7 month old kitten with Liver issue

njariesgirly

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My kitten has not been growing like her brother so the vet did some routine blood work. She called with the results and there was a list of issues 😭. Once I get a copy, I will post. They think anemia and things are pointing to her liver. Possibly a liver shunt she said. It may require surgery. Shes the runt and has copper color eyes which is known for this. They want to do a fasting test next week on her where they test her blood several times. Does anyone have experience with this? She said after that, they may need to refer us to a specialist. It could mean just medicine or possibly something surgical which will be very tricky because she's only 4.4 pounds. I'm just worried. 😭
 
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iPappy

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Hi,
I don't have any experience with liver shunts personally, but I work in pet care and we have a customer who has a tiny dog that was born with a liver shunt and he was failing to thrive, so they did the surgery when he was a puppy and he's a happy and healthy adult now.
I've taken a lot of kittens to be spayed and neutered, and the clinic I took them to wanted them to be at least 3 pounds and we have never lost a single one. 4.4 pounds is a small size. Don't be afraid to talk with your vet about your concerns. Does she act normally (playing, eating, peeing, etc.)?
 
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njariesgirly

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Hi,
I don't have any experience with liver shunts personally, but I work in pet care and we have a customer who has a tiny dog that was born with a liver shunt and he was failing to thrive, so they did the surgery when he was a puppy and he's a happy and healthy adult now.
I've taken a lot of kittens to be spayed and neutered, and the clinic I took them to wanted them to be at least 3 pounds and we have never lost a single one. 4.4 pounds is a small size. Don't be afraid to talk with your vet about your concerns. Does she act normally (playing, eating, peeing, etc.)?
She's playing now running around being a kitten. I've noticed she is wobbly sometimes, drools and she did have a uti we thought. I can't explain it but she's just off...like clumsy sometimes
 

iPappy

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She's playing now running around being a kitten. I've noticed she is wobbly sometimes, drools and she did have a uti we thought. I can't explain it but she's just off...like clumsy sometimes
That would concern me, too. Are you going ahead with the fasting blood draw next week? I'd give it a go and see what they find. I'm glad that she's still playing and running around, aside from being wobbly and drooling. Is she eating well?
 
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njariesgirly

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That would concern me, too. Are you going ahead with the fasting blood draw next week? I'd give it a go and see what they find. I'm glad that she's still playing and running around, aside from being wobbly and drooling. Is she eating well?
Yes. I'm doing everything I can. I'm madly in love with her. She's the perfect sweetheart cat. I started back to church to pray.
 

iPappy

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Is the blood test this week? How long do they think it will take to get the results? Please check in and let us know what they find. :hugs:
 

lucyrima

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Sorry to be a bore, but while I know the importance of the liver thing and that you need to follow up, I also think the neuro problem could be more important that you may realize though I doubt it's liver related... please talk to the vet about it because it could potentially be more serious than you think.
 

mommet

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Yes!! You are lucky your vet has already though of the liver. I just brought my young cat home yesterday from ER due to severe drooling and seizures that were caused by a liver shunt. The primary vet didn't know for months. Just recently thought epilepsy, and he was put on phenobarbital and declined horribly the past month. He is now on a different anti-seisure med as pheno isn't used for liver patients. Thank goodness for the ER vet I just brought him to. He will be on special diet and meds to maintain health. Surgery isn't always an option since they are so tiny. Best of luck to you!!
 
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