Kitten Goes Back to the Vet Tomorrow...

[Areias]

We have a kitten named Lilly-ever since we got her, she has vomited after she eats. She looks exactly the same when we got her, she still looks like a 2 month old kitten. She has to be 4-5 months old now-the other kitten we got at the same time was younger and smaller than her, and is twice her size, he looks almost like a full grown cat. She hasn't really grown.

So, with this vomiting thing, we've been to the vets a few times, we've been switching up food and trying different feeding patterns, and she was on an acid reducer for a while. The acid reducer somewhat worked but once it was gone she went back to vomiting. So we're going back to the vet tomorrow for a full workup-xrays and probably bloodwork and all that stuff. We're not sure what's going on, but I'm hoping it's an easy fix. I'm worried about esophagus damage from all the vomiting-and also what's causing. So please keep us in your thoughts-I would appreciate it. I'll post a picture or two after work.

[skunkstripe]

Poor little thing....best wishes that you find whatever is making her throw up!

[KatzNK9]

Poor little baby! Will definitely keep her in my thoughts & prayers! I hope the vet is able to quickly come up with an answer for you. It could be so many different things causing her problem, I hope the vet gets luckier this time with a valid diagnosis. It's a hard one to put your finger on ... your vet is likely frustrated too.

[Areias]

Here is a picture of her. :) She's really cute-but she is the same exact size as when I first got her. This is a day or two after we got her-her face has matured a little bit but that's it. Yeah everyone's a little frustrated-we were trying to avoid all the bloodwork and stuff, hoping it was just she had a sensitive stomach (she came from a barn and wasn't fed anything-she ate what she found).
This is her when she was about 2 1/2-3 months old...
http://i5.tinypic.com/48d9ggj.jpg

This is her tonight.
http://i13.tinypic.com/2yo2tsl.jpg

This is the other kitten-he is younger than her, keep in mind. The same day the first pic of Lilly was taken.
http://i7.tinypic.com/2qrzwco.jpg

And tonight. Huge difference! I have no clue what could be going on.
http://i7.tinypic.com/2s9yqvt.jpg

[KatzNK9]

Awwwwwwwwww, cute pics! Thanks for sharing them with us.

I really think you should reconsider & have the bloodwork done. I'm pretty sure the vet is going to agree. With all the vomiting, she's not getting the nutrients she needs to grow properly. Best to get this under control sooner rather than later ... or you're likely to have long-term problems that can't be fixed.

I do hope your vet will come up with an answer for your tomorrow. Please update us when you get back with some results.

[Areias]

I really think you should reconsider & have the bloodwork done.

Oh, yes, she is getting the bloodwork done. :) We were trying to avoid it at first (me and the vet), hoping it was an easy problem solved by a different diet, etc. But it's apparant there is something more going on, and it's time to start the testing.

[Areias]

Well...we're off...wish us luck today. I'll update when I get back.

[KatzNK9]

Oh, yes, she is getting the bloodwork done. :) We were trying to avoid it at first (me and the vet), hoping it was an easy problem solved by a different diet, etc. But it's apparant there is something more going on, and it's time to start the testing.

Oh good. I'm glad to hear it. Just so you know, with those initial signs, I probably wouldn't have done bloodwork from the start either. I would have tried all the things you did too. I wasn't suggesting she was getting improper care, just that it was time to change your approach & I wasn't sure from reading your post if that's the direction you were going to take.:)

I'll be looking for news ... so hurry home.

[Areias]

I'm back without the kitten-I go back to pick her up at around 2 pm. She's getting plain xrays and xrays with barium in her right now. Only problem I have-it isn't my regular vet! It's a stand-in I guess. So we'll see what he has to say. She has not gained any weight at all-she's still 2 lbs 5 oz, and it's been a month since she was weighed last.

He's worried about an esophagus problem-I need to look up more info on it before I can tell you exactly what it is. Something about the food not being able to go down correctly, she's vomiting it up, and therefore she's not absorbing the food, etc, not growing, not enough nutrients.

I feel bad we haven't gotten her in sooner. :(

Edited to add: It's something like "esophageal achalasia" where the esophagus constricts, the food clumps up in there and the esophagus dialates, and then the cat vomits. Sounds like fun! He didn't mention any treatment if that was the problem.

[KatzNK9]

I'm not surprised to hear she's in for full-treatment approach. Sounds like you're at the point where something has to be done & fast. I think your vet is taking the right approach even though it isn't your regular vet. Sometimes these problems are fixed more quickly with a fresh set of eyes.

If bloodwork showed nothing, I was going to suggest the x-rays with barium route. I think this guy is on the right track here.

He's right to be concerned about the esophagus. If left untreated for long periods, the wretch reflex can become a habit in addition to the physiological reasons for it and can be doubly hard to turn around.

I'd consider asking him about more feedings per day. Only very, VERY small portions of food at each meal. Canned cat food may be easier to get down in tidbits at at time too. Are you in a position where you could feed her 5 or 6 times a day? If so, talk to your vet about this idea & see if he believes there is any merit.

Please do keep us posted! Sending postive healing vibes your way. And, a few prayers too.

[ritabooker]

I risk sounding off-the-wall here, but if the vet does not find anything specific, would you consider changing her food to Felidae? Abby vomited alot before we switched her to Canidae and I remain convinced it was because she could not digest the other brands properly. P.S. Katz makes an important point about the size of the meals.

Best luck with the kitty. Hope they get to the source of the problem soon. She looks sweet.

[Areias]

Anything bigger than quarter sized portions she vomits. She was on Chicken Soup kitten when we got her...we noticed the vomiting so I tried to remedy with boiled chicken breast. Didn't help, so we immediately went to the vet, and she's been on Eukanuba Canned Low-Residue, and then we tried Hills I/D. Both the canned foods should have been easily digested. I don't think it's so much a digestive issue, as much as a "swallowing" issue. I've also hand fed her a bite at a time, every few minutes, but she did end up vomiting. So we'll see what these xrays show... *sigh*. I hate the waiting game.

[Areias]

We're back with a diagnosis. It is exactly what I said before, the esophagus problem. You could see it-it was HUGE, about as wide around as the heart. Basically a part of the aorta is pinching the esophagus, making it a very small passage to go through. It's a birth defect.

So at the moment she is on a liquid diet, along with being held upright when she eats and after she eats. There is no medication, only "management" and surgery. It would be an open heart surgery...somewhere between $1000-$3000, maybe more.

With the management option-she will eventually not be able to get anything down. There is a risk of her not being able to recover fully from the malnourishment, always be somewhat "sickly", and also a risk of aspirating her food and having aspiration pneumonia. :(

With that said-me and mom will be discussing it later, and I'm going to go back next week to get with my vet and ask his opinion. We just won't have the money if the surgery were to cost over $1000. :sad-smiley-002: I'll keep you guys updated.

[eilenej1]

The poor dear. I wish you and her much luck!

[KatzNK9]

Oh wow! Poor baby girl! I do hope you're able to manage her diet so that she can start growing again. Let us know what your regular vet has to say about his diagnosis.:sad-smiley-002:

[ritabooker]

Sorry to hear this. Poor kitty. You are giving her great care. Best to all of you. Let us know.

[Areias]

Thank you for the support. The new diet is working well...no vomit since Friday. :) I still need to talk to my vet, because as the other vet said "the management option will only work for so long until you are basically looking at surgery".

New question!!
She's peeing out of the litterbox (also pooping occasionally). I had them run a urinalysis while she was there and nothing was abnormal so we figured it was the other kitten. Well, my sister caught her peeing under her dresser today. We've always used the same litter, and we keep it clean-well, it dosen't matter if it's clean or dirty. Any tips?

[Akitapet]

Give her soy milk and if you could bean curd. If you do not do the operation the only Alternative is putting her down OR putting her up for adoption to a family that will pay for the operation.

Check with the Humane Society and Biawee Foundation. They might help with the cost or put you in the direction of a vet who will help. If my Brother-in-law was still a vet I would work something out with him and have helped you out. Wish I could do something but I am strapped myself.

[Areias]

I will try...I'm actually looking into Care Credit and IMOM and such. I don't think Care Credit will approve me, but perhaps I can have my mom try. One of the problems is she would have to go to FVS to have the surgery, and I hear they are great but everything they do they charge double or triple for. A friend of mine has taken two of her cats there for blockage surgery (at different times), and the bill was about $3000 each, double what was quoted.

I have...emergency money. I have it in cash in my house for whatever it is needed. I don't have an extra $3000. I would definately make payments, but FVS is very strict and would never do that. :( I'm going to look at a rescue right now but I don't know if they take sick/injured animals. Right now she is doing well.

[Janimal]

Just wanted to wish your cat the very best of luck.:cheers: they are both lovely on the photos you have posted.:)

I have a tabby and a black one too... as well as a ginger tom.

[KatzNK9]

Thank you for the support. The new diet is working well...no vomit since Friday. :) I still need to talk to my vet, because as the other vet said "the management option will only work for so long until you are basically looking at surgery".

New question!!
She's peeing out of the litterbox (also pooping occasionally). I had them run a urinalysis while she was there and nothing was abnormal so we figured it was the other kitten. Well, my sister caught her peeing under her dresser today. We've always used the same litter, and we keep it clean-well, it dosen't matter if it's clean or dirty. Any tips?

Very glad to hear she's stopped vomiting with the new diet! Excellent progress. I do hope she's able to stabilize.

I'd clean the area with an enzymatic cleaner & block her access to that area. If this just started after her last visit to the vet, it could be stress related & it might be best to confine her to a small bathroom until she is more reliable.

[Akitapet]

I know this a preexisting condition but did you try VPI insurance.

That is what I finally picked for my dog. Like I said they might not accept you due to a prior condition but it is worth a try

[Areias]

I have looked into VPI, but like you said, they will not cover pre existing conditions nor will they cover congenital problems...birth defects, which is what she has. They won't even cover hip dysplasia, as far as I know. :( I just shot off an email to a popular cat rescue group and I'm looking through their links for anything helpful.

She is confined to my sister's bedroom, she's technically my sister's cat. I have a FeLV positive cat and they are seperated at all times. She gets "play time" out in the front rooms daily, with her brother. It just seems to be the bedroom she pees in. We noticed this a few days before we went to the vet, but weren't sure which cat it was. Your right-I will pick up some Nature's Miracle tomorrow. One of the techs said we may have to get two seperate litter boxes, as she may not want to go where the other cat has gone.

[borzoimom]

Areias- I am sorry but I am just seeing all this. I wish I could offer some advice, but I am not even sure about the insurance issues. You are right that most do not take a preexisiting condition or birth defects. In dogs, breed rescues sometimes will help. The only thoughts I have is maybe a teaching hospital of vets. ( remember that member with the horse that went to one, and it cost her half what it would have). Since you already have an understanding what is wrong- that would remove my worries of diagnosis in a teaching hospital. Do a google search on one near you. Although some would be students with the cat, the teachers in these places are excellent usually!
I am sorry that this sounds so serious what you are going through. I wish I could give you a hug. :grouphug: I will try looking for one as well on this end. Pm me the area where you live, and lets see what we can find..

[Areias]

I've been scouring the internet and calling all my "people" from around the area. Not much luck. Going back to the vet's tomorrow morning-she hasn't gained any weight since last Friday but she's been keeping everything down. She's a little dehydrated (not drinking much), and very lethargic. She dosen't look like she's doing well, she has "sick cat" fur (it's sticking up and looks really bad). I'm getting the second opinion from my regular vet and then making a decision from there. I contacted another vet that said would do surgery for "around" $1500, she's done two successful surgerys and another that was not successful (the two successful were on puppies, the not successful on a kitten). I'm not sure what I will do yet-there is a lot weighing on my mind.

[KatzNK9]

I'm so sorry she's not showing signs of improvement. You might ask your vet to give you some instruction on using some fluids at home (it's easy ... and I can offer advice if need be) to help keep her better hydrated. The vet should be willing to send you home with fluids & give you a quick lesson on how to administer them.

If she's still eating the liquid diet, she's not likely to be drinking as much water; however, if she's truly dehydrated, you're going to need to intercede.

Poor kitty. I do hope you find somebody who is able to help her.

[Areias]

She's now at the bridge.
Doc identified another problem with the heart as well as the ventricular ring wrapped 3-4 times around the esophagus. We decided it was time to let her go.

RIP, sweet Lilly. Your time on earth here was too short.

[borzoimom]

Oh I am soooooooo sorry... Rest in peace little one!!!

[ritabooker]

So sad about little Lilly. You did your very best by her and she loves you for it. Hugs.

[KatzNK9]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Poor little Lilly had a rough time of her short little life. You did your best for her up to and including the end. I'm sure she knew she was well-loved & cared for. RIP little girl.

{{{ Hugs }}}