8/17 Ozy Q's?? AMPS-276,+2.5-229,+4-208,+6-288

[donaleen and Ozy]

Yesterday http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=102409

I asked this question yesterday and got no answer. Maybe no one can help but still hoping...

Ozy has a pretty sick pancreas. Even though his pancreas is pretty bad, and gives him pain and nausea, he doesn't vomit or have diarrhea or refuse to eat. Those are good things. However, his blood work (see link in signature) says the sample had gross lipemia (bottom of page 1) which I think means it had a lot of fat suspended in it.

Does the gross lipemia indicate he needs a different diet? The Wellness grain/free Turkey and salmon is low carb but has a higher proportion of fat to protein than some low carb canned food. Should I switch to something with higher protein proportion or should I hold tight with the diet changes? Should I give him pancreatic enzymes since his pancreas probably doesn't produce any? If so, which ones are good ones?

And, on another topic, Ozy's body seems to be fighting/bouncing most of the time. Really, in six weeks his BG is not down all that much despite all this Lantus. Isn't it hard on his liver to keep making glucose to raise his numbers? I am concerned he will wear his liver out next.

thanks
donaleen

 

[Tara & Buster]

Re: 8/17 Ozy AMPS-276,+2.5-229

I don't have answers for you, but let's bump you to the top of the list. You might want to add a little more to your header like, "questoins ??" That tends to catch the advisor's attention a bit more. Yellows aren't such horrible numbers - hope Ozy can bring them down a floor soon!

 

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

Re: 8/17 Ozy Questions AMPS-276,+2.5-229,+4-208

Hi Donaleen,
I had no idea what "gross lipemia" meant. Good old Google!

Question - when they drew blood, had Ozy been fasting? Apparently it makes a large difference...

Like a hemolized sample or one that just stood too long at room temperature, lipemia can throw off your pet’s blood value reading. To avoid lipemia and other collection problems, fast (no food) your dog before your veterinary visit. If this is not an emergency, call ahead to find out when lab pickups are, find a quiet time at the clinic so your pet will remain calm or have a house call vet visit you and draw the sample.

Some labs use lipemia and turbidity synonymously. That is not completely correct. If you scroll down to the Ts you will find some of the causes of true turbidity. Some laboratories report back the degree of lipemia in your pet’s blood sample using an index. It roughly follows the triglyceride level in your pet’s blood at the time the blood was drawn.

[ <30 = no lipemia or turbidity, 30-60= slight lipemia or turbidity, 60-120=moderate lipemia or turbidity, >120=marked lipemia or turbidity ]

The higher the number, the more likely for blood values to be thrown off. Marked lipemia can falsely elevate your pet’s bilirubin and hemoglobin, readings, and falsely decrease your pet’s blood electrolyte ion readings (sodium, chloride, phosphate, calcium, and to a lesser degree, potassium).

All the health problems that raise the fatty components of blood even when they are fasting can also predispose them to lipemic serum. They include:

Diabetes, Pancreatitis, hypothyroidism, cushing's disease, failure to eat/starvation, and corticosteroid medications and kidney disease (nephrotic syndrome) can all, occasionally, cause lipemic blood serum.

It could be the diabetes/pancreatitis that is causing the high lipemia? (Assuming the test was a "fasting test").

http://www.2ndchance.info/dxme-LipemiaIndx.htm

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

Re: 8/17 Ozy Questions AMPS-276,+2.5-229,+4-208

Wow, thanks Carl! I appreciate the guidance and thoughts.

He hadn't eaten for more than 12 hours. He had to fast because he used to be so fierce that they wouldn't examine him without sedation. It has taken years of love (plus illness/weakness) to make him more approachable. Now he is more like a teddy bear than a fierce beast.

His pancreatitis came first. It was diagnosed three years ago. They say it caused the diabetes.

He eats grain free Wellness because the carby /grainy wet cat foods gave him asthma and breathing issues. He also had more skin issues then. He has ALWAYS had mostly wet food with some dry food until a year ago, when he started eating exclusively grain free Wellness turkey and salmon.

Anyway, the question is how to support/ substitute for his pancreas. Diet seems like the right place to me. But what diet in his case? And given all his issues, should I leave well enough alone?

thanks
donaleen

 

[Deb & Wink]

Since he doesn't have symptoms, seems to me the current wet food is the right way to "treat" his pancreatitis.

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

He does have pain. Digesting food is hard on him. As the day wears on, he generally feels worse. Mornings, when he hasn't eaten for the longest period, are the time he feels best. He gets buprenorphine for pain and Cerenia for nausea and some pain relief.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Do you know whether your vet tested for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency? If Ozy is having digestive issues, it could be this form of pancreatic problems that is effecting him. If so, he would need digestive enzymes.

FWIW, what you're describing in terms of Ozy's reaction to foods with grain sounds like an allergic reaction possibly to gluten. Many cats have gluten sensitivities and many are also allergic to beef and fish.

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

I attached all the blood work results that they ran. I didn't see anything like that, but I am no blood work expert. I will ask the vet and if they didn't I will ask for it. Thanks for putting a name on the question and a way to decide whether he needs the enzymes.

He has had a lot of allergy/auto immune type issues along with pancreatitis and now diabetes.