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- Oct 30, 2016
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My foster Fender (my avatar) has been battling anorexia for 9 long months. He would stop eating then restart without rhyme or reason. (Quick background, was feral and turned over to our group, he has been with me for 18 months that. I .That time was neutered, had a severe allerfia reaction to something causing massive open wounds at surgical site, needing firther surgery to debride and close wounds. He and the other cats had terrible teeth, most have lost the majority of their teeth, he has had 12 extraction) last fall he began with anorexia. Pain medicine seemed to help so he had a second dental where a few teeth were removed. He started eating better so we wrongle assumed problem solved. This spring he again stopped rateat and drinking. Having success last time and his history of dental issues, the did another dental. They didn't see anything obvious,but removed 2 as the thought could be contributing. This time it didn't help and I would say turned from eating poorly/no drinking to absolute nothing. We started syringe feeding him, water in food. Every test we could think of was attempted, biopsy, scopes etc. The only thing they could find was moderate I DON'T, now the were limited In how far they could scope due to size of endoscope. We've changed food ingredients, consistency, brands. Nothing helped. He did best with appetite stulimulant, anti nausea meds and sub q fluids as needed. This all has been so stressful on him. He will eat 1/2 can a day, but will not use litter box and sleeps majority of day, no interaction with the other cats. Only exception is after fluids he hangs out with them and plays for a few days. His weight plumetted from 12# to 7.8 over last 3 months. Today my vet is placing a feesife tube, actually 2 vets are as nobody in clinic has ever done it and University wouldn't. They want me to supplement his food, hydrate him and medicate through tube.(forgot he didn't respond to steroid shot so they want to trial oral steroids)
I have drug my feet a bit on this as I was/am afraid lymphoma or the likes is hiding and o am just delaying the inevitable and putting him through unnecessary procedures. I can't keep watching him fail. He did gain 1/2 # I'm last 2 weeks, but still will not freely drink.
For those of you who have done this before, any advice? How long do they stay in? How do you keep other cats from messing with the tube?
Thanks for your help, I'm very worried about him
I have drug my feet a bit on this as I was/am afraid lymphoma or the likes is hiding and o am just delaying the inevitable and putting him through unnecessary procedures. I can't keep watching him fail. He did gain 1/2 # I'm last 2 weeks, but still will not freely drink.
For those of you who have done this before, any advice? How long do they stay in? How do you keep other cats from messing with the tube?
Thanks for your help, I'm very worried about him