? Elderly cat has been gagging

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AzChic70

AzChic70

Member Since 2018
My elderly cat Blackie has been on insulin since April 26.
He has gained weight and is doing well. He is 17 yrs old this month.

Yesterday, I noticed he has developed a gag reflex.
Sometimes gags when I am petting him. I just brushed him and he gagged when I was gently brushing this throat.
He is still eating like normal.

He did throw up some liquid this morning that I swear had some fur in it.
Then I was thinking back to a week or so ago when I've seen him throw up here and there little spots of spit and read that it could maybe have something to do with acid reflux?

Anyone have any ideas?
 

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How often are you feeding? Feeding smaller meals more often is better for acid reflux. Of course if it's a hairball you just have to wait for it to come out.
 
He eats pretty often, tho this weekend my husband and I were out of town and relying on my son to feed Blackie. I'm sure he did go quite a while without eating on Saturday.
 
No, we havent done any blood work, only his test for diabetes.
At his age, we dont see the need for a major workup.
He’s always been well, still eating good, etc. just really old.
 
Stuck hairball? Maybe a little grass or olive oil will help. My cats love olive oil and will lick off my finger, it seems to settle their tummies. Grass of course will keep them regular and will sometime cause them to throw up and it usually involves a hairball.
 
Sounds like a hairball.

AzChic70 said:
At his age, we dont see the need for a major workup.
He’s always been well, still eating good, etc. just really old.
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I would definitely do a blood panel! What we mistakenly identify as "old" is often a host of old-age illnesses that can be treated to give a better quality of life, than let our old cats decline into illness. On the contrary, the older a cat gets, the more important it is to do a blood panel. Quintus gets one every three months (he's 17). He's doing well, but doing these panels (less often when he was younger) allowed us to detect kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and hypertension before they got bad enough to show disturbing symptoms. They're now all under control and he's enjoying life -- if I hadn't done those panels and given him treatment he'd certainly be dead or very poorly by now.
 
Stephanie & Quintus said:
Sounds like a hairball.



I would definitely do a blood panel! What we mistakenly identify as "old" is often a host of old-age illnesses that can be treated to give a better quality of life, than let our old cats decline into illness. On the contrary, the older a cat gets, the more important it is to do a blood panel. Quintus gets one every three months (he's 17). He's doing well, but doing these panels (less often when he was younger) allowed us to detect kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and hypertension before they got bad enough to show disturbing symptoms. They're now all under control and he's enjoying life -- if I hadn't done those panels and given him treatment he'd certainly be dead or very poorly by now.
Click to expand...

Could you share how you treat the hyperthyroidism along with the diabetes if he has that as well as the kidney disease? Are you seeing any side effects? What are you giving the cat med wise and food wise? Thank you.
 
C&C said:
Could you share how you treat the hyperthyroidism along with the diabetes if he has that as well as the kidney disease? Are you seeing any side effects? What are you giving the cat med wise and food wise? Thank you.
Click to expand...

Quintus gets carbimazole for the thyroid. When he had diabetes I tried to switch him to wet DM food but he went into remission before I could complete the transition. He is now on m/d dry food. He has had fortekor for years for his kidneys, he’s borderline CKD
 
So he hasn’t been vomiting food? And you say his eating habits are normal, so it seems dental,issues are less likely

Usually in my house small spots of spit or foamy stuff is because they were eating plants they shouldn’t be or a hairball. Though correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t d/m dry have a high fiber content? I figure that would help with fur balls
 
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