Struggling to help my cat and worrying about his future

[CS1991]

Thank you - that's such helpful information. I'm glad to hear your kitty is managing those conditions well Are those all things that can be detected by bloodwork and routine exams? Or do you recommend more advanced testing after this thyroid stabilizes? I'm just thinking now whether I should give him more time or take him to the neurologist Wednesday. It'll be 3 weeks since the hyperthyroid meds at that point. The possibility of a neurological issue is scaring me but I want to do what's best for him.

 

[silent meowlook]

Hi. That is hard to say. If this kitty was mine, I would keep the exam appointment with the neurologist, but hold off on the CT scan for now. Unless the neurologist convinced me otherwise. I think seeing specialists is so important when it comes to complicated cases like this. I truly do not believe regular vets have the skills knowledge or training y to manage difficult multiple problems.

Trust your gut feelings in this. While the neurologist will recommend a CT scan because that is what they do, the exam will get specialized eyes on him and give you a chance to ask questions. You are not committed to doing the CT scan just because they suggest it.

Questions I would ask are:
What information will we obtain from this?
How would the information change our treatment plan?
What do they think this could be?
Have other cats presented with the same symptoms? If do, what was the outcome?

 

[CS1991]

Thank you! You've been so helpful. I'm going to keep the specialist appointment and go from there.

 

[CS1991]

He seemed to be doing okay today and started hiding again tonight Feeling nervous that we might have to take him in earlier

 

[CS1991]

The neurologist appointment is tomorrow and I'm feeling increasingly nervous of what is going to come from it. He hasn't been himself and it's shattering my heart. I want to know what's wrong but I am also terrified and sick to my stomach. Please send him prayers.

 

[fionasmom]

Please let us know what you find out.

 

[CS1991]

We had Mason's neurologist appointment today and came back hopeful. The neurologist said he suspects an inner ear infection and gave us antibiotics to see if those help him. If they don't we can consider going the MRI route in a week or so if we don't see improvements. Hoping this solves his issue. It's been a long three weeks.

 

[fionasmom]

That is hopeful, at least!

 

[CS1991]

Thank you for the support - I've been a crazy cat mama this past little while

 

[fionasmom]

a crazy cat mama

There are a lot of us here...

 

[CS1991]

Hi everyone, I hope I am not too much with these updates. I am just really having a hard time. It is now one month of Mason's symptoms first appearing. It's been 5 days since he started the antibiotics for his inner ear infection and things haven't improved. It has been a mission to get him to eat now as he really struggles to open his mouth, chew and swallow. He's done better with dry food here and there but I worry about hydration. He was pacing around his water today, pawing at the bowl and kept trying to drink and giving up. I could tell he was thirsty but struggling. I tried everything to try and help him, without success. I finally gave him gabapentin but he started foaming at the moth after. He's also been salivating quite a bit and some diahhrea. Not sure if it's because of the antibiotic he started 5 days ago or got (clavaseptin). I don't know what to do - is this a sign the antibiotic is not working? Should I be taking him back to the vet? Mine seems to have run out of options for us. The next step according to the neurologist would be the MRI and I was really hoping to avoid it please help, anything would be appreciated at this point

 

[fionasmom]

As I am following this, the neurologist gave you the medication, so I would call him and report what is happening. I certainly understand wanting to avoid the MRI if possible; maybe the neurologist has another option temporarily? I am concerned that there is a struggle to eat and drink, along with some general discomfort, and it should be reported to someone. If your original vet is really out of options, I would continue with the neurologist.

 

[CS1991]

As I am following this, the neurologist gave you the medication, so I would call him and report what is happening. I certainly understand wanting to avoid the MRI if possible; maybe the neurologist has another option temporarily? I am concerned that there is a struggle to eat and drink, along with some general discomfort, and it should be reported to someone. If your original vet is really out of options, I would continue with the neurologist.

Thank you! I did end up speaking with the neurologist. He is concerned that the medication hasn't started to help by now. He gave us a new antibiotic to try and if we don't see improvement in a week then it sounds like further diagnostics will be needed

 

[fionasmom]

I agree with this, and am certainly not trying to force your hand or spend your money on an MRI. You are trying very hard and I know that this is upsetting and frustrating for both of you.

 

[CS1991]

Thank you I'll do whatever it takes to help him. Appreciate the support

 

[CS1991]

Some new developments happened. We suspected Mason was having a bad reaction to clavaseptin (diahhrea and he wasn't that interested in food). He just started Antirobe last night but he was on Antirobe for four days a few weeks ago for a dental infection. His Horner's didn't improve then so I'm wondering if we're grasping at straws to resume that medication . Yesterday Mason started excessively grooming his groin and pulling out chunks of hair to the point he's removed so much of it. I had to give him gabapentin to stop. He's also had random periods of thirst the past two days at the same time. I'd have to lift the bowl to his face to help him drink. Not sure if it was because of the clavaseptin. We are taking him to the vet today for bloodwork since he needs to check his hyperthyroid levels anyways. I noticed he's still shaking his head quite a bit. I'm starting to think we've exhausted all options and a next step would be an MRI. Is it worth it to put him through that experience or am I being selfish to do it? Am I missing something? I don't know what the right thing is to do anymore. Getting him to eat is difficult, he's become completely reluctant to eat wet food besides the occasional treat. He seems to be better with dry food but even then it's touch and go and I worry about him being dehydrated.

 

[silent meowlook]

If I were you, I would talk to the vet about subcutaneous fluids you can do at home, and a feeding tube, esophageal tubes can be applied in 5 minutes. The tube would completely bypass the mouth and head all together.

 

[CS1991]

Thanks for that advice! That honestly might have to be a step we take. We just found out he has crystals in his urine today. We're waiting for the full urine analysis to come back but were recommended a probiotic to help his stomach with all the medicine he's on, especially the antibiotics my poor kitty can't catch a break. The vet we went today said to avoid the MRI and continue with the antibiotics as it can take a while to see improvements especially with the inner ear. She still saw discharge coming out of it today and said we should resume the ear drops as well.

 

[CS1991]

Hi everyone - we found out Mason has urinary crystals and was put on a prescription diet. Problem is he's not really eating anything besides treats and has been slobbering a lot. I suppose it is a side effect of the antibiotics he's on (antirobe) but can't be sure. He had a cerenia injection yesterday as well as a Mirtazapine pill to stimulate appetite. It worked most of yesterday although the slobber got even worse. Helped a little with the fortiflora but he didn't finish. Today he's slobbering a lot and the reluctance to eat has returned. Any advice? I've been back to the vet so many times it's crazy and I can tell he's stressed

 

[FeebysOwner]

A Cerenia injection only lasts about 24 hours, so unless they gave you pills to administer at home for nausea/vomiting, the 'slobbering' may be due to him feeling nauseous. Most antibiotics are hard on the stomach, so keeping food in the stomach helps with that aspect to a degree.

However, the drooling may be related to ear infection, or even the 'possible' neurological issue. It is true that some inner ear infections may need to be treated with antibiotics for 6 - 12 weeks. A lot of times, medicated ear drops are used in tandem with oral antibiotics. There also can be pain related to an inner ear infection, and maybe that is attributing to the drooling too.