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Last month my sweet Minni stopped eating. It seemed to happen out of nowhere. But when I noticed she hadn't gone to the bathroom as much as usual and I was having to clear her wet food off of her plate after meals I got nervous and took her to the vet on 5/3.
On 5/3 her blood panel showed the following abnormal values:
Minni made a bowel movement after 1 week on 5/4 and urinated on 5/5 morning.
That saturday, 5/5, she seemed really off (before she had been acting normally) and it seemed like she was yellowing a bit so I rushed her to the VCA hospital nearby for an emergency ultrasound. Results are below:
On 5/7, our regular vet also prescribed steroids (Prednisolone) and an appetite stimulant.
The anti-nausea seems to have no effect and the appetite stimulant is worthless because I can tell she is hungry. She begs for her food but she just doesn't want to eat. We tried changing foods but it didn't help.
After 5-7 days on the steroids/antibiotics we didn't see any improvement in her appetite, but her activity levels and general demeanor remained fairly normal (certain times I could tell she was hungry but in pain or nauseous). We did notice that on 5/10 she started eating her dry food and grinding her teeth at the same time; she also started throwing up and has thrown up three times in the past 5 days. These throw ups are small and are mainly her dry food (before all this, last year, the dry food made her throw up and we switched to a primarily wet food diet).
We brought her back to the vet for a second blood test to see if the treatments have made a difference. The 5/12 blood work results showed the following abnormal values:
On 5/14 Minni had a very normal but small bowel movement, first one since 5/7.
On 5/15 AM I brought her in for a check in and we discussed changing the anti-nausea to Cerenia and continuing the antibiotics but with Baytril instead of Marbofloxacin. She received SQ of fluids, injection of Cerenia and at my request, an injection of B12. We x-rayed and saw backed up poo but ultimately decided against the enema based on my vet's recommendation.
As of this afternoon she finished her entire breakfast of wet food (about 2 oz)!! This is the first time she finished her whole plate since early April!!
The vets have told me this is IBD or lymphoma but I just have a hard time believing that when WBC isn't elevated, intestinal walls are only slightly thickened, no fever, no lethargy - just lack of interest in food and elevated liver-related values that seem to be a bit persistent.
I would very much appreciate any ideas of what this might be that is plaguing our sweet Minni and suggestions as to how I could make her more comfortable. Do you think the Cerenia or B12 worked that quickly and were responsible for her appetite? Really just looking for any one to share similar experiences with.
Thank you so much! This forum has already helped me so much and gave me the idea for the B12 and cerenia.
On 5/3 her blood panel showed the following abnormal values:
- ALT - 662 (normal range [NR] 10-100)
- AST - 162 (NR 10-100)
- Bilirubin - 2.4 (NR 0.1-0.4)
- Cholesterol - 257 (NR 75-229)
- Slightly above normal RBC and HGB
Minni made a bowel movement after 1 week on 5/4 and urinated on 5/5 morning.
That saturday, 5/5, she seemed really off (before she had been acting normally) and it seemed like she was yellowing a bit so I rushed her to the VCA hospital nearby for an emergency ultrasound. Results are below:
- Abdominal US: there are no nodules or masses in the hepatic parenchyma and liver size is subjectively normal. The gallbladder wall is thin and uniform and the bile is anechoic. There is no bile duct dilation. The muscularis layer is mildly prominent throughout the jejunum. Overall wall thickness is primarily normal (1.6-2.4mm), though at least one segment is mildly thickened (3.1mm). Layering is preserved. The stomach is empty and contracted. The right colic lymph nodes are mildly prominent (2-3mm)
On 5/7, our regular vet also prescribed steroids (Prednisolone) and an appetite stimulant.
The anti-nausea seems to have no effect and the appetite stimulant is worthless because I can tell she is hungry. She begs for her food but she just doesn't want to eat. We tried changing foods but it didn't help.
After 5-7 days on the steroids/antibiotics we didn't see any improvement in her appetite, but her activity levels and general demeanor remained fairly normal (certain times I could tell she was hungry but in pain or nauseous). We did notice that on 5/10 she started eating her dry food and grinding her teeth at the same time; she also started throwing up and has thrown up three times in the past 5 days. These throw ups are small and are mainly her dry food (before all this, last year, the dry food made her throw up and we switched to a primarily wet food diet).
We brought her back to the vet for a second blood test to see if the treatments have made a difference. The 5/12 blood work results showed the following abnormal values:
- ALT - 563 (down slightly from 5/3)
- AST - 138 (down slightly from 5/3)
- Bilirubin - 3.6 (increase from 5/3)
- Cholesterol - 296 (increase from 5/3)
- Amylase - 1221 (NR - 100 - 1200, was 972 on 5/3)
- Slightly abnormal RBC (off by .07 from normal range)
On 5/14 Minni had a very normal but small bowel movement, first one since 5/7.
On 5/15 AM I brought her in for a check in and we discussed changing the anti-nausea to Cerenia and continuing the antibiotics but with Baytril instead of Marbofloxacin. She received SQ of fluids, injection of Cerenia and at my request, an injection of B12. We x-rayed and saw backed up poo but ultimately decided against the enema based on my vet's recommendation.
As of this afternoon she finished her entire breakfast of wet food (about 2 oz)!! This is the first time she finished her whole plate since early April!!
The vets have told me this is IBD or lymphoma but I just have a hard time believing that when WBC isn't elevated, intestinal walls are only slightly thickened, no fever, no lethargy - just lack of interest in food and elevated liver-related values that seem to be a bit persistent.
I would very much appreciate any ideas of what this might be that is plaguing our sweet Minni and suggestions as to how I could make her more comfortable. Do you think the Cerenia or B12 worked that quickly and were responsible for her appetite? Really just looking for any one to share similar experiences with.
Thank you so much! This forum has already helped me so much and gave me the idea for the B12 and cerenia.