? Is an Ultrasound Worth It?

babyg

babyg

Very Active Member
Previous thread: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/kidney-disease-update-on-baby-g.298825/#post-3251517

Hi all,

I posted before how ever since the beginning of this year, my cat has been having issues with intermittent appetite loss, vomiting, and diarrhea. We've already done bloodwork and a urinalysis, and she has a history of chronic pancreatitis.

I've been giving her Ondansetron and Mirtazapine as needed, and they seem to really help and get her back on track. I just don't want to be a pill pusher, either.

Do you guys think an ultrasound would be helpful? I'm trying to think two steps ahead, and I feel like if it showed a tumor on the pancreas, I wouldn't want to do surgery, and if it showed IBD, it sounds like that's treated similarly to pancreatitis. So I'm not really seeing that it's worth doing or how it would change our course of treatment, but wanted to get your guys' opinions.

Thanks!
 
babyg said:
Previous thread: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/kidney-disease-update-on-baby-g.298825/#post-3251517

Hi all,

I posted before how ever since the beginning of this year, my cat has been having issues with intermittent appetite loss, vomiting, and diarrhea. We've already done bloodwork and a urinalysis, and she has a history of chronic pancreatitis.

I've been giving her Ondansetron and Mirtazapine as needed, and they seem to really help and get her back on track. I just don't want to be a pill pusher, either.

Do you guys think an ultrasound would be helpful? I'm trying to think two steps ahead, and I feel like if it showed a tumor on the pancreas, I wouldn't want to do surgery, and if it showed IBD, it sounds like that's treated similarly to pancreatitis. So I'm not really seeing that it's worth doing or how it would change our course of treatment, but wanted to get your guys' opinions.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
@Bron and Sheba (GA)
@Diane Tyler’s Mom GA
 
babyg said:
Previous thread: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/kidney-disease-update-on-baby-g.298825/#post-3251517

Hi all,

I posted before how ever since the beginning of this year, my cat has been having issues with intermittent appetite loss, vomiting, and diarrhea. We've already done bloodwork and a urinalysis, and she has a history of chronic pancreatitis.

I've been giving her Ondansetron and Mirtazapine as needed, and they seem to really help and get her back on track. I just don't want to be a pill pusher, either.

Do you guys think an ultrasound would be helpful? I'm trying to think two steps ahead, and I feel like if it showed a tumor on the pancreas, I wouldn't want to do surgery, and if it showed IBD, it sounds like that's treated similarly to pancreatitis. So I'm not really seeing that it's worth doing or how it would change our course of treatment, but wanted to get your guys' opinions.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
@Sienne and Gabby (GA)
@Wendy&Neko
@Christie & Maverick
 
Well, I don’t know much more than what I’ve been able to read occasionally about IBD and or perhaps small cell lymphoma which I believe needs to be diagnosed by ultrasound, but if that is happening with BabyG the ultrasound diagnosis would lead you to some treatment options. Wendy knows more on that front. As for using ultrasound to diagnose some more serious issue with the pancreas, I personally am on the fence, having been given that option as well recently for Maverick and I didn’t feel an u/s would offer me anything in terms of treatment if he did indeed have something more serious (ie cancer) going on in the pancreas.
 
I'm a fan of ultrasounds it the diagnostic tools the vet has done so far (blood work and urinalysis) don't tell you what is wrong. For what it's worth, pancreatitis and IBD are NOT treated the same. In fact, pancreatitis is common in some GI conditions, so it's not uncommon for an IBD cat to have pancreatitis episodes as well. You would treat the nausea and vomiting side effects the same way, but otherwise treatments vary. For example, pancreatitis is painful so you should be giving pain meds, and possibly fluids. IBD may need diet change and steroids.

Christie & Maverick said:
what I’ve been able to read occasionally about IBD and or perhaps small cell lymphoma which I believe needs to be diagnosed by ultrasound
Click to expand...
Unfortunately no, that's not the final step. An ultrasound tells you if the bowel walls are inflamed, which is highly suggestive of IBD or small cell lymphoma. Or both, ask me how I know - sigh! After the U/S, a biopsy needs to be done to take a sample of the bowel wall, or possibly the lymph nodes if they are inflamed. The treatments for IBD and small cell lymphoma are also different, though there is some overlap in meds. SCL cats can also have pancreatitis.

Current with with IBD and small cell lymphoma (SCL), though it's in remission, was showing signs of weight loss and inappetance. I was worried it was SCL returning. It wasn't, but instead there is a benign pancreatic cyst, which was discovered by U/S. It now has to be monitored and may have to be drained if it gets to a certain size. The ultrasound also confirmed her bowel walls were still back to normal size. :) Completely different treatment from returning SCL. Knowing what you are dealing with lets you treat with the right meds for the condition.
 
Thank you, everyone, for your replies. I didn't mean to ghost this thread. My life kinda got turned upside down so it's been difficult juggling everything.

I finally have an appointment for an abdominal ultrasound this upcoming Wednesday. Appointment time is about two and a half hours after shot time. They prefer we fast but I've never fasted her before for ultrasounds so hoping that won't be an issue. She free-feeds so that makes it a bit more challenging.

I'll update once we have results.

I hope everyone has a hoppy Easter weekend.
 
babyg said:
Thank you, everyone, for your replies. I didn't mean to ghost this thread. My life kinda got turned upside down so it's been difficult juggling everything.

I finally have an appointment for an abdominal ultrasound this upcoming Wednesday. Appointment time is about two and a half hours after shot time. They prefer we fast but I've never fasted her before for ultrasounds so hoping that won't be an issue. She free-feeds so that makes it a bit more challenging.

I'll update once we have results.

I hope everyone has a hoppy Easter weekend.
Click to expand...
HAPPY EASTER:bighug::bighug::bighug::D:cat::cat:
 
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