Sick of these vets

Abelard is still barfing more than normal, so I called the vet he saw
before. He was not in (his mom had a stroke - little wonder, she must be
around 100 years old) but spoke with assistant. She said he probably needs
more antibiotics, and I should call tomorrow. So I called the other vet in
town and told him the whole story. He was sure it must be hairballs. Yeah,
right.... an Abyssinian with hairballs.

I don't know what to do. Maybe "nothing" is the wisest choice. I just don't
believe he has a GI infection or hairballs. And for sure it isn't worms,
they were all wormed a week ago. It is so extremely difficult to medicate
this cat, I think the stress of it probably worsens his condition, too. And
I spent a whole week making sure he got probiotics - meaning lock him in a
room alone with a dish.

Maybe someone here has some thoughts on what to do for him. He's got a great
appetite, doesn't look the least bit sick, and isn't losing weight. In fact
he's gained a bit since he this barfing started. He keeps food in his
stomach for a long time - up to 12 hours - before barfing. He has loose,
light-colored stools, and sometimes seems to have a slight fever.

This morning was weird, he barfed up last night's supper, then,
*immediately* afterward, barfed a larger quantity of clear thick liquid that
was slightly pink. A few days ago he was barfing something very yellow in
color but not a huge quantity.

The alternate vet said if I give him anti-hairball paste for a week and he
is not cured, to take him to Springfield for "a GI series" (whatever that
is). I didn't bother to tell him that I am currently without transportation.

Sometimes I think these vets prescribe stuff they know will not work and
just want to milk us for all they can, at the expense of our pets' health.
I'm about ready to swear off them permanently except for surgeries.

What has been done so far? X-rays? A barium series? Is he
defecating?

How about some Pepcid and reglan to control the vomiting?

If it were here, my doctor would put it on fluids (cause he's got to be
dehydrated) and run a barium series to see if everything is passing.

purrs that everything works out

Kristi

Pat wrote:
Abelard is still barfing more than normal, so I called the vet he saw
before. He was not in (his mom had a stroke - little wonder, she must be
around 100 years old) but spoke with assistant. She said he probably needs
more antibiotics, and I should call tomorrow. So I called the other vet in
town and told him the whole story. He was sure it must be hairballs. Yeah,
right.... an Abyssinian with hairballs.

I don't know what to do. Maybe "nothing" is the wisest choice. I just don't
believe he has a GI infection or hairballs. And for sure it isn't worms,
they were all wormed a week ago. It is so extremely difficult to medicate
this cat, I think the stress of it probably worsens his condition, too. And
I spent a whole week making sure he got probiotics - meaning lock him in a
room alone with a dish.

Maybe someone here has some thoughts on what to do for him. He's got a great
appetite, doesn't look the least bit sick, and isn't losing weight. In fact
he's gained a bit since he this barfing started. He keeps food in his
stomach for a long time - up to 12 hours - before barfing. He has loose,
light-colored stools, and sometimes seems to have a slight fever.

This morning was weird, he barfed up last night's supper, then,
*immediately* afterward, barfed a larger quantity of clear thick liquid that
was slightly pink. A few days ago he was barfing something very yellow in
color but not a huge quantity.

The alternate vet said if I give him anti-hairball paste for a week and he
is not cured, to take him to Springfield for "a GI series" (whatever that
is). I didn't bother to tell him that I am currently without transportation.

Sometimes I think these vets prescribe stuff they know will not work and
just want to milk us for all they can, at the expense of our pets' health.
I'm about ready to swear off them permanently except for surgeries.

I found that with some of the local vets here, their predominate
interest is livestock, and they don't seem to know much about cats. I
think some vets truly aren't that good with cats particularly.
I hate to even mention it (God forbid), but chronic vomiting that can't
be resolved is a serious symptom, that could indicate heartworm,
urinary tract disease, IBS are the ones that come to mind. I didn't
know that vomiting was associated with UTD until recently. I don't
think it is a common symptom, but apparently with some cats it is.
Have you tried some internet research? YOU know Abelard, and what's
normal for him, and what's not, much better than any vet. Maybe you can
get some ideas to ask him about. Good luck. PUrring for Abi.

Sherry

"Pat" wrote:
He was sure it must be hairballs. Yeah,
right.... an Abyssinian with hairballs.

It might not be likely, but it's possible. Betty wasn't as short
haired as Abelard, but she was a shorthair, and she got plenty of
hairballs. It seems to build up over time. Besides, it's possible
for a cat to be a mutual groomer, picking up hair from other cats.

Sometimes I think these vets prescribe stuff they know will not work and
just want to milk us for all they can, at the expense of our pets' health.
I'm about ready to swear off them permanently except for surgeries.

I know it's hard, and that you're a very independent type. It must be
frustrating going and not getting the right answer the first or second
or third time, but I'm sure they don't do it on purpose. You see a
lot of people here who have had vets who didn't get the correct
diagnosis at first. We even have so many posters here with hoomin
doctors who weren't able to get them the correct diagnosis at first,
whether it's with cancer or colitis, or even scabies, recently.

I'm sorry that I can't help, since I'm not a vet, but I will send
purrs for Abelard.

"Takayuki" wrote in message
...
"Pat" wrote:
He was sure it must be hairballs. Yeah,
right.... an Abyssinian with hairballs.

It might not be likely, but it's possible. Betty wasn't as short
haired as Abelard, but she was a shorthair, and she got plenty of
hairballs. It seems to build up over time. Besides, it's possible
for a cat to be a mutual groomer, picking up hair from other cats.

Sometimes I think these vets prescribe stuff they know will not work and
just want to milk us for all they can, at the expense of our pets' health.
I'm about ready to swear off them permanently except for surgeries.

I know it's hard, and that you're a very independent type. It must be
frustrating going and not getting the right answer the first or second
or third time, but I'm sure they don't do it on purpose. You see a
lot of people here who have had vets who didn't get the correct
diagnosis at first. We even have so many posters here with hoomin
doctors who weren't able to get them the correct diagnosis at first,
whether it's with cancer or colitis, or even scabies, recently.

I'm sorry that I can't help, since I'm not a vet, but I will send
purrs for Abelard.


Yep. I say my dermatologist today finally. The mites are gone. The scars
could take six months. She assures me that scabies on a middle aged woman
(she is kind) is an easy diagnosis to miss. I assured her that while I bear
no malice, I'm not going to let my internist live it down any time soon
either. It isn't like I only saw him once. But in all fairness there is
enough else wrong with me to be distracting.

Try something with Abelard if he will allow it. Give him a fairly light
massage that is aimed from his front to his back. Especially chest and
tummy. Kind of like you would do for a baby with colic.

Sam had digestive issues after he had an accident and surgery and it really
helped him.

Think the way a momma cat massages her kittens to keep things moving.


Jo

"Takayuki" wrote

"Pat" wrote:
He was sure it must be hairballs. Yeah,
right.... an Abyssinian with hairballs.

It might not be likely, but it's possible. Betty wasn't as short
haired as Abelard, but she was a shorthair, and she got plenty of
hairballs. It seems to build up over time. Besides, it's possible
for a cat to be a mutual groomer, picking up hair from other cats.

Abelard is the only kitty here who almost never grooms any other cat. Heck,
half the time they do most of his grooming for him.

"Jo Firey" wrote in

Try something with Abelard if he will allow it. Give him a fairly light
massage that is aimed from his front to his back. Especially chest and
tummy. Kind of like you would do for a baby with colic.

Sam had digestive issues after he had an accident and surgery and it
really helped him.

Think the way a momma cat massages her kittens to keep things moving.

He doesn't have a problem to keep things moving. And he makes sure I know
about it. He won't bury his poop!

"Pat" wrote in message
.. .
Abelard is still barfing more than normal, so I called the vet he saw
before. He was not in (his mom had a stroke - little wonder, she must be
around 100 years old) but spoke with assistant. She said he probably needs
more antibiotics, and I should call tomorrow. So I called the other vet in
town and told him the whole story. He was sure it must be hairballs. Yeah,
right.... an Abyssinian with hairballs.

My TED told me to take Otis off food for twenty four hours and then we fed
him no more than a teaspoon at a time of a can of easily digestible wet
food - a hypo-allergenic food - that TED had. We used only two cans of it
and then Otis started to get better. It seemed that his stomach was very
irritated. The idea is to help it calm down a bit. We also had him on
antibioitics for a week.

Otis has had these kinds of episodes a few different occasions and they
always take a long time to completely clear up. I would be a little worried
about the pink in the vomit though - did it look at all like blood?

Susan M
Otis and Chester

"Susan M" wrote

My TED told me to take Otis off food for twenty four hours and then we fed
him no more than a teaspoon at a time of a can of easily digestible wet
food - a hypo-allergenic food - that TED had. We used only two cans of it
and then Otis started to get better. It seemed that his stomach was very
irritated. The idea is to help it calm down a bit. We also had him on
antibioitics for a week.

Otis has had these kinds of episodes a few different occasions and they
always take a long time to completely clear up. I would be a little
worried about the pink in the vomit though - did it look at all like
blood?

All my cats occasionally vomit pink stuff, particularly after eating fresh
grass. I was alarmed the first time I saw it but I guess it's not that
abnormal. It's just barely pink - probably less than a drop of blood per cup
of vomit.

Still purring for Abelard. I'm sorry I've no suggestions.
--
Adrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera)
Cats leave pawprints on your heart.
http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk