Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Hippykitty on October 23, 2008, 00:10:55 AM
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Recently Samantha's been drinking masses of water and has had a few bouts of cystitis. When she had her last bout, the vet mentioned running blood tests for kidney function if the antibiotics didn't help. She seemed to recover.
However, she's slowly losing weight and seems grumpy. She's just peed on the bed, which she never does, except when she has cystitis (she's had this now and then all her life).
I know I should make an appointment with the vet, but I'm scared. I fear the end may be drawing close for her. Losing a cat really hits me hard; I spend a lot of time with them, they're like children who don't grow up. A friend of mine recently lost an old dog she loved very much, but coped admirably. I'll be in pieces. I know the vet will do tests, and I know the results will be bad.
She's an old cat and I think I've started to believe that Polly and Samantha are immortal. None of my previous cats have lived so long.
I know that peeps on here will understand, friends either think I'm barmy, or are too close to the subject (ie the woman whose dog has died) to talk to.
Sorry to post yet again.
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Fortekor is a wonderful drug and stabilises most cats. Clapton although not old (9) has been on it for 2 years and doing really well. I think it is too early to tart thinking the worst :hug:
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Yes, go to the vet and if its kidney problems it can be sorted with fortekor - My Smartie is on this for his heart and has been for over 6 months now , so hopefully he won't have any kidney issues either.
I know what you mean and so do most on here - i live on my own and my cats are my life - last time i lost one 10 years ago - i swore i would never have another one, i was so devastated - here i am now with 5 again !! Sophie nearly 15 and fairly fit, Smartie 11 , Winston 10, FiFi and Bungly both 8 .
Best to go to the vet and get it sorted .
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did you get Samantha's bloods done ??
that will definately let you know if there's something wrong :hug:
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Hope the vet can sort samantha out :hug:
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same here, our Schui was recently diagnosed with renal failure and he was really poorly, 2mths on and he's really picked up it's hard to believe so try not to worry and do get Samantha sorted xx
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You need to get bloods done, it doesn't mean it is the end, and cats can live quite a while with CRF, but it is upsetting when something like this happens and you realise they are not as immortal as we think - when Molly had a bad do with arthritis last month it hit me that she is nearly 16 and not quite as fit as I thought.
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I know it is scarey for you :hug: but you owe it to your cat to get her looked at. Is there someone who can go with you for moral support?
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Sadly, the test does need to be done.
I know what you mean about your cats being immortal; when I first met my partner I would regularly tell him they weren't going anywhere ever because they'd live forever. He slowly but surely got me to accept the truth - that I'm lucky that they are in my life for however long they are.
To share your life, your home with such wonderful animals is a joy. To make the decisions that noone wants to make to know they aren't suffering; that's the hardest part of loving them.
I hope you're wrong and Samantha would respond to treatment. Sending you a huge hug. :hug: :hug:
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I know I should make an appointment with the vet, but I'm scared. I fear the end may be drawing close for her.
Don't be scared, you know deep down that taking the little one to the vets as soon as possible will give the little one the best possible chance of a quality life. Delay could decrease that chance dramatically and cause the little one to suffer.
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It's fear that is stopping you, fear of bad news. Well you know what? The news may not be anywhere near as bad as you think. I have anxiety attacks everytime I have to take Charlie from the vet and I know this stems from my previous cat Dragan's (RIP) health problems. But you would never forgive yourself if it was something that could have been treated. So take your courage in both hands, get someone you trust to go with you and hopefully things can be treated. Best of luck but you do need to take her.
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I know it can be scary hun, honestly I do, I'm going through the same thing with my boy Max this year :hug:
I noticed him drinking more in January, and with his FIV I don't take any chances with his health, so I did a full bloodworks on him.
Its transpired that his kidney levels were showing early signs of CRF and thyroid issues (can go hand in hand). I felt so scared at first, and it was all these lovely peeps on Purrs who managed to calm me down again and tackle all these issues head on :Luv:
10 months on we're still doing regular blood tests (see my thread 'just taken Max for his annual MOT', and have just started thyroid mediciation which has pushed the kidney levels up a bit, so its all about finding a balance with his meds at the moment.
Seriously though, do get the bloods done, knowledge is power as they say, and you can do all you can to manage any condition which arises :hug: xxx
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Fortekor is a wonderful drug and stabilises most cats. Clapton although not old (9) has been on it for 2 years and doing really well. I think it is too early to tart thinking the worst :hug:
Totally agree with Mark
I know i have said this before but my friends cat was on deaths door.....3yrs later she is still here !!
She had to have a few doses of fluids in the early days (she was very bad) but with the Fortekor she is doing well.
I know you are frughtened but you cant leave it....especially as she could be helped with something as simple as a tablet :hug:
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Agree with others, get the kidney functiont test done then you know where you're at and how to go on from there. If it is crf it doesnt mean the end straight away, there are treatments that will stabilise (not cure unfortunately) and give quality of life for longer.
I had my Suzie for another year after diagnosis and she did well really right up to her last 2 weeks on subq fluids (fotekor didnt work for her as she had crf due to polycystic kidney disease). I currently have both Jasper and Sam with crf (Sam is also in heart failure) - Jasper was diagnosed a year ago and also can't have fortekor as his crf is due to pkd, but he's fairly stable, Sam has been diagnosed for a couple of months and is on fortekor for both his heart and kidneys and is doing really well at the moment. Both eat well and as far as I can see, have quality of life.
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The drinking might not be too sinister could be diabetes - thats how our clan leader Tiger was diagnosed, lost 2kgs and drank a lot - now one year on back to full fighting weight nearly 8kgs and gets his injectionjs twice daily and is a happy soul
Do the blood test - could also be thyroid so the sooner you know the sooner you can lavish more attention and treats
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i agree with the everyone else..get the tests then it can be sorted asap..
I know that peeps on here will understand, friends either think I'm barmy, or are too close to the subject (ie the woman whose dog has died) to talk to.
Sorry to post yet again.
Dont be sorry..we're here for a shoulder..i'm always asking for advice..my friends think i'm barmy over my cat too..so i understand
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My 10 yo Lily was also drinking gallons before we diagnosed hyperthyroid. She's on meds now, which are really easy to administer (tiny pill hidden in squishy treats once a day) and doing really well. The excessive drinking has stopped and she's a happy healthy little cat again. HyperT is common in older cats, so do look into this as well. Your vet should include it in the range of blood tests. Don't give up yet.
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She seemed a little better yesterday. The friend I wanted to go with is very busy with the half term hols coming up (she teaches) but has offered to go to the vet with me tomorrow morning. After writing this, I'll try to get an appointment for as soon as possible.
Another odd symptom is that she's sneezing lots. She's always been prone to allergies (flea, pollen etc) but it's strange at this time of year. Will see what the vet says.
Thanks for all the support.
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Best of luck and well done to you for plucking up the courage. Looking forward to your updates tomorrow
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Just rang vets. The earliest appointment I can get with the really good diagnostician is monday morning, so I'm taking her then. He's a very good vet, whereas the one on tomorrow morning is unknown to me. Mr Bate was able to distinguish that Polly had vestibular disease, not a stroke (which the emergency vet said she'd had and wanted to pts!).
Unfortunately, I'll have to take her alone. Rebekah, my animal loving friend, has to take her ex husband to the hospital that day, and another close friend also has a hospital appointment (gets his warfarin levels checked, he has heart problems). Everyone else is working. Samantha will probably just have blood taken; no diagnosis. I'll probably be given the results over the phone or go for them when someone can be with me.
Having my hair done on tuesday at my super hairdressers, this should cheer me up a bit.
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all the best of luck for monday with the vet - at least you know he is very good. I know alone can be tough when you are so stressed but you will do just fine I'm sure. :hug:
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Where are you> Maybe someone from here could go with you?
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Best of luck with your cat, I'm sure you'll be fine xx
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Hope everything goes well :hug:
I understand cos Franta needs to have some tests and work done in his mouth and am very worried about him
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Had a call from Rebekah, my animal-loving friend. She's offered to go with me on monday morning, apparently her ex's hospital appointment isn't till the afternoon. I'm so glad she'll be there. She had an old dog which died recently so understands.
I'll keep you posted about how things go.
I hope Franta is okay. :hug:
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Best of luck and try not to worry too much
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Had a call from Rebekah, my animal-loving friend. She's offered to go with me on monday morning, apparently her ex's hospital appointment isn't till the afternoon. I'm so glad she'll be there. She had an old dog which died recently so understands.
that's good news :)
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:thanks: and pleased your friend can go with you. ;D
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Good luck..hope all goes well & keep us posted :hug: :hug:
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Hope all goes well on Monday. All I can do is echo other comments on here, and say (and hope) it might not be as bad as you think.
That said, when Dinah has her regular blood tests for CRF I always worry myself sick until the moment the vet rings me back with the results :hug:
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Fingers crossed for Mon
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best of luck and hope all goes well :hug:
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Good luck tomorrow, hope everything is ok :hug:
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Fingers crossed for tomorrow. Let us know how it goes.
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hope all is good tomorrow, keeping fingers crossed :hug: :hug: :hug:
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How did things go for Samantha? We're hoping for positive news...
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When we took her on mon, the vet wanted us to leave her and collect her later so that she could have blood taken. However, Rebekah, the friend who went with me, had committments for the rest of the day, so we took her in on tues and picked her up after I'd had hair done and we'd been "women what lunch".
The vet asked me to ring thursday lunchtime for the results. He ran a battery of blood tests: renal, liver, blood count, sugar, etc rather than having to do more later. He said that we may as well eliminate all possibilities in one go.
She hasn't got diabetes. Her urine was okay, and her blood sugar was okay. I'm dreading ringing for the rest of the results tomorrow, although she seems better, though still has third eyelid across a little.
She didn't have to be sedated for the tests. I wouldn't have expected her to, she's very used to being handled.
Thanks for all your good wishes.
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Looking good so far, fingers crossed
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All that sounds positive HK. Hoping it continues for you and Samantha. :hug:
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Got everything crossed for you :hug:
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Fingers crossed for the rest of the test results :hug:
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So far so good and hope the rest of the results are as good :hug:
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Sorry I'm late with the results. Overall, the vet said she's in very good condition for her age, and most of the results were fine. He had a few concerns about some results which were a bit on the high side.
Her blood urea count is 11.3 which he said is just above normal.
Her thyroid is 44 which he said is nudging towards the higher end of normal.
She has raise neutrophils, which could be related to all the sneezing - he thinks she has an upper respiratory tract infection. She's already taking antibiotics for this.
One of her liver results was a little high. He didn't specify which, but said it's one which varies lots anyway.
He did mention that two of the tests - the thyroid and one of the others - may indicate very early stages of hyperthyroidism, but that this wasn't indicated by her symptoms.
He wants to see her again in 2wks and maybe repeat some of the tests in a month to check whether there's a continued rise in the T4 and urea levels.
He seemed surprised that I wasn't more pleased by the results. I think this maybe because he added so many 'buts' to what he said that I'm not sure how to react. He's a good vet and was pleased by the results in a cat of her age (she's about 17 or so, hard to be specific as she was taken in at WellCat as a stray). I feel a bit numb.
Maybe it'll hit me at the hallowe'en/samhain party I'm going to. It's at the house of a fellow pagan and fancy dress this year. I'm going as a black and white cat. :clap:
Thanks again for all the support.
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glad the results are good :)
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It's a lot to take in when the vet tells you all these things. However he thought you should be pleased so the news can't be that bad. Hope things go well
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glad to hear it, and the liver value that was raised was probably connected to the raised thyroid, according to my vet one of the liver values does get higher if they have hyper-t.
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glad to hear it, and the liver value that was raised was probably connected to the raised thyroid, according to my vet one of the liver values does get higher if they have hyper-t.
Thats what mine says too.
Sounds like shes doing well for an old girl HK :hug: