Hello-
My cat of 16 years was recently diagnosed with as having a hyper thyroid, which is very common in older felines. We administerd the medicine (to adjust the thyroid levels) for about two weeks....the cat's weight went up, and looked healthier. After we lowered the dossage per Dr. orders, everything went downhill. The personality of the cat changed, very dull, no meows/purrs, and most noticable...no appetite. We immeditely took him into the vet, and a series of test were ran. Everything came back fine, except his pulse rate is exceptionally low and he has a heart murmor and possibly heart disease. The Dr. thinks the hyper thyoid may have been masking the heart disease, and now that we have the thyroid under control, other problems are manifesting.
So as of now, the cat shows no interests in eating, and is having to be force fed via syringe. He is having bowel movements. His eyes are dialted and he is still very lethargic. How long should we continue force feeding...when is enough enough? This whole event has been extremely sad and has occured very quickly.
Any input is welcome...thanks
Help! 16yr.old cat not eating..has to be force fed
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Holographic77
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sat May 17, 2003 3:09 pm
You didn't mention the type of heart condition, but I suspect congestive heart failure. If this is the diagnosis, there are treatments available to stabilize your kitty. There are a variety of beta-blockers one can try to help blood flow to the heart, reduce inflammed aeortas or heart enlargement, lasix (a dieuretic) can be used to reduce fluid congestion, other heart meds for the specific problem. Unfortunately, if your vet has not yet diagnosed the condition, an exam by a qualified feline cardiologist may be warranted, possibly an ECG and ultrasound needed to confirm the type of condition (dilated vs hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, etc). At this point, stabilization is crucial before attempting further more involved diagnostics, you can't risk excessive stress or handling until stabilization has occured.
I would strongly suggest your vet consult a feline cardiologist on this one, for more support and medication ideas. A feeding tube may need to be placed until kitty is stabilized to withstand those diagnostics. An esophageal tube my be ideal in this situation, but only your vet can determine what is best for your kitty at this time.
If kitty is presently being hospitalized, I would only caution the use of IV fluids until a complete diagnosis is made on the heart condition. If your vet has kitty on an IV, and possibly treating blindly with IV fluid therapy, this can exacerbate the condition, your vet needs to know more about the heart before proceeding with excessive fluids. This is where the feeding tube comes in handy for nutritional support. Generally, in emergency cases, IV fluids are a crucial part of therapy when anorexia/vomiting, other distresses are involved. But, in heart conditions yet to be diagnosed, one must be extremely careful.
Hope this has helped, please try to get your vet to consult promptly with a cardiologist on your behalf.
I would strongly suggest your vet consult a feline cardiologist on this one, for more support and medication ideas. A feeding tube may need to be placed until kitty is stabilized to withstand those diagnostics. An esophageal tube my be ideal in this situation, but only your vet can determine what is best for your kitty at this time.
If kitty is presently being hospitalized, I would only caution the use of IV fluids until a complete diagnosis is made on the heart condition. If your vet has kitty on an IV, and possibly treating blindly with IV fluid therapy, this can exacerbate the condition, your vet needs to know more about the heart before proceeding with excessive fluids. This is where the feeding tube comes in handy for nutritional support. Generally, in emergency cases, IV fluids are a crucial part of therapy when anorexia/vomiting, other distresses are involved. But, in heart conditions yet to be diagnosed, one must be extremely careful.
Hope this has helped, please try to get your vet to consult promptly with a cardiologist on your behalf.
..........Traci
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Holographic77
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sat May 17, 2003 3:09 pm
Regarding the forced feeding, you can ask your vet for one of two things, either Hill's Rx A/D, mixed with water, or, Clinicare Feline supplement, a dry powder you can mix with water. I would only recommend the clinicare as a supplement, and maybe add Nutrical (paste that comes in a tube), to help fortify the nutritional needs right now. Baby food isn't sufficient for kitty's nutritional needs, you probably will find that he will take to the A/D fairly well, it's palatable and excellent for forced feeding.
Again, I hesitate to advise because I feel your vet needs to get serious about diagnosing this heart condition. Stabilization must come first. If you're doing this at home, I'm afraid it may not be enough.
If you're asking about quality of life, please see this link: When Is It Time ...read through it to help you decide if you need to contemplate these decisions. But, ultimately, until you have a clear diagnosis, I would want to give your kitty a chance to show improvement. I'm not sure that can be accomplished with home care alone. Please get in touch with your vet to discuss these issues.
Again, I hesitate to advise because I feel your vet needs to get serious about diagnosing this heart condition. Stabilization must come first. If you're doing this at home, I'm afraid it may not be enough.
If you're asking about quality of life, please see this link: When Is It Time ...read through it to help you decide if you need to contemplate these decisions. But, ultimately, until you have a clear diagnosis, I would want to give your kitty a chance to show improvement. I'm not sure that can be accomplished with home care alone. Please get in touch with your vet to discuss these issues.
..........Traci
also you might inquire about the use of:
a naso gastric tube
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Holographic77
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sat May 17, 2003 3:09 pm
As far as further medical treatment or tube force feeding, the cat has a very low heart rate (as diagnosed by vet), and subsequently cannot be put under in fear of him not coming back (b/c of the weak heart).
So any type of treatment involving serious anesthesia (being put under) would most likely be out of the question.
The cat still shows some emotion....he does purr quite a bit, he can get up and move around. He was licking some tuna from a spoon last night briefly, aswell as drinking a bit out of a cup.
So where does that leave things?
Baby Food is not enough to keep him going? How long do we continue with the force feeding? Will his appetite ever come back?
Thanks for the help.
So any type of treatment involving serious anesthesia (being put under) would most likely be out of the question.
The cat still shows some emotion....he does purr quite a bit, he can get up and move around. He was licking some tuna from a spoon last night briefly, aswell as drinking a bit out of a cup.
So where does that leave things?
Baby Food is not enough to keep him going? How long do we continue with the force feeding? Will his appetite ever come back?
Thanks for the help.
a nasal gastro tube does not require anesthesia, the
most that might have to be done is a few drops of topical lidacaine in to the nose..wait a few minutes then pas the tube slowly untill he swallows...then it is taped to the forehead and neck and gruel or what ever is injected by a syringe...sure better than starving and really is not that traumatic...this is not like the esophageal gastro tube which does require an incision ......just a thought
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Holographic77
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sat May 17, 2003 3:09 pm
How long do we go on force feeding him. As previously mentioned, the cat was originally being treated for a hyper thyoid thru the usage of Tapazol, after a few weeks of being on that (cats weight went up, looked better), we lowered the dosage, and this is when all of the problems started.
Now the hope is that whatever effect the Tapazol had on the thyroid, it will slowly reverse and jump start his appetite.
How long do we keep force feeding him?
Now the hope is that whatever effect the Tapazol had on the thyroid, it will slowly reverse and jump start his appetite.
How long do we keep force feeding him?
it might come down tothis but i would still try the
naso gastro tube for a while..if not effective then this mayhelp
Making The Difficult Decision
By Davet
Making The Difficult Decision
How can we make that difficult decision to end the life of a pet whom we have loved and nurtured, played with and lived with? The pet may have been with us for a short time or for many years. It may protect us, serve us, or just be there when we need something to cuddle.
Our domestic pets have maintained many of their wild instincts. One of the most important instincts, however, is to mask pain and illness. Many pet owners advised that their pet is suffering from a serious disease, comment "But he's not acting very sick", what happens to a wild dog or cat who "acts sick"? Invariably, they are killed by other animals, sometimes even by members of their own pack.
When we have to make that final decision we feel guilty, we are torn by feelings of helplessness, guilt, anger and sometimes the misguided notion that we owe it to the pet to keep it alive at all costs. How can I tell my veterinarian to give my pet an injection that will kill it?
When a pet becomes ill or is seriously injured, we must make a decision based on several factors. We must set realistic limits which include emotional expense to the family, physical costs to the pet, and many times, unfortunately, financial cost. It is best for the family members, or the single owner, to sit down with all the facts in front of them and, as rationally as possible, set those limits. This is the fairest thing pet owners can do for the pet and for themselves.
So, we come to that difficult decision making time, we have to decide what is best for the pet, regardless of the decision, we face the possibility of feeling guilty because we made the wrong one. We feel guilty if we elect to have our pet euthanized. We feel guilty if we choose treatment and it is unsuccessful. We should put ourselves in our pet's position. "What would I want done if I were in this situation"? If an owner, after evaluating all the available information, decides euthanasia is necessary, he or she must tell the veterinarian. In those cases, the owner must realize that sometimes we have to love our pets enough to let them go.
The Five Main Criteria For Euthanasia
Can your pet walk on it's own and how much pain does it suffer when walking?
How are it's sight and hearing and what is the prospect that these problems can be reversed?
Is there irreversible organ damage, i.e., heart, kidney, liver, or brain damage?
Is there any humane veterinary treatment available?
Is incontinence through urinary or bowel control a problem?
The final decision must be made by all members of the family, you may have to overcome your feeling of love for the pet and consider what is the fairest for him. Do not let your emotions override the fact that your pet may be leading to a painful, suffering life.
Making The Difficult Decision
By Davet
Making The Difficult Decision
How can we make that difficult decision to end the life of a pet whom we have loved and nurtured, played with and lived with? The pet may have been with us for a short time or for many years. It may protect us, serve us, or just be there when we need something to cuddle.
Our domestic pets have maintained many of their wild instincts. One of the most important instincts, however, is to mask pain and illness. Many pet owners advised that their pet is suffering from a serious disease, comment "But he's not acting very sick", what happens to a wild dog or cat who "acts sick"? Invariably, they are killed by other animals, sometimes even by members of their own pack.
When we have to make that final decision we feel guilty, we are torn by feelings of helplessness, guilt, anger and sometimes the misguided notion that we owe it to the pet to keep it alive at all costs. How can I tell my veterinarian to give my pet an injection that will kill it?
When a pet becomes ill or is seriously injured, we must make a decision based on several factors. We must set realistic limits which include emotional expense to the family, physical costs to the pet, and many times, unfortunately, financial cost. It is best for the family members, or the single owner, to sit down with all the facts in front of them and, as rationally as possible, set those limits. This is the fairest thing pet owners can do for the pet and for themselves.
So, we come to that difficult decision making time, we have to decide what is best for the pet, regardless of the decision, we face the possibility of feeling guilty because we made the wrong one. We feel guilty if we elect to have our pet euthanized. We feel guilty if we choose treatment and it is unsuccessful. We should put ourselves in our pet's position. "What would I want done if I were in this situation"? If an owner, after evaluating all the available information, decides euthanasia is necessary, he or she must tell the veterinarian. In those cases, the owner must realize that sometimes we have to love our pets enough to let them go.
The Five Main Criteria For Euthanasia
Can your pet walk on it's own and how much pain does it suffer when walking?
How are it's sight and hearing and what is the prospect that these problems can be reversed?
Is there irreversible organ damage, i.e., heart, kidney, liver, or brain damage?
Is there any humane veterinary treatment available?
Is incontinence through urinary or bowel control a problem?
The final decision must be made by all members of the family, you may have to overcome your feeling of love for the pet and consider what is the fairest for him. Do not let your emotions override the fact that your pet may be leading to a painful, suffering life.
-
Holographic77
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sat May 17, 2003 3:09 pm
The cat can still walk, but just has very low energy. We are feeding him 100cc's a day of vet recommended food. He does make attempts to drink water periodically, when it is in front of his face. He was lickin' some tuna that was put in his face, for a short while.
He still purr's when being pet.
Are these good signs?
He still purr's when being pet.
Are these good signs?