I have a 17 year old domestic short hair tortoise shell that has me at my wits end and in a difficult and frustrating situation. About 5 months ago she started losing weight. She also became extremely picky about food, she would refuse almost everything.
I have been to the vet numerous times over the last 5 months. They have done a lot of bloodwork and even xrays. (fortunately, I have pet insurance so the out of pocket expense has been not that bad!) She has chronic kidney disease and I'm doing subcutaneous fluids at home for that. She also has hyperthyroidism and is on methimazole transdermal. The initial diagnosis was hyperthyroidism and the expectation was after getting the meds she would gain weight. That has not happened despite the meds bringing down the thyroid levels. The vet also recommended polyethylene glycol in case constipation was an issue. Her B12 was slightly low so I'm also doing injections for that. The vet has suggested nausea might be the issue and have given Cerenia injections a few times but that didn't make a difference. The latest GI panel has shown signs of “minor inflammation” that the vet didn’t think could be causing the issue, but I’ve insisted we try steroids. I’m hoping to start that medication this week.
I have tried almost every brand of soft and hard food I can get my hands on. I've thrown out hundreds of dollars of opened canned cat food. She will eat something new for a few days and then that goes on the list of "I don't want that" Right now she is skin and bones because she won't eat. We just got back from the vet and she's still losing weight. She's lost over 40% of her body weight and she was not overweight to start with.
I've tried expensive food, cheap food, food for older cats, food for kittens, food for sensitive stomachs, specialty prescription GI food. She was really into the Purina Hydra Care but that is off the list now. I've tried every flavor and protein source and every consistency - loaf, pate, chunks etc.
She will want food and react to the sound of me making it and will come for it. She very, very cautiously approaches the food, cautiously looks at it, smells it, takes a lick or two and says "nope don't want that". The cautious approach to the food made me think it was a cause of pain and made me think there could be an oral or dental issue. But she will eat canned salmon and loves canned salmon water. She will eat the entire amount in one go. The vet has also ruled out any mouth or dental issues.
When we do find a food she really likes, she ends up vomiting after a few days of it and we start the cycle of trying to find a new food all over again. There has been some dry food she really seemed to like and would prefer over wet food, but after a few days will vomit the dry food almost immediately after eating it. The kibbles are still basically dry when it comes up.
This poor cat seems to be wasting away before my eyes. Here's the real issue for me - all her behavior, habits, routines, interactions are completely normal and have not changed in anyway. She does not act sick or in pain in any way. She even keeps wanting to go outside on our deck which is her favorite thing to do (we have her on a leash and keep a close eye so she can't get into anything)
She has a wonderful personality and is extremely affectionate. She was a rescue I adopted 17 years ago and I feel I owe it to her to explore every possibility.
I'm hoping for any advice or anything else I can ask the vet to check for. My vet is a cat specialist and only treats cats, but can't seem to get to the root of the problem and seems to have run out of ideas. Thanks in advance for your help!
I have been to the vet numerous times over the last 5 months. They have done a lot of bloodwork and even xrays. (fortunately, I have pet insurance so the out of pocket expense has been not that bad!) She has chronic kidney disease and I'm doing subcutaneous fluids at home for that. She also has hyperthyroidism and is on methimazole transdermal. The initial diagnosis was hyperthyroidism and the expectation was after getting the meds she would gain weight. That has not happened despite the meds bringing down the thyroid levels. The vet also recommended polyethylene glycol in case constipation was an issue. Her B12 was slightly low so I'm also doing injections for that. The vet has suggested nausea might be the issue and have given Cerenia injections a few times but that didn't make a difference. The latest GI panel has shown signs of “minor inflammation” that the vet didn’t think could be causing the issue, but I’ve insisted we try steroids. I’m hoping to start that medication this week.
I have tried almost every brand of soft and hard food I can get my hands on. I've thrown out hundreds of dollars of opened canned cat food. She will eat something new for a few days and then that goes on the list of "I don't want that" Right now she is skin and bones because she won't eat. We just got back from the vet and she's still losing weight. She's lost over 40% of her body weight and she was not overweight to start with.
I've tried expensive food, cheap food, food for older cats, food for kittens, food for sensitive stomachs, specialty prescription GI food. She was really into the Purina Hydra Care but that is off the list now. I've tried every flavor and protein source and every consistency - loaf, pate, chunks etc.
She will want food and react to the sound of me making it and will come for it. She very, very cautiously approaches the food, cautiously looks at it, smells it, takes a lick or two and says "nope don't want that". The cautious approach to the food made me think it was a cause of pain and made me think there could be an oral or dental issue. But she will eat canned salmon and loves canned salmon water. She will eat the entire amount in one go. The vet has also ruled out any mouth or dental issues.
When we do find a food she really likes, she ends up vomiting after a few days of it and we start the cycle of trying to find a new food all over again. There has been some dry food she really seemed to like and would prefer over wet food, but after a few days will vomit the dry food almost immediately after eating it. The kibbles are still basically dry when it comes up.
This poor cat seems to be wasting away before my eyes. Here's the real issue for me - all her behavior, habits, routines, interactions are completely normal and have not changed in anyway. She does not act sick or in pain in any way. She even keeps wanting to go outside on our deck which is her favorite thing to do (we have her on a leash and keep a close eye so she can't get into anything)
She has a wonderful personality and is extremely affectionate. She was a rescue I adopted 17 years ago and I feel I owe it to her to explore every possibility.
I'm hoping for any advice or anything else I can ask the vet to check for. My vet is a cat specialist and only treats cats, but can't seem to get to the root of the problem and seems to have run out of ideas. Thanks in advance for your help!
