Worried about friend’s cat

[kalypso]

Hello! I am concearned about my friends cat—it has an appetite but is "afraid" to eat, loses weight, vomits on early stomach every morning, ocasional diarrhea. Has taken some exams that haven't showed anything, but we don't trust vets around here. Do you know of any experienced vets that can read results online and advise?

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. There are on line sites that are like 'ask a vet', but I have no idea how much they cost nor do I even know if they are truly 'real' vets. Do you have any friends anywhere that have a reliable vet that they could ask to review test results - even if it is for a small fee? If not, with any luck someone on this site that is in your area and feels they have a trustworthy vet will see your post and respond with a similar offer as I have suggested.

How old is this cat, and what kind of tests were run? Did you or your friend actually receive copies of the tests to see what they say?

Tbh, the morning vomiting sounds like it could be reflux from not eating for hours, or from food intolerances. Occasional diarrhea could be many things or nothing at all, since it is only occasional. Losing weight could be from the repeated vomiting, or even from something like hyperthyroidism.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

You might try contacting Nine Lives Greece, which is a cat rescue in Athens, explaining what you told us, and asking them for a referral to a vet you can trust. This is their web address: Home

 

[MissClouseau]

Hi from Istanbul! There is a Reddit subreddit called AskVet but they have very strict rules like No Diagnosis Guessing and they don't answer questions far more often than they do. You can still upload the test results to Imgur and share the link there, fill their form and try your chance. Ask Veterinary Related Questions • r/AskVet

Without knowing any more information the only thing I can recommend is switch to a food for sensitive digestion. I could recommend Pro Plan canned Delicate for wet food: Pro Plan Cat Delicate 24 x 85 g And Acana Wild Prairie for dry food. And feed small meals throughout the day instead of 2-3 big ones. I give half a can of wet food at once. Like FeebysOwner said early morning vomiting might be reflux. Either way, it could help to feed a small meal about half an hour before bed time.

I heard there are BioPetActive products in Greece. This is the best multivitamin I have tried so far. I would give it once or twice a week to support the immune system. VitaliCAT

Does your friend give the cat malt paste? Hairball related issues can also cause nausea and vomiting. I'm happy with GimCat. GimCat Malt Soft Paste Extra

 

[kalypso]

Hello!
Thank you all so much for the replies! The cat is 10 years old. She vomits in the morning, doesn't vomit food. The reason she loses weight is that although she seems hungry, she is reluctant to eat for some reason. So its difficult to try different foods too right now. She has done bloodwork, ultrasound, xrays and even had an operation to have sample biopsy. All showed nothing according to a few vets. However, sample was only taken from her stomach. They also caused her a 3rd degree burn from heating device during the operation. And this was in the highest profile vet clinic in Athens (go figure!). Now they propose gastroscopy. She also has teeth bruxism. I will search and propose the sites !

 

[MissClouseau]

Hello!
Thank you all so much for the replies! The cat is 10 years old. She vomits in the morning, doesn't vomit food. The reason she loses weight is that although she seems hungry, she is reluctant to eat for some reason. So its difficult to try different foods too right now. She has done bloodwork, ultrasound, xrays and even had an operation to have sample biopsy. All showed nothing according to a few vets. However, sample was only taken from her stomach. They also caused her a 3rd degree burn from heating device during the operation. And this was in the highest profile vet clinic in Athens (go figure!). Now they propose gastroscopy. She also has teeth bruxism. I will search and propose the sites !

I would try local forums for a good vet recommendation, take all the test results from this clinic and take them to the other vet. If nothing works, try a veterinary university hospital - they are supposed to have specialists.

I am no vet so take this with a pinch of salt but they have already done all the common tests out there. Not to say it was wrong but I am not sure how likely it is EVEN MORE TESTS would show something that wouldn't already show a symptom in the other tests. Which makes me suspect either the test results weren't all good and they are trying to discover the source of the abnormalities or they underestimate the effect of something they see. Like maybe dental issues (at 10 the chances are she has dental problems which might make eating painful, cause nausea, etc). Or maybe food intolerance with or without acid reflux, gastritis, IBS.

I will leave these here:

Acid Reflux in Cats - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost

Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Cats - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost

Gastroenteritis in Cats - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost

 

[kalypso]

Getting the results to more vets to see is what she is doing. The vet university is unfortunately in Thessaloniki. Also, gastroscopy is supposed to show if there's something wrong with the esophagus or if there's a foreign body in the stomach. I also suspected dental or mouth issues, but there is none, unless there could be something that is not visible, I don't know if it could be possible. Ibs also fits the symtoms (even bruxism) I think. But I read it is definitely diagnosed with intestine biopsy which she only had in the stomach. Its frustrating that the cat is afraid to eat and got very picky so it is difficult to do something like new protein diet. I will read your links too thanks!!

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Has she been tested specifically for pancreatitis? That throwing up of bile only is VERY common with it. If that's the issue, eating hurts her tummy. Pain meds and an appetite stimulant can help tremendously.

 

[kittenmittens84]

If she seems hungry but won’t eat and also grinds her teeth that sounds like bad nausea. Obviously that doesn’t narrow it down much since a lot of things can cause nausea...

 

[kalypso]

I don't know if vomit is bile. The cat underwent gastroskopy, which showed inflamation in stomach and intestines, and will get results from biopsies in three weeks. In the meantime, she was prescribed cortisone and was told to eath mushed food...

 

[MissClouseau]

I don't know if vomit is bile. The cat underwent gastroskopy, which showed inflamation in stomach and intestines, and will get results from biopsies in three weeks. In the meantime, she was prescribed cortisone and was told to eath mushed food...

Food intolerance alone might cause inflammation.

 

[kalypso]

It is though difficult to do a food elimination now, because the cat is so difficult to eat. Do you think cortisone doesn't seem necessary?

 

[MissClouseau]

It is though difficult to do a food elimination now, because the cat is so difficult to eat. Do you think cortisone doesn't seem necessary?

That I don't know. And there might be more than one problem going on. Maybe not a full elimination diet but, based on what you said, she has an appetite but is afraid to eat - that sounds like nausea or because she gets trouble after eating that specific food. My cat for example waits until I handfeed her wet food and I recently discovered it's because she swallows more air and gets gassy when she eats on her own. In the past she also hesitated to eat some food but when she did, she regurgitated later so she knew that food didn't sit well with her. They sometimes give out very good clues to us on the problem but it takes time to figure out what it is.

My point is maybe one of the reasons why she's difficult to eat right now is because the food makes the situation worse. In that case changing the food might help her eating and the inflammation. That's not for sure of course, no way I can know, but if the problem IS the food then I don't see things getting significantly better without changing the food with something that works better for her.

 

[di and bob]

Sounds like food allergies or IBS to me. I would start her on a sensitive stomach food, there are many in different price ranges, and see if that helps. Grinding her teeth may be causing jaw pain too, observe if there are foods that don't cause her to grind as much.

 

[kalypso]

I read that IBS is different than IBD (Feline Irritable Bowel Syndrome vs Feline Inflammatory Bowel Disease | Ask The Cat Doctor) and it's a bit confusing to me... How do you suspect IBS and not IBD?

 

[di and bob]

IBD is more serious then IBS and needs a biopsy to confirm. IBS causes nausea and tenderness, and is mostly related to food issues, not changes in the bowel itself, such as inflammation, ulcers, etc. That is what I think anyway. IBS can be helped with high fiber, and diet changes. I always start with the less serious condition and gio from there.