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#1
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Cat not good - time for euthanasia?
Our cat, Neil, is now nearly 12 years old and has been not well for
about 6 months. 6 months ago we noticed that his abdomen was beginning to swell up quite a bit so we took him to the vets. Turns out his abdomen was full of fluid and possibly his liver was slightly large. Blood tests were done for liver problems, cancer, thyroid, and all turned up negative. We had x-rays and scans done but nothing could be found (due possibly to the fluid). At the time (and still is), he was very hungry all the time and gulped down his food. Also, he was always wanting more and more food. At the time, we thought he has still pretty much happy though. As the months have gone on the vets have tried him on increasing doses of steroids to try and get rid of his fluid but nothing has worked. If anything hes got even more swollen. Hes now having a little difficulty gettung around and wont fit through the catflap. Also, he seems to be getting more hungry and increasingly anxious about food. Also, he seems to be getting lots and lots of diarhoea now which is happening every day. Also, hes not making it outside and is doing it in the house (whihc is not cool with a young toddler in the house). Generally he seems a bit unhappy. He wont leave his food area and wont go outside. Vet has suggested maybe an exploratory operation but I'm not sure about that idea. He does seem to be getting steadily more unhappy so I'm not sure if its time for him to go quietly rather than put up with more. Anyone got any comments? |
#2
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Cat not good - time for euthanasia?
"paulfoel" wrote in message ups.com... Our cat, Neil, is now nearly 12 years old and has been not well for about 6 months. 6 months ago we noticed that his abdomen was beginning to swell up quite a bit so we took him to the vets. Turns out his abdomen was full of fluid and possibly his liver was slightly large. Blood tests were done for liver problems, cancer, thyroid, and all turned up negative. We had x-rays and scans done but nothing could be found (due possibly to the fluid). At the time (and still is), he was very hungry all the time and gulped down his food. Also, he was always wanting more and more food. At the time, we thought he has still pretty much happy though. As the months have gone on the vets have tried him on increasing doses of steroids to try and get rid of his fluid but nothing has worked. If anything hes got even more swollen. Hes now having a little difficulty gettung around and wont fit through the catflap. Also, he seems to be getting more hungry and increasingly anxious about food. Also, he seems to be getting lots and lots of diarhoea now which is happening every day. Also, hes not making it outside and is doing it in the house (whihc is not cool with a young toddler in the house). Generally he seems a bit unhappy. He wont leave his food area and wont go outside. Vet has suggested maybe an exploratory operation but I'm not sure about that idea. He does seem to be getting steadily more unhappy so I'm not sure if its time for him to go quietly rather than put up with more. Anyone got any comments? If I were in your place I would take him to another vet before I made any decisions. You haven't even gotten a diagnosis from your vet. |
#3
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Cat not good - time for euthanasia?
As the months have gone on the vets
have tried him on increasing doses of steroids to try and get rid of his fluid but nothing has worked. If anything hes got even more swollen. Hes now having a little difficulty gettung around and wont fit through the catflap. Also, he seems to be getting more hungry and increasingly anxious about food. Since steroids cause fluid retention, I don't know why your vet would think this is a good program for eliminating the extra fluid. A medication such as Lasix is an appropriate drug for this use. Steroids also stimluate the appetite, which would explain your cat's anxiousness about food. You need to find another vet ASAP, preferably an internal medicine specialist, and get a diagnosis and proper treatment plan. The vet you are using now is obviously clueless and is doing more harm than good. Megan "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
#4
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Cat not good - time for euthanasia?
I see scans mentioned but not what Did they do an ultra sound since
nothing could be seen because of the fluid or nothing was seen on the x-ray I might be time for another x-ray with a little more slow paced tech getting in all the angles. I won't say anything about money but is there a animal surgical center in your area It might be in the cats' best interest to take him to him there where more than one vet can take a look and they usually have the proper equipment to do a diagnoses I am assuming the cat's stool is ok the abdomen is not sore to the touch or the cat is pain when moving |
#5
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Cat not good - time for euthanasia?
cybercat wrote:
"paulfoel" wrote in message ups.com... Our cat, Neil, is now nearly 12 years old and has been not well for about 6 months. 6 months ago we noticed that his abdomen was beginning to swell up quite a bit so we took him to the vets. Turns out his abdomen was full of fluid and possibly his liver was slightly large. Blood tests were done for liver problems, cancer, thyroid, and all turned up negative. We had x-rays and scans done but nothing could be found (due possibly to the fluid). At the time (and still is), he was very hungry all the time and gulped down his food. Also, he was always wanting more and more food. At the time, we thought he has still pretty much happy though. As the months have gone on the vets have tried him on increasing doses of steroids to try and get rid of his fluid but nothing has worked. If anything hes got even more swollen. Hes now having a little difficulty gettung around and wont fit through the catflap. Also, he seems to be getting more hungry and increasingly anxious about food. Also, he seems to be getting lots and lots of diarhoea now which is happening every day. Also, hes not making it outside and is doing it in the house (whihc is not cool with a young toddler in the house). Generally he seems a bit unhappy. He wont leave his food area and wont go outside. Vet has suggested maybe an exploratory operation but I'm not sure about that idea. He does seem to be getting steadily more unhappy so I'm not sure if its time for him to go quietly rather than put up with more. Anyone got any comments? If I were in your place I would take him to another vet before I made any decisions. You haven't even gotten a diagnosis from your vet. Seek a 2nd opinion from another vet. |
#6
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Cat not good - time for euthanasia?
paulfoel wrote:
Our cat, Neil, is now nearly 12 years old and has been not well for about 6 months. 6 months ago we noticed that his abdomen was beginning to swell up quite a bit so we took him to the vets. Turns out his abdomen was full of fluid and possibly his liver was slightly large. Blood tests were done for liver problems, cancer, thyroid, and all turned up negative. We had x-rays and scans done but nothing could be found (due possibly to the fluid). At the time (and still is), he was very hungry all the time and gulped down his food. Also, he was always wanting more and more food. At the time, we thought he has still pretty much happy though. As the months have gone on the vets have tried him on increasing doses of steroids to try and get rid of his fluid but nothing has worked. If anything hes got even more swollen. Hes now having a little difficulty gettung around and wont fit through the catflap. Also, he seems to be getting more hungry and increasingly anxious about food. Also, he seems to be getting lots and lots of diarhoea now which is happening every day. Also, hes not making it outside and is doing it in the house (whihc is not cool with a young toddler in the house). Generally he seems a bit unhappy. He wont leave his food area and wont go outside. Vet has suggested maybe an exploratory operation but I'm not sure about that idea. He does seem to be getting steadily more unhappy so I'm not sure if its time for him to go quietly rather than put up with more. Anyone got any comments? No way would I let that vet do exploratory surgery. Get a second opinion before making any decisions. |
#7
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Cat not good - time for euthanasia?
"paulfoel" wrote in message ups.com... Our cat, Neil, is now nearly 12 years old and has been not well for about 6 months. 6 months ago we noticed that his abdomen was beginning to swell up quite a bit so we took him to the vets. Turns out his abdomen was full of fluid Did the vet draw a sample of the fluid for analysis? That's the *first* and most important step. There are several types of fluid that are produced by different causes. So, determining the type of fluid might help determine the cause that's producing the fluid or at least narrow down the possibilities. Draining the fluid from his abdomen (abdomenocentesis) will make him feel much better. and possibly his liver was slightly large. Blood tests were done for liver problems, cancer, thyroid, and all turned up negative. Were his serum albumin levels normal? Very important. We had x-rays and scans By "scans", do you mean ultrasounds? If so, was his heart scanned (echocardiogram)? If not I suggest getting an echocardiogram. Heart disease can produce fluid while the bloodwork is normal. done but nothing could be found (due possibly to the fluid). Did the vet tell you that? Fluid hampers x-rays but it *enhances* sonograms by producing an "acoustic window". In fact, the cat's body can be positioned to make the fluid move into different areas to produce better views. At the time (and still is), he was very hungry all the time and gulped down his food. Also, he was always wanting more and more food. At the time, we thought he has still pretty much happy though. As the months have gone on the vets have tried him on increasing doses of steroids to try and get rid of his fluid but nothing has worked. If anything hes got even more swollen. Without having the fluid analyzed, steroids are a *very* bad idea. I strongly suggest you find another vet *as soon possible*. Be sure to get a copy of *all* your cat's medical records. Hes now having a little difficulty gettung around and wont fit through the catflap. Also, he seems to be getting more hungry and increasingly anxious about food. The steroids are probably increasing his appetite- that's one of the side effects that steroids produce in cats. Also, he seems to be getting lots and lots of diarhoea now which is happening every day. Also, hes not making it outside and is doing it in the house (whihc is not cool with a young toddler in the house). Generally he seems a bit unhappy. He wont leave his food area and wont go outside. Vet has suggested maybe an exploratory operation but I'm not sure about that idea. He shouldn't even consider exploratory surgery without having the fluid analyzed! *Please* find another vet *ASAP*. He does seem to be getting steadily more unhappy so I'm not sure if its time for him to go quietly rather than put up with more. Please don't even consider euthanasia until you get a definitive diagnosis. His condition is probably treatable under the care of a competent vet- which your present vet *is not*. Anyone got any comments? I would keep him indoors at all times until his condition resolves. Please find another vet and have the fluid analyzed and order an echocardiogram. While the vet is drawing fluid for analysis, he can remove most of the fluid which will make your cat much more comfortable. If you need help locating a board-certified veterinary internist in your area, please go to: http://www.acvim.org/Kittleson/search.htm and do a search for an internal medicine Diplomate/Specialist in your area. American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Diplomates are about the best there is. If you can't find an ACVIM specialist in your area, my second choice would be an ABVP Diplomate/Feline Specialist (American Board of Veterinary Practitioners). Go to http://www.abvp.com/finddiplomate.aspx Please do not delay in finding another vet. Best of luck, Phil |
#8
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Cat not good - time for euthanasia?
Phil P. wrote:
Please find another vet and have the fluid analyzed and order an echocardiogram. While the vet is drawing fluid for analysis, he can remove most of the fluid which will make your cat much more comfortable. If you need help locating a board-certified veterinary internist in your area, please go to: http://www.acvim.org/Kittleson/search.htm and do a search for an internal medicine Diplomate/Specialist in your area. American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Diplomates are about the best there is. If you can't find an ACVIM specialist in your area, my second choice would be an ABVP Diplomate/Feline Specialist (American Board of Veterinary Practitioners). Go to http://www.abvp.com/finddiplomate.aspx The first URL does not work so went with the second. In my state of Pennsylvania there are only 5 listed for ANY category of animal. And none in the biggest city of Philadelphia which has the Penn Vet School. I'm shocked. http://www.acvim.org/uploadedFiles/p...y/SAIM_Geo.pdf the above lists all the diplomates with ACVIM, small animals, internal medicine. and now here there is a huge amount from Philly. what gives? Is ACVIM more popular and ABVP a rival org? I've noticed for people rival diplomate ratings, the older American College of Physicians verus the whatever. And DOs vs MDs with their board ratings. Bunch of quacks. This is what I did for treating a parrot. Now I found one of two avian specialists in my state at that time, as I recall, who were board certified. One was a teacher of board certified vets. She knew her stuff. But her physical handling was clumsy. So now needed two vets. One who could handle the delicate birds although not board certified and one, board certified, who could relish the difficult questions about treating relatively rare parrots. |
#9
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Cat not good - time for euthanasia?
Did the vet draw a sample of the fluid for analysis? That's the *first* and
most important step. There are several types of fluid that are produced by different causes. So, determining the type of fluid might help determine the cause that's producing the fluid or at least narrow down the possibilities. Yes. Nothing found. Were his serum albumin levels normal? Very important. We had x-rays and scans By "scans", do you mean ultrasounds? If so, was his heart scanned (echocardiogram)? If not I suggest getting an echocardiogram. Heart disease can produce fluid while the bloodwork is normal. Ultrasounds. Did the vet tell you that? Fluid hampers x-rays but it *enhances* sonograms by producing an "acoustic window". In fact, the cat's body can be positioned to make the fluid move into different areas to produce better views. Yes. Vet told us this. He shouldn't even consider exploratory surgery without having the fluid analyzed! *Please* find another vet *ASAP*. Please find another vet and have the fluid analyzed and order an echocardiogram. While the vet is drawing fluid for analysis, he can remove most of the fluid which will make your cat much more comfortable. Vet said he is unable to remove the fluid. If you need help locating a board-certified veterinary internist in your area, please go to: http://www.acvim.org/Kittleson/search.htm and do a search for an internal medicine Diplomate/Specialist in your area. American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Diplomates are about the best there is. I'm in the UK. |
#10
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Cat not good - time for euthanasia?
No More Retail wrote: I see scans mentioned but not what Did they do an ultra sound since nothing could be seen because of the fluid or nothing was seen on the x-ray I might be time for another x-ray with a little more slow paced tech getting in all the angles. I won't say anything about money but is there a animal surgical center in your area It might be in the cats' best interest to take him to him there where more than one vet can take a look and they usually have the proper equipment to do a diagnoses I am assuming the cat's stool is ok the abdomen is not sore to the touch or the cat is pain when moving I'm in the UK so I dont think theres any such thing as animal surgical centres. Basically, its just vets. |
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