7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 UPDATE

Status
Not open for further replies.
miso00

miso00

Member Since 2011
Mikey's BG's are still ok according to his test this morning. He went in for ER dental surgery after having a lot of saliva and making a "choking" gesture when trying to eat. I'm hoping the "choking" gesture goes away but as of tonight it's still there.

I'm thinking maybe to feed him baby food? I know I've seen that as an option here before but certain flavors only. Can anyone tell me which are ok to give him?
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Dental Surgery Today

It's not so much the flavors as what's in the food. You want baby food that's only meat and broth -- no onions, veggies, etc. Gerber Stage 2 food or Beechnut is fine. I've used poultry flavors and lamb with Gabby. The Gerber is a little higher in carbs (about 7%) but it smells a lot better. It's fine to feed baby food for a couple of days but you need to be aware that it's not nutritionally complete for cats.
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Dental Surgery Today

I heard /read it can't be their only food but right now he is physically not able to eat. It's been like this for at least 2 days possibly 4 ( I wasn't home enough this weekend to see). I just eat to make sure he's at least able to get some food in him until this issue subsides hopefully in a few days although I am concerned that he is making the same choking gesture.
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Dental Surgery Today

Did he have the dental procedure because of the choking or is he choking after the procedure? CD had a problem with one of her civvies after a dental -- there was an issue with the intubation. I sent her a note and asked her to stop by.
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Dental Surgery Today

Hi Jenn,
I'm sorry that Mikey is having trouble with eating. My civvie had her throat irritated by intubation during a dental and she had similar troubles as Mikey. She wouldn't eat and choked/gagged on her own saliva because she wouldn't swallow. Her breathing sounded awful although her lungs were actually clear.

The vet gave her injectable Pepcid in case she had stomach upset but I kept telling them it wasn't nausea. She seemed hurt and her refusal to eat was due to pain. She needed sub-q fluids due to dehydration. Finally the vet acknowledged that her trachea was inflamed and prescribed "Carafate" (sucralfate.)

It really helped when I was able to squirt the sucralfate into her mouth. It soothed the inflamed tissue and then I was able to assist feed her water, A/D and or baby food with a syringe. It was several more days before she decided to eat on her own. It was a total of 8 days before she ate on her own.

I hope you can convince your vet quicker than I did - and get something to soothe that throat.

All my best!
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Dental Surgery Today

Can you give me the crash course/summary - what symptoms and when? What did he have done? Did they do xrays?
What medications is he on and was he given?

Mikey needs food to avoid his liver processing body fat to make up for the lack of calories from food. If he doesn't eat on his own you need to help him eat. But if there is a problem where he could aspirate food into his lungs - this would be a crisis. So rather than instruct you on assist feeding here, I really need more eyes on you and Mikey. Can you join the Yahoo Feline Assisted Feeding group? Like FDMB is for cats with diabetes - the FAF group is dedicated to assist feeding. I would have lost Maverick in 2008 due to negligent vet advice and they helped save him. I pay it forward so that no other cat or their owners have to deal with feline hepatic lipidosis. The group is wonderful and from all over the world. The site address is http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feline-Assisted-Feeding/

I would post an intro with as much info as possible before watching any videos or reading any files.

Once you post your intro, there is an amazing video of someone assist feeding their kitty on the FAF home page. Also you will be sent five auto files - one of them is a very detailed article on how to syringe feed safely and effectively.

If you are able to syringe feed and he is able to swallow without issue great. If not the feeding experts will make some recommendations.

Pure meat babyfood may be easier to swallow than the consistency of catfood - even AD.

Sending big hugs to you and Mikey.
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Dental Surgery Today

Hi Jenn,
Sorry to hear that Mikey is having troubles. My civvie, Mullet, had dental problems earlier this year and I had to give him baby food for 4 days or so (he had a cracked tooth that had given him sores on his tongue and he couldn't eat his normal canned food). Like Sienne, I had success with the poultry flavors, and also with beef (Gerbers). I also bought cans of white meat chicken and of tuna in water, and mashed them up really well and he loved those too.
Mullet isn't diabetic, so I didn't have to worry about carbs, so I also gave him some plain yogurt. I'm not sure if that's an issue with diabetes, but probably is?
Hope Mikey gets well soon!
Carl
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Dental Surgery Today

Sending Healing Vines to Mikey after his dental!! Hope he gets well real soon! Hugs from Us!!
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Dental Surgery Today

I will log on now. It didn't help I was gone all day. He won't eat ANYTHING. I tried baby food with and with out the syringe, I could not even get the syringe in his mouth. I am taking him to the vet tomorrow so they can at least assess and get him some nutrients. I tried Nutri cal also, no luck.
There really were no symptoms other than excessive drooling which I noticed last Saturday. The past month we added Tidus (another DCIN foster cat) who likes every spot that Mikey does. With this adjustment I've had to feed Mikey in different places. I thought the other cats were just eating his food before he got to the plate but now in hind sight, I'm not sure he was able to eat. I started to entice him with Parmesean cheese months ago to get him to eat, that worked even last week. When Mikey first came to me last November I brought him to the vet with the complaint of weird mouth issues, like something was bothering him. February he had a dental and was then fine until now. I don't believe any xrays were done and want to have them done tomorrow. Something is very wrong with his mouth. At this point he can't even "lick" the food. I have not been able to get any meds in him either. Thanks for the info.
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Dental Surgery Today

What is considered "too long with out food" before it becomes a serious health issue?
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Dental Surgery Today

What we worry about is FHL feline hepatic lipadosis (fatty liver disease.) A few days of not eating and the body starts to use fat for energy but cats don't metabolize fat very well. So fat cells begin to clog up in the liver and the liver doesn't function well with this build up of fat cells.

FHL disease left untreated is usually fatal. The cure is food. Cats that have stopped eating for whatever reason and start into this disease usually feel very bad and refuse to eat (even if the original problem that caused the innappetance has been resolved) so it is a real challenge. Feeding tubes are often used and these can be absolutely life saving.

Best of luck today at the vet and I sure hope they can figure out what is going on.

You are an angel for fostering these sweet kitties for DCIN.
(((Hugs to you.)))
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Dental Surgery Today

I'd really push for you to have an etube placed - you can tube feed Mikey bypassing the mouth completely. I am not sure if you can afford this but its a quick procedure and non-invasive. (If you go this route make sure the vet does not place the tube directly into the stomach but stops before the stomach - I can give you more info on this).

Do you have his labs from before the dental? Were his liver enzymes elevated?

Cats can stop eating for a variety of reasons - phsyical and mental. A new addition to the home is a big reason.

Please do post on FAF as soon as you can. I'm sure you'll get some replies before your visit today.
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Dental Surgery Today

Hi Jenn, I'm so sorry Mikey is having mouth issues. The vet should be able to get to the bottom of what's bothering him. Sending healing vines and big hugs to you and Mikey. Hope your little guy feels better real soon!!
:YMHUG: :YMHUG:
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Dental Surgery Today

I have a call into the vet to see what he wants me to do.

It's next to impossible to get any food in his mouth with the syringe and he just keeps making the "choking" gesture when we do, even if you put the syringe near his mouth not even in it. He has no appetite of his own
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Dental Surgery Today

Jenn --

I replied to your PM. If the vet can't get you in, I'd really encourage an ER visit. This has gone on way too long with Mikey not eating. Not being able to open his mouth sounds serious.
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Dental Surgery Today

picked up Buprenex from the vet to give him for pain as he thinks that's why he's not eating and to then syringe feed him more than what I have been. They gave me better syringes than what I had.

He gave me A/D wet food as well but I'm not sure if that's ok for FD???
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Is Buprenex OK to give?

At this point, what Mikey eats isn't the issue. He needs to eat.

I just sent you a PM. I'm not convinced that the problem is just pain.
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Is Buprenex OK to give?

Sending snowflakes and healing, feel better, and eating vines to Mikey.
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Is Buprenex OK to give?

I am very concerned also - like Sienne. I don't think this is a pain issue at all. It may be an issue but not causing the gagging/eating issues. I think he may need an e-tube to get through this. Does he gag when presented with food? It could be nausea. But it could also be an issue in his throat or mouth beyond a dental issue. I also worry his liver is already hit and he may have FHL already. Some cats don't seem to get this with weight loss but most cats would. You also got a reply on the FAF board from a member.
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Is Buprenex OK to give?

Taking him to vet in an hour. I will request xrays anything else you can recommend?
 
Re: 7/3 Mikey AMBG 89 Is Buprenex OK to give?

Sending lots of healing and eating vines for Mikey. I hope the xrays give an answer.
 
My vet is doing the complete blood work up, will get results tomorrow. They gave him an antibiotic shot since I had a hard time getting the pills in his mouth and they also fed him. We are home and he is like a brand new cat! He's walking all over and his eyes are wide open. My vet thinks since I was not able to get the pain pills in (now I have the liquid) that he was in so much pain and couldn't eat.

He said that if he doesn't improve tomorrow he will take xrays but he want's the pain to subside before looking into further diagnosing/treatment. He said the 2 teeth removed, 1 was a rotten root and that would explain all the discomfort prior and now since it is still healing (with no pain med until today).

Luckily my vet is a 4 minute walk away and I can get there easily. He knows I'm a nervous nelly :)
 
Did you get any pills in? I wonder if one stuck in his throat if you weren't able to chase it. He needs food can you see if he will eat something like the baby food at room temp? Try presenting it on a spoon and see his reaction if he gags without licking or sniffing this would be nausea I really worry about how long he's gone with less calories than he's needed and the fhl cycle starting or in progress.
 
No pain pill got in- I tried one and he spit it out and the other i crushed and put in the syringe and never got that in either. We got a clovomax in this morning but that was after he was having the gagging/choking issues.

It could very well be that he was in a lot of pain. I gave him the pain liquid at 1pm and he is much better now and at the vet 2 hours ago. They even said he was much calmer than the other day (he was a lunatic) He must have just been in a lot of pain? If the gagging/choking doesn't go away after the 3 days of pain meds then we will do xrays.

THe blood work will show if he's FHL, right?

They fed him at the vet and he is resting peacefully now, in his normal position, not like he was. I will feed him in a little while.
 
Jenn:

Pain meds and antibiotics can be compounded into a variety of forms. This is good to know if you can't give Mikey a pill for any reason. Meds can be compounded into liquids or, in some cases, as a transdermal ointment (i.e., it's absorbed through the skin).

With a dental with extractions it is standard procedure, especially if there's a rotten tooth, for the cat to be given an antibiotic. It is also standard practice for pain meds to be given. Bupe is a liquid. It is either injected subcutaneously (like insulin) or can be given orally by squirting it into the cheek pocket (not down the throat). Your vet should know these things. My vet gave Gabby an injection of Clavamox and an injection of long-acting bupe after her last dental.

Unless specific labs were requested, you will not know if FHL is present and in all likelihood, if liver values are off, it won't tell you if FHL is the cause. You need ultrasound or a biopsy for a definitive diagnosis.
 
Yes, know I know to get liquid forms of antibiotics. I always wondered why they give pills after a dental!

My vet said the same thing that the blood work really doesn't diagnose FHL but if the liver values are off he will be more concerned. Does that make sense?

He seemed to think it was all pain related, and honestly, I kind of have to agree with him. I have a high tolerance to pain and I assumed MIkey was given a pain injection after surgery (I know we do it for humans where I work) and did not realize the importance of Mikey having pain meds for up to 5 days is. However, with him not eating that has me worried about FHL. He ate much better at the vets after the pain injection so I'm hoping he continues to eat more as the pain lessens.
 
The vet's remarks about the liver values make sense.

I hope all it was is a pain issue. I do think that if this doesn't resolve after a couple of days, you should get Mikey's mouth x-rayed. There are dental issues, such as resorptive lesions, that really can't be seen without pre-procedure x-rays and if there's an extraction, you need post-procedure films to make sure all of the roots are out. Pain meds for at least 3 days are needed.
 
Mikey ate on his own!!! granted it was the A/D prescription food, but he ate it and WANTED to eat it!!!

He is almost back to normal but has a horrible sound in his throat. This was a similar sound to a noise he made when we first got him. He used to "grunt" when he ate and always had a spot in his mouth that bothered him. It seemed to stop after his first dental in Feb. but then this week came back at full force. I'm thinking xrays are needed regardless but I know xrays don't show everything. First I am trying to think what it could be? A mass, a broken tooth or an ingrown tooth, something in the gums? An xray would show. Any other ideas? he is also very congested sounding (not sure if that related to the dental)
 
I'm glad he ate...a/d is hard for them to resist.

Gus had a problem with a tube once. He was so hoarse...coughing...wouldn't eat. It's best you continue to pursue it.

Sending him healing vines.
 
Blood work came back fine except glucose was 206 :evil:

I'm hoping it was just the situation. I will test him later today. He was 89 the morning of. I hope this doesn't bring him back to insulin.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top