- Joined
- Sep 18, 2018
- Messages
- 11
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Hi all,
My first time here - came here to hopefully get some good advice!!
I brought my 13 year old boy Orville into the Vet a couple weeks ago to get him checked out, as he'd lost a bit of weight recently and wasn't eating all his breakfast. Had the vet do blood work, urinalysis and an ultrasound. the Blood and Urinalysis came back ok (except for slightly elevated kidney levels) but the Ultrasound was in-conclusive. the vet said he either has IBS OR mild/early stages of Lymphoma. I could take him to an internist for a biopsy (spending a bunch more money in the process) but am trying to avoid that for the time being. he may eventually go on a steroid but I'm told that could aggravate his kidneys. so for now, the Vet prescribed him Science Diet Z/D wet and dry food.....it's expensive but he seems to dig it (especially the dry). He definitely has an appetite. the wet food is a bit dense and gelatinous and I read some reviews online where many people said their cat wouldn't eat it (but would eat the dry). I've been adding a dash of Tiki Cat tuna to make it more palatable and exciting for him.
anyway, my question is: is there an alternative to Z/D or am I stuck with this forever? I should also mention that Orville has a twin brother so whatever I feed one cat, I have to feed two. I sometimes feel like the vet hospitals maybe have some special deal with the food companies to exclusively sell that one brand of food.
I'm trying to decide now if I take him to another vet for a second opinion, keep doing what I'm doing, spend the money on the biopsy (and whatever that entails - though I would prefer not to put him through that), etc etc? so many unknowns.
I'm including a photo of my sassy Coons (Orville on the left, Wilbur on the right).
thanks in advance for any advice you all might have!
Dina
My first time here - came here to hopefully get some good advice!!
I brought my 13 year old boy Orville into the Vet a couple weeks ago to get him checked out, as he'd lost a bit of weight recently and wasn't eating all his breakfast. Had the vet do blood work, urinalysis and an ultrasound. the Blood and Urinalysis came back ok (except for slightly elevated kidney levels) but the Ultrasound was in-conclusive. the vet said he either has IBS OR mild/early stages of Lymphoma. I could take him to an internist for a biopsy (spending a bunch more money in the process) but am trying to avoid that for the time being. he may eventually go on a steroid but I'm told that could aggravate his kidneys. so for now, the Vet prescribed him Science Diet Z/D wet and dry food.....it's expensive but he seems to dig it (especially the dry). He definitely has an appetite. the wet food is a bit dense and gelatinous and I read some reviews online where many people said their cat wouldn't eat it (but would eat the dry). I've been adding a dash of Tiki Cat tuna to make it more palatable and exciting for him.
anyway, my question is: is there an alternative to Z/D or am I stuck with this forever? I should also mention that Orville has a twin brother so whatever I feed one cat, I have to feed two. I sometimes feel like the vet hospitals maybe have some special deal with the food companies to exclusively sell that one brand of food.
I'm trying to decide now if I take him to another vet for a second opinion, keep doing what I'm doing, spend the money on the biopsy (and whatever that entails - though I would prefer not to put him through that), etc etc? so many unknowns.
I'm including a photo of my sassy Coons (Orville on the left, Wilbur on the right).
thanks in advance for any advice you all might have!
Dina