Hi everybody!
Here's the situation:
I have a 12-13 year old cat which over the last year or so has been unable to eat dry (crunchy) food. So I've been feeding him canned soft food. What would happen before is that he wouldn't chew the dry food - he would just swallow it. Doing this would make him vomit the food (unchewed/partially digested). Sometimes even though I'm feeding him the soft food, he'll still eat some of the dry food and occassionaly still vomit.
Yesterday I noticed he wasn't eating, and he was acting very distant. He wasn't purring, he could hardly meow, and he wouldn't eat or drink anything. I got him to drink some warm milk and eat a little bit of soft food, but it seemed like he was having trouble swallowing, and he would walk away after only a few bites. Another interesting behaviour is that he usually lays all streched out on the floor - even in the middle of the floor. Now, after these other symptoms have occurred, he lays on his stomach, head not touching the ground and he's been distant. If he does lay a different way it makes him uncomfortable. Another symptom is that he will gag if he's in the wrong position or if his throat is somehow irritated, although he doesn't vomit. I'm sure there are other symptoms I'm forgetting, so if you have any questions please let me know and I'll answer as best I can.
I'm very concerned about him, as my preliminary research on the 'net has brought up "pyothorax" as a possible diagnosis. This is very disheartening, as treatment seems to be quite expensive and I don't even have enough money to pay my rent. If somebody can help with some advice or experience, it would be greatly appreciated.
Here's a picture of him when he's feeling well -
Thank you,
Penny
Here's the situation:
I have a 12-13 year old cat which over the last year or so has been unable to eat dry (crunchy) food. So I've been feeding him canned soft food. What would happen before is that he wouldn't chew the dry food - he would just swallow it. Doing this would make him vomit the food (unchewed/partially digested). Sometimes even though I'm feeding him the soft food, he'll still eat some of the dry food and occassionaly still vomit.
Yesterday I noticed he wasn't eating, and he was acting very distant. He wasn't purring, he could hardly meow, and he wouldn't eat or drink anything. I got him to drink some warm milk and eat a little bit of soft food, but it seemed like he was having trouble swallowing, and he would walk away after only a few bites. Another interesting behaviour is that he usually lays all streched out on the floor - even in the middle of the floor. Now, after these other symptoms have occurred, he lays on his stomach, head not touching the ground and he's been distant. If he does lay a different way it makes him uncomfortable. Another symptom is that he will gag if he's in the wrong position or if his throat is somehow irritated, although he doesn't vomit. I'm sure there are other symptoms I'm forgetting, so if you have any questions please let me know and I'll answer as best I can.
I'm very concerned about him, as my preliminary research on the 'net has brought up "pyothorax" as a possible diagnosis. This is very disheartening, as treatment seems to be quite expensive and I don't even have enough money to pay my rent. If somebody can help with some advice or experience, it would be greatly appreciated.
Here's a picture of him when he's feeling well -

Thank you,
Penny