t eating

Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :
A. He should be examined by your vet and treated as indicated if necessary. If he is intact, having him neutered may decrease his wandering about outside. It may take time but he should eventually return to his outdoor ways if you allow him. Warm his food or mix in a teaspoon of baby food to stimulate his appetite. Foods with strong odors may get him eating again also.

How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced pet care professionals :

Signs of shock include rapid breathing (which may be noisy), rapid heart rate with a weak pulse, pale mucous membranes (gums, lips, under eyelids), severe depression (listlessness), and cool extremities (limbs and ears). Your cat may vomit.
Call your vet immediately. Time is vital and intravenous fluids could be required. Wrap your cat in a blanket or towel to conserve body heat. Don`t apply any direct heat such as a hot-water bottle as this diverts blood away from the brain and the internal organs to the skin.
It is possible for a cat to have a normal CRT and still be in shock. Normal CRT is 1-2 seconds. In the early stage of shock, CRT may be less than 1 second. This can become a normal 1-2 seconds in the middle stage of shock.
Treatment of Shock in Cats

All cases of shock require immediate veterinary care, and specific treatments will be prescribed tailored to the type of shock.

The three classic signs of shock in cats are bradycardia, hypotension and hypothermia. Cats in shock may have depressed mentation, weak femoral pulses and cool extremities. Cats in a veterinary clinic typically have a heart rate of at least 180 beats per minute.
Give the cat its own space.

After an aggressive episode, it`s best to let the cat decompress and calm down on its own. Don`t interact with it until it has calmed down and it comes to you for interaction or attention. You may even want to keep it sequestered in a room by itself with food, water, and a litter box.

Wrapping your cat in a towel or blanket can further help to restrain and calm her as well as decrease her ability to scratch you. To restrain a cat for examination, use one hand to gently gather her scruff and use the other hand to hold her back feet, then place her on her side so a second person can look at her.
You can also apply a hot water bottle or heating pad to the towel—never directly on the kitten since it could burn her. If your kitten seems weak and tired, rub sugar water, karo syrup, or honey on her gums to boost blood sugar and then call your vet, Demos says.
The body`s response to toxins produced by the bacteria in the blood leads to low blood pressure and cardiovascular dysfunction. Cats suffering from septic shock start to show signs of cardiac failure such as increased or reduced heart rate, pale or blue gums, cold extremities, and respiratory distress.
Often, the signs of a cat fight are subtle and your cat might just seem jumpy and on edge, subdued or lame. They may rush indoors and hide, because cats often feel upset and traumatized after a fight.
Often, the trauma is superficial and limited to the skin. As long as your cat is not licking incessantly at the wounds and there is no swelling, bleeding, pus, odor, or pain, these can heal on their own with little to no therapy.
Causes of Shock in Cats

The primary cause is usually trauma, such as being struck by a car or sustaining a serious or life-threatening physical injury. However, another cause may be an allergic reaction. This is referred to as anaphylactic shock and needs emergency veterinary attention.

Due to a lack of humidity in the local environment, your cat`s fur builds up quite an electric charge. Then, when you pet it and add friction to the mix, you and your cat feel shocked. While some humans aren`t bothered by static electricity shocks, it might be annoying and even painful for your cat.
Pale, cold, clammy skin. Shallow, rapid breathing. Difficulty breathing. Anxiety.
“They splay out their legs, which is going to expand their surface area of the body, and that increases the drag resistance,” he says. When they do land, cats` muscular legs – made for climbing trees – act as shock absorbers.
If you know that your cat has been in a fight, notify your veterinarian immediately. Antibiotics given within 24 hours will often stop the spread of infection and may prevent the development of an abscess.
Cats who are recovering from fights might not have as energy, they might develop a fever, or they might not jump or play because they are in pain. Don`t assume that because a scratch isn`t deep or because a bite isn`t bleeding that your cat has no need for veterinary care .
When frightened, some cats may hide, try to appear smaller, pull their ears back and be immobile. Other cats may show signs of agitation or aggression, such as dilated pupils, arched back, pilo-erection (hair standing on end), and hissing.
It is widely accepted that animals also feel pain in the same way that we do, being both a sensory and emotional experience in response to damage, or potential damage to the body. Essentially, if both you and your cat stepped on a sharp object, it`s likely you`d have very similar experiences in terms of pain!
Cats will typically recover from soft tissue surgeries – such as abdominal surgery or reproductive surgeries – more quickly than surgeries involving bones, joints ligaments or tendons. Often, soft-tissue surgeries are predominately healed within two or three weeks, taking about 6 weeks to heal completely.
If she starts squirming, or if she shows signs of fear (ears pressed flat and back against her head, pupils dilated, hissing, growling) put her down gently. She`s not ready to be picked up yet. If she doesn`t squirm, hold her to your chest and begin petting her gently.
If you see your kitten is still afraid, don`t pet them at once, but talk to them in a friendly, soft voice. Once they`re happy to be petted as well as given a treat, you`ve really made a breakthrough!
Fading kitten syndrome, sometimes referred as “failure to thrive”, describes a kitten that “crashes”, suddenly becoming ill or unresponsive, even if it was previously healthy.
Basic supportive care for cats in shock includes intravenous fluids, external warmth for hypothermia, oxygen supplementation, and atropine to increase heart rate. Corticosteroids may also be used. Otherwise, your veterinarian will treat the underlying cause of the shock.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Q. We brought 2 new kittens home. One of them is sneezing. We have a Sr cat and an adult who is now coughing. What to do?
ANSWER : A. Commonly respiratory infections (viral -Herpesvirus and Calicivirus- and possibly bacterial) can cause sneezing episodes in kitten especially if not vaccinated yet. If your kitten is affected by respiratory infection could develop or have more signs such as discharge from eyes, more discharge from nose, coughing, being lethargic, depressed and inappetent.

The coughing episodes of the adult cat could be completely unrelated to the cause of sneezing of your new kitten, especially if your adult cat is already vaccinated.

The cause of cough in adult cats are not necessarily related to respiratory problems, heart problems could cause that as well.

Keep the nose and the eyes of your kitten free from discharge, keep your kitten warm and take both of them to your veterinarian as soon as possible to identify the cause and the relationship of the two problems and treat appropriately.

Q. My dog doesn’t eat, what should I do?
ANSWER : A. If this is a puppy, see a veterinarian immediately. Puppies should want to eat. Common causes for anorexia in puppies include viruses (parvo is a big one), parasitism, and foreign bodies. They need immediate care – go to an emergency vet if yours isn’t open. Puppies can get low blood sugar and dehydration very quickly.

If this is an adult dog and you observe other concerning signs, such as diarrhea or decreased energy, you should see a veterinarian.

If the dog seems otherwise bright and stable, try offering different types of food: wet food, canned tripe, or cooked chicken and rice. Some dogs will go for canned baby food: chicken, turkey, or beef as the main ingredient. Make sure there are no garlic or onions in the ingredients!

Causes of anorexia in adult dogs can range from less serious to severe. Younger dogs are more likely to get into trouble- they tend to eat things they shouldn’t, and can get foreign bodies from eating things like socks, or stomach upset from getting in the trash. Any dog may stop eating due to stress, or just being a picky eater. Middle aged dogs can stop eating when they’re stressed and also have Addison’s disease, which can be fatal. Older dogs tend to stop eating when they develop cancer or renal disease.

There is no one-size-fits-all recipe to know when the right time is to take your dog to the vet. The moral of this story is, if it’s not getting better, your pup feels bad, or you’re worried – go see the vet!

Read Full Q/A … : My Dog Won’t Eat

Q. Why does my dog eat grass?
ANSWER : A. As another user mentioned, dogs can eat grass when they want to vomit. Sometimes, when a dog has an upset tummy, they will eat grass. If you notice your dog eating grass frantically, you can assume vomiting will shortly follow. Grass does not digest and pass normally. If your dog eats too much grass, it can cause serious issues with pooping. Your dogs poop can end up all tangled inside of her, and it can need veterinary assistance to remove it. The same goes for celery, so avoid feeding celery to your dog.

The other day my boyfriend accidentally left the laundry room door open where we were keeping the trash that was filled with cooked chicken bones. She ate one of the chicken bones lightning fast. We had to induce vomiting by feeding her some hydrogen peroxide. After we had fed her the peroxide, she immediately began frantically eating grass because her tummy was upset.

If there is something lacking in your dogs diet, it could be that your dog is eating grass to make up for it. I am sure that my dogs diet is extremely well balanced (I do not only feed her an air-dried raw food-type diet (Ziwipeak), but a wide variety of safe, healthy foods), so when she eats grass, I know that it is because she has an upset tummy.

That is why I think it is important making sure your dog has a very well balanced diet. If your dog is on a low quality kibble, your dog may be trying to let you know by eating grass (or eating poop).

Q. My kitten got attacked by a big adult cat,he has minor injuries.BUT the problem is that he is too shocked,also he is not going outside,is not eating
ANSWER : A. He should be examined by your vet and treated as indicated if necessary. If he is intact, having him neutered may decrease his wandering about outside. It may take time but he should eventually return to his outdoor ways if you allow him. Warm his food or mix in a teaspoon of baby food to stimulate his appetite. Foods with strong odors may get him eating again also.

Read Full Q/A … : Vetinfo

Q. My cat is one year old. He has diarrhea, not eating last for one day. This problem is too with my other 2 cats and one is died.
ANSWER : A. His not eating is the most concerning for me. They cannot go more than a few days without eating or they risk liver damage. Your cat needs to be seen by your vet for an exam and bloodwork to determine the cause for your cat’s loss of appetite. Based on the findings, your vet will be able to give you a clearer picture of what is going on with your cat and be able to offer you treatment options.

Try enticing your pet to eat with beef or chicken baby food that does not contain onion or garlic powder. Onion and garlic causes anemia. Warm it in the microwave for a few seconds. Stir it with your finger first to make sure there are no hot spots and that it isn’t too hot. This makes it more aromatic and appealing to your pet. Wetting dry food or mixing wet food with low sodium chicken broth, also warmed, might entice your pet to eat. Some cats like to be petted while they eat, some want to be left alone. You’ll know your cat’s habits and be able to act accordingly.

Q. My 2 months old rottweiler puppy isn’t eating properly. Shes only eating shredded or minced chicken but adding any thing means she won’t eat.
ANSWER : A. This is not a nutritionally adequate diet for your puppy. She needs to be eating a good quality puppy food. Put the proper amount in her bowl and put it down without any fuss. Leave it for fifteen minutes. After that, if she has not eaten, pick it up–again without fuss–and do not give her anything else to eat until her next scheduled mealtime, not even treats. When she is due to eat again, repeat the process. This may take quite a few days to resolve, as she will try to hold out for the chicken. Do not give in! Remember that you are not starving her. The food is there, but she is choosing not to eat. When she realizes that this is all she is going to get, she will begin to eat and your problem will be solved.

Q. Hi there,
My kitten prefers the wet adult cat food over his kitten loaf food. Is it ok for him to eat it? If not, how can I get him to eat his food
ANSWER : A. If he is under 6 months of age it us important that he has a kitten food as it is specifically designed for growth. Try a different kitten food. There are wet pouches available in kitten ranges too. He may prefer those. Feed your cat’s separately so he can’t get the adult food.

Q. My cat wouldn’t eat, drink, was staggering, eyes wouldn’t focus, sleeping a lot, finally got him to eat a little, seems steadier, what is going on?
ANSWER : A. It could be a number of conditions. He may have neurological problems (stroke, problems with balance related to ear, problems with vision), it could be any internal disease, heart condition. finally it could be intoxication. You should take your cat to your vets for examination and possibly a blood test to find out what is going on.