Worry -Burt

One of my pets names for Burton is Burty-Burt. But this past week, it's been Worry Burt.

All seemed well after the neuter surgery, and as you know, by Monday he was back to his normal, silly, naughty self.

But Thursday, things changed. Actually it was Wednesday night when I first notice, but I told myself I was probably imagining things. It wasn't until Thursday morning, when Dave - who never worries about the cats like I do - said "Is it just me, or is Burton a little lazier than normal?", that I really started paying attention.

And it was true, while not completely lethargic, he definitely wasn't full of his usual spunk. Then he threw up. Just bile. And then it clicked in that he hadn't eaten breakfast with the others. So I spent most of Thursday watching his every move. He was still perky and alert, and would come when called. But he wouldn't play fetch, or chase Rupert or Relic. He was using the litter box fine. And he was drinking water. But he wouldn't eat anything. Not his cat food, not treats,  I couldn't even tempt with some of the roast chicken I had for dinner. He came to bed with us that night as usual, but he didn't keep us up by playing in the curtains, or chasing Dave's feet under the blankets.

And Friday morning, he continued to refuse food of any kind. I called the vet and made and appointment for the next morning.

So Saturday morning, he trotted into the carrier like the good little boy he is, and we were off again on a car ride. If he suffered any trauma from his previous trip, it didn't show. In fact, he fell asleep halfway to the vet's office.

The vet could find no obvious reason for him to stop eating. His incision was healing nicely, there were no issues with his teeth, he had no fever. Other than being a little dehydrated (not surprising), he seemed perfectly healthy. She said it could possibly be a side effect of the vaccinations he received.

She gave him some subcutaneous fluids for the dehydration, an appetite stimulant, and some special food to entice him to eat and sent us home with instructions that if didn't eat on his own, I had to feed him by syringe. And if nothing improved by Monday, he'd have to come back for bloodwork and further diagnostic.

 

 I bought him a new stuffie to cheer him and we came home. At first he turned his nose up at the new food too. So I gave him some time to rest, then mixed up a slurry of food and water and managed to get one syring in him before he let me know in no uncertain terms, he wasn't going to put up with that!

I decided to give him another break, and not long after, he went to dish on his own and started eating. It wasn't much, but it was huge progress. Then a little while later, he did it again.Then again even later. Then next thing I new, he was in the kitchen eating his regular food.

So hears hoping it sticks, even after the appetite stimulant wears off.