911 Hairball blockage - no eating or drinking for days!

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Minnig, Mar 18, 2018.

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  1. Minnig

    Minnig New Member

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    Nov 17, 2015
    Unrelated to my diabetic cat, Huey - My 12/13 yr old DSH female cat, Sarah, is at her end I'm afraid. She has always been the Queen of hairballs all these years, but suddenly, she lost weight (skin and bones now), stopped eating AND drinking, constant vomiting, lethargic, keeps finding hiding places: under beds, in closet, etc. Took her to Vet and she thought Hypothyroidism (even though she isn't drinking ), thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer? Sent hubby home with meds for Hypothyroidism. Well, those pills increased her vomiting, diahrea, so we discontinued. Two days later?, she started really avoiding us, wouldn't come to us when calling her name, her eyes are "distant" and now, when she goes to vomit - nothing comes out and no bowel movements or urination. She is completed depleated of liquid and no food intake for 3 -5 days now.

    My research indicated hairball blockage. Where she is at the point that ultrasound would be required (only done in Philadelphia about 1 hr from us. Then surgery to remove hairball and several overnight stay at the local emergency vet hospital to give her IV supplements to get back her energy and hydration. Stated avg. cost of 3,000 - 8,000.

    We just got back from the emergency Vet with our cat huey costing us over $3,000. We really couldn't afford it, but we needed to give him one more shot at a quality life. I'm disabled past 7yrs, my husband's company is declaring bancrupsy in April and is being bought out by a company stated as wanting to "sell off the company in pieces". She should be at the emergency vet now (of course, all this reached a critical point Friday with Vet closed for 3 days). We are forcing droppers of water down her throat and giving her hairball OTC medicine.

    Any suggestions? I'm afraid euthanasia is the answer. I have her closed up in my bedroom so she can't go into hiding. I feel going to the vet, just to be told extra bloodwork, x-rays, ultrasound would be required. It kills me that our lack of $$ is going to cause us to get her put to sleep tomorrow, or the next day. She isn't showing any signs of pain.

    I'm just putting it out there hoping someone with a miracle answer will read this. She has been my "nursemaid " all these years I've been ill (chronic Lyme). Whenever she sensed me having a bad day, she would immediately come to me forcing me to pet her, head butting me if I didn't and then just laying next to me as if to comfort me. She has been more of a support system then most everyone. I can't believe the timing of this. 2 cats at the same time requiring emergency vet hospitalization??!! help?
    *Sorry for the length
     
  2. Sean & Rufus

    Sean & Rufus Well-Known Member

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    Jan 10, 2018
    I am so sorry you don't have any answers, I hope somebody will come here and try to help! Try to get some cerenia from your vet. That will help with the vomiting. If she is nauseaus that will bring her appetite back!
     
  3. cmonmiracle

    cmonmiracle Member

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  4. Squalliesmom

    Squalliesmom Well-Known Member

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    Jun 26, 2015
    You can give the Liver Shake a try, supposed to do wonders, but if she has a blockage I'm not sure you want to add anything else to her system unless the blockage clears. I know it's expensive but the best place for her right now is the vet's. Can you apply for Care Credit?
     
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  5. Squalliesmom

    Squalliesmom Well-Known Member

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    Jun 26, 2015
    Cats can't go very long without eating before they start to develop hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver), which can be fatal. Please, if you can see any way possible, try to get your beloved girl to the vet's ASAP. :bighug::bighug::bighug:

    ETA: I am so worried about you and your dear kitty - here is a link to some financial help options, maybe one of these can help you.
     
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  6. Veronica & Babu-chiri

    Veronica & Babu-chiri Well-Known Member

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    Aug 5, 2016
    One very very important issue is that She HAS TO EAT cats can't go long without eating

    There are some options you could use for the hair ball problem but if she's blocked more extreme measures could be needed like an enema that is usually given at the vet but I've known of people who give them themselves maybe with your vets gideance you could I don't think I could, but if the situation is desperate .

    there's also suppositories (pediatric suppositories with only glicerin ) you could also check with the vet maybe just by phone so that no extra charges are made if he thinks is okay for you to try the suppositories

    Here's a link with some very good information about constipation
    http://www.felinecrf.org/constipation.htm#symptoms

    Once the emergency is over you can try other options to help her with the hair balls like SEB or vaseline
     
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2018
  7. Minnig

    Minnig New Member

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    Nov 17, 2015
    Thank-you. Everyone is mentioning about her eating. What about drinking/water. We are forcing a dropper of water 2x a day. Are we doing the right thing? Should we be hydrating her more. I will go the vet tomorrow with her. At least to find out what she thinks.
     
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  8. Squalliesmom

    Squalliesmom Well-Known Member

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    Jun 26, 2015
    Yes, she needs more than 2 droppers of water per day, any extra water you can get in her is good.
     
  9. krazy4kritters

    krazy4kritters Member

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    Jan 18, 2018
    Can someone in your house run out and get a bottle of unflavored pedialite? It’s the stuff you give kids when they are sick. It has electrolytes in it. Try syringe feeding that to her about every half hour to an hour. You could also try feeding her baby food meat. The pate stuff not sticks. Very important it does not have garlic or onion powder in it. Warm it up and see if she will try it. Otherwise try mixing a small amount with pedialite and syringe feed her.
    She has to get food in her.
     
  10. LunaArt

    LunaArt Member

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    Nov 7, 2017
    I would also ask your vet about possibly giving Sarah some sub-q fluids under her skin to help with her hydration as you try to find out what is wrong with her. This is a relatively inexpensive method of keeping your kitty hydrated that you can do at home yourself with supplies the vet can give you. My civvie recently became very sick and wouldn't drink (or eat) for 4 or 5 days. My vet showed me how to give sub-q fluids at home until he started drinking again on his own.

    Of course, I was also able to syringe feed him some Hill's A/D wet food for several days, which also helped to keep him hydrated. This sounds like it is not a option for Sarah currently due to her constant vomiting, but perhaps it would be possible if she was given cerenia for her vomiting and nausea as @Sean & Rufus suggested above. The distant look in her eyes could be from her feeling so ill, but the distant/sunken look in cat's eyes is also a classic sign of dehydration.
     
  11. JanetNJ

    JanetNJ Well-Known Member

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    Jun 8, 2016
    I'm sorry but you really need to bring her in.
     
  12. JanetNJ

    JanetNJ Well-Known Member

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    Jun 8, 2016
    In the meantime water down pate food and feed every 1.5- 2 hours
     
  13. Squalliesmom

    Squalliesmom Well-Known Member

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    Jun 26, 2015
    I hope you were able to get Sarah an appointment today! Please keep us updated on how she is doing. Here is a link to a video on assisted feeding, in case you need it after she sees the vet.
     
  14. Steph & Quintus & L & O

    Steph & Quintus & L & O Well-Known Member

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    Dec 9, 2017
    In CH we have a kind of paste called Bezo-pet which helps dissolve hairballs and puke them out (or pass them?) -- there is certainly an equivalent where you are. If you're at last ditch efforts I would try to get a largish dose into her.
     
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  15. Veronica & Babu-chiri

    Veronica & Babu-chiri Well-Known Member

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    Aug 5, 2016
    As they've said yes she needs more than two droppers, what I've done is give aprox 2ml of warter every two hours (sorry to say but if you are not giving subq fluids this would include night) and aprox 2 ml of food (some pate kind with some water added, hill's a/d, baby food without onion or garlic) also every two hours alternating
     
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2018
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  16. monty_dweezil (GA)

    monty_dweezil (GA) Member

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    Dec 15, 2014
    I'm very worried about this little fur. I don't know why she's vomiting so much and won't eat.

    I agree with sub-q fluids and small syringe feeding of tasty pastes.

    She really, really needs the hospital. I know money is tight. It cost us over $5,000 for poor Dweezy and he didn't make it in the end.

    She may have a large bezel / hair matted blockage. She really needs at least an ulstrasound and to be put on an IV.
     
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  17. Dusty Bones

    Dusty Bones Member

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    Oct 20, 2013
    Would some grass maybe help her throw it up? I would just be scared it would make the blockage worse though, i don't know. Poor baby!
     
  18. Bellasmom

    Bellasmom Well-Known Member

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    Feb 12, 2018
    Any updates I know we are all concerned
     
  19. Lisa and Witn (GA)

    Lisa and Witn (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    Are there any updates?
     
  20. Veronica & Babu-chiri

    Veronica & Babu-chiri Well-Known Member

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    I hope she let's us know how is she doing
     
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  21. Bellasmom

    Bellasmom Well-Known Member

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    Feb 12, 2018
    I know I've been worried
     
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  22. Squalliesmom

    Squalliesmom Well-Known Member

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    Me too. Not hearing anything makes me worry even more. :(
     
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