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Hi Jenny, I was wondering if those 'urine dipsticks'...that some members have used for their diabetic cats, would help at all in Lulu's situation:
Would catching her urine, free flow, and then using a syringe to place drops on the 'urine stick pads'...which change colour, indicating bilirubin, or 'urobilinogen'....being present...help at all.
It's probably not accurate enough, since it is subjective,...due to colour changes...but it does seem a lot less expensive.
Just a thought, ..as I have never actually tried to use them myself.
Checkup Pet Wellness Urinalysis Testing Kit Urine Testing for Dogs & Cats, 50 strips - Chewy.com
I also wonder how accurate they are.
I read about them on this website...but I'm having a hard time absorbing and understanding all the differences between conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin, so really not sure.
Bilirubin – eClinpath
Is she showing major improvements?
From your above update,...it does sound like she has.
Because if she did have cancer, then I doubt that she would be improving at all...so I'd scratch that cause off the list.
Would catching her urine, free flow, and then using a syringe to place drops on the 'urine stick pads'...which change colour, indicating bilirubin, or 'urobilinogen'....being present...help at all.
It's probably not accurate enough, since it is subjective,...due to colour changes...but it does seem a lot less expensive.
Just a thought, ..as I have never actually tried to use them myself.
Checkup Pet Wellness Urinalysis Testing Kit Urine Testing for Dogs & Cats, 50 strips - Chewy.com
I also wonder how accurate they are.
I read about them on this website...but I'm having a hard time absorbing and understanding all the differences between conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin, so really not sure.
Bilirubin – eClinpath
On another note, I was just wondering...if you were to go back,...just a month and a bit...and compare how Lulu was looking and acting,...then,...and now?Lulu turned a corner the other day. She almost looks normal...very close to it and eating on her own now. I know to take it with a grain of salt unless this becomes her norm. I'm thinking I would get one more round of bloodwork next week to evaluate the GGT and bilirubin ONLY if she continues to look good - and that would allow me to stay realistic on if she is actually going to make a full recovery or not.
Yes, she is 14. No, I would not try to extend her life if this clearly felt like the end. Her getting sick with a treatable condition has been very confusing on what the right decisions are to be made. It was never black and white and the grey area was so subjective to vets, myself, and others I reached out to me support. Of course, there is the matter that lead to the liver fatty but I am inkling of what that was. To me, I think if it's going to take months for her to recover, then I am not willing to put her through that even if it is reversible. And by months, I mean her clearly feeling uncomfortable for that length of time not just a little off or lethargic. I also draw the line at surgery. If she needs surgery to recover, that is when I know it's time. If she is recovering on her own, then I know I need a plan of action to improve her quality of life after this mess (as I know her dental disease was a big issue here).
In the interim, I only know she is not ready to go yet. And despite her mobile vet remaining optimistic and relieved that I did not put her down as I thought I was going to sooner, I am still approaching this situation with palliative care and a focus on making her comfortable. I've scaled back on some meds and given her space. She's either going to continue to get better as she has been all week or she is going to get worse. And in the case that she gets worse or the bloodwork shows no improvement with the gallbladder and bilirubin, then I think it's safe to say that her quality of life is diminishing the longer this goes on.
Is she showing major improvements?
From your above update,...it does sound like she has.
Because if she did have cancer, then I doubt that she would be improving at all...so I'd scratch that cause off the list.