Is Edgar in pain?

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vexedgirl

Member Since 2015
He's not doing well.
Very low energy, not moving much. Staying in meatloaf a lot. Seemed to have trouble jumping onto table to eat.

Seizure on Sunday (probably unrelated, he has seizures for which he takes Keppra). Seemed ill and maybe nauseated a couple days ago, then yesterday morning threw up everything after eating breakfast. Got nausea meds from vet, gave him last night and this morning. Seemed to make it easier to eat, but he's not "back."

This afternoon, ate a little at 4 then hid under the bed. Ate a small/moderate amount for dinner. Moving slowly.

Is he in pain? Is that related to unregulated diabetes? He's using the bathroom, and at least eating and drinking *some.*

I'm a wreck.
 
He could have pancreatitis, which is painful. In addition to anti-nausea meds, he may need subcutaneous fluids, an appetite stimulant, and pain meds (buprenorphine).
Check for dehydration.
If necessary, blend up some food with water, then syringe feed using an oral syringe.
 
His recent ultrasound (a few weeks ago) showed no indications of pancreatitis, but of course it could have developed since then.
Luckily, he's at least eating "enough" for now. I do have some appetite stim at home, but I hesitate to give it to him since it seems to upset his stomach. I don't want to add to the problem.
One of the vets at the Animal Medical Center I take him to for his neurologist and kidney doc (can't think of the word right now) told me that I have to be careful indiscriminately giving subQ fluids to a cat with such low kidney functioning b/c that can overtax him.
He did just drink a good slurp-up of water. How else would I know if he's dehydrated?
Also, how can I parse out if his discomfort seems to be from nausea or pain? He has never been one to yelp or give any obvious reactions, even when he otherwise should. My only hint seems to be that he moves "tenderly." But is that a possible symptom of his as-yet-unregulated sugars?
I'm getting better at hitting the 12-hour mark for shots, and have found at least 2 people who are at least sometimes available to dose him in the evenings when I'm not free.
His vomiting yesterday seemed to throw off his numbers, though.
Ugh. Xanax is my friend right now.
 
See my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools for dehydration tests and more.
You could try palpating his belly - if uncomfortable, he might try to get away, yowl, bite, or scratch you.
 
well he just popped up to the table and is now eating a bit more. I used the opportunity to pull up his scruff, but it snapped back immediately. I'll try his gums in a bit after he's finished noshing

Is pain or discomfort generally associated w/ diabetes (or high numbers)?

ok the gums were a challenge, but they don't feel sticky and they seem fairly pinkish. He, however, seemed a tad confused as to what I was doing with my finger in his mouth.
 
LOL.
Diabetes generally isn't painful as long is there isn't substantial neuropathy (nerve damage) from sustained high glucose. Humans describe diabetic nerve pain as pretty awful, though. What we see in cats is more difficulty standing and walking, as cats hide pain pretty well.
Feeling sick may result in the meatloafing position, with head down a bit, looking sick.
 
He has a little bit of neuropathy, but the zobaline is helping that a little bit (And now after reading more about it, I'm considering starting the human version of it for myself, as I have my own health problems that include a tremendous amount of nerve pain).
And yeah, he walks a bit, but then lays down as soon as he can.
 
Update question:
Maybe it's not pain per se, but he is so low energy and seems weak-ish. He used to "chatter" to me all the time and would eagerly follow me around the room, even if it was to just watch me or walk around on the bed to be closer to wherever I was standing. Now he barely registers that I'm near at all and only lifts his head if I say his name loudly. He hasn't "spoken" in a while either.
He still purrs when I pet him and he is still grooming himself.
But it is just so painful to see him like this. I don't know what else I can do.
 
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