High CPK enzyme, vomit, no appetite

My 13 yo cat Ginger has been vomiting and showing a lack of appetite
for 2 -3 days. The vet checked her and ran a blood panel. All chem
was normal except for an elevated (very) CPK enzyme. She has no other
symptoms, is being social and even playing. The vet suspects
toxoplasmosis. He is reluctant to run a titer for it because it is
pricey, but suggested we start her on antibiotics. If she improves, he
will assume that is was toxo.

I am just starting her on it today.

I am still wondering if all she may have is a stubborn hairball. She
has a history of them, although we never did blood work before. I am
reluctant to give laxatone, since she threw that up a few days back.
I'm not even sure if she will hold down the antibiotic pill.

Any info on toxo or CPK enzyme would be appreciated.

Thanks
Beth

On 10 Mar 2006 14:24:49 -0800, "
wrote:

My 13 yo cat Ginger has been vomiting and showing a lack of appetite
for 2 -3 days. The vet checked her and ran a blood panel. All chem
was normal except for an elevated (very) CPK enzyme. She has no other
symptoms, is being social and even playing. The vet suspects
toxoplasmosis. He is reluctant to run a titer for it because it is
pricey, but suggested we start her on antibiotics. If she improves, he
will assume that is was toxo.

I am just starting her on it today.

I am still wondering if all she may have is a stubborn hairball. She
has a history of them, although we never did blood work before. I am
reluctant to give laxatone, since she threw that up a few days back.
I'm not even sure if she will hold down the antibiotic pill.

Any info on toxo or CPK enzyme would be appreciated.

Sorry to hear that your cat is not feeling well.

Clinical toxoplasmosis in cats is pretty uncommon and even rarer in
cats older than two years of age. If your cat had clinical toxo she
likely would be very lethargic so the fact that she is playing
suggests that this is not the problem. I think it very quick given
your cat has only been symptomatic for a couple days to jump to this
provisional diagnosis. I agree with you that it could just be a
stubborn hairball since that would cause the same symptoms.

If she gets better on the antibiotics this does not mean it was toxo.
She could have gotten better over time without the antibiotics.
Remember that correlation does not imply causation.

CPK is an enzyme present in heart and skeletal muscle. Elevation of
CPK is pretty nonspecific unless it is coming from the heart where it
means heart damage. It is most likely coming from muscle. Any kind of
muscle trauma can cause elevation of CPK.



Good luck.

Rich

Thanks
Beth

Thanks. Actually, she cant even hold down the antibiotic. I just
doesed her and she immediately threw up. I think she must be drinking
water because there was a lot of liquid (bile-yellow) followed by a
thick mucousy vomit. My money is on the hairball.

I would definitely treat her for hair balls and treat is the key word
here. I had a cat that they had me take to a specialist when he was 5
years old and they diagnosed with some rare disease - after he got rid
of 13 hairballs in 13 days - he was fine. There are some great
hairball "treats" in foil bags at pet shops that you can purchase that
work rather fast - i would suggest using this for the next week or
ten days to clean out the kitty. Please do this before the kitty loses
more weight by not eating.

On 10 Mar 2006 16:56:59 -0800, "
wrote:

Thanks. Actually, she cant even hold down the antibiotic. I just
doesed her and she immediately threw up. I think she must be drinking
water because there was a lot of liquid (bile-yellow) followed by a
thick mucousy vomit. My money is on the hairball.

My money is on you. Get a new vet.Hope your cat gets better real soon.

Rich

wrote in message
ups.com...
My 13 yo cat Ginger has been vomiting and showing a lack of appetite
for 2 -3 days. The vet checked her and ran a blood panel. All chem
was normal except for an elevated (very) CPK enzyme. She has no other
symptoms, is being social and even playing. The vet suspects
toxoplasmosis. He is reluctant to run a titer for it because it is
pricey, but suggested we start her on antibiotics.


I think you should get a second opinion. Seems like your vet doesn't have a
clue. I don't see how he can make a presumptive diagnosis of Toxo based on
inappetence alone.


If she improves, he
will assume that is was toxo.


I don't think that's a good assumption.



I am just starting her on it today.

I am still wondering if all she may have is a stubborn hairball. She
has a history of them, although we never did blood work before. I am
reluctant to give laxatone, since she threw that up a few days back.
I'm not even sure if she will hold down the antibiotic pill.

Any info on toxo or CPK enzyme would be appreciated.


Elevated CPK is often caused by just drawing the blood- especially if your
cat was struggling or if the vet hit a muscle. Hemolysis of the blood sample
will also increase CPK.

Good luck,

Phil