some advice please

tamsin1982

I realise this isn't really the place for this kind of question but im hoping someone can help,
My 12yr old cat was hit in the face by a car last Thursday and has suffered brain swelling, temporary blindness in one eye (due to the swelling) and a very bloody nose which is blocked and making him very snuffly.
Ive been calling the vets twice a day for updates and although his body and bowel movements haven't been affected he hasn't eaten anything
they've tried all foods and even hunger stimulating meds but hes still not interested. They were considering a food tube but due to his age and the fact his brain is still swollen theyve decided not to do it and Ive been told to consider his options. Im goin to call and ask if i can try tempting him into eating but unfortunately im not hopeful, does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?? I cant say goodbye to him without knowing i did everything i could but i cant let him suffer so need ideas asap!
Thanks

foreign_correspondent

How sad for you - just a couple of thoughts - I wonder if he can smell his food if his nose is bloodied and blocked - maybe try something very strong smelling? I wonder if his brain swelling is affecting his desire to eat?

I am sure someone will be along with some better ideas soon,

good luck

Spudette

It's a bit of a long shot so please don't get your hopes up but you could try a Chicken Almo or Applaws can. If you want I can send you one in the post tomorrow if you want one. This is really upsetting and I know you want to try everything. If you would like me to send you some just PM me.

Maybe add Catnip to the food
Try adding Parmesan as this adds flavour
Add Tuna Water to help
Maybe Goats milk - but check up on this..

Please keep us informed on how you go with this.

Also my biggest advice would be to go onto the purrsinourhearts Forum (Cat Forum) and they will be sure to have a lot of advice. Also a member called FireFox has a lot of good advice maybe PM her as she is always very good.

Good Luck and Keep us informed

lostinrates

The poor thing, and poor you.

By all means try, but be prepared it might not work and you might need to try with the consideration if it doesn't work you need to be preared to let go quickly. Not eating for a while can be quite serious, besides other injuries.

I sound like a broken record, but my cats adre the thrive freeze dried treats, but only chicken or fish. The fish is certainy strongest smelling. At the bottom of the tube tehre is usually powder/dust of the stuff, if the cat can be empted to lick a damp finger licked in this, or if its attempting to self groom, a little of this on a paw it might stimulate appetite a little.

None of our animals, regardles sof age or illness/injury have every liked to eat either at the vets or ther recovery diets. I'm afraid me resolve wekens forst and although pached chicken is blander a roast chick would be more tempting for your cat.

If he norally likes food in jelly give just the jelly, or if gravy, just the gravy. Only give tiny amounts, overfacing is going to put him off. just a tiny bit, teaspoon or less.

Iwish you the very best of luck

mouseymousey99

So sorry to hear about your poor cat. I wonder if pilchards may do it (mine loved the ones in tomato sauce). Best wishes.....(fellow moggy lover)...xx

tamsin1982

Thanks I will get some catnip and smelly food to take to him - to see if it stimulates his senses and try rubbing a little in his mouth if i can,
I thought he was getting better and as said, I also assumed it was his bloody nose stoppin him eating as the blood was goin down his throat but they believe is cos of his head trauma
many thanks for the offer spudette but i got the impression I need to decide tomo if its still no change as he will start to suffer if he goes much longer, thanks for the links, will go over now and hope i can find a magic remedy

~Chameleon~

mouseymousey99 wrote: »

So sorry to hear about your poor cat. I wonder if pilchards may do it (mine loved the ones in tomato sauce). Best wishes.....(fellow moggy lover)...xx

I'm so sorry to hear of your terrible predicament. Pilchards or sardines are an excellent food to tempt anorexic cats to eat. Slightly warmed they smell irresistible. It's certainly worth a try if they haven't already although it's fairly standard procedure so they most likely have.

As they've already ruled out using a nasogastric tube I can't think of anything else to try. I so wish I could offer you more positive advice but it sounds as though he has sustained some pretty severe injuries. I'm really very sorry

PS I wouldn't offer him any catnip while he's still so poorly. It could have adverse effects and cause more harm than good.

Fire_Fox

Spudette wrote: »

Also my biggest advice would be to go onto the purrsinourhearts Forum (Cat Forum) and they will be sure to have a lot of advice. Also a member called FireFox has a lot of good advice maybe PM her as she is always very good.

Good Luck and Keep us informed

Great advice to post on Purrs!:A Thanks for the complement but the acute veterinary side of things really isn't my area of 'expertise' that's Chameleon. I am qualified in pharmacy and work in lifestyle (nutrition, physical activity) so chronic and preventative medicine ... and still an amateur in kitty healthcare!!

Good luck OP!

lowis

you are already doing everything you can...i really hope toay brings some sort of positive move forward for you and your kitty. i am so sorry you are facing this...

i wonder though why the vet had ruled out the feeding tube. i have been told the ones that go straight through the neck down into the tummy are not at all difficult for them to cope with (they barely even know they are there)...my cat's oncologist even suggested he might benefit from one after he had his mouth tumour removed, and he is 15 years old! please ask your vet again about feeding tubes and ask them why they have decided it is not worth trying. if they really believe that the head trauma is beyond help then perhaps this is their reasoning?

good luck, my heart is aching for you all x

tamsin1982

I have finally managed to get through to the vets today and they've taken his drip out ready to go onto a feeding tube later on!
I'm hoping it is a sign that they believe he can make it through an not that they felt sorry for me crying on the phone but either way I'm happier knowing that they and I will have tried everything possible to save him if he doesn't make it - which I'm hoping so much he does

thank you all for your posts, they're very much appreciated. Will let you know if there is any progress when i call to check on him later on x

lowis

aw...so glad they are giving the tube a go! if they can get nutrients into him this way, and he isn't going hungry then this gives him a fighting chance of healing...tubes can be used for quite a while, i have read of cats using them for in excess of a month when needed.

i also want to share with you a story of a cat who lost it's face through an accident, and it now has a normal and happy life. the cat is called Chase and there is a blog called Chase No Face and is a daily diary of his life - you can find it here: http://chasenoface.blogspot.com/

show your vet this blog too...give them some hope in what they are doing too!

keeping my fingers crossed for you all x