Chronic Vomiting

[jm83]

Hi All,

I'm on here because the vet doesnt seem to know what's going on.

My baby is 12 yrs old and he started vomiting puddles of bile/foam/clearish liquid back in November '19, several times a week. We took him to the vet and they did bloodwork and an ultrasound and couldnt find anything. They said maybe he had an irritable bowel and put him on prescription food (hills sensitive tummies). Otherwise, he was acting normal.

We realized that he'd smack his lips every time before vomiting, and he was vomiting around the same time every night (2am-ish), so we figured maybe his stomach acids were acting up around that time and he needed food. So from January - April/May, we were able to prevent him from throwing up those puddles by giving him some food in the middle of the night as soon as he'd start smacking his lips. He would smack his lips every night and we'd feed him a snack and he wouldnt vomit.

This tactic seemed to be working, and then he started vomiting again, and it couldnt be controlled with nightime snacks. So we took him to the vet and they said to only give him his prescription food, that maybe it was a food allergy. So we did a food trial with only the prescription food strictly for a couple months. He kept vomiting frequently, but the puddles of liquid got smaller and smaller, till it was just tiny spots of vomit daily.

Then he starting vomiting multiple times a day, but nothing comes up now, at all. That's been going on for like 3 weeks now. He received a steroid shot a couple weeks ago and a couple anti-nausea shots, but he's retching/vomiting 2-4 times a day. He was a bit constipated recently too, and we gave him a laxative type medication which hopefully has resolved that aspect of things, as his bowel movements appear okay now.

He's nauseous and smacking his lips, turning his head and licking his lips, almost all day. He doesnt vomit up anything, even if he drinks or eats. I have no idea what to do, and neither do the vets. I'm going broke with diagnostics and guesses.

Has anyone every experienced anything like this?

Thanks so much for any and all help/advice. I have a constant migraine from nonstop crying over this.

 

[denice]

I had an IBD cat that would do this and I too was at my wits end because I couldn't keep up with it money wise. A steroid did control his issue and he lived a healthy life for many years on a daily steroid pill. Do you have any cats only vet specialist in your area? I made the rounds with several vets and spent a lot of money, I finally went to a cats only vet and she was able to get him on the right track. IBD which this does sound like is frustrating. It is a diagnosis by elimination which is why it can get so expensive. There is no one right way to control it either. I know you said he was given a steroid shot but there are many different steroids. Prednisolone pills are the ones usually given for IBD.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi! Maybe this most recent issue is not really connected to his previous problem since he is no longer throwing up anything. You say he is nauseous, but most cats that are nauseous aren't really interested in eating. Some cats will mistake nausea for hunger, though - but most of the time they will still throw up after eating, if there is a stomach/bowel issue. Does he eat more often than he used to?

Tbh, it sounds more like gagging to me. Did the vet check his mouth and teeth? Does he gag/retch while eating? Does he eat slower than he used to? The other consideration would be a growth in his throat this is bothering him. Those are the two areas that you might want to pursue.

I had an IBD cat that would do this

Wow! Just curious, your cat would retch or gag, but not vomit at all? I honestly had never heard of that before - so many other symptoms, but not that one.

 

[LTS3]

Sounds like possible IBD or other gastrointestinal issue. Ask your vet about these and to test for them. IBD is typically confirmed with a biopsy. Some people opt to do an ultrasound but it may not show much. An internal medicine vet may be more helpful than your current vet.

Does your cat take any medicines at home? Daily steroids and Cerenia (for anti-nausea) are often helpful for IBD and IBD-like symptoms. A novel protein diet is also helpful. You don't need prescription food. It's ok to disagree with the vet about food. There are commercial brands of limited ingredients diets you can feed instead. Chicken and fillers are often culprits for food issues so try to avoid those.

Small frequent meals may help prevent the vomiting of liquid.

 

[jm83]

I had an IBD cat that would do this and I too was at my wits end because I couldn't keep up with it money wise. A steroid did control his issue and he lived a healthy life for many years on a daily steroid pill. Do you have any cats only vet specialist in your area? I made the rounds with several vets and spent a lot of money, I finally went to a cats only vet and she was able to get him on the right track. IBD which this does sound like is frustrating. It is a diagnosis by elimination which is why it can get so expensive. There is no one right way to control it either. I know you said he was given a steroid shot but there are many different steroids. Prednisolone pills are the ones usually given for IBD.

Thanks so much for the advice! Yes, theres one cat’s only vet here. Maybe I’ll try them. He was given a shot of Depo Medrol and two shots of Cerenia. I’m also worried because they gave him the shots in between his shoulder blades and I read that’s bad. He has a bump there now that I’m freaking out about.

 

[jm83]

Hi! Maybe this most recent issue is not really connected to his previous problem since he is no longer throwing up anything. You say he is nauseous, but most cats that are nauseous aren't really interested in eating. Some cats will mistake nausea for hunger, though - but most of the time they will still throw up after eating, if there is a stomach/bowel issue. Does he eat more often than he used to?

Tbh, it sounds more like gagging to me. Did the vet check his mouth and teeth? Does he gag/retch while eating? Does he eat slower than he used to? The other consideration would be a growth in his throat this is bothering him. Those are the two areas that you might want to pursue.


Wow! Just curious, your cat would retch or gag, but not vomit at all? I honestly had never heard of that before - so many other symptoms, but not that one.

Thank you! I dunno, this vomiting has been pretty consistent since November (with a break for a couple months where we ‘managed’ it by giving him snacks when he’d smack his lips, then he wouldnt vomit.
That stopped working and he was vomiting up pools of liquid that progressively got smaller and smaller and now nothing at all comes up, but he’s vomiting more frequently than ever.

He doesnt eat more than he used to. If anything he’s a little less interested, he’s chubby and has always been food-centric.
I will definitely have the vet do a more thorough exam of mouth and teeth. The vet said he has some moderate dental disease, but that it that doesnt cause nausea.

He doesnt gag or retch when eating. He does turn his head from side to side when he smacks his lips, like theres something in his mouth, but the vet chalked it up to nausea.

He will smack his lips and then he’ll frantically smack them, and then he’ll vomit. I say vomit (even though nothing comes up) over retch/gag (although I dunno if that’s what’s happening) because he’ll heave heave heave and then ‘vomit’ but again, nothing comes up. He’ll do this in successions of 2-3 times per instance.

After, he seems to feel better, although the smackings been coming back sooner and sooner after ‘vomiting’ and repeatedly throughout the day/night.

 

[jm83]

Sounds like possible IBD or other gastrointestinal issue. Ask your vet about these and to test for them. IBD is typically confirmed with a biopsy. Some people opt to do an ultrasound but it may not show much. An internal medicine vet may be more helpful than your current vet.

Does your cat take any medicines at home? Daily steroids and Cerenia (for anti-nausea) are often helpful for IBD and IBD-like symptoms. A novel protein diet is also helpful. You don't need prescription food. It's ok to disagree with the vet about food. There are commercial brands of limited ingredients diets you can feed instead. Chicken and fillers are often culprits for food issues so try to avoid those.

Small frequent meals may help prevent the vomiting of liquid.

Thank you! I’m bringing him in to get bloodwork redone (last time was in Dec) and he had an ultrasound in Jan ($$$). Vet’s recommending another ultrasound, but I also heard theyre inconclusive for IBD. He also wants to do an endoscopy, but that’s even more invasive and also can be inconclusive

I dont think we’d do the biopsy since it’s such an invasive procedure, and I heard it’s basically looking for IBD or cancer, which is terrifying and I dont know if we’d put him on chemo.

I’m not sure if there are any internists around here but I’ll definitely look. I tried searching specialists but nothing came up, but maybe I’m not using the right words. I live in Wilmington, NC.

He’s really difficult to medicate consistently. He received a steroid shot of Depo Medrol a couple weeks ago, and I’m mixing in crushed up Cerenia tablets with his food right now (but it’s hard to give him consistent doses of anything). I tried the Royal Canin novel protein wet foods but he hates them for some reason. He eats Hills z/d prescription nuggets and also Fancy Feast pate cans. I’m definitely open to recommendations!

And yes, that’s essentially what we were doing a couple months ago, giving him small frequent meals to prevent the vomiting of liquid. Then it stopped working and he started vomiting mire frequently, but smaller puddles of liquid until now he vomits every day (multiple times a day) but nothing comes up.

Thanks again!

 

[FeebysOwner]

He will smack his lips and then he’ll frantically smack them, and then he’ll vomit. I say vomit (even though nothing comes up) over retch/gag (although I dunno if that’s what’s happening) because he’ll heave heave heave and then ‘vomit’ but again, nothing comes up. He’ll do this in successions of 2-3 times per instance...After, he seems to feel better, although the smackings been coming back sooner and sooner after ‘vomiting’ and repeatedly throughout the day/night.

And, the words finally came to me - dry heaving (vs. gagging)!! That's what he is doing! Here are a couple of articles on possible reasons for it, in case that might help any in terms of discussions with your vet.
Dry Heaving in Cats – Symptoms, Causes and Cures
Cat Dry Heaves Causes, Treatments | Symptoms of Dry Heaving in Feline

 

[cataholic07]

If your cat has IBD, he can not be on dry food, at all. He can't be on any wet food that has carrageenan or gums in it. All those are hard on the digestive system and can even increase the inflammation in the intestines. Switch to Rawz, Koha, Hounds and gatos, Instinct, Weruva, Tiki cat and be sure to feed 3-4 times a day. Get his blood tested for b12 levels and folate as well.

 

[LTS3]

Try these:

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find.vetspecialists.com

Specialized Care for Your Pet - Wilmington Animal Healthcare Veterinary Hospital

Our team consists of highly trained veterinarians who offer a full array of specialty services in various veterinary disciplines.

wilmingtonanimalhealthcare.com

Internal Medicine Services in Wilmington, NC | VCA Wrightsville Beach Animal Hospital VCA Animal Hospitals

Get exceptional Internal Medicine services from highly experienced & loving pet care professionals in Wilmington, NC. Visit VCA Wrightsville Beach Animal Hospital today.

vcahospitals.com

You can ask your vet to consult with an internal medicine vet as well. Most vet schools offer courtesy consults for vets.

Here's some info on IBD vs cancer:

IBD or Cancer? – IBDKitties

www.ibdkitties.net

My cat had a biopsy done even though the vet diagnosed the IBD with a simple abdominal palpation. The procedure was safe though expensive.

He’s really difficult to medicate consistently. He received a steroid shot of Depo Medrol a couple weeks ago, and I’m mixing in crushed up Cerenia tablets with his food right now (but it’s hard to give him consistent doses of anything). I tried the Royal Canin novel protein wet foods but he hates them for some reason. He eats Hills z/d prescription nuggets and also Fancy Feast pate cans. I’m definitely open to recommendations.

For pills, use something like Pill Pockets. Compounding the medicine into something like a flavored chew treat or transdermal gel are options. Cerenia is small enough to hide inside a Pill Pocket or other yummy treat. Beware: all the Pill Pocket varieties contain chicken which many IBD cats are super sensitive to. One single Pill Pocket gave my IBD cat diarrhea. I now use a bacon flavored chicken-free pill dough for his pills and do not feed him any chicken.

Novel proteins seem to work best for IBD and other sensitive tummy cats. Venison, rabbit, duck, even kangaroo are some you can try. A food that has few fillers is best. Rawz meets the criteria but it can be pricey. A 5.5 oz can may cost as much as $2.99 in some stores. Only independent pet stores and a few authorized online sites sell Rawz. See Where to Buy | RAWZ Amazon is not an authorized seller despite all the Rawz food you find there. You're dealing with third party sellers who are buying Rawz from somewhere and then selling it at a marked up price.

Other brands you can try:

BLUE Basics® Limited Ingredient Cat Food | Blue Buffalo
Limited Ingredient Diet - Grain Free Cat | Merrick Pet Care

Limited Ingredient Diet Paté

Moisture-rich, minimal ingredient grain free cat and dog wet food that provides the best nutrition for your pet.

kohapet.com

Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet | Instinct Pet Food
Grain Free Wet Recipes - NutriSource Pet Foods (not exactly an LID food but some of the canned are novel protein)

A home cooked or raw diet are also options. My IBD cat eats a commercial brand of raw food. There's s forum here on TCS with more info on those diets.

 

[jm83]

I had an IBD cat that would do this and I too was at my wits end because I couldn't keep up with it money wise. A steroid did control his issue and he lived a healthy life for many years on a daily steroid pill. Do you have any cats only vet specialist in your area? I made the rounds with several vets and spent a lot of money, I finally went to a cats only vet and she was able to get him on the right track. IBD which this does sound like is frustrating. It is a diagnosis by elimination which is why it can get so expensive. There is no one right way to control it either. I know you said he was given a steroid shot but there are many different steroids. Prednisolone pills are the ones usually given for IBD.

I think the vet said they're going to switch him to liquid Prednisolone, once the shot of Depo Medrol wears off.

 

[jm83]

If your cat has IBD, he can not be on dry food, at all. He can't be on any wet food that has carrageenan or gums in it. All those are hard on the digestive system and can even increase the inflammation in the intestines. Switch to Rawz, Koha, Hounds and gatos, Instinct, Weruva, Tiki cat and be sure to feed 3-4 times a day. Get his blood tested for b12 levels and folate as well.

The vet said the dry food was okay as long as he's drinking enough water. So confusing and so many food options! Out of those brands, which do you think are the top two? Thanks so much!

 

[jm83]

Try these:

http://[URL]https://find.vetspecial...ry-specialist/kathleen-aicher-dvm-dacvim-saim

[/URL]

http://[URL]https://wilmingtonanimalhealthcare.com/internal-medicine-a-hospitilization

[/URL]

http://[URL]https://vcahospitals.com/wrightsville-beach/services/primary-care/internal-medicine

[/URL]

You can ask your vet to consult with an internal medicine vet as well. Most vet schools offer courtesy consults for vets.

Here's some info on IBD vs cancer:

http://[URL]https://www.ibdkitties.net/ibd-or-cancer/

[/URL]

My cat had a biopsy done even though the vet diagnosed the IBD with a simple abdominal palpation. The procedure was safe though expensive.




For pills, use something like Pill Pockets. Compounding the medicine into something like a flavored chew treat or transdermal gel are options. Cerenia is small enough to hide inside a Pill Pocket or other yummy treat. Beware: all the Pill Pocket varieties contain chicken which many IBD cats are super sensitive to. One single Pill Pocket gave my IBD cat diarrhea. I now use a bacon flavored chicken-free pill dough for his pills and do not feed him any chicken.

Novel proteins seem to work best for IBD and other sensitive tummy cats. Venison, rabbit, duck, even kangaroo are some you can try. A food that has few fillers is best. Rawz meets the criteria but it can be pricey. A 5.5 oz can may cost as much as $2.99 in some stores. Only independent pet stores and a few authorized online sites sell Rawz. See Where to Buy | RAWZ Amazon is not an authorized seller despite all the Rawz food you find there. You're dealing with third party sellers who are buying Rawz from somewhere and then selling it at a marked up price.

Other brands you can try:

BLUE Basics® Limited Ingredient Cat Food | Blue Buffalo
Limited Ingredient Diet - Grain Free Cat | Merrick Pet Care

http://[URL]https://kohapet.com/collections/limited-ingredient-diet-pate

[/URL]
Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet | Instinct Pet Food
Grain Free Wet Recipes - NutriSource Pet Foods (not exactly an LID food but some of the canned are novel protein)

A home cooked or raw diet are also options. My IBD cat eats a commercial brand of raw food. There's s forum here on TCS with more info on those diets.

Thank you! I called one of the internal medicine drs you recommended; much appreciated!

I've read so much on IBD vs cancer and I've stressed myself out. I guess the biopsy is the only way to tell? It sounds like such an invasive procedure to end up with a best case scenario of a diagnosis of IBD, and worst case, with the worst news ever. I dont know if we'd want to put him through chemo. So stressful. He's never been put under for a surgery before, so I worry about that too.

I'll definitely look up Pill Pockets, I've never heard of them before! He haaates gel (I gave him a flavored gel for hairballs when they thought that might be the issue and he got so upset after I put it on his paw that he peed on our bed!)

Is it chicken itself that IBD cats cant handle, and anything with chicken in it or chicken flavored? Just curious how that works. We gave him a little piece of cooked chicken once from our dinner (no seasonings/sauces) and he vomited it up with some light colored blood in the bile.

As for the novel protein diets, I tried feeding him the Royal Canin novel protein wet food and he hated every one of them.

Another member recommended Rawz as well, I'll check that out.

Blue Buffalo - I heard somewhere that Blue Buffalo had a bunch of recalls and was actually a horrible brand. Have you heard anything about that?

I'll check out Merrick and Instinct and let you know how it goes! He's been eating Fancy Feast pate his whole life :/

What commercial brand of raw food is your cat on?

 

[jm83]

And, the words finally came to me - dry heaving (vs. gagging)!! That's what he is doing! Here are a couple of articles on possible reasons for it, in case that might help any in terms of discussions with your vet.
Dry Heaving in Cats – Symptoms, Causes and Cures
Cat Dry Heaves Causes, Treatments | Symptoms of Dry Heaving in Feline

Thank you! Yes, I guess it's a dry heaving, although it started out as vomiting and now it looks the same when he does it, but just nothing comes up! Like he'll heave heave heave and open his mouth wide and stick his tongue out as if something's coming out, but there's nothing.