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I know this blog has become all Buddy all the time, but now I’m really worried. Buddy threw up twice yesterday, once in the middle of the night. I upped all his meds yesterday so that should have brought him some relief, but he threw up and still has diarrhea.
Of course my vet is closed today. If I bring him to the animal hospital on a Sunday that will cost a lot of $$$ I don’t have, and I mean a lot, and what am I supposed to do, make my cat suffer to save money.
I don’t know what to do. I’m going to wait a couple of hours and see what his next bowel movement is like and decide. I was so hopeful yesterday for a few hours.
Don’t cats sometimes just throw up if they don’t like the food? Or trying to cough up a hairball?
Stacey, you might try City Veterinary Care on 72nd St. – kind of a schlep for you but they’re open Sundays and in my opinion the best vets in town. We have 3 cats and 1 dog and I swear they should give us our own parking space, but that’s another story. They’re excellent, not ridiculously expensive, and loving.
That’s a tough call, and I’ve been in similar situations with my cats. One of my cats has been “coughing” like she has a hairball, but it doesn’t sound like that’s what’s wrong with Buddy. Hope he gets better soon.
I’m wondering if it’s because of the switch to the raw diet? Their digestive systems are so sensitive, and I’ve found that an abrupt switch will cause vomiting and diarrhea. I have a cat with IBS as well, and any deviation from his regular diet leads to vomiting and diarrhea.
I’d say it’d be safe to wait and take Buddy to his regular vet tomorrow, as long as he seems to feel okay and doesn’t get worse. I know it’s a sad reality we have to figure cost into caring for our animal companions. We need a government option for our pets. 🙂
My vet is open on Sundays, in Park Slope. I think it’s okay to wait till Monday though. I hope your cat is okay.
http://www.prospectparkanimalclinic.com/
Stacy, Buddy is warm and in comfortable surroundings and maybe that is best for today. Then tomorrow he can go to a vet that at least he knows even if he doesn’t wish to be there. It sounds less traumatic anyway. I am saying prayers for Buddy and his mom and brother!
Damned IBD. It’s so difficult to keep the poor cat on an even keel. Please post and let us know how he is today. Nights are always hardest – and that’s when the worst seems to happen.
Is he staying hydrated?
Stacy – I’m so sorry that Buddy is going through a hard time as you are. My sister emailed me this morning saying “you have to email Stacy!” I told her we had a conversation about Buddy’s issue awhile back. I don’t know how many times I’ve experienced a sick cat on the weekend! You stress about what is best always with our pets, but don’t want to over react either and then pay big bucks. It’s a tough call. I hope you saw him through the day okay and can see what your regular vet says tomorrow. As long as he was getting enough fluids all day, that is always key as you know, he probably was doing okay. I had a cat who had diarrhea for years, Stewart. Nothing helped & I tried a lot of treatments, but he ate just fine and I finally let him eat whatever would wanted to keep his weight at an acceptable manner. He lost a lot of weight initially with his kidney problems and then bowel problems, but then stayed at a decent weight for the duration and was fine for a number of years. It’s so hard to know what is wrong and the vet sometimes doesn’t know either. So many tests and money spent without still knowing for sure. You can only do what you feel is best. He’s comfortable for the most part, in warm comfortable surroundings being tended by someone who loves him dearly. Keep us posted. Thinking of you.
You guys are so so so nice. I was insane yesterday. I think I’m going to have to learn to not panic, that this is going to be the deal with Buddy from now on.
And maybe I did go too fast with the raw food, but he just gobbled it up. But I will go slower now. And thanks for the names and numbers for vets who were open.
I think we all need presents, me, Buddy and Finney. Maybe some catnip for them, and … I don’t know what for me. Pizza?