Gagging, will not eat

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Judy and Hershey

Judy and Hershey

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Hershey had his 1 year check with the Vet on Monday, Oct 17 and had a full blood screen, keytones and sugar. Everything came out good, at the vet his sugar tested high (333). Teeth had a little tarter, which he chipped off with his nail. The Vet prescribed a new bottle of insulin, and told me that I was over the top and did not need to test every day. He said once a month or even once every two weeks. I told him that even though Hershey's numbers were pretty consistent, I didn't feel comfortable testing like that. So I tried a few days this week of only testing in the morning, but then I felt like I didn't know where he was at in the evening, so I am back to testing am/pm yesterday.

We got a new kitten on Oct 1, he was quarantined due to a parasite. He was retested and given a clean bill of health. He was introduced to my other cats on Oct 14, hence Hershey's numbers went up a bit. As well, the kitten was on kibble from the rescue, so Hershey got into some of that. Anyway, on Thursday he was great, ate well, then Friday he seemed more lethargic, yesterday he was licking his mouth in the morning and had a low number so I didn't give the insulin, because he didn't eat very much, he ate during the day, not much, but in the evening ate a bit, we tested and gave insulin. I was up last night at 3:00 am to check him and fed him, and he ate a bit. This morning he tried to eat, but kept gagging. He has not vomited, and he seems like he'd like to eat, but just can't, he will take a few licks and then stop. I'm not sure if he is constipated, the cats since they are on wet food, don't poop as often as when on dry. I have given him some probiotic (animal type) in his food, as well as some miralax, we have even given him some fur-ball remedy. He is definitely not himself, I just don't think he got into anything else. Our house is kitten/cat proofed, someone is always home. Sometimes Hershey gets the dog's kibble if we don't pull it up right after he eats and doesn't finish.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Since his diagnosis last May 2015, he has never not been able to eat before a shot. I'm worried.
 
Judy and Hershey said:
Would the Vet have picked up on pancreatitis in his blood test results? This came on suddenly.
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It's a specific test. Not one in normal blood panel. If your vet has a SNAP test you will know right away. It's yes or no answer like a pregnancy test. It will not tell you how bad it is though.
 
I will go and get some Pepcid. How is this administered? He does routinely have hairballs, but never gagging like this. He is normally hungry, especially for any kibble he can find....just seems strange he was fine until Friday.
 
Woodsywife said:
It's a specific test. Not one in normal blood panel. If your vet has a SNAP test you will know right away. It's yes or no answer like a pregnancy test. It will not tell you how bad it is though.
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If nothing improves by tomorrow morning, I will get him in to my Vet. The emergency VET is only open today and they know nothing about my cat. Which would result in running tests all over again, which were just done less than a week ago at my local vet. :(
 
Make sure it's plain pepcid 10 mg tabs but that is NOT how much you give. I think you give 1/4 tab. Let's see what others say and I will search.
 
Woodsywife said:
Make sure it's plain pepcid 10 mg tabs but that is NOT how much you give. I think you give 1/4 tab. Let's see what others say and I will search.
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Thanks, I saw that in some earlier posts, will get the basic kind, I think it is 1/4 of pill. I have never had to give my cat a pill, so this should be fun. Just tried to feed him, he wants to eat, but just licks his lips and takes a few licks. Then he gags. So upset. Will pick up some baby food and see if he will eat a little. Just worried about dehydration. He hasn't eaten since 3:am. 9 hours now and he didn't get his insulin this morning. :(
 
If he is not eating and has had no insulin can you do a ketone test and keep monitoring for ketones. You could try mixing some food with water and heating it up a little and put the bowl on something so he is more comfortable, if he won't drink you can try syringing some water in to the side of his mouth and seeing if he can swallow it, you may also need to try syringe feeding if the usual tricks don't work. This situation is high risk for development of ketones and you need to get fluids into him.
 
Alexi said:
If he is not eating and has had no insulin can you do a ketone test and keep monitoring for ketones. You could try mixing some food with water and heating it up a little and put the bowl on something so he is more comfortable, if he won't drink you can try syringing some water in to the side of his mouth and seeing if he can swallow it, you may also need to try syringe feeding if the usual tricks don't work. This situation is high risk for development of ketones and you need to get fluids into him.
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Thank you on my way to the store. I attempted to feed him, but he couldn't. Will try baby food when I get back and pepsid. If necessary will syringe. Haven't seen him drink, no pee in litter box.
 
If you have no luck getting him to eat or drink then I would be inclined to contact the emergency vet as he may need fluid support, and a blood test for ketones.
 
He sounds nauseous. Pepcid is a good idea, 1/4 of a 10 mg pill is the standard dose. I agree with all of the previous advice. Fluids can sometimes jump start a cat's upset stomach if they are dehydrated. Definitely test for ketones. Hope he starts improving for you.
 
Just gave him the Pepcid followed by a little syringe of water. Will see how that sits. When should I try feeding again? Can he have another dose of this and when?
 
As far as I am aware it is once daily, keep at it with the water and if he is coping with it ok offer a small amount of food, little and often helps to calm the nausea.
 
Alexi said:
As far as I am aware it is once daily, keep at it with the water and if he is coping with it ok offer a small amount of food, little and often helps to calm the nausea.
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I offered him a teaspoon of baby food (chicken) and he ate it all, it just looks like he has trouble swallowing, its so weird. I will try and give him a little more just 2 hours outside his test, and see how he feels. He seems alert but not himself. Keep you posted. Please pray for my boy. Sad part was he was doing so well on the charts, he went up a little when we got the new kitten, but he was fine just two days ago, and great at the vet last Monday. If he isn't well in the morning, I will take him in. I am going to try to administer his PM insulin dose if he eats some more.
 
I would just keep offering small amounts of food plus water until he looks like he is ok to have more, fluids are really important to get in to him, it's best to give some insulin if you can even if it it just a tiny dose to avoid running into worse problems. Plus grab some urine to test as soon as he goes. I wonder if he has got something stuck or if the kitten kibble didn't agree with him :bighug:
 
Alexi said:
I would just keep offering small amounts of food plus water until he looks like he is ok to have more, fluids are really important to get in to him, it's best to give some insulin if you can even if it it just a tiny dose to avoid running into worse problems. Plus grab some urine to test as soon as he goes. I wonder if he has got something stuck or if the kitten kibble didn't agree with him :bighug:
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I was able to give him 1/4 pepsid at 2:00, fed teaspoon baby food at 2:30 and at 4:30. At 6:00 for his test he was 270 which isn't bad considering he did not get his morning insulin. He tried to eat the wet food, but gaged and walked away. I was so upset. I have never seen him like this. My daughter brought him back and I gave him .25 unit. Will check him at 10:00 to see how he is doing and try some more water. We took a syringe full of water up at 7:30 and gave him about 1/4. He hasn't vomited but he continues to be nauseated. I called the emergency vet that our clinic uses and spoke to them, they told me to monitor him, try and get some water into him and take him to my vet first thing. I left a voicemail on my vet's machine, and will call at 7:00 when they open. Will take tomorrow off work. I know we are bad sometimes and give him treats, ie cheese, butter, icecream, not a whole lot but a dab. He did have some of the kitten's kibble, not my fault, but was this all enough to through him into a pancreatic attack? I'm so sick right now, I can't breathe. Please pray for my Hershey. Thanks.
 
Thanks needs all the prayers I can get, for me too, I am a wreck. Just checked his sugar level it is at 172 at +4. He ate 1 tb of baby food. Hopefully he will keep that down. He hasn't thrown up yet. Just smacking his lips. Let you all know what the vet says. Thanks again :)
 
Up and waiting to go to Vet. We fed Hershey at 12:30 am he ate 1 tsp of baby food. He would not eat this morning. His BS was 303 at 6:00 am I elected not to shoot. I'm too worried about everything else. I will see what the vet will do. He has a very low purr, please pray for us. Thanks.
 
Prayers and hugs for you and Hershey. Ask your vet for cerenia, Cochran (both work well together) and cypro for appetite stimulant (mirth is given once every 3 day) cypro can be given multiple times every day.

If it is pancreatitis, there isn't a way to know what set it off, so don't blame yourself.

Waiting to hear what vet says.
 
Great News! The vet examined Hershey, did bloodwork for pancreatic, urine for ketones and an x-ray. All were negative. The only thing the xray showed was that his stomach and intestines were full of gas. He was slightly dehydrated and was running a low grade fever. He showed me the xray and otherwise he looks good on the inside! He gave him subcutaneous fluids, an injection for cerenia. He gave me 3 cans of recovery by Royal Canin to give him for the next 3 days. When we got home he jumped out of the kennel, he jumped up on the top of the fridge looking for his grass. I hit it, I wanted him to eat. So I opened the can of recovery and put it in a dish. Not interested, so I went against my grain and let him eat of the can! YES he ate. He has to eat every 2 hours for 12 hours. He will have his insulin tonight on schedule. He told me not to worry about the carbs in this food right now, it has things in it to help him get back on track! Vet thought he may have gassed up from kitten food, maybe the ice cream that he licked out of the bowel, so we are banning ice cream in this house (for everyone's good lol)!:cat::cat::cat::cat::cat:

Thank you all so much for your prayers, support and for this page that never ceases to amaze me with the wonderful caring people on it!
 
Judy and Hershey said:
Great News! The vet examined Hershey, did bloodwork for pancreatic, urine for ketones and an x-ray. All were negative. The only thing the xray showed was that his stomach and intestines were full of gas. He was slightly dehydrated and was running a low grade fever. He showed me the xray and otherwise he looks good on the inside! He gave him subcutaneous fluids, an injection for cerenia. He gave me 3 cans of recovery by Royal Canin to give him for the next 3 days. When we got home he jumped out of the kennel, he jumped up on the top of the fridge looking for his grass. I hit it, I wanted him to eat. So I opened the can of recovery and put it in a dish. Not interested, so I went against my grain and let him eat of the can! YES he ate. He has to eat every 2 hours for 12 hours. He will have his insulin tonight on schedule. He told me not to worry about the carbs in this food right now, it has things in it to help him get back on track! Vet thought he may have gassed up from kitten food, maybe the ice cream that he licked out of the bowel, so we are banning ice cream in this house (for everyone's good lol)!:cat::cat::cat::cat::cat:

Thank you all so much for your prayers, support and for this page that never ceases to amaze me with the wonderful caring people on it!
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Yaaaay gas!!!! Awesome!! So glad its just a little extra air in the wrong place ;)
 
Hershey had an ok day today, he seemed really good when we got back from the Vet, he ate a little about every 2-3 hours. He ate on his own most of the day until tonight. The vet told me to force feed him the recovery diet if he wouldn't eat. I did that once today, and I hated doing it. Tonight at 9:00 we tried and he threw it up. I did give him another pepsid hoping that would help. His stomach sounds like a war zone. He has only gagged once today, but he was licking his lips a lot tonight. He just hid upstairs. He seems so out of it. I'm still worried. The vet said if there isn't any significant improvement by Wed. to bring him back. I did check his insulin tonight and it was 255 pretty good for not having a shot in 24 hours. I was able to give him .25 tonight and hopefully that will also make him feel better. After going on the internet (my bad), I hope there isn't an underlying condition going on here, besides him just getting to much dairy and into the kitten's kibble. I also went over his blood work again. Nothing over the top except his sugar. Forgive me for rambling, but this has really worn me down. It's bad enough that he has to be pricked and shot twice a day, and now this. Please send continued prayers my way. I can't force a cat to eat. My hands are tied. I will call vet in am and see if there is anything he can give me for the continued stomach upset and nausea. :(
 
How is Hershey this AM?
I hate to syringe feed too, but sometimes it's necessary, and sometimes a small amount jump starts them to eat on their own.
Continued prayers:bighug:
 
Sometimes a kitty stops eating for one reason and then then the anorexia takes on a life of its own. I've dealt with this in the past and ended up trying to feed anything the cat would eat (sardines, tuna ...), having it lick food off my fingers, syringe feeding, etc. I'm sure your vet told you to not let Hershey go very long without eating. I'd take Hershey back in by tomorrow if he isn't doing better.
 
I believe the Cerenia shot only lasts 24 hours. Maybe it helped and now he's back to feeling nauseous. It comes in pills so maybe your vet would let you pick some up. They are bitter. I put them in an empty gelcap before giving them. Hugs.
 
Hershey ate a bit of the Royal Canine Recovery this morning at 4:00. I tested him at his regular time at 6:00 am and he was at 250. Elected not to shoot because he wouldn't eat even though he had eaten 2 hours earlier. I called my vet, and haven't heard back yet. Had to go to work today, somehow folk at your job don't think its necessary to stay home with a cat....anyway, my mom (who lives with us), called around 10:30 and she fed him some more and he ate again. So I'm hopeful. He used the litter box as well. Will pick up some more recovery after work, and see if I can get the Cerenia in a pill form as well. Hoping, believing for my boy. Still can't quite figure out how he got so much gas. If I can't get the Cerenia, then I will probably give him another pepsid tonight, I think it helped last night. Have any of you heard of buy Simethicone (gas reducer) in baby liquid form and administering?
 
Kris & Teasel said:
Sometimes a kitty stops eating for one reason and then then the anorexia takes on a life of its own. I've dealt with this in the past and ended up trying to feed anything the cat would eat (sardines, tuna ...), having it lick food off my fingers, syringe feeding, etc. I'm sure your vet told you to not let Hershey go very long without eating. I'd take Hershey back in by tomorrow if he isn't doing better.
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We use to live in Canada, in Calgary. :)
 
Judy and Hershey said:
Hershey ate a bit of the Royal Canine Recovery this morning at 4:00. I tested him at his regular time at 6:00 am and he was at 250. Elected not to shoot because he wouldn't eat even though he had eaten 2 hours earlier. I called my vet, and haven't heard back yet. Had to go to work today, somehow folk at your job don't think its necessary to stay home with a cat....anyway, my mom (who lives with us), called around 10:30 and she fed him some more and he ate again. So I'm hopeful. He used the litter box as well. Will pick up some more recovery after work, and see if I can get the Cerenia in a pill form as well. Hoping, believing for my boy. Still can't quite figure out how he got so much gas. If I can't get the Cerenia, then I will probably give him another pepsid tonight, I think it helped last night. Have any of you heard of buy Simethicone (gas reducer) in baby liquid form and administering?
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I asked my vet about OTC baby gas relief , Smokey was very gassy. He told me it wouldn't help and would have sugar or sweeteners in it. I never tried it though.
 
Woodsywife said:
I asked my vet about OTC baby gas relief , Smokey was very gassy. He told me it wouldn't help and would have sugar or sweeteners in it. I never tried it though.
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That is good to know, I won't bother then. What did you do for your boy? Hopefully I will hear back from them, and see what he says. :)
 
I never checked the OTC stuff though so maybe worth it.

For Smokey the pure pumpkin and miralax helped. Also getting him to walk more to get the gas bubbles moving. Rubbed his side's a lot. I think the best thing that worked was changing the food.
 
Woodsywife said:
I never checked the OTC stuff though so maybe worth it.

For Smokey the pure pumpkin and miralax helped. Also getting him to walk more to get the gas bubbles moving. Rubbed his side's a lot. I think the best thing that worked was changing the food.
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Thanks! Hershey has never cared for pumpkin :( I can put in some miralax into his food. He does sit around a lot though. I will try rubbing his tummy tonight. He easts fancy feast. What do you feed?
 
I had Smokey on FF for 3 weeks when he got pancreatitis and the gas was at its worse.

He was on DM prescription until he recovered. Then used ProPlan beef and carrots he did very well on but I think they changed the formula now. And used Purina Smart Blend chicken. I started homemade cooked at that point. Smokey had a stroke on the 10th and is now gone.
 
Woodsywife said:
I had Smokey on FF for 3 weeks when he got pancreatitis and the gas was at its worse.

He was on DM prescription until he recovered. Then used ProPlan beef and carrots he did very well on but I think they changed the formula now. And used Purina Smart Blend chicken. I started homemade cooked at that point. Smokey had a stroke on the 10th and is now gone.
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I am so sorry, I didn't know. I know your pain. You were blessed with so many years. You are amazing, still supporting this page, bless you.
 
Lip licking is a classic sign of nausea - as is seeming to want to eat, but not being able to
It is important they eat - Murphy stopped eating due to stress a few years ago, then, as was said, it took on a life of it's own, and he developed hepatic lipidosis - until he gets right, you probably need to stay in close contact with the vet.. In addition to cerenia, which is more of an anti-emetic (for vomiting) a great anti-nausea drug is ondansteron - it's a human drug that is also very effective for feline nausea.
 
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