Feline - possible incorrect liver test?

I'm looking for some thoughts on a situation with my cat...

I have an 11 year old indoor, neutered (overweight, but not obese) male
cat. He went to the vet recently for a yearly check-up. I mentioned that
he's seemed lethargic lately and that it seems like he's drinking/urinating
more than usual, and also that I'd like to get some blood tests done. So,
the vet did some tests (in the clinic) for liver enzymes and blood glucose
and one other I can't remember, related to kidney function I believe. The
results of tests regarding his liver were quite high and the others were
normal. He started on Hill's l/d food then. I was told to return in a
couple months and get him checked again.

Less than a week later, I took him to a different vet for a second opinion.
The second vet noticed redness and swelling in the back of his throat on
both sides and we started him on some antibiotics. The second vet ordered a
full "geriatric blood panel" from a laboratory. The results of which were
well with in the normal range for liver and all the other tests (including
thyroid T4), excepting some high cholesterol and a very slightly elevated
red (yes, red not white) blood cell count. She didn't think it was possible
that his liver repaired itself in a matter of days, but more likely that
the other blood test was incorrect.

The antibiotics seemed to have helped, and he appears to be perking up.
But, I'm still worried something could be wrong with him. He is going back
to the second vet this week (along with my other cat, who appears healthy,
but I want him to have a second check-up with the new vet) and I'm thinking
that I'll ask her to run (at least) the liver tests again just to be sure
his liver is really ok. But, I'm still very concerned and wondering if
there's more I could do to make sure he's alright...? Anything I should be
sure to enquire about when we return to the vet...?

I want to get him losing some weight, but if he has liver problems that
doesn't seem a good idea. I also don't want to cause him undue stress by
having extraneous tests. I'm just terribly worried and slightly confused.

Thanks for any help!
=^.^=

I want to get him losing some weight, but if he has liver problems that
doesn't seem a good idea. I also don't want to cause him undue stress by
having extraneous tests. I'm just terribly worried and slightly confused.

Thanks for any help!
=^.^=

I guess I would want the liver tests rerun, also. I'm sorry someone more
knowledgeable has not answered your question but maybe it's because of the
holiday in the US, everyone going out of town or entertaining or cooking...

Does he get really scared going to the vet? I wouldn't think one more blood
test would upset him all that much. It will make you feel better.

Candace
(take the litter out before replying by e-mail)

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace

"One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an eye other
than human." (Loren Eisely)

On 25 Nov 2004 02:25:49 GMT, MacCandace wrote:

I want to get him losing some weight, but if he has liver problems that
doesn't seem a good idea. I also don't want to cause him undue stress by
having extraneous tests. I'm just terribly worried and slightly confused.

Thanks for any help!
=^.^=

I guess I would want the liver tests rerun, also. I'm sorry someone more
knowledgeable has not answered your question but maybe it's because of the
holiday in the US, everyone going out of town or entertaining or cooking...

Hi, thanks for the reply. That's right about Thanksgiving! I forgot about
that.


Does he get really scared going to the vet? I wouldn't think one more blood
test would upset him all that much. It will make you feel better.

He's not so bad about the vet. He's going at the end of this week; this
will just be the 3rd time in three weeks. I'm planning on having the liver
test run again, just to be sure. And since he's giving a blood sample for
that anyway, I'm just curious to know if there's any other tests it would
be wise to do.

I was reading about the thyroid tests, and he's only been given the T4
test... I asked the vet if we shouldn't run a TRH Stimulation test, but she
didn't think it was warrented since the T4 was normal. His symptoms don't
indicate any *hyper*thyroid condition... perhaps a few *hypo*thyroid
symptoms though. I'm still unclear as to how rare a condition feline
hypothyroidism is. I am tempted to insist on the TRH Stimulation. It's just
a rather involved test which requires him to fast and give multiple blood
samples.

FYI, this is where I ran read about the thyroid tests:
http://www.cslabs.co.uk/feline%20thyroid%20page.htm


Candace
(take the litter out before replying by e-mail)

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace

Very cute! :-)


"One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an eye other
than human." (Loren Eisely)

I'm still unclear as to how rare a condition feline
hypothyroidism is. I am tempted to insist on the TRH Stimulation. It's just
a rather involved test which requires him to fast and give multiple blood
samples.

I don't know, I've not heard of it much in reading this newsgroup regularly for
the past 6 years. I do hope you get some replies from someone more
knowledgeable. You may have to start a different post if this one doesn't get
a response as it is going to get lost in the shuffle of new posts. You might
also post to alt.med.veterinary but they do tend to respond to dog-related
posts more than cat-related posts.

Candace
(take the litter out before replying by e-mail)

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace

"One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an eye other
than human." (Loren Eisely)

"LisaC" wrote in message
...

His symptoms don't
indicate any *hyper*thyroid condition... perhaps a few *hypo*thyroid
symptoms though. I'm still unclear as to how rare a condition feline
hypothyroidism is.

As I understand it, as a primary condition, very rare - if it exists at all?
AFAIK, it's usually found only as a secondary condition.

Cathy