Hepatic Lipidosis in my 4 year old boy

Seebby2011

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Hello!
My four year old Snowshoe/Ragdoll mix boy was recently diagnosed with Hepatic Lipidosis. About two months or so ago, he was put in prozac by his main vet due to high stress and stool issues. It seemed to help his stress and stool, but caused him to stop eating completely and to be honest, we didn’t notice for a while because he was still hanging out near his food and water dishes.
After we noticed a pretty good weight loss, we took him back to his main vet who said he was a “very sick cat” and she put him on Clavacillin and basically told us if this doesn’t help him start eating you have to put him down. She said his bilirubin levels were four times the normal amount.
I couldn’t accept that so we brought him to another vet who said he has lost eight pounds in a month and needs a feeding tube installed immediately. We went ahead and had the feeding tube installed (this was last Tuesday), they also put him on Twice a Day: Clavacillin, Once a Day: Veraflox, Once a Day: Ursodiol, Once a Day: Miraraz, Once a Day: Denamarin, When Needed: Cerenia.
We were told to see improvement within a few days, but day 6 (yesterday), he was vomiting any time we tried to even put water in his tube so we brought him to urgent care. They did an x-ray and found water was in his system and were told it was signs of a liver failure and the best thing to do for him was to put him down. So, late last night, we sent my sweet boy to rainbow bridge (We stayed in the room with him the entire time)
I was mainly curious if anyone else had ever had their cat prescribed prozac and saw something similar? Also, he’s been bonded with our other cat for the four years we’ve had them both and am curious what to expect. She hasn’t seemed to change yet, but it’s only been 12 hours since he’s been gone.
Thanks in advance! (I attached pictures of my sweet boy before and after, I can’t believe how fast this liver disease can take our sweet cats down)
 

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Furballsmom

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I am so incredibly sorry and saddened that this happened to your cat. Yes, it can occur in a very short timeframe.

She hasn’t seemed to change yet,
Please provide a lot of love and attention to her, watch her to ensure she's eating and drinking as she should be including what's happening in the litterbox, and also provide her with Cat Music. There's Relax My Cat, MusicforCats, and spotify has harp music specifically for cats.

If they napped together, you may want to consider a heartbeat toy and/or a purr toy, to help her through the transition.

Also, if you aren't, please begin to feed canned food, and work to ensure she's not becoming overweight with exercise. Changing a cat over to wet food will often bring about a slow weight loss, which is the only way a cat can safely lose weight.
 

fionasmom

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I am so sorry for your loss. Liver failure can progress very quickly, although at 4 years old, you clearly did not expect this. Without going into the story, I had a similar experience with a slightly older spaniel mix who was being treated for liver issues. One day, I came home from work and she was clearly a different dog than the one I had left 8 hours ago. I put her down about a week later.

I have never used Prozac with an animal, not for any good reason, so cannot comment on that.
 
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Seebby2011

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Because I’m curious, is it normal to feel SO guilty? Since we had him euthanized i’ve just been going back and forth over whether i made the right decision, especially because i feel like i’ve read some other articles of similar issues and their baby lived. Even though the vet recommended him being put to sleep, maybe i should’ve waited a day before i said yes? This is my first animal being put to sleep so I’m all over the road with emotions.
 

Furballsmom

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The vets suggestion is the strongest recommendation you can have, and additionally it's been stated frequently that it's far better a day sooner than a day too late. Your cat had been through the worst time possible and deserved the compassion of stopping it.
 
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Seebby2011

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The vets suggestion is the strongest recommendation you can have, and additionally it's been stated frequently that it's far better a day sooner than a day too late. Your cat had been through the worst time possible and deserved the compassion of stopping it.
Thank you! That helps my heartache a little bit 🖤
 

fionasmom

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I don't believe that vets recommend euthanasia if something can be done. Their practice is to save lives, not lose them, and the vets I know will offer extreme options to provide care, even for animals who are very ill. Even waiting a day or two might have caused more distress, all the while solving nothing.
 
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