Older Cats Throwing Up

It's very common to see older cats begin to vomit regularly and for no observable reason. Geriatric cats that have reached the last months or years of their lives tend to develop a wide range of potential health problems. This is a natural result of the different bodily systems that have served them well throughout most of their lives beginning to lose function and to shut down. The best thing that you can do for an older cat that has begun to throw up regularly is to monitor him closely so that you can identify the potential cause of his vomiting, and treat it or help to ease any discomfort that he may be going through.

Potential Causes of Older Cats Throwing Up

Although it makes it difficult for your diagnostic procedure, vomiting is actually a relatively common response that cats have to a wide variety of different diseases and ailments. It's possible, therefore, that your pet may have developed either a mild or even a very serious condition and that that is the cause of his vomiting. Some of the potentially more serious causes of older cats vomiting on a regular basis include the following:

  • Diabetes
  • Feline liver failure
  • Feline renal failure
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Hypothyroidism

There are many other conditions which may bring about regular vomiting as well. For a more specific set of potential causes, it's a good idea to speak with a vet for more information.

How to Diagnose the Cause

Diagnosing the cause of your older cat's vomiting will be something that you'll need to do together with a vet. In order to get the best sense of why your pet is vomiting, it's a good idea to check in with your vet and to bring him a list of any other symptoms that you've noticed that may be happening at the same time.

Watch out for any special characteristics of the vomiting that you notice. Look for the color of the vomit, the time of day at which your cat is most likely to vomit, whether it is before or after eating or sleeping, and any other potentially significant qualities of this action.

In order to properly diagnose your pet, the veterinarian will look at both his physical symptoms and a number of other factors. Older cats should receive regular blood tests in order to monitor different chemical levels in their blood. This is often the best way to monitor your pet for signs of underlying conditions which may develop without first leading to physical symptoms. Your vet will likely want to take a blood sample for some testing as well.

Treating Older Cats that Throw Up

Treating the vomiting can be done with a number of different medicines. These will work to restore stability to your pet's digestive tract. However, to address the underlying issue that causes the vomiting, you'll have to discuss potential options with your vet.

 

Comments