[LadyB]

My mom's cat has been throwing up and refusing food for almost a week. The vet has run multiple blood tests, done x-rays, some kind of barium test and can find nothing wrong with her. Kidneys, liver fine, no bowel obstructions, no UTI. His only guess is possibly some kind of virus that doesn't show up on the blood tests.

They have offered her canned and dry cat food, and cottage cheese but she won't eat. With dogs we usually offer hamburger and rice, but are at a loss as to cats. Any ideas?

[Ladyviper]

Lady B, check out this site on Feline Anorexia. It was too much to copy and paste into a quote, but perhaps you will find it helpful.

Why won't my cat eat?

[DocWill]

I freak when I read "My mom's cat has been throwing up and refusing food for almost a week"
Let me break this down to portions that sink in your cute little bitty head. Keep in mind all I am about to tell you is directed in education. Not intended as belittling or insulting at all. Hard for you to see, but I am hands on real world example kind of teacher. Picture some tall skinny geek with glasses, Aussie accent, that can't say hello without some sort of hand and arm puppet show. OK here we go,, OK I am too
Its Saturday afternoon, we are kicking around ideas for things to do, and on TV the promotion for some kind of super duper truck size pizza for $9.99 uh huh I'm hungry too. When it shows up I'm drooling like a St. benard. We hit that pizza so hard and fast because OMG its good, and then that feeling comes, we all know it, I ate too much I am going to puke! That pizza went from hero to zero in minutes. I really feel nauseous and just want to lay down and chill out alone for a while. You come over and say hey drink all this water and have a piece of bread. Just the thought makes me want to puke again.
If I eat anything anytime soon I am going to puke, I know I will, Im a dork with a tummy issue.

Think the poor cats tummy is ready to try an assortment of new foods if his tummy still feels anything like my pizza belly? By golly no, I don't blame that cat one bit. Keep your hamburger ideas for the months you feel most wealthy. That pizza is still zero until my tummy settles. This calls for magic tummy meds to settle the stomach!

Lets see, OK sore tummy kind of rules out oral meds right? Not going to stay down anyway, lets go Injectable. I knew you would agree. I have 2 favorite meds and I choose witch one based on the pets cooperation to being hospitalized. Most cases, not all, most require 6-8 hours with IV tummy meds and IV fluids to replenish lost fluids. Man no vomiting for 7 hours is a good sign, Lets send him home with an oral Liquid yummy tummy antivomit magic, (metoclopramide) and some metronidazole (GI) antibiotic and a tummy bandade sucralfate. Before you take off with the soon to be happy cat. I repeat all the meds when where how much, witch one is first and make you repeat it after I return with little fluffy all ready to leave. Small amount of water only. Kiss and hug the cat, tell her you are broke because you love her. 24 hours later she is well over listening to your financial problems and ready for a small bit of food. Cross your fingers, you gave the meds in order like I asked because you are broke and I live pizza!
All the blood work and radiographs WNL (within normal limits) we should be cooking with style and soon have the cat that we almost step on at dinner time back to normal.
If this doesn't work, I am going to retest (amylase and lipase) to be reassured its not
Pancreatitis from inaccurate previous test results. Let me know how its going> I want to tell more stuff, but I am being called to remove a fish hook from a dogs nose. DogFish?
OK good luck! Fill me in!

[LadyB]

She has been in the hospital with some kind of anti-vomiting medications for several days, but according to the vet has still vomited several times. He basically said "I have exhausted everything I know to do and test for"

She had initially been diagnosed with a back sprain a week ago, and given steroids, and seemed a bit better for 24 hours before relapsing. She still didn't eat but the horrible lethargy lifted some. We read about IBD yesterday, and since he has no better ideas, decided to start steroids and will start hypoallergenic food today (can't hurt might help). We are hoping this will help.

[DocWill]

Do you know her amylase and lipase values? By chance

[LadyB]

Do you know her amylase and lipase values? by chance

I don't, but can probably get them today. He said testing for pancreatitis would require sending a sample to a facility in CA, are you saying it's simple blood work?

BTW, she hasn't vomited since starting the steroids.

ETA: A different doctor was brought in and says he knows what to look for in the levels on the bloodwork, and plans to go back over them today.

[DocWill]

Wow yes very basic, no more complicated then a human diabetic checking his own glucose. This basically tells me he hasn't invested in an idex machine to produce blood chemistry results in 15 minutes. Any chance I could view those results? And name the medication if you can , thanks!

I don't know how I could accurately practice medicine with any success with out blood chemistry machines in house.

[LadyB]

This is Alabama, so the vets seem a bit more... casual than what I was used to in the West. For example in Las Vegas, when my Rottie suffered sudden paralysis we took him to a neurological specialist right there in town. My mom's dog suffered the same thing, and apparently there are none here, the closest is in Atlanta. So, the equipment issue may be related to a differing attitude, or monetary concerns. I am not sure.

I will see if we can get the blood work results faxed over. They told her to take the kitty home for the weekend, to see if home is healing for her. She hasn't vomited since yesterday.

[DocWill]

That's awsome to hear about the absence of vomit. That's very good. What meds she on?

[LadyB]

thats awsome to hear about the absence of vomit. thats very good. what meds she on?

She stopped vomiting only after they started administering steroids. Not sure which steroid it is. It's my mom's cat and so I am getting all this information indirectly and can't get her to ask for the specifics I want!

[DocWill]

Im sure its pred, but rather than speculate, I would like to have acurate facts when looking for much more specific causes for this condition we have to woop up on!

[LadyB]

Yes, prednisone is what he said he would prescribe Monday if the injection he gave her seems to help over the weekend. I went to visit her last night, and though thin and weak, and still not eating, she was friendly and responsive to me, and growled and hissed at the neighbor cat that came towards the window she was sitting in. She hasn't vomited in over 24 hours now.

[DocWill]

Dang Lady I wish I had some blood chemistry to look at to point us in proper direction. Some vets don't like to keep Diazapam in pill form in the office, but it is a great form of appitite exciter. Also a good toung teaser is chicken or beef human baby food.
I need some numbers, lol wots wrong wif this cat!

[LadyB]

If I can get the numbers I will share, promise. She ate a bit today and was walking around the house.

[crazybird]

LadyB,
Why don't you call the vet yourself? I am anxious to have Docwill help you out myself!

[crazybird]

Docwill, could it be something partially blocking the cat's intestines. Something that didn't show up in the initial x-rays? Should they redo the x-rays?

[LadyB]

Sorry I didn't check back in. The cat has fully recovered! They sent her home a day or two after my last post, and she started eating normally, stopped vomiting, and has put most of her weight back on. Still no explanation as to the cause, but she was very, very ill for over 10 days. Possibly a virus?

[wickedimp]

A little scrambled egg is usually a nice treat.

[crazybird]

Happy to hear that she is doing well.