? 3/9 Mr Kitty AMBG 72 - ? PU/PD BG Fine, Coat Bleaching

FrostD

FrostD

Member Since 2020
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Starting at the end of January I noticed increased thirst and urination, thought maybe cab dosage was too small/infrequent so waited it out a bit to see. But BG has held steady, so now I'm leaning something like kidneys/thyroid? His coat is now bleaching (turning brown with intermittent white hairs) pretty much all over; poop smells different (not bad, just different but it's same food). He's still a pretty happy guy, but a bit less social.m, hides more.

Last labs were 12/6/21, updated in SS. @Suzanne & Darcy @Wendy&Neko anything jump out at you guys?

I'm scheduling an appointment for labs, I assume check kidneys/thyroid and do a full urinalysis? Anything else?
 
FrostD said:
Last post

Starting at the end of January I noticed increased thirst and urination, thought maybe cab dosage was too small/infrequent so waited it out a bit to see. But BG has held steady, so now I'm leaning something like kidneys/thyroid? His coat is now bleaching (turning brown with intermittent white hairs) pretty much all over; poop smells different (not bad, just different but it's same food). He's still a pretty happy guy, but a bit less social.m, hides more.

Last labs were 12/6/21, updated in SS. @Suzanne & Darcy @Wendy&Neko anything jump out at you guys?

I'm scheduling an appointment for labs, I assume check kidneys/thyroid and do a full urinalysis? Anything else?
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Aww Mr. Kitty!:bighug:

May check liver too? I know in humans if liver is causing an issue stools can change color and smell

Feel better buddy!
 
Rainbow Conti said:
Aww Mr. Kitty!:bighug:

May check liver too? I know in humans if liver is causing an issue stools can change color and smell

Feel better buddy!
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Yeah his ALT was elevated last time as well :/ at the time I decided not to start another supplement for it because he had to much going on, but may have to
 
Well that is really interesting with the hair color change. Hopefully someone chimes in with some knowledge on that. I’m curious to know what it might be.
Does his poo smell less digested? As in, more like food? Does it smell sour at all?
 
smorgasbord said:
Well that is really interesting with the hair color change. Hopefully someone chimes in with some knowledge on that. I’m curious to know what it might be.
Does his poo smell less digested? As in, more like food? Does it smell sour at all?
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I've been trying to figure out how to explain it. No, less like food if anything. Consistency is still normal. It smells...dull? Like perhaps his body over processed it.

His coat started bleaching late last year, so we had a GI panel done that indicated likely IBD/SCL. We elected not to treat at the time until he started showing more signs of illness- because treatment is prednisolone (BG impact) or budesonide (less likely BG impact but heavily metabolized in liver, and his ALT is already elevated). So, possible now may be the time.

I don't think redoing GI panel will help much, plus it's fairly costly
 
Coat going redder on a black haired cat is often an indication of GI issues. Specifically tyrosine not being processes as well. It contributes to the darker colour coat. Poo changes go hand in hand with GI issues. Remind me what food he's eating?
 
FrostD said:
I've been trying to figure out how to explain it. No, less like food if anything. Consistency is still normal. It smells...dull? Like perhaps his body over processed it.

His coat started bleaching late last year, so we had a GI panel done that indicated likely IBD/SCL. We elected not to treat at the time until he started showing more signs of illness- because treatment is prednisolone (BG impact) or budesonide (less likely BG impact but heavily metabolized in liver, and his ALT is already elevated). So, possible now may be the time.

I don't think redoing GI panel will help much, plus it's fairly costly
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I agree about the GI Panel. You already had an indication of GI problems. Maybe just get those labs (CBC, Chemistry Panel, Urinalysis) done and see. I don't think I would start either Budesonide or Prednisolone without an ultrasound showing inflammation and find out where it was located. Budesonide, as I am sure you know, needs to make contact with the inflamed tissues to be effective and Prednisolone is more systemic.

You don't do the Rutin anymore do you? But isn't he on a low fat diet due to having the chylothorax?
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Coat going redder on a black haired cat is often an indication of GI issues. Specifically tyrosine not being processes as well. It contributes to the darker colour coat. Poo changes go hand in hand with GI issues. Remind me what food he's eating?
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Right, if you track I think two posts back I put GI results (I'd copy and paste but it's just easier to go back).

He's on the Friskies pates. Usually the turkey and giblets, chicken, sometimes salmon.

The PU/PD is what's I suppose concerning me more, I know the GI stuff is coming
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
I agree about the GI Panel. You already had an indication of GI problems. Maybe just get those labs (CBC, Chemistry Panel, Urinalysis) done and see. I don't think I would start either Budesonide or Prednisolone without an ultrasound showing inflammation and find out where it was located. Budesonide, as I am sure you know, needs to make contact with the inflamed tissues to be effective and Prednisolone is more systemic.

You don't do the Rutin anymore do you? But isn't he on a low fat diet due to having the chylothorax?
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Do they need to be under anesthesia for ultrasound? He's quite...fractious at the vet and I don't want to put him under (we've had issues in the past).

No, no more Rutin, no more low fat either since the chyle production stopped. Been a few months
 
None of my cats have ever been under anesthesia for an ultrasound. I guess your vet would have an idea of whether or not this could be done.
 
FrostD said:
smells...dull? Like perhaps his body over processed it.
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Ah. Yeah, possibly GI issues and he’s not moving it through fast enough. That’s really too bad a new GI panel is so costly. Hopefully you’ll at least get a better picture with the other tests you plan on doing.
 
Yep. I see the labs now. I remember them from last year. Not much very remarkable except that ALT. But honestly the GGT and Bilirubin were low and if he had inflammatory liver disease you would expect them to be high. Hopefully that ALT elevation was an anomaly and will not be there tomorrow. Paws crossed for the Amazing Mr. Kitty! He's one of our favorites. Such a survivor!
 
Things not moving through fast enough might be ileus? Recent experience here with that. It was noticed in an ultrasound, though the vet later realized the "doughy" feel to the intestines were an indicator. Ileus is caused by something else, so a symptom instead of a condition.

The reason I asked about food is that sometimes upping the protein will help with tyrosine. But it's not like he's eating food high in carbs or fat.

Does your vet do in house labs or send out? It would be good to get a urinalysis if they can do a cysto, and I don't see an SDMA, which means sending it to Idexx. And yes, it's time to get a T4. My cats have never had anaesthesia for ultrasound, though a certain fiesty acro needed sedation at times. Current vet, before COVID, had the caregiver there to help kitty during ultrasound.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Things not moving through fast enough might be ileus? Recent experience here with that. It was noticed in an ultrasound, though the vet later realized the "doughy" feel to the intestines were an indicator. Ileus is caused by something else, so a symptom instead of a condition.

The reason I asked about food is that sometimes upping the protein will help with tyrosine. But it's not like he's eating food high in carbs or fat.

Does your vet do in house labs or send out? It would be good to get a urinalysis if they can do a cysto, and I don't see an SDMA, which means sending it to Idexx. And yes, it's time to get a T4. My cats have never had anaesthesia for ultrasound, though a certain fiesty acro needed sedation at times. Current vet, before COVID, had the caregiver there to help kitty during ultrasound.
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Thank you!

I will ask. He really tries not to sedate and I appreciate him for it, even though it means more difficulty/clean up for them.

They do in house labs, I think just the typical senior/standard panels and urinalyses. Other stuff gets sent out.

Not sure how well a cysto would work since he lets everything loose multiple times on the drive and in office :confused:
 
FrostD said:
Thank you!

I will ask. He really tries not to sedate and I appreciate him for it, even though it means more difficulty/clean up for them.

They do in house labs, I think just the typical senior/standard panels and urinalyses. Other stuff gets sent out.

Not sure how well a cysto would work since he lets everything loose multiple times on the drive and in office :confused:
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I took one of my kitties to the vet last week and he was howling and panting all the way. He pooped in his carrier and peed in his carrier in the car (very smelly indeed!) All his labs came back normal except his glucose (go figure). Just stress though. By the time they tool him in he had drool coming down his mouth. It was not at all a dignified situation for a well-dressed tuxedo cat!
 
FrostD said:
Not sure how well a cysto would work since he lets everything loose multiple times on the drive and in office
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Any chance you can do a clean catch, preferably first thing in the AM, and run it out to the vet? You are really just looking for a sample to test the specific gravity, doesn't need to be a cysto.

@Suzanne & Darcy Your tuxedo story sounds like what happened to me with Neko's tuxedo buddy. Didn't help it was a Sunday emergency and the vet was male. Glucose over 220 and 53 at home the next day.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Any chance you can do a clean catch, preferably first thing in the AM, and run it out to the vet? You are really just looking for a sample to test the specific gravity, doesn't need to be a cysto.

@Suzanne & Darcy Your tuxedo story sounds like what happened to me with Neko's tuxedo buddy. Didn't help it was a Sunday emergency and the vet was male. Glucose over 220 and 53 at home the next day.
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Yes, that's what I usually do.

And it's every trip with Mr Kitty, poor guy. They know he'll need a bath and carrier wash there, and I know he'll need another when I get home
 
FrostD said:
Not with the kids and Pippi lol probably worse. Though I do wonder if they can draw blood for labs at home...I would think so (he offers home euthanasia which is a wonderful option to have from a regular vet)
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My vet offers home services for a few things including euthanasia and blood draw
 
FrostD said:
Suzanne don't even get me started! I haven't been on vacation for 3 years! Kids, COVID, cat... hopefully this is our year
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Gosh Melissa, you sound like me. I miss the Outer Banks so much…and it’s only 2 hrs away from us. There’s nobody to keep Max and I can’t take him. He’s terrible in the car. Hopefully you get vacation this year and I hope Mr Kitty is okay.:bighug:
 
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