My big guy, Stomper, has been sick for a week. Over the last two years he has developed episodes of vomiting followed by anorexia. This has always resolved with fluid therapy, cyproheptadine and pain meds for a couple days. His last episode was December 07. No specific diagnosis was ever given in the past.
Last Thursday another episode started and we still cannot get it turned around. He has had 3 x rays, an enema for extreme constipation, Sub Q and now IV fluids. When the enema didn't return his appetite and the post enema x-ray showed a mineral opacity near his liver an ultrasound was done. This showed a gallstone ( vet said very rare in cats) and an inflamed pancreas. Blood work has ALT levels 2x upper end of normal range, but ALP, AST and bilirubin are normal.
The special pancreatitis blood test ( I can't remember the name right now) was sent off this morning, but won't be back for 5-10 days. Treatment for pancreatitis was started with steroids. Actigall for the gallstone has been ordered and will be there tomorrow.
Tonight Stomper had to be tube fed as he has refused all food since Wednesday evening. I am extremely worried about the vet having waited 48 hours to start force feeding having already lost one kitty to hepatic lipidosis.
If Stomper hasn't eaten by morning the thoughts are for surgical intervention to remove the gallstone and examine the liver and pancreas. I am worried about this as it isn't even clear that the gallstone is actually blocking the bile duct or causing a problem. Since gallstones are so rare in cats there is no data on whether the disease process is the same as in dogs and humans. I have found information on pancreatitis in cats and it is distinctly different than dogs and humans.
I honestly cannot afford a surgery that is likely to kill him. This month already I have spend $600 in vet bills and this does not count the last three days of hospitalization and testing. I have this estimated at about $1000 and counting. However if the odds are he is going to recover and live a happy life then I will find the money somewhere, period.
More importantly though, I don't want Stomper to suffer needlessly. I have gone that route before and watched Lily and Fletcher die prolonged painful deaths due to the vets idea there was a very minor chance of survival. It would have been far kinder to them if I had followed my instincts and had they PTS. I don't want to put Stomper through that type of suffering too.
The biggest problem is I can't find any good information on gallstones and chronic pancreatitis and possible IBD all at the same time in cats. I don't have any idea of what the prognosis is and the vet doesn't either.
Has anyone here ever dealt with this or know anyone that has? I did a forum search on gallstones and only two posts came up, one the cat died within 24 hours of surgery. The other never had a final outcome.
Any thoughts would be appreciated even if you don't have experience. If Stomper was your kitty what would you be inclined to do and why?
Last Thursday another episode started and we still cannot get it turned around. He has had 3 x rays, an enema for extreme constipation, Sub Q and now IV fluids. When the enema didn't return his appetite and the post enema x-ray showed a mineral opacity near his liver an ultrasound was done. This showed a gallstone ( vet said very rare in cats) and an inflamed pancreas. Blood work has ALT levels 2x upper end of normal range, but ALP, AST and bilirubin are normal.
The special pancreatitis blood test ( I can't remember the name right now) was sent off this morning, but won't be back for 5-10 days. Treatment for pancreatitis was started with steroids. Actigall for the gallstone has been ordered and will be there tomorrow.
Tonight Stomper had to be tube fed as he has refused all food since Wednesday evening. I am extremely worried about the vet having waited 48 hours to start force feeding having already lost one kitty to hepatic lipidosis.
If Stomper hasn't eaten by morning the thoughts are for surgical intervention to remove the gallstone and examine the liver and pancreas. I am worried about this as it isn't even clear that the gallstone is actually blocking the bile duct or causing a problem. Since gallstones are so rare in cats there is no data on whether the disease process is the same as in dogs and humans. I have found information on pancreatitis in cats and it is distinctly different than dogs and humans.
I honestly cannot afford a surgery that is likely to kill him. This month already I have spend $600 in vet bills and this does not count the last three days of hospitalization and testing. I have this estimated at about $1000 and counting. However if the odds are he is going to recover and live a happy life then I will find the money somewhere, period.
More importantly though, I don't want Stomper to suffer needlessly. I have gone that route before and watched Lily and Fletcher die prolonged painful deaths due to the vets idea there was a very minor chance of survival. It would have been far kinder to them if I had followed my instincts and had they PTS. I don't want to put Stomper through that type of suffering too.
The biggest problem is I can't find any good information on gallstones and chronic pancreatitis and possible IBD all at the same time in cats. I don't have any idea of what the prognosis is and the vet doesn't either.
Has anyone here ever dealt with this or know anyone that has? I did a forum search on gallstones and only two posts came up, one the cat died within 24 hours of surgery. The other never had a final outcome.
Any thoughts would be appreciated even if you don't have experience. If Stomper was your kitty what would you be inclined to do and why?