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- May 17, 2014
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My 13 yo neutered male cat has always been a walking garbage disposal eating whatever we put down for him. He subsistence on a reduced calorie dry mixed with water, Fortiflora, and a cosequin as he got older. Gradually, he started eating less and less. Now, he acts like he is hungry, but only takes a few bites of even the yummiest, stinkiest wet food, or even people grade tuna and chicken before shaking his head to spit out the last piece he grabbed, then walks away. He knows I will then try to feed him a buffet of other options to tempt him into eating a bit more. He sniffs and usually tries at least a lick of them, but eventually gives up and leaves. Its like he's waiting for me to give him something that agrees with him, but when he realizes I can't, he leaves. I've tried every brand and flavor wet and dry, meat baby food, high calorie prescription diet, human chicken, tuna, and salmon, CN canned from the vet, and lots of gravy toppers and wet and dry treats, but nothing holds his interest for long. BUT, then he'll come back to the kitchen an hour or so later acting hungry, and we go through the whole process again. He probably ends up consuming a few tablespoons of food each day like this,, but I have yet to see him drink water. I do mix water and fortiflora with the wet food i offer him but am not sure that it's enough to keep him hydrated. His skin does not stay tented, and the vets only gave him fluids once to keep the Cerenia from stinging, so I don't think he is dehydrated, but is this really enough liquid for a now-11- pound cat?
He has been seen by two different vets, had bloodwork done twice, and a thorough physical exam. Also had xrays. All were completely normal. Also did a thyroid test which was also normal.
He's lost 2 pounds in two months. He had a full dental two months ago, no extractions (I brush his teeth). Vet said all his teeth and mouth look "pristine".
He has had no vomiting, no retching or hairballs, no diarrhea, no tarry black stools, no constipation, completely normal poops and pees. Still using the litterbox perfectly.
Vets have given him Cerenia for nausea, Convenia injectable antibiotic in case he has infection somewhere (has no fever, no elevated white count), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory in case it's the start of IBD, and Gabopentin painkiller which i give him twice a day,....even though he does not seem painful we know cats hide illness and pain well well. He also got Metronidazole appetite stimulant, and now I give him a transdermal version of this on his ear pinna once a day. None of this has improved his picky eating.
The problem to me seems that he is not really anorextic-- he acts hungry, like he wants to eat, but after a few bites the food is no longer palatable to him and he stops eating. Could it be upsetting his esophagus or stomach?
The other problem is lack of drinking water which he use to do especially out of my water cup whenever I would refill it. Can he possibly be getting enough fluids through the watery wet food does eat? He is very difficult to pill and inject so I'm not sure he would be a candidate for force feeding food or water or subq fluids at home.
He's always been a super healthy cat and a foster ambassador (loves other cats). He definitely got depressed when we lost his 18 year old "sister" after a long battle with IBD, but he never went off his food. I've had two fosters come through the house since then and that seemed to get him out of his depression-- perked up, started playing again, etc. I have adopted my most recent foster, a 4 year old friendly girl whom he loves (grooms her when she lets him).
What else.. I had to moved to Colorado for a month this fall to help with a family crisis but I had lots of people visit him twice a day to feed and play with him. He never went off his food then either, and he loves visitors. Now the house is calm, nothing to freak him out, plus he's not a freaker- outer anyway--loves people, loves cats, never met a stranger. Just a happy go lucky, very mellow lovey boy.
Any thoughts on this recent aversion to food and lack of drinking with no other abnormal symptoms or labs? We're going for ultrasound next week. Should I ask for gastric endoscopy too? Could it be ulcers? Thoughts?
Thanks for any input. This boy is so special to me, and he has helped so many frightened fosters become confident housecats thanks to his kind nature with other felines. It's just too soon to lose him.
He has been seen by two different vets, had bloodwork done twice, and a thorough physical exam. Also had xrays. All were completely normal. Also did a thyroid test which was also normal.
He's lost 2 pounds in two months. He had a full dental two months ago, no extractions (I brush his teeth). Vet said all his teeth and mouth look "pristine".
He has had no vomiting, no retching or hairballs, no diarrhea, no tarry black stools, no constipation, completely normal poops and pees. Still using the litterbox perfectly.
Vets have given him Cerenia for nausea, Convenia injectable antibiotic in case he has infection somewhere (has no fever, no elevated white count), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory in case it's the start of IBD, and Gabopentin painkiller which i give him twice a day,....even though he does not seem painful we know cats hide illness and pain well well. He also got Metronidazole appetite stimulant, and now I give him a transdermal version of this on his ear pinna once a day. None of this has improved his picky eating.
The problem to me seems that he is not really anorextic-- he acts hungry, like he wants to eat, but after a few bites the food is no longer palatable to him and he stops eating. Could it be upsetting his esophagus or stomach?
The other problem is lack of drinking water which he use to do especially out of my water cup whenever I would refill it. Can he possibly be getting enough fluids through the watery wet food does eat? He is very difficult to pill and inject so I'm not sure he would be a candidate for force feeding food or water or subq fluids at home.
He's always been a super healthy cat and a foster ambassador (loves other cats). He definitely got depressed when we lost his 18 year old "sister" after a long battle with IBD, but he never went off his food. I've had two fosters come through the house since then and that seemed to get him out of his depression-- perked up, started playing again, etc. I have adopted my most recent foster, a 4 year old friendly girl whom he loves (grooms her when she lets him).
What else.. I had to moved to Colorado for a month this fall to help with a family crisis but I had lots of people visit him twice a day to feed and play with him. He never went off his food then either, and he loves visitors. Now the house is calm, nothing to freak him out, plus he's not a freaker- outer anyway--loves people, loves cats, never met a stranger. Just a happy go lucky, very mellow lovey boy.
Any thoughts on this recent aversion to food and lack of drinking with no other abnormal symptoms or labs? We're going for ultrasound next week. Should I ask for gastric endoscopy too? Could it be ulcers? Thoughts?
Thanks for any input. This boy is so special to me, and he has helped so many frightened fosters become confident housecats thanks to his kind nature with other felines. It's just too soon to lose him.
Good luck!
