Same problem, second time around...

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Red'sMomHeather

Red'sMomHeather

Member Since 2015
I haven't been here in a good six weeks, and it's been fantastic. But Red decided I was having it too easy and he needed to get sick again.

It may or may not be diabetes.

We thought it was when this began in January. He was lethargic and went a couple of days not eating well. Found out he was dehydrated and jaundiced. High BG and high liver values. He had IV fluids, Zentonil (liver meds) plus insulin. His BG came down over a few days and he actually came OTJ after only a week? (I can't remember now exactly but it wasn't very long.) continued on liver meds and after 6 weeks he was completely healthy. 5 days ago I noticed the same symptoms of decreased appetite, lethargy and now vomiting up bile so I brought him in. Blood tests show he's in the same place as he was in January, just probably a day or two earlier in progression. He had IV fluids at the vets plus antibiotics and liver meds. I have him home but am giving liver meds plus antibiotics plus insulin plus subQ fluids plus force feeding him (as I had to do in Jan).
I've now been told by the vets that I'll need an ultrasound and liver biopsy to figure out WHY this is happening.
I'm already $3000 into this plus another $1500 + for the diagnostic tests. Money is tight.

I'm worried that a) the treatment, although the same as last time, won't work; that b) the diagnostic tests will be inconclusively OR show something incurable.

So, basically, I'm looking for advice or consolation. I didn't post much on here last time but enough to know how much a kind word can help with the stress and frustration of it all. However, if anyone has any possible knowledge/experience with anything similar I'd love to know. If anyone knows how to raise funds to help me actually afford these tests in Ontario, Canada I would greatly appreciate that.

Thanks in advance,
Red's mom, Heather :)
 
Red'sMomHeather said:
So, basically, I'm looking for advice or consolation. I didn't post much on here last time but enough to know how much a kind word can help with the stress and frustration of it all. However, if anyone has any possible knowledge/experience with anything similar I'd love to know.
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I don't have any advice about this particular problem, but I can tell you that I'm sorry to hear that Red is feeling so poorly. It's always hardest when there is not yet a clear answer as to what is making your kitty not feel well. Even a bad answer can be better than no answer at all, but fishing around for answers, and spending lots of money in the meantime, is no fun at all. I'm hoping that the liver meds, antibiotics, and subq's start making a difference soon (it's always amazing how much difference just the subq can make). Hopefully someone who's better at diagnostics than me will be along soon to give you some suggestions.
 
I'm sorry your baby is sick! I would suggest that for the tests that you call around to ther vets offices, prices can vary quite a bit from vet to vet. The ultrasound will probably be most informative, so maybe ask them to start with just that first. I had an ultrasound done on my dog (90lb flat coated retriever) 3 years ago, the cost at the emergency vet was only $130, so yeah, I'd do some calling.
 
Thanks everyone. I had thought about starting with the ultrasound as that is the less expensive of the two, and then go from there. My vet quoted $400-500 for that alone so I'll definitely have to see if there's a lower-priced (yet still qualified) clinic.
 
Mogmom said:
I'm sorry your baby is sick! I would suggest that for the tests that you call around to ther vets offices, prices can vary quite a bit from vet to vet. The ultrasound will probably be most informative, so maybe ask them to start with just that first. I had an ultrasound done on my dog (90lb flat coated retriever) 3 years ago, the cost at the emergency vet was only $130, so yeah, I'd do some calling.
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If you don't mind my asking, are you in Canada? I know a lot of times similar things are priced higher here than in the U.S.
 
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