Not Drinking/Eating After Vet Visit

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geekgirldany

geekgirldany

Member Since 2013
I took Catee to the vet today. The only thing different that the vet did this time was cut a couple of his claws after I told him about the one in January looking like it was going into the paw pad. He said his claws were fine but he went ahead a clipped three of them.

Well I brought him home at 5 pm and he has not ate at much at all. He starts to eat bites down on a piece of food... then jerks his head around like it hurts and stops eating. He licks his mouth. Does like it hurts him.

When I brought him home he was licking his mouth a lot... something he does not normally do when coming back from there.

So I am wondering what they could have done to hurt his mouth. They take the cat into the back. So they do not do any examination in front of me.

I am very worried about him because he has never done this way before.
 
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I've tried, he won't let me. He won't be still.

He tries to drink water... and his head starts shaking. Keeps going up to the bowls but just can not eat or drink.
 
One of my other cats once had food stuck in her cheek and I put my finger in her mouth and dislodged it for her. This may not be the problem but the behavior sounds the same.
 
I can try and see if he will let me do that. Thing is he was licking his mouth when he came back from the Vet. So I don't know.

Strange, goes to the water and does like he smells it and makes what I would call a "sour" face and turns away. He just tried again to eat, got a piece in his mouth and shook his head. Did not eat the food.
 
No he isn't pawing at his mouth. I tried to run my finger around his cheek and he would not let me.
But I was able to see his teeth.... at the gum both sides are red. I wonder if they did something his teeth.
 
It definitely sounds like something went amiss. :(

I asked about the pawing because on a couple of occasions my civvie got a freeze-dried chicken treat stuck in her teeth and she pawed at her mouth and got a bit panicky when she couldn't shift it herself.

From the clinical signs you describe it sounds like his appetite and thirst are OK. Do your treating vets take out-of-hours calls? I'd suggest letting them know about his unusual behaviour and difficulty eating and drinking and asking whether anything unusual happened while Catee was there.
 
Maybe something happened with one of his teeth there. Perhaps he was fighting them and he injured his mouth. I would def be calling them, something is not right. Poor little guy.
 
They will be there early in the morning. I usually hear him screaming.... this time I did not. I wonder if the vet tech gagged him in some way as not to bite. He was too quiet in the back where they take him. He always fights them.

He definitely wants to eat and drink. Had no troubles doing so before I took him. Ugg... just when things were going well for him.
 
geekgirldany said:
I usually hear him screaming.... this time I did not ... He was too quiet in the back where they take him. He always fights them.
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That's really worrying. You know Catee and I think your gut is really uneasy about this. I'm with BJ. If anything iffy happened then I doubt that they'd 'fess up to it.
 
The vet is pretty good, I am wondering about the vet tech... if the vet was looking on or what.

How long can he go without eating or drinking? I might have to take him there in the morning.
 
Not long is the answer. Because of the way their metabolisms work, cats cannot go without food for very long without risk of developing hepatic lipidosis. (I've lost a cat to HL and poor veterinary support.) If Catee were mine I would bring him to the vet in the morning.
 
The most you want him to go without eating is 2 days. Water, however, I wouldn't go more than tomorrow morning.
 
I hate that they take them in the back to do things. Absolutely hate it.
Katie came home limping after a vet visit. The must of been restraining her and she fought and hurt herself....they got defensive about it, but I told them about it so they would be more careful in the future. She limped for 2 days.

Actually years ago, I brought my kitty home and when I opened the carrier to let her out, there was blood and a TOOTH on the towel inside. I marched her right back up there.

I would be calling them the moment they open in the morning. He needs his mouth looked at. Maybe his tooth is loose...has he ever had dental issues?
 
A tooth in the towel! My goodness. How rough can they be to do that?

He has never had any dental problems. I wonder if they knocked a tooth loose. It gets him so upset going to the vet. I would say he is sick at his stomach from it but doesn't look like he would keep wondering around looking for water and food. I've stayed up to watch him. He has now went to just turning away from the water and food. He goes to the bowel like he wants it but turns around.
 
geekgirldany said:
A tooth in the towel! My goodness. How rough can they be to do that?

He has never had any dental problems. I wonder if they knocked a tooth loose. It gets him so upset going to the vet. I would say he is sick at his stomach from it but doesn't look like he would keep wondering around looking for water and food. I've stayed up to watch him. He has now went to just turning away from the water and food. He goes to the bowel like he wants it but turns around.
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Poor guy.....poor you! It's so hard to watch them having problems like that and not being able to do anything to help them. It's heartbreaking. Morning can't come soon enough, huh?
 
My 9 year old, recently diagnosed with diabetes in November, kitty came back from the vet for a glucose recheck and she started throwing up watery substance, and wouldn't eat, she would sit over her water bowl and then she would go under one of the beds and I would have to get her out. The next day still no eating or drinking and kind of listless, took her back that afternoon and they ran full labs and she is in renal and liver failure and her white blood count is high. Also her glucose was in the 400s. I am just devastated. She is getting IV fluids and antibiotics and I am syringe feeding her. She had to be put on Cerenia for her vomiting. Not sure where this is all going to head, but I don't feel very good about it. You may want to have your kitty a full blood panel done. My baby's blood panel back in November was normal except for her high glucose. This happened so quickly.
 
Jeanie, I am so sorry for your cat and for you. I hope she will pull through. It is so difficult seeing them suffer and as KatiesMom said... not being able to do nothing about it.

I stayed up the night/morning, I know probably over doing it, but I wanted to watch him and make sure he was okay. I laid down on the couch and he finally laid down in his bed. He had been pacing the house since he came back from the vet and had not slept.

Well he slept for about 30 minutes and got up and drank a little water. He slept a little more, got up and drank a good bit of water. He has been drinking okay since he is resting. He still isn't eating well. I put the bowl in front of him and he just turns his head. I got some of the Hills food I had and was able to get him to eat a little of it... with some treats to help along.

I am wondering since this is the first time the vet has ever cut his claws, that it done something mentally to him. I mean got him all upset and confused... maybe be in pain. The Vet cut them much shorter than I would. I just cut the tips... he cut nearly to the quik (sp?) He hates having his claws/paws messed with.

It also occurred to me that he might have used the powder that stops bleeding... if he cut one that short. Catee could have got it in his mouth and that is causing problems.

My friend wants me to wait until this afternoon, she thinks I am overdoing it and he will get back to normal. I am not so sure.

Thank you all for the support... this forum is a blessing.
 
If Catee were mine I wouldn't wait. Doubly so because it's the weekend.

I'm glad he managed to drink a little water. (((Catee)))
 
Hi everyone. I called the Vet this morning. They did not want me to bring him in but talk to the vet. I did and he said the only thing different that was done (that he recalled) was a muzzle put over his face which covered his mouth and eyes and he did clip his claws. He wanted me to wait until a 2pm to see if Catee would start eating/drinking. I did ask if he used "blood stopping powder" for his claws, he said he might have.

I had to go to bed and sleep a while. I got up around 12 pm (I know but I was up all night) and he had ate 2 ozs of food, which is about right, and had been drinking his water.

I've been watching and he seems to be doing better. I called the Vet back and he said to call and bring him Sunday if it starts up again. He believes it was psychological (whatever).

I think it was them messing with his claws and he probably got some of that powder in his mouth. Still feel like something else was going on.

I appreciate everyone's help and concern. I know I might have over done it but I've never seen him do that way after a trip to a vet. They will not be messing with his claws again unless it was just an emergency.

Thank you all
D
 
Sounds like your vet used something like this
1-cat muzzle.jpg


I use this one for a few of my cats for clipping claws
 
geekgirldany said:
... I know I might have over done it but I've never seen him do that way after a trip to a vet.
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I don't think you overdid anything. You were doing your best to care for Catee. Inappetence is a serious issue, especially for cats. I'd have done the same in your shoes. :)

I'm very glad to hear that Catee is eating and drinking again. Fingers and paws crossed that he'll continue to do so without any further difficulty. BTW, I don't buy the "psychological" line. IMHO, if Catee had a psychological issue with food and water he would not have been repeatedly approaching his dishes as you described.
 
I hope Catee continues to eat and does better. You did not overreact at all! His reaction is not normal and it was a result of something they did there.

I know stress from the vet's can have a profound effect, but with the symptoms you were describing, he should have examined his mouth to make sure all was okay. If it were me, I would still insist on an oral exam.

You said you still feel like it's something else, follow your gut. We know our babies better than anyone else.

Hugs to you both.
 
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