No appetite

[hannahgirl]

My cat is 13 years old and she was put on antibiotics for a urinary tract infection. She has been on them for about 1 week, but today she hasn't eaten. She sleeps all day long, she hasn't leff the spot. Could this be the medication? I'm really worried. At first I thought maybe she was reacting because we had an earthquake nearby and sometimes animals react to that, but then I started to think perhaps it's the medication. She recently had blood work done for her annual exam, perhaps two weeks ago, and nothing negative showed up except for the urinary infection. I have sent this same information to her vet and hope she replies soon. I panic when it comes to my babies.

 

[stephanietx]

It's very possible that the medication is upsetting her tummy and she's reluctant to eat.  What is the antibiotic?  Is it Clavamox?  That's known to cause some tummy and vomiting issues in cats, but it's a good med if the cat will tolerate it.  On the flipside, it's very important that she eat.  Try warming up some canned food for her and offering her that.  Or, get some plain meat baby food, chicken or turkey, and warm it up a bit to entice her to eat.  Lastly, if she won't eat at all, you'll have to syringe feed her.  You can pick up a syringe at the pharmacy or feed store.

 

[hannahgirl]

Thank you so much. I hadn't thought about syringe feeding her! It's Orbax. Has that been known to do the same things for some kitties? I just tried to put some warmed cat food near her, and she didn't even sniff at it. Most unusual.

 

[stephanietx]

I found this on the Drs Foster & Smith website pertaining to Orbax side effects.  http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11172

What side effects may be seen when taking Orbax?
May rarely see lack of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea at high doses. More rarely, may see seizures in animals with central nervous system (CNS) disorders, or other signs such as depression, dizziness, nervousness, or other behavior changes. If you observe any of these signs, contact your veterinarian.

At high doses, some antibiotics like Orbax may cause altered vision or blindness in cats. If your cat shows any sign of vision problems, including dilated (enlarged) pupils or any change in behavior, contact your veterinarian immediately.

If your pet experiences an allergic reaction to the medication, signs may include facial swelling, hives, scratching, sudden onset of diarrhea, vomiting, shock, seizures, pale gums, cold limbs, or coma. If you observe any of these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Sounds like she might be experiencing some side effects.  I'd monitor her another day and if she doesn't start eating, call the vet and ask for a different medication. 

 

[hannahgirl]

Thanks so much, Stephanie. Her Vet will be in office tomorrow morning and I will take her in, if necessary and get this taken care of. Reading those side effects was scary, she does seem like she might be depressed.

 

[hannahgirl]

I forgot to ask you - she hasn't eaten or drank any water since she has barely moved all day. So today I gave her a syringe full of water. Should I give her another? I'm not sure how much she needs.

 

[stephanietx]

Yes, continue to give her water as that will help her get the medicine out of her system.  Did you take her to the vet?

 

[wasabipea]

For whatever it's worth, I'll second the baby food. It's pretty much my go-to when my girl-kitty has bad eating days. Gerbers beef, lightly warmed in the microwave is her favorite. I also use their ham, even though the sodium may be an issue.

It's drippy when warmed, so it must have a lot of water in it.

Just make sure no ingredients like vague "broth" which could contain garlic and onions.

Also, Fancy feast makes ans "appetizer" (not fortified) - their skipjack tuna, or shredded chicken (also lightly warmed) appeals my to my cat when she's not feeling well.

 

[becky mcbeth]

Please do not wait until tomorrow for the vet, cats can develop hepatic lipidosis if they don't eat food for 24-48 hours and it can be fatal. Unfortunately, I found all of the information to late. If she will not eat canned food or baby food she needs to be syringe fed every 2-3 hours to make sure she gets calories in. If the regular vet has someone covering for them pleae see that person or take her to animal hospital.

 

[wasabipea]

 
Please do not wait until tomorrow for the vet, cats can develop hepatic lipidosis if they don't eat food for 24-48 hours and it can be fatal. Unfortunately, I found all of the information to late. If she will not eat canned food or baby food she needs to be syringe fed every 2-3 hours to make sure she gets calories in. If the regular vet has someone covering for them pleae see that person or take her to animal hospital.

 Second that - it's also called fatty liver disease and can be deadly. If the cat is truly eating nothing at all - take her in, even to an emergency clinic if you have to.