On Monday Pepper the cat started throwing up his (mainly undigested) food after each meal. He didn't look or act like he was sick, but that night shortly after I went to bed Pepper let out with several scary blood-curdling howls. Even though he settled down after I got up and spent some time petting him, I figured I should get him checked out. Yesterday I made an appointment to take him to the vet.
A couple of hours before the appointment I got out the cat carrier and set it on the floor in the kitchen. Pepper had been lethargic all morning, but when it was time to put him in the carrier he suddenly had enough energy to put up a fuss and stick his paws out in four different directions. Hubby Tony helped me get him in. As soon as the door was latched Pepper launched into his "please let me out of here" yowl, which lasted through the three-mile drive to the vet's office.
The vet tech came in and took his history, then we waited a few minutes for the vet to arrive. She poked and prodded Pepper, asked a couple of questions, then decided we should leave him there for some diagnostic work. Several hours later we received a call from the office. Pepper's blood was normal, but the x-rays showed a lot of gas in his stomach. The official diagnosis was gastroenteritis. Best the vet could figure out is that Pepper had been munching on my houseplants...particularly the flopping shoots of the asparagus fern in the bathroom. (Before we picked Pepper up I trimmed the plant back so he can't reach it.)
Pepper now has a shaved spot on his neck from where they took his blood, and his chest hair looks tousled from the antiseptic they used. The vet sent us home with antibiotic liquid, anti-nausea pills, and easy-to-digest food that Pepper's supposed to eat for the next few days. He's a typical finicky cat who doesn't do medicine well, but I'm hoping this round will go better than our previous attempts.
Poor Pepper! Hope he's better soon.
ReplyDeleteHe's perking up quite nicely :-)
DeleteHeal up, little buddy.
ReplyDeleteAwww....Pepper says 'thanks'
Deletedo you 'burrito' him to give him his meds? (ie wrap him up in a heavy towel so just his head is sticking out). They have pill syringes to get the pills down. A tiny bit of home made chicken broth makes the food more tempting, especially with a few tiny shreds of boiled chicken mixed in (just a wee bit and they think they are really getting something! LOL). Raising show cats you learn a lot of tricks...
ReplyDeleteI just wrap my legs around his body and hold on tight, but I'll remember the burrito trick.
DeleteI am so sorry to hear. I am glad he is feeling better.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeletePoor fellow. Those discomfort yowls are disheartening.
ReplyDeleteYes, that was the worst sound I've heard in a long time.
DeleteHope he feels better soon. Do you have pet health insurance?
ReplyDeleteNo insurance, so we made a nice donation to the vet's bottom line for the month..
DeletePoor cat. Oh, and I too hate to give meds to cats. The vet always makes it look so easy but it's a real fight for us.
ReplyDeleteFunny that he would eat the asparagus fern. None of our cats have ever done that, but we have lots of grass around here for them to munch on.
You're so right about the vet's demonstration vs what happens when you get home.
DeleteBoth cats eat on the plants I overwinter inside, but usually it's more to get my attention when they want food.
Gas??? Oh my goodness! Sigh... I know what that feels like.
ReplyDeleteHA! Me too.
DeleteI guess in the grand scheme of things, intestinal gas is a better diagnosis than other possibilities. But I'm guessing that Pepper doesn't think it's too great.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to tell a cat that his problem will eventually "pass" :-)
DeleteAwwww the poor poppet. Don't you wish they could talk? Life for all would be so
ReplyDeletemuch easier.
Yes, if animals could talk things would be good.
DeleteHow DO you give meds to a cat? Poor Pepper!
ReplyDeleteYou have to hold kitty securely (I wrap my legs around his body), then force open his jaw. For liquid medicine all you have to do is squirt the syringe into his mouth. For pills you shove it back as far as it can go, hold kitty's mouth securely closed, then stroke his throat until he swallows. Doesn't hurt to follow all that up with a syringefull of water
Deleteoh, wish your cat to recover quickly.
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