10 year old cat who throws up and burps.

[Sanity Claws]

Back in October, I took Oliver, a 10 year old neutered male, to the vet because he would cough and throw up. He didn't do it everyday but did it several times a week for a month or two. Before taking him to the vet, I changed his food but his symptoms still continued.

The vet did blood tests and an x-ray but did not find an explanation for his indigestion. ($500 approximately) She suggested hairball remedy. The cat won't take that petromalt stuff so I gave him butter. At first he liked it but now he turns it down.

The coughing and vomiting seems to have increased in the past couple of days. He also seems to burp and last night let out a quiet but deadly fart.

Any ideas on what I can do for him? I don't have money to go to the vet again.

He eats Spots Stew by Halo; sensitive stomach version.

[spooky3]

1. My cat prefers the Hartz Mountain hairball remedy - I have to smear it mixed with Pepcid on his paw

You crush about 1/4 Pepcid into about an inch of hairball remedy, mix it and smear it as thinly as possible on the paw so that he doesn't flip it off. Your kitty will probably then run away and lick it off, as he should.

[Sanity Claws]

2. What kind of Pepcid?

Aren't there various types of Pepcid?
Thanks for the response.

[spooky3]

3. the chewable kind--my cat tolerates the citrus flavor

[hamsterjill]

16. The basic one. Don't use the extra strength.

The medication that you need is "famotidine" and it's best to get the generic, since that will ensure that you ONLY get that ingredient.

[CountAllVotes]

4. don't use Petromalt

Dr.'s Foster & Smith makes a form of hairball remedy. You rub it on their leg and they lick it off.

As for the $500.00 bill - that is a lot of bucks for nothing!

My cat was in overnight, had his teeth cleaned and is now "good as new" after being very sick. That bill was abt. $425.00 total.

I'd sure question that especially being you have no answers!

Best of luck in any event.

[Sanity Claws]

5. I'll look for it

This morning, I got catfood made with duck meat and no chicken. I hope the change does the trick.

[CountAllVotes]

6. link here

I had to buy this online because no one around here sells it. It seems to help some. However, being your cat is getting up there in years I'd be concerned.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3261+1939+2963&pcatid=2963

The thing I do not like about the food you mention is that it has a high phosphorus level which is very hard on the kidneys. With older cats you need to try to watch this too.

I know that Science Diet makes a food for sensitive stomachs that is low in phosphorus. I am NOT endorsing this food and have not tried it on my cats personally. I just happened to notice it at the pet store when I was there last week.

I have 3 cats; one is ~17 years (has some problems), the one I previously mentioned that has been sick (and has the onset of kidney problems) is 10 years (and a male btw) and the third on is a little over 4 years and she is very healthy luckily.

It seems the older they get, more problems come with age just like the rest of us. :(

[spooky3]

7. Sanity, it sounds as if it's possible that your kitty has irritable bowel.

It's hard for vets to diagnose this without more expensive procedures. However, trying foods like duck, or venison, that the pet is not accustomed to and less likely to irritate if the pet has developed a sensitivity to chicken, etc., can help. Also, my cats love dry EN (made by Purina, have to have an RX). This is easy to digest. Some people object to the ingredients in EN.

All of these options are expensive, but less expensive than continued vet visits if they don't find the problem.

[Sanity Claws]

8. Ty

I got some dry food by Blue Buffalo that's based on duck. It has no chicken (his usual protein base) and no grains.
I'll let you know whether that helps.
:hug:

[CountAllVotes]

9. just fyi

I just got back from the pet store in town. There is this powder you can buy and sprinkle it on the food. It might help.

It is called "Missing Link". It is to help build up the immune system in the cat (they also have this for dogs).

Just a thought is all. :think:

Best of luck once again!

[Warpy]

15. The active ingredient is vaseline

so that's what I put on my cat's paw. She actually does better with the completely unflavored and unscented Vaseline than she does with any of the ones cats are supposed to like.

Burping is special. Run the idea of Pepcid past the vet and see what s/he says about it. I've had cats on it after bouts of digestive viruses. It's over the counter, famotidine generically, and won't break the bank. Just be sure to get the vet's guidance first.

[Sanity Claws]

10. Update: he's better

I changed his food. At noon, I started him on Blue Buffalo dry food made from duck, with no grains or chicken.
He has not thrown up and his burping is almost gone. He slept very well last night.
I am hopeful that this food change is all that is needed.

Thanks for your responses and ideas.

[CountAllVotes]

11. wow!

Glad to read this. What were you feeding him btw? It must be some sort of horrid junk! Please let us know. Thank you.

Glad the cat is better today! :D

:dem:

[Sanity Claws]

12. Not horrid junk

When the problem started a few months ago, he was on Spot's Stew by Halo. It was a chicken based product and one of the more expensive products on the market.

We switched foods and his problems decreased. New foods included Purina One and BG (Before Grains.) However, the food was still chicken based.

When his problems increased this past week, I had reintroduced Spot's Stew but it was supposedly formulated for sensitive stomachs. The package stated that it was turkey based but only after reading the label carefully did I see that it also had chicken in it.

When I went shopping yesterday, I decided to get something that had no chicken or grains, to see if that would make a difference. I found the Blue Buffalo cat food I mentioned. Let's hope that he continues to improve.

I hope that other people read this and experiment with non-chicken based products to see if that helps their kitty.

[CountAllVotes]

13. Will do!

Thanks for the tip! :thumbsup:

[roody]

14. I feed my old kitty canned Wellness

95% Turkey, human food grade. It is pricey but he does not eat a lot. I'd cook turkey myself, but I am a veg. This food is in the dog food section. I mash the food up with hot water to make it even easier to eat. Then I have to put a little dry food on top to get him started.

[yellerpup]

17. When Sarge was failing (15 years ago)

he had problems keeping food down. Our vet said to give him 1/2 a Pepcid. Sarge would have made it in prison because he was so good at 'cheeking' a pill then spitting it out after we left the room. If we did manage to get one all the way down him, he would vomit on purpose just to show us he ruled. I don't know if it would have helped him or not because he wouldn't take it. (even ground up and mixed in his favorite wet food, he would just make burying motions)