Hi everyone! Looking for some support and possible advice please. I’m absolutely heartbroken and worried I’m going to lose my boy.
I’ll try not to make this too long but I’ll add in as much detail as I can.
My 10 year old boy, Chip, stopped eating his food last Thursday (20th). I took him to the vets on the friday 21st March, and they confirmed that he had a temperature. The vet suspected it was a bacterial infection, possibly the gallbladder, so he was given anti-nausea meds, appetite stimulant and an anti-inflammatory.
I took him back on the Saturday and while he’d eaten a tiny bit of food he still had a temperature, so he was given the same again.
I went back on Sunday and he was on the cusp on dehydration, so he was given the anti-nausea, appetite stimulant, anti-inflammatory, 2 week antibiotic jab, and was injected with fluid to hydrate him.
He perked up massively, and was almost back to normal. Then on Friday 28th he dipped again - refusing to eat and drink, and not using the litter. After another trip to the vets he was hospitalised for the day and put on an IV, as well as having his bloods taken and given the anti-nausea and appetite suppressant.
The blood test came back fine, which ruled out anything to do with his kidneys and liver or diabetes. Low on potassium and albumin but they’re weren’t concerned about that. They have no clue what is causing this.
I’ve taken him back again today as he is still not eating or drinking. The vet suggested that they take him in again to perform an abdominal scan and fit him with a feeding tube, take more bloods but this time send them out rather than assess in-house (why not do this the first time?!). This would cost £800 which I just don’t have. I’ve already spent £850 and I physically do not have the money to do that 😭 I would sell my soul to pay for this but I have no access to that kind of money. The vet said that given my finances, the other option is to have him PTS. I couldn’t live with myself if I were to go ahead with that when the mystery illness could have potentially been treated.
I’ve brought him home and will try to syringe 10ml of water in his mouth every couple of hours. I’m debating mushing up some cat pate and mixing it with water and syringing that into his cheek in dribs and drabs too to get some calories in him? I’ve also ordered a high calorie cat gel for him.
In the meantime I’ve registered with the PDSA as I’m eligible, and will take him tomorrow to see if they can help him. I tried to do this last week but they weren’t taking patients on prior to this week.
Has anyone experienced anything like this before? I just don’t understand how he perked up for a few days and then has dipped again so badly! And why the antibiotics don’t seem to be working? I’d love some advice, or just a virtual hug as I’m so bloody upset.
I’m absolutely devastated, I love my boy so much 😢