5/30 Lucy PMPS=299 // Lab Results & Azodyl

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mariko

mariko

Member Since 2011
Good morning,

Yesterday's condo

Yesterday
AMPS=189 (1u); +1.25=247; +2=270; +9.75=247
PMPS=257 (1u); +2=256; +6=230

Today
AMPS=220 (1u); +2=263; +7.5=238
PMPS=299 (1u);

The blood work results came back yesterday, and I updated the lab SS.
I have a mixed feeling about the results, but the liver values which were most concerning have significantly improved.

Good News
* Her liver values are back to normal. All ALT, AST and ALP are now within the reference range.
* Her White Cell count is normal for the first time in the past year!!!
* So no more a/bs!!!

Not SO Good News
* Her kidney values have worsened. Her creatinine value is the worst she's gotten - 280umol/L (was 262umol/L 2 weeks ago).
I don't know how significant this difference is, but am certainly worried.
* Her RBC and homoglobin values are still low - almost exactly same as 2 weeks ago.
* Her Hematocrit didn't improve - exactly same as 2 weeks ago. Barely within the reference range. I was hoping it would improve.

:?: The vet wants to try Azodyl to help her kidneys, but on the bottle, it says "Not for use in diabetic animals or in animals with an intestinal blockage."
He wasn't really aware of it and was surprised when we saw this on the bottle.
He said he was going to call Vetoquinol to get to the bottom of it.
Does anyone know why Azodyl isn't for use in diabetic animals?
Or Has anyone used this product with your sugar kitties, and what were your experiences?
If it's a matter of just a potential spike, I'd still like to try it...

Lucy is feeling and eating much better this morning. :-D
She ate the 1st breakfast very well.
I don't understand why her numbers remain high even without a/bs.
I'm trying not adding some of the supplements I was adding in the past 2 weeks, to see in any of them have an affect on her BG.

I appreciate your insight/advice/suggestion.
 
Re: 5/30 Lucy AMPS=220 // Lab Results & Azodyl

Hi Mariko. Funny enough but I just posted the question regarding Azodyl on the health forum just last week. I don't know how to capture the link but it is still on the first page. My vet also suggested Azodyl however he does not have any clients that have tried it out. My vet got on his vet message board and asked about Azodyl. He got mixed reviews from some of the vets; some good, some don't know and some gave no change. Marj tried it on a couple of her CKD cats but it didn't help them. Dyna indicated that she has been using it but doesn't know if it has helped. Dyana did say that she called the company and they said it was ok. So I guess, according to other vets, there are others who are using it but I don't know if they are diabetic. I found the link from the company on Tanya's page and gave it to my vet so he could checked it out on his end. At this time, I stopped pursuing it and decided to do subq fluids for the kidney.

My vet also suggested something else that he heard of from some other vets. He wrote down the name of the supplement but I think he accidentally kept that paper so I will have to call to get it. Once I get the name, I will research that one too.
 
Re: 5/30 Lucy AMPS=220 // Lab Results & Azodyl

Hi Mariko,

I see that it's good(improved liver values) and bad news(worsening kidney values) for little Lucy. I have no experience with Azodyl but I'm sure glad your vet is looking into it's effect on sugar kitties. In terms of the progressing kidney disease, I'm not sure of Lucy's level (early or later stage CKD) but the increased level suggests to that it is progressing. Was your vet concerned about the increased numbers and is the Azodyl for the CKD or something else?

I should have checked the diet you are feeding Lucy as I know that it is helpful to feed CKD kitties low phosphorus diets, in addition to LC for the DM. If you aren't feeding a low phosphorus diet, you might want to consider a diet with a level as close as possible to 0.5%. Ann has done a lot of work researching this area and you can check out a few of the tabs on Tess' ss for more details on phosphorus levels in the different diets. I know this because I'm currently working on this very issue for Pixie.

Wish I had more info to share with you but I know that others, with way more experience, will be along to offer advice.

Take care Mariko and good luck with whatever you decide for Lucy. My thoughts are with you and Lucy. Anne
 
Re: 5/30 Lucy AMPS=220 // Lab Results & Azodyl

I spoke with Dr. Brian McGlothlin today. He is the west coast vet for Vetquinol and he seemed REALLY sharp even with FD.

He said there is no reason you can't give a diabetic cat Azodyl. The Canadian govt requires the annotation as a contraindication because Azodyl has pysllium husks in it and there is potential that it could cause the BG to go up or down (most likely up). The U.S. does not have the same requirement. But he said if you are home testing and monitoring, you can always adjust the insulin. He said that he has seen a lot of FDs in the U.S. get the Azodyl and has not seen any reports that it caused a problem for the BG but just monitor to make sure because...ECID!

He also said that some cats will see a good decrease in the creat/BUN with Azodyl but the typical result that CGs find is that there might be only a slight improvement in creat/BUN but the cat eats better and seems to overall feel MUCH better. He said it is best to get the small caps and give it to kitty in the capsule. If you absolutely cannot get the cap down, he said you could put it in some very high fat food like full up yogurt (a very small amount like a tsp or less). It works best if given in the capsule because the enteric coating keeps it intact through the stomach and it opens in the intestine which is the target organ. He said it MUST be given on an empty stomach either one hour before a meal or two hours after. I told him that could be difficult for a FD and he agreed.

So it looks like it might be worth a try if you have the spare $$. It is expensive and has to be shipped and kept cold.

I hope this info helps.
 
Re: 5/30 Lucy AMPS=220 // Lab Results & Azodyl

I'm glad Lucy is feeling better and eating better today. That's good news her liver values are normal and she doesn't have to take the AB anymore. I hope you and your vet come up with a good plan for her kidneys. :YMHUG: :YMHUG:
 
Thank you very much, Cindi and Anne, for your info as well as well wishes.
Special MEGA thanks to Marje for calling Vetquinol to find out the info. You are wonderful.
And thank you, Carla, as always for checking in on Lucy. I find your post healing every day.

Here is my plan so far:
* Start Azodyl. The tricky part is to give it on an empty stomach. I will do my best to give it an hour before the 1st meal. It's not problem for the PM dose, but is going to be tough for the AM dose.
* I've been giving her 100ml sub-q fluids every 3rd day, but I'll change it to every other day. 50ml every day might be better, but it might be too stressful for both of us. If I ever need need to increase the fluids, then I'll do 75ml every day, but for now, I want to try 100ml every other day.
* Start the Vitamin B combo as soon as the size #4 capsules I ordered arrive.
* Rayne's custom diet that has been specially formulated for Lucy is low phosphorus, about 0.5% (but not low carbs). I will try this food when ready, but it may be another month before the foods are cooked and delivered.

Lucy's number is high this evening, but she's feeling OK.
I have to work all night again, but my boss lets me work around Lucy's care, so I can't complain. :smile:
 
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