Hi there, Minerva. And my many thanks to everyone who wrote to post and e-mail me privately.

I've given Ming chicken broth, baby food, bland, boiled, anything that I know would be acceptably palatable to his appetite. And yes, I've withheld ALL medications, as a matter of fact, last Tuesday. Why? Because this cat has had too much. He hid from me after he vomitted Tuesday. I didn't want him to feel that I'm going to punish him by pushing anything down his throat. I'm afraid at this point, To boot, he's Siamese and he's extremely sensitive to all stimulus.

I will tell you though that I sent him yesterday for fluids SQ because he needs it (it's the only thing keeping him alive) ... and I've advocated forced feeding, but this vet has adamantly said NO to forced feeding because seemingly, Ming's inability/reluctance is psychogenic in nature now. In Nursing, I'd call that "ineffective coping" ... so I did what I know best. But I also got reprimanded BIG TIME for holding off his Prednisone, a steroid to suppress bowel swelling and at the same time, stimulate appetite. She said no amount of instinct will get him to eat or drink. So far, she's right on that point because this cat will NOT drink either. She said Ming will die without Prednisone.

Yes, Minerva, IBD doesn't fly with me 100% either. But I don't have any pathology report to go by. This vet relayed all sonogram "results" by phone and actually "ulcerationS" (plural form) was the term that was used to say that those were also discovered upon ultrasound. But all before that, a thickend stomach lining was the first finding that stood out. Hence, the diagnosis of "IBD". If I really wanted a full-term finding, the vet wanted me to consent to an endoscopy ... but another $1K? Yet, here I am 80% convinced that the gastric upset is triggered by nausea secondary to an equilibrium problem due to the ear flushing procedure. I mean, I can go on and on, but that is my take on the technical side. BUT there's no way for me to prove that. The vet sees this situation as entirely 2 different problems. Either that or she has to because to date, I have paid $1,250 for the gastric problems. I won't discount the fact that ulcers don't develop overnight; even the vet concedes that. Ming has been regurgitating after meals for quite sometime now; but I was never alarmed because he never did so with all foods. The vet thinks he has a GERD condition and ulcers have been developing over time, but that the ear flushing exacerbated his gastric condition and came to a full head.

I'll post an update as soon as I get a private confer with the second opinion. Thanks everyone ever so much.


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"minerva nine" wrote in message ...
This is a classic case of "get a second opinion." If it were me (and please
note that I have been deemed nuts by many), I would withdraw all the
medications at this point, because he's taken so much stuff there's no way
to tell what is causing his symptoms. Give him a day or two's rest (with
water available, of course), then offer him some warm chicken broth and see
if he takes it. I think your vet's diagnosis of IBD is baloney, because IBD
doesn't come on suddenly and it doesn't cause the symptoms you're
describing. Plus I've never heard of a cat getting ulcers. Second opinion.
Really. Do it for Ming. -- M9

"Zaida" wrote in message
...
I need an opinion please ... 2nd, 3rd, it doesn't matter. My mind is open
to all possibilities and explanations.

I have a 12-year old Tonkinese whom I had boarded 2 weeks ago when my
family
and I went out of town. I left him with a reputable vet in my area on a
Friday and picked him up the next Monday.

During this time, I also left instructions to go ahead with bloodwork
because I had also wanted to go ahead with his dental cleaning at the same
time. But time was short, so the vet simply ordered labwork and a future
dental appointment was made instead. While I was gone though, the vet
left
me several messages saying she found, upon exam, a right ear infection
that
required ear flushing. I gave my consent.

I was told the flushing was done Monday morning (I picked up Ming, my
Siamese, Monday afternoon). When we got home, I took him out of the
carrier. To my shock, he was falling all over the place. He had a
staggering gait and at the very least, couldn't leap in and out of the
sofa.
No head tilt; no rocking eye movement though, but on his right eye, the
inner lid was showing half-way consistently; very glassy and drowsy
appearance. I put him on the sofa, but he was not comfortable.
Intermittently, he would let out a howl (very loud; uncharacteristic of
this
cat). Then he vomitted at one point. For the rest of the evening, he
would
try to jump out of the sofa, fall, get up and stagger, find a hiding
place,
and howl. To say the least, he would not eat. After vomitting, he slept
peacefully the rest of the night on the sofa (not his usual sleeping place
by the way).

He had a medication to be taken once a day: tresaderm, which I applied to
his right ear the following morning (Tuesday). When I placed that in his
right ear, he shook his head and then vomitted right after. I called the
vet who told me to withhold the tresaderm and she replaced it with PGN
which
I picked up from her office. I continued to monitor his appetite. No
signs, but no more vomitting episodes for the rest of the day and the cat
slept all throughout.

Come Wednesday morning, I applied the PGN. Again he vomitted. So I then
called the vet. I also told her that Ming still hasn't eaten to say the
least in that 48-hour period. She ordered him back. But during the car
ride, he started foaming at the mouth. Vet gave him fluids SQ, but was
concerned about the foaming. It did appear that some was also coming out
of
his nose and made a notation that it could be respiratory. We agreed at
that point to bring him twice a day starting Thursday for fluids SQ. A
new
antibiotic was given (again) to replace PGN ... Baytril.
Thursday morning, cat still hasn't eaten. I popped a tab of Baytril into
his mouth. 15 minutes later, he vomitted again. I called the vet again.
On the car ride, Ming was foaming in the mouth again. This time, she
hospitalized Ming. I also picked up for her at the drugstore, a couple of
prescriptions for Ming -- Carafate and Metoclopramide. She also said she
was going to give him a pre-surg medication to stop the foaming. She
ordered ultrasound and x-ray to rule out anything respiratory. Friday,
sonogram results revealed a thickened stomach; so thick that food can't
pass
through, according to the vet. Vet also mentioned ulcers. I visited Ming
(needless to say, broke my heart to see how lethargic he was). He
preferred
sleeping inside his potty box. The doctor placed an extra aluminum tray
for
him to sleep in.

Throughout the weekend, Ming was on fluids IV. Besides the 2 drugs I
mentioned, all of the previous antibiotics were stopped; but Flagyl was
used
instead. Sunday night, the vet told me that she has started Ming on
Prednisone. My kids visited Ming Saturday. He still preferred sleeping
inside the potty.

I took Ming home (5/3) Monday afternoon. His vet explained to me about
his
gait and what she reiterated would go away in time; that the sight is more
disturbing to us people than it is to Ming. I asked her what in her
opinion
did Ming really have and she said inflammatory bowel. I raised the
possibility of the ulcers found during ultrasound being due from stress
secondary to an equilibrium from the ear flushing; she believed the two
were
unrelated. She explained that ulcers don't develop overnight; they take
time. We discussed the possibility of him having eaten a plant to have
caused the ulcers. My cat is an indoor cat. He did enjoy playing with
(and
chewing on) tall long grasses that are sometimes included with the flowers
I
buy and take home. Other than that, there is no plant in this house -- I
really don't have any indoors; they're fake because I'm the type who
forgets
to water my plants :-(

$1500+ later, my cat remains unappetent, still nauseated and looking
emaciated. I also signed a release statement indicating that my cat is
not
100% better. At home, after the car ride from the vet, the first thing
Ming
did was stagger to his potty box where he promptly threw up. I called the
vet to tell her this. She upped his Prednisone to twice a day.

Everyday that I've had him back, I keep offering him food and water. The
vet also discussed with me that it's ok to give him anything he wants
(with
the exception of milk) just to get him starting to eat. He would poke his
head into his bowl, paw at his food, go through the motions of licking and
picking up, but he wouldn't bite. It's almost as if he's scared to eat!
I
told the doctor this who is now afraid that it's now psychological.

I won't hesitate to tell anyone that my husband has been flipping over
these
costs. He had just had a car accident last week Monday night as well. He
came out unscathed from the accident (a 4-car pile up), but his car has
been
totalled. I'm a wreck between the money worries and Ming. I'm at a point
where my cat is not on the threshold of death, yet does not have the will
to
eat. I have discussed all these concerns with the vet. I don't want to
be
in the position where I have to allow him to die because I can't afford
it.
I do have a $350 balance that the vet and I agreed to pay off next month.
The vet has also said in terms that if surgery was going to be needed for
Ming, she could justify euthanasia for my sake because of the surgical
cost
(of over $1K), but until then she really would hate not to try all means
possible, medication-wise.

Costs aside, I am now at a point where I'm wondering how much of Ming's
predicament is primary or secondary. By admission, Ming's vet did say
that
she seemed to have opened a "pandora's box" when she flushed his ears. I
asked if his ear drum has any tear and she said she couldn't find any,
though some dirt could've attached to tear away a "pin-dot" size during
the
flushing. Ming is still unstable when he walks and does fall when he
jumps
up and out of the bed or sofa. The vet has reiterated that Ming's gastric
problem and ear problem are unrelated.

Yesterday after Ming came out of his potty, he sat down beside me and
proceeded to clean himself (just like the good 'ol days). I was thrilled
to
see that. But as soon as he tilted his head up, he vomitted again. Can
anyone at this point tell me that his vomitting episodes are not related
to
an equilibrium problem? Sonogram, according to the vet, did show
ulcerations. And ulcerations "don't appear overnight".

All my husband knows and calls as he sees it is this: we took a healthy,
happy cat to the vet on a Friday a week-and-a-half ago. Today, my cat is
so
ill that the question of euthanasia is what we have been talking about
most
lately. I have cried and cried; and worried some more ... over
everything;
coming to a point where I'm hoping (praying to God) that my care for this
pet shouldn't be put into test over affordability of treatment costs. But
there are priorities that I cannot hugely discount. Above all, I have to
give weight to my husband's concern to maintain our lives within our
means.
We are by far, the most humane people possible, but we are also not rich
people.

I just need to know if my cat will ever eat. I've withheld Prenisone the
whole day yesterday as soon as Ming walked away from me to hide underneath
the bed after he vomitted. He seems to "want" to eat. He looks eager to
eat. But that's all he does: poke his nose into the bowl, lick, bite, but
does not take the food in to eat.

Today I have an appointment with the vet. She isn't pleased I withheld
the
prednisone, but I'm telling 'ya ... this cat's frame of mind is all I care
for at this point. He hasn't thrown up yet anyway after he last vomitted
yesterday morning. And yes, he did take a bite out of a small piece of
bacon last night; just the size of my pinky nail, but he kept it down and
hasn't vomitted since. This without prednisone.

I'm so afraid to pop a pill into his mouth and be afraid to eat anything
anymore, not after he took a bite out of the bacon. But that's it. And
that was yesterday morning. I've had him back since Monday and it's now
Thursday. This cat, being a Siamese, with his own idiosyncrasies, minus
the
prednisone for 24 hours now ... how much of his condition is truly IBD?

I apologize for being distraught ... but I thank this board though so much
in advance.

~ Zaida~