12 yr old cat vomited four times in past week

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, can you give an update on your kitty? What did vet say?

After $500 to do bloodwork and urine analysis, there's nothing conclusive. Her kidney values have been slowly increasing but the vet doesn't think that's what's causing her to get sick, which has continued to happen. She threw up five times on Sun, twice on Monday and once last night. So we can either do xray and/or ultrasound to see if there's an object or thickening happening somewhere to cause her to get sick (so another $450 each), give her anti-nausea medication/injection to stop the vomiting or give her probiotics. She's still eating and her activity level seems the same so the more wallet friendly option is to do the medication and/or probiotics. But if there's an underlying issue, an xray or ultraound is our best bet.

hmm... sorry to hear that but i think you will end up doing (at least) xray, don't you think? maybe you should also look for a more reasonably priced vet service. that seems high. where you at?

Tenleytown. I'll call Friendship Animal hospital to see how much they charge but if anyone knows of a place where xrays or ultrasounds are more affordable, let me know.

Friendship is expensive. I'd look at the suburbs.

[Anonymous]

You can do the x-ray for objects and then decide on an ultrasound.

When our younger cat was vomiting a lot, the xray found he was very constipated, so he got to stay at the vet for an enema and IV hydration.

I'd definitely do the anti-nausea meds.

[Anonymous]

OP - do you know anyone with Checkbook subscription? You can find highly recommended/reasonably priced vets near you.

[Anonymous]

Did they do special tests? $500 seems a lot just for regular blood work and urinalysis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did they do special tests? $500 seems a lot just for regular blood work and urinalysis.

That is a lot. When my cat was sick, the complete exam (blood work, xray, and ultrasound) was only slightly over 400.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did they do special tests? $500 seems a lot just for regular blood work and urinalysis.

Apparently this is the going rate in DC. For those that know of a place cheaper in the DC/Mont Co MD please let me know but from others I know who have pets, that seems to be the going rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they do special tests? $500 seems a lot just for regular blood work and urinalysis.

Apparently this is the going rate in DC. For those that know of a place cheaper in the DC/Mont Co MD please let me know but from others I know who have pets, that seems to be the going rate.

That is very high. My vets charge around $150 for the basic blood panel and $50 for urinalysis for a dog. Additional blood tests for thyroid etc will cost more. A few years ago I paid $400 for an ultrasound and about $300 for x-rays. I have been happy with Hickory Ridge Animal Hospital in Columbia and Fox Chapel Animal Hospital in Germantown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they do special tests? $500 seems a lot just for regular blood work and urinalysis.

Apparently this is the going rate in DC. For those that know of a place cheaper in the DC/Mont Co MD please let me know but from others I know who have pets, that seems to be the going rate.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/laytonsville-veterinary-practice-gaithersburg

If you are willing to drive, I highly recommend this place. Very reasonable price and good docs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here: The cat could have chewed on a string, elastic, ribbon, etc. while you were gone and have it in her stomach - hence the importance of either xray or ultrasound or both. (I know they show different things - perhaps ask which).

Mine did that - they get bored when we're gone for a week and go hunting for stuff - ONE bit of a ribbon must have not been thrown away when I wrapped presents, it ended up underneath a counter or something and she found it. Damn cat! In our case, they found it on the xray and could see it wasn't tangled up but thought it would work it's way out so we watched for it in the litter box and voila!

But that amount of vomiting is extreme, you need to figure out why.

However, it might also be ok to give an anti-vomit med to see if simply calming the cat's stomach down allows it to stop vomiting - it can be a cycle - you vomit, makes tummy reactive, so there's more vomiting.

My vet is in North Laurel, MD - and is expensive but GREAT - but that's a hike for you. I will say, vets in DC are more expensive because they are paying REALLY high rent vs. the more suburban places (same holds true for apartment rent, business rent, childcare costs, etc)

When I lived on Capitol Hill, I loved Union Veterinary Clinic, but wow, was it expensive! But I've found Boston and DC vets more expensive than the suburbs, it just is what it is.

This is what I was going to suggest. We just had this happen before Christmas. Cat was vomiting more than usual and it turned out she had eaten curling ribbon. The ordeal involved two ultrasounds and an overnight in the vet hospital - the ribbon passed on its own but could have been much worse had it gotten caught in her digestive tract. We went to Southpaws in Vienna and it cost us a fortune, but the care was great and she's back to her normal self.

[Anonymous]

OP here. So before I went to Friendship I switched food last Thurs. My cat no longer is throwing up but now barely eats. I put a little of her old food on top of the new food and didn't make a difference. I put out a separate bowl last night of just her old food to see if she'll eat that (and if so, if she throws up again) so I'll see what happens when I get home tonight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. So before I went to Friendship I switched food last Thurs. My cat no longer is throwing up but now barely eats. I put a little of her old food on top of the new food and didn't make a difference. I put out a separate bowl last night of just her old food to see if she'll eat that (and if so, if she throws up again) so I'll see what happens when I get home tonight.

Something is seriously wrong.

[Anonymous]

I feel like OP is wasting too much time.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I feel this way too. Cat needs to be seen by a vet. Pronto.

Op, do you have an update?

[Anonymous]

OP here, the vet gave her some anti-nausea meds and appetite stimulant last week. My cat is eating her old food and hasn't gotten sick since. No idea what caused her to get so sick to begin with but glad she's better now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, the vet gave her some anti-nausea meds and appetite stimulant last week. My cat is eating her old food and hasn't gotten sick since. No idea what caused her to get so sick to begin with but glad she's better now.

Oh good! I posted up thread about my cat going through something like this a few years ago. Lots of tests and they could never really figure out what was wrong, but she cane around and started eating again too. Hope your cat continues to get better!