Help please poorly kitten

[anoldiebutagoody]

My 6mth old kitten (Teddy) has been vomiting white frothy liquid since Sat night. Took him to vet yesterday (because I was concerned about the stuff DH had put on the lawn last week) she examined him and did bloods but apart from slightly raised temperature everything was normal. She gave him an injection to help the nausea and he tried to eat a tiny bit of fish last night.
He was sick again last night but nothing since the only thing is he's still not interested in food. He is drinking a little and weeing so that's good but he is sleeping a lot and looking very sorry for himself.
Is there anything I can do/get him to help his tummy and tempt him to eat. Tried steamed fish and chicken and all his favorites but no interest so far.
We (Teddy and me) would be very grateful for any ideas. Thanks Here he is a week or so ago x

Quick update
He had the Budesonide at 12noon and after a quick look out he took himself off to bed. He's just got up , had half a dish of food and gone out for a wander so he's definitely feeling better😊

That's the first time he's been sick for over a month, going by this thread (last time was 1st October, as far as I can tell). Not at all bad going.

I've said this before, but are you sure today's episode was the same old problem? Remember cats can be sick for other reasons. Sorry, am preaching to the converted, I know, but it's worth bearing in mind.

Glad he seems better this afternoon. Hope he's been having fun outside. Tilly,s just gone out herself - we've been out all afternoon and I think she's probably snoozed the hours away, so now it's time for a leg stretch, as long as the rain doesn't appear!

Hi Time
Yes pretty sure, if he's sick because of something else he still eats also when he gets these episodes his saliva has an odd smell which he transfers to his fur when he washes himself and I noticed yesterday and the day before he smelled funny. Lisa thinks it's bacteria in his mouth that does it, the antibiotics always stop it so hopefully the steroids will too.
He's just gone tearing into the kitchen because husband locked the cat door , (making it open in the process) & Bobby was on my lap, so Teddy was off to see who was coming through his door, not sure what he would have done if it had been a strange cat 😂
Fingers crossed by the time we see Lisa he'll be back to normal and we can stop the Budesonide.
Hope Tilly comes back in before the fireworks start.

What weight is he now?

Not sure I'll try to weigh him when he comes in, he was 3.8 kilos a couple of weeks ago.
I am wondering if it's fur that triggers the inflammation or contributes to it getting to the stage that makes him sick, he grooms himself a lot - just about every time he sits down and he has really thick soft fur.
Both this time and last time after he was sick with just foam he sicked up a hairball the following day.
Other than not eating after being sick (he ate OK from 3pm yesterday) he's fine, off out in between the showers but he doesn't like the cold so he doesn't spend as long out.

Hi cozie, well he didn't want to be weighed but looks like he's lost a little -he's about 3. 3/ 3.4 kilos' is that OK for a 1 year old?
He seems in proportion but if his thick fur wasn't there he's probably be a bit thin, saying that given what he's been through anything around the 3 mark is probably going to be the norm.

Have you tried grooming him at all? I have no option but to groom Seniorboy these days - he can't really manage it himself these days - but he does like the attention and the feel of his fur afterwards.

Hi cozie,
I have a flea comb that Bobby loves as did my other cats but Teddy doesn't like it at all. I'll get a brush and see if he'll let me use that, trouble is that he doesn't like being stroked that much, unless it's his head, so I'm not holding out much hope.
I'm in a quandary today, he's had his steroids (3rdday) but still not eating, I'd really like to give him a one off dose of Metacam to see if it will help. Vet said not to give both meds when I asked but I took that to mean a course of both. I'll ring them to see if a one off dose is OK until we see Lisa on Wednesday.

Start with his head and neck then and introduce his flanks Oh So Gradually. Just a couple of strokes a night to start with. Keep a routine and don't attempt his belly for a very long time - if at all.

I'll try that cozie, he has a very expressive tail so I'll have plenty of warning when he's getting fed up 😁. The answer from them vet yesterday was no to Metacam and steroids.
Anyway we are just back from the vet and Lisa agreed that the Budesonide isn't doing what we need it to she examined him and said his whole stomach was very tense which indicates that he is in pain and his temperature was 39.7, she gave him a shot of pain relief specific to the gut and some Metacam.
She was impressed with how much he had grown, although his weight had only risen from 3.08 to 3.4 kilos, and that he had done 47 days with just antacids. I mentioned about the hairball and she said that it will irritate the stomach if it stays there longer than normal so she's prescribed some laxapast once or twice a week to help.
We are going to give the Metacam for a week or so and then just antacids until he's back to normal then I'll ring her and we'll decide whether to try the Budesonide as a support for his gut or use just the antacids and Metacam when necessary.
Poor baby also has a back tooth that's been affected by the calcivirus and may need to come out, (the two small teeth between his incisors top and bottom have already fallen out because of the virus - which is why his tongue sticks out) I said that if that was the case he can be neutered at the same time hopefully not before the new year.
He's already had some chicken and was eating Bobby's dry food so hopefully he'll settle down for a sleep in a little while, he doesn't trust me not to stick him back in the carrier if he lets his guard down.

Fingers crossed.

I had a quick look see and I seem to recall that meloxicam and steroids are potentially not a good combination for various reasons.

The tooth is a blighter, poor lad. Hopefully, it's not giving him too much pain at least.

How are the boys doing?

Hi Time. They are both doing OK. Bobby has recovered from his trip to the vets for his annual vaccinations, poor boy gets so stressed and this time was no different, I did ask Lisa if there was anything we could give him beforehand but as it was also his 6 month check up we couldn't sedate him without affecting that. Anyway he's back to normal now apart from having to go on a diet (he's 6.8 kilos ) so we are starting to cut back, it is affecting his mobility - he literally has to squeeze through the cat flap.
After his flare up and 10 days of Metacam, Teddy is on day 2 of no Metacam, just antacids and he's not been sick and is eating well 😀, so keep your fingers crossed for him please.
How is the weather with you, it has poured with rain all day today and the boys do not approve, they have been charging around the house chasing each other for the past 2 days as it's too cold and/or wet to go out.
Hope Tilly is having nicer weather😀

Glad to hear they're both doing so well. Am sure Tilly will sympathise with Bobby about the vet trip, as she had her early check-up and jabs the weekend before last. As per usual she complained, loudly, the whole way there and the whole way back! And, like Bobby, she's overweigh (5.43kg) so she'll be going on a diet. I'm blaming DP for feeding her treats all the time, though he thinks I'm to blame for feeding her on demand. What he doesn't realise is that I only put a little down each time. Somehow, between us, we'll sort her out.

Weather wise it's been ok this week. Bitterly frosty cold, but dry for the last few days at least. However, there are beasties in the garden which is not endearing T to go outside. A mink killed two of my rabbits, and there was something else out there which made Tilly miaow quite unhappily the other morning. So she's not terribly pleased. Esp as all the remaining rabbits are currently in the house, along with the guineas, so one bedroom smells rather unpleasant however much I clean them out. Plus I'm on hayfever tablets due to all the hay in the house, so am sleeping through the night and T can't wake me up! Life is hard.

Tell Teddy to keep munching! Glad he's off the Metacam just now. Long may that continue! Hope he and Bobby enjoy their games of chase, and that they're able to get outside soon!

Love to all!!!

Update on Teddy.
Unfortunately the No Metacam only lasted 2 days as he was sick again.
Phoned Lisa and we agreed to extend the Metacam for a further week then give it every other day which seems to be working well at the moment -we've been doing it for a week now and he's still eating for Wales (I reckon he has hollow legs) and no sickness ☺. He actually felt like he's putting on bit of weight when I picked him up this afternoon.
I can't get over how caring Lisa is, when we spoke she mentioned that she had just been on a course given by several specialists from the Bristol hospital and for the duration of the course you could email them any questions. One of the specialists lecturing was the gastro (cat) specialist so Lisa emailed her about Teddy, particularly about his high Coronavirus titre and the possible adverse effect of Prednisolone .
She responded that in his case given the length of time he has survived with it she would give the Prednisolone.
Armed with that from the specialist and Dr Diane Addie stating that it was rare for the Coronavirus to mutate after 12 months from infection.( I worked out that as we had Teddy on 7th Jan and he was around 12 weeks then, he was probably infected by his mother latest mid December so that's 12 months around now) we decided that when we stop the Metacam in the New Year, if / when he has another flare up we will give him the Prednisolone to see if that will stop the inflammation and keep everything crossed😐

Interesting. He's doing pretty well, really. What a scrapper.

He's a real fighter cozie, so we have to do whatever it takes to give him the longest pain free periods we can.
Currently he thinks he's in a hotel that provides food every time someone (me) is in the kitchen and lots of times he's right.
At the moment he's lying flat out on the living room windowsill after having a mid afternoon snack. I must admit I'm happy to see him eating and it will build him up, so if he gets a flare up and doesn't eat for a couple of days he has something to fall back on.
I wish he was a bit more cuddly but he's not and I suppose that it stems from being born in a barn with very little human contact (the farmer wouldn't let his wife bring the mother and kittens indoors) until he was given to the rescue because all his siblings were killed by a fox.
Anyway I will persevere and stroke him as often as he'll let me, at least he purrs now which he didn't until he's been with us for a few months.

You don't know, either, how he's really been feeling if he has You Know What. For example - if you've ever had flu?......... Viral diseases can have consequences other than those which are immediately apparent.

Still going OK with the day on day off Metacam, eating well and no sickness.
And he's putting on weight,on my scales he's 4.3 kilos so probably 4/4.1.
Spoke to Lisa today to let her know that it's been fine for 2 weeks, she suggested that we try for every 2 days but not to hesitate to give it on day 3 if he starts to struggle. He's due to have it tomorrow so I'll give him it tomorrow then not again until Sunday and see how it goes.
It's so great to see him when he's well, playing/fighting with Bobby , chasing the leaves in the garden and lying u see the Christmas tree playing with the baubles.
The lying down is definitely a copied behaviour from his brother ( who was the only cat I knew who laid in the kitchen waiting for his food), this was Teddy earlier this evening 😀

*under

He's looking good. A bit pugnacious - but good.

PS - how long does the implant last?

Wow! He's certainly grown! Where's that wee little kitten gone??????

Glad he's doing so well. Will keep fingers and paws crossed he does fine in the new regime.

So pleased to hear he's been having fun with Bobby. Has he managed to comb the tree yet? T has taken to sleeping under ours. I think she wants to be ready for the arrival of the birds (why else would you have a tree inside) and Santa's elves!

Try beef mince - raw. Had same problem with my kitten and it gobbled it down. Never eaten it before but kicked off his appetite. Good luck xx

Hi cozie, they haven't got a great deal of data for the implant in cats, in dogs it lasts 12 months.
Cats it can last up to 18 months ( 1 was 24 months) but they have had instances of 12 months and 15 months.
Teddy had it in August so we have at least until then. It will depend on his tooth, if it starts to give him trouble he'll have to have it out and we'll do the neutering at the same time so it's just one lot of anaesthetic, however the Metacam also helps with the tooth so we'll play it by ear, which Lisa is fine with ☺
He's not a little kitten anymore apart from having lots of fun chasing Bobby or ping pong balls around on our wood flooring at 3am 😀 he's enjoying life at the moment. The pugnacious look is a "why are you wasting time taking my photo when you should be feeding me " face.