Sick cat

Grady will be 16 this coming spring (if he lives that long) and I am very
concerned. I've had him in and out of the vet frequently these past few
months. Grady is/was a very large cat, at his prime, he weighed 20 lbs and
not because he was overweight. He's just a very large cat.

Today, he weighs just over 13 lbs. He's skin and bones. He throws up
constantly. About 6 months ago, the vet told me his kidney test was high,
3.0. We put him on Science Diet k/d food which gave him diarrhea, so I've
had to mix that food 50/50 with a Senior food which solved the diarrhea
problem. However, last blood work showed his kidney test to be 1.9, well
within normal range, according to my vet. We are at a loss as to what's
really going on with him. His last blood work showed everything fine,
except that he was a bit anemic. His white cell count was higher, but not
out of normal range. I originally took him in for the vomiting, the vet
said he had a lot of sinus drainage and thought that this was upsetting
Grady's stomach causing the vomiting. We've put him on various antibiotics
which has lessened that problem, but the vomiting continues. Sometimes he
can go a couple days and be fine and some days, all he does is vomit. The
vet gave me some pills to give him on the bad days (when he vomits more
than once) and they do help.

This all said, I know my vet suspects something going on in his digestive
tract, possible tumor or ulcer, but checks for fecal blood are negative.
We've decided at this point, that at his age, it's not worth doing any type
of scope tests or surgery to try to see what's really going on.

I have to comment, he went through a very similar thing about 2 years ago,
the vet found a lump on his neck which he removed thinking it was a tumor.
Turned out to be nothing but encapsulated fat and Grady then recovered and
has been doing pretty good until now.

But, I'm at a loss. Anyone have any experience with this type of thing or
any thoughts on what can be causing this problem? He's always had a
senstitive stomach, when new food was introduced to his diet, he was the
one who always reacted by vomiting.

Thanks.

Patty

Patty It sounds like you trust your vet maybe a fresh look from another
vet is needed

It sounds like couple of things to me but I am not a vet or a specialist.

Maybe the scope or other procedures can help the furball live a longer life
you want them around as long as possible

"Patty" wrote in message
...
Grady will be 16 this coming spring (if he lives that long) and I am very
concerned. I've had him in and out of the vet frequently these past few
months. Grady is/was a very large cat, at his prime, he weighed 20 lbs
and
not because he was overweight. He's just a very large cat.

Today, he weighs just over 13 lbs. He's skin and bones. He throws up
constantly. About 6 months ago, the vet told me his kidney test was high,
3.0. We put him on Science Diet k/d food which gave him diarrhea, so I've
had to mix that food 50/50 with a Senior food which solved the diarrhea
problem. However, last blood work showed his kidney test to be 1.9, well
within normal range, according to my vet. We are at a loss as to what's
really going on with him. His last blood work showed everything fine,
except that he was a bit anemic. His white cell count was higher, but not
out of normal range. I originally took him in for the vomiting, the vet
said he had a lot of sinus drainage and thought that this was upsetting
Grady's stomach causing the vomiting. We've put him on various
antibiotics
which has lessened that problem, but the vomiting continues. Sometimes he
can go a couple days and be fine and some days, all he does is vomit. The
vet gave me some pills to give him on the bad days (when he vomits more
than once) and they do help.

This all said, I know my vet suspects something going on in his digestive
tract, possible tumor or ulcer, but checks for fecal blood are negative.
We've decided at this point, that at his age, it's not worth doing any
type
of scope tests or surgery to try to see what's really going on.

I have to comment, he went through a very similar thing about 2 years ago,
the vet found a lump on his neck which he removed thinking it was a tumor.
Turned out to be nothing but encapsulated fat and Grady then recovered and
has been doing pretty good until now.

But, I'm at a loss. Anyone have any experience with this type of thing or
any thoughts on what can be causing this problem? He's always had a
senstitive stomach, when new food was introduced to his diet, he was the
one who always reacted by vomiting.

Thanks.

Patty

Patty - did the vet check for hyperthyroidism? They usually don't
unless you ask for it. It is a simple blood test and can be treated
with a small pill. It sounds like hyperthyroidism to me. Try to get
the blood test as soon as posible.

Patty wrote:
Grady will be 16 this coming spring (if he lives that long) and I am very
concerned. I've had him in and out of the vet frequently these past few
months. Grady is/was a very large cat, at his prime, he weighed 20 lbs and
not because he was overweight. He's just a very large cat.

Today, he weighs just over 13 lbs. He's skin and bones. He throws up
constantly. About 6 months ago, the vet told me his kidney test was high,
3.0. We put him on Science Diet k/d food which gave him diarrhea, so I've
had to mix that food 50/50 with a Senior food which solved the diarrhea
problem. However, last blood work showed his kidney test to be 1.9, well
within normal range, according to my vet. We are at a loss as to what's
really going on with him. His last blood work showed everything fine,
except that he was a bit anemic. His white cell count was higher, but not
out of normal range. I originally took him in for the vomiting, the vet
said he had a lot of sinus drainage and thought that this was upsetting
Grady's stomach causing the vomiting. We've put him on various antibiotics
which has lessened that problem, but the vomiting continues. Sometimes he
can go a couple days and be fine and some days, all he does is vomit. The
vet gave me some pills to give him on the bad days (when he vomits more
than once) and they do help.

This all said, I know my vet suspects something going on in his digestive
tract, possible tumor or ulcer, but checks for fecal blood are negative.
We've decided at this point, that at his age, it's not worth doing any type
of scope tests or surgery to try to see what's really going on.

I have to comment, he went through a very similar thing about 2 years ago,
the vet found a lump on his neck which he removed thinking it was a tumor.
Turned out to be nothing but encapsulated fat and Grady then recovered and
has been doing pretty good until now.

But, I'm at a loss. Anyone have any experience with this type of thing or
any thoughts on what can be causing this problem? He's always had a
senstitive stomach, when new food was introduced to his diet, he was the
one who always reacted by vomiting.

Thanks.

Patty

You should seek a second opinion. Could be hyperactive thyroid, could ne
inflammatoy bowel disease, etc. You definitely need to get another vet
involved.
Gail
"Patty" wrote in message
...
Grady will be 16 this coming spring (if he lives that long) and I am very
concerned. I've had him in and out of the vet frequently these past few
months. Grady is/was a very large cat, at his prime, he weighed 20 lbs
and
not because he was overweight. He's just a very large cat.

Today, he weighs just over 13 lbs. He's skin and bones. He throws up
constantly. About 6 months ago, the vet told me his kidney test was high,
3.0. We put him on Science Diet k/d food which gave him diarrhea, so I've
had to mix that food 50/50 with a Senior food which solved the diarrhea
problem. However, last blood work showed his kidney test to be 1.9, well
within normal range, according to my vet. We are at a loss as to what's
really going on with him. His last blood work showed everything fine,
except that he was a bit anemic. His white cell count was higher, but not
out of normal range. I originally took him in for the vomiting, the vet
said he had a lot of sinus drainage and thought that this was upsetting
Grady's stomach causing the vomiting. We've put him on various
antibiotics
which has lessened that problem, but the vomiting continues. Sometimes he
can go a couple days and be fine and some days, all he does is vomit. The
vet gave me some pills to give him on the bad days (when he vomits more
than once) and they do help.

This all said, I know my vet suspects something going on in his digestive
tract, possible tumor or ulcer, but checks for fecal blood are negative.
We've decided at this point, that at his age, it's not worth doing any
type
of scope tests or surgery to try to see what's really going on.

I have to comment, he went through a very similar thing about 2 years ago,
the vet found a lump on his neck which he removed thinking it was a tumor.
Turned out to be nothing but encapsulated fat and Grady then recovered and
has been doing pretty good until now.

But, I'm at a loss. Anyone have any experience with this type of thing or
any thoughts on what can be causing this problem? He's always had a
senstitive stomach, when new food was introduced to his diet, he was the
one who always reacted by vomiting.

Thanks.

Patty

On 11 Nov 2006 09:51:00 -0800, Buddy's Mom wrote:

Patty - did the vet check for hyperthyroidism? They usually don't
unless you ask for it. It is a simple blood test and can be treated
with a small pill. It sounds like hyperthyroidism to me. Try to get
the blood test as soon as posible.


Yes, he did. Said thyroid test showed normal. However, I do wonder about
this, since to me, Grady has symptoms of this: he's always starving, he's
lost a lot of weight, and he's cold. In the morning when the heat comes up
(we turn it down at night) he spends the whole time the furnace is running
sitting in front of the heat register. On sunny days, he looks for any
patch of sun in the living room to lay in. Sounds like a thyroid problem
to me. My husband has suggested taking him to a different vet for a second
opinion, and I'm thinking of doing that.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Patty

On Sat, 11 Nov 2006 18:02:53 GMT, Gail wrote:

You should seek a second opinion. Could be hyperactive thyroid, could ne
inflammatoy bowel disease, etc. You definitely need to get another vet
involved.
Gail

Thanks, Gail. I did come to that decision last night.

Patty

On Sat, 11 Nov 2006 17:41:43 GMT, Matthew wrote:

Patty It sounds like you trust your vet maybe a fresh look from another
vet is needed

It sounds like couple of things to me but I am not a vet or a specialist.

Maybe the scope or other procedures can help the furball live a longer life
you want them around as long as possible


Thanks, Matthew, I do plan to consult another vet for a second opinion.

Patty

Please let us know what the second vet says, Patty.
Gail
"Patty" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 11 Nov 2006 18:02:53 GMT, Gail wrote:

You should seek a second opinion. Could be hyperactive thyroid, could ne
inflammatoy bowel disease, etc. You definitely need to get another vet
involved.
Gail

Thanks, Gail. I did come to that decision last night.

Patty