I have a 3 yr old shorthair female, named Kava. Have had her since a kitten. She is indoor-only, and I have no other pets. I usually feed Iams Hairball formula, and she has done well on this. About a month or so ago, I picked up some Iams Multi-cat because it was on sale and started mixing it with her regular food. She started sneezing when she ate, but I didn't think much of it.
She usually didn't vomit, but after the new food was introduced vomiting increased to a couple times a week. Last week (8/30 Weds), she vomited while I was at work, then again about 2am. Big hairball in the night vomit.
I didn't think much of it & fed her as usual Thurs a.m. When I got home from work, she didn't ask to be fed as usual; laid in the tub by herself; not social. When this persisted, I took her to the vet on Sat (9/2). He gave her a laxative gel and Amoxicillin in case she had an infection. Additionally, I switched her back to the Hairball formula, and have also offered tuna to try to interest her in eating more. Unfortunately, she hasn't improved much. Here's current symptoms:
- not very interested in eating; but will eat small amounts when I hand-feed
- has not vomited since Weds (8/30)
- drinks water & pees fine
- small bowel mov'ts every couple days, but none since Weds (9/6)
- licking paws
- wants to lay still by herself in another room (unusual behavior); lethargic
- no playing (usually very playful)
- shaking head and scratching right ear (this has increased since Sat)
- reluctant to move around; when she does, she runs quick w/her back feet like she's trying to get the discomfort over quickly
- she lets me rub her belly (very unusual), and doesn't seem sensitive in any one place, altho she's occasionally complained
I called the vet again on Tuesday (9/5) because she hadn't had a stool since Sunday. He wasn't too concerned, said to continue the meds and call if it persisted. She then had a stool that evening.
I would welcome any suggestions. Is it normal for constipation or a negative reaction to a new food to take this long to pass? Should I suspect some other problem? How long to wait before I go back to the vet? It's expensive, and I don't want to rush back too soon if I just need to wait for the problem to pass ....
Unsure what to do ...
Cresanna
She usually didn't vomit, but after the new food was introduced vomiting increased to a couple times a week. Last week (8/30 Weds), she vomited while I was at work, then again about 2am. Big hairball in the night vomit.
I didn't think much of it & fed her as usual Thurs a.m. When I got home from work, she didn't ask to be fed as usual; laid in the tub by herself; not social. When this persisted, I took her to the vet on Sat (9/2). He gave her a laxative gel and Amoxicillin in case she had an infection. Additionally, I switched her back to the Hairball formula, and have also offered tuna to try to interest her in eating more. Unfortunately, she hasn't improved much. Here's current symptoms:
- not very interested in eating; but will eat small amounts when I hand-feed
- has not vomited since Weds (8/30)
- drinks water & pees fine
- small bowel mov'ts every couple days, but none since Weds (9/6)
- licking paws
- wants to lay still by herself in another room (unusual behavior); lethargic
- no playing (usually very playful)
- shaking head and scratching right ear (this has increased since Sat)
- reluctant to move around; when she does, she runs quick w/her back feet like she's trying to get the discomfort over quickly
- she lets me rub her belly (very unusual), and doesn't seem sensitive in any one place, altho she's occasionally complained
I called the vet again on Tuesday (9/5) because she hadn't had a stool since Sunday. He wasn't too concerned, said to continue the meds and call if it persisted. She then had a stool that evening.
I would welcome any suggestions. Is it normal for constipation or a negative reaction to a new food to take this long to pass? Should I suspect some other problem? How long to wait before I go back to the vet? It's expensive, and I don't want to rush back too soon if I just need to wait for the problem to pass ....
Unsure what to do ...
Cresanna