Please help! Stuck Hairball, IV, and Low Energy Please help!

[Dewey]

My friends cat has been to the vet twice this month. He was doing fine the first day. Eating and acting like his regular self. Then all the sudden he wasn't doing so good. My friend got him to the vet and they put him on IV's. They watched him for a while until he could go home. He was doing much better then it happened again. He was taken to the vet and the vets tried to figure out what was wrong. They couldn't figure it out, but they are guessing that a hairball got stuck. (He is a very fluffy cat with lots of fur.) and that it's probably blocking something. He was able to go home and spends most of his day resting. I asked my friend if she brushes him so that she can get the excess hair. That way he doesn't have to ingest so much. Making it easier for him to get rid of the hairball if it isn't that big. She said she does, but that he also has lots a lot of weight he was about 20lbs and when he came home he was only 16lbs. Which means he lost 4lbs just sitting there at the vet. He won't eat any of his favorite foods and my friend is really worried about him.

If anyone you have any advice on what to do, please let me know!

Thank you!

 

[FeebysOwner]

Was there any blood work done (CBC, Chemistry panel, T4)? If not, your friend needs to find a more reliable vet who will take blood and do some other testing, such as an x-ray to start off with. There is no way to know for sure if this is a hairball, or something else until a vet does more evaluation. And, the vet is certainly remiss if they think it is a hairball blocking something without suggesting corrective action.

If he truly has lost 4 pounds in such a short period of time, something is seriously wrong.

Is he eating anything at all? This cat can't go on too long without eating, or it will just compound his issues.

 

[Dewey]

He was been eating, but only very little. I will text my friend and ask her and let you know ASAP.

 

[Dewey]

This is what she texted me back. Seem like he is improving which is good.

"They got his fever under control and his white countdown. Yes they have done so many x-rays and blood test multiple times that's why I am into this cat thousands of dollars. But He hadn't shown any improvement until the last few days he's thrown up a few hairballs and then he's had explosive diarrhea. One of the times it had green chunks coloring it (I know too much TMI) but ever since then, even though he still has diarrhea, he's back to his good old usual self eating again, being highly dramatic, and wanting to pet and be wherever I am."

 

[FeebysOwner]

Seems to me there is a lot more going on than just a hairball, and that your friend knows a lot more than she shared with you or that you originally shared with us.

The fever and high white blood count indicates a lot more than a hairball issue. Hopefully, now that those things are better under control, the diarrhea will subside too. Glad to hear he is eating.

If your friend truly is looking for thoughts/input, I would suggest she join TCS, and then tell her story with details, including test/results, etc. I know you are trying to help her, but enough is going on with her cat that you really shouldn't be put in the position of taking information from her bit by bit and then sharing it here, only to have to go back and share with her whatever is said to you here. The back and forth, over and over again, will not likely get anyone anywhere, or at least not in any timely manner.

 

[Dewey]

Yes, I agree that the back and forth will be tricky. I will let her know about this site and see if she wants to join.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Is his diarrhea going away? Hope he is doing better.

 

[Dewey]

As far as I know his diarrhea is gone. He's acting more like himself. Chattering and making sure he is being seen

 

[FeebysOwner]

Glad to hear it!!

 

[Dewey]

So I told my friend about this site.
Update
Her cat was doing fine. Acting like the drama king he is. After a couple of day however, he was hiding and when she found him he had a fever. So she took him to the vet and then ran some tests. Nothing showed up. They think it might be an autoimmune disease. They gave him some medicine. I don't remember what it is called though