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- May 14, 2022
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Hi, I’ve been a long-time reader of this site, and it has helped me so much regarding treating my senior cat, Squeeb, who was diagnosed with IBD 4 years ago. I finally worked up the nerve to ask for help here, as I’m not sure what else to do recently.
Squeeb was doing alright for a while on prednisone/prednisalone and a diet change (even though she had gradually begun to lose weight over that time; she was initially 13 pounds and then got down to 9 pounds over that 4 year period). But within the last year she’s begun to decline more drastically; she started to have constipation and vomiting when trying to poop, which lead to an enema and her subsequently being put on lactulose (and Cisipride to occasionally aid her). The lactulose is also losing its efficacy, as I have to give her around 6ml to keep her poop soft enough to not make her strain. She has become more dehydrated more often, despite drinking a lot if water from a fountain. I also haven’t been able to find her any wet foods that she’ll consistently eat (I’ve tried so many) so she switches between Hill’s I/D, blue wilderness raw, and instinct raw dry. She’s improved a little after having IV/subcuentous fluids.
She’s had 3 ultrasounds essentially saying that she has a thickening of the intestines consistent with IBD and suspected mild pancreatitis, but never got a biopsy to rule out lymphoma. Most alarming and mysteriously though, is that her white blood cell count has been extremely high within the last year, and no one knows why other than to say that she likely has an infectious disease. Vet says she doesn’t have diabetes or kidney failure, but I’m not sure, given what I’m seeing.
She’s now down to 5.8 pounds and her legs are sort of weakening, even though she’s eating and drinking and I’ve been giving her additional calories by syringe feeding Hill’s A/D (sometimes with appetite stimulant).
I’ve cried over this for the last few months; I’ve had Squeeb since she was a kitten and I have been keeping her afloat for so long that it hurts to see her at this standstill. I’m worried that this may be the end, but I don’t know what’s happening, and I want some understanding. I’m planning on taking her to an internal medicine specialist in 2 weeks to get a second opinion for more information, but I’d also appreciate if you all could share your thoughts of what could potentially be going on beside the IBD based on her most recent bloodwork/personal experience? This not knowing is taking a toll on me. Thank you.
Squeeb was doing alright for a while on prednisone/prednisalone and a diet change (even though she had gradually begun to lose weight over that time; she was initially 13 pounds and then got down to 9 pounds over that 4 year period). But within the last year she’s begun to decline more drastically; she started to have constipation and vomiting when trying to poop, which lead to an enema and her subsequently being put on lactulose (and Cisipride to occasionally aid her). The lactulose is also losing its efficacy, as I have to give her around 6ml to keep her poop soft enough to not make her strain. She has become more dehydrated more often, despite drinking a lot if water from a fountain. I also haven’t been able to find her any wet foods that she’ll consistently eat (I’ve tried so many) so she switches between Hill’s I/D, blue wilderness raw, and instinct raw dry. She’s improved a little after having IV/subcuentous fluids.
She’s had 3 ultrasounds essentially saying that she has a thickening of the intestines consistent with IBD and suspected mild pancreatitis, but never got a biopsy to rule out lymphoma. Most alarming and mysteriously though, is that her white blood cell count has been extremely high within the last year, and no one knows why other than to say that she likely has an infectious disease. Vet says she doesn’t have diabetes or kidney failure, but I’m not sure, given what I’m seeing.
She’s now down to 5.8 pounds and her legs are sort of weakening, even though she’s eating and drinking and I’ve been giving her additional calories by syringe feeding Hill’s A/D (sometimes with appetite stimulant).
I’ve cried over this for the last few months; I’ve had Squeeb since she was a kitten and I have been keeping her afloat for so long that it hurts to see her at this standstill. I’m worried that this may be the end, but I don’t know what’s happening, and I want some understanding. I’m planning on taking her to an internal medicine specialist in 2 weeks to get a second opinion for more information, but I’d also appreciate if you all could share your thoughts of what could potentially be going on beside the IBD based on her most recent bloodwork/personal experience? This not knowing is taking a toll on me. Thank you.
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