOwner

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Hi. Thanks for posting a follow-up. And, glad to hear he seems to be doing better?

So, no other tests besides the x-ray? What was the vet looking for with the x-ray - bowel issues/constipation?

What is the antibiotic shot for? And, 7 days worth of shots - is that just because they are the same as the daily dose of pills, but being done via shot because your cat doesn't take pills well?

If he did get a cortisone shot, do you know what it was for?

Sorry for the questions. Just curious how these treatments were decided upon if the only thing the vet did was take an x-ray.
 

daftcat75

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Pick up a probiotic because antibiotics can swing this in the other direction and cause diarrhea. Probiotics can help restore the good bacteria to prevent or manage that.
 
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empirefalls

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If/When i give him any pill. i get scratched up bad. Then if i am success giving him the pill, often i find the half melted pill in another room or something.
He already had the 1 SHOT antibiotic injection in AUgust,thus, cant be done again for at least 6 months. Thus, why i am bring him in for the shot. Or perhaps an injection antibiotics is needed. There is no charge for the days i bring him in for a shot.

Probiotics for cats is a path i have always wanted to follow as part of cat health. However, keep reading about pet powders being recalled frequently.

I have been giving him this. Perhaps there is a small amount of spinach in it, but it is sure more spinach than all i have ate in my life. Plus the garden greens variety.
https://bit.ly/2qb4tU2

"If he did get a cortisone shot, do you know what it was for? "
No, i did not ask. I trust the VET at this point. He is not a talker but he has decades experience and prices are reasonable.
Vets i had before were big talkers, pleasant to speak with, explained everything, affable....But they were not good Vets.
 
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empirefalls

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My cat took a turn for the worse today because it is believed he had an allergic reaction to penicillin.

I need help.

Brief summary
My cat was brought to the Vet Friday. Given an antibiotic shot and cortisone(not sure if i am spelling it right)
Because he was given a 'one time shot antibiotic shot' in August that can only be given once every 6 months, my vet would give him a antibiotic this past Friday,which he did.
Saturday My vet gave him another, when i brought my cat in
Sunday , he was closed

--Monday, today, i went in at 2pm, the vet gave him an antibiotic shot and cortione. Brought him home and he was immediately unresponsive.
Brought him back to the vet. My vet believes it was a reaction to the antibiotic shot. Vet gave a shot Dramasine? an allergic reaction shot. Vet is keeping him overnight and giving him fluids.
This past hour, i went back to the vet to visit my cat...This would be 2 hours after the allergic reaction, 1 hour after an allergic reaction shot. He look a very very very tad more alert. He is breathing
 

daftcat75

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Why is he getting antibiotics for hairballs or constipation? Did the vet take a fecal or urine and determine there was an infection? Otherwise the antibiotics are more likely to cause diarrhea (by killing the good bacteria needed for secondary digestion) than to clear it up. It sounds like your vets are taking the Urgent Care approach to medicine. "Here's some antibiotics. If that doesn't work, we have more where those came from."

Egg yolk will help with hairballs and constipation. Probiotics will help with diarrhea.
How Best to Manage Hairballs
 
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empirefalls

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re constipation. The vet confirmed via feeling and an xray on Friday
I should have added that in my brief summery.

I am wondering the odds my cat may come out alright after being given a shot to combat the allergic reaction to penicillin.

I feel so guilty. My cat was doing fine ., walking around, eating, running back and forth with my other cat. I picked him up, put him in the carrier brought him to the vet. Now he may die.
 

jen

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I too am confused why he is getting an antibiotic shot for constipation? That doesn't make sense. Please ask them to do bloodwork while he is in so you don't have to take him back a third time. This is SO important to make sure his organs are functioning properly after being so sick and at his old age.
 
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empirefalls

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Not sure why the antibiotic shot for constipation
The blood tests were going to be done this week. If he gets thou the night, will have them done in the morning If it is doable
My vet is not going to charge me for keeping my cat overnight, nor fluids my cat is getting
 
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empirefalls

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Quick post:
He is back home from an overnight vet stay this morning. Said he had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic shot yesterday. The anti allergic shot given afterwards, appears to have worked.
 

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If he's hiding, that could be a bad sign - cats do that when they're feeling sick. They don't like to appear weak, so they hide to avoid predators preying on that. It would be a good idea to have him checked by your vet.
 
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empirefalls

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Well that is good news. Did you have them do the bloodwork then?
He is scheduled next Wed.
Not sure why it was done now other than i kinda was not in the mood to push it to be done. My cat just got real sick from one shot, i did not want,trust, any more needles going into him from the VET. I feel more confident now. I think
 
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empirefalls

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If he's hiding, that could be a bad sign - cats do that when they're feeling sick. They don't like to appear weak, so they hide to avoid predators preying on that. It would be a good idea to have him checked by your vet.
Yes, i aware of that. A bad sign of illness as well as their instinct thinking.
 
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