Cat Starving Himself After Urinary Tract Blockage

Phil P. wrote:
She does not think he would

give up eating - and throw up - as a result however.



Is she kidding? I've seen cats with FORL *hiss* at food because they
associate the pain with the food!

Hi Phil,

Thanks for another very informative reply!

I would love for this to be a tooth problem, because it would be so easy
for us deal with compared to inflammatory bowel syndrome.

Our veterinarian consulted a visiting specialist, who examined our cat
and then decided to perform ultrasound on his abdomen. They found no
tumors, but his intestinal wall appears to be inflamed. It measured
slightly over 5 millimeters thick. She says that this is conclusive
evidence of IBS.

Another data point: the one food that he is willing to eat consistently
is a dry cat food with relatively large kibble. It's the one he's most
familiar with, as we have fed it to him for years: Science Diet Light
Hairball. Everything else we've given him - even foods that he would
have turned backflips for last Spring - he has eaten eagerly one or two
times and then refused.

The list of no longer acceptable foods includes canned tuna, sardines,
sliced turkey and ham, several varieties of Fancy Feast, and tender
vittles. If it's a dental problem, wouldn't he be eating the softer
foods and refusing one that requires chewing?

I still want to hope it's something more treatable. If we can get him
past all the pain and indignities he's suffered in the last few weeks
that quickly, he certainly deserves it.

I'll be taking him to get a second opinion from an unrelated doctor as
soon as we can arrange it. I've gotten some recommendations for good
diagnosticians in our area.

Thanks again.

-dreq