My Cat Is Dying From Fatty Liver Disease (hepatic Lipidosis) I Need Help Now

[javi3]

• Great! It sounds like he's doing better enough to keep going forward. I found that canned flavors with liver added seemed to help too. It sounds like you're pretty knowledgable about this disease and I think if he's showing Interest in food/eating some on his own, he's not suffering as much as the vets have said. I had a cat that lived to be almost 23 and that is with kidney failure and sub q fluids for the last 4 years of her life. So many times my friends thought she wouldn't make it and were always amazed when she recovered (I do believe prayer helped very much). So, go by your instinct, you know your cat best.
• Also, do you know for sure that your kitty has diabetes? Often excessive drinking can be the beginning of kidney failure or hyperthyroidism too. I believe my current cat had either diabetes or hyperthyroidism. She was on both dry and wet food, and unfortunately the chicken canned food contained fish as one of the top ingredients but I didn't know it and had been feeding it to her every day. She was starting to drink excessively several months after recovery from fatty liver , so I took her off all dry food and all canned fish flavors.
• Then I felt her kidneys may be an issue and bought a phosphorus binder online that contained Chitosan and calcium carbonate and she has done amazingly. ..not drinking any extra water etc. for months. Of course blood work is ideal, but I understand when times are tough money wise.
• Remember too though, that cats don't like to drink water normally, so your guy could be just drinking enough to survive but not enough to flush put his system like sub q fluids would. Take care

 

[Mirnocka]

Hi!
I am new here but reading your story kind of reminds me of one of my cats with an UTI problem.Did you do the blood analysis and biochemistry or did they just assume there was something wrong with your baby's liver?

 

[epona]

I just want to give you some encouragement and good wishes.

One of my cats, Radar, stopped eating after surgery earlier this year, and had a feeding tube fitted (at which point he looked emaciated) - if you search my posts you will find my panicked, sorrowful, and sometimes outright sobbing posts about his health strewn over this site - having a beloved animal in that state where they do not eat by themselves is really terrible and stressful. But he's now doing really really well, feeding tube is out, fur growing back, and he's eating heartily.

A friend of mine's cat had pancreatitis not so long ago and stopped eating for a while, they syringe fed via the mouth (syringing food between cheek and teeth), that cat is also now better and doing well.

(Editing this in: when feeding a liquid convalescent diet or very diluted diet, it is normal for there to be a lot of urine output and small stools)

I'm not saying that your cat will definitely get better, but the first treatment for hepatic lipidosis is to get calories into them - syringe feeding, tube feeding - I think even if it had come to the worst, the fact I'd tried my best would have been a small comfort.

 

[epona]

Hi!
I am new here but reading your story kind of reminds me of one of my cats with an UTI problem.Did you do the blood analysis and biochemistry or did they just assume there was something wrong with your baby's liver?

Hepatic lipidosis is common in cats that haven't eaten for a few days and is usually diagnosable by the fact that they have visible jaundice (yellowing) around the eyes and gums - blood tests are often not needed. It's an expected organ reaction of a cat not eating for a period of time.

 

[Mirnocka]

Hepatic lipidosis is common in cats that haven't eaten for a few days and is usually diagnosable by the fact that they have visible jaundice (yellowing) around the eyes and gums - blood tests are often not needed. It's an expected organ reaction of a cat not eating for a period of time.

Yes, but she also mentioned her cat had blood in the urine. We have a similar problem (not with liver but with UTI)-my cat usually just stops eating anything, is constantly on the toillet and there is barely visible blood-a drop or two, in urine. She does not have stones, but is prone to bladder inflammation, the other problems are usually excluded with the blood analysis. After the first kick of antibiotics and urolysine paste to help her level her urine pH levels, she starts eating again. I see there is also mention of possible diabetes, so it would seem strange to me to base the diagnosis just by an external examination, especially if euthanasia was proposed.

 

[di and bob]

Just try to feed him what ever he wants. Mine loved Arby's roast beef, McDonalds hamburger patties, bacon (his favorite) and shaved turkey in his last days. right now the first priority is to get him to eat., not nutrition. He didn't eat for at least taht many days, only drinking and lived for many months .You will know when it is time, when he quits all enjoyable activities, when he hunkers down and turns his head to the wall, when he stays by himself and doesn't enjoy your company. My Burt purred to the end. Give him comfort right now, that is what he needs the most, and know your love is what he wants the most.

 

[ineedhelpnow]

Major improvement this morning, he passed his first stool which I am aware of, and is a lot more energetic and stronger. He felt heavier and less bony and fragile this morning, but I'll have to weigh him to be sure.

Yesterday he was at a low of 7lbs, but he's making a huge improvement.

 

[ineedhelpnow]

Just try to feed him what ever he wants. Mine loved Arby's roast beef, McDonalds hamburger patties, bacon (his favorite) and shaved turkey in his last days. right now the first priority is to get him to eat., not nutrition. He didn't eat for at least taht many days, only drinking and lived for many months .You will know when it is time, when he quits all enjoyable activities, when he hunkers down and turns his head to the wall, when he stays by himself and doesn't enjoy your company. My Burt purred to the end. Give him comfort right now, that is what he needs the most, and know your love is what he wants the most.

I can't imagine how that felt. In the first day I was ready to euthanize him after speaking to very knowledgeable people, but thankfully I did not choose that option. Comfort is what he needs most, and I truly believe if he had been hospitalized 2 nights in somewhere foreign and scary to him to have a feeding tube installed, his chances might not have been as well as somewhere he had company and was comfortable being. But he's improved a lot and by his courage and strength through all of this, I think he's going to make a good recovery. Thank you.

 

[Furballsmom]

he's making a huge improvement.

 

[javi3]

So glad! And although this might not be the case for all cats, I do believe that my cat's brother would have made it if he didn't stay in the hospital as long as he did and all the numerous medications he was on. His poor owner tried so hard and spent tons of money. But he was a Siamese who although a lover, couldn't stand to be picked u

 

[javi3]

I can't imagine how that felt. In the first day I was ready to euthanize him after speaking to very knowledgeable people, but thankfully I did not choose that option. Comfort is what he needs most, and I truly believe if he had been hospitalized 2 nights in somewhere foreign and scary to him to have a feeding tube installed, his chances might not have been as well as somewhere he had company and was comfortable being. But he's improved a lot and by his courage and strength through all of this, I think he's going to make a good recovery. Thank you.

4588399, member: 10018248"]I can't imagine how that felt. In the first day I was ready to euthanize him after speaking to very knowledgeable people, but thankfully I did not choose that option. Comfort is what he needs most, and I truly believe if he had been hospitalized 2 nights in somewhere foreign and scary to him to have a feeding tube installed, his chances might not have been as well as somewhere he had company and was comfortable being. But he's improved a lot and by his courage and strength through all of this, I think he's going to make a good recovery. Thank you.[/QUOTE]

 

[javi3]

I'm sorry, I accidentally hit quote button and messed things up.

This is going to sound weird, but this helps tremendously with my cat's appetite if it's low (hopefully I can post this). It's Zymox Otic Enzymatic Ear solution (non cortisone- green/white bottle). The ingredients are: Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Dextrose, Hydroxypropyl Cellulose, Purified Water, Potassium Iodide, Lactoperoxidase, Glucose Oxidase, Lysozyme, Lactoferrin.

It doesn't contain any pesticides, it just cleans the ears and is for cats, dogs, small animals.

I kid you not, she goes from practically no appetite to eating normally within 20 minutes of putting this into her ears. In fact I tried it again last night (hadn't used it in months ) because I felt she was going into fatty liver because of a slight food change/diarrhea recently .
She's much better again, wanting to eat, play . It may have something to do with the Dextrose which could be elavating the blood sugar which can cause an increase in appetite.

Maybe ask your family vet if he thinks the ingredients are safe for a diabetic cat (in ears only, not by mouth).

 

[javi3]

Vetriscience "DMG" (liquid supplement ) has been making a noticeable different in my cats appetite today. Only around $13.

 

[LadyGoDiving]

Any updates? Please let us know, whether it's good news, or bad.

 

[ineedhelpnow]

A lot of stuff happened today. Tons of bad news, we almost euthanized, but the last doctor was an optimistic angel and he seems to be good now.

Don't have much time, will update all of you asap. Just know he's OK right now, prayers requested.

 

[ineedhelpnow]

And I want to thank everyone who gave me advice - without all of you I don't know what I would have done. Thank you so much.

 

[Furballsmom]

Sending huge hugs and prayers!!

 

[ineedhelpnow]

Ok. Here's basically what happened:

3 days ago, he started having bloody (albeit minimally) urine. The amount of blood increased every day until last night when he left pools of bloody urine all over the house. Not just bloody urine, which is because of an inflammation somewhere in his urethra or bladder, his eyes started tearing up and he had a runny nose about 3 days ago and those new symptoms increased until today. Took him to 3 different vets, the first 3 gave the same prognosis. Euthanasia. Out of desperation, we took him to the regional animal shelter for advice. They gave us info about a charity which helps pay medical bills, but more importantly recommended Dr. Jill Hedler of Animal Care Clinic Round Rock, terrific doctor. Following lots of talking, advice, and comforting, we had the tubes inserted and ready for euthanasia.

A voice told me not to. If you kill this animal, then I will kill you.

Neither of us were ready. How could my kitty cat, 3 years old, still energetic, with a little blood and the sniffles be on the verge of death? Feeling my distraught, Dr. Jill took him into her own hands and told us that she will do the best to take care of him until the afternoon when we can check up on him.

B12 injection, subcutaneous fluids, appetite stimulant, Feline Leukemia & FIV test, (thank God it came back negative,) she took care of all of it out of her own pocket. She is an angel. I don't know what I would have done without her. She gave us an Rx for a sinus medication (azithromycin,) and gave us prescription recovery food. Sent us on our way home and kitty is taking a much needed rest.

Please pray for me. It is much needed. This cat means everything to us, he has helped us cope through Alzheimer's, has been with us through our ups and downs and we have a deep emotional connection. Today was truly the lowest point of my life. But I am hopeful that he will recover.

<3

 

[ineedhelpnow]

Paul Atteberry, I read your post. I will ask my vet about that product, Feline Liver Formula from Smartheal naturopathic, thank you.

 

[Furballsmom]

Wow.
There are angels among us, --not least, your cat as well.