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

Yes - it rather looked like that!

PS - Lisa has been great in all of this, I think.

Teddy is adorable - all the v best after all you've gone through.

Update on Teddy.
He's still on the Metacam every two days, no sickness and eating well for 2 days but a bit less on the 3rd day.
Took him to the vet yesterday to get his booster jabs, he's now 4.04kg from 3.4 and Lisa was really pleased with his progress 😊.
She gave him a check over and he's all OK apart from his mouth/gums/teeth ( because of the calcivirus) - his gums are all receding exposing the roots, especially the four back teeth. His canines are OK and of course he's lost the front four already.
I explained about the third day not eating as much and we think this is because of his teeth hurting when the Metacam wears off, rather than anything else.
He was on the third day yesterday so due Metacam today. He was hungry this morning so gave him his food, he had a few mouthfuls and stopped, gave him the Metacam and half an hour later he wanted to eat, and he's had another half a bowl since then so I do think he does have toothache.
Looks like he'll have to have them out, Lisa says that they do manage OK, but Iave no experience of cats without most of their teeth ( he'll still have his canines and she'll try to clean and save any that are borderline but the back 4 have to go). Probably be in a couple of weeks time as he's just had his boosters and as we don't want him to have to have anaesthetic twice, she'll neuter him at the same time - poor dab !
She definitely has a soft spot for him and asked me for a favour yesterday, to let her take some photos of him. So Teddy's now a photographic model and will be in their next Health Club leaflet with Lisa pretending to give him meds, check his ears, listening to his heart etc. Bless him he was good as gold just sitting and letting her do it.

Seniorboy had to have a full GA dental at 16 due to a quite 'orrible mouth and had everything left removed bar one back tooth and his upper and lower fangs. He's been fine since although that one remaining back tooth is starting to prove troublesome. If I had any advice to give, I'd say 'don't try too hard to save teeth that are borderline'. They'll likely go after a time, anyway, and he'd be - almost - back to Square One.

That's wonderful! Sounds like he's doing really well. You must be thrilled! And brilliant news about the weight gain!

Poor boy at having to lose his teeth, though. Am sure he'll manage fine. And he'll feel better for it so definitely for the best.

Love the idea of him becoming a supermodel! So long as he doesn't start getting airs and graces, thinking normal life is beneath him! Am impressed he sat so nicely for her, Tilly wouldn't in a hundred years! She thinks it's bad enough being checked over for real, let alone having to go through it all again for pretend.

Anyway, it's brilliant news, and a wonderful start to the New Year! Yay!

Good to know that Senior Boy managed alright cozie, when Lisa and I spoke she mentioned that some vets advocate taking them all to prevent having to go through it again. Given his high titre we don't want to stress him out more than once, so if the gum is poor everywhere they'll all go - looking at his mouth that's highly likely.
She did wonder if the teeth/gums are the root of his problems (meaning the enlarged lymphnodes and inflammation were caused through him shedding the Coronavirus, he hasn't had another blood test to measure his titre yet as the specialist said it usually takes 9-12months to show any significant reduction) I'll ask her to do bloods when he's next in- it'll be about 10 months.
Yes it's a good start to the year Time, it will be even better if it is just his teeth causing the problem ☺. I was surprised how good he was especially as he's not one for a fuss, at least he's hasn't developed any more airs and Grace's since his visit so I'm hoping the fame won't go to his head 😂.
Don't know if the Insurance will cover the dental work but as it was caused by the calcivirus I am hoping they will, if not I'll just have to raid the savings.

Going to be interesting to see the results from the forthcoming bloods.

I do know that having his mouth sorted made a quite dramatic and immediate difference to Seniorboy's health as well as his disposition. He had been vomiting quite frequently - several times a day - and that just stopped.

Teddy the Supermodel!

He might be still grounded now, but you wait. Once those leaflets reach the public he'll have fans queuing up at the door for his pawtograph!!!!!

Let's hope it is his teeth, and that once they're gone all his problems will be over. Wouldn't that be nice? And I'll keep my fingers crossed that the insurance pays out. Hopefully you'll get someone in a good mood who agrees your claim is valid.

It would be fantastic if the teeth sorts everything out ☺
Lisa's actual words were " I wonder if it could be as simple as his teeth causing the problem" To be fair it's only now that you can see how bad they are because the gums have receded so much, before it was hidden rot and all.
Just a bit concerned about what he'll be able to eat directly after the extractions, are cats gums like ours and take several days to heal?

Time I shall have to ask for anonymity in all contracts, can't have all the fans annoying the neighbours Mind you after the op he's not going to have much of a smile so there may not be any further bookings 😂.

I think it will be wet food for a few days anyway - but can you imagine how he must feel at the moment? (I know what toothache is like and I'm a real miseryguts with it.)

(Seniorboy was on wet food beforehand and I noticed no difference in his eating habits.)

I completely agree toothache is awful and to have 3 or 4 teeth on both sides of your mouth aching mostof the time must be horrible for him. I think tooth pain is oneof the worst you can have. At least he gets some respite when he has the Metacam. When I speak to Lisa next week to sort out the appointment I hope she'll agree to give it to him every other day if he needs it, I'm sure she will.
He tends to eat 99% wet food now mixed into steamed shredded chicken breast so that would be OK, I'm concerned about bits of food getting into the gums before they're healed if they take some time to heal.
Can SeniorBoy eat dry food now cozie? Teddy really likes some of the dry treats and it'd be a shame if he could never have them again. He got some Harrington ones for Christmas and absolutely loves the liver ones 😀.
It's not the end of the world and he does like the soft treats too so won't be completely deprived.

He's never liked Dreamies etc so that's no change.

However - I ill-advisedly put a plate with a chicken drumstick on the floor a few months after his dental, thinking nothing of it. The next morning, the plate was empty and I never found that drumstick - or any remnants thereof - again. ..............

They can have cooked chicken livers as a treat, you buy them frozen in the supermarket.

My childhood cats all went bonkers for them.

I'm not convinced Tilly's teeth ever touch treats. They tend to be hoovered up! I'm sure Teddy won't let toothlessness get in the way of his treats!

How are things?

I think you're psychic cozie.
Teddy was fine until yesterday morning when he was sick and refusing food again. He has been eating less on the second day of no Metacam (which was one of the reasons Lisa thought it might be his teeth) but not sick. Yesterday was day two but he was sick early morning and then wouldn't eat but was interested in it just didn't want to eat it - if that makes sense. So I gave him an extra dose of Metacam and by 7pm he was starting to eat, he had his regular dose today and was eating most of the morning. I don't think there's any doubt that his problems are pain related, the question is whether it's his mouth or his gut or both. Apparently sufficient pain can cause nausea and vomiting in cats, anyway I am hoping Lisa will be in work tomorrow and I can speak to her, I think we'll have to go down the teeth extraction route to see if that helps him. Must admit I'm concerned about the few days after if his mouth is sore and bleeding, how will he eat without getting food in the open wounds in his gums?
Yesterday when he was unwell he was scratching at the right side of his mouth, just as if he had an itch/fleas - he hasn't got fleas, and I wondered if it was because his teeth were aching.
I'll update after I've spoken to Lisa, thanks for thinking of him

Harry had to have 12 teeth out a year ago after he had a dental infection. I was worried to death about how he would eat but he managed fine - once we found something he liked! We fed him on Hills a/d to start with (I'm always banging on about it but I honestly don't work for them!) and tried him on various wet foods until we found one he approved of. He'd always eaten dry so he wasn't impressed to start with! He was supposed to stay on wet only until he his jaw was unwired (he'd broken it) but in the end the vet said he could have dry if he could manage it, be guided by him.

Now you wouldn't know Harry didn't have all his teeth (apart from when he opens his mouth as he lost all his canines) and he can still bite my hand as the ones further back are bloody sharp! His face changed shape and is now slimmer but I think he looks more distinguished!

We had a scare before Christmas when he stopped eating his biscuits and it turned out that he had ulcers and osteomylitis, but luckily he didn't lose any more teeth and got over the dental pretty quickly.

Good luck to Teddy, I hope he gets on OK.

It sounds as if it's pain, doesn't it? In the absence of any other info - allied with that scratching at the side of his mouth - I think that dealing with the teeth is the way to go. (And giving him the snip, quickly, would be an added bonus.)

Fingers crossed for him. Let us know what Lisa says.

Hi Oldie. I've just sat and read your whole thread and couldn't not post a comment saying how beautiful both your gorgeous boys are, and how well you're caring for them. All my fingers and toes are crossed that it really is something as simple as toothache (not that it is simple but still!) One of mine had a couple of teeth out after months of being off his food and general ill health - in fact I took him to the vet to complain that he was unusually docile and calm (not like him at all, neither of them really approve of affection unless they're in charge of it and they definitely use their claws when they get the chance!) and it was all because of the teeth.

Sending you so many good wishes - I'll be avidly waiting for your updates

xx

Thank you for your kind words, I have ally fingers and toes crossed too Gobbe.

Spoke to Lisa (vet) this morning, she agrees with me that the best thing for Teddy is to address the teeth problem. So he's booked in for Thursday morning and I feel terrible.
I mentioned about the neutering at the same time and she said she will have to think about it. Had it just been one extraction which could have been done quickly she said she would have no problem but as it's likely that all the teeth will have to go, apart from his canines, there will be a lot of bacteria from his mouth around in the air, coupled with the amount of pain/discomfort he would be in at both ends would increase his stress levels.
She also doesn't think she'll be able to speed it up as much as she wanted as he'll have to be under anaesthetic for around an hour for his teeth alone 😞 but hopefully he should be home same day and they'll do everything possible to keep his stress levels down - Feliway etc and they now have a dedicated cat area for recovery, completely away from the dog area.
I know that if we can do the teeth on Thursday he can have the "quickie" neutering later in the year, we have at least until August before the implant starts to wear off, I would have liked it all done but I have every confidence that Lisa will do the best she can for him.
So I would be very grateful for any positive vibes you could send his way for Thursday.

Will definitely be sending you and Teddy good vibes for then. And I totally understand what she says about not wanting him to be sore at both ends at the same time. But I do also know why you'd prefer that he gets it all over and done with.

I suppose he may not actually be in much more pain immediately after the operation than he is anyway...And you know it won't be for long, just until his mouth heals.

Love to him and Bobby. I expect a running commentary on Thursday!

She'll be thinking of the best for him.

Poor lad - and poor you, having to pace away the day while he's under. And poor her having the responsibility of doing it.

Let us know how it goes.

If it's any consolation, I don't think you have any choice in the matter. I know it's - sort of - elective surgery but his teeth are only going to deteriorate further. He's a right little scrapper but they're almost certainly too much of a burden for him to cope with.

Hi Time & cozie thank you for your support.
I know there's reall no option, I just wish I didn't feel so guilty for actually ringing up and saying it was getting worse and needed to be done, even though I know Lisa wouldn't have agreed if it wasn't necessary.
At the least when it's done he will be painted as far as his mouth is concerned and we will have one less culprit if his problems continue, at best it will solve his problems- wouldn't that be great 😊.
I have to take him in by 9 am on Thursday so will keep you posted when I have any news.