9/9 Oldtimer Kitty vet visit update!

[Kathy and Kitty]

ETA: SEE REPORT BELOW.

Hi, everyone,

Nothing clearly wrong, but it is time for Kitty's check-up, and I would love feedback on questions or tests I should discuss with the vet (same animal hospital, new vet :? ).

First and most important: Still OTJ! It will be five months next week. He tested 104 two weeks ago, then back into the 90s.

Kitty moves very slowly. I've thought it was the arthritis that was detected on manual exam. The Cosequin didn't help him all that much, but the new Dasuquin seemed to make him downright sick -- multiple hairball barfs, and he seemed to have NO energy. I stopped the Dasuquin, and he perked right back up to his normal slow self. So no Dasuquin.

The last vet didn't feel comfortable giving Adequan. Maybe this one will. Are there specific tests for arthritis?

Also, I have food issues -- well, Kitty does. He doesn't seem to like the FF Chicken all that much, but I can't get him to eat the Evo 95%, or anything else healthy, for that matter. He cleans his plate when there's chicken dust.

He has had problems with resorption, so we will check his teeth.

All p's in place. It's just the slow walking and lack of overall energy that troubles me.

Feedback on things to discuss with the vet would be welcome. Thanks for listening!

 

[Roni and Moonie]

Re: 9/9 Oldtimer Kitty visits vet tomorrow. Ideas?

Hi Kath!! Just get a senior checkup & blood tests--Moonie had xrays which are the only ways to detect arthritis--My guys are on Dasuquin & doing great--
So sorry it didnt work for you!-- Hope you get a great good vetty report! HUGS from Us!

 

[mybuddybinks]

Re: 9/9 Oldtimer Kitty visits vet tomorrow. Ideas?

hi, kathy...no advice on questions, but wanted to wish kitty and you a good vet visit.

celi & binks

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

Re: 9/9 Oldtimer Kitty visits vet tomorrow. Ideas?

you may want to try (and this particular product isn't too diabetic friendly) - however, since you only give 2 a day, probably not a big deal - http://www.luckyvitamin.com/p-4070-pet- ... -chewables

Sydney loves these and they seem to help with her joint issues.

I used to pill Sydney with shiff's move free (lowest dosage - 1/2 tablet) of msm, glucosamine, chrondroitin mix.

then I discovered these and there is also: catswell happy hips - but it doesn't have msm and is diabetic friendly.

just a couple thoughts

I wouldn't get too concerned over not eating evo - mine used to eat it and now won't touch the stuff - I think something changed in their formula. Have you tried nature's logic? mine like it and Kitty may too. It's super dense, so I add water and only give them half a can at a time.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Re: 9/9 Oldtimer Kitty visits vet tomorrow. Ideas?

Since Kitty is over 10 years old, they should do a senior panel and a bit more extended check up. This is a link that the feline vet clinic I use has put together regarding senior care.

 

[Jill & Alex (GA)]

Re: 9/9 Oldtimer Kitty visits vet tomorrow. Ideas?

awesome list, cheryl!
hope you have a good vet visit with kitty! update us when you get the results back. you know how nosey we are! :lol:

 

[WCF and Meowzi]

Re: 9/9 Oldtimer Kitty visits vet tomorrow. Ideas?

Are there specific tests for arthritis?

Has he never had x-rays done? confused_cat That would show how bad the arthritis is, and where.

I'm surprised the Dasuquin made him sick. AFAIK, Dasuquin is the same formulation as Cosequin, except for one extra ingredient. And he tolerated Cosequin fine? Could it just have been coincidental, and that he was already making hairballs at that very time? No energy during Dasuquin and before hairballs, perked up after stopping Dasuquin and *after* hairballs ... I'm not saying that it's not Dasuquin that caused the h/b and low energy, that's always possible, although I've not read of that response before. But it's not as widely used as Cosequin. Have you considered contacting Nutramax to see if they have complaints of h/b and low energy in other cats?

 

[Pat+Raja+Shadow (GA)]

Re: 9/9 Oldtimer Kitty visits vet tomorrow. Ideas?

Good luck with the vet visit...I hope Kitty has a great checkup... :razz:

 

[Kathy and Kitty]

Re: 9/9 Oldtimer Kitty visits vet tomorrow. Ideas?

Have I told you recently how wonderful you all are?? :YMHUG:

Arthritis: Kitty has had had only a manual exam for arthritis. Vet felt enlarged joints and thought his weight (16 pounds) put extra pressure on his joints.

Otherwise, the indications are what I observe. He rolls over on his side to play, rather than try to support himself on one front leg. He can move quickly, but he often "pulls up" after he runs.

Dasuquin: Maybe the problem with the Dasuquin was a fluke. Or maybe it's the taste. He really didn't want to eat the food with the Dasuquin; maybe he was getting weak because he wasn't eating enough. I'll try again after a week.

Chews & Food: I would love to use chews, and Kitty used to L-O-V-E Happy Hips. He always came when I made the Happy Hips sound. But we have the teeth issues, and Happy Hips require real chewing. (Hmm. I wonder if I could grind them? That's a thought. )

Nature's Logic may be the single LC food on the planet that I have not tried. I will try it! :mrgreen:

Tests: I have printed out the list for senior checkups. We'll get the right tests.

Thank you all for helping me get ready for Kitty's Big Vetty Bean Adventure. You are all the best. Every one of you!!


p.s. His pre-vet test was 86! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[Libby and Lucy]

Re: 9/9 Oldtimer Kitty visits vet tomorrow. Ideas?

looks like you've gotten good advice. Good luck at the vet!

 

[Kathy and Kitty]

Re: 9/9 Oldtimer Kitty vet visit update! See below

:mrgreen: Overall: He looks good!

We were looking at arthritis, teeth and overall lack of strength and absence of Zippy Pants (I didn't share that term with vet :lol: ).

Arthritis: He felt good range of motion, so he didn't think we needed the x-ray at this time. He suggested adding omega 3 fish oil to the Cosequin, if I feel that the Dasuquin is being rejected. He says there is soy in the Dasuquin, and some kitties don't like that.

Senior Blood Panel: Overall, again, very good! I will get the faxed report tomorrow, but the verbal report: Thyroid is perfectly normal. :mrgreen: Glucose: 121 on the Alpha Trak! :mrgreen: Electrolytes, Kidney and liver enzymes -- great. And he has lost nearly a pound since last summer.

Only three things were elevated:
- hematocrit: Slightly on the high side of normal.
- Cholesterol -- 4 points higher than the range.

- White Blood Count/ Eosinophils (?) - This one is very high: 1790 on a scale of 100-790. It was also elevated last year (1400). He thinks allergies are more likely than parasites; allergies are very common around here, and he doesn't see any evidence of fleas. He said we could try benadryl if we want to. I would love input on this issue.

Otherwise.. Kitty handled it well. He is so gentle and sweet (right, Jill? :mrgreen: ), everyone there loved him. He is now happily home and has had extra chicken dust.

Thanks for all the input and support, everyone. I think I had almost as hard a time with this as he did! :lol:

 

[Kathy and Kitty]

Re: 9/9 Oldtimer Kitty vet visit update! See below

Oh yeah, teeth.

The good news: No appearance of any lesions or anything markedly wrong.

However, there is a little bit of reddening on the gums. Last cleaning was February. Kitty is very averse to having my fingers in his mouth, so brushing is challenging. We discussed rinses as a possibility.

He said we could give Kitty a round of antibiotics (Clavamox) to ward off infection until his regularly scheduled cleaning. Thoughts welcome.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Re: 9/9 Oldtimer Kitty vet visit update! See below

Great report!

Does Kitty have problems with IBD? Eosinophil elevation can be related to IBD as well as allergy or other autoimmune problems. Here's a question for your vet -- could the joint problems be autoimmune related?

 

[Kathy and Kitty]

Sienne, you are so smart.

The vet mentioned IBD. Since poop action is fine, and there's no ongoing barfing (except for three recent hairball-related events, HBE's), he thought this was not a threat. I don't know what other symptoms of IBD would be.

We didn't talk about autoimmune anything. He really thinks the joint issues are worn cartilage (sp?) from Kitty's having been so heavy. I can ask about autoimmune responses. If you can help me ask that question more specifically, let me know!

 

[Libby and Lucy]

hooray for a good vet visit! Sorry, I have no input on your questions. My approach whenever I have a medical question is to ask WCF. :lol:

 

[Linda and Bear Man]

Sienne, you are so smart.

The vet mentioned IBD. Since poop action is fine, and there's no ongoing barfing (except for three recent hairball-related events, HBE's), he thought this was not a threat. I don't know what other symptoms of IBD would be.

There is a thread on health about Benadryl: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=24303

Symptoms of IBD would include vomiting, diarrhea (some cats have constipation I believe), inappetance, weight loss, blood in stool.

 

[Kathy and Kitty]

Sienne, you are so smart.

The vet mentioned IBD. Since poop action is fine, and there's no ongoing barfing (except for three recent hairball-related events, HBE's), he thought this was not a threat. I don't know what other symptoms of IBD would be.

There is a thread on health about Benadryl: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/view ... 28&t=24303

Symptoms of IBD would include vomiting, diarrhea (some cats have constipation I believe), inappetance, weight loss, blood in stool.

Inappetance? Weight loss? Not Kitty's problems!!
Thanks for the link, Linda. I think I'm leaning more toward allergy than IBD. He does shake his ears.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Allergy can be autoimmune as can IBD or rheumatoid arthritis. From a quick read of what's out in cyberspace, I would keep an eye out for whether you see blood in the urine or a reduced platelet count. Those results would be indicative of hemolysis (red blood cells breaking down) which could be autoimmune related. Cats can get lupus, but it sounds like there would be more extensive problems than what you're seeing.

 

[Jill & Alex (GA)]

yes, he is so gentle and sweet! i fell in love with him at first sight.
sounds like your vet visit went well. alex has high eosinophils, too. we know she has allergies, but it's something i'm keeping an eye on...

 

[Kathy and Kitty]

Not that I can read the blood results very well... but I have them. If RBC is red blood cells, it's 6.8, slightly high in the normal range. Or do I want HGB, hemoglobin? That's 14.6 which is normal but on the very high side of normal (range 9-15.1).

The HCT is high. He's 47%, and normal is 30-45.

MCHC is low normal, so is RDW.

I could post all the blood results, but I have no idea what they mean!

Ne is upper range of normal. Anyone know what Ne is??

 

[Kathy and Kitty]

yes, he is so gentle and sweet! i fell in love with him at first sight.
sounds like your vet visit went well. alex has high eosinophils, too. we know she has allergies, but it's something i'm keeping an eye on...

He is a good kitty. cat_pet_icon

Jill, we know how common allergies are around here! I'll put my nickel on that. But if you learn anything about eosinophils, I'd love to hear.

Just added a new word to my vocabulary!

 

[Lisa and Do Lou (GA)]

:mrgreen: Happy to hear Kitty got a good vet check

 

[Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)]

Sounds like a great report for Kitty! Now all you have to do is find some food he likes!!!

Ella & Stu