my cat is very ill

[gayduma]

I adopted a five months old American tortoise cat 2 weeks back. Her ex-owner left her cause apparently she was too ugly. When i first got her she was very active and very cute, but she did have a fungal infection. Then 4 days ago, she started vomiting and refused to eat anything again and got diarrhea twice on the same day the vomiting started. Then now shes been refusing to eat and i have to force feed her everyday. I took her to the vet he said she has giarida, so he gave me some medicine to give her and she has a flu. I give her her antibiotics daily, but no hope. she keeps barfing and doesnt move at all. Took her to the vet again, he gave her some injections and ringer lactate solution, and told me to give her low fat yogurt and some chicken soup. I feed her, but then in 6 hours she barfs it all again. Now she makes a weird sound every now and then like shes in pain. I dont know what to do and i cant stop crying. And she hasnt done number 2 since the first day she barfed. she also peed on me last night.
i even let my other cat hang out with her in hopes to make her feel better. Vet also recommended i shave for her to treat her fungal infection better. I dont know what to do anymore. and i desperately want to help her. pls someone help me please.

[gayduma]

if anyone helps me i would be willing to give dental advice :) pls

[AnnieBrooke]

Honey, take the cat back to the vet.  Don't worry so much about her not pooping, she hasn't had anything to poop out.  But there has to be a way to get some calories into her.  If nothing else, give her some tiny sips of broth, only a really little at a time but constantly.  In other words, a half teaspoonful every 15 minutes.  Sometimes, putting too much in at once can cause the gagging reflex, and you can sneak quite a bit down if you are willing to sit with her and make her the sip that often.

Do you think the vet knows what he is doing with his diagnosis?  If my cat had giardia, and I couldn't get the right antibiotic to stay down, I would want to be darn sure that whatever the vet injected her with was the very same one, I think only Flagyl treats giardiasis.

[AnnieBrooke]

* make her sip

[gayduma]

He seems like a smart vet, he treated me first cat when she had a really high fever and she became better thank God.
But with this one i am totally lost, i cant even focus on anything but her anymore and im very depressed.
She literally wont eat. every morning i give her 15mls of yogurt and some crushed dry cat food. but she does drink a sip or two on her own.
the vet also recommended i give her ringer lactate solution twice day. and i do give her flagyl , she really dislikes the taste.
just typing this makes me cry. shes so innocent and cute, i dont want her to be very ill and die.

[gayduma]

Thank you Annie. You are an angel.

[AnnieBrooke]

In all seriousness, give her tiny, tiny amounts but constantly.  When my son had an illness that kept him from being able to eat for a few days because he would just vomit it all out, my pediatrician said to give only one teaspoon of the electrolyte liquid I had for him, every 15 minutes.  Something about opening the esophagus too wide otherwise, and causing vomiting.  She said "If you keep at it every 15 minutes, you'll be surprised how much you can get into him."  My boy was 40 lbs. when we had that conversation, so extrapolate down to the size of a cat.  Maybe no more than a quarter of a teaspoon at a time.

I would really stick with broths until she stops throwing up.  An irritated stomach is not going to rejoice at dairy products or crushed kibble.  if you feel like she might handle a solid, give her something very basic, like steamed chicken with a little salt.  Sometimes they will stay down when nothing else will.  But anyway, be constant about it especially if you are giving her only a tinesy bit at a time.

ps -- If she is drinking a little on her own, that is a really good sign.

[gayduma]

i tried the chicken she refused it totally. tried whiskas which she loved and no.
im going to the store now to buy her chicken soup. i also noticed she walks really funny now.
do you think she will make it? i just need to know. i have an exam soon and i havent been studying the past days. if shes going to get better i want to postpone my exam, if not i was thinking about keeping her at the vets clinic, hopefully he will make her better

[opus88]

HI....annie is right, just give very small amounts at one time...and often. I am sending you a video on how to assist feed.....make sure you buy can foods to do this with NOT soaked dry food. you can also use meat baby food just be sure it has no onions...that would be the best right now..straight protein chicken baby food.
I do not however advise soup especially with salt....salt isn't at all good for a cat...
If you can afford it, keeping her at the Vets and on IV's maybe the best for her for a few days. also ask the Vet if its the Flagyl that could be causing her to vomit so much????
she has  agood chance of making it BUT you have to keep giving her the fluids and she must have the protein......watch this video it will give you some real good tips on how to do this..good luck hon, and bless you  for caring and trying so hard...we wish her all the best♥

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Cats/my-cat-is-very-ill/show/1898825

[opus88]

I'm sorry that is the wrong link.....copy and paste this youtube video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6o17wH6ujk

[opus88]

I think you REALLY need to talk to your Vet abt this flagyl....read the link I am sending you, flagyl can cause NOT eating, vomiting, staggering, diarrhea.....I really think you desperately need to ask your Vet to give her another antibiotic asap...

http://www.petplace.com/cats/metronidazole-flagyl-toxicity-in-cats/page1.aspx

[gayduma]

I watched the video and it has helped me on how to feed her, i have been feeding her from the front.
So can i use my whiskas and blend that and give it to her? I have them in sea food flavor, my first cat dislikes whiskas chicken and beef, so i just buy seafood flavors.

And sorry to be a nuisance, but why do u think she is walking funny? its really funny and so are the sounds she makes. i also let her sleep with me at night, is that a good idea? I dont want her feeling lonely or neglected.

[gayduma]

My dad is a doctor, can i just switch medications or do i have to go to the vet again?
She also doesn't ****. i am so worried about that.
Can i just stop it and not even switch medicine? Oh and she didnt eat even before her medicine. thank u for being such a sweetheart and helping me through this tough ordeal xx

[opus88]

I just listed the side effects....she may not be walking funny.

yes see your Vet b/c human medications are so different than pet ones....so only a Vet will know if she should be switched.....IF THEY FEEL ITS THE FLAGYL causing the problem,???? ,this is just a suggestion that it MAY be making her problems worse..., however she was vomiting and not eating even before the medication so only your Vet will knkow for sure what to do...but they must know what is happening with her asap.

feed her whatever kind of canned food she likes, can you blend it like the video shows? and do you have some syringes or droppers to feed her from?
yes its very important you not feed from the front, this can cause her to inhale the food into her lungs and choke.

I really think this kitty needs to go back to the Vet and have a day or more of IV...with all the vomiting she is likely dehydrated...if your dad is a doctor he will understand how serious this is.

she needs to be hydrated and than slowly fed with something she can hold down, slowly like annie has told you.

[opus88]

unfortunately like annie said the flagyl is the only medication that will work on giardia....so the kitty will have to stay on this medication BUT he has to eat and stop vomiting.....so the best suggestion I can give you right how is to go back and see this Vet again and have them give her some IV fluids to hydrate her.
If she is not holding down the food you are giving her by syringe she won't live very long otherwise, sorry to be so blunt...but kitties can't go very long without holding their food down. please get a Vets advice. when she is hydrated and no longer vomiting than you can do the force feeding...right now I think she just needs to see her Vet again.

[gayduma]

LAst time i took her to the vet, day before yesterday, he told me to inject her with 20 cc of lactate ringer, 10 each time, twice a day and give her the soup and yogurt.
So should i give that a try or just take her right away?
Sorry i ask too much, i fear her death, shes my daughter.

[opus88]

well I think you've been doing what the Vet told you already and she is still vomiting....thats not good honey.
never apologize for asking too much, we all here just want to try and help but theres not much anyone can do if she is vomiting everything..:((

[AnnieBrooke]

Take her to the vet, so she can get well and you can study.  Never mess with a cat's meds or try to swap them out with human meds, let your vet be the leader there.

[gayduma]

I took her earlier, he said she is terminal. i kissed her goodbye and he told me to leave her there. it was very sad, i havent been with her for long but the love i felt for her is beyond words. i cant stop crying,
thank you lovelies. you helped me a lot. you supported me and it means the world to me. thank you xx

[opus88]

oh honey, I am so very sorry to hear this...I was afraid this maybe the case, when they are so little its real hard for them to fight off some of these conditions...
you tried dear, and you loved her even tho it was a short life she was taken care of and thats whats so important.
RIP little girl♥

[gayduma]

she died :(

[AnnieBrooke]

I'm sorry.

[AppleBr]

:-( RIP, little one
Deeply sorry- I start reading hoping for a happy end...

[gayduma]

i was hoping she would live, i honestly didnt think she would die. i feel so bad, i cant stop crying, i feel so guilty and terrible. i also want to kick her ex owners *** and the vets. i dont know what to do. the guilt is overwhelming. i cant stop crying. i feel guilty for even smiling. this is so hard for me. so hard. i hate this. i miss her.

[AppleBr]

You are NOT guilty, you  did your best.If ex owners are, believe, they will have to pay for someday...
Hang in there,take your time and rest.Hugs.