My adult cat stopped eating and drinking 5 days ago ...

Can you please tell me a couple of things so I can try to help?
Were your cats teeth examined?
Were any xrays done?
What was the last thing he ate and when did he eat it? Any prople food lately?
Was he given subcutanious fluids by your veterinarian?
What antibiotic is he taking?
What is his exact age?
Any stress in his life prior to this?


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Thanks again for taking the time with this question.

The cat's teeth were examined and were 'healthy', but no xrays were taken.

He ate a couple of bites of tuna (in water) on Wednesday morning, but was already not eating regularly at that time. Oddly enough, he also licked the left-over still-warm shower water on Sunday (does it from time-to-time, no matter how much I try to prevent it!). He does eat some people food almost daily (usually very small amount of chicken or sliced turkey breast at night).

He was given subcutanious fluids by the veterinarian.

He's not currently on any medication.

He's 14 1/2 years old (a ragdoll and very active up until Sunday).

No stress in his life, and nothing has changed recently. No other pets, kids, etc., to infringe on his time/space.

Dear friend,
I am very concerned about your cat because cats do not have whims like people do. Whenever they stop eating they are either ill or in pain. In addition, cats are very stoic animals so by the time they let you know they are ailing, it can have become quite advanced.There are also certain health issues that are specific to ragdolls so that is another concern.
Eating people food can lead to pancreatitis. If there is any onion or garlic seasoning in the products, that can lead to a dangerous form of anemia.
Since your cat gets so stressed going out (as most cats do), see if you can find a mobile vet to come take a look at him. It may be easier to ascertain what is bothering him if he is calm in his own home.
In the meantime, boil unseasoned, skinless chicken breast til soft - add a pinch or salt and sugar. Then blend some to baby food consistancy and feed him one teaspoon every half hour if he will not eat it willingly.
You can also water down canned cat food to a gruel and freed him one dropper every 20 minutes for two hours. Then try to get him to eat the chicken again.
I am hoping this is nothing more then a digestive upset caused by the people food.
Please let me know what is going on and how he responds to this diet. And see how quickly you can get a mobile vet over to see him.

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I've had difficulties finding a mobile vet willing to address emergencies. The only options are a vetinerarian office (different from the last and closer to my house and open for a few hours today) or an animal hospital (24 hour care center).

I tried hand-feeding yesterday. I tried Nutri-Stat pet food supplement and both the softened, boiled chicken and wetened cat food. He seemed to do fine with the feeding for a while but then he eventually threw up (again just the yellowish bile-like liquid).

He seems to be trying to 'walk' it off, as he will walk around (albeit very slowly) and do 'laps' around the couch, etc. (walks for over an hour at a time). He's still trying to follow me around, as he has always done. But it's almost like he's a bit drunk: walking slowly with little balance.

The vet had originally offered to just start him on some antibiotics without doing blood work. Is there a standard antibiotic that cures many ills (similar to penicilin for humans)? Do you think this is a good idea?

Should I take him to the vet that's open today? I'm sure they'll do another IV treatment and perhaps take blood. How long does it take to get the blood work back or is the labwork something a vet does onsite? I'm just concerned with it being Saturday and the office is not open again until Monday.

Thanks again for your help.
Mike and Clyde.

Dear Mike,
The symptoms you are describing today could be a middle ear infection or high or low blood sugar.It can also be related to his liver reacting to the lack of food entering his system.
Clavamox is a broad spectrum antibiotic that can cure most bacteria related issues.
If you can feed Clyde the gruel and or chicken mixture at a much, much slower pace (like one dropper evry half hour) he may be able to retain it.
Even though Clyde has a hissy fit when he has to see a vet, I feel you should bring him in today. The local vet is preferable because the ER vet is really only there to provide emergency care and life support when other vets are closed.
Some local vets have an in house lab. You could call ahead and ask.
All I can tell you is - if Clyde were my cat - I would have him seen today. His situation has gone on too long and I am very uncomfortable with his inability to keep food down. He may have impacted hair or stool or other intestinal obstruction. It is really becoming a danger to his life at this point IMO.
Please let me know what is going on with Clyde and what you decide to do and what was found when you take him in.
Best wishes,
Terri

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Relist: I still need help.

First, let me say thanks for your time and efforts for Clyde.

I admitted Clyde to the pet care clinic first thing Saturday morning (24/7, full facility). Blood work was performed and he showed high levels of white cell count and increased liver and kidney values. Fluids via IV were administered immediately as was a broad-spectrum antibiotic. His kidney values began to level off and his liver levels improved slightly.

On Sunday, he was given a feeding tube (through the nose) and was being slow fed about 25% of daily values. His liver values fluctuated (down, then slightly up again) from Sunday through Monday afternoon, but are not concerning enough to explain the cat's current condition.

Tests thus far have been fairly extensive including xrays, blood work, etc., and have found nothing that is not symptomatic. We've assertained that Clyde is suffering from some level of Hepatic Lipidosis due to the severe lack of food - hence the force-feeding.

On Monday afternoon, food levels were raised to 55% of normal. As of this morning, he has been on the feeder for about 36 hours and has only vomited once (maybe coincidentally, but after licking a minute amount of AD cat food and after an extended visit by me where he was off the feeder for almost 2 hours). Periodic enimas were started as well on Monday afternoon. But clyde hasn't perked up yet.

Blood work from yesterday showed good levels of red platelets and kidney values. Liver values remain only slightly high and might be attributable to the Lipidosis. Regardless, the vets agree that the levels in his blood are not nearly severe enough to warrant his listlessness. Furthermore, with all the other test results looking good, there had been nothing found to explain his condition.

A second antibiotic was started today that should help with any parisitic infections. In a couple of hours, he will be started on an anti-inflamatory steroid as well (waiting so that medications can be spaced out to avoid vomiting, etc.).

I know part of this severe malaise is caused by the change in his surroundings (very quiet with few visitors at home, never has been away from home for the night, etc.) and possibly his inability to get enough rest, etc.   But even with that, he should still be more responsive. He only responds to extreme stimulus like when the nurses attempted to shave off more of his fur mattings this morning (actually got up and took a couple of steps before returning to his zombie-state).    

He is systematically doing well according to the vet. But she also says that he seems to be too 'out of it' and lethargic to be getting better. He'll barely open his eyes to look at me when I visit and although he seems to enjoy the petting and attention (some minimal paw movement and drooling which is one of his trademarks when getting pet to his liking), he just sits still and sleeps with 'one eye/ear open'. He opened his eyes and licked his chops when I opened a can of tuna in the room (and after he smelled it), but still had no interest in eating (also tried fresh water and AD).

Options were discussed for liver biopsy, but his liver values are doing fairly well. Also, treatments currently being administered address the most common liver problems anyway. Lastly, he hasn't shown any signs of jaundice and xrays looked normal.

An ultrasound was also discussed, and although the vet was in favor of performing the test, she is not confident that anything will be found. I decided to wait until tomorrow, and after today's bloodwork, to determine if this will be helpful. Although I want the very best for Clyde, this is getting very expensive.

The entire team of vets (3-4 vets have reviewed his case) seem lost and can't understand why he's not doing better. Are we missing something? Any advice/help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Mike



Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on March 28 2006 at 5:02pm

How can I help? Is Clyde worse? What is happening?

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Hi Terri. Thanks for the quick response. Please see my reply above.

Dear Mike,
It is my opinion that Clyde is suffering from stress. Cats hate to be out of their home. It is imperative you get Clyde stable enough and take him home. He is NOT going to improve if he has to stay in a strange plece, with strange people and strange smells. He is also having painful and uncomfortable proceedures done there whch are adding to his stress.
Even if you have to feed him with a syringe or dropper - you MUST get Clyde home.
He should be on a broad spectrum antibiotic and should receive subcutanious fluids from the vet.
When he gets home boil skinless chicken in unseasoned water - Add a pinch of salt and sugar and blend some to a gruel. Feed it to cyde with a dropper. When he begins to eat on his own blend it to baby food consistancy.
This is your very best chance for Clyde to recover.
Very sincerely,
Terri

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Hi Terri,

Clyde has taken a turn for the worse. His latest bloodwork came back with poor liver values. His albumin level has dropped from 2.3 to 1.4. Although, all other liver values are doing well.

He has started irregular breathing as well (panting). The only change today was an increase in food levels to 9 ml/hour and the additional antibiotic and steroid (only one dose of steroid administered prior to the blood work).

He doesn't look clynically well at all and I'm starting to get very worried. The vets felt strongly that removing from the hospital was a bad idea at this point; they offered that I could bring him home for a few hours and return him to have him either readmitted or put to sleep. However, they also say that there is a chance he still might survive this on his current regiment.

I'm so confused. Please help.

Thanks,
Mike

Dear Mike,
I am so sorry that clyde is doing so poorly.
It would not be a good idea to take him home in this condition. He needs life support right now.
However, tomorrow tell the doctors to try to stablize him so you could take him home. That would probably involve removing the nasogastric tube that is feeding him and doing it with a syringe as I think that alone is causing him a great deal of stress.
If they could just get him stable enough that he could go home and you could take care of him he would have a much better chance. THe stress is having a major negative effect on him right now.
Please let me know what is going on with him and how he is in the morning,
Warmest best wishes,
Terri

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