My Ginger had the hicupps on Saturday night but ate some chips ok (he has varied taste) but on Saturday he couldn't swallow. It was obviously hurting him and every time he put his head down to eat or drink he gave up.
As the day progressed he got more miserable and I was worried that he hadn't had anything to eat or drink by 4pm so I syringed some water down his throat and this seemed to get him started and he had some eggy milk and a long drink of water.
He then had some chicken too.
This morning he's still not keen on eating and gives a sort of little cough when he tries to eat but has had some food and eggy milk.
I took him to the vet thinking he might have something stuck (although he's not a scavenger) but the vet says he thinks it's a fur ball.
Ginger is 17 and has never had a furball in his life so I'm not convinced. He gave him a long acting antibiotic and anti inflamatory and I've got some Katlax to put down his throat 3-4 times a day for two days.
Please let me know what you think about this furball idea.
Free hens are happy hens. Chicken centreparcs now complete! The girls love it.
Could it be that he's eaten some grass and it's got stuck half way down? Does he have access to grass.
I saw a vets programme once and there was a dog who'd tried to eat some grass and it'd got stuck - he had to have an op to remove it, but he was fine afterwards. The hairs on the grass had anchored it onto the sides of his oesophagus.
Yes he does have access to grass and we did have a revolting incident once when he tried to sick it up and it went the wrong way and two days later it came out of his nose.
Thanks for the olive oil suggestion I think the Katlax does the same job. It sort of greases the passage.
Free hens are happy hens. Chicken centreparcs now complete! The girls love it.
Did the vet have a good look down his throat? Could he have got hold of a bird or mouse, maybe got a bone stuck in his throat.
They eat grass for medicine, to help bring up fur balls. If he has long hair and grooms himself a lot, fur balls do happen but they come up naturally, you don't notice it because they usually go down the garden and have a good cough.
Keep checking on him, the medicines should be kicking in soon which will make him feel a bit better. Maybe Bluebell will be along soon, she works at a vet practice.
Must say Julia, whenever mine had furballs the first I knew of it was the retching and production of the gooey mass! Can't remember it actually making them unwell.
Does sound more like a little something either stuck. or perhaps has scratched the throat.
Although it may be a furball, our short haired cat sometimes gets them and vomits them up in clear fluid, it does sound like something could be 'stuck' and causing him discomfort.
If he is no better tomorrow why not give the vets a ring and tell them you are concerned that Ginger is not happy and you think something is stuck. I work at a vets and the vets are approachable, don't ever be afraid to ask questions or query what they are doing.
Just something you said about eating chips, if chips are greasy that may have just made things a bit more bearable to swallow. Giving him a little bit of olive oil would work the same way as the katalax. I often give our cat a bit of tuna fish in oil, he loves that.
Thanks for your comments. The vet says to come back in three days if nothing has changed and he might need and x-ray and has warned me that they are expensive.
Haven't got over Christmas yet.
Free hens are happy hens. Chicken centreparcs now complete! The girls love it.
Poor chap. I hope he's better before you need the x-ray, Julia.
My ginger cat suddenly started snoring a while back & the vet said he had tonsillitis! Cost a fortune.
He also hams it up but I love him to bits and nothing is too much trouble when they are poorly, eh. Like Bluebell, I always have tins of tuna in olive oil for when they're a bit off or just need a treat.
If it's a scratch it will heal up by itself. I think you will know if something is stuck as he will keep coughing/retching/sneezing to remove it.
