LuvinThisPig
Member Since 2017
Yesterday's
Today was interesting. We went to a new vet, a feline specialist out of Tulsa. I am very impressed with her. She advocated many things that are pretty forward and was incredibly knowledgeable about many of Pig's issues. Her labs are a bit pricey, but her in house procedures were under priced. All in all a very good experience.
First, we are still awaiting the results of his geriatric panel (CHEM CBC T-4). I had wanted to run the ADH and ACTH values but we could not find a lab that ran the ADH testing and she would have had to have a special kit to run the ACTH. So, we will need to go back sometime in the near future to run these labs, especially if the water intake continues to be excessive as a lack of ADH causes what is known as diabetes insipidus (@Bronx's dad). ADH is the antidiuretic hormone and controls water regulation in the body (at least that is how I understand it). Meaning, if ADH is off then kitty presents with the polydipsia and polyuria even without a lack of insulin. (@manxcat419 am I correct here?)
However, at this point we are looking at really good results. His abdominal ultrasound showed a healthy and normal sized liver, no inflammation (which is improvement from WSU because their reports showed a slightly inflamed liver...???). Perfectly normal kidneys (no inflammation meaning that his urine theoretically should have stopped backing up into his system). A bit of thickening in the small intestine, which we already knew from WSU and it is mild at best. I am a bit concerned because the spot in his bladder that was supposed to be a blood clot from a cystocentesis stick is still there. If it is, indeed, a blood clot it should have dissolved by now. Its been 4 months. So, that will need monitoring for sure to check for growth. (@LizzieInTexas) We will also be monitoring the slight thickening as well.
Next, his echo... well there is not much to report there except he had a perfectly normal and incredibly healthy heart! Yay! No muscular thickening or signs of HCM or anything. We are very blessed here.
We did run another urine sediment sample as well to make sure there is not current infection.
But, pending chem panel results, its looking like I just spent $700 to learn what @Wendy&Neko has been saying to me all along... That the glucose inconsistencies are simply dose related. As in, we need to dial in on a good dose. Yet, I NEEDED to do this to eliminate all other possible causes. At least this way I KNOW exactly what we are dealing with.
Not to mention, I as well as this new vet, are very suspicious that a lot is also stress induced by the Ace. It makes him wonky sometimes. So, pending chem panel results, we will be seriously reevaluating meds.
But, for now, we breath a sigh of relief.
Today was interesting. We went to a new vet, a feline specialist out of Tulsa. I am very impressed with her. She advocated many things that are pretty forward and was incredibly knowledgeable about many of Pig's issues. Her labs are a bit pricey, but her in house procedures were under priced. All in all a very good experience.
First, we are still awaiting the results of his geriatric panel (CHEM CBC T-4). I had wanted to run the ADH and ACTH values but we could not find a lab that ran the ADH testing and she would have had to have a special kit to run the ACTH. So, we will need to go back sometime in the near future to run these labs, especially if the water intake continues to be excessive as a lack of ADH causes what is known as diabetes insipidus (@Bronx's dad). ADH is the antidiuretic hormone and controls water regulation in the body (at least that is how I understand it). Meaning, if ADH is off then kitty presents with the polydipsia and polyuria even without a lack of insulin. (@manxcat419 am I correct here?)
However, at this point we are looking at really good results. His abdominal ultrasound showed a healthy and normal sized liver, no inflammation (which is improvement from WSU because their reports showed a slightly inflamed liver...???). Perfectly normal kidneys (no inflammation meaning that his urine theoretically should have stopped backing up into his system). A bit of thickening in the small intestine, which we already knew from WSU and it is mild at best. I am a bit concerned because the spot in his bladder that was supposed to be a blood clot from a cystocentesis stick is still there. If it is, indeed, a blood clot it should have dissolved by now. Its been 4 months. So, that will need monitoring for sure to check for growth. (@LizzieInTexas) We will also be monitoring the slight thickening as well.
Next, his echo... well there is not much to report there except he had a perfectly normal and incredibly healthy heart! Yay! No muscular thickening or signs of HCM or anything. We are very blessed here.
We did run another urine sediment sample as well to make sure there is not current infection.
But, pending chem panel results, its looking like I just spent $700 to learn what @Wendy&Neko has been saying to me all along... That the glucose inconsistencies are simply dose related. As in, we need to dial in on a good dose. Yet, I NEEDED to do this to eliminate all other possible causes. At least this way I KNOW exactly what we are dealing with.
Not to mention, I as well as this new vet, are very suspicious that a lot is also stress induced by the Ace. It makes him wonky sometimes. So, pending chem panel results, we will be seriously reevaluating meds.
But, for now, we breath a sigh of relief.
