My kitty has been a bit of a mess, medically speaking, for the past month. A lot has already happened so I'll just run through the background as quickly as I can and get to my curent question. Early April, she hurt her Achillies tendon in her left hind leg, so she was walking funny. 2 vet visits over a week for this. Then I noticed that she seemed to be getting worse, couldn't walk without losing her balance, and saw one night that her right pupil was constricted and her left was enlarged. Another vet visit next AM led to a neurology visit later that day where she had bloodwork, x-rays, BP checked, and a complete exam which revealed that she had right facial paralysis, yet her pupils still reacted to light. According to Neurologist: BP was perfect, x-rays were clear. Bloodwork revealed that she tested positive for Corona virus (which I know is common, but could possibly mask FIP), but the main diagnosis was Toxoplasmosis. She was to be on 3 weeks of Antirobe/Clydamycin antibiotics (2ml 2x day) along with Meclizine tablets (half a 12.5 mg tab a day) for the vertigo/nausea from the Toxoplasmosis. Everything was going great for the first 2 weeks, she was very visibly improving, and then her meow got very deep and croaky and she started purring very loudly, with sort of a cooing trill to it, and she was "coughing" like she was trying to bring something up. She also began making a loud "quack" noise when eating, but it didn't seem to bother her and she kept eating. Took her to the vet this past Tuesday (which happened to be the last day of her medications) and of course she didn't make any of these sounds while we were there, but the Dr. said she had no temperature, and her lungs sounded clear. Couldn't find anything wrong with her. Since she was still eating/drinking and urinating/defecating normally, I would just make the follow up appt with the neurologist for the following week and see how that went. My current problem is that for the past day and a half she hasn't wanted to eat or drink as much, and when she does (at least when I have seen her, I can't vouch for the time I've been at work) she eats/drinks very little and throws some or all of it back up 5-10 minutes later. She also hasn't used the litter in almost 2 days. I have an appt with the neurologist on Wed, but do I need to get her to a vet before that or are they just going to tell me that they don't know what's wrong again? What can I do?
Optional Information: Type of Animal: Cat- Domestic shorthair Gender: Female Age: 12-14 Name of Cat: Sylvia Already Tried: medications, different types of food, vet visits.
Welcome to JustAnswer! I am a licensed veterinarian and would be glad to help!
You present a complicated and long history.
Your question has 2 parts.
1) are they just going to tell me that they don't know what's wrong again?
That is certainly possible
There are times when medicine is difficult - and not straight forward.
That is the challenge of medicine.
With that said, I am more concerned with your other question...
2) do I need to get her to a vet before that?
The answer to this - is yes.
The concern with the lack of appetite, water intake, and vomiting - is dehydration.
The other reason we become concerned with a history such as this is that cats that do not get their nutrition (either from a lack of appetite and/or vomiting, regardless of the underlying cause - can get secondary liver problems, (fatty liver disease - medical term for this is hepatic lipidosis) LINK HERE
Can I make an appt for tomorrow or do I need to get her to emergency care tonight?
That is difficult to assess without even being able to perform an examination.
If there is continued vomiting - that would be an indication for evaluation.
Continued vomiting will lead to dehydration and secondary complications with electrolytes and even blood sugar.
I am not certain if you are having a chat issue...
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Experience: Emergency and Critical Care Specialist
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