Cat...stomach, problems, issues, and easter

[kwolf68]

Hey all

I posted last week about my cat who I thought (and may still) had stomach cancer.

I nearly put him down Thursday morning, but before doing that I wanted a 2nd vet to check. While his WBC count was high, she just wasn't convinced it was cancer. She actually recommended antibiotics for potential liver infection. So we went with that plan. Instead of putting him down (I was even looking at crematory services) we brought him home and we've been doing this since.

One of the first things the vet asked me was had he ingested anything. I told him that I didn't believe so.

Well, today I was looking for my other cat (she's spooked of our sickly Doodley) and looked under the bed and saw what I thought was a toy. I pulled it out and discovered it was...

cat vomit with easter grass!!!!

Had I knew about this pile of vomit when taking him in, that's likely the plan of attack we'd have gone on. It may be nothing...it could still be something terminal, but I am SO GLAD I found this before we decided to put him down instead of after it.

Does anyone have any stories, advice on this issue? What can I do NOW before Monday when I take him (and the easter grass) back to the vet? Should I just nurse him through the weekend with pedialyte and go from there? If it's wrapped around his intestines then giving him vasoline won't help any or will it?

Thanks for all earlier responses...

[bicentennial_baby]

1. If you have one in the area, I would get to an Emergency Vet Clinic

But, that's just me.

Good luck to you and the kitteh :pals:

[havocmom]

2. Tinsel at Christmas is bad too. Yes, many cats will ingest stuff like that

Little Ramon noshed some tinsel, but he also ate good stuff that kept him lubed. He walked around one day with 4 inches of tinsel hanging outta his ass. The dog was appalled. Mom said SOMETHING had to be done. My kid brother & had drew straws.

Flossing the cat's ass was NOT what I wanted for Christmas.

Seriously, stuff like tinsel and Easter grass is really dangerous to have around if you have cats.

Kitty malt to help lube them might help, but if the stuff is in a big ball, surgery may be required to remove the blockage from inside his intestines. Can't imagine how it would get wrapped around the outside of his intestines.

Vet will be interested. And embarrassed for not specifically asking about cat having access to Easter grass, given the time of year this happened.

Best of luck. Hope the little rascal gets better.

The water from water-packed tuna is sometimes such a good treat even a sick cat will try some every so often. Keeps them hydrated and right now, that is probably a major concern. Try it.

[kwolf68]

3. Thanks

Funny story too. :)

I am giving him pedialyte to keep his hyrdation up. I also mixed up a 'meal' for him...basically chopped up tuna, Hills food with some pedialyte and give that to him in a syringe.

He's staying on the antibiotics until Monday when I take him back to the vet. The fact he upchucked the easter grass tells me it got into his system. Was that just isolated vomit? Or is it related to his current situation.

Another radiograph with Barium this time may be in order. I really thought he was a goner last week, but now I'm not so sure.

The vet did ask about ingesting something, but I hadn't seen him do it. And yes, Easter grass is now banned in this home.

[havocmom]

4. The plastic Easter grass, balled up in intestine would create a bad blockage

It can kill if it doesn't pass, one way or the other. May be there are other things going on too, but I take it as a good sign that something indigestible was vomited. Could be that blockage is all that is going on and perhaps some of it is breaking up.

I would be real shy about much food. Soft, mushy and very wet would be advisable. One hopes the blockage did not cause anything to rupture, because that would open up the possibility of peritonitis.

We have a vet here on DU. Perhaps she will see this thread and have a recommendation about getting cat into emergency or what might help until Monday.

Lots of love for him. Think positive thoughts and PICTURE him being well and enjoying life again. I really think lots of our pets are in tune with our thoughts to the point that positive imagery on our part can help them a lot. Can't hurt.

[kwolf68]

5. Yea I read a lot of that.

A full blockage should have shown some indications on the xrays.

I am thinking (hoping) a partial blockage, because he is able to eat, consume, not vomit, and defecate soft/mushy food. He hasn't eaten any hard food since coming home and has not been vomiting. He's eaten some pounces and what I've given him.

I am hoping if peritonitis is beginning to take hold, the antibiotics we are giving him will help.

Thanks for all the help

[kwolf68]

6. We just gave him his pills

He is definately stronger...the first time we did this (thursday night) he just laid there and let us open his mouth and stick the pill in.

Now he's fighting a lot harder.

[applegrove]

7. So sorry your cat is sick. Cats eat grass to make themselves sick sometimes.

Don't know if that helps.