Elderly cat has hyperthyroidism - help and support please on pill giving!

sandy2_2

If she's sick quite soon after eating and it's inthe form of a sausage shape (rather than in a splatter formation)..sorry if you're eating your tea...it's caused by eating too quickly and is a form of indigestion.
Is she drinking lots of water, is she salivating a lot, does her breath smell, is she grooming herself OK, is she losing a lot of hair...these are the things to ask yourself and tell the vet. Cats of this age start to get kidney problems, first 3 things are pointers, grooming problems could be mouth ulcers,,teeth problems or hairballs. If she was mine I'd gat a second vets opinion and in the meantime don't leve food down all day and just feed her little and often and see if she keeps that down better. I'd also be inclined to give her more tuna.

greenmoneysaver_2

I'd go for a second opinion.

Vomiting that much and sleeping all the time suggest she is not getting the nutrients from the food.

She may not be "ill" as you percieve it, but she soon will be at this rate.

Older animals can develop a more sensitive stomach, and so a change to a senior diet may be better. I would steer clear of kitten food as it will probably be too rich for her, with too high a level of protein.

Mature/senior diets have a higher biological value of protein, which is easier for digestion, and should reduce the vomiting.

Any change of diet needs to be done gradually over a period of days, mixing old and new food gradually until fully changed form to the other. Therefore, I would definately speak to a nurse at a practice before starting this, even if you don't go for a second opinion. Nurses are usually good with nutrition and dietary advice!

PS - I am a vet nurse, and if you phoned my practice and told me what you have posted I would recommend an appointment with the vet then a nurse consultation within a couple of days, or sooner!

sandy2_2

Skintchick, How's the cat

skintchick

Well, she's eating OK and no sick since I posted, but she smells funny, like it does at the vet, a kinda sweet antiseptic smell which I assume is the smell of illness? (Greenmoneysaver, can you confirm?)

She is fine though, just sleeping a lot although she had a race round the house tonight attacking the carpets.

nealallen

Bendybops19 wrote: »

Or, get some kitten dry food which will be smaller.

Just to point out, kitten food, wet or dry could really cause upset with your cat.

sandy2_2

If she smells funny, it could be because there is/has been something wrong in her mouth eg ulcers, bad teeth, and it's her saliva that smells and gets on her fur when she washes herself, or worse case scenario it could be her kidneys are failing a bit, which also can cause smelly saliva. Do a few google searches also for diabetes.
Please get her back to the vet to make sure shes OK, you wouldn't want her to be ill over Christmas

skintchick

RIght. Kizzy is going to the vet tonight at 7pm. They said it sounds like kidney disease.

Does anyone know who long they live with this? I read on the internet that I'll be lucky to have her another 18months. Is this true? Nearly sobbing at my desk right now! (Damn google! Step away from the keyboard!)

skintchick

sandy2 wrote: »

If she's sick quite soon after eating and it's inthe form of a sausage shape (rather than in a splatter formation)..sorry if you're eating your tea...it's caused by eating too quickly and is a form of indigestion.
Is she drinking lots of water, is she salivating a lot, does her breath smell, is she grooming herself OK, is she losing a lot of hair...these are the things to ask yourself and tell the vet. Cats of this age start to get kidney problems, first 3 things are pointers, grooming problems could be mouth ulcers,,teeth problems or hairballs. If she was mine I'd gat a second vets opinion and in the meantime don't leve food down all day and just feed her little and often and see if she keeps that down better. I'd also be inclined to give her more tuna.

Lol @ sausage formation - yes, that's precisely it! She has hardly any teeth left at the front now, so does swallow everything whole :rolleyes:

sandy2_2

Cats can live with kidney disease for quite a while, it's not reversible however, but it is slow downable. there are special food supplements and diets. I think they need less protein in their diet. the vet will want to do a blood test to check Creatin levels to see how advanced the disease is (if that is what's wrong)
Well done for making the appointment, better to know what's wrong with her.
Let us know how things go

elvis_girl

It could just as likely be her teeth. Cats are notorious for having dental problems which lead to loss of appetite, poor grooming etc, but as Sandy2 says better to know whats wrong with her & find out what you're dealing with. You'll get loads of good advice on here whatever the outcome.
Good Luck!