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

Just back from the vet. She thinks the vomiting, as it's just in the morning is probably because of the acid in his stomach through not eating rather than an actual stomach problem.
His temperature was 103 not good but not as bad as it has been. She has taken more bloods to check the titre level and for haematology to look at the white blood cells which may tell us if it's a bacterial or viral infection. If he's trying to shed the Coronavirus there's nothing we can do other than support his system whilst it's working to get rid of it.
We spoke about a course of steroids but she's not happy to give him those in case FIP is the underlying cause and the steroids could make it active. So we're back on the Metacam for 2 weeks at standard dose for his weight then reduce the dose gradually. We're going to try it without antibiotics initially as he's just had 10days of antibiotics but if he doesn't improve we'll add them in.
So waiting for the blood results next week to see what the next step is.

You're doing all you can. If it is indeed an FIP variant - which has always been my suspicion as you'll guess - then it's a sneaky devil and very hard to pin down. Supporting his immune system is about it, I reckon.

On that note, I have to mention a thought I had. (Which has absolutely no basis in scientific fact.) You'll be aware that feline probiotics (Fortiflora, I think they're sold as) have been shown to help the feline immune system a bit in cases of the cat flu virus. I have a niggling question as to whether they might also help Teddy even if it's a different virus? (I don't see how they could harm him.)

I had to mention it anyway. (The thought wouldn't go away.) Your vet would be the one to give an opinion.

Thank you Cozie, I'll mention the probiotic to the vet, as you say they can't harm.
I know she wants to see how the Metacam alone goes for a week or until the blood results say otherwise but after that, if we are just supporting his immune system I'm sure she'll consider it.
He had a Metacam injection when we were there and I'm glad to say he's just had some food so I'm a happyish bunny.
She did say depending on the blood results that we could ask the labs to do a more extensive examination of the lymphnode biopsie to look for FIP and that there is a further blood test where the blood is cultured before examining but he can't be on antibiotics to do that one.
I'm not sure that it's not FIP either (given the high titre) and it's so difficult to diagnose. He's not really presenting any of the symptoms yet, certainly not for the wet variant and when we have his temperature under control he does thrive, he's now 2.8kg (was3.1kg when I weighed him last week) when we had him he was 1.7kg at 10weeks, so still small for 7 months, but if we can control/cure the temperature he does put on weight.
At the end of the day if he's only going to have a short life I want to make it as nice a life as possible, he's such a good boy doesn't even scratch or bite when they're sticking needles in him- hisses a bit though to show his displeasure.😙

He sounds an absolute darling! Far better than my wee monster, who scratched the vet's face when she was in for her spay! The mark was still visible two weeks later - whoops!

On a note similar to Cozietoesie, I have a friend in America who takes in a lot of abused and ill cats, and she swears by kefir. Don't know whether that would be another thing you might want to consider later down the line.

In the meantime you tell him from me to continue to do lots more good munching, and give him another hug!

x

I reckon he's not doing too badly, actually. He looked much improved in that photo and if he's got a strong enough immune system.............It's not hopeless, anyway.

Good luck to him with the meloxicam.

(Seniorboy has never complained about injections either. You wouldn't want to show him a pill though - that's his line in the sand. )

Your wee Monster is just high spirited Time lol, methinks the vet won't be putting his/her face so close in the future.
Teddy is a little darling, quite gentle really, if he's play fighting and biting and I say oww he stops bless him, mind you he's not so gentle with anything that flies, then he's a kitten on a mission 😁. I'll give him a hug from you and tell him he's a good boy, which he is cos he's just had some more food (that Metacam is good stuff).
I hadn't heard of kefir , but as milk doesn't seem to have much effect on him I don't think he's lactose intolerant, so could give that a try too.
Going forward I don't mind him having blood tests etc but I don't think I will send him away to the hospital as they can't be sure that they'd be able to get to the bottom of it either. As I said before if he's not going to have a long life then it must be as happy a life as I can make it- he's very good taking his meds so if he has to have daily meds then that's what we'll do, for as long as it gives him a good qualify of life.
Thank you all for your advice and good wishes x

Seniorboy has been on meloxicam for years because of his arthritis. No ill effects so far and the absence/lessening of pain (including with his supplemental pain meds more recently) is worth it for him.

My lovely boy has almost got his healthy appetite back - that's 4 times he's eaten since 1o'clock 😀

Oops pressed post too soon.
Hopefully if Metacam is the only meds that work we can get it to a lowish dose and he'll be like Senior boy Cozie, as you say whatever works for them is worth it.

Best not to remark on it until he's past the upchucking stage.

But lack of pain makes them feel more cheerful and normal. I have a feeling that it also helps the immune system - in humans anyway, so why not cats? (I'll stand to be corrected on that one.)

Good on Teddy, anyway.

Fingers crossed that his system tolerates it. I think most cats do even though there's the odd exception.

So my darling little boy has become a cheeky little beggar !
Gave him his breakfast this morning, Royal Cabin GI mixed with a little steamed chicken and he turned his nose up and went out to chase flies.
He came back in about half an hour later and looked at me as if to say "where's my food?", gave him the dish again and he walked away so I added another couple of spoons of chicken and he ate the lot 😏 little so and so.
It's probably because I've been trying to get him to eat over the last week by offering chicken and fish, they catch on very quickly.
Don't you just love them 😂

Good that he ate it all up.

Yes I was so relieved that he was eating ( I'd probably have given him just chicken 😀) and that yesterday wasn't an anomaly.

Well these two days might both be good for him but Hey - take it if you can get it. It's given him, at the very least, some useful nutrients inside him.

Yes Cozie it's one day at a time at the moment . He ate his lunch fine & had his Metacam so we'll just keep going ☺

That's such good news! Tell Teddy I'm very proud of him indeed! I am shocked you thought he'd eat old food, though! I mean, it had probably become poisoned in that half hour! And anyway, he'd told you it wasn't up to standard the first time round, what makes you think it would be any better the second?!?!?

(Sorry, have spent too long around ruling felines, who, if they don't think you've pandered to them enough won't do as you expect! My monster won't eat if we don't put food in her bowl, regardless of how full it is. We have to obey or else she moans. Loudly.)

Is it time for afternoon tea, yet?

Blimey don't tell him that Time or there'll be no living with him !
As far as afternoon tea is concerned he comes into the kitchen every time I fill the kettle - just in case there may be some food around and he's teaching the other one.
So today so far he's had Breakfast (eventually) Lunch (have now got the mix right even though I had to cook more chicken to do it), Tea and Dinner.
He's now asleep until it's time for supper - I'm coming back as a cat as long as I can live with one of you

Count yourself lucky he comes to the kitchen. I have to take my old lad's food to him.

😂😂😂

How's he done so far today?

Hi cozie
I'm glad to say he's doing great again , ate all his breakfast and lunch, no vomiting at all. He's currently sleeping off lunch , because the other cat isn't awake to play with and hubby is power washing the patio, so too much water around for him.
It really is like a switch, if we can control his temperature he's completely normal, well as normal as kittens are, they're all a bit bonkers 😁 .
Thank you for asking.

That's great. One day at a time, eh? (But every day of proper eating and a happy life is good for him.)

Most definitely

So glad to hear the wee one's doing so well.

As for my monster, if you think me filling her bowl on demand is OTT:

We rent, so couldn't put catflap in outer door. Instead we have on on the bathroom door (which is cheaper to replace) and we leave the bathroom window wide open during the day for her. At least once a day, usually more, I have to go in and watch her jump up onto the windowsill. Sometimes I get summoned with a miaow, sometimes just a stare, sometimes she'll just sit patiently in the hall until I appear. If I go in the bathroom with her, but do something which means she's not getting my full attention (ie washing my hands) she'll sit on the floor until I'm ready.

It is very sweet, but just a wee bit annoying!!!!!

Obviously, however, she's not in the least bit spoilt, though!