Quite often, mothers ask obstetricians how dangerous it is to sleep on their stomach, hit their stomach, or get elbowed by fellow citizens on public transport. Will this harm the baby? Doctors are trying to reassure: the baby is under reliable protection. This does not mean that you don’t need to protect your tummy at all, but you shouldn’t panic too much and fear that the slightest impact could harm the baby. The baby is in amniotic fluid, which reliably absorbs all shocks. So, most of the anxiety is a psychological factor. Any mother instinctively covers her tummy, as if protecting the baby.
Have a good sleep
Quite often, expectant mothers worry about what position to sleep in so as not to harm the baby. Don't worry and trust your feelings. At the very beginning of pregnancy, the uterus does not increase much in size, your baby is still a baby, so sleeping on the stomach does not interfere or harm either the mother or the baby. As the uterus grows in size, you yourself will feel that lying on your stomach becomes uncomfortable and will begin to avoid this position. Some people sleep on their backs for several months, while others immediately roll over onto their sides. The “supine” position also quickly becomes uncomfortable, since in the later stages the inferior vena cava will be compressed and you will feel discomfort.
In the third trimester of pregnancy, as a rule, the mother herself intuitively comes to the conclusion that even sleeping on her side is simply uncomfortable. Many people begin to place a cushion of blanket under their tummy - and this is completely normal. Some people find it convenient to place a cushion between their legs - listen to yourself and sleep in a comfortable position. All the same, in a dream a person changes position involuntarily, so it is very naive to think about the “correctness” of a sleeping position. Remember also that the mattress should not be hard, otherwise it will cause you pain. The ideal option is anatomical mattresses that take the shape of the body, but they are quite expensive. Give up hard orthopedic beds for a while, even if they previously helped you rest. Sleep on something softer.
Common reasons for not eating
- Pain syndrome and stress.
- Oral diseases.
- Inflammatory processes in the intestines or stomach.
- Poisoning.
- Viral infection.
- Liver, kidney and urolithiasis.
- Foreign body in the stomach or intestines.
It is worth taking a closer look at each factor that will help answer the question of what to do if a domestic cat does not want to eat?
Stress or pain syndrome
Stress in an animal can be caused by rearranging things in the house or changing place of residence.
Adult animals have difficulty getting used to a new place, so a lack of appetite is normal. The owner should observe the animal, since the cat may refuse to eat due to the fact that the feeder is in an unusual place for it. Cats are independent and prefer to eat food in a secluded place. An animal may refuse food for a day during estrus, childbirth, or castration. In this case, you should not force your cat to eat; after a while, everything will work out. The main thing is that after a hunger strike the cat does not overeat, otherwise it will lead to more serious problems. If a kitten does not eat for 3 days and only sleeps, perhaps it is adapting to a new environment; a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis.
Pain syndrome is often caused by a chronic disease. If your cat stops eating, you should consult your veterinarian.
Oral diseases
Dental problems are fairly common reasons why a cat won't eat and only drinks water.
Why is this happening? Lack of teeth in animals is the cause of diseases of the digestive tract. This is explained by the fact that the cat experiences discomfort when absorbing this or that food, as a result, it swallows the food without chewing. This problem can be corrected by selecting the right type of feeding.
The formation of tartar provokes chronic inflammation of the gums and tooth loss. It is necessary to remove tartar in a timely manner and regularly care for the animal’s oral cavity.
Caries overcomes our smaller brothers, it is also the source of many problems. Only by identifying the cause can you cope with the consequences.
Inflammatory processes in the intestines and stomach
It happens that owners provide the necessary care for their pet, but it often gets sick. Why is this happening?
The most common reason why a cat won't eat anything is worms. Animals picked up on the street especially suffer from parasites. Anyone can identify a severe helminthic infestation. Worms are visible in the animal's feces and vomit. In this case, you should get rid of parasites under the supervision of a doctor. Self-treatment of a pet can provoke poisoning of the body and deterioration of the animal’s condition.
It also happens that a cat injures the intestines with bone that is not digested by the body. As a result, the structure of the mucous membrane is disrupted, and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract appear. It is impossible to ignore alarming symptoms; this can lead to exhaustion of the cat’s body and even death.
Poisoning
The gag reflex in cats is very well developed, so many pet owners are not too worried about their pet vomiting.
It is believed that vomiting helps a cat get rid of hairballs. If the cat is active after such a procedure, there is no need to worry. You should be concerned when weakness, lethargy, muscle tremors and other “unhealthy” symptoms are attributed to vomiting. Drooling with vomiting indicates poisoning. Severe poisoning in most cases leads to the death of the animal. Missing foods, household chemicals or tablets eaten by a cat can cause severe intoxication. If your cat has eaten poison, you should immediately go to the veterinarian and tell him what kind of substance the animal was poisoned with. This will make it easier for the doctor to choose the right treatment.
Viral infection
Common symptoms of a viral infection are: sneezing and discharge from the nose and eyes, complete lack of appetite, dehydration, fever, a combination of all of the above.
Treating a cat yourself, especially if it is not vaccinated, is quite risky. Whether a cat can cope with an infection depends on its immunity. The animal may refuse food for 3 days or more, in which case it will weaken. Don’t take risks, consult a doctor who can make a diagnosis after taking a blood test from the animal.
Liver, kidney and urolithiasis
If a cat does not eat or drink, he may have urolithiasis, accompanied by the formation of stones, sand in the kidneys and bladder.
It is not difficult to identify this disease. The cat is lethargic, refuses to eat, has a constant urge to urinate, and has blood in the urine. Such symptoms indicate problems with the animal’s bladder. Take preventative measures; proper nutrition for your cat is the best prevention against urolithiasis. According to statistics, cats are three times more likely to develop kidney disease than dogs. Nutrition is directly related to kidney function. Kidney failure leads to disruption of natural processes in the animal's body. The result of advanced disease is vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, and bad breath. Diagnosing this disease is difficult, because the symptoms are characteristic of other diseases. Do not allow the disease to go into a chronic stage, then it will be very difficult to fight it.
Liver diseases are accompanied by the symptoms described above. A cat may not eat for 3 days or even more. To avoid these problems, you should create a competent diet for your beloved pet. Balanced food supplies the animal’s body with all the necessary elements.
Foreign body in the stomach or intestines
An intestinal obstruction in an animal is a good reason to take it to the vet. Ignoring the problem often leads to the death of the pet. Obstruction is caused by sausage skins, Christmas tree needles and rain, bones and even scraps of wool.
During obstruction, gastric juice continues to be released, but it stagnates in the stomach or intestines and is not absorbed by the body. The animal reacts to this by vomiting, during which the body is actively dehydrated. Symptoms of intestinal obstruction are: vomiting, loss of appetite and complete refusal of food, enlarged abdomen, the cat reacts painfully to its touch. Why does the animal not eat for 3 days, only drink water and sleep? What can be done?
- Do not feed the animal, this will cause vomiting.
- Do not do an enema, you risk intestinal damage.
- Do not give your cat laxatives, this will shorten the intestinal muscles.
- Do not use antiemetic drugs; they provide a temporary effect but do not eliminate the problem.
- Be sure to show the animal to the veterinarian.
Accident
Many mothers are afraid of bumps and falls, which happen quite often, because the tummy protrudes in the later stages. There are myths among people that a fall can cause an abortion or placental abruption; we are informed about this by popular television series in which heroines lose a child from one accidental fainting. In fact, everything is completely different. Placental abruption occurs during gestosis; termination of pregnancy can occur from mechanical trauma only if the mother was threatened with severe abortion, which usually requires hospitalization. In general, even in severe car accidents, pregnancy can often be saved.
However, my mother’s worries are quite understandable. Therefore, if you are worried, talk to your doctor, describe your symptoms, and if he deems it necessary, do an emergency ultrasound.
Other pathologies
In addition to the listed pathological conditions of cats, accompanied by lethargy, drowsiness and loss of appetite, the following painful conditions also occur:
disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system.
For example, after sterilization or childbirth due to hormonal imbalance, cats become lethargic and inactive.
Pets suffering from diabetes also do not want to move too much. In addition, such cats are constantly thirsty, eat a lot or very little, and often go to the toilet. They experience weight fluctuations, their vision deteriorates, their stomach enlarges, their muscles weaken;
oncological diseases.
One of their symptoms in cats is a lethargic state. Changes in the pet’s well-being are clearly visible: the cat hardly eats, lies down all the time, vomits, and experiences internal bleeding. Such animals have very unpleasant breath, and upon visual examination, swelling and ulcers can be detected on the body;
diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Even an inexperienced owner can easily recognize them. With arthritis, dislocations, sprains, osteochondrosis, fractures and other problems, animals become lethargic, try to eat and move less. Cats' affected joints swell, they limp, rarely sharpen their claws and wash themselves. All movements cause them pain;
complications after surgery.
Usually, in the first three days after the intervention, cats are very lethargic. This condition, in the presence of appetite and thirst, is considered normal.
But, if the animal’s temperature rises, blood or pus begins to ooze from the wound, vomiting or constipation often occurs - you need to contact the clinic as soon as possible. After all, these can be dangerous symptoms of suture dehiscence or suppuration, or the formation of a hernia.
Clothes for the belly
There are no less myths about how important it is to dress correctly. Many mothers, undressing and seeing a trace of elastic from their panties on their stomachs, are already afraid that they have harmed the baby. Yes, indeed, in this position it is better to dress in loose clothes. Swelling may occur during the day, and you simply feel healthier and more comfortable without extra elastic bands. However, it is hardly possible to harm the baby with a belt in the place where the waist used to be.
Some mothers are also interested in whether the bandage, which is often recommended to be worn after 23-24 weeks, is harmful to the baby. Of course no. It is designed to redistribute the load on the spine and avoid discomfort and pain, as well as support the anterior abdominal wall to reduce pressure on the lower segment of the uterus. The bandage is especially relevant for women with weakened abdominal muscles and for those who are giving birth for the first time and have a stretched abdominal wall. However, if they feel well, sports mothers can do just fine without a bandage.
No less worrying is the “communication of an older child” aged 1-4 years with his tummy. The baby can jump on the mother, the mother has to carry the child in her arms. And it's not dangerous either. Focus on your well-being: if it’s not difficult for you and your lower back doesn’t hurt, don’t deprive your older child of such pleasure. As you can see, most tummy problems are far-fetched. The baby is safe in his cozy home.
Anna Babina, Consultant: Tatyana Uletova, obstetrician-gynecologist
How long can a cat go without eating? What are the dangers of starvation?
A healthy adult cat can fast without health problems for up to 5 days, an aging animal - no more than three, a kitten - a maximum of a day, an animal with a chronic disease - no more than two days.
These are approximate dates, taking into account that the animal drinks enough these days. Longer fasting or fasting while refusing to drink is dangerous for the life of a pet.
A kitten under 6 months of age can die within 24 hours of fasting, so if the kitten does not eat, it must be force-fed.
In addition to the risk of death, refusing to eat can cause the following health problems:
- severe weight loss;
- exacerbation of any chronic diseases;
- avitaminosis.
Let's summarize: what to do if the kitten does not eat or drink
First of all, you need to carefully observe the animal. If there are no other alarming symptoms, you can try changing the food, bowl, and minimizing stressful situations.
But if the baby’s condition causes concern, and the owner cannot figure it out on his own, there is no need to waste time asking questions on various forums. You need to immediately take the animal to the veterinarian or invite a doctor home. An in-person examination and tests will help identify the exact cause of the ailment and prescribe treatment in a timely manner. If the fears are not confirmed, a professional doctor will give recommendations on proper nutrition. And just making sure your pet is healthy is never a bad idea.
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