Update on my cat—hunching, chylothorax, hyperthyroid, heart issues and kidney issues—rutin supplement

dbcatperson

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I posted a while back about my cat Daisy. She has the heart issues and found out in April she is hyperthyroid too so started her on the ear gel (2.5 mg twice a day). She’s been on Furosemide since December.

She’s been in the hospital twice now. Got her back on Monday for her second drainage from her chest. The first time was in April. The fluid was sent out and they said it is chylothorax effusion—I hope that’s the right words. They aren’t positive if it’s coming from only her heart or if something else is going on too. She has an elevated white blood cell count which they said could be from this fluid. She has an enlarged heart and the hospital said she has an AV block. They said her thyroid number went up even after being on the ear gel since mid april. It was 9.2 at the vet in april and went up to 15. They doubled her dose to 5 mg twice a day.

The hospital said her kidney numbers are up (I don’t know what the numbers are) but they said this is hard when she has these different problems going on. You treat one thing and it hurts another. They said not to give her special kidney food right now—Daisy is very thin from losing weight with the thyroid issues and it’s more important she just eats what she likes. They said I could try not giving her the furosemide and just put her on rutin to see how she does or cut it back to one furosemide a day. She was taking 2 a day. Even with furosemide, she had to have her chest tapped and not sure it really helped with her breathing or heart since December. Not sure if furosemide helps with chylothorax? I’m wondering if I should just try the rutin and stop the furosemide to see if that helps her kidneys and the hospital did say I could try that. I just don’t know what’s the best thing to do.

Another thing bothering me is she’s hunching. She hunched sometimes before she went to the hospital the first time. When she came home from the hospital she hunched a few times. Now she hunches more often. Seems to happen the most right after eating or drinking. she just kind of stares. it worries me. She sits by her water dish for a long time as well.

I spent almost every cent I had to have her in the hospital twice. They said the fluid will probably come back so they said to try the rutin (50 mg three times a day) and to see a heart doctor for an echocardiogram. I’m not sure I’ll be able to handle the expense. I was hoping the thyroid medicine would be a help to her heart.

I guess I’m just looking for some advice and if anyone else has a cat with all these problems. What would be the best route to go when I’m limited now on the money I have but want to get the most care possible. She gets so worked up going to the vet or the hospital. The heart doctor they mentioned would be about an hour away and I guess she’s very booked up too. I’m not sure if I can call and ask if the heart doctor would look at Daisy’s records to see what they think? I just feel so alone on this and not sure which direction to go.

Thanks for any suggestions.
 

Furballsmom

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hi
Seems to happen the most right after eating or drinking. she just kind of stares.
Is she taking anything for nausea?

Can you try giving her a clean human water glass or mason jar with fresh daily water (maybe set inside something else that won't tip over - sometimes that can motivate cats to drink more.

Can she take something to calm her or an anti-anxiety med? Would cbd be of any use or help?

I don't know but maybe there's something here;
No Money For Vet Care? How To Find Help And Save Your Cat’s Life – TheCatSite Articles
 

mrsgreenjeens

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I'm so sorry to hear Daisy has all these medical issues. Personally, I would try the Rutin and see what happens. You are correct in that treating some of her issues compound some of other issues so there really is no right or wrong here. But since what you are doing right now doesn't seem to be working, why not try to next option, which is the Rutin. I have heard of others using that for chylothorax , along with a low fat diet.

Let us know what you decide and how Daisy does in the days ahead.
 
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dbcatperson

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Thanks for the help. I have a call in by the hospital and was hoping to talk to one of the doctors there too to ask more questions. they said they will try to call me back this weekend.

is cbd something i can give her or should i ask the doctor if they call me? i know she gets worked up when she has to go to the doctor.

it's so strange how she does the best first thing in the morning. eats the most and drinks water and then after that has the hunching trouble. seems related to eating or drinking. not sure of that's nausea or pain or her breathing or her kidneys. she has so much going on it's hard to say. I'm going to just stick with the rutin and her thyroid ear gel and hope things will improve. any other ideas, please let me know. I feel like i'm going to drop over from worrying so much.
 

fionasmom

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You are definitely on top of your cat's care, but I wondered if pancreatitis had been ruled out. There is a specific test for it which is not included in regular blood panels. You may already know that it is not this but the hunching always makes me suspicious.

CBD can be a pathway disruptor and can interfere with other medications in various way, sometimes making them more or less potent. I am not discouraging you from pursing this, but bring it up to the vet when you talk to him. Is this mostly for the purpose of sedating her somewhat if she has to be transported.
 
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dbcatperson

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Pancreatitis can cause a cat to hunch? I wonder if that could be part of her problem.

I know they did a bigger blood test on her in the hospital but I’m not sure if her pancreas was checked. I’ll have to ask about that if they call me. I’m worried they might not get back to me. I’ll have to contact my vet during the week if I don’t hear from the hospital—I think she has access to the hospital records. I just would like to find out what’s going on for sure with her and what I can do to help her. So frustrating and scary.
 

fionasmom

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It is anecdotal, one of those visual clues as to what might be wrong, but certainly not guaranteed to be that.
 
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