Very sick kitty....I need some advice!

[kristi00]

Hi everyone! I'm new to this board, and hope some of you can help me. I have a beautiful little siamese boy, right around a year old, whose recently become very ill. Two weeks ago he stopped eating, and started having major diarrhea. I took him to the vet, and he was there for two weeks, and they have no idea why he's the way he is. He's overall healthy, other than severe diarrhea, rapid weight loss (due to the lack of nutrition I'm thinking) and loss of appetite. My vet has no diagnosis, and just sent him home to try and nurse him back to health. He eats very very little, baby food only, and looks just terrible, not the beautiful little boy who went into the vets office two weeks ago. Does anyone have any suggestions other than a second opinion? Anyone have any remedies for diarrhea, or anyone had a pet with this condition before? Any info you have would be greatly greatly appreciated, we love him and don't want to loose him!!
Thank you!!
Kristi

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by kristi00

... I took him to the vet,
and he was there for two weeks,
and they have no idea why he's the way he is.

*WELCOME* to Pet Talk, Kristi!! ;)

After two weeks in the Hospital - and NO improvement -
It's Time for that Second Opinion!!

Ask or call around to locate a Vet with a good reputation for
treating CATS.

You might get lucky and find one that treats ONLY cats.

Good Luck to you AND the FurKid!

/s/ Phred
..

[carole]

Welcome to Pet talk, I am really sorry to hear you little boy is so sick, I think cinder and smoke put it well, GET A SECOND OPINION and fast, let us know how your furbaby is doing,? fingers and paws crossed here for a speedy recovery, take care and get well soon sweet furbaby.

[catcrazylady]

I certainly agree about the second opinion. Something is wrong.
There are a lot of people on this board that have had this problem. Please hang on and keep checking back until they see it and respond.
I know canned pumpkin and yogurt with live bacteria is what is commonly used to help bind things back up. I know there was a joke at one time about how it looked like you were serving them with pumpkin pie with whipped cream on top (yogurt). I personally have not had to try this yet (thankfully) but those that have swear by it. They also say that the kitties like it and most of them don't have to be forced to eat it. Especially the yogurt. If you try the yogurt make sure it has live bacteria and it should say so on the carton. These are good bacteria that help destroy the bad bacteria in the intestines.
Your baby really sounds sick and I'm sorry to hear that. Please keep us posted and make sure you also watch for dehydration. If at all possible try to get a second opinion for the little guy.
Please keep watching the board because the experienced experts will eventually see this.
Good luck and hugs to your sweet baby. Prayers on the way that he gets well soon.

[Karen]

I agree with the others - a second opinion is deserately needed. Ask friends for vet recommendations in your area. What is your kitty eating, foodwise?

I would never bring an animal back to a vet that kept it for two weeks and then sent it home with no diagnosis!

Poor kitty ... lots of fattening treats are in order ...

[krazyaboutkatz]

Welcome to PT!:) I'm so sorry to hear that your cat is sick.:( I agree that a second opinion is needed. Did the vet test your cats stool for bacteria or parasites? I sure hope that you'll be able to find out what's wrong. Prayers and positive thoughts are being sent your way. Please keep us updated.

[kristi00]

Thanks you guys for all the responses! I'm thrilled to see so many cat lovers out there!!!! I had already made Tinge an appointment with another vet that a friend uses and swears by, but they can't see us till the 3rd. So in the meantime, I'm gonna try the yougurt thing, if it will help stop or at least slow down the diarrhea till the next vet visit, that would greatly help!! Right now he's eating babyfood...turkey, chicken, and beef. The vet recommended this till his digestive system strengthens up. Thanks again, especially for the prayers, I lost my last kitty of 22 years recently, and can't stand the thought of loosing my new kitty! I'll keep yall updated!!!

Thanks a million!!!

[catcrazylady]

Great news Kristi00! I'm glad you have another appointment for the little guy. Please do keep us updated on how he is doing. I hope the yogurt helps until then.
Prayers are still going out for the little guy. I'm really sorry to hear that you lost your kitty recently. You were very blessed to have had her for so long but that also makes you miss them so much more.
Keep loving the little guy and I really hope this new vet can do something more than the last one. What a shame he has had to suffer for so long.
Whats his name?

[smokey the elder]

Make sure kitty gets plenty of water! I'm glad you're seeing a different vet. I would fire that first one for sure!

Oh, and WELCOME!

[thawks120]

I agree 100% with everyone.. Any vet that keeps an animal for 2 weeks and can't figure out whats going on, isn't much of a vet. One thing that can give cats that kind of problem is worms or parasites. Even the best fecal float can miss the eggs and such. Kitty might have coccidea also, which can start up from the stress of being placed in a new home. The treatment for either coccidea or worms, is inexpensive and easy... I'm sure that "Everyone" on Pet Of The Day is praying for you and your new baby... keep doing what your're doing..

[catcrazylady]

Any news Krist00? Did the new vet find out what was wrong?

[Craftlady]

Originally posted by thawks120
The treatment for either coccidea or worms, is inexpensive and easy...

I have to correct the above statement to some extent.... Coccidea is not cheap to treat if left untreated for long period of time it's not easy. Allot of time and patience. Been there done that with Skinny when we took him in as a stray. 3 months of medications and allot of office visits and tests. Also if left untreated is fatal.

I'm glad you have an appt with a new vet. :)

[MySweetBoy]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by kristi00
[B]Hi everyone!

Hi,

I'm very glad you're going for the 2nd opinion!! My cats haven't had an incidence of diarrhea in a very long time so I have no feedback on the possibilities of what's causing it or medicine treatments. However, there are many here at PT whom I would call very experienced. There is one stopgap measure ( not a cure) I know of that you can try (in addition to yogurt and pumpkin) until the vet finds out the problem. I found this on a feline web site for a friend. Sorry, the site eludes me right now. Cook "real" rice (not Minute Rice) and squash it really, really good into Tinge's soft food or baby food, if that's what he's still eating. Also, cook about a handful of rice in about 2 cups of water, cool it and offer it as the only water supply. If he won't drink it, keep diluting it until he does. If he won't drink it, forget it. Be very sure that he gets plenty to drink. I hope Tinge will be well soon!!! My prayers are with you both.

Linda

[moosmom]

One thing that'll help rehydrate your kitty is unflavored Pediatric Electrolytes. Put some in a syringe and force your kitty to drink. Even if it's only a couple of syringe fulls. You can get the stuff at any drug store.

[kristi00]

Thanks everyone for their prayers and for the advice!! Tinge saw the new vet, and she's waiting on the blood work to come back. I should know something tomorrow. He went all day without any diarrhea, and did have a regular formed "movement" this afternoon which is really good news! (Thanks for the yogurt advice, I think that helped!!!) The new vet told me that he was very sick, and had I not brought him in as soon as I did, he would have been a goner! But he has gained some weight since being home, and is eating and drinking like normal. I don't wanna jinx myself though, so I'll leave it at that and thank all you wonderful people for the advice and prayers!! God bless each and every one of you and your "babies"!!! I'll keep you updated!!!

[QueenScoopalot]

Welcome to PT Kristi..I've been holding my breath reading this thread and glad to see things are looking up for your boy! Glad you went with the great advice this board gives about second opinion! There seems to be something terribly wrong with a vet that keeps your cat for two weeks and says..I don't know what's wrong. :mad: Sending some purrayers that the diarrhea subsides totally, and the new vet can figure out what's going on. Did vet #1 ever run any bloodwork? :confused: Keep us posted...Jan

[MySweetBoy]

Great news Kristi!!! I will keep praying that Tinge continues on the road to recovery.

Linda

[kristi00]

Hey everybody! Just an update on Tinge, we got the bloodwork back and he came back negative for all diseases they tested for, the only thing she didn't test for was a couple STD's and since he's nutered she seems to think that couldn't be it, but we've started him on Tetracycline and still on the Viokase for ease in digestion, and he seems to be doing better. Still having bouts of diarrhea now and then, but he's eating really well, and doesn't seem to be dehydrated, so maybe we're on the right road to recovery! You guys have been great and thanks so much for all the prayers and advice! It's nice to know I'm not the only "crazy cat lady" out here!! Thanks again!!! We'll keep you updated!!!

[krazyaboutkatz]

This is wonderful news!:D I'm so glad to hear that he's on the road to recovery.:)

[Deirdre]

Hi Kristi!
I'm so glad to hear that he is doing better! Smart move getting a second opinion! I'm writing to tell you that I have had a similar experience. One of my kitties, Bob, went through the same thing about 13 years ago. He was a youngster around that time, probably about 1 at most. I lived in St. Louis then, and we had horrible, humid summers. Generally, in those kinds of climates, one gets june bugs and other creepy crawly things of that nature. Regardless of the doors and windows, those things would get in. Turns out, Bob would find them and bring them to me in my bedroom. I would scream and carry on, but the fact was, he would have them in his mouth. Then he became very sick. He had the exact same symptoms your kitty did. He got to the point that he could not even lift his head. I spent 2 weeks shuttling him from the vet to the emergency room just so they could give him fluids while I was at work. The vet gave him X-rays, I took him to a cat specialist, he was fed with a tube, it was such a painful experience. The vet finally asked me if he had been in contact with any bugs. I never thought to mention that, simply because Bob is an indoor kitty. I told him that, yes, he fetched bugs! To make a long story short, apparently kitties CAN get some sort of virus from bugs....even if they simply pick them up in their mouths! No tests can detect it. It just happens, and can happen even if they are indoor kitties. We basically waited it out and cried alot. There is no vaccine. Just watch your
baby during the summer. Bob got well after two weeks and is now a fat, spoiled, puffy mess of 14 years. But, just remember, kitties LOVE to eat anything with wings....it's just not good for them! Best of luck to you and your baby. And I am so sorry about your recent loss. It's hard to lose a member of the family...your kitty was much loved I'm sure. :)

[kristi00]

Thank you guys for all the prayers and encouragement! Tinge is much much better, he's gained over two pounds in the last two weeks, and is eating like a little piggy! We still have no idea what's caused his illness, but he's taken antibiotics and is on the road to recovery! I'm sure you guys all know how relieved I am, and it's nice to know that there are "crazy cat ladies" everywhere that care about me and my babies!! God Bless each and every one of you!!!

[catcrazylady]

That is the most wonderful news!!! Two pounds in two weeks!! WOW!! :eek: That's great! Please give him hugs from the crazy cat people of PetTalk. :D :D :D

[jomama55358]

did they test for FIP??....both WET and DRY form??

[GraciesMommy]

Welcome to PT..no kitty here ...I have a Gracie..yorkie poo...and I do hope your furbaby is on the road to recovery by now

[QueenScoopalot]

Originally posted by jomama55358
did they test for FIP??....both WET and DRY form??
The FIP test is a waste of money, and only detects whether a cat has been exposed to a corona virus or not. Common colds are members of the corona virus family, and I shudder to think how many cats have been killed by this test! Many cats get colds by the time they're a year old, and if they were tested for FIP they would test postitive! The test does not differentiate between the different corona viruses of which there are hundreds! :eek: :eek: The only conclusive way to know if a cat has FIP is by a necropsy. :(

[kodj]

Take your kitty back to the vet and have them treat for parasites. I have a siamese cat and when he was kitten he was extremely ill for about three months. We tried everything. We finally took him to a vet who treated him for parasites, not just the regular deworming treatment. He gave him medication that would get rid of any type of parasite that could be living in his body. After that and some antibiotics he was fine and is a very happy kitty now. Just keep trying :) It will be okay.