Inability to eat after major choking episode

[chenrezig45]

Hello, my 16 year old cat had a very serious choking incident five day's ago. He was foaming at the mouth with mucas and phlegm, and trying to heave up a huge furball that I assume got stuck part way in his throat. He was panting from lack of breath and distress for a good hour until I got him to a vet where he coughed the furball up. The vet checked his temperature, which was normal, despite the ordeal. The vet also checked his heartbeat and felt his organs, and said all seemed to be fine. However, since that day (5 day's ago), my cat has been unable to hold much, if any, food down. At first, he clearly did not wish to eat, but in the past three days he has wanted to eat but everytime he tries, he does a gagging motion and coughs up a huge amount of phlegm along with a portion of the food he has digested. He seems to be off water all together, which is a worry. I have been forcing water down his throat. I'm wondering if I should take all food away for the time being and allow his throat and stomach to heal because I assume they are very inflammed from the choking episode. He did, just now, lap up a good deal of cream mixed with water, and he had no gagging or phlegm from that. I could just restrict him to that kind of thing for today and gradually reintroduce food. Any thoughts?
p.s. I can't get to a vet for two more days, but have an appt then.

[chenrezig45]

how sad, i am looking back at this six months on.
my cat only survived a couple more weeks after i posted that original question.
it never was clear what happened to him, but he progressively got worse and could not hold any food or water down, and every time he tried to drink or eat the tiniest amount of food he had a choking fit whereby he regurgitated the food and had about ten minutes worth of phlegm pouring from his mouth. After an exploratory surgery showed no tumour or anything, the vet was baffled, and we felt the most loving thing was to let him be put to sleep. It still makes me cry now.

[HelpinUtah]

I hope he keeps getting better.  Let us know what the vet says?  Good luck and prayers sent his way and yours!  Hugs, Janet

[chenrezig45]

I woke up this morning thinking that I would walk to a vet if I have to today - I'm in a remote town with no transport until tomorrow. But the good news is that my cat is drinking water now. Yesterday afternoon and again this morning he had a good long drink. He also enjoyed some cream mixed with water that I put out for him :) He's still having trouble holding food down, even though he clearly wants to eat. I am feeding him one dry biscuit at a time, every half hour, to see if that works since he seems to be okay holding just one down at a time. Although, having said that, I tried that yesterday afternoon and after about 4 biscuits, each given 20 mins apart, he threw up. So, today I think I will try to space them further apart and see if he's okay with that. Then off to the vets, no matter what on Friday.

[HelpinUtah]

It could be that the throat is irritated and it's uncomfortable swallowing.  Is there any way the vet can get you in sooner.  If he's not drinking water he can become dehydrated very easily.  Good luck and let us know what you find out?  Hugs, Janet