Taz needs PT power! Update 2/17/07 post #43

[Taz_Zoee]

Taz has not been eating as much lately and is still slowly losing weight, which is a good thing. But I think there may be more to it. We noticed he seems to be having a tough time eating his dry food. The food we have him on only comes in dry and wet, not moist. I really don't like wet food, but will go that route if necessary. I don't want to change his food, since we went through that this past summer....4 times.
He had one of his fangs removed a couple years ago, so we are thinking he has some dental issues.
He has an appointment to the vet on the 23rd. But we would like to enlist the power of PT, that it is only dental problems and can be fixed easily.
Thank you all in advance.

[Catty1]

HOpefully it is just a dental issue - and you can find some dental healthy dry food or treats that will help prevent a recurrence.

PT Prayers on the way!

[krazyaboutkatz]

While I was reading your post, I was also thinking that it could be dental problems. My Storm had to have a tooth removed last year and he's been eating better ever since. I hope that Taz's weight loss is just due to the fact that he's not eating as much as he normally does. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way. Feline greenies are a good treat to give him to help his teeth. I give each of mine 6 pieces every night. I've also just started putting Liquid Oral Care in their water too.

[Taz_Zoee]

Thank you both for your responses. I am hoping that is it only dental stuff. But I have looked at his teeth, as best as I can, and gently pushed on them to see if they are sensitive, but it doesn't seem to bother him. But it could be a back tooth that I REALLY can't get to.
A couple of years ago when he had to have his fang pulled, it was obvious what it was and the tooth was loose and he'd flinch when I touched it.
UUGGHH!!! I still have to wait another week!!! I could take him in early...but he is due for some shots, so I figured I'd get it all done at once.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

[kallisto4529]

hey girl im so sorry i just saw this, i have not been on for couple of days i will email you why, big nightmare..lol anyway i really hope he gets to feeling better, it very probably is teeth, i know bei-jing is not eating normal either, i noticed she is not chewing like she should all the time. so we will have to have the vet check. waiting can be so hard especially when us "mommies" know something is not right!!! i will keep sending prayers and positive thoughts your way. let me know how taz is doing.
talk to you soon
marti

[GSDOG]

I am sure he will be fine...he has you as his mom.. I cant imagine him being 14 pounds though, now he is only one cat instead of 2.. Let me know what the vets says.

[kallisto4529]

how is taz doing? email me or pm me and let me know and how the weekend went.

[Taz_Zoee]

Well, tomorrow is Taz's appointment with the vet. I was a little worried last week because he was not pooping enough (in my opinion). But many people said maybe it's because he isn't eating as much. Which I guess is possible.

So, I almost didn't have a cat to take to the vet tomorrow!! He is an indoor only cat. On Friday we were loading up the truck (we went to stay with my nieces while my brother and SIL went out of town) and we propped the door open. We got everything packed up and set the alarm and I was locking the door. Bruce yelled out, "Is that Taz??" Sure enough he had snuck out while the door was open and was in the FRONT YARD!!!
I am so glad Zoee likes to chase him. We may not have noticed he was out there if she hadn't chased him to the porch. It just freaks me out to think that he almost got left outside ALL weekend. I don't know what I would have done if we had come home and couldn't find him anywhere!! I don't even like to think about it!
He has snuck out the door before, but he usually hangs right by the door and if there is any strange or loud noises he runs right back in. The loud noise is usually me yelling at him to get back in the house.
Anyway, he is safe and sound. And I will personally be checking to make sure he is in the house from now on when we leave. Whew!!

So I will let you know what the vet says tomorrow night.
Thank you all!!

[Medusa]

Whew! Close one! I hope everything goes well at the vet for Taz and for you, too.

Blessings,
Mary

[kimlovescats]

Taz ... you better keep your tail in that house!!!

How did his vet appointment go today?

[Taz_Zoee]

Ok, we are back from the vet. A pretty emotional trip for me.

While the doc was examining him she thought she felt something in his tummy, so they did x-rays. The fact that he has lost weight so quickly is concerning her.

Those came back okay to her, but she is going to have the radiologist look at them to be sure. The next step was to take blood work, I said go for it.

So almost lots of $$$ later, now all I can do is wait for the results of the bloodwork. She is supposed to call me at work tomorrow to let me know.

(sorry, Marti, I kinda copied my email I sent you to use in this post. LOL)

I will post tomorrow when I hear from the doctor.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!! Keep them coming until we get this figured out.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I hope that Taz receives good results. I know how hard it is to wait for the results. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.

[Taz_Zoee]

Well, I just got the wet food tonight and gave him some. He LOVES it!!!
I am only going to give him the wet to get his weight back up to where it should be, then I think we will go back to dry. Dry is easier and I'd rather not have him on the wet unless he can no longer chew the dry.
So for now all is well. We will see what the radiologist says about the x-rays and hopefully we will be a okay!

[Catty1]

I give my guys just a BIT of wet in the morning - 1/8 can of Royal Canin S/O split in half...helps the digestion and gives them a treat.

Maybe you could just keep a bit in his diet when he regains weight? Just get a good quality wet, and it can last a long time if you just feed once a day.

GOOD news on Taz...he'll be a plumper baby before you know it!

[Taz_Zoee]

Yeah, that's something to consider. Give him some wet occasionally. It's just such a pain....to have to wash the dish everytime. I'm lazy!! LOL
And on weekends I get up at 5am to feed him and go back to bed. Now it's going to be an ordeal to feed him. Don't get me wrong, I will do it. I want him to be healthy, so I will do what ever I need to do. Boy, what we do for our beloved cats.
I'm also going to start working on the tub of ice cream. Woo Hoo!!