vet visit
More discussions of poo ahead.
Nooshie's x-rays showed no obvious obstructions. Empty tummy. Stuff in her bowels--but not stuff that seemed backed up or stuck in any way.
When the doctor felt her abdomen, she said that she could feel poop in there, but Noosh did not feel like a cat who really couldn't poop. She said she felt a hard mass on one side, but that was possibly a kidney that was lower than usual. When she took Noosh back for the x-rays and shots (Pepcid, something else for nausea, something for hydration), she had three other doctors feel the mass and they all thought it was a kidney.
Even before the x-rays, she thought there was a fair chance that it wasn't an obstruction, because normally there'd be a lot more vomiting with that.
She gave me a bag with 8 different cans of wet food* to tempt her with. Our goal is to get her to eat maybe a tablespoon's worth and keep it down. If she can do that, then I can give her a tablespoon of food every few hours. She also gave me a large baggie filled with the original Hills Science Diet kibble that used to be Noosh's only kibble. Noosh gets hairball control kibble now. I think the complete transition on that was at least 6 months ago. ... And Noosh has lost a pound since her exam a year ago. (Under all her belly floof, she's surprising svelte. 11 pounds, 3 ounces.)
The weight loss could be a reason for concern. She was not on a diet. But it might be because I changed the food type and the frequency of feeding. I have not noticed a general lack of appetite (except for during hairball times).
The vet said all "hairball control" and "indoor" formulas of cat food contain extra fiber to help "push things through." Sometimes though, it's too much fiber for the cat in question and it can irritate their bowels instead of helping. Sounds like keeping cat grass available at all times and increasing how often I brush her and feeding her "original" food might be a better choice for her.
Noosh hasn't eaten a tablespoon of the fishy pate I've set out for her, but she's had a few bites. So far so good.
If the injections and the food changes don't do the trick, the next step is to run a battery of blood tests...
Let's hope for the best!
*One of the cans of wet food is actually a jar of ham & gravy baby food. She said that when they're trying to tempt cats to eat, it's one of things they have a lot of success with. (I didn't start Noosh with that, because Noosh has strongly preferred fish flavors in the past.)
ETA: If you try baby food with one of your pets, be sure to check the ingredients. One of the homeopathic pet care books I looked at yesterday said that some baby foods will have onion powder. DO NOT WANT.
Oh! Look who's come back for another nibble of fish and grass. :)
Food consumption still way, way less than a tablespoon, but I think it's a good sign that she keeps coming for nibbles. I didn't see her even approach her food dishes before this.
Fingers crossed.
Originally posted at http://llamabitchyo.dreamwidth.org/63197.html. Comment where you wish, yo.
Nooshie's x-rays showed no obvious obstructions. Empty tummy. Stuff in her bowels--but not stuff that seemed backed up or stuck in any way.
When the doctor felt her abdomen, she said that she could feel poop in there, but Noosh did not feel like a cat who really couldn't poop. She said she felt a hard mass on one side, but that was possibly a kidney that was lower than usual. When she took Noosh back for the x-rays and shots (Pepcid, something else for nausea, something for hydration), she had three other doctors feel the mass and they all thought it was a kidney.
Even before the x-rays, she thought there was a fair chance that it wasn't an obstruction, because normally there'd be a lot more vomiting with that.
She gave me a bag with 8 different cans of wet food* to tempt her with. Our goal is to get her to eat maybe a tablespoon's worth and keep it down. If she can do that, then I can give her a tablespoon of food every few hours. She also gave me a large baggie filled with the original Hills Science Diet kibble that used to be Noosh's only kibble. Noosh gets hairball control kibble now. I think the complete transition on that was at least 6 months ago. ... And Noosh has lost a pound since her exam a year ago. (Under all her belly floof, she's surprising svelte. 11 pounds, 3 ounces.)
The weight loss could be a reason for concern. She was not on a diet. But it might be because I changed the food type and the frequency of feeding. I have not noticed a general lack of appetite (except for during hairball times).
The vet said all "hairball control" and "indoor" formulas of cat food contain extra fiber to help "push things through." Sometimes though, it's too much fiber for the cat in question and it can irritate their bowels instead of helping. Sounds like keeping cat grass available at all times and increasing how often I brush her and feeding her "original" food might be a better choice for her.
Noosh hasn't eaten a tablespoon of the fishy pate I've set out for her, but she's had a few bites. So far so good.
If the injections and the food changes don't do the trick, the next step is to run a battery of blood tests...
Let's hope for the best!
*One of the cans of wet food is actually a jar of ham & gravy baby food. She said that when they're trying to tempt cats to eat, it's one of things they have a lot of success with. (I didn't start Noosh with that, because Noosh has strongly preferred fish flavors in the past.)
ETA: If you try baby food with one of your pets, be sure to check the ingredients. One of the homeopathic pet care books I looked at yesterday said that some baby foods will have onion powder. DO NOT WANT.
Oh! Look who's come back for another nibble of fish and grass. :)
Food consumption still way, way less than a tablespoon, but I think it's a good sign that she keeps coming for nibbles. I didn't see her even approach her food dishes before this.
Fingers crossed.
Originally posted at http://llamabitchyo.dreamwidth.org/63197.html. Comment where you wish, yo.