Tonkinese - Applehead Siamese not eating

Question
QUESTION: Hello, our 8 year old nutered male Tonk (who looks more like an applehead siamese) isn't eating.  He has lost 4 lbs in the last month - he is down to 8lbs and is thin.  This started about 6 weeks ago - he didn't eat his food so we bought him a different type - he would eat then stop.  We would find another type of food and the same thing would happen but now he just walks up sniffs and walks away.  We just got back from the vet. all test are normal (blood - urine - thyroid - xray of the head and body)  The next test will be an expensive ultrasound. We started feeding him with a syringe before the vet trip - he didn't mind that.  He recieved fluids via an IV and was given pills to make him want to eat.   Any thoughts - ideas -    Vet wants to check for enlarged lympnodes to possiby check for cancer.   thanks for any input.

ANSWER: Jeanne,

Yes, this is always problematic.  Cats do not eat because they do not feel good, and, if you get to the root of the problem, they still do not eat because the stomach has shrunk so much, that makes them not feel good as well.

Losing a third of the body weight in one month is very serious, indeed.  I think your vet may be on the right track, as, to my mind, few things act as quickly as cancer.

If you can continue to feed by syringe, please do so.  Note if he fails to be able to keep it down.  You also may want to make a "soup" of meat baby food (only ingredients should be strained meat and broth) and unflavored Pedialyte.  This would be good to give him to help make sure his electrolytes stay balanced.  Most cats will kill for A/D a very palatable prescription food available from your vet.

I would do the ultrasound to see what may be there.  If everything appears to be normal and steroids do not seem to help him eating on his own, cancer tends to be the operative diagnosis.

I hope it is something treatable.

Please let me know how things go.

Concerned regards... Norm.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Norm,

Thank you for responding so quickly to my message. Your thoughts and experience were greatly appreciated.

I wanted to follow up with you and let you know that the ultrasound found a solid mass  1 inch by 2 inches in Korie's GI track.  Does not look like it is in the lymphnodes and he only has that one mass.  We have a few options (1) exploratory surgery and possbile removal of mass (2) drug mixture that may shrink mass  (3) I can't seem to write this one - but he is very frail and he would be in Kitty heaven.    We will see if he Korie is healthy enough to have the exploratory surgery today. Each day seems to take a big toll on him.   

Thanks much,

Jeanne



ANSWER: Jeanne,

Thank you so much for letting me know.  We have had the same kind of news on one of our cats a few years ago, so I know what you are going through.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and Korie.

Concerned regards.... Norm.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Wanted you to know that Korie just got out of surgery.  The tumor was removed and will be sent away for testing - doesn't appear to be anywhere else in his body.   Now it's up to Korie.  He is frail.

Answer
Jeanne,

Hopefully, they gave you lots of good information for supportive care.  Let's also hope that the tumor is benign or at least not yet metaxised anywhere else.

As frail as Korie may be, if he begins to feel better, he can bounce back pretty quickly.  Cats are like that.  So we will all hope and pray for the best.

Optimistic regards... Norm.