uncontrollable DIARRHEA, and, raw butt because of it

[samfudg]

Hi All,
I am posting this for Becky, because she tried to register and could NOT sign on. This is turning into an emergency (in my opinion), but unfortunately, the only emergency vet in Becky's area is "on call" and left a message that "if he is eating and acting normal, then he is fine until tomorrow". We know that is not always the case.
I explained to Becky that felines are extremely good at hiding signs and symptoms until it is almost (if not already) too late to get proper medical care.
However, just to give you an idea, this little baby of 6 months has been suffering with diarrhea for way, way, way too long and then, at 3am this morning, Becky found a lump on his side. Becky has been bringing "Navajo" to her local vet, at least once a week, since she first brought him home. The vet keeps stating that Navajo has worms. Becky has requested blood work (and X-rays) many times (per my instructions) but the Vet keeps saying that she won't do blood work until Navajo finishes the medication.
I am enclosing her email to me. We have been on the phone constantly and continuously since she first fell in love with Navajo and brought him home, 3 months ago.
I am posting, below, our correspondence in the last 24 hours.
If any one has any suggestions, PLEASE let us know.
Thanks
Cathy



----- Original Message -----
From: R R
To: Cathy
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2004 3:22 AM
Subject: kitty update.....3 am
Okay,.,.,. it’s 3 am, and I’m wide awake as usual, exhausted, but cant sleep...so I go down cellar to have a smoke, and kitty follows.....I pick him up, and he is laying on my chest while I pet him....as I slide my hand down his left side....I find a bulge, just below his ribs on the side of his tummy area....see the bubbled area
when I rubbed my hand over it.....it was about golf ball size...as soon as I touched it.....it sank back in, and there was a loud guttural sound, like a gas bubble escaping inside of him....the lump is soft to the touch almost squishy....the sound was much like the sound he makes when going to the bathroom..... like when you go with diarrhea, and your belly gurgles.....I gently rubbed over it several times...and at first it disappeared...but then it came right back up.......same noise....and it disappeared again..... but it kept coming back.....I opted not to mess with it anymore.....started crying, and here I am writing to you....
see same bubble area.....that’s about where, and how big it was....
Now what?????????
;(



----- Original Message -----
From: R R
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2004 6:41 PM
Subject: RE: I'm Cathy (fudgie's mom's) friend... who has a sick kitty
Hi,
My name is Becky, and my dear friend Cathy (fudgie's mom) gave me your website and email address, so that I could ask for some advice on my kitten.
I would like to fill you in on this kitty’s life.
His name is Navajo.
He was born around July 2003 in a barn, so no care was given at first. I took him home around Oct 2003. He was immediately taken to my vets, and was given an antibiotic for upper respiratory infection, as well as meds for diarrhea (al something yellowish mustard looking liquid), he was also given a pill for visible tape worms. About a month later,(first week of January) he was returned for his vaccinations. He was also given 1/2 of another wormer pill (blue) because he ''gags'' alot. (No puking, just a 'dry heave' noise constantly) with instructions to give the other 1/2 in 10 days.) At this time, there were no other problems evident and even his previously detected heart murmur has disappeared. Last Sunday evening, he threw up one time. It was brownish with 6 pieces of undigested food (that he had just consumed). And about 2 hours later, started with diarrhea. He has not thrown up since, but has continued to have pure liquid diarrhea approx. 5-6 times a day ever since. They are light brown in color, and he has extreme gaseous sounds from his abdomen. When he is defecating, the 'poop' seems to 'blow' out of him, with much gas as well. I can actually hear it across the room. For the first 6 days, this was basically limited to late evening, and all through the nighttime hours. During the day, he seemed to be fine, with maybe 1 or 2 poops. Starting today, he has gone twice this morning already. with the last being about 2 pm. The diarrhea covers him from tail to toes, and he has needed over 30 baths this week, to clean him up...(I immediately sit and completely dry him with a hairdryer after) I have also put a dab of A &D ointment on his outer bum because it looks so red and raw. Skipping back to last Sunday, after he had the diarrhea all through Monday, I took him to my vet Tuesday morning. He was given probi for 3 days, and I was instructed to go ahead and give him the other 1/2 of the worm pill as my vet felt his problems were due to his parasitic start in life. And that he was so infected with worms etc... And due to the fact that he is still eating and drinking well, she didn't think blood work, or anything else needed to be done at this time....
On Friday evening, I returned him to my vets, because his condition had not improved one bit... she then gave me that al something medication again, yellowish mustardy looking liquid and he has been on that for 3 days with no improvement. Last night (this morning?) I was up with him around 3 am....and as I was petting him, I noticed a lump on his left side...just below the ribcage....it was about the size of a golf ball.. as my hand passed over it...it sunk in and a horrible gurgling sound was heard from inside his tummy....I felt around a bit more, and the lump was gone...but soon returned . Rubbing it again made this gurgling gaseous noise inside his tummy....I then got panicky, and left it alone.
That's about all I can think of....Here is a poor quality (sorry ...cheep digital camera) picture of him, and the bubble has been placed on the spot I found his lump.
Thanks for anything you can do to help me understand this.....I don’t feel, and even my ve’ts *beep*’t doesn’t feel this is parasitically related.....
Becky



----- Original Message -----
From: Cathy
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2004 7:06 PM
Subject: Re: I'm Cathy (fudgie's mom's) friend... who has a sick kitty
Just wanted to let you know, that thru all this, Navajo has remained playful and normal in all other aspects. He was not a big water drinker, but Becky adds water to his soft food, which is given in small doses several times a day. He also has his hard food out 24/7. He loves to eat!
Yesterday, he was drinking water, during the daytime, which is also unusual for him, but at least he is drinking.
I forgot to ask if he was drinking water today, and how much. He does NOT have a fever, Becky has become very good at taking his little temp, although we are trying not to do that, if at all possible, because his butt is so raw from the all of the diarrhea.
Several days ago, I told Becky to add rice to his diet to help with the diarrhea, and mix it in with the soft food and water and give in small doses. At first he thought it was "poop" and tried to "cover it up" but then he started eating it and it stayed down fine.
Soft food is Friskies, and I think hard food is Friskies, as well. One of our pet loss friends told Becky, last night, to buy soft and hard food from IVP (Innovative Vet Products). They make great healthy food, so that may be ok, but I still don't think it will resolve Navajo's issues.
I do NOT think this is still worms, especially since the diarrhea is so liquidy. At first Becky could see the worms coming out, but there has been no evidence of this recently.
Last night, and the night before, I looked up several common feline diseases in my Vet books. He does NOT have any signs or symptoms of heartworm, fiv, feline luke, distemper, liver disease, diabetes, etc, so I am totally stumped.
Becky is going to bring Navajo to a different Vet tomorrow, if for no other reason, to get a second opinion, and to ask the new Vet to do blood work.
PS...Becky has been using her vet for years, but I don't approve of the Vets diagnoses, or refusal to do blood work or other tests. To me, this vet is incompetent and doesn't really know much about feline illness/disease, otherwise I think she would have been more aggressive, but that is MY personal opinion, only.
Cathy

[Traci]

Cathy and Becky....please check your emails....