Respiratory infection, foamy spit-up, loss of appetite

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Phil & Garfunkel

Phil & Garfunkel

Member Since 2011
Haven't posted here in three or four years since everyone here helped me and Garfunkel fight off his diabetes.

Garfunkel is 17 now. He's had a recurring URI (upper respiratory infection) the past few years which usually gets treated with a ten day dose of azithromycin. Started him on the azithromycin again this past Friday because his nose was really clogged and he started vomiting.

Sunday the vomit started to become white and foamy, so I made a vet appointment. This has continued into today, but it's more like he's trying to cough, spits up some white foam, and then it either hangs from his mouth, or he swallows it back.

I thought this might be the onset of kidney disease, since he's old and the last visit said those numbers were trending high, but after the vet visit this morning the blood work shows his kidney levels are actually better than the last visit, but his white blood cell count is extremely high. I have an ultrasound and chest x-ray scheduled for Friday.

Blood work:
11429947_10101027103348714_7449619401768941339_n.jpg


In the meantime, he's drinking, but barely eating, and the white foam is worrying me. He didn't even seem interested in tuna, other than licking the tuna water off my fingers.

Any suggestions or advice?

Thanks everyone.
 
Hi to you and garfunkel

I wonder if he is getting acid build up from not eating much. When my cat Remi started to bring up white foam he was helped by having 1/8th Zantac tablet twice a day (he isn't diagnosed with kidney problems) . Not sure that would be right for your situation.

You need to get him to eat or assist feed him. Do you think he is nauseous? Does he walk up to food and then turn away? Lick his lips? If so He might benefit from some anti nausea medication such as ondansetron.

In the meantime have you tried heating his cat food? Maybe he can't smell it?
 
If his nose is clogged, he may be unable to smell the food well enough to trigger appetite. Have you tried syringe feeding to see if he can swallow?
If acid stomach from not eating, 1/4 Pepcid (10 mg plain version) may help with the upset stomach. Wait to feed for about 20 minutes to let it start taking effect.
If no eating in 2-3 days, he will be at high risk for hepatic lipidosis, where fat breakdown for calories swells the liver and disrupts digestion.
Also, if his glucose is high (300s and up), even if not eating, giving some insulin (not necessarily his full dose) will allow him to use it for energy.
 
phlika29 said:
I wonder if he is getting acid build up from not eating much. When my cat Remi started to bring up white foam he was helped by having 1/8th Zantac tablet twice a day (he isn't diagnosed with kidney problems) . Not sure that would be right for your situation.
Click to expand...

I'll look into this as a possibility.

phlika29 said:
You need to get him to eat or assist feed him. Do you think he is nauseous? Does he walk up to food and then turn away? Lick his lips? If so He might benefit from some anti nausea medication such as ondansetron.
Click to expand...

The tuna, I have no idea, because he kept licking tuna water off my fingers, but didn't seem interested in the actual tuna meat. I've tried three different cans of wet food today. In the past five minutes or so, he's finally started nibbling again, but it's more like as soon as he starts nibbling, I hear gurgling, and then he stops for a bit.

phlika29 said:
In the meantime have you tried heating his cat food? Maybe he can't smell it?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I always warm up his food.
 
BJM said:
If his nose is clogged, he may be unable to smell the food well enough to trigger appetite. Have you tried syringe feeding to see if he can swallow?
Click to expand...

I've never had to syringe feed before, but his nose is pretty clear at this point.
 
That's good. Hopefully the more he eats the better he might feel. Maybe the antibiotic made him feel unwell. I don't know if you aren't meant to give it with or without food?

I would speak to the vet if he doesn't get his full appetite in the next day as you don't want it going on too long as BJM mentioned. You could ask to try some ondansetron or ask about the Zantac.

Syringe feeding may be a good idea. You could try blending up some cat food with water and putting it in a large oral syringe. You don't want to put him off his normal food though.
 
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