? Help w/ Minnie’s Blood Test Results

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Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)

Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)

Member Since 2019
I took Minnie to the vet this week for a current senior blood panel and got the results back yesterday. I’m horrible at interpreting lab results and don’t completely trust my vet to do that for me. I was hoping folks more experienced with it can help me translate it? I think the one thing I got is that she has low potassium but there are a few other numbers out of range and I could use some help with those. I’ve added it to her ss :)

@Larry and Kitties @Marje and Gracie @Wendy&Neko

Thanks!
 
If you've got the right reference ranges for your particular lab, the potassium is fine, just at the upper end. You haven't highlighted the sodium, but it is low.

How soon before the blood draw had Minnie eaten? Is she eating well in general? What did the vet say about the results?
 
Wendy&Neko said:
If you've got the right reference ranges for your particular lab, the potassium is fine, just at the upper end. You haven't highlighted the sodium, but it is low.

How soon before the blood draw had Minnie eaten? Is she eating well in general? What did the vet say about the results?
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So the reason I posted asking for help is because the vet hasn’t gotten back to me and/or said anything. I’ve called, texted and emailed and I’m still waiting. I got the lab results without any comments. She still has nausea in the morning almost daily and vomits in the am pretty often before I have a chance to give her the ondansetron. Then after she gets it she eats pretty well the rest of the day. The reason for the blood work was to try to figure out the nausea and vomiting. The nutritionist though she might be low on potassium and electrolytes. But now I’m worried about what all the other stuff means. I made an appt for a call with the nutritionist for next Friday so she can review it with me.

Minnie had eaten at 10am and I gave her a few treats when I tested her blood at 1pm. Blood work was done at 3pm
 
How I wish MY sodium was low!:rolleyes:
But not good for Minnie. ((((Ale)))) as you know I'm not much with dosing OR reading labs. I just want you to know you and Minnie are loved. Sending prayers and positives for little Minnie and a big glass of wine for you. ;):coffee:
 
Well, I expected my vet to be useless. The current one I like is pregnant and no idea when she’ll come back to practice with covid19. I went back to the one before her since I figure it’s just collecting blood and they actually let me in with Minnie but she barely examined her. Pretty much just collected the blood. Still, I expected at least an explanation with the results.

I tagged the people Deb suggested and I’m hoping they can help me interpret it. She’s having diarrhea today :nailbiting:
 
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Wendy&Neko said:
If you've got the right reference ranges for your particular lab, the potassium is fine, just at the upper end. You haven't highlighted the sodium, but it is low.

How soon before the blood draw had Minnie eaten? Is she eating well in general? What did the vet say about the results?
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I just went through the numbers again and I had flipped the sodium and potassium because it was in a different order in the lab report. Fixed. My nutritionist seems to think it’s all good, but I’d like to get your guys’ thoughts.

Thanks!
 
The high eosinophils suggest an allergic reaction. A pancreatitis test a year ago is useless. It will on,y confirm pancreatitis if she has it now. What lab was used? Can you post the test that was flagged with the range? If pancreatitis I don’t know who they say an acute episode from one test. She needs to eat at least 3/4 of the normal amount or she can get hepatic lipidosis which is very serious. You need to get that nausea under control and then continue with ondansetron for several days of her being back to normal. Max had chronic pancreatitis for years so I know what I’m talking about. Acute pancreatitis is serious and can sometimes require hospitalization but if you get her eating and drinking that won’t be necessary.
 
tiffmaxee said:
The high eosinophils suggest an allergic reaction. A pancreatitis test a year ago is useless. It will on,y confirm pancreatitis if she has it now. What lab was used? Can you post the test that was flagged with the range? If pancreatitis I don’t know who they say an acute episode from one test. She needs to eat at least 3/4 of the normal amount or she can get hepatic lipidosis which is very serious. You need to get that nausea under control and then continue with ondansetron for several days of her being back to normal. Max had chronic pancreatitis for years so I know what I’m talking about. Acute pancreatitis is serious and can sometimes require hospitalization but if you get her eating and drinking that won’t be necessary.
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Hi Tiff..?

Thanks I’ll post the lab results when I get to my laptop. All the pancreatitis tests and ultrasound were done last October. I think it may just be what labs do point out issues. They don’t know Minnie and don’t even know she’s diabetic so they flagged that too high BG. I talked to he nutritionist yesterday and she said to alternate the omeprazol and Pepcid every 2 weeks to see if it helps. She’s been vomiting every morning this week. It’s clear then I give her the ondansetron and wait about 30 minutes or so and she’ll eat. Today she asked for treats and ate them and I just gave her 1/2 jar of baby food. She’ll usually finish it and eat maybe 1/2 can of FF. Then by the afternoon she’s back to her eating routine. It drives me crazy not knowing why she’s waking up nauseated and vomiting. When they tested her for pancreatitis last year like I mentioned she didn’t have it but I was told she was right on the cups and could have had it earlier in the year. I noticed when I give her the gabapentin before bedtime, it seems to help and she’s better the next morning. But last night she wouldn’t eat the pill pocket with it in it and I was reluctant to pill her since it’s a capsule and larger than let’s say the ondansetron. Anyway, we’re also dealing with diarrhea since yesterday and she’s been back on the metronidazole since Thursday night to take care of that. I think that may be my fault since I was trying this rabbit pumpkin food on her Wednesday. I noticed her stool was a little pasty on Thursday and stopped it but yesterday and overnight diarrhea.
 
I’m Elise. If the ondansetron gets her eating you need to give it every 8 hours. I’m sorry but Pepcid won’t help. It’s not for nausea and more studies show it’s rarely needed even with kidney disease. Chronic pancreatitis comes and goes. It will ONLY test positive if active. For the labs to test flag it as acute is worrisome. If Gabapentin helps that’s another sign that she’s in pain which is a symptom of pancreatitis. Please read up on pancreatitis.
 
Ok. I feel much better. The pancreatitis test shows it’s not likely. Nothing in these labs is alarming at all. It still holds that she must eat at least 3/4 of the normal amount to prevent hepatic lipidosis. The question as to why she’s not eating and having diarrhea is not answered. If this persists I would consider an ultrasound. How’s her energy level? Something clearly is wrong. Maybe take in a stool sample????
 
tiffmaxee said:
Ok. I feel much better. The pancreatitis test shows it’s not likely. Nothing in these labs is alarming at all. It still holds that she must eat at least 3/4 of the normal amount to prevent hepatic lipidosis. The question as to why she’s not eating and having diarrhea is not answered. If this persists I would consider an ultrasound. How’s her energy level? Something clearly is wrong. Maybe take in a stool sample????
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Our posts crossed.
So when they did the ultrasound last year her symptoms were pretty much the same as it is now and again, nothing really confirmed but they eliminated the possibility of cancer. The internal medicine vet went with IBD because there was a thickening of the intestine. It may be time to do a new ultrasound to see if it’s gotten worse or if anything else is there. This, btw, was all already happening before she was diagnosed with diabetes over a year ago. I’ve been searching for answers since then and although things have been ruled out, nothing has been confirmed :(
 
The stool sample is a good idea. I can do that on Monday and just drop it off at the vet.

Its hard to judge her energy levels because she’s never been a super active cat like Bobo is. If he was in discomfort or pain I’d be able to tell easily. But I do think she’s a bit less energetic than usual in the mornings when this happens and as the day progresses she gets her groove back and is out trying to catch lizards like last night. Usually when she has a really bad day, she refuses to eat anything but baby food and tuna. I feel like that’s where we’re headed today. Then the day after she’s typically back to normal. This never lasts more than one day. Even with the nausea and vomiting, after the ondansetron she’ll usually eat all her regular FF food like nothing was wrong at all
 
Aleluia Grugru & Minnie said:
The stool sample is a good idea. I can do that on Monday and just drop it off at the vet.

Its hard to judge her energy levels because she’s never been a super active cat like Bobo is. If he was in discomfort or pain I’d be able to tell easily. But I do think she’s a bit less energetic than usual in the mornings when this happens and as the day progresses she gets her groove back and is out trying to catch lizards like last night. Usually when she has a really bad day, she refuses to eat anything but baby food and tuna. I feel like that’s where we’re headed today. Then the day after she’s typically back to normal. This never lasts more than one day. Even with the nausea and vomiting, after the ondansetron she’ll usually eat all her regular FF food like nothing was wrong at all
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h shes a lizard chaser! So is my Zoe. She brings them into the house deposits them in her "cube" then bats the cube around. Zoe is the Lizardnator. I usually have at least 3 lizards loose in the house every summer :p
 
Cancer can’t be eliminated via an ultrasound nor confirmed though I wish it could. She’s definitely nauseous and I would continue ondansetron daily for awhile. My one intestinal lymphoma kitty had thickening of the intestines but no masses. An endoscopy confirmed lymphoma. If IBD was a food trial of a protein she’s never eaten been tried?

My cat had a high white count but these labs are good. So IBD is likely and if it’s that you need to figure how if a diet change helps.
 
tiffmaxee said:
Cancer can’t be eliminated via an ultrasound nor confirmed though I wish it could. She’s definitely nauseous and I would continue ondansetron daily for awhile. My one intestinal lymphoma kitty had thickening of the intestines but no masses. An endoscopy confirmed lymphoma. If IBD was a food trial of a protein she’s never eaten been tried?

My cat had a high white count but these labs are good. So IBD is likely and if it’s that you need to figure how if a diet change helps.
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That’s what I’ve been trying to do. I tried Hounds and Gatos and now Rawz and that’s why she had rabbit and pumpkin on Wednesday. The nutritionist and I think cause the diarrhea. The food had way more fat than she’s used to and then pumpkin. Although she’s never had diarrheal this bad for 2 days. She’s going 3-4 times and it’s pretty liquid. I’m wondering if I can give her more than 1/4 pill of metronidazole twice a day. Do you know if I can try to increase it to 1/2 a pill twice a day? She had it once on Thursday night, twice yesterday and I’m going to give it to her again the second time at night. Between the vomit and the diarrhea, I don’t want her to get dehydrated. At least the baby food has more water content than FF. I might try to give her some coconut water later in a syringe
 
jt and trouble (GA) said:
h shes a lizard chaser! So is my Zoe. She brings them into the house deposits them in her "cube" then bats the cube around. Zoe is the Lizardnator. I usually have at least 3 lizards loose in the house every summer :p
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minnie is a hunger period. I’ve seen her eat an entire mouse except for the tail and head. Pretty disgusting if you ask me, especially when you hear the bones cracking urghhhh... She’s gotten those big green flying bugs too. She’s tried to get birds too but Bobo is better at getting them. Bobo just play with his prey, but a Minnie hunts for food lol :D
 
Aleluia Grugru & Minnie said:
minnie is a hunger period. I’ve seen her eat an entire mouse except for the tail and head. Pretty disgusting if you ask me, especially when you hear the bones cracking urghhhh... She’s gotten those big green flying bugs too. She’s tried to get birds too but Bobo is better at getting them. Bobo just play with his prey, but a Minnie hunts for food lol :D
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Yeah Zoe loves the hunt but never harms her prey. I have see her walk away from a scared humming bird. I picked it up and it flew right from my hand. Lizards are batting toys till she gts bored with them.
Acouple of times Ive had lizards at LEAST 10 inches (sans the tail) long, loose in my house for days. One time it took me 2 weeks to catch a humongous lizard she brought in. :rolleyes: I named him Harry.:p
 
jt and trouble (GA) said:
Yeah Zoe loves the hunt but never harms her prey. I have see her walk away from a scared humming bird. I picked it up and it flew right from my hand. Lizards are batting toys till she gts bored with them.
Acouple of times Ive had lizards at LEAST 10 inches (sans the tail) long, loose in my house for days. One time it took me 2 weeks to catch a humongous lizard she brought in. :rolleyes: I named him Harry.:p
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LOL I’ve had mice lost in my house because Bobo would bring it in and not finish the job. You do not want to name those hahaha!
 
Aleluia Grugru & Minnie said:
That’s what I’ve been trying to do. I tried Hounds and Gatos and now Rawz and that’s why she had rabbit and pumpkin on Wednesday. The nutritionist and I think cause the diarrhea. The food had way more fat than she’s used to and then pumpkin. Although she’s never had diarrheal this bad for 2 days. She’s going 3-4 times and it’s pretty liquid. I’m wondering if I can give her more than 1/4 pill of metronidazole twice a day. Do you know if I can try to increase it to 1/2 a pill twice a day? She had it once on Thursday night, twice yesterday and I’m going to give it to her again the second time at night. Between the vomit and the diarrhea, I don’t want her to get dehydrated. At least the baby food has more water content than FF. I might try to give her some coconut water later in a syringe
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Do not increase the metronidazole. It can cause neurological issues in cats if given in too large a dose or for an extended period of time.

Give it time to work.

Pumpkin is good for both constipation and diarrhea. Is it the same brand of food? Rabbit is not high fat. In fact it’s low and low in calories. One of mine has dermatitis and EGC and when I switched to rabbit she was losing weight.

If on the west coast you might try Small Batch.
 
tiffmaxee said:
Do not increase the metronidazole. It can cause neurological issues in cats if given in too large a dose or for an extended period of time.

Give it time to work.

Pumpkin is good for both constipation and diarrhea. Is it the same brand of food? Rabbit is not high fat. In fact it’s low and low in calories. One of mine has dermatitis and EGC and when I switched to rabbit she was losing weight.

If on the west coast you might try Small Batch.
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I tried Smallbatch and that’s when she gained weight and became diabetic. I would love to get her back on raw but I have to add so many things to her food now like the b12 and probiotics. Not sure I can get that done and her eating with raw. I’m trying to get her into a better brand for IBD/ GI like the 2 I mentioned. Hounds and Gatos was fine but then I discovered it has agar agar which is bad for cats...? And the rabbit pumpkin is Rawz. Yeah I thought pumpkin was much like SEB works for both but not sure if is what set this off or not. I was the only change in her diet last week. I just have to wait for the diarrhea to go away now. The other flavors of the same brand like chicken and turkey were fine

Got it, I won’t up the antibiotic but there’s been no improvement today and she’s already pooped 4 times since we woke up :nailbiting: yesterday I had to wash her behind twice with baby wipes and warm water and she was very much not happy about it. She even hissed at me :( today I’m following her around so I can get her away from it before she drags her butt and makes a mess. So far do good

I’m on the west coast too
 
I’ve had no issues with Small Batch. Mine were gaining in duck and only getting 3 oz a day. Lamb is highest in fat and calories so I’m trying to give some rabbit and lamb fir the one who can eat it and trying Primal venison for the other one. SB rabbit is very low calorie. I need to give 4-5 oz and it’s the first protein mine don’t go ape over. They are foodies like me but young.
 
tiffmaxee said:
I’ve had no issues with Small Batch. Mine were gaining in duck and only getting 3 oz a day. Lamb is highest in fat and calories so I’m trying to give some rabbit and lamb fir the one who can eat it and trying Primal venison for the other one. SB rabbit is very low calorie. I need to give 4-5 oz and it’s the first protein mine don’t go ape over. They are foodies like me but young.
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Same here! But Bobo is the worse. While Minnie was happy with Smallbatch chicken or turkey (neither liked beef and I think the bones pieces in it were too big for them) Bobo would not make the transition and eat it. He’d nibble at it and walk away. I didn’t want him to starve so he stayed on FF. I tried all the freeze dried brands too like Sojo and Stella and Primal but neither one of them liked that. Raw goats milk was also a no go
 
tiffmaxee said:
They have moved to Los Angeles and the new batches will have smaller pieces. Mine spit out the hard pieces and I think why don’t like rabbit. Lamb doesn’t have that.
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I juts had a thought. Did the blood work mention b12? I stopped giving her b12 injections because she’s been taking b12 methyl daily. Could she be deficient? I can’t tell that from the lab work...
 
Okay so we’re at the ER. Her diarrhea is getting worse not better and the last bit had some blood in it. She’s also vomited 2 more times and won’t eat now for me at all. I’m afraid of syringe feeding her just to have her vomit again and I’m also worried about her shot without any food. Although I tested before we left the house and she was at 244. She just looks like she’s in pain and uncomfortable. So here we are :(
 
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