by Rico DiPucci
(San Marcos, CA USA)
Max was born on October 5th, 2000. He is a purebred Maine Coon and was de-clawed and neutered prior to my adopting him. He was a big cat at maturity, weighing a little over 18 pounds. He has always been an indoor cat who gets to roam freely on my elevated deck.
Max started losing weight about three years ago. I took him to the vet and they ran every test imaginable. They told me he was hyperthyroid and needed to be on medication for the rest of his life. I got him on the medication but they said I didn’t need to change his diet. He was eating dry food but got a little tuna every couple weeks.
He continued to lose weight and I took him back several times over the next year. They changed his diet to a different kind of dry food. He continued to lose weight. They wanted to run more tests. They had run all the tests before. I wanted a second opinion.
I took him to a vet that specialized in cats. When I scheduled his appointment I left a copy of all of Max’s medical records for their review.
They reviewed the records and ran more tests. He is NOT hyperthyroid and does not need the medication. After all the tests they ran they couldn’t tell me why he’s losing weight.
He keeps throwing up and can’t keep food down. No hairballs. And the little bit he can process is not nourishing him. He has lost ten pounds. I have tried everything including Beech Nut Baby Food which he seems to like. It’s a paste and it seems to sooth him. He is not in any pain that I can see but is weak and frail. He rallies then gets sicker. I’m not taking him back to the vet as I think I had him to the best. They ran all the tests and they just don’t know.
I am losing my little buddy and it breaks my heart. There seems to be nothing I can do. I think he is just holding on to life because of the love he gets. Is there anything anyone can think of that I might try?
Through tears,
Rico
I am Losing My Maine Coon Cat Max to Maine Coon Cats