Sick Bagheera

[figment]

It seems like my cat is sick. If you have any desire to read symptoms & opine on causes, treatment, or recommend vets in the St. Paul area, here you go:

Bagheera (pictured cat) has always been a little on the tender stomach side, but giving him hairball treatment seems to help and generally he's very healthy. Today, though, I fed him at 6:45 AM and by 7:00 he had puked it all up (one website I read said that this is regurgitation, not vomiting, because the food was largely still intact although yellow with bile). Then he retched and threw up some liquid about 30 minutes later. At 11:30 AM he was still seeming kind of sick and after I petted him and gently suggested that I hoped he wouldn't get sick again guess what happened? Yep, more retching and throwing up a tiny dribble of liquid. I was gone for most of the day so I'm not sure if anything else happened, but Azure didn't observe anything and there are no little puddles so I'm going to say there was no more vomiting. At about 5:45 PM I heard a terrible series of mournful kitty moans from the litter box, where Bagheera appeared to strain and sit for a good 5-10 minutes to no effect. He's moving around pretty normally now but does seem extra-inclined to just loaf in one spot right now.

He's 10 years old, and generally healthy. He's been drinking water at a regular pace lately. He eats dry cat food, Purina One, sometimes the indoor formula, and almost never gets anything else.

If he's constipated, it looks like the cause could be anything from hairballs to dehydration to polyps or other awful options. I don't have any specific hairball remedy in the house but I may give him some olive oil... Any thoughts? Any vet recommendations in St. Paul? I'm worried about my little buddy.

Comments

[evaluna68.livejournal.com]

Maybe try putting some canned food in the mix? Worth a try, anyway. But yeah, sounds like time for a checkup.

[evaluna68.livejournal.com]

P.S. Give him a scritch on the head for me - I'd recommend our vet, who is awesome, but obviously not local.

[ilexcassine.livejournal.com]

Not eating isn't good. I got my very sick cat to drink water and get some calories by mixing water and tuna fish/the water from water packed tuna, maybe he'd like that?

My cats hurl all the damn time and whine in the litter box a bunch, but it does sound like its probably vet time if he's constipated.

I hope the poor guy gets better.

[buttonlass.livejournal.com]

Sometimes canned food can help. More specifically I know other cats who have been put on canned pumpkin to help with constipation. The pumpkin really helps with their digestion. So if you can get your cat to eat some hooray! If not, I put a not insignificant amount of butter on some when I fed it to my cat because he was stubborn. Many cats eat it quite willingly.

I do think a vet trip is in order. My parents always took our cats and dogs to Pomeroy on the edge of downtown St. Paul. I don't know if they are still in business what with being not young and all.:P

When I had my own pets in Mpls. I took them to Lyndale Animal Hospital. Also some great people if you have to branch to the other side of the river.:)

[buttonlass.livejournal.com]

By the way, this is Shannon Perry. I realized I failed to sign it.:)

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the comments - after the emergency clinic we ended up taking him to Fort Rd. Vet clinic because it's close to home and ethel, whose opinion I trust on vet related stuff, said they were good. I'm so glad we took him in.

[hypatia-j.livejournal.com]

I've also used canned pumpkin for my cat, but I would definitely check to make sure it isn't something more serious.

The vet I take him to is in S Mpls, so that's probably not helpful.

[ethel.livejournal.com]

This is going to sound alarmist and it could be nothing, or it could not be.

I am pretty worried about the possibility of a urinary obstruction, which is time-sensitive and can be life threatening. Fairly common in male cats. He's showing all the symptoms.

I would recommend taking him in tonight if possible to the e clinic in st paul or oakdale (where I used to work). If it is a UO, you'll be glad you did. If it isn't, you'll have spent a few hundred but you'll know.

Considering the stakes, I would recommend bringing him in tonight, or if that's absolutely undoable then first thing LITERALLY in the morning. Do not go to Pomeroy...I have a very, um, unfavorable opinion of them. For bang for the buck, Camden Pet Hospital is amazing and I send a lot of people there. For St Paul, Como Park Animal Hospital is great but pricier.

But honestly, I think it'd be best for you to take him in right now, tonight, to the e clinic. This is ABSOLUTELY what I would have told someone who called in to me and I would do no less for a friend.

Tell them on the phone that he is a suspect UO, they will want to take him to the treatment room and check him out immediately...let them. There's a good chance the triage on duty won't know me or my name anymore, but that the doctors/techs will.

Please keep me updated? 612 423 3736. It may be nothing but I'm honestly worried. Better safe than sorry.

[whitefox77.livejournal.com]

This would be my guess as well. Shadow suffered from it a few years ago and almost died and it killed his brother Ekorn. You should take him to a vet NOW, ASAP.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

We are at the St Paul emergency clinic. They said it is likely a partial obstruction or infection. They will catheterize him and keep him overnight. We'll see after that, but I'm glad we brought him in.

[sioneva.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear this follow up (of course did not finish reading the comments before posting mine ;p ) Hoping he is fine!

[ethel.livejournal.com]

Thank goodness! I am so relieved...been watching my blackberry like a hawk all evening. I am so glad you brought him in, and so glad he is getting care. Way to be a great owner. :)

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Any opinion on Fort Rd. Animal Clinic? We have to pick a normal vet to get him to tomorrow morning, and don't have one yet. Currently I'm choosing between Como Park & Fort Rd. Fort is closer and may well be less expensive but I value personal experience highly...

[ethel.livejournal.com]

I like Fort Road too...I would have no reservations recommending them! Dr. Godel (sp) is a great vet.

Side note: for some reason, almost every shar pei owner in the TC goes to him, so you might see one there! He also has a lot of experience with allergies, and he's a great vet. Bagheera would be in good hands there.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

I really appreciate your comments, ethel. It was good to have a friend "in the business" (or at least who was) while going through this. I'll feel much better when I have Bagheera home again (tomorrow, looks like) but at least I know he's through the worst.

BTW Dr. Beth Ross said to say hi to you. And I saw your "Bone Appetit" poster. Did I correctly remember you making that, or did you just share it with us?

[sithlet.livejournal.com]

Glad you're there. Urinary obstructions are shit. Both of my kitties have gotten urinary problems in the past.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I hope that a special diet can avoid any recurrence.

[laserbitch.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you went in and he's getting treatment. A UO is why we had to put SamCat down, which makes me feel just awful, because it was more of a financial decision than a heart one.

Give Bagheera skritches from us at the House of Chaos. Maybe some smooches, too.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Scritchies given, although more will have to wait until he comes home (tomorrow, looks like).

It's not a small financial consideration. I'm grateful we were able to afford it, and can easily see how it could be the deciding factor in what you do with your pet... how heartbreaking. ...And I hope our car holds out that much longer now.

[fayde.livejournal.com]

Glad you brought him in too. I didn't have any good advice to give (I would have been in your boat and posting). Let me know if I can do anything, I'm home most of the day these days. Hugs.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I don't know if anything needs doing but if the vet says he needs someone to look after him during the day would it be too much to ask you to consider coming over and hanging out at our place during the day Weds. for a while? I don't know if that's in the cards but just in case... thought I'd ask.

[sioneva.livejournal.com]

This. If he's struggling to use the bathroom, which definitely could signal a UO, hours can and do mean the difference between life and death. I'd take him to an emergency clinic immediately.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Oh, honey. Best wishes to your sick kitty. Everyone I know uses Kitty Klinic at Lyndale and across-the-street-from-El-Meson.

K.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

I used to use Kitty Klinic, it was fine, but not as convenient these days. But thanks.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad that was there for you.