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Vomiting is
commonly observed in cats. It is characterized by nausea, abdominal
contractions, retching and the expulsion of material. It is
important to differentiate vomiting from regurgitation. Regurgitation has
no preceding signs, requires no abdominal effort, occurs soon after
eating, and the material produced looks like a tube of food. It is often associated with the conditions
of the esophagus, pharynx, and commonly, with the rapid consumption of
dry food.
Conditions in cats that may be associated with vomiting include:
adverse reactions to food, gastritis, inflammatory bowel disease,
drugs or toxins, foreign body ingestion, parasites, hepatitis,
pancreatitis, kidney failure, hyperthyroid disease, peritonitis, uncontrolled
diabetes, heartworm disease, some types of cancer, and nervous system
disease. Sometimes it can be associated with fear, stress or pain. Vomiting may be self-limiting or may be a sign of a
potentially fatal systemic disease. You should seek veterinary care
for your cat if you observe:
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Frequent or
uncontrollable vomiting
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Traces of blood in
vomit
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Your cat cannot
keep any food down or is not interested in food
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Vomiting
accompanied by fever, abdominal pain or decreased activity
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Daily vomiting for
more than 1 week
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Chronic vomiting
accompanied by weight loss, a poor hair coat, or diarrhea
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A thorough history
provided by the owner is extremely important. It may include
information about the
frequency and duration of the vomiting (keep a calendar) as well as a
description of the color and volume of the vomitus. Information
related to the cat’s access to medications, chemicals, or plants, as
well as his propensity to chew/eat toys, plants, bugs, birds, or
rodents is very helpful. The next step to diagnosis is a
thorough physical examination. This is followed by a diagnostic test.
Some tests that may be needed to reach a diagnosis:
- complete
blood count
- serum
biochemical profile
- urinalysis
- fecal sample
evaluation
- abdominal
radiographs or ultrasound
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Many
gastrointestinal and systemic disorders may cause vomiting. This
minimal data base is needed to rule out some of the more common
diseases. If the diagnosis is not reached, the following procedures may
be needed:
- endoscopy
- specialized
blood tests (such as PLI, cobalamine and bile acids)
- biopsy or
exploratory surgery.
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Once a diagnosis is
established, specific treatment can be initiated. In stable
patients, symptomatic and supportive
treatments are instituted while awaiting the test results to obtain a
specific diagnosis. Treatment methods may include:
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Multiple small bland meals (meat baby food, hypo allergenic
food)
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Fluid administration (oral, subcutaneous or intravenous)
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Famotidine (pepcid ®) 1/8 to 1/4 of a 10mg tablet once daily
at bed time
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Deworming
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Anti-vomiting medication (maropitant 1/4 tablet once daily,
mirtazapine 1/8 tablet every 48 to 72 hours)
Cats without disease vomit occasionally, but when the vomiting is
frequent, chronic, and associated with other systemic signs, there may
be a more serious problem and you should consult a veterinarian. As
with any other problem, if your cat appears ill or you are worried, do
not hesitate to schedule an exam.
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