5/28 Doodle ~ 1ps=74 (lab results)

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Michelle and Doodle

Michelle and Doodle

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1ps = 74, +4 = 98

Doodle had his recheck at the vet on Wednesday.
His bloodpressure was down to 130 :smile: and the vet told me to continue overdosing him since it seemed to be working. (he's getting amlodipine approx .08333 because I can't properly divide the pill) :roll:
The BEST news though, is that his renal values are greatly improved!!! (whatever caused the elevation was apparently just temporary)
BUN = 33 (15 - 34)
CREAT = 2.6 (0.8 - 2.3)
and PHOS = 3.1 (3.0 - 7.0)

His potassium has unfortunately dropped again. 3.1 (3.9 - 5.3) so I will need to increase his dose back to 10mEq daily .

The difficulty we've been having with his pottasium level and the fact that his blood pressure has been so high (along with several other things) has raised my suspicions about hyperaldosteronism, so I printed out some info and my vet agrees that it is worth pursuing. She has decided that we need a proper ultrasound at this point to take a look at his adrenal glands so I suppose that will be our next step.

He got some fluids while we were at the vets and he seems to be feeling better - he was pretty dehydrated... so I will be adding a bit more water to his food again in an attempt to prevent that from now on.
 
It sounds like it's a balancing act between the amlodipine and the potassium. BP meds often have the effect of depleting potassium. It's great to hear that the renal values are better. No doubt as Doodle's BP comes down, the kidney values will improve. From what you've said, it seems like a good idea to look into the hyperaldosteronism.
 
Sienne and Gabby said:
It sounds like it's a balancing act between the amlodipine and the potassium. BP meds often have the effect of depleting potassium. It's great to hear that the renal values are better. No doubt as Doodle's BP comes down, the kidney values will improve. From what you've said, it seems like a good idea to look into the hyperaldosteronism.
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Ack! Vet didn't mention BP meds lowering potassium!.
He's been fighting severly low potassium for months now though and just went on BP meds last week so that hasn't been a contributing factor up until now - but it's good information to have, thanks !!
 
Great news on the renal values. One thing you don't have to worry about. I hope Doodle continues to get better. Sending healing vines.
 
He's back on Friskies food, right? Do you or vettybean think there's a link there between food and his wacky renal and electrolyte values?

How long was he off Azodyl, in relation to the blood draw? Do you think it helped with the renal values? Is he back on it?

Nice renal values. Also nice BP. Me likey :)

PS - don't go overboard in 'overdosing' the amlodipine, ok? Hypotension (said to be unlikely on amlodipine, but then Doodle isn't your typical cat ;-)) hurts kidneys too. He's fine at 130, so don't start freaking out. But need to monitor that BP for a while longer. What's 0.0833 btw? Meowzi's dose is 0.625 mg.

Norvasc and potassium - I had to look that up. Sienne's right - http://felinecrf.org/treatments.htm#con ... d_pressure: Recent research (Feline hypertension: diagnosis and management (2002) Elliott J, 27th World Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress 2002) indicates that treating hypertension with Norvasc sometimes reduces potassium levels, so you should ensure potassium levels are monitored and supplementation begun if necessary. How interesting. I knew ACE inhibitors could raise potassium levels, didn't know amlodipine (calcium channel blocker) may do the opposite. Also remember there are cautions against using cyproheptadine (appy stimulant) or cerenia with amlodipine.
 
Hello Michelle and Handsome Prince Doodle!

I am way out of the loop, however we are sending get well and feel better vines your way!

Sandy and Black Kitty
 
Michelle and Doodle said:
His bloodpressure was down to 130 :smile: and the vet told me to continue overdosing him since it seemed to be working. (he's getting amlodipine approx .08333 because I can't properly divide the pill) :roll:
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I dont' know what dose you mean. You can have it compounded, those stupid pills are way too small. Remember that his body would try to correct hypotension (if he was getting too much) so you do want a consistent dose, the lowest working dose.

His potassium has unfortunately dropped again. 3.1 (3.9 - 5.3) so I will need to increase his dose back to 10mEq daily .
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I think I remember us talking about his diet? Wasn't he frequently eating the Friskies' urinary health diet? I can't remember. Urinary diets have been linked to hypokalemia in a minority of cats, so I would change his diet if he's still on it.
 
2ps = 70 -- 3ps = 197

2ps = 70 -- 3ps = 197

Jess, & Choy Foong - not only can I not divide those tiny little pills properly... But obviously I am also challenged in other ways as well :roll:
I've been dividing the pill into something closer to thirds than quarters - so that would be 0.833 rather than .0833
It has definitely not been consistent.
My vet said it wasn't a problem... but perhaps I need to look into getting something compounded. I also ended up with a generic amlodipine and I believe I read somewhere that the Norvasc was a bit larger pill. I'll check with the pharmacist.

He IS back on Friskies ( SD for the most part) I took him off that out of concern over the possibility of it lowering his potassium. But when I changed his diet, his renal values spiked - so I put him back on Friskies again and now they are back down. He's picky, I wish he would just eat Wellness but I'm struggling to find another food that will work for him.

He only had like two pills of Azodyl Choy-Foong so I doubt it did anything one way or another - other that the bloating it caused.

Tonight he had a horrible poop which sort of freaked me out - it looked like about 10 cigarette butt sized hairballs with lots of mucus and some blood. He seems fine now but I've never seen anything like that - poor little guy...
 
Re: 2ps = 70 -- 3ps = 197

Michelle and Doodle said:
Jess, & Choy Foong - not only can I not divide those tiny little pills properly... But obviously I am also challenged in other ways as well :roll:
I've been dividing the pill into something closer to thirds than quarters - so that would be 0.833 rather than .0833
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*giggle* and here i was thinking you must have super eyesight and very steady hands to cut into 0.0833 mgs :razz:


It has definitely not been consistent.
My vet said it wasn't a problem... but perhaps I need to look into getting something compounded. I also ended up with a generic amlodipine and I believe I read somewhere that the Norvasc was a bit larger pill. I'll check with the pharmacist.
Click to expand...
ours isn't extremely consistent, but if there is doubt, we throw out and start again.

wedgewood has compounded almodipine, 0.625 mg chew treats (has sugar) and liquid (sugar-free) too i think.

i think i've read that norvasc is harder to cut than generic.

He IS back on Friskies ( SD for the most part) I took him off that out of concern over the possibility of it lowering his potassium. But when I changed his diet, his renal values spiked - so I put him back on Friskies again and now they are back down. He's picky, I wish he would just eat Wellness but I'm struggling to find another food that will work for him.
Click to expand...
have you and your vet considered keeping him on med-phos food that he'll eat and adding a phos binder?

Tonight he had a horrible poop which sort of freaked me out - it looked like about 10 cigarette butt sized hairballs with lots of mucus and some blood. He seems fine now but I've never seen anything like that - poor little guy...
Click to expand...
mucus and blood? that doesn't sound good.
 
Re: 2ps = 70 -- 3ps = 197

Michelle and Doodle said:
He IS back on Friskies ( SD for the most part) I took him off that out of concern over the possibility of it lowering his potassium. But when I changed his diet, his renal values spiked - so I put him back on Friskies again and now they are back down. He's picky, I wish he would just eat Wellness but I'm struggling to find another food that will work for him.
Click to expand...

You know these two things may not be at all related, right? The renal values and the Friskies? Did we already discuss magnesium? If his food is low in magnesium, he may not be able to keep up his potassium.
 
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