2/5 Scooter - Fluid results

Jill & Scooter

Jill & Scooter

Member Since 2018
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/2-4-scooter.225202/#post-2520823

Good Morning,
First I want to apologize for no replies yesterday. When I got home yesterday we had no internet and my phone didn’t have enough signal either. I have found the right spot and am able to do this on my phone now.
The vet called yesterday about the fluid from his belly that was sent off. They weren’t able to tell anything from it. He said he’s still thinking cancer. I don’t think I mentioned in previous posts, because I didn’t think it was an issue, but the ultrasound showed Scooter’s heart is quite large and he has a slightly irregular rhythm. When I took him for the ultra sound the vet said he didn’t think his heart was causing the fluid, but he says he called some other vets and they think it could be. We have no way to know how long his heart has been large, because no one has ever looked. so I really don’t know anything more than I did.
Scooter didn’t seem to feel good at all yesterday and didn’t eat well at breakfast or when I ran home in the middle of the day, but he seemed much better when I got home and ate an OK dinner and before bed snack and ate some on his own sometime after 1:00 when I checked on him.
To try and reply to some of yesterday’s posts: @Christie & Maverick I had some Mirtz from a previous episode of not eating and started him on it Sunday. @Judy and Boomer Yes, I have found too, that if you can get a little in them sometimes it will get them started eating on their own. To the rest that posted yesterday...thank you for the prayers, vines and hugs. The love on the board is powerful !
 
How frustrating that you got no further answers. I’m really glad to hear that your vet is reaching out to their colleagues and trying to brainstorm on why is happening. I hope they can figure something out :bighug:

In the meantime I’m sending more vines for scooter :bighug:
 
I'm sorry you didn't get any clear answers. Are they going to do any more tests or give you something for his heart? I know heart issues can cause fluid build up. I'm glad he ate some for you last night. I hope he will continue to eat for you and feel better. I hope you can figure out what is going on and get a treatment plan for Scooter. I know it is not easy, but just focus on spending time with him right now. Sending prayers. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Sorry to hear test was inconclusive.

When Ollie first got here her belly was rock hard and she was so uncomfortable. Took her to ultrasound basically to make sure she didn't have foreign body in there. She was found in dumpster looking through garbage for food.

Anyway, the IM picked up galloping murmur and she had ascities (fluid in abdomen)i. Which can be caused by heart not working properly. So then cardiologist, which found murmur, enlarged heart HCM. Ollie is on benazepril now and the ascities is gone, heart not enlarged anymore, still has murmur but not galloping now.

It might be worth a cardio visit and all that's needed is meds.
 
Olive & Paula said:
might be worth a cardio visit and all that's needed is meds.
Click to expand...

I agree with Paula. Years ago my kitty had a heart problem & after a visit to a cardio DR. the meds fixed the problem. I don't know why your Vet is still saying cancer?
I'd take Scooter to a cardiologist.

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Well, better that the fluid was inconclusive than conclusive in a bad way. Vines for this to be good news!

Pimobendan (Vetmedin) has significantly improved Felix's enlarged heart; it's used off-label for cats. He's also on furosemide (generic Lasix--but not tuna flavored like @Pamela & Amethyst 's lucky kitty's!) because he had ascites, pleural effusion, and pulmonary edema. We live less than 15 minutes from the office his cardiologist works out of, but she also has portable echo equipment and will travel to see patients at their primary vet's office--maybe something like that would be available for Scooter?

:bighug::bighug:
 
I second the comments on seeing a cardiologist vet, if possible. Neko was on Vetmedin and Plavix (clot prevention) at first, and later on Lasix. The first time the fluids resolved on their own, the second time she needed to have Lasix added. I too was lucky, cardio vet is 15 minutes away, well 40 if traffic is bad on the bridge. :rolleyes: I also had a previous heart kitty seen by a travelling cardio vet who did echos at his vets office.

Heart troubles can impact appetite too.

Hearts are sneaky, they don't give a lot of warning something is wrong. Neko had a clean echo just six months before the one that diagnosed a whole lot of heart issues. On the other hand, other systemic issues like cancer can also impact the heart. My civvie Theo's heart was impacted by his pancreatic cancer. The exam of his fluids was similarly inconclusive. I know how frustrating that is when all we want is answers.

Sending vines for Scooter to feel good.:bighug:
 
I do hope you're able to see a cardiologist vet! I think that sounds significant! I also know that in cases of congestive heart failure the heart can be quite enlarged as it's working very hard and not getting much done - and can cause tremendous build up of fluids within the abdominal cavity - often a diuretic helps to resolve some of the fluid accumulations...but you need to get to the root of the cause...

Best wishes and strong healing vines and hugs to you both! :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Oh Jill.....heart issues can hopefully be treated.....there is a blood test called Cardiopet proBNP which measures the stretch of the heart.
My previous cat (another cat that I had called Wontonee) was on Vetmedin. She had a hole in her heart and my current dog is on Vetmedin for Chronic degenerative valve disease and Systolic dysfunction. My dog is also on lasix to prevent the fluid build up and she is on 3 other medicines as well. When she was diagnosed they didn't know how long she had, very guarded prognosis, and that was in 6/18. Thank goodness for the medicines and the cardiologist that I take her to. You need a cardiologist who specializes in this area and does Echo's (ultrasounds). Blood work is a necessary follow up when on these medicines and so are Echo's.

Wishing you all the best of luck and I hope you can get more answers that are conclusive of what Scooter's condition is about.
 
AmandaE said:
How frustrating that you got no further answers. I’m really glad to hear that your vet is reaching out to their colleagues and trying to brainstorm on why is happening. I hope they can figure something out :bighug:

In the meantime I’m sending more vines for scooter :bighug:
Click to expand...
Thanks Amanda!
 
carfurby said:
I'm sorry you didn't get any clear answers. Are they going to do any more tests or give you something for his heart? I know heart issues can cause fluid build up. I'm glad he ate some for you last night. I hope he will continue to eat for you and feel better. I hope you can figure out what is going on and get a treatment plan for Scooter. I know it is not easy, but just focus on spending time with him right now. Sending prayers. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
Click to expand...
They said there is nothing they can do for his heart or if it’s cancer. I’m just trying to make sure he’s comfortable and spoil him more than he already was. Thank you for the prayers.
 
Olive & Paula said:
Sorry to hear test was inconclusive.

When Ollie first got here her belly was rock hard and she was so uncomfortable. Took her to ultrasound basically to make sure she didn't have foreign body in there. She was found in dumpster looking through garbage for food.

Anyway, the IM picked up galloping murmur and she had ascities (fluid in abdomen)i. Which can be caused by heart not working properly. So then cardiologist, which found murmur, enlarged heart HCM. Ollie is on benazepril now and the ascities is gone, heart not enlarged anymore, still has murmur but not galloping now.

It might be worth a cardio visit and all that's needed is meds.
Click to expand...
Thanks Paula. I will ask about Benzapril when I talk to the vet tomorrow. Neither vet seemed to think there was anything to do for his heart.
 
Susan&Felix said:
Well, better that the fluid was inconclusive than conclusive in a bad way. Vines for this to be good news!

Pimobendan (Vetmedin) has significantly improved Felix's enlarged heart; it's used off-label for cats. He's also on furosemide (generic Lasix--but not tuna flavored like @Pamela & Amethyst 's lucky kitty's!) because he had ascites, pleural effusion, and pulmonary edema. We live less than 15 minutes from the office his cardiologist works out of, but she also has portable echo equipment and will travel to see patients at their primary vet's office--maybe something like that would be available for Scooter?

:bighug::bighug:
Click to expand...
How lucky to have a cardiologist close by. We live in a very rural area. I’m sure the closest one is at least a couple hours away, but I’m going to look in to it.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
I second the comments on seeing a cardiologist vet, if possible. Neko was on Vetmedin and Plavix (clot prevention) at first, and later on Lasix. The first time the fluids resolved on their own, the second time she needed to have Lasix added. I too was lucky, cardio vet is 15 minutes away, well 40 if traffic is bad on the bridge. :rolleyes: I also had a previous heart kitty seen by a travelling cardio vet who did echos at his vets office.

Heart troubles can impact appetite too.

Hearts are sneaky, they don't give a lot of warning something is wrong. Neko had a clean echo just six months before the one that diagnosed a whole lot of heart issues. On the other hand, other systemic issues like cancer can also impact the heart. My civvie Theo's heart was impacted by his pancreatic cancer. The exam of his fluids was similarly inconclusive. I know how frustrating that is when all we want is answers.

Sending vines for Scooter to feel good.:bighug:
Click to expand...
Thanks Wendy. I want so much to find something to help my little man, but I don’t want to haul him around and put him through a lot of tests to find out he has whatever, but there’s nothing that can be done. Both vets have offered to set us up with specialist, but have said they don’t think the specialists will be able to do anything. I am going to look into a cardiologist though.
 
Sue and Luci said:
I do hope you're able to see a cardiologist vet! I think that sounds significant! I also know that in cases of congestive heart failure the heart can be quite enlarged as it's working very hard and not getting much done - and can cause tremendous build up of fluids within the abdominal cavity - often a diuretic helps to resolve some of the fluid accumulations...but you need to get to the root of the cause...

Best wishes and strong healing vines and hugs to you both! :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
Click to expand...
Thanks Sue!
 
Debra and Yoyo said:
Oh Jill.....heart issues can hopefully be treated.....there is a blood test called Cardiopet proBNP which measures the stretch of the heart.
My previous cat (another cat that I had called Wontonee) was on Vetmedin. She had a hole in her heart and my current dog is on Vetmedin for Chronic degenerative valve disease and Systolic dysfunction. My dog is also on lasix to prevent the fluid build up and she is on 3 other medicines as well. When she was diagnosed they didn't know how long she had, very guarded prognosis, and that was in 6/18. Thank goodness for the medicines and the cardiologist that I take her to. You need a cardiologist who specializes in this area and does Echo's (ultrasounds). Blood work is a necessary follow up when on these medicines and so are Echo's.

Wishing you all the best of luck and I hope you can get more answers that are conclusive of what Scooter's condition is about.
Click to expand...
Thanks Debra! It does sound like if it’s his heart it could be treatable.
 
Jill & Scooter said:
Thanks Paula. I will ask about Benzapril when I talk to the vet tomorrow. Neither vet seemed to think there was anything to do for his heart.
Click to expand...

My previous Smokey was on different heart meds and 4 of them. He didn't have fluid. He did have a heart attack sometime prior to his 1st visit that we did not not know about. At his 1 yr echo test. Cardio was very surprised how well he improved.

Our cardio travels to the ER where he does them. And the major vet practices. Maybe there is one like that where you are.
 
I'd vote cardiac issues for the fluid and not cancer then...especially without signs of it in bloodwork but I know it's hard either way.

Sorry you didn't get more answers. Hope your little furbaby feels better soon. <3
 
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