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- Nov 5, 2021
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Looking for straight talk from those who know more than me. I love my boy, Oscar, and will pay any cost necessary to keep him as healthy and happy as possible for as long as possible. So, while I'm not sure how to pay for any of this yet, money is not something I'm willing to let influence my decision on this. What I can't determine on my own is if a surgical biopsy would be worth the ordeal for him. Is it even an ordeal?
Background: Oscar is a just turned 14, neutered, orange kitty/mush ball. The most well behaved and sweet cat I have ever known. He was losing weight in very slow increments for months. I took him to several vets insisting something was wrong. He has hyperthyroidism and they kept rechecking this but results have repeatedly come back normal since finding the right medication dosage. Finally a vet did gut blood work and some different findings returned. We immediately started weekly B12 injections and made a switch to prescription I/D hard and wet food. He did a quick course of probiotics as well. His weight seems to have stabilized (he has not lost more in about two months now) but due to intermittent vomiting and chronic soft stools (which have been happening since before the gut tests and have not changed) I opted to go ahead with an internal med consult and ultrasound despite my vet telling me we could wait.
Now: That internal med appt was a little over a week ago. Unexpectedly, the Dr marked him has having a level 4 heart murmur (this is a first/new). Gallbladder and liver normal. What she noted was mineralization in the biliary tract and mild thickening of the small intestinal wall. From here she gave me the option of either throwing steroids at it and hoping there are no complications, or doing a surgical biopsy to determine if this is IBD or small cell lymphoma to treat more confidently. (With them doing an echocardiogram pre-surgery to confirm his heart can handle it.)
I need to know if the possible results of the surgical biopsy are worth putting him through it. As it stands, he acts normal now - he eats, drinks, plays, sleeps, purrs. He's thinner than he's ever been at around 10.3 pounds, but he's otherwise his usual self. I'm terrified of a surgery destroying that and seeing him fall apart for no worthwhile benefit. I hate the thought of putting him through it and him suffering. But if doing it can be okay and the results can truly help us extend his life and comfort, I think it makes sense to in order to treat him properly? I just don't know anything about what to expect from this surgery or what might come next. The specialist did not tell me at all what surgery or recovery could look like, and when I asked what would come after the biopsy, she simply said, "We either treat IBD or you have an oncology consult." I don't want to be selfish in my need to know, I only want to do what is best for his life. Can any anyone help with giving more thorough info and opinions? Experiences? What would you do if this was your cat? If surgical biopsy makes sense, what can we expect/how can we prepare? Oscar is my guardian angel on earth. Thank you for your kind and honest help here, in advance.
Attached is a cheeky photo of Oscar with his favorite toy, a stuffed carrot.
Background: Oscar is a just turned 14, neutered, orange kitty/mush ball. The most well behaved and sweet cat I have ever known. He was losing weight in very slow increments for months. I took him to several vets insisting something was wrong. He has hyperthyroidism and they kept rechecking this but results have repeatedly come back normal since finding the right medication dosage. Finally a vet did gut blood work and some different findings returned. We immediately started weekly B12 injections and made a switch to prescription I/D hard and wet food. He did a quick course of probiotics as well. His weight seems to have stabilized (he has not lost more in about two months now) but due to intermittent vomiting and chronic soft stools (which have been happening since before the gut tests and have not changed) I opted to go ahead with an internal med consult and ultrasound despite my vet telling me we could wait.
Now: That internal med appt was a little over a week ago. Unexpectedly, the Dr marked him has having a level 4 heart murmur (this is a first/new). Gallbladder and liver normal. What she noted was mineralization in the biliary tract and mild thickening of the small intestinal wall. From here she gave me the option of either throwing steroids at it and hoping there are no complications, or doing a surgical biopsy to determine if this is IBD or small cell lymphoma to treat more confidently. (With them doing an echocardiogram pre-surgery to confirm his heart can handle it.)
I need to know if the possible results of the surgical biopsy are worth putting him through it. As it stands, he acts normal now - he eats, drinks, plays, sleeps, purrs. He's thinner than he's ever been at around 10.3 pounds, but he's otherwise his usual self. I'm terrified of a surgery destroying that and seeing him fall apart for no worthwhile benefit. I hate the thought of putting him through it and him suffering. But if doing it can be okay and the results can truly help us extend his life and comfort, I think it makes sense to in order to treat him properly? I just don't know anything about what to expect from this surgery or what might come next. The specialist did not tell me at all what surgery or recovery could look like, and when I asked what would come after the biopsy, she simply said, "We either treat IBD or you have an oncology consult." I don't want to be selfish in my need to know, I only want to do what is best for his life. Can any anyone help with giving more thorough info and opinions? Experiences? What would you do if this was your cat? If surgical biopsy makes sense, what can we expect/how can we prepare? Oscar is my guardian angel on earth. Thank you for your kind and honest help here, in advance.
Attached is a cheeky photo of Oscar with his favorite toy, a stuffed carrot.