Is it emergency vet time?
May 15, 2022 10:05 AM Subscribe
My cat had surgery this past Thursday to remove multiple teeth, and each day since she's refused more and more food. Is this an emergency, or can it wait until Monday morning?
She was prescribed two pain medications - 1 tablet to be crushed and mixed with food, and 1 liquid via oral syringe. We're only able to get the liquid medication in her now that she's refusing to eat any of the food mixed with meds (she’s also refusing to eat anything mixed with her normal daily steroid).
Today she’s only eaten a couple tablespoons of soft food. Behaviorally, she definitely not her annoying, loud self. She’s picky about food in general, though - it took us months to land on something that she’d eat when we adopted her. Do I call the emergency vet today or call her normal vet (who did the surgery) first thing Monday morning?
She was prescribed two pain medications - 1 tablet to be crushed and mixed with food, and 1 liquid via oral syringe. We're only able to get the liquid medication in her now that she's refusing to eat any of the food mixed with meds (she’s also refusing to eat anything mixed with her normal daily steroid).
Today she’s only eaten a couple tablespoons of soft food. Behaviorally, she definitely not her annoying, loud self. She’s picky about food in general, though - it took us months to land on something that she’d eat when we adopted her. Do I call the emergency vet today or call her normal vet (who did the surgery) first thing Monday morning?
My cat had five teeth out and was off his food. I took him back to the vet twice as I was concerned about his recovery, the first time three days after surgery and again 5 days after surgery. He was given an antibiotic injection on the second visit as he'd developed an infection. The only thing he would eat after that was pate type food. It took him around 2-3 weeks to get back to normal.
posted by charlen at 10:18 AM on May 15, 2022
posted by charlen at 10:18 AM on May 15, 2022
I'd take her to the emergency vet today if I felt like she could be dehydrated. They can give her subcutaneous fluids. It's important for cats not to be allowed to become dehydrated.
posted by bleep at 10:21 AM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by bleep at 10:21 AM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Is there any way you can crush and mix up the other medication in a syringe too? Maybe with some wet food juice? It’s entirely possible that she’s in a spiral: discomfort meant no food, no food means no medicine means more discomfort, etc.
Our old lady has teeth pulled every other year at this point and keeping up with the pain meds is absolutely necessary.
posted by lydhre at 10:53 AM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Our old lady has teeth pulled every other year at this point and keeping up with the pain meds is absolutely necessary.
posted by lydhre at 10:53 AM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
I’d call the emergency vet and ask them. I’ve had good luck with that in the past, they’re busy enough that they're probably not going to tell you to come in unless they think its important you do.
If she hadn’t eaten anything at all I’d be more worried. But if you can get the painkillers into her, do so. Can you make a really watery cat food and painkiller smoothie and put that in the syringe? Since the med is meant to be crushed even water alone might work.
posted by cgg at 11:08 AM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
If she hadn’t eaten anything at all I’d be more worried. But if you can get the painkillers into her, do so. Can you make a really watery cat food and painkiller smoothie and put that in the syringe? Since the med is meant to be crushed even water alone might work.
posted by cgg at 11:08 AM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Definitely call the vet, but I would be more worried about fluids than food. If she hasn’t been drinking then skip the call and go directly there.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 11:30 AM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 11:30 AM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Echoing "call them" and that fluids are really the big thing here. I've had two cats that have had to have teeth extracted, and it definitely can impact their appetite and demeanor for a few days - or not! It depends a lot on the cat and how they respond to the procedure and how much pain, etc.
The whole thing really hit my senior cat, Bubby, hard - the first day he seemed OK but then had a few really rough days that had me super worried. You're right in that time period where Bubby had a really rough go of it - he came around, but days two through four were really concerning if I remember right.
But don't go on anecdotes - the emergency vet can consider all the cat's medical history and make a call about whether your kitty needs to come in to be given fluids or something, or if it's safe to wait until Monday.
posted by jzb at 12:00 PM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
The whole thing really hit my senior cat, Bubby, hard - the first day he seemed OK but then had a few really rough days that had me super worried. You're right in that time period where Bubby had a really rough go of it - he came around, but days two through four were really concerning if I remember right.
But don't go on anecdotes - the emergency vet can consider all the cat's medical history and make a call about whether your kitty needs to come in to be given fluids or something, or if it's safe to wait until Monday.
posted by jzb at 12:00 PM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
You can crush the other meds, mix them with pure-chicken baby food (turkey puree is good too) and a bit of water, and give them in a wide-ish syringe. I wouldn't be too worried about two spoonfuls of soft food for a few days if she's drinking fine, but if she's a non-drinking cat it could be very dehydrating.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 1:02 PM on May 15, 2022
posted by I claim sanctuary at 1:02 PM on May 15, 2022
When we had all our cat’s teeth removed we took her to the emergency vet a couple days later because she seemed to be suffering. ER vet said she was fine, no charge, sent us home.
Just a data point ymmv.
posted by Peach at 2:10 PM on May 15, 2022
Just a data point ymmv.
posted by Peach at 2:10 PM on May 15, 2022
Just chiming in to say depending on your cat's weight and health status, not eating is more of a concern. Overweight cats (and lots/most are) are in danger of developing fatty liver disease which is a real serious problem. If my cat were refusing food, for even 12 hours, I would call the e-vet at the very least, take them in for evaluation, probably 90%. My previous cat was overweight most of her life and this would have been a really big red flag.
Depending on how you've been told to do pain management / what your options are -- if you do not have small children at home, your vet may be able to offer you a fentanyl patch. After major surgery, our cat had the patch, and it was ace for his pain management and quality post surgical experience.
posted by Medieval Maven at 2:14 PM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
Depending on how you've been told to do pain management / what your options are -- if you do not have small children at home, your vet may be able to offer you a fentanyl patch. After major surgery, our cat had the patch, and it was ace for his pain management and quality post surgical experience.
posted by Medieval Maven at 2:14 PM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
Subcutaneous fluids might be a good idea if the cat is not drinking water. But try to find some food at the store that sloshes when you shake it. Our elderly cat is very pro-gravy these days.
posted by credulous at 3:50 PM on May 15, 2022
posted by credulous at 3:50 PM on May 15, 2022
Have you tried human baby food (plain meat, no onions or garlic) or Churu treats? Churu doesn't have a ton of calories, unfortunately, but at least it's something.
posted by esker at 5:06 PM on May 15, 2022
posted by esker at 5:06 PM on May 15, 2022
I made in my blender, plain cooked salmon and cream, to a thickened cream soup consistency. Kept it in the fridge. He ate this. Try a tablespoon at a time in a flat dish. If he eats it give more. Chilling it might be comforting for a sore mouth. So don't worry if it is cold. Salmon has more fat than canned tuna, and it blends to a nice creamy consistency. So no pieces lodge in the gums.
posted by Oyéah at 5:55 PM on May 15, 2022
posted by Oyéah at 5:55 PM on May 15, 2022
Response by poster: Thanks, everyone. I called the emergency vet yesterday, and they said it could wait until Monday because our cat was still drinking. She has refused all Churu/gravy foods/soft treats as well as all of her normal foods. This morning I tried to give her liquid pain meds via oral syringe, and she fought me and splattered liquid opioids all over my face. I cried.
We just got home from the vet, where she got IV fluids and anti-nausea meds. The vet tried to show us how to use a “piller” to give her pills, and our cat valiantly demonstrated that it will not be an option at home, nor will she tolerate any syringe full of food/meds/liquids near her mouth. We go back again tomorrow for another recheck/round of battle.
posted by Maarika at 9:17 AM on May 16, 2022
We just got home from the vet, where she got IV fluids and anti-nausea meds. The vet tried to show us how to use a “piller” to give her pills, and our cat valiantly demonstrated that it will not be an option at home, nor will she tolerate any syringe full of food/meds/liquids near her mouth. We go back again tomorrow for another recheck/round of battle.
posted by Maarika at 9:17 AM on May 16, 2022
The vet tried to show us how to use a “piller” to give her pills, and our cat valiantly demonstrated that it will not be an option at home
Just know that you are in august company.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 1:20 PM on May 16, 2022
Just know that you are in august company.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 1:20 PM on May 16, 2022
Its been over a decade since I've used them, but there are feline pain meds that can be placed topically inside the cat's ear. Maybe ask about that during tomorrow's recheck?
posted by cgg at 1:39 PM on May 16, 2022
posted by cgg at 1:39 PM on May 16, 2022
My cat is 17 and being treated for small cell lymphoma. I regularly give him Mirataz, an appetite stimulant that I spread on the inside of his ear. It's a prescription, and it's really helped him keep his weight up.
posted by gladly at 7:26 PM on May 17, 2022
posted by gladly at 7:26 PM on May 17, 2022
Response by poster: I don’t think my cat is going to make it. She’s on Mirataz for appetite, has had steroid and anti-nausea injections, spent all day in the clinic yesterday on IV antibiotics and methadone (!!), and now she’s home with a fentanyl patch attached to her skin. I’ve bought every flavor of Churru and soft food, even the stinkiest fish kind, and she won’t eat a thing. She’s got a weird head tilt now and walks around like an animatronic cat, yet she purrs whenever she’s near us. We go back to the vet tomorrow, for the 4th time this week.
posted by Maarika at 11:00 AM on May 19, 2022
posted by Maarika at 11:00 AM on May 19, 2022
I'm so sorry, Maarika, I hope she's feeling better or that you have some peace with her.
posted by gladly at 5:27 AM on May 20, 2022
posted by gladly at 5:27 AM on May 20, 2022
That’s terrible Maarika. I’m sorry you’re going through this.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 5:54 AM on May 20, 2022
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 5:54 AM on May 20, 2022
Response by poster: Posting for closure: our cat died on May 24th. The terrible vet paid for an autopsy at the university vet school, and we learned our cat died of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP, supposedly incurable). It was traumatic and terrible and broke me in ways I didn’t know was possible.
posted by Maarika at 1:25 PM on July 20, 2022
posted by Maarika at 1:25 PM on July 20, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by bahama mama at 10:07 AM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]