- Joined
- Mar 26, 2017
- Messages
- 17,147
- Purraise
- 44,478
I would ask the vet about treating him with Drontal for worms. When my cats have worms (from fleas), they lose their appetite.
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Won't Eat - End Of My Rope
- Thread starter Stinky15
- Start Date
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2014
- Messages
- 8,089
- Purraise
- 13,358
DE kills ticks too. Its very dusty so try not to clap your hands with it near the cat but I have used it by dipping my hands into bag of DE then backwards stroking cats fur to get it down to the skin. It kills pretty fast and doesnt hurt the cat. DE suffocates insects that breathe through skin: fleas ticks ants etx etc.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #23
The .5lb. was on the Vets scale 3 days between visits which is why I was questioning it. The technician didn't seem very good to me.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #24
Well Stinky was due another Mirtrazapine Sunday afternoon but I withheld to see if maybe he would eat, no luck. Late Monday morning I gave him and pilled him. 30 minutes later he was begging for food and ate kibble and a little meat. I have decided I am going to try and let the Vet. do an ultrasound before I take him to a Specialist (internist) or the Vet. college that is 150 miles away.
I'm sending all the good healing thoughts I have to you!!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #26
Just an update on Stinky. I opted to let my Vet. do an ultrasound before sending me to an Internist. Results came back negative, nothing wrong. He suggested to me that it is possible he has Pancreatitis and we could do a blood test, but the blood test may be inconclusive. He sent us home with pain meds. (Onsior) and an IV bag which I am to give him 2-3 times a day. We should have test results early next week. With all this poking and prodding my indoor/outdoor cat may disown me.
oh my goodness!!
I am sorry to hear of what you are currently going through, it is so exhausting and very worrying when a cat won’t eat. Cats with pancreatitis definitely go off their food because the condition makes them feel nauseous and some cats actually vomit. They tend to look like they want to eat, sniff the food and walk away. It can also be quite painful for them, they might sit in loaf position like they are feeling uncomfortable with eyes half closed, they can be very lethargic and just not quite themselves. My poor boy had chronic pancreatitis that just kept flaring up.
Fingers crossed that it is not pancreatitis and that things improve. Keep us posted with blood test results. Thinking of you x
My cat had the following blood test for pancreatitis which was sent away for testing and is accurate:
FPLI - Idexx - fPL (Feline) (pancreatic lipase)
All the best.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #30
I wasn't able to give him the subcutaneous fluids last night or this morning. I'm afraid he may run off (indoor/outdoor cat). I managed to do about 90% of 1 this afternoon until he "insisted" I quit. The Vet. tech. said to do it 2 or 3 times a day but I don't think he or I will stand for it. The bag of fluid is just electrolytes from what I can tell. I'm not a Vet. so I don't understand why loading him up on electrolytes does any good when all of his blood tests showed normal? It looked like he ate kibble overnight and this morning he turned down cat meat but did eat a jar of chicken baby food. I know it isn't good for cats but it's better than nothing and seems to be the food of last resort. He ate another jar this afternoon which surprised me. He gets another appetite stimulant tomorrow so maybe I can get some cat meat in him instead of baby food. I appreciate everyone's comments.
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2014
- Messages
- 8,089
- Purraise
- 13,358
Normally sub fluids are done every other day unless they are having you do smaller amounts more frequently. How much fluids did they tell you to give him? Once a day is usually with accute cases like bladder infections and pancreatitis. The fluids are to help flush body of whats going on.
Gold standard for pancreatitis is:
Pain meds
Sub fluids
Cerenia (vomiting/nausea)
Pepcid AC for acid
If Cerenia doesn't work then Zofran.
Sometimes they do antibiotics incase pancreas is infected.
Meat baby food is a must. Smaller meals more frequently.
My old girl used to get it almost every summer...she was in alot of pain till we got her fluids and cerenia then pepcid ac. But she was not pillable. We did all meds as injection which she was quite a trooper.
Dont be afraid of asking questions to the vet...
I am suprised to see the ultrasound didnt show anything on the pancreas but it may not have been visible enough...it sometimes doesnt show up on ultrasound.
Yes that blood test mentioned above is what they use but my vet said 50% of pancreatitis doesn't show up in that test..so we treat the symptoms. This treatment is usually given a week to 3 weeks depending on how soon they respond. For stubborn cases it can take 3 weeks. But it is treatable but some people have a hard time with cat nursing care.
My cat would only let me give her the fluids in bathroom...do yiu have someone who can hold the kitty on bed or somewhere soft? You can hook the fluids on a hanger then put it on your curtain rod or a railing nearby. I hooked it on the shower rod but my toilet has one of those carpet thingies on it as my late Floey loved sitting on toilet lid when we showered...so that's where I gave her fluids. She squirmed a bit so had to be fast but we only did 100ml at a time due to heart issues.
Feel free to ask questions and so glad sub fluids are being utilized! It's one of the best tools for illness!
And yes meat baby food is a standby for sick kitties.
Treats
Rotisserie chicken
Plain yogurt
Are other things I have used during flare ups.
Hope your baby feels better soon.
Gold standard for pancreatitis is:
Pain meds
Sub fluids
Cerenia (vomiting/nausea)
Pepcid AC for acid
If Cerenia doesn't work then Zofran.
Sometimes they do antibiotics incase pancreas is infected.
Meat baby food is a must. Smaller meals more frequently.
My old girl used to get it almost every summer...she was in alot of pain till we got her fluids and cerenia then pepcid ac. But she was not pillable. We did all meds as injection which she was quite a trooper.
Dont be afraid of asking questions to the vet...
I am suprised to see the ultrasound didnt show anything on the pancreas but it may not have been visible enough...it sometimes doesnt show up on ultrasound.
Yes that blood test mentioned above is what they use but my vet said 50% of pancreatitis doesn't show up in that test..so we treat the symptoms. This treatment is usually given a week to 3 weeks depending on how soon they respond. For stubborn cases it can take 3 weeks. But it is treatable but some people have a hard time with cat nursing care.
My cat would only let me give her the fluids in bathroom...do yiu have someone who can hold the kitty on bed or somewhere soft? You can hook the fluids on a hanger then put it on your curtain rod or a railing nearby. I hooked it on the shower rod but my toilet has one of those carpet thingies on it as my late Floey loved sitting on toilet lid when we showered...so that's where I gave her fluids. She squirmed a bit so had to be fast but we only did 100ml at a time due to heart issues.
Feel free to ask questions and so glad sub fluids are being utilized! It's one of the best tools for illness!
And yes meat baby food is a standby for sick kitties.
Treats
Rotisserie chicken
Plain yogurt
Are other things I have used during flare ups.
Hope your baby feels better soon.
Last edited:
- Joined
- May 11, 2018
- Messages
- 91
- Purraise
- 88
Could they try medication for toxoplasmosis? It’s a pill called Clyndamyacin.
My cat steadily ate less and less for about 2 months before he came down with an inexplicable fever which turned out to be toxoplasmosis that had progressed. I’m fairly sure symptoms vary according to where the parasite attacks but lack of appetite is common.
My cat steadily ate less and less for about 2 months before he came down with an inexplicable fever which turned out to be toxoplasmosis that had progressed. I’m fairly sure symptoms vary according to where the parasite attacks but lack of appetite is common.
- Joined
- May 11, 2018
- Messages
- 91
- Purraise
- 88
Sorry just to add more background - they tested for pancreatitis, blood tests, urine tests, ultrasound and found zero before the toxo diagnosis was made by the uni hospital.
It’s good that he is eating a little something. At the moment I would just let him eat whatever he wants to eat, so long as he is eating something. It sounds like you are doing your best. It can be so hard to give them their meds, my cat would realise what I was about to do and run. There were days when I wasted pills/meds where I just couldn’t get him to take them.
Hope things improve and he is feeling better soon x
The fluids are given to prevent dehydration in a cat that’s not taking in adequate amount of liquid. An electrolyte solution is about all you can give subcutaneously (SQ) because other substances may damage the tissue. Cats’ kidneys work differently from human kidneys and are very good at getting rid of any excess electrolytes and holding on to any water the cat needs.
I am surprised at how often you were instructed to give fluids. Even in my sickest cats, I was told to give fluids just twice a day. Usually, it’s once a day. I would mention to your vet how difficult you are finding the fluid administration and ask whether you could give them just once daily. Some things you can do to help the fluids go in faster are:
I am surprised at how often you were instructed to give fluids. Even in my sickest cats, I was told to give fluids just twice a day. Usually, it’s once a day. I would mention to your vet how difficult you are finding the fluid administration and ask whether you could give them just once daily. Some things you can do to help the fluids go in faster are:
- Use the largest needle possible. I prefer a 14 gauge (pale green) or larger. Larger needles have smaller gauge numbers.
- Elevate the fluid bag or squeeze it (or both)
- Make sure the tubing is wide open; check that it’s not kinking
- If you are doing all these things and the fluid is not flowing well, try moving the needle back and forth just a bit, sometimes that helps.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #36
Originally I was to give him 100ml of the solution 2-3 times a day. The Vet. Tech. gave him one Fri. and Sat. morning he looked swollen to me and wasn't very active. I was alarmed when I weighed him, he had gained over 7 oz. in 2 days. I finally gave him fluids Sat. afternoon and left him alone. He is due another App. stimulant this afternoon and usually on the 3rd. day he eats very little. He came got in bed with me around 2:30 a.m. and we got up an hour later. I fully expected him to not eat or eat very little. He turned his nose up at Cat meat but ate a few bites of kibble. I put the cat meat down by the kibble bowl and he ate 1/2 a can. What a surprise! He seems much more alert and chipper this morning. He is maintaining his weight or even gaining a little.
Great news that he’s eating and looks better! Yay!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #38
Erin,
As far as I know the Vet. hasn't tested for toxoplasmosis but I will ask when I see him again. My cat never has thrown up or had diarrhea that I know of. I've watched him after he eats for 10-15 minutes and nothing. He won't use the litter box unless the weather is extremely bad so I can't be sure about the diarrhea, but I think I would see evidence of it on his rear end.
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2010
- Messages
- 113
- Purraise
- 75
It sounds to me like it could be a food intolerance. The licking between the paws can be a sign of food allergy. The brands youve mentioned trying are all pretty low-quality foods (purina, fancy feast, rtc). Have you tried a good quality grain-free food? Merricks or Wellness? He seems to gobble up the meats you give him so Id find the highest protein food with the least amount of allergens (grains, corn, soy, etc) and see how he likes it. Id also consider trying a raw food brand if you are able. Good luck!!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #40
Before all this started he got Purina Pro Plan True Nature Grain Free chicken canned in the morning and Fancy Feast Classic varieties canned in the evening. No kibble at all. Supposedly the FF classic varieties are low carb. I tried just about every canned cat food supposedly "good" (merrick, wellness, Tiki and others) and he wouldn't touch any of them. At one point I tried some dehydrated cat food, don't remember the brand but they had samples you could buy. That was a joke, it looked more like soup when you added water. He wouldn't touch it. The few places I've seen on the internet that sell raw food are so expensive after shipping it is prohibitive. No pet store anywhere near that sells raw (frozen) either. My previous cat had urinary blockages 2x before I finally started reading on the internet and found Dr. Lisa Pierson's site about Cat nutrition. I've considered going raw or partially raw but have never made the financial commitment. He loves cooked chicken and pork chops. I need to look around again and see if maybe someone sells samples of raw frozen that aren't outrageously high. Thanks
