Prayers for my kitty please

[bellarains]

Hi Everyone,

My orange tabby, appropriately named, Big Orange is very sick. I took him to the vet yesterday morning because he was throwing up blood, and had blood in his stool. He has always regurgitated his food, but the vet thought is was psychological. He is still not sure what is going on, but they did do a blood panel, x-rays, and exploratory surgery yesterday to try and find the cause. Good news is they found no foreign object, liver is good, kidneys, gall bladder, etc. all good. Bad news, they aren't real sure what is going on, but think he may have ulcers? If anyone has ever heard of anything like this, please let me know.

Orange is staying the weekend in the hospital. The vet called me this morning to let me know he's doing OK, but he did throw up some more blood. They have him on fluids, are giving him Zantac, something to keep him from regurgitating, and giving him steroids. He has been very good about calling with updates, and I am going to see him this afternoon for a short visit, as he thinks it may help to keep him from getting too stressed.

I'll keep everyone updated, and please do keep him in your prayers. He is my very sweet kitty, loves to cuddle, and has a motor that you can hear a mile away:)

Thanks,

Lori

[linda040899]

Hi Lori,
I'm so sorry to hear about Big Orange! Hope all goes well and the vet finds out what the problem is. In the meantime, Orange will be in my thoughts and prayers for a complete recovery.

I, personally, have never heard of cats having ulcers, but that doesn't mean it can't happen! Vet care for our pets has come a long way in the last decade!

[BarbieH]

(((((Orange))))) (((((Lori)))))

You've got my prayers for speedy recovery.

[Elle]

Hang in there Orange! You're a strong baby! ((((Lori)))))

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[Buy A Paper Doll]

Poor kitty!!!!! (And poor Lori!!!!!)

Prayers for a quick recovery for Orange.

[Eliza]

Poor Orange! I do hope that he's improving... Please keep us posted,

-e-

[Janie]

((((((BIG ORANGE)))))

Lori, I know nothing about ulcers in cats or dogs but it sounds like a possibility. I will ask my vet, matter of fact, I'll call GA Veterinary Specialist and see what they might know about ulcers.

[bellarains]

Thanks Janie. I did take him to what is supposed to be one of the best vets in my area. I love my Dr. B., but he is semiretired now after his open heart surgery, so opted to take him to this vet instead. He seems very good, very compassionate, and I do like that he himself is making two visits to Orange today to check up on him, plus wants me to come in also. I am awaiting that call now, but would love to hear what any other vets have to say.

[cassysmiley]

Oh Bella am so sorry about kitty. I know what you mean about being your baby. Like my eldest 1 is.
Thoughts go out to you and prayers and huge (((( hugs )))


I googled re cat ulcers, i know they common if they get into fights etc, but not tummy 1`s. Anyway i have posted a couple of links in for you. Seems its not that rare as 1st thought. Anyway hope these help.

Love
cassy.xxx
links below.


http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_helicobacter_infection.html

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/clientED/vomiting.asp

[bellarains]

Update: I just got back from visiting with Orange, and he is doing better this afternoon. He has eaten,kept it down, urinated, and has no blood in his stool now. They said he has not thrown up blood since yesterday afternoon, so I hope that's a good sign. The vet is going to give me some meds to keep him on for 10 days, then see how he does after that.

I know one kitty that will get some serious "bed kitty" time when he gets home. Bed kitty time, as those of you who have cats know, is their favorite place to be:)

Thanks for the links Cassy. I'm gonna go read through them now.

[Susan27]

I got here a little late, but I am glad that Big Orange better when you saw him. Blood is always a scary thing. I hope he will be all better and they figure out what is wrong, or that it just goes away (if that is possible). Poor Orange, he will enjoy his kitty bed time with you. Big ((HUGS))) ((Lori)) ((Big Orange)). And hope for a speedy recovery.

[wilkiecoco]

I'm so glad that Big Orange is doing better - i got this late, and I was hoping to heat good news by the last post. YEAH!!!! :)

[Janie]

Lori, thanks for the good update on Big Orange! :D

Did anybody every tell you that you would not make a good farmer? :rofl:

[bellarains]

Yeah Janie, my hubby, but you know he can kiss my left cheek;)

[kimsbirds]

Lori-dear
I hope Big Orange is feeling better very soon. Give him a hug and a pat on his lil head from Auntie Kimmie please:)

Kimmie and the puddytats, Onyx and Bailey

[butterfly1061]

Lori,

I'm so sorry Big Orange has not been feeling well. It's good to hear he's doing better. I'm sure he'll enjoy his bed-kitty time with you. Give him a big o' kitty kissy from me and keep us posted on how he's doing. :grouphug1

[chris631]

Hang in there Big Orange and Lori, your in my prayers

[graushill]

I'm sorry Big Orange is doing poorly, although I was happy to read your latest update. I hope he gets well soon and that whatever it was that made him is gone for good.

Please give him a big scratch behind the ears from me :).

((((Lori))))) ((((Big Orange))))

PD Talking about "unconventional" farmers, there's a writer called Jon Katz who contributes for Slate Magazine and I love to read his articles :). He writes about Elvis, his overly friendly cow (well actually steer) and about his rooster Winston and about his barn cat Mother and his donkey Jeanne and well all the animals in his farm with with warmth and humor and affection. His latest article was about Henrietta the hen : http://http://www.slate.com/id/2160633/. I think Lori could be such a farmer :).

[mjm8321]

Sorry to hear about Big "O", but it sounds like he's in good hands.

Has he ever been tested for food allergies? I have one cat that is allergic to chicken or turkey and vomits everytime he eats it.

[bellarains]

MJ,

No he has not. I guess we'll see where we go from here, but I will mention it to my vet. They usually eat Purina One, Lamb and rice, as that's what he recommend for the sensitive stomach. He doesn't get sick everytime he eats, but 2-3 times a week. He did mention some other food while I was there though, so we will probably try that too. Anyway, they are putting him on Zantac, so hopefully that will help some.

I will be picking him up in about 2 hours, and I sure will be glad to have my kitty home:)

[Kathryn]

Lori,
Came in late on this. Very glad to hear that Big Orange is doing better.
Hopefully there is a diagnosis for the problem.

Our Mauvis also regurgitates a few times a week. She is 17 and she simply eats too quickly, gets too much air in her stomach and throws about half the food back up.

[cassysmiley]

Glad Big O doing well.
Have you tried just fish for him, I do with my boys if they get the runs.
I feed them meat in mornings, and dried food at night, but if any of the them ill, the dried food is not given as this upsets their tummys more. They are on Science Plan for sensative stomachs. They then fed Fish (UGH) and this does the trick. Give him a big cuddle from me.
Cassy.

[sdgilley]

Lori,
I'm so sorry Big Orange is having problems. I'm glad he's doing better, too.

I had a Siberian Husky that had some weird food allergies. I had this really cool pet supply owner that was really into dogs and training, etc. He gave me a recipe for homemade dog food, and my dog thrived on that for her whole life. I would make the food about once a month and freeze it.

I googled recipes for cat food and found many links. Here's one:
http://www.catnutrition.org/foodmaking.html
and another
http://cats.about.com/cs/catfood/a/home_cooked.htm

I think I'll try some of these out for my kitties. My calico is a little overweight on some really cheap food that she likes...

I have a soft spot for orange tabby cats, you know! I hope Big O comes home and let's his little motor roar! Kiss him on the head for me.

[bellarains]

Suzanne,

That recipe looks great. I will have to try that, and see how it goes over.

Orange is home, and he slept with us last night, and sucked all the extra attention up. He's not very happy about the three meds he's taking(Carafate,Amoxicillin,and Metronidazole), but we got it all down with just a little spitting, and one little scratch for Mama:rolleyes: He is eating Science Diet Rabbit and Green Pea formula. I am mixing it with a little canned SD food also, as the vet says this will make it a little more appetizing for him, until he gets accustomed to it.

Grand total.................$857.00 with the small bag of food, but he's my Big Orange, and worth every penny:)

P.S. I know this board is about the birds, but many of us also have kittys. I do appreciate everyones prayers, comments, and links, more than I can say. Even though it is primarily about the birds, I hope by posting my experience with Orange, that anyone else who has a kitty with any of these symptoms may get some help from this thread in the future.

[kimsbirds]

Lori,
Thank God Big O is home!
We can all learn from any experience here with our members, even if its' not a bird. Those who own birds already have a soft spot for critters in their hearts, so you're likely to find many many kitty lovers here too. My boys are due for their annual kitty exam in May, we hope for a clean bill of health once again!

Purrrrrrrrrrrrr Big Orange....glad you're OK !

K

[Buy A Paper Doll]

Woohoo! I'm so glad to hear that kitty is back home where he belongs. :)