Conference misery::feline

847.0. "Inflammatory Bowel Disease." by LJSRV2::FALLON () Wed Jan 04 1995 12:02

    I suppose I should tell the tale.  In case any of you ever have to go
    through this, you will have an idea of what to do.
    
    Stinky is my oldest cat of almost 10 years.  He is an Oriental SH and
    my pet.  Quite literally he is mine.  Jimmy can know pet him and do 
    some things with him but only if Stinky will let him.
    A few days before Christmas he was producing diahrea.  I put him on
    metronidazole, which is the usual drug of choice.  I waited two days
    and on Thursday during the nite I heard him have this terrible diahrea
    episode.  The results were not very nice.
    
    Anyway there was an emergency with my grandmother at the same time, so
    we had to take care of her.   I also felt that the drug needed a couple
    of days to work.  When we got home on Christmas Eve, Stinky was in
    dire straights.  We had only left him for the day mind you.  We gave 
    him around 100 cc of fluid and hoped he would make it through the nite.
    I was awake at 7:00 looking to see if he was still alive.  Yes, but in
    a miserable state.  Off to the vets for the morning.  Of course this 
    was Christmas morning and an emergency visit, need I say more?
    
    Stinky was passing a totally liquid stool, no mucous, reddish brown in
    color with a smell of putrifying flesh.  It was oozing out of him and
    all over his backend.  The vet did an exray showing normal bowel loops,
    no obstruction, nothing.  His blood work came back normal, no fever.
    I was then told it was either cancer or inflammatory bowel disease.  We
    would need to do a endoscopy and take biopsies or maybe even
    exploratroy surgey to find the cause (to the tune of $400+).
    
    After paying the $175 ER fee, we balked at the cost and the stress of
    the extra work.  I insisted that he come home with me and I would put
    him on valium as an extra.  The didn't like it, but as I said, I could
    do the same at home under a constant watchful eye.  Stinky was placed
    on 150cc's of fluid 2X a day, metronidazole ( I already had him on it) 
    and a let's wait and see attitude.
    
    Stinky has also had a past history with getting nervous and it
    effecting his stomach.  Some of you may remember back when Ruby
    had her first litter and Stinky spent New Years Eve getting a 
    G.I. Series done??  Valium fixed him then.
    
    After further disucssion with the vet and among ourselves.  We decided
    to forgo the biopsy and surgery.  The thought was: if he has cancer,
    he is going to die no matter what we do.  So why not treat as if it
    was IBD?? It couldn't hurt and it might work. 
    
    After several days and the addition of prednison, sulphasalazyne, 
    ceproheptadyn, metronidazole and the fluids: I am happy to say
    he is on the mend!!  Slowly he has started to eat again and seems
    to be getting back some of his body tone.  Sheba chicken was the only
    thing that would entice him.  The vet still checks with us to be sure
    he is okay.
    
    As an after thought:  of course our main vet was away on vacation and
    we had to trust a "new" vet and Stinky had been spitting up in the
    beginning too.
    Karen

    Brugh what a xmas morning. Mine was not so bad: xmas night some
    vagabund smashed in my car's back glass (cost: >500 mousies in Hungary)
    and did not even take anything out of the car. Just smashed the glass,
    for fun. Merry xmas. But I would like to see the car smashed twice, as
    a cat in pain once... if you see what I mean. An emergency vet visit is
    worse than an emergency police&insurance visit... for there is no
    emergency insurance at all, and of course it rained too that morning.
    
    Anyway. All the best for the cat. And thanks for the info. Purr.
    
    Nat

    
    Hurray for Stinky!  What a heart wrenching story and of course it had
    to happen on Christmas..  So glad to hear that he is on the road to
    recovery!!!!
    
    
    We send our best to both of you!!!
    
    *joyce, Shilo & Oliver
    
    
    

    Thanks for the good thoughts on Stinky.  I really think he is
    getting better, but one thing concerns me.  Since he was sick
    he has slept under my bed laying on a doubled up beach blanket I placed
    over the heat vent.  Before this, he ALWAYS every day of his life has
    slept on the pillow next to my head.  He hasn't started this yet.  I
    can't help but wonder if this is a sign that he is still ill or as 
    simple as he just likes the heated bed better!!??
    
    I have kittens due around Valentines day, I hope it is a happier
    holiday!
    cheers!
    Karen