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514349 tn?1272801633

Cat not eating or drinking after surgery

I have just spent over $600 to have most of my 15 year old cat's teeth extracted due to advanced periodontal disease. Since I brought him home 2 days ago, I have not seem him eat or drink. He just sits leaning over his food and water bowls like he wants to eat and drink, but can't. Yesterday I called the vet that did the procedure and she said try to "encourage" him by giving canned food or moistened dry food. I tried but the food remains untouched, even the water bowl level hasn't changed. I am getting really worried and now the vet's office is closed for the weekend. Any suggestions? Should I worry, or is this just a side-effect of the procedure or the drugs they gave the cat?
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Avatar universal
I was unable to give the antibiotics and pain meds as necessary because I couldn't get our cat out from under the bed without really stressing her out, my vet said to mix a very small amount of food with the antibiotics, and again later with pain meds.  None of my other cats have ever eaten food with meds mixed in, they would smell it and walk away. I was very lucky this cat was willing to eat the food, I made sure it was a very small amount so that she ate it all with  the meds mixed in.  She actually lost weight that week cause I only fed her tiny amounts to make sure she would be hungry enough to eat everything I put out for her
Helpful - 0
7052683 tn?1392938795
....but she IS eating now, right?  So you have given her the antibiotics, right?
Helpful - 0
514349 tn?1272801633
My vet said just the opposite - if the cat isn't eating, don't give the antibiotic. And I have to give it twice a day for 10 days!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My cat had a dental cleaning two weeks ago, with two extractions.  I was given antibiotics and pain meds to give her for 4-5 days after, plus she had already had a pain shot. I  was never told the antibiotics had to be given with food.  The vet said any way you can get them in her, on the food, after eating, it didn't matter.  He also had a follow up visit with her 10 days later.  I agree with everyone else, you need a new vet, even if you have to travel farther.
Helpful - 0
587315 tn?1333552783
Hi, I'm happy to hear that your baby is starting to eat again.  I'm sure you'll continue to see improvement over the next few days.  I think it takes longer for older kitties to get over surgeries and anesthesia.  Your vet should have given him extra attention and called to see how he was doing.  I think that's total BS that she didn't.  I'd find another vet.

Please, get the baby food.  It'll help get his appetite going and won't hurt his mouth.
Helpful - 0
7052683 tn?1392938795
Well she was! Get a new one, LOL!!!!

Happy to hear your baby is on the mend. With the kind of care he gets from you he should have MANY more good years with you.
Helpful - 0
514349 tn?1272801633
He seems much better today. I put down about 3 tablespoons of the tuna cat food and when I looked again in an hour, it was gone. He is also walking around more instead of laying all bunched up on the couch and I saw him in the litter box, so something is coming through. It was a rough weekend, though, seeing him so lethargic. I just amazed that the vet didn't want to follow up with him - if I was paranoid, I'd think she wasn't telling me something.
Helpful - 0
7052683 tn?1392938795
How is your kitty doing? Have you gotten him to a vet or emergency?

Keep us posted, please.

CML
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
of course you love your animals....we have them b/c we love them and as owners need to be responsible for their health care just as much as their daily care. I don't care how old they are, in fact the older the kitty the more care it will need and that costs money sometimes.  you were not at all crazy...you did the right thing.

you opened some tuna, did it have the juice still with it when you served it? he probably licked some of the juice...thats good. but he has to EAT some of it too dear.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think your realizing how serious this is....

have you tried some MEAT baby food thats avail in jars? like the others suggested???
Helpful - 0
514349 tn?1272801633
I opened a can of tuna with cheese nuggets this morning and I saw him licking at it, but I haven't seen him drink yet. Not to say he hasn't, I don't watch him all day, but the water level in the bowl looks the same. Everyone else I've told this about thinks I'm crazy to pay that much for a 15 year old cat. I guess you have to love cats more than money to do it.
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
well I would be more than *ISSED if you get my meaning...that is very irresponsible Vet care. NOT good care with meds and NOT good aftercare. Some of these clinics should not be in business!!!!

Has kitty eaten at all....????? if not a traumatic journey is better than loosing her. :(
Helpful - 0
514349 tn?1272801633
The vet (or her assistant) said that the stitches will dissolve by themselves and if I have a problem to go to the emergency veterinary clinic almost 30 miles away (60 miles round trip). They would be a traumatic journey for my cat in its condition. It's like this vet has told me in so may words that she has done all she can and has washed her hands of it. I am so XXXXXXed!
Helpful - 0
7052683 tn?1392938795
You absolutely did the right thing by having the teeth removed. Your vet is not a dental Specialist if he were he would have kept your kitty and given him iv fluids and a feeding tube until he began eating on his own. This is unbelievable. Your baby is probably in a great deal of pain since one shot of morphine is not doing him mich good after 8 hours.

Frankly any dental surgery should be done by a veterinary dental specialist--they must make sure they get all of the root or it may cause this condition (probably stomatitis) to come back again.

I had ALL of my cats teeth out when I got her from the rescue. She had surgery by a vet dental specialist. They kep her 3 days and everything she needed was given by iv--once she began to eat I was allowed to take her home.

So If I were you I would go back to your vet whatever the hour---or emergency and have him put on iv fluids, pain meds, feeding tube until he is well enough to be given back to you for home care. We do not have the things at our disposal that are needed for immediate after care from dental surgery.

Call your vet NOW or take your cat to emergency. This is your vets fault for allowing a cat to go home with stitches in it's mouth, extreme pain, and ...what expect him to just go back to eating everything in sight. He can't eat-----it hurts too much---dumb vet.
Once your cat is stabilized try some lamb or chicken baby food and let him lick it off your finger.

Please, Please let us know how you make out .
Prayers go with you and your baby,
CML
Helpful - 0
514349 tn?1272801633
Oops! I guess you can't post photos directly. Try this:

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee57/debodun/Gus%20tooth_zpsqs8fooct.jpg
Helpful - 0
514349 tn?1272801633
What tipped me off about the dental condition was that he had his bottom left canine sticking out when his moth was closed giving him an Elvis lip curl. No tooth there now, but make me wonder if I did the right thing.

[URL=http://s228.photobucket.com/user/debodun/media/Gus%20tooth_zpsqs8fooct.jpg.html][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee57/debodun/Gus%20tooth_zpsqs8fooct.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Helpful - 0
587315 tn?1333552783
Hi, I'm also concerned about your kitty not eating. I think you should try chicken or ham baby food and chicken broth. Those are great choices for a sore mouth.

I'd call your vet about the antibiotic on an empty stomach. And, maybe some anti nausea meds. A lot of antibiotics will make cats nauseous.

Please let us know how kitty is doing.

Your kitty's in my thoughts!
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
even after hours there should be NO CHARGE to take your kitty into see a Vet from the clinic that did the surgery.....this cat needs more pain meds and a look at the mouth to make sure something isn't going wrong ie infection. He MUST get eating. try anything you can to bribe him. tuna/salmon soft pieces of chicken breast....:(
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
Well first of all kitty HAS to eat, but yes gotta give that Antib...he may have an infection going on.
One shot of morphine??? Usually cats are one pain meds for 3 days following extractions...and buprenorpine is the best choice for cats and dental issues
Did you try some tuna or salmon???
Helpful - 0
514349 tn?1272801633
The vet said she gave the cat a shot of morphine just before I picked him up. I also have an antibiotic to give him twice a day, but on a full stomach. If he's not eating, should I give him the medicine anyway?
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
I sure would indeed be worried....a cat cannot go more than a day or so without food esp. they go into liver failure called 'hepatic lipidosis'
was your kitty given PAIN meds? and an antibiotic? both are necessary but can also cause an upset tummy...
If he was not given these he does NEED them...I don't care if its closed, the clinic's still have an after hours Vet on call anytime of the day or night and you need to have your kitty seen asap. he cannot go any longer without eating.
also be sure you are offering soft foods ONLY. try canned people tuna or salmon, that often stimulates the urge to eat.
good luck and keep us posted ok
Helpful - 0
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