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- Sep 9, 2016
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Hello everyone, I have been reading this forum for a day or two and love all the support here.
I am just looking for new ideas or anyone with a similar situation. My Schmitty cat, 16 y/o nuetered male, was getting lethargic, not eating well and had a watery eye. Other than that he has been quite healthy his whole life. So, I took him to the ER vet 2 weeks ago (on a Saturday). They gave him Mirtazapine to help him eat and subQ to help with hydration. I let them do a blood test. They called the following day to report that he had creatinine just over 3 and BUN about 37 (hadn't been eating) so the best course of action would be IV therapy overnight in their facility. I took him in for that, they called the next day to report his blood work showed his number came down and they felt he could return home (Monday). He is a picky eater, so I didn't even try to start the k/d diet until I knew he was getting enough food in general. That night I noticed he was breathing shallowly and faster, so I took him back in the next morning (Tuesday). They took an Xray that showed an enlarged heart, gave him furosemide and sent us home with a diagnosis of CHF, furosemide, enalapril and 6 mos to live (at best). The pills did not help his breathing, he continued to eat well enough, drink on his own and use the litter box on his own, although he still had no energy and wobbles a little when walking. I decided to take him to the kitty cardiologist last Friday and got an excellent report, very very mild grade I murmer, and one other mild flaw. No fluid in heart or lungs. Enlarge heart was likely from fluid therapy. Told to stop furosemide and enalapril and start potassium, he had lowish blood pressure. He got diarrhea on Monday from the Tumil K, so I stopped as the vet suggested. Still eating, drinking and litter boxing, but no other improvement after 3 days so I took him back to ER vet (this Tuesday) because his breaths per minute were up from 30-34 to 40-42. I let them take another blood test on that showed his kidney values were back up, mildly anemic (PCV 30%) and low end of normal potassium range. Everything else in the blood panel is quite normal. They cannot tell me why he is having breathing issues. He has not panted or open mouth breathed, just fast and shallow but steady. At this point, he has not pooped since his diarrhea on Monday. He had a regular vet check up today. His heart rate is fine, his temp is fine, his gums are pink and hydration is adequate. The vet is not concerned about the lack of poop, she palpated his abdomen and did not feel and compaction.
I am open to all suggestions here. My kitty is still bright eyed and engaged, he just can't breath and has no energy. I did not agree to go to another specialist at this time because he has been to the vet 7 times in 10 days, that in itself is stressful. I realize an ultrasound or another X-ray MAY give us some direction, but even the vet was doubtful. He could have cancer, he could have fast failing kidneys, he could be anemic, he could be lower in potassium than the test showed, he could be metabolic acidosis.... I have read most of felinecrf.com, but I am still searching for answers. Tuesday his creatinine was 3.7 BUN 57 (his normal food is high protein). I know that's not great but I also think is not a death sentence.
Thanks in advance to all you kitty lovers.
I am just looking for new ideas or anyone with a similar situation. My Schmitty cat, 16 y/o nuetered male, was getting lethargic, not eating well and had a watery eye. Other than that he has been quite healthy his whole life. So, I took him to the ER vet 2 weeks ago (on a Saturday). They gave him Mirtazapine to help him eat and subQ to help with hydration. I let them do a blood test. They called the following day to report that he had creatinine just over 3 and BUN about 37 (hadn't been eating) so the best course of action would be IV therapy overnight in their facility. I took him in for that, they called the next day to report his blood work showed his number came down and they felt he could return home (Monday). He is a picky eater, so I didn't even try to start the k/d diet until I knew he was getting enough food in general. That night I noticed he was breathing shallowly and faster, so I took him back in the next morning (Tuesday). They took an Xray that showed an enlarged heart, gave him furosemide and sent us home with a diagnosis of CHF, furosemide, enalapril and 6 mos to live (at best). The pills did not help his breathing, he continued to eat well enough, drink on his own and use the litter box on his own, although he still had no energy and wobbles a little when walking. I decided to take him to the kitty cardiologist last Friday and got an excellent report, very very mild grade I murmer, and one other mild flaw. No fluid in heart or lungs. Enlarge heart was likely from fluid therapy. Told to stop furosemide and enalapril and start potassium, he had lowish blood pressure. He got diarrhea on Monday from the Tumil K, so I stopped as the vet suggested. Still eating, drinking and litter boxing, but no other improvement after 3 days so I took him back to ER vet (this Tuesday) because his breaths per minute were up from 30-34 to 40-42. I let them take another blood test on that showed his kidney values were back up, mildly anemic (PCV 30%) and low end of normal potassium range. Everything else in the blood panel is quite normal. They cannot tell me why he is having breathing issues. He has not panted or open mouth breathed, just fast and shallow but steady. At this point, he has not pooped since his diarrhea on Monday. He had a regular vet check up today. His heart rate is fine, his temp is fine, his gums are pink and hydration is adequate. The vet is not concerned about the lack of poop, she palpated his abdomen and did not feel and compaction.
I am open to all suggestions here. My kitty is still bright eyed and engaged, he just can't breath and has no energy. I did not agree to go to another specialist at this time because he has been to the vet 7 times in 10 days, that in itself is stressful. I realize an ultrasound or another X-ray MAY give us some direction, but even the vet was doubtful. He could have cancer, he could have fast failing kidneys, he could be anemic, he could be lower in potassium than the test showed, he could be metabolic acidosis.... I have read most of felinecrf.com, but I am still searching for answers. Tuesday his creatinine was 3.7 BUN 57 (his normal food is high protein). I know that's not great but I also think is not a death sentence.
Thanks in advance to all you kitty lovers.