Sick cat question

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marymickaela
marymickaela Posts: 190 Member
in Chit-Chat
This has nothing to do with fitness, well except the fitness and health of my cat. Gideon (my cat) is 10 years old. We've had him since he was only a few weeks old. My daughter rescued him half drowned and (according to her) premature. She moved out to go to college many years back and he's been my H and my cat ever since. She's now married with a dog. She informed me last week she's really not a cat person.

Gideon's always had trouble with vomiting. Everyday vomiting. It was a major pain in the *kitten* to clean up puke everyday, sometimes projectile vomiting. Someone told my husband it was normal so I never got it checked out until last December when he developed a cough/wheeze. The vet informed us it was absolutely not normal, he's very underweight. $800 later we still don't know for sure what's wrong with him, but he's being treated for IBS and has been on steriods ever since. The vomiting improved immensely (almost altogether), but he still didn't gain any weight despite changing his food, and he does eat.

A couple months back, with his immune system being supressed due to the steriods he developed a terrible respiratory infection. I called it the snots as the sneezing was gross. Took him back in and the vet put him on antibiotics and we cut his steriods to every other day. He got better and started playing again. He stayed well for a couple months. Well his respiratory infection is back again. I called the vet last week and we put him back on antibiotics. Only this time he's not getting better. We're cutting his steriods to every 3rd day to see if that helps, but this morning he's sneezing bad again. Has never really gone away.

My H wants to discontinue the steriods entirely saying the vomiting was better then this. I disagree, both are bad. The vet talked about putting him down at our initial visit because of his low weight. At this point we're willing to keep him on meds, but not willing to keep spending money on vet bills. How does one decide when it's time to let him go? He's a very very sweet, loving cat. I know he's sick, but don't feel he's suffering constantly. It's more of an annoyance like any of us getting a bad cold, just gross, but I know he doesn't feel good as he's just not his playful self.

Any cat lover's advice?

Replies

  • fr053n
    fr053n Posts: 2,793 Member
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    I wouldn't let go of my cat if I felt he wasn't suffering all the time. All cats are annoying sometimes, and can be gross, but I forgive them for that, because they don't know better. And if they're sick, it's also not their fault. I wouldn't put him down if I was in your position.
  • Go_Mizzou99
    Go_Mizzou99 Posts: 2,628 Member
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    Our cat is almost 14 and goes through spells of hurling, especially when doing her spring shedding. We only use dry cat food and hurling happens when she eats a lot, and then drinks water. I think the food swells and "up it comes" to relieve the pressure. As it is an outdoor cat, it does not affect us as much as you - except in the winter when we let it in for a spell.

    The culprit with out cat is hairballs. There is a medicine that looks like brown Vaseline that they sell just about everywhere. Hartz Hairball Remedy. Hairballs are a year-round thingy. Our cat loves it and gobbles it right up. After 2 or 3 days the hairball is gone and our Angel is back to her normal self. I hope it is this simple for you.
  • marymickaela
    marymickaela Posts: 190 Member
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    After the $800 worth of testing and treatment we know he has abnormal vomiting, IBS. At 1st they thought he might have pancreatitis, but ruled that out. His vomiting wasn't normal as it was to the point he was severely dehydrated and had to be given fluids. We have him on a special food for allergies. Right now he's been sleeping all day, but I can hear his labored breathing.

    I'm going to call the vet tomorrow to see about taking him off the steriods or putting him on a different antibiotic. I'm afraid she'll want me to bring him in which is another $100.
  • marymickaela
    marymickaela Posts: 190 Member
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    Called the vet Monday. She didn't call me back and when I called the next day she had gone out of town, but left a msg. that I should bring him in cause he could have nodes or something in his throat. Had to control my fist of death. I re-explained to the receptionist what was going on and we weren't bringing him in and just wanted to try him on a different antibiotic. She put me on hold and spoke with one of the technicians. She said he'd put him on a different antibiotic, but if he didn't get better we'd have to bring him in.

    Started the new med Tuesday and took him completely off his steriods. He's so much improved. Actually hasn't sneezed or wheezed once since Thursday. He's following us around, playing a little, not 100%, but so much better. Unfortunately, because of taking him off of the steriods he puked his guts out yesterday because of the IBS.

    My H wants to start him back on the steriods, which suppress his immune system. I said let's give him another day or so to get whatever but he's got cured then put him back on the steriods.

    I'm very annoyed with this vet. What if he did have nodes in his throat? We wouldn't treat him. What harm was there in trying a different antibiotic. Thank goodness for this technician.
  • ravenribbs
    ravenribbs Posts: 289 Member
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    1. Why are you asking veterinary questions on this site????????????

    2. Technicians may not practice veterinary medicine without a veterinary degree (as in DVM or VMD), as in MUST BE A DOCTOR. That's why they are technicians. If that tech truly "prescribed" another antibiotic, then that individual is either not a credentialed tech (and thinks s/he is qualified to make decisions that are beyond his/her training) or is a sorry example of a credentialed tech.

    3. Get a second, or third, opinion from either another general practitioner or an veterinary internal medicine specialist.

    4. Be happy it has only cost you $800 dollars so far. Decide what dollar value you place on your cat's health and well-being, then when you get your next cat, strongly consider getting pet insurance early in the relationship.
  • QuiznatoddBidness
    QuiznatoddBidness Posts: 602 Member
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    I can think of a much sicker cat question. But I'm afraid it would be inappropriate at this time.
  • ravenribbs
    ravenribbs Posts: 289 Member
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    >>What if he did have nodes in his throat? We wouldn't treat him. What harm was there in trying a different antibiotic.<<

    If you're not going to treat him, why bother with a different antibiotic?? Harm? What if your cat reacts badly to a different antibiotic?? The first person you will hold accountable will be the veterinarian, NOT the "tech" who had no business "prescribing" in the first place!!
  • ravenribbs
    ravenribbs Posts: 289 Member
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    >>I can think of a much sicker cat question. But I'm afraid it would be inappropriate at this time. <<

    OMG, that's hilarious!!! Thanks for the intervention!!
  • marymickaela
    marymickaela Posts: 190 Member
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    Thought this part of the forum was for "chit chat" and such type of questions. If you had read my initial post you would understand my response. I posted my last post to update those who had offered suggestions and concern and let them know he was getting better. Won't post again.
  • WarriorCupcakeBlydnsr
    WarriorCupcakeBlydnsr Posts: 2,150 Member
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    I'd suggest taking him to a different vet, just get a second opinion, you never know what they might come up with. You may want to discuss your kitty's treatment for the IBS as well, since a different vet may have an alternative treatment plan that may work better for your kitty too (my kitty that has IBS gets three days of steroids and three days of hairball remedy a week plus special kitty food, and now he only has occasional bouts with getting sick rather than daily) plus it could be something in your treatment for the IBS that is causing the sneezing problem.
    Best of luck and I hope your kitty gets better soon!
  • So_Much_Fab
    So_Much_Fab Posts: 1,146 Member
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    Thought this part of the forum was for "chit chat" and such type of questions.

    It is, but if you post outside of fitness, you'll inevitably get the "why are you asking this question here" comment. Ignore it. I'm not sure why people think getting others' opinions on something they're going through is inappropriate. It's not like you're basing your cat's treatment on what posters are saying. Don't let a stupid comment deter you from continuing to post.

    Best of luck to kitteh. :heart:
  • sc003ro
    sc003ro Posts: 227 Member
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    I had to make this diecision with one of my dogs...it was terrible....

    the best advice I received was under quality life for the animal...."is the dog/cat a shell of themselves or what they were before they were sick".....if they are then it is time.....

    Unfortunately these Pets live a short time and it's always painful when you have to say goodbye to a friend...you will see them again at the RAINBOW BRIDGE....
  • hilbertraum
    hilbertraum Posts: 4 Member
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    Hi! I only have a minute, but manymanymany cases of IBS in cats is due to their diet and can be fully resolved by feeding them a more species-appropriate diet.

    Unfortunately, commercial cat food is full of grains, however cats didn't evolve to EVER eat carbohydrates, and they are very sensitive to them.

    Please read this url, it sounds JUST like your cat!!

    http://www.catinfo.org/#Inflammatory_Bowel_Disease_(IBD)

    Read the whole catinfo.org website too!

    (I have nothing to do with the website, but after following their advice and feeding my cats fresh meat, they are much healthier.)

    Edited to add: like doctors for people, most vets know almost nothing about proper nutrition for their patients. They just prescribe "vet" diets that the pet food companies advertise and give free samples of to them. Unfortunately these prescription diets are still full of grains, usually the first ingredient even, so they often don't help or make things worse.

    All the best to you and your kitty!
  • marymickaela
    marymickaela Posts: 190 Member
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    I got peeved and said I wasn't going to post, but am over it. The cat's much much better after this new round of antibiotics. This morning is his last dose. It's so nice to have him healthy again.

    Diet: We have switched him to a natural food diet several months ago at the suggestion of this vet saying he could be allergiec to the grains. Since the vomiting the other day we're giving him smaller increments of food, 1/4 cup at a time so he doesn't gorge himself, then vomiting. Doesn't always cause the vomiting, but did in this case I think. We haven't restarted the steriods yet so as to give his immune system a chance to rebuild itself back up.

    Thanks you to those here who took the time to respond in a positive way. I just needed a place to vent.
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
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    I might get a second opinion from another vet. Ailments in cats, especially very old cats, can be really tough to manage. If the new drug is working, then stick with that and go see someone else.

    Just as an FYI (and this isn't to make you feel bad - it's for other people here with cats, too), if a cat is actually displaying symptoms of being ill, such as vomiting and sneezing, chances are your cat is pretty sick. Cats don't display symptoms until things are pretty bad. Do not sit on them, take them to the vet right away.

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