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Old November 12th 19, 09:18 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
Peter W.[_2_]
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Default Loss of appetite, sores, anisocoria; what's wrong with my cat?

With normal kidney and blood-work readings normal in most cases, together with bad teeth, mouth sores and bad breath, lastly the eye change, this is screaming "stroke" or some sort of ischemic reduction in blood flow to the brain. So, given the slow onset and mix of other symptoms, in rank order:

a) Significant infection of the sinuses, initiated by the bad teeth, and now spreading into the brain.
b) Ischemic stroke
c) Tumor

Yes, pretty much only an MRI will give you an accurate indication of soft-tissue problems. The Gabapentin is a specific for seizures and nerve damage, and his response seems appropriate to some sort of neuropathy.

As you are somewhere between 3,500 and 4,500 miles away, and I am not a vet, were he my cat, I would:

a) Get the teeth out immediately, first thing ASAP. The connection between bad teeth, stroke and other forms of neuropathy is very well established in humans, certainly.

b) Initiate a massive course of antibiotics to clear any residual infections. This will have to be "like religion" on your part to make sure the doses are timed properly - not much sleep for you for the next two weeks, or so. Ask your vet about the advisability of steroids at some point - if only to reduce swelling - along with the antibiotics. Steroids are hell on the liver, but are also very effective.

c) Have him checked for an impacted hairball - stranger things have happened, and if he has a significant, but only partial bowel obstruction, all of the symptoms you describe would be possible, even if unlikely. The point being to make sure that 'the obvious' has also been checked before chasing down the exotic.

d) And, only then, if he does not improve significantly, consider an MRI.

TEETH FIRST! NOW!