Endoscopy

[gomie]

Congrats!

Betty started mirtazapine, ondansetron, and famotidine (she may or may not need this one.) She’s eating so much better. I’m tempted to give this a try and think about endoscopy later. But I know from Krista that mirtazapine can lose efficacy and that just having Betty eating again doesn’t address the cause of the inflammation. So I will be calling around to find her an endoscopy appointment. It seems like a lot to put her through. But I’d rather know than not know. I’d rather do it now while maybe she doesn’t need it than be on the spot looking for an endoscopy appointment when she needs it and still be subject to long wait times.

So happy to hear about Gomie. Keep it up, little guy!

Thank you for the encouragement!

I'm glad to hear that Betty is eating better. I know exactly what you mean about wanting to get the endoscopy done now rather than later. You're right, it can be difficult to get an endoscopy scheduled on the books in a timely manner. There is a small voice of doubt in the back of my mind that keeps popping up every now and then, but I'm going to trust our specialist's opinion. I just don't want to find myself in a position of possibly needing an endoscopy again and having to wait weeks once again. So I totally, totally feel where you're coming from. You're an amazing kitty parent and you're doing what's best for your baby! Betty is a blessed girl.

 

[fionasmom]

This is great news for Gomez! He may have a URI, but those are usually handled without too much problem, especially since you are on top of his care. Allergies can be a little harder to figure out, but it is still better than something more serious. How nice he is making the bed again with you!

I hope that Betty continues to improve. You will make the right decision for her about the endoscopy.

 

[gomie]

Based on the success of the broad spectrum dewormer for Gomez, our regular vet is recommending that our other kitties (Rudy & Zsa Zsa) have a round as well. Gomez is still exhibiting cold symptoms, so the vet is also ordering antibiotics for the crew. These kids better be in tip top shape!

 

[cat nap]

Another question: Is it okay to crush up pills and put it in their wet food? Like, will he absorb the pill just as well or does that somehow lessen the effect of the pill? I ask because giving him pills is a MAJOR MAJOR challenge. I have the scratches right now to prove it (it was an accident when he was trying to break free of his swaddle). If I could do that, it would be a lifesaver. I did it last night and it worked perfectly, but then I questioned if the pills would be as effective.

Based on the success of the broad spectrum dewormer for Gomez, our regular vet is recommending that our other kitties (Rudy & Zsa Zsa) have a round as well. Gomez is still exhibiting cold symptoms, so the vet is also ordering antibiotics for the crew. These kids better be in tip top shape!

Your last sentence just made me laugh...because "Yes"...all the cats better stay well...and in good shape.

It's actually great that the Vet Specialist, that you took your Gomez to,...had the experience or forethought,...to try out the broad spectrum dewormer.
I wonder what made him choose that course of action.
What ever it was, he sounds amazing, for trying this first.

Could you ask your regular Vet...if trying a course of L-Lysine ...and sending home some probiotics...would be useful for your Gomez, or any other cat that is exhibiting cold symptoms..and actually needs antibiotics.
(I know I have read that lysine is controversial, and may not do anything, but it's always good to ask your Vet.)

I also wonder if the 'broad spectrum dewormer'...can be causing any 'coughs, or sneezing'...depending on how strong it is.
I would ask the regular Vet about this, too.

(running a hot bath, or hot shower, and taking Gomez inside the bathroom, to sit with him in the room, for about 5-10 minutes may help him with any phlegm, or dryness in the throat.)
Hopefully, your Gomez likes to drink water, too, from any water dishes.

Many medicines can be compounded into flavored treats, oils, liquids, and in some cases transdermal gels.

Along with the excellent and helpful information from daftcat75...
I found that these videos from 'Fundamentally Feline' are really worth watching.
Especially, if you have to give medications to cats.

Good Luck with all your fur crew.
Sending mega Health Vibes your way...especially for gorgeous Gomez.

 

[daftcat75]

Your last sentence just made me laugh...because "Yes"...all the cats better stay well...and in good shape.

It's actually great that the Vet Specialist, that you took your Gomez to,...had the experience or forethought,...to try out the broad spectrum dewormer.
I wonder what made him choose that course of action.
What ever it was, he sounds amazing, for trying this first.

Could you ask your regular Vet...if trying a course of L-Lysine ...and sending home some probiotics...would be useful for your Gomez, or any other cat that is exhibiting cold symptoms..and actually needs antibiotics.
(I know I have read that lysine is controversial, and may not do anything, but it's always good to ask your Vet.)

I also wonder if the 'broad spectrum dewormer'...can be causing any 'coughs, or sneezing'...depending on how strong it is.
I would ask the regular Vet about this, too.

(running a hot bath, or hot shower, and taking Gomez inside the bathroom, to sit with him in the room, for about 5-10 minutes may help him with any phlegm, or dryness in the throat.)
Hopefully, your Gomez likes to drink water, too, from any water dishes.

Along with the excellent and helpful information from daftcat75...
I found that these videos from 'Fundamentally Feline' are really worth watching.
Especially, if you have to give medications to cats.

Good Luck with all your fur crew.
Sending mega Health Vibes your way...especially for gorgeous Gomez.

I use the second video now. Betty loves the Hills A/D food which I mix with the I/D for her regular meals. But for meds, I will use pure A/D. Betty takes famotidine and ondansetron. I quarter each of those pills and repack them in the smallest gel cap, size 5. It comes out to about the size of a Tic Tac (breath mint.) I smear that gel cap with A/D and put it on the carpet. The carpet is essential. It minimizes (but doesn’t completely eliminate the lick and flick. For that, I just make sure I have enough A/D for a few tries. I have also found that the smaller I can make that gel cap (push the ends in tighter), the less likely she will lick the food off and flick the pill. Whatever is left of that med meal (usually about 10 grams), I will let her have as a treat and chaser for the pill once I’m satisfied she didn’t leave the pill on the carpet. Because she likes the A/D so much, I can usually mix in a powder supplement like a probiotic with little refusal.

 

[gomie]

Just checking in to let you all know that Gomie has been doing well! Knock on wood. What a rollercoaster. I appreciate all of your support and encouragement. This community is so lovely.

 

[fionasmom]

Keep us posted! Glad to hear that Gomie is doing well!

 

[gomie]

Hi there! Just checking in once again to let you know that Gomez is still doing well. We count our blessings every day that we found a solution before paying a lot of money for the endoscopy. Fingers crossed he maintains his good health!

 

[cat nap]

Hi there! Just checking in once again to let you know that Gomez is still doing well. We count our blessings every day that we found a solution before paying a lot of money for the endoscopy. Fingers crossed he maintains his good health!

Excellent update!
Fingers, toes, and paws crossed, here, too,...that your Gomez continues to be well.
I still find it amazing that the Specialist recommended a broad spectrum dewormer, first.
I wish that every Specialist was as good as the one you went to.

G gomie , can I ask you if you still feed your Gomez, according to the list of possible allergies that he may have?
Are there certain foods that you stay away from?
I am just curious as to how accurate, in your opinion, that list would be?

 

[gomie]

Excellent update!
Fingers, toes, and paws crossed, here, too,...that your Gomez continues to be well.
I still find it amazing that the Specialist recommended a broad spectrum dewormer, first.
I wish that every Specialist was as good as the one you went to.

G gomie , can I ask you if you still feed your Gomez, according to the list of possible allergies that he may have?
Are there certain foods that you stay away from?
I am just curious as to how accurate, in your opinion, that list would be?

Thank you for the support! We are so grateful that the specialist recommended the broad spectrum dewormer as well!

I've still been trying to stick to more novel proteins, like the rabbit and duck for Gomez. He's had a few cans of chicken-containing wet food here and there and there haven't been any negative side effects, but I don't want to push it too much. I guess I'm still nervous about encountering issues again.

Ever since someone here on this website mentioned to me that the allergy tests are considered somewhat unreliable, I've kind of disregarded the results, to be honest. I don't take the allergies into account, really, and there haven't been any issues at all. I've just been leaning toward novel proteins out of an abundance of caution.

Like I said, I'm still hesitant to get too comfortable with his good health. Cautiously optimistic, I guess you could say. Things got kinda scary there for awhile!

We still make sure to weigh him weekly. We've actually started weighing all three of the cats weekly, which was a good routine for us to get into. I think we picked up some good tips from Gomez's health scare and we're committed to maintaining them.

 

[fionasmom]

I hope that your hard work continues to pay off. Please let us know how Gomez continues on.

 

[daftcat75]

G gomie It doesn't look like I asked you or if you mentioned it. Did Gomez have an ultrasound? I'm assuming he did because it would seem odd to leap directly to an endoscopy. But I don't see any mention of it. On the one hand, it would be incredible if I could simply give Betty a dewormer and skip the endoscopy. On the other hand, she's had two ultrasounds now and they both show inflammation. I'd hate to ignore that.

 

[gomie]

G gomie It doesn't look like I asked you or if you mentioned it. Did Gomez have an ultrasound? I'm assuming he did because it would seem odd to leap directly to an endoscopy. But I don't see any mention of it. On the one hand, it would be incredible if I could simply give Betty a dewormer and skip the endoscopy. On the other hand, she's had two ultrasounds now and they both show inflammation. I'd hate to ignore that.

That's an interesting thought. It's been a minute since my convo with our vet, but from what I remember, her logic was that the ultrasound would basically only give us enough information to determine whether or not to do the endoscopy - meaning we'd see if there was inflammation or not. She made it sound like, based on Gomez's symptoms at the time, she felt like the ultrasound would be a waste of time and money and that the endoscopy would give us the real diagnosis. And since the dewormer seemed to cease all of the symptoms, that was the end of that trail.

 

[daftcat75]

That's an interesting thought. It's been a minute since my convo with our vet, but from what I remember, her logic was that the ultrasound would basically only give us enough information to determine whether or not to do the endoscopy - meaning we'd see if there was inflammation or not. She made it sound like, based on Gomez's symptoms at the time, she felt like the ultrasound would be a waste of time and money and that the endoscopy would give us the real diagnosis. And since the dewormer seemed to cease all of the symptoms, that was the end of that trail.

So it’s possible there was never inflammation in his gut but rather the worms. In my case, Betty’s been dewormed multiple times at the shelter and her poop was checked back in Jan in our first vet visit. We have two ultrasounds now showing inflammation. I will proceed with endo because the not knowing would kill us.

 

[gomie]

So it’s possible there was never inflammation in his gut but rather the worms. In my case, Betty’s been dewormed multiple times at the shelter and her poop was checked back in Jan in our first vet visit. We have two ultrasounds now showing inflammation. I will proceed with endo because the not knowing would kill us.

I'm so sorry that Betty is still having issues. How has she been lately? I'm hoping she has more good days than bad ones. You're a great parent to show her so much love and be willing to make that investment. Betty is a loved girl.

 

[daftcat75]

I'm so sorry that Betty is still having issues. How has she been lately? I'm hoping she has more good days than bad ones. You're a great parent to show her so much love and be willing to make that investment. Betty is a loved girl.

According to her ultrasound last week, she still has inflammation. But she’s been doing really well. We had got the hairballs out to about two to two and half weeks. But with the heat and a change in her supplements (we finished her poop pills but didn’t restart her probiotics), she’s had a couple in the last two weeks. But all in all, she’s come a long way. I’m sort of in a holding pattern until after the endo. But then I think I’ll try some better food with her and/or reduce/eliminate her meds. I don’t know that the famotidine is doing anything anymore. I don’t know if she still needs the ondansetron or mirtazapine. But I also don’t want to risk a backslide until all the $$$$ tests have been completed.

 

[gomie]

Hi there, I just wanted to pop and in and let everyone know that Gomez is in good health and he doesn't get sick anymore.

I know I rely a lot on these message board posts, so I wanted to let anyone else that may stumble upon this post know that he is still doing well.

 

[fionasmom]

Thank you for updating us! Members often ask about resolutions of the various threads, so this is a great help. So glad to hear that Gomez is in good health now!