16yo female cat, spayed, otherwise healthy until two weeks ago.
Two weeks ago I noticed her straining when pooping and some hard poop found outside the litterbox. I assumed constipation and made an appt with her vet, but first available appt wasnt for two weeks out. She was eating/drinking and behaving normally otherwise so I thought it was fine to wait.
Two days ago she suddenly started having diarrhea multiple times, refusing food or water, acting lethargic. I was able to get a same day emergency appt with our vet and rushed her in. I assumed constipation was still the root issue and maybe she had a blockage.
Vet examined her, felt no stool or abnormalities in her colon on exam. Did not feel constipation was the root issue and said she could be having general motility issues because of her age, but that she felt "clear". On exam she had a slightly elevated temperature, a noticable heart murmur, and obviously lethargic. Vet gave injection of a nausea med, an anti-inflammatory med, and took blood work. We will not have blood work results until Monday (tomorrow). Vet sent us home with the nausea and anti-inflammatory med in pill form to continue to give to her for a couple more days... I have enough to last until Monday then I am out.
After the vet she seemed to be 75% back to normal and was eating and drinking again, looking alert and acting relatively normal. I've been continuing her meds as prescribed and it seems that she's slowly getting worse again. Diarrhea and lethargy is creeping back in despite the meds.
I'm expecting to get a call from the vet with blood work results tomorrow. One thing I'm not clear on is, at what point should I seek emergency care for her rather than wait for my regular vet to give me results? She is my baby so this feels like an emergency to me, but I don't want to rush her in for more poking and prodding if I should just be patient for the blood test results.
Any ideas of what might be the culprit would also help. I know this is kinda vague but it's all I've got to go on right now. It feels very sudden and that she suddenly got very sick about 48 hours ago and I'm so worried about her.
Two weeks ago I noticed her straining when pooping and some hard poop found outside the litterbox. I assumed constipation and made an appt with her vet, but first available appt wasnt for two weeks out. She was eating/drinking and behaving normally otherwise so I thought it was fine to wait.
Two days ago she suddenly started having diarrhea multiple times, refusing food or water, acting lethargic. I was able to get a same day emergency appt with our vet and rushed her in. I assumed constipation was still the root issue and maybe she had a blockage.
Vet examined her, felt no stool or abnormalities in her colon on exam. Did not feel constipation was the root issue and said she could be having general motility issues because of her age, but that she felt "clear". On exam she had a slightly elevated temperature, a noticable heart murmur, and obviously lethargic. Vet gave injection of a nausea med, an anti-inflammatory med, and took blood work. We will not have blood work results until Monday (tomorrow). Vet sent us home with the nausea and anti-inflammatory med in pill form to continue to give to her for a couple more days... I have enough to last until Monday then I am out.
After the vet she seemed to be 75% back to normal and was eating and drinking again, looking alert and acting relatively normal. I've been continuing her meds as prescribed and it seems that she's slowly getting worse again. Diarrhea and lethargy is creeping back in despite the meds.
I'm expecting to get a call from the vet with blood work results tomorrow. One thing I'm not clear on is, at what point should I seek emergency care for her rather than wait for my regular vet to give me results? She is my baby so this feels like an emergency to me, but I don't want to rush her in for more poking and prodding if I should just be patient for the blood test results.
Any ideas of what might be the culprit would also help. I know this is kinda vague but it's all I've got to go on right now. It feels very sudden and that she suddenly got very sick about 48 hours ago and I'm so worried about her.