My cat keeps vomiting and has lost 3 kg in a month

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LCV - 24 Jun 2007 19:28 GMT

I'm italian and I have a cat that is FELV+. We found him about 2 years
ago and has ever since kept under control with regular visits to the
verinary. Age unknown, presumably 6-7 years old, male, already neutered
when we found him.

He had always been in good physical conditions. Except last october
(2006) when he developed a suspicious formation inside his mouth,
protruding dangerously toward the throat cavity. The doctors thought it
was a cancer. Since he's FELV+, anestesia couldn't be performed without
big risks and the doctors couldn't take a tissue sample (they tried
while the cat was awake, but they didn't succeed). However, the cat
recovered thanks to some interferone injections and an antibiotic based
treatment. The formation stopped growing and the inflammation around it
disappeared in a month.

He kept a good appetite during all this period. The levels of his white
blood cells after the cure returned to normal (when he was ill they
dropped to 1200).

Since last may (2007) the cat is ill again. There's no strange visible
formation in the mouth this time, but the veterinarians suspected it
could have grown deeper inside the throat. Since he's sick and FELV+,
they are cautios in performing an endoscopy because of possible risks
involved with anestesia.

The doctors gave the cat a treatment based on antibiotics (bayer
baytril) and piroxycam and some antiemetics. In fact, this time the cat
vomits every food he eats. In a month he lost about 3 kg and we can't
find a way to feed him. He's able to swallow food, but after a little
time (between 1 and 10 minutes) he vomits it. Sometimes he doesn't vomit
all the food he has just eaten, often it is more a "foamy saliva", which
the doctors told us is a symptom of feline nausea.

What originates this nausa or vomit is unknown. The doctors hypotized
that he has "something" in the throat cavity that stimulates the vomit.
However, the cat does not vomit when he has not eaten any food. He only
vomits after he eats some food - no matter how much he eats. He's able
to drink water, so we tried to feed him with special sick cats food
diluted with water but it didn't improve much the situation, the cat
keeps on vomiting.

After we started the cure with antibiotics and piroxycam, the cat white
blood cells count became normal again (actually, above the average). The
red blood cells are little lower, but that could be either because of
the leukemia or the lack of food. The cat does not have other symptoms.
He walks a little, looks out of the window, etc. But he's too weak to
jump, purr or clean himself (he scratches his nails though).

We believe that if we could be able to feed the cat he would be healthy
again.

Please, if you had any similar experience with FELV+ cats, anorectic
cats, cats unable to eat, etc., if you can suggest something, we'd
sincerely appreciate it.

thank you

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bruce - 24 Jun 2007 23:18 GMT

Since the cat has not died from dehydration yet, that indicates that
at least some fluids can pass through. Going to a complete liquid
diet, in very small amounts, with frequent feedings (6-8 times per
day) may get him some relief from starvation. Since protein is needed
for muscle growth, vitamins are needed for immune and hormone
function, and carbohydrates are needed for daily energy, I would think
a liquid diet high in carbohydrates would be the first thing to try.
Initially, this could take place with sugar water, or a noncaffinated
cola beverage. If that works, then fats could be added in the form of
melted ice cream. Everything hinges on using small amounts, and
liquid without solid portions.

Diagnostic imaging on the gastrointestinal tract of the cat could be
done with small amounts of liquid contrast (barium) and sequential
Xrays. Although some or most of the contrast may be vomited back up,
some will get through and would hopefully allow illumination of where
there is a blockage. Even an Xray without contrast may give some
indication of growths within the body; if the growth is in the area of
the chest there may be some dense areas on the Xray where there should
be light areas, or there may be displacing of light areas (lungs,
trachea, bronchi) that demonstrate a growth.

Since the cat is FELV+ there is always the possibility that there is
another growth elsewhere. Here it may be in the gastrointestinal
tract and blocking off the passage of most foods. Surgery to correct
a closure may be high risk or low risk depending on the position of
the tumor, and the activity level of the virus.

Besides using liquid diets, there is a remote possibility of using an
inserted catheter that goes past the blockage to deposit food slurry
in the gastrointestinal tract. Other forms of parenteral nutrition
require intravenous catheters, or subcutaneous catheters, which is
very high maintenance and indicative of a poor prognosis.

> I'm italian and I have a cat that is FELV+. We found him about 2 years
> ago and has ever since kept under control with regular visits to the
[quoted text clipped - 52 lines]
>
> thank you

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LCV - 25 Jun 2007 15:34 GMT

thank you very much for your opinions

I'll discuss about the x-raying with the veterinary this thursday, I
think it's a good idea and I wonder why they didn't do that already...

in the meanwhile, we found a high protein food he's able to eat without
vomiting ("Convalescence"). He does not like this food at all so we have
no choice to force feed him with a needleless shot. At least he does not
vomit it, unlike other water-diluted or semiliquid foods.

according to the food producer, he should eat 200ml of this food per day
I calculated we could start giving him around 15-16 shots of 5-6 ml each
at 1 hour interval - I'm preparing the food a little more concentrate
using a little less water than prescribed.

thank you very much again

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