Tiger's still throwing up

[bridget]

Help!

Background....Tiger has had "throw up" problems off and on for awhile now. Mostly he was throwing up lots of hair balls. Petromalt didn't seem to help much. I took him in a couple of weeks ago, had regular xrays and barium xrays done (nothing showed up), vet suggested small meals throughout the day (as opposed to free feeding). A full blood panel was done and his urine looked at for evidence of a UTI. His blood panel didn't show anything particularly remarkable (I can't remember the details though). You might remember I posted about him having post-barium xray poopies which have finally resolved. He had no fever, his eyes, ears and mouth were fine.

Tiger had a UTI, was put on Clavamox, then changed to Baytril. All was fine for a week. Tiger threw up his Baytril last night and threw up several times today. I've not yet given him his Baytril tonight.

Any ideas about what is causing these episodes? What am I missing? What else should I have checked? His food hasn't been changed except he has access to the Hill's Sensitive Stomach dry food now, there's been no trauma that I know of, there's been no change in the house, no new kitties, etc. After his throw up episodes he seems fine. In the evening he plays and wants attention just like normal, and he sleeps all day...just like normal. Oh, and I can never seem to catch him in the litter box so I can't say for sure if everything's OK.

Tiger is 8 years old, short haired, and and an "inside only" kitty.

I appreciate any ideas....Thanks!

[Traci]

Bridget, what is he vomiting...undigested food, hairballs, bile? Has he lost a significant amount of weight since your first post? If so, get a recheck and rule out GI tract bacterial overload, maybe take in a stool sample for a full fecal analysis to rule out the various forms of bacteria). At that time, your vet might want to re-xray to see if any changes have occured since the barium series (i.e., impaction or inflammation)

[bridget]

Traci,

Sometimes he throws up undigested food, sometimes bile/fluid. Sometimes the bile/fluid has some hair in it but I've not seen any actual "balls" like before. I'm going to have to separate him tomorrow night to see if I can get a fecal sample to take in Monday.

I'm wondering also if he could have (or is developing) an ulcer? He's a sensitive type cat that licks himself when he's upset as a way to comfort himself. I've noticed that he's begun doing that lately and he's getting sores. He used to do it when he was younger but quit for the last five years or so. (I had him checked/skin scraped/steriod shots when he was licking himself raw before....nothing found). I assumed he was doing it now because of his UTI/xray/vet stay but now I'm not so sure. (I'm trying to find ANY reason for his problem and grasping at straws here!). Maybe a sudden allergy to his food? How would I know that?

Poor guy (and my poor living room rug!!!!!). Whatever is going on we need to get this stopped.....for his sake (and my rug's sake!)

Thanks for your help, Traci.

He has not lost any weight (he's 16 pounds).

[Traci]

The only other thing I can suggest is a thyroid panel (should be done in combination with any full blood profiling in any kitty over age 6-7), was the thyroid panel done with the original bloodwork? Also, was urine and blood glucose tested to rule out diabetes?

An ulcer is unlikely, he would probably be vomiting specs of blood. The licking could be due to pain as a result of an underlying condition (intestinal inflammation, etc)....again, another x-ray might be in order.

If you think a food sensitivity might be the problem, try switching to a low-residue or hypoallergenic diet (you could do a trial with Hill's I/D for example)...if he continues to vomit, then I would still suspect some inflammation going on somewhere. Did your vet rule out lymphoma?

[CynthiaR (Whitewolf)]

Oh, Bridget, I hope Tiger will feel better soon. Let hope and pray that he will be all right soon. Take care, Bridget.

[bridget]

Thank you Traci and Cynthia (glad to see you here again!).

I spoke too soon, I guess. Though Tiger has not thrown up today, played, seemed to be feeling good, etc., I did manage to catch him in the litter box......he had the runny poops/gas with some very soft-formed stools. *sigh*

He must have some imflammation in his intestines from SOMETHING. Ill talk to the vet again tomorrow and see if where we go from here. I'm concerned about giving him his Baytril again. Should I try the canned pumpkin as has worked for others? I've yet to have a cat willingly eat I/d but I can give it a try. I don't understand what's going on....until his barium xray and enema his stools were fine....he was just throwing up. Maybe some Pepcid?

Traci....the blood panel done on Tigs included the thyroid but we could do it again. THe vet didn't think, from blood test results he was diabetic and he dosn't show any symptoms of it like our dog did. How would the vet rule out lymphoma?

I'm getting frustrated by this....poor Tiger-Liger Anway...calling the vet tomorrow and may have to take him in again. I'll fill you in on the next chapter!

Thanks again,

[CynthiaR (Whitewolf)]

Aw, geez...that's sad. Tell Tiger to hang in there, he'll be all right soon. It's kinda rough for him to get going. Hope the vet will find out what ails him. Prayers continue for Tiger and hope for the best. My fingers crossed and our cats' paws crossed too and wait for the good result from vet. We're with ya and Tiger all the way. Keep a good position environments around Tiger, he needs that to help strengthen him, the more you think positive the more he will receive it and put it in his heart and be strong. I know he can do it. Take care, Bridget. Smile please, and tell Tiger to smile too, it can help him. U know the cats can smile just like us.

[Traci]

Bridget.....I'm so sorry I wasn't available earlier....what have you found out from your vet by now?

Rather than the pumpkin, I'd suggest metamucil (1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon sprinkled over food).....I've had better luck with metamucil than pumpkin, but you can try either to see if it helps.

As for checking for lymphoma, there could be inconsistencies in bloodwork, mainly the CBC, blood cell counts, etc. Other diagnostics would include x-rays which might show inflammation or a mass....ultrasound to detect mass. If IBD is suspected, for example, if x-rays and dietary modification do not resolve the problem, then an endoscopy might be the next option. I hope it doesn't come to that.

Please update.....

[bridget]

Traci,

The vet has put Tiger on Flagyl and he seems much better (He was thrwoing up last Monday and there was blood in it so off to the vet we ran). On the Flagyl we went 4 days without a throw-up until last Friday. I changed him to a different food (one without wheat or corn) and am feeding small meals several times a day. Friday night I forgot and left one of the bowls of the cd/s where he could get at it so he ate some (natch!) Of course, he walks into the living room and throws up about five times. He threw up Saturday morning, too. The vet happened to call me Saturday morning to ask about Tiger ( before I could call him). He said to keep up with the Flagyl and, when Tiger's stomach settled again, to go back to what I'm feeding him. Yesterday and today he's doing well. I'm out of Flagyl now so we'll see how he does now that he's not on the med. I would like to get Tiger on some type of canned food, too, along with the dry, but I'm worried about finding one that won't upset his stomach.

Thanks for the info., Traci. I hope things start getting better for him and it's a food allergy (I'm praying for that because at least there's something I can do about it). If it's not...well we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

[Guest]

Bridget~

I really feel for your situation.

My Honeybun who is 5 now, has had episodes of vomiting undigested food and digested. At this time she was eating Nutro. I switched her to Royal Canin Special for senstive stomaches and saw an instant relief for her.

SHe has had to have an enema at one point for constipation, so now I use Vetasyl fiber capsules (one to two times per week), and Laxatone regularly. she also has canned food in the morning for moisture. So far this seems to be working.

I do hope Tiger gets better soon and I will be looking for updates.

Mona, HOneybun and Chloe