? Elderly cat has been gagging

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by AzChic70, Jun 5, 2018.

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  1. AzChic70

    AzChic70 New Member

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    May 11, 2018
    My elderly cat Blackie has been on insulin since April 26.
    He has gained weight and is doing well. He is 17 yrs old this month.

    Yesterday, I noticed he has developed a gag reflex.
    Sometimes gags when I am petting him. I just brushed him and he gagged when I was gently brushing this throat.
    He is still eating like normal.

    He did throw up some liquid this morning that I swear had some fur in it.
    Then I was thinking back to a week or so ago when I've seen him throw up here and there little spots of spit and read that it could maybe have something to do with acid reflux?

    Anyone have any ideas?
     

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  2. JanetNJ

    JanetNJ Well-Known Member

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    Jun 8, 2016
    How often are you feeding? Feeding smaller meals more often is better for acid reflux. Of course if it's a hairball you just have to wait for it to come out.
     
  3. AzChic70

    AzChic70 New Member

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    May 11, 2018
    He eats pretty often, tho this weekend my husband and I were out of town and relying on my son to feed Blackie. I'm sure he did go quite a while without eating on Saturday.
     
  4. tiffmaxee

    tiffmaxee Well-Known Member

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    Nov 15, 2013
    Has he been checked for kidney and heart disease? Do you have the most recent labs?
     
  5. AzChic70

    AzChic70 New Member

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    May 11, 2018
    No, we havent done any blood work, only his test for diabetes.
    At his age, we dont see the need for a major workup.
    He’s always been well, still eating good, etc. just really old.
     
  6. Dusty Bones

    Dusty Bones Member

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    Oct 20, 2013
    Stuck hairball? Maybe a little grass or olive oil will help. My cats love olive oil and will lick off my finger, it seems to settle their tummies. Grass of course will keep them regular and will sometime cause them to throw up and it usually involves a hairball.
     
  7. tiffmaxee

    tiffmaxee Well-Known Member

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    Nov 15, 2013
    I respectfully disagree. A blood panel and urinalysis would give you information and at that age kidney disease is likely starting and much can be done to make kitty more comfortable.
     
  8. Steph & Quintus & L & O

    Steph & Quintus & L & O Well-Known Member

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    Dec 9, 2017
    Sounds like a hairball.

    I would definitely do a blood panel! What we mistakenly identify as "old" is often a host of old-age illnesses that can be treated to give a better quality of life, than let our old cats decline into illness. On the contrary, the older a cat gets, the more important it is to do a blood panel. Quintus gets one every three months (he's 17). He's doing well, but doing these panels (less often when he was younger) allowed us to detect kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and hypertension before they got bad enough to show disturbing symptoms. They're now all under control and he's enjoying life -- if I hadn't done those panels and given him treatment he'd certainly be dead or very poorly by now.
     
  9. C&C

    C&C Member

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    Mar 20, 2018
    Could you share how you treat the hyperthyroidism along with the diabetes if he has that as well as the kidney disease? Are you seeing any side effects? What are you giving the cat med wise and food wise? Thank you.
     
  10. Noah & me (GA)

    Noah & me (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 3, 2016
    Me too. A cat can never be too young or too old for blood work and/or urinalysis. A dental checkup starts with a quick look.
    I'd rather catch something now before it turns into something bigger. Wouldn't you be happy to find out it was something simple?
     
    Krystina & Nelli likes this.
  11. Steph & Quintus & L & O

    Steph & Quintus & L & O Well-Known Member

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    Dec 9, 2017
    Quintus gets carbimazole for the thyroid. When he had diabetes I tried to switch him to wet DM food but he went into remission before I could complete the transition. He is now on m/d dry food. He has had fortekor for years for his kidneys, he’s borderline CKD
     
  12. Butterball

    Butterball Member

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    Feb 2, 2018
    So he hasn’t been vomiting food? And you say his eating habits are normal, so it seems dental,issues are less likely

    Usually in my house small spots of spit or foamy stuff is because they were eating plants they shouldn’t be or a hairball. Though correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t d/m dry have a high fiber content? I figure that would help with fur balls
     
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