[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference misery::feline

Title:Meower Power - Where Differing Opinions are Respected
Notice:purrrrr...
Moderator:JULIET::CORDES_JA
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1079
Total number of notes:28858

631.0. "No Appetite a Week After Surgery?" by MAGEE::MORIARTY () Thu Oct 14 1993 09:41

    Hi,
    
    One of my cats, SAMBO, had gallstone surgery last Friday - Oct. 8. 
    Since then he has eaten almost nothing.  He is drinking water and
    urinating.   I have been in touch with the Vet (I am awaiting his
    return call at this moment).   
    
    Has anyone else had appetite problems with their cats after surgery? 
    He is on antibiotics, and I am forcing vitamins down him each day.
    I sit with him in front of his food afterwork and before work, trying 
    to coax him into eating but thus far I have failed. He just sniffs.
    This cat used to be my chow-hound.   He could stand to loose a few
    pounds, but after a week of not eating (and no stools) I am concerned.
    
    
    Fred
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
631.1MAGEE::MERRITTKitty CityThu Oct 14 1993 10:0818
    Hi Fred,....
    
    Yesterday I commented about you and Sambo in the file because
    another person has a cat that had similar symptoms.   (I think
    the note is under FUS) and you'll giggle when you read my note
    because I made it sound like YOU had the problem!!!    (and of
    course everyone "busted" me about it)
    
    My guess is that there possibly is an infection and that is why
    he is not eating.  To me he should be eating on his own by now..
    and maybe a vet visit is best.
    
    Please keep us all posted because there is not much in this file
    regarding gallstone surgery so your info might help another person.
    
    Hugs to kitty..
    
    Sandy
631.2Don't WaitAKOCOA::LEINONENThu Oct 14 1993 10:4618
    
    	Fred,
    
    	PLEASE get your cat checked soon, especially if he tended
    	to be a chow-hound who is a little overweight. I just lost
    	my Tiggr to Feline Hepatic Lipidosis (FHL) cause I didn't
    	pay attention to the early signs. Fatty Liver disease is a
    	condition just waiting to happen in overweight cats. When
    	they stop eating [for ANY reason] the liver starts to 
    	eat the fatty cells in the body, eventually breaking down
    	muscles. 
    
    	I don't want to alarm you, but I wished that I had known
    	the symptoms a few months ago ... or what a devastating
    	efefct they can have. I can send you an article on the
    	disease if you'd like (thanks to Sandy).
    
    	Heidi 
631.3I second the vote for a trip to the vet!ASABET::MANDERSONThu Oct 14 1993 11:3225
    Fred, 
    
    ...here's another vote to get Sambo to the vet quickly.
    
    My Otis is 18 lbs and when he went for a check-up I remember Dr.
    Moss telling me that he needs to lose a few pounds.  But, only
    1 pound a year ... as it is riskier for large (bigger) cats to
    lose weight fast(er) than smaller ones.
    
    My intent is not to alarm you - but going through Abigail's
    dilemma in not eating; the kidney's can fail, they lose muscle
    tone, etc. etc. etc.!  Until her turn-around last week, she was
    basically starving to death and we were considering putting her
    down (she had diarreah as well).  Thankfully she listened to our
    threats and is eating and (hopefully) on the road to recovery.
    
    It may be something simple and easy to correct - or Sambo could
    have reversible damage - either way he should be checked.  I
    think he'll feel better ... and I KNOW you will too!
    
    Good luck and keep us posted on his condition.  Sending him good
    wishes for a speedy recovery.
    
    Marilyn
    
631.4he returns to the vet today!MAGEE::MORIARTYThu Oct 14 1993 13:107
    Thanks for the quick, informative, concerned replies.    
    
    The vet told me that a 'fat cat' who loses wait quickly can have liver 
    problems, he didn't give details.  He wants to see him today.  I have 
    a 2:30 appointment to bring him in.
    
    Fred
631.5back from the vetMAGEE::MORIARTYFri Oct 15 1993 07:5119
    Hi,
    
    The vet suspects that Sambo 'might' have a liver problem.  He send a
    blood sample out for a complete lab workup. I will get the results 
    this afternoon (Friday).   To stimulate his appetite the Vet gave him
    an injection of Valium.   And it worked.   I walked in and the cat is
    eating food.   Later on at home he ate some more, and this morning
    again he ate some food.   The vet gave me a perscription of Valium
    (diazepam) in case I needed to stimulate his appetite again.  Hopefully
    his appetite will return to normal.   Surprisingly, while he hasn't
    eaten hardly at all, nor had a bowel movement in 7 days, he only lost
    1/2 pound.
    
    My next problem will be reintroducing Sambo to his 2 feline housemates,
    one of whom turned against him when he started wetting around the
    house.   I guess he thought that Sambo was marking his territory, he had
    no way of knowing that he was sick.   
    
    Fred
631.6The more food the betterAKOCOA::LEINONENFri Oct 15 1993 08:4612
    
    	Fred,
    
    	As long as he's not wetting there shouldn't be a problem 
    	reintorducing him to the others. If they don't like the
    	smell of the vet use the old cheap perfume trick ....
    	spray all of them so they can't distinguish one from
    	another and let them loose.
    
    	Please let us know the lab results! Good luck to all of you.
    
    		Heidi
631.7Fingers are crossed XPNEUMA::AIKEYFri Oct 15 1993 11:007
    Fred,
    
    I am keeping my fingers crossed for you and Sambo....
    
    *joyce
    
    
631.8test results were strangeMAGEE::MORIARTYMon Oct 18 1993 08:1533
    Thanks, from Sambo and myself for your concern.
    
    Sambo's test results came back indicating some problems.   The Vet told
    me his blood sodium level was dangerously low, and that his potassium
    level was high and his blood acidic.    They don't know if this is
    indicative of a problem, or a result of being on Science Diet SD for 
    a month, then surgery, then almost 7 days of not eating.  Unless there
    is a change for the worse, I will bring him in on Wed. to get his
    stitches out and another blood test.   
    
    Over the weekend he has been eating like his old 'chow-hound' self.  He
    now acts like a cat, grooming himself alot and playing with toys. 
    There is one additional problem, I have noticed blood in his urine
    again.   The Vet told me to expect some blood for a week or so after
    surgery.  Unless I see any problem I will wait until Wed. to mention this.
    
    He urinated blood before the surgery and lots right after the surgery.   
    However as of last Wed. I couldn't see any blood in the urine.  Then 
    yesterday morning I noticed blood, and again this morning.  He has been 
    urinating in the litter box and his bed right along.   
    Yesterday he went in another area for the first time in many days.  I
    am not sure what is happening here.  Maybe the blood in the urine
    stings.      
    Otherwise he is fine.  His spirits are back, as well as his old 'fight'.   
    
    I reintroduced him to one of my cats yesterday and they got along OK.  
    Don't think I will let him and my other black cat (Beast) together
    until we have this thing licked - hopefully.     
    
    
    Regards,
    
    Fred  
631.9MAGEE::MERRITTKitty CityMon Oct 18 1993 08:2911
    Glad to hear that Sambo is starting to act semi-normal and let's
    pray that the next set of blood tests will show improvement.  It
    is a very good sign for him to be eating and washing himself again....
    
    Give Sambo a big hug....and please keep us posted.  Thank god little
    Sambo found such a warn caring person.  I remember the day this same
    tiny black stray cat jumped right in your truck...and wanted to come 
    home with you....and you didn't even think twice about giving him
    a loving home!!       
    
    Sandy