My cat is barely eating, but her bloodwork is normal. What's next?

He needs more testing. Just because the blood work is normal does not mean there is nothing underlying. Something is wrong. I suggest x-rays as the next step and maybe an ultrasound of the abdomen.

I agree with your concerns - not eating for 5 days is certainly not normal. I'm glad to hear that Bentley's blood work was overall normal, but I am curious as to whether or not he was tested for fPL, which is a test to raise or lower suspicion of feline pancreatitis. Possible causes of his sudden loss of appetite not apparent on routine lab testing include pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, intestinal obstruction (I would expect more vomiting, however), among others. The main concern, particularly since Bentley is such a big cat, is that he could develop hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) as a result of not eating for this length of time, which can be quite severe. If Bentley is still not eating by tomorrow morning, I strongly recommend taking him back to the vet to discuss further testing, such as the fPL blood test or abdominal ultrasound to get to the bottom of this issue. I hope that he is on the mend soon!

Hi Pamela, Sometimes basic blood work does not give us all the answers we need. If your vet did not include any treatment, I would recommend contacting them and letting them know that Moxie has continued to do poorly. They may recommend trying fluids or some other medications or may recommend rechecking her temperature and examination, then considering some additional tests. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Moxie feels better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Eevee is quite the beauty. Your options at this point are the recommended testing (which mostly looks for IBD, lymphoma, or other issues) or to try different treatments to see if anything works (prescription diets that are high in fiber, low allergy, or highly digestible, steroids, or particular antibiotics that decrease inflammation). There's no one perfect answer, but if she's not eating much, I would move forward quickly with whatever you decide.

I would recommend blood work and an abdominal ultrasound. The ultrasound will be able to evaluate the gastrointestinal tract much better and can sometimes find foreign bodies that the x-rays can't. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Try warming it slightly or mixing in a teaspoon of baby food. If Leelee will allow, check her mouth and teeth for signs of periodontal disease (redness, bleeding, swollen gums, loose teeth, bad breath, etc). See your veterinarian for an exam if necessary or if she doesn't eat for more than 2 days. If she has significant periodontal disease, she may need a dental cleaning. If the decreased appetite has another cause, a physical exam and blood work may diagnose it.

Poor Sachi! Significant weight loss and inappetence are certainly a major concern. I'm glad to hear that his blood work (I assume a CBC, chemistry and T4?) was unremarkable. However, foreign body intestinal obstruction/blockages, intestinal malabsorption issues that can cause inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), chronic pancreatitis, or cancerous processes, do not necessarily cause changes on screening blood tests. If Sachi has not yet had abdominal x-rays or an ultrasound, consider talking to your vet about these tests as his next diagnostic step. If he has a foreign body obstructing his intestines, this is a surgical emergency, and these tests would be helpful in obtaining a diagnosis. If pancreatitis, IBD or EPI are more highly suspected, consider talking to your vet about testing for vitamins B12 and folate, as well as TLI and fPLI. I hope this helps!