sick cat question
Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 1:59 am
Anyone have thoughts on this?
A friend's cat suddenly got sick about a week ago -- or at least was
suddenly *noticed* to be sick. Vet can't figure out what's wrong, and
they wonder whether she's been poisoned.
Her symptoms (just now over the phone; not very complete):
She is "wasting away".
For the past 8 days has had no interest in eating or drinking; they've
been giving her some with a syringe.
She is alert, happy to be stroked, will occasionally move around
(jumped down from her chair), but mostly just lies, "looks as if she's
already dead."
Several days ago vet gave her "four syringes" of rehydrating solution
under the skin, and she picked up quite a lot--but only for a few
hours, then slumped again.
Owner thinks (is checking) that color of her gums is normal. (I take
this with a grain of salt, but at least not blue?)
Today for a bit she was foaming at the mouth, but that has stopped.
Change in behavior is simply that she has become so listless.
Normally she was a bit of a hell-raiser, and not affectionate. (So
liking to be stroked is new.)
She does not seem uncomfortable, just listless.
Abdomen is not swollen; on gentle massage, there's some gurgling. She
does not seem to mind having her belly gently massaged.
It does sound like this may be too late in the game already, but--
anyone have thoughts? (I'll look into china and carbo veg, but mostly
I am feeling pretty clueless so far.
I've asked the owner to try giving her some very diluted food through
syringe, and let me know whether she is merely disinterested, or
actively averse, and how she responds.
Thanks,
Shannon
A friend's cat suddenly got sick about a week ago -- or at least was
suddenly *noticed* to be sick. Vet can't figure out what's wrong, and
they wonder whether she's been poisoned.
Her symptoms (just now over the phone; not very complete):
She is "wasting away".
For the past 8 days has had no interest in eating or drinking; they've
been giving her some with a syringe.
She is alert, happy to be stroked, will occasionally move around
(jumped down from her chair), but mostly just lies, "looks as if she's
already dead."
Several days ago vet gave her "four syringes" of rehydrating solution
under the skin, and she picked up quite a lot--but only for a few
hours, then slumped again.
Owner thinks (is checking) that color of her gums is normal. (I take
this with a grain of salt, but at least not blue?)
Today for a bit she was foaming at the mouth, but that has stopped.
Change in behavior is simply that she has become so listless.
Normally she was a bit of a hell-raiser, and not affectionate. (So
liking to be stroked is new.)
She does not seem uncomfortable, just listless.
Abdomen is not swollen; on gentle massage, there's some gurgling. She
does not seem to mind having her belly gently massaged.
It does sound like this may be too late in the game already, but--
anyone have thoughts? (I'll look into china and carbo veg, but mostly
I am feeling pretty clueless so far.
I've asked the owner to try giving her some very diluted food through
syringe, and let me know whether she is merely disinterested, or
actively averse, and how she responds.
Thanks,
Shannon