I took Maggie to the vet today. He suggests a biopsy to see what's causing her diarrhea,appetite loss, throws up bile,and weight loss then fine and starts again. He said it will cost thousands of dollars. Is a biopsy safe?
Thanks! That helps alotA biopsy is invasive surgery and will require recovery time afterward. An endoscopy is less invasive, as it is running a flexible scope into the esophagus, stomach, and sometimes beyond. Doesn't always provide a definitive diagnosis, or at least less likely to than a biopsy. Both require anesthesia.
The biopsy, depending on what is done, can be as high as $5K, particularly if exploratory surgery is needed. The latter can run anywhere from $800 to $2K. These are just generalized estimations.
Get your vet/specialist to give you an itemized estimate of the costs so you can see what all is entailed.
For now she's on purina en and likes it if the can is just opened. How long can I leave it on the counter with a cover? I do not want to take her off prescription if it helps stop her from having diaheria,etc and sees the specialist.A biopsy is invasive surgery and will require recovery time afterward. An endoscopy is less invasive, as it is running a flexible scope into the esophagus, stomach, and sometimes beyond. Doesn't always provide a definitive diagnosis, or at least less likely to than a biopsy. Both require anesthesia.
The biopsy, depending on what is done, can be as high as $5K, particularly if exploratory surgery is needed. The latter can run anywhere from $800 to $2K. These are just generalized estimations.
Get your vet/specialist to give you an itemized estimate of the costs so you can see what all is entailed.
You mean leave it out of the fridge with a cover because she doesn't like it cold or warmed up? I may be on the lenient side of this, perhaps because Feeby has a pretty good digestive 'constitution' (so far, knock on wood), but I personally feel 8 hours from time of opening the can is 'safe'. I do think keeping it covered helps out with it lasting longer.For now she's on purina en and likes it if the can is just opened. How long can I leave it on the counter with a cover? I do not want to take her off prescription if it helps stop her from having diaheria,etc and sees the specialist.
I feed her 8am,4pm,and 10. Her last meal is in my bedroom so I assume she will eventually eat it. I plan on trying to put a cup with water In the microwave,empty,put food in then add to bowl if it's refrigerated. Hope that worrks!You mean leave it out of the fridge with a cover because she doesn't like it cold or warmed up? I may be on the lenient side of this, perhaps because Feeby has a pretty good digestive 'constitution' (so far, knock on wood), but I personally feel 8 hours from time of opening the can is 'safe'. I do think keeping it covered helps out with it lasting longer.
I am going to try blue buffalo vetenary gi gastrointestinal for a change. It has more fat,fiber,calories,protein, and less carbs. Hope my vet agrees. He is unsure what's going on. So how can he be sure what food to feed? He seems to be very cautious,not make things worseYou mean leave it out of the fridge with a cover because she doesn't like it cold or warmed up? I may be on the lenient side of this, perhaps because Feeby has a pretty good digestive 'constitution' (so far, knock on wood), but I personally feel 8 hours from time of opening the can is 'safe'. I do think keeping it covered helps out with it lasting longer.
I use washed out gelato containers with their screw lids to keep a can of food outside the fridge because Betty doesn't like warmed up leftovers either--and I don't like leaving a can of food sitting in its can. Also, those 3 oz cans her I/D stew comes in seem to be a tough find for a lid that fits. Let me think here. I think the longest I leave a can out of the fridge is the six-ish hours from when I open breakfast can at 5:30ish to when I serve lunch near noon. She always makes lunch disappear eventually--add another two or three hours from plating to when clean plate--and doesn't seem to have an issue with this.For now she's on purina en and likes it if the can is just opened. How long can I leave it on the counter with a cover? I do not want to take her off prescription if it helps stop her from having diaheria,etc and sees the specialist.
She has had an ultrasound that showed some thickening and a radiograph that showed possible pancreatitis and ibd. That was months ago so he might do it again. I still have some a/d I used when she had struitive crystal'sI use washed out gelato containers with their screw lids to keep a can of food outside the fridge because Betty doesn't like warmed up leftovers either--and I don't like leaving a can of food sitting in its can. Also, those 3 oz cans her I/D stew comes in seem to be a tough find for a lid that fits. Let me think here. I think the longest I leave a can out of the fridge is the six-ish hours from when I open breakfast can at 5:30ish to when I serve lunch near noon. She always makes lunch disappear eventually--add another two or three hours from plating to when clean plate--and doesn't seem to have an issue with this.
I'm concerned your vet is skipping a step. I know ultrasounds are usually vague and inconclusive. But they can confirm the presence of inflammation, they can tell you where it is which in turn would tell you whether an endoscope could even reach that far, and an ultrasound can rule in or rule out scarier stuff like masses/tumors and other organ involvement. If the inflammation is beyond the reach of the endoscope, then you have no choice but a surgical biopsy. Maybe the specialist already suspects this, and is already planning on an ultrasound-guided surgical biopsy aka he'll do the ultrasound and the surgery at the same time. If your cat is otherwise stable besides the diarrhea, I would expect her to come through the surgery rather well. It may take a week or two and you may need to feed her a recovery food like A/D to keep her eating through her recovery--and I would recommend only mixing A/D with something else since it's rather rich unless the A/D is all she wants to eat. If she's not stable, if she has vomiting, nausea, appetite issues, if she's losing weight, these are all good reasons to have second thoughts about a surgery that's going to come with some recovery time.
Alright. So the vet knows where the inflammation is. Did he tell you whether he believes an endoscopic biopsy is an option or does he want to perform a surgical biopsy? Possible pancreatitis could make her recovery from a surgical biopsy possibly that much harder. My preference would be for an endoscopic biopsy, if that's an option given where the inflammation is observed. If an endoscope won't reach, you could discuss treating this empirically if you're concerned about the surgery and recovery. That would be having a discussion with your vet basically saying, "Let's try IBD treatment first. But please consider adding chemo to her treatment if the steroids don't work. I understand that we're going to treat it like cancer without a diagnosis." Because, depending on whether she is stable enough for a surgery and its recovery or not, the drug may be less risk than the diagnosis.She has had an ultrasound that showed some thickening and a radiograph that showed possible pancreatitis and ibd. That was months ago so he might do it again. I still have some a/d I used when she had struitive crystal's
Thanks! I have thought duh! Many times. My vet suggested endoscopy where they simply put something down her throat I think. He is a googler and has a cat!Alright. So the vet knows where the inflammation is. Did he tell you whether he believes an endoscopic biopsy is an option or does he want to perform a surgical biopsy? Possible pancreatitis could make her recovery from a surgical biopsy possibly that much harder. My preference would be for an endoscopic biopsy, if that's an option given where the inflammation is observed. If an endoscope won't reach, you could discuss treating this empirically if you're concerned about the surgery and recovery. That would be having a discussion with your vet basically saying, "Let's try IBD treatment first. But please consider adding chemo to her treatment if the steroids don't work. I understand that we're going to treat it like cancer without a diagnosis." Because, depending on whether she is stable enough for a surgery and its recovery or not, the drug may be less risk than the diagnosis.
Oh duh! You mention endoscopy in the thread title. I'm just going to leave all the surgical stuff there for future reference. An endoscopic biopsy should be minimally invasive and low risk even if she's not particularly stable. There isn't a recovery period to get her through like a surgery. She may be off for a day or two just from the anesthesia. That's when you can mix some A/D into her regular food or offer it on its own just to keep her going until it's passed.
The inulin in her food is probably not a significant amount, but your best bet is to ask the vet about this overlap. You might also check the quantity of inulin in each and read up on any possibility of excessive doses. It might be that any excess is expelled through either her stool or urine.I just noticed that her prescription,unlike blue Buffalo prescription, has inulin,a prebiotic though I am also giving her optagist, so maybe she doesn't need optagist.
Elura? It works like mirtazapine, but is processed better by the body and less likely to produce side effects.My vet now gave me a liquid med to gain wait which has only been around 2 years.. wish I could remember the name. Starts with an e
Yes,I ment elura. I had trouble giving Maggie liquid because my hands shakeThe inulin in her food is probably not a significant amount, but your best bet is to ask the vet about this overlap. You might also check the quantity of inulin in each and read up on any possibility of excessive doses. It might be that any excess is expelled through either her stool or urine.
Inulin cats dogs Veterinary What is it used for? | Elicats.com
Elura? It works like mirtazapine, but is processed better by the body and less likely to produce side effects.
Capromorelin (Elura) For Cats: Dosage, Safety & Side Effects - All About Cats