My cat has liver disease

[Purron]

Update - Prayers requested

Since I first posted this I have taken my beloved cat to a couple of specialists. We have tried a number of medications and treatments, but he has continued to decline. His weight is down almost a pound and he has lost his appetite. Monday, he goes in for exploritory surgery. Please keep your fingers and paws crossed for my boy. I love him so much and am beside myself with worry.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

My paws are crossed. Keep us posted.

 

[cantlogin]

I'll cross my paws too. I wish I could make your boy well.

 

[Dawg52]

Yes, let us know how it goes. I have a sick golden retriever. Shes been under the vet's care for a week due to a phenobarbital overdose the darn vet gave her on a refill prescription. Anyway, been on a bland diet and doing ok but she has thrown up the last couple of days and won't eat this morning. Headed to the vet first thing again tomorrow morning.

Didn't mean to get on my doggies problem but I understand how you feel. We hate to see our friends sick. Good luck!

 

[Purron]

Yes, let us know how it goes. I have a sick golden retriever. Shes been under the vet's care for a week due to a phenobarbital overdose the darn vet gave her on a refill prescription. Anyway, been on a bland diet and doing ok but she has thrown up the last couple of days and won't eat this morning. Headed to the vet first thing again tomorrow morning.

Didn't mean to get on my doggies problem but I understand how you feel. We hate to see our friends sick. Good luck!

Dawg52,

Well, both us will be at the vet tomorrow with our companion animals. I hope your golden retriever feels better soon. It's always worrisome when they won't eat. Let us know how she does.

 

[tangomonster]

Thinking good thoughts for both you, Purron, and Dawg, and your beloved feline and canine family members....

 

[Purron]

Update

My kitty came through the surgery fine. They one removed liver lobe and took biopsy samples of the other lobes. I won't find out the results of the biopsies until Friday or possible Monday. Hopefully, this will pinpoint the problem and result in a treatment. Realistically, I know liver problems often have a poor prognosis, but I have hope. The surgeon noted his remaining liver looked fine overall but had a poor color suggesting future problems.

Today's surgery and tests cost $2,500. I consider this one of the reasons I am frugal - so I can spend money on the things I consider really important. He's just a plain black cat from the shelter, but I really do love him. I can't wait to get him home tomorrow.

Dawg52 – please let us know how your dog did today.

 

[W2R]

I am so happy that he came through the surgery all right!! I was a little concerned when you mentioned he was eleven years old and down to just one pound in weight, as I thought he might be too frail to survive it. Good for him!!

 

[Purron]

I am so happy that he came through the surgery all right!! I was a little concerned when you mentioned he was eleven years old and down to just one pound in weight, as I thought he might be too frail to survive it. Good for him!!

Thanks for your good thoughts W2R. Actually, he weighs nine pounds. He was down one pound from his usual weight of 10 pounds. This is a big weight loss percentage wise, but he was healthy enough to withstand the surgery.

 

[Dawg52]

Today's surgery and tests cost $2,500. I consider this one of the reasons I am frugal - so I can spend money on the things I consider really important. He's just a plain black cat from the shelter, but I really do love him. I can't wait to get him home tomorrow.

Dawg52 – please let us know how your dog did today.

Glad your friend came through the operation well. Hope things go well from here. Wow, $2,500. You are a good mommy.

My dog is spending the night at the vet. Doing some more blood work and will get the results tomorrow. Vet said all this could be due to a tick bite or the dog eating something she shouldn't have. They gave her a shot for her upset stomach and she did eat some food today, so they will be watching to see if she keeps it down. We did the same thing a week ago and she did fine for a few days. If all the blood work shows nothing and she continues to throw up, they may have me take her to Mississippi State's Vet school for test they do not do here like a colon scope. Looks like I could be running up a tab as well but I will do what I need to do.

 

[W2R]

Thanks for your good thoughts W2R. Actually, he weighs nine pounds. He was down one pound from his usual weight of 10 pounds. This is a big weight loss percentage wise, but he was healthy enough to withstand the surgery.

OH!!! Thank goodness. I must have read it too fast and misunderstood. I was envisioning this poor, one pound eleven year old cat, which would hardly be consistent with living much longer! Now this is definitely worth cheering about.

 

[Purron]

Update on my cat

Trombone Al reminded me I haven't updated this with his "National update your posts" thread. My cat had surgery on August 11th. They removed a portion of his liver and obtained biopsy samples of the rest. This was major surgery and he had an incision about 5 inches long on his belly. The first night we brought him home he bled profusely and I was scared to death. It turned out OK though and he is now healed up fine.

The results of the tests confirm he has lymphocytic cholangitis. He will be treated with prednisone and denamarin and will require frequent rechecks of his liver levels. He has gained weight and is now up to 9.5 pounds

The outlook for him is cautiously optimistic. Some cats with this condition do worsen and die within a year. Others can go on for years with a good quality of life.

This all has been very expensive. I would do it again since he has improved, we now know exactly what the problem is, he has a decent chance for a good quality of life and, most important, I love him! Here's a picture of my boy taken today:

 

[Sarah in SC]

Awesome update, Purron. Thanks! He's a lovely boy!

 

[simple girl]

Great to hear this update! He sure is a sweet little boy! We had a black kitty that looked much your boy. He looks awful happy!

 

[FIRE'd@51]

Thanks for posting this, Purron. I had been wondering how your kitty was doing. I wish you (and him) the best. He looks good, and the fact that he's gaining weight is a good sign. I know you must feel great to have him back home with you.

 

[Dawg52]

I have to admit, I'm surprised how well your cat has done. Hope he lives to a ripe old age.

 

[kaudrey]

Purron - that is great news! He is such a cutie. I have a black boy too - looks just like him (but bigger, my guy is 15 pounds). Best of luck to you both. I hope he lives a long, purrfectly happy life!

I'm glad, too, that they figured out what the problem is. Looking back at my posts from Christmas-time, you'll see that I lost one of my guys after a short but intense fight with....we don't know what. To this day, I wish we at least could have figured out what was wrong with him.

 

[Purron]

Very bad news today

It's been about a year and a half since my beloved cat was diagnosed with liver disease. He's been through surgery, every imaginable test, 3 specialists, a holistic vet, and about 10 different medications. For awhile, I thought we had this thing licked. He gained weight and was very happy and healthy.

Unfortunately, he has declined again. Today I received the devastating news that he is unlikely to live much longer and it's best not to try any more medical interventions. I'll spare you the depressing details, but suffice it to say this kitty has used up all of his 9 lives.

The only thing to do now is watch him and try to determine when it's time to have him put to sleep. Right now, it's not so bad and he has a decent quality of life. My vet thinks he will decline rather quickly and we may be looking a week or two, but you know how these things are.

Everyone here has been so wonderful during this experience. I know many of you have gone through this with your pets and understand.

Bless you all.

 

[bbbamI]

I'm so sorry Purron... You have done your best.

I went through something similar with my kitty, Ted. He looks just like your cat.

Stay strong....

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Sorry, Purron. Hard to live through this kind of thing.

Lucky cat to have you.

 

[Moemg]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[simple girl]

I'm so so sorry Purron. At least you can be comforted in the fact that you did gain extra time with him, and you did everything you could for him. He sure is loved...and I'm sure he knows that. The next few weeks will be quite difficult - stay strong. You will know when the time is right.

 

[Sue J]

You know that you did your best for him. I hope when the time comes that it is easy for him and peaceful for you.

We've been though this, too. And yet we still start over and adopt again.

 

[CuppaJoe]

One of my cats had liver disease also. I thought the time we had to say goodbye was very precious. Thanks for sharing his story with us, Purron; he is fortunate to live in your house.

 

[Orchidflower]

My cat died of renal failure and went from 14-1/2 lbs. to 8 lbs. of skin and bones, and understand from the cat Vet that this is the normal way kitties pass away. He's been gone for 5 years, and I still miss him. It's hard to go thru this I know...Lord, how I know. Just concentrate on how much fun you had, how much you loved each other and how lucky each of you are to have been in each other's lives is about all you can do for now. You surely did your best for kitty, and now it's time to let his little soul rest. Bless you both.