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#1
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hepatic lipidosis
Our cat Katie is a very sick kitty. She was grinding her teeth after
eating for a while, and then quit eating and lost quite a bit of weight. When we got her in to see the vet, they tested quite a bit of things and concluded she did have a bit of liver disease, but agreed it was probably a dental issue. So they cleaned her teeth and removed a really bad tooth. Afterwards she still didn't eat, and she favors her mouth in much of the same way she did before that surgery on the tooth. They ended up putting an esophigal tube in so we could force feed her in case it was hepatic lipidosis. The first two weeks of that tube being in were touch and go because her tummy just wouldn't hold down much food. By the time they had us bring her back in, her ears were starting to turn yellow, and her liver blood work showed worse numbers. We ended up having a needle biopsy and an ultrasound done to rule out cancer or blockages. Those tests concluded it was indeed hepatic lipidosis. They ended up pulling her tube back out by an inch to see if that would make her more comfortable, and it did. While she still had some acid reflux swallowing, she was taking almost 3/4 of her daily food goal. After four days she had even gained an ounce. We were feeling really encouraged. I changed the bandage and there was some red at the insertion point of the tube, so we took Katie back in to find out she has a mild infection. We started antibiotics, and I was still feeling rather encouraged. Then the stitch holding her tube in place came out, and the whole tube fell out yesterday. I am so upset because she was starting to turn around. (Three weeks of fighting the hepatic lipidosis, but technically only 4 days of positive effort because the vomitting was over) The vet gave us 24 hours to get her to eat. They even gave Katie a shot to encourage that hunger reaction. She was so beside herself with wanting to eat while the shot was in full force, but her mouth stayed clamped shut. I'm not sure her vet has really dealt with this condition before. She chose the feeding tube she did, because she personally has not done a stomach tube before. She also was surprised that Katie didn't lick at the food. The vet is suggesting that we may want to get xrays while she is under sedation of her jaw to make sure there are no abnormalities. I suppose what I want to ask is, if we were only a week into positively fighting the hepatic lipidosis, would Katie not opening up for food be that odd of a reaction? I thought everything I read through google (I haven't searched the usenet archives yet) said that the desire for oral food comes back after 6-8 weeks of forced feedings. Suggestions or thoughts? Laurel |
#2
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hepatic lipidosis
"SuperEeyore" wrote in message ... Our cat Katie is a very sick kitty. She was grinding her teeth after eating for a while, and then quit eating and lost quite a bit of weight. When we got her in to see the vet, they tested quite a bit of things and concluded she did have a bit of liver disease, but agreed it was probably a dental issue. So they cleaned her teeth and removed a really bad tooth. Afterwards she still didn't eat, and she favors her mouth in much of the same way she did before that surgery on the tooth. They ended up putting an esophigal tube in so we could force feed her in case it was hepatic lipidosis. The first two weeks of that tube being in were touch and go because her tummy just wouldn't hold down much food. By the time they had us bring her back in, her ears were starting to turn yellow, and her liver blood work showed worse numbers. We ended up having a needle biopsy and an ultrasound done to rule out cancer or blockages. Those tests concluded it was indeed hepatic lipidosis. They ended up pulling her tube back out by an inch to see if that would make her more comfortable, and it did. While she still had some acid reflux swallowing, she was taking almost 3/4 of her daily food goal. After four days she had even gained an ounce. We were feeling really encouraged. I changed the bandage and there was some red at the insertion point of the tube, so we took Katie back in to find out she has a mild infection. We started antibiotics, and I was still feeling rather encouraged. Then the stitch holding her tube in place came out, and the whole tube fell out yesterday. I am so upset because she was starting to turn around. (Three weeks of fighting the hepatic lipidosis, but technically only 4 days of positive effort because the vomitting was over) The vet gave us 24 hours to get her to eat. They even gave Katie a shot to encourage that hunger reaction. She was so beside herself with wanting to eat while the shot was in full force, but her mouth stayed clamped shut. I'm not sure her vet has really dealt with this condition before. She chose the feeding tube she did, because she personally has not done a stomach tube before. She also was surprised that Katie didn't lick at the food. The vet is suggesting that we may want to get xrays while she is under sedation of her jaw to make sure there are no abnormalities. I suppose what I want to ask is, if we were only a week into positively fighting the hepatic lipidosis, would Katie not opening up for food be that odd of a reaction? I thought everything I read through google (I haven't searched the usenet archives yet) said that the desire for oral food comes back after 6-8 weeks of forced feedings. Suggestions or thoughts? Laurel My best advice would be to find a vet whose experienced in treating hepatic lipidosis ASAP. This is not a disease that you want a vet to learn how to treat on your cat. First of all, very few vets use esophagostomy tubes in cats with HL because the tube and associated neck wrap are very uncomfortable and stressful for cats- and avoidance of stress is one of major concerns in cats with HL. Most vets use a PEG tube (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy). PEG tubes are considered the treatment of choice for cats with HL by the vast majority of vets because its relatively safe, simple, cost-effective and most importantly, because cats adapt to PEG tubes so well that you have to withhold tube feeding periodically to see if the cat will eat voluntarily. Force-feeding also is usually not a good idea for cats with established HL because many cats develop an aversion to food because of the association between food and the stress and unpleasant experience of being force fed- even if they like the food. Its also very difficult to get the cat to eat enough food to reverse the disease. I've treated several cats with HL- so I can say with absolute certainty, in the clinical phase of the disease the *only* reliable and effective treatment option is PEG tube feeding. Its impossible to tell how long it will take to reverse the disease. It could take a few weeks or it could take a few months. It depends on the treatment and seriousness of the disease. The important thing is HL can be reversed in about 80% of the cases- at least that's about what our success rate has been. For more information on HL and PEG tubes, please visit my site: http://www.maxshouse.com/Feline_Hepatic_Lipidosis.htm http://www.maxshouse.com/managing_pe..._feeding_t.htm Best of luck, Phil |
#3
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hepatic lipidosis
Phil, I disagree with regards to recommending use of a PEG vice an E-tube.
Inserting a PEG is major surgery compared to an E-tube. My Mario had an E-tube and did fine. I am also a member of Yahoo's Feline Assisted Feeding group and most go for the E-tube for relatively short term use such as for HL. -- Larry - Owned by ten cats "Phil P." wrote in message nk.net... My best advice would be to find a vet whose experienced in treating hepatic lipidosis ASAP. This is not a disease that you want a vet to learn how to treat on your cat. First of all, very few vets use esophagostomy tubes in cats with HL because the tube and associated neck wrap are very uncomfortable and stressful for cats- and avoidance of stress is one of major concerns in cats with HL. Most vets use a PEG tube (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy). PEG tubes are considered the treatment of choice for cats with HL by the vast majority of vets because its relatively safe, simple, cost-effective and most importantly, because cats adapt to PEG tubes so well that you have to withhold tube feeding periodically to see if the cat will eat voluntarily. Force-feeding also is usually not a good idea for cats with established HL because many cats develop an aversion to food because of the association between food and the stress and unpleasant experience of being force fed- even if they like the food. Its also very difficult to get the cat to eat enough food to reverse the disease. I've treated several cats with HL- so I can say with absolute certainty, in the clinical phase of the disease the *only* reliable and effective treatment option is PEG tube feeding. Its impossible to tell how long it will take to reverse the disease. It could take a few weeks or it could take a few months. It depends on the treatment and seriousness of the disease. The important thing is HL can be reversed in about 80% of the cases- at least that's about what our success rate has been. For more information on HL and PEG tubes, please visit my site: http://www.maxshouse.com/Feline_Hepatic_Lipidosis.htm http://www.maxshouse.com/managing_pe..._feeding_t.htm Best of luck, Phil |
#4
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hepatic lipidosis
"Larry" wrote in message ... Phil, I disagree with regards to recommending use of a PEG vice an E-tube. Inserting a PEG is major surgery compared to an E-tube. I think you've been misinformed. Done properly, PEG tube placement takes less than 10 minutes and allows the use of an ultra short-acting anesthetic agent. A PEG tube is placed by using an endoscope and the tube can be removed without surgery or anesthesia. E-tube placement with the new ELD shoehorn applicator has supposedly improved E-tube placement- but the problem is with the E-tube itself in cats- not just the placement. My Mario had an E-tube and did fine. I am also a member of Yahoo's Feline Assisted Feeding group and most go for the E-tube for relatively short term use such as for HL. Again, I think you've been misinformed. HL can take several weeks to a few months or longer to reverse. Cats generally do not tolerate an E-tube and the neck wrap- especially for that length of time. Cats adapt to PEG tubes-especially low-profile tubes- much better than to E-tubes. Since its almost impossible to accurately estimate how long tube feeding will be necessary, a PEG tube is the method of choice. Many vets oppose PEG tubes simply because they don't own an endoscope or they're unfamiliar and/or inexperienced in PEG tube placement. An experienced vet can place a PEG tube easily and quickly (10 minutes). Sometimes short-term (5-7 days) tube feeding is all that's necessary to jump-start a cat's appetite or stabilize the cat for PEG tube placement. In these short-term cases, a nasoesophageal tube is the best choice. I'm very glad an E-tube worked well for cat. Phil -- Larry - Owned by ten cats "Phil P." wrote in message nk.net... My best advice would be to find a vet whose experienced in treating hepatic lipidosis ASAP. This is not a disease that you want a vet to learn how to treat on your cat. First of all, very few vets use esophagostomy tubes in cats with HL because the tube and associated neck wrap are very uncomfortable and stressful for cats- and avoidance of stress is one of major concerns in cats with HL. Most vets use a PEG tube (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy). PEG tubes are considered the treatment of choice for cats with HL by the vast majority of vets because its relatively safe, simple, cost-effective and most importantly, because cats adapt to PEG tubes so well that you have to withhold tube feeding periodically to see if the cat will eat voluntarily. Force-feeding also is usually not a good idea for cats with established HL because many cats develop an aversion to food because of the association between food and the stress and unpleasant experience of being force fed- even if they like the food. Its also very difficult to get the cat to eat enough food to reverse the disease. I've treated several cats with HL- so I can say with absolute certainty, in the clinical phase of the disease the *only* reliable and effective treatment option is PEG tube feeding. Its impossible to tell how long it will take to reverse the disease. It could take a few weeks or it could take a few months. It depends on the treatment and seriousness of the disease. The important thing is HL can be reversed in about 80% of the cases- at least that's about what our success rate has been. For more information on HL and PEG tubes, please visit my site: http://www.maxshouse.com/Feline_Hepatic_Lipidosis.htm http://www.maxshouse.com/managing_pe..._feeding_t.htm Best of luck, Phil |
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