Update on Nola’s Surprise Blood Test Results

[Dave B]

Well, we got back from Tuft’s last night and all I can say is, when Nola does it, she does it big. Here’s the list she has a heart mummer, anemia, high blood pressure, failing kidneys and liver and to top it off a small mass on one lung. All this on a cat that's showing no symptoms of being sick!!. They’re re-running the blood chemistries, urinalysis and an aerobic culture. We go back to Tufts Thursday morning for an ultrasound and based on that, they plan to do a biopsy on her lung and her liver. Then, based on the results of the biopsies, we go from there. Now, believe it or not, both the people at Tuft's and our vet, both feel cautiously optimistic about this whole thing because we found it so early. If necessary, they can remove the mass and treat all the other things with medication and diet. So, we're hanging in there and hoping for the best. All poor Nola wants to do is eat. Go figure.

[Traci]

Oh gosh, Dave, I'm really sorry to hear this....on the otherhand, there IS a good chance much of this can be treated since it was caught early. Glad to hear you're rechecking bloodwork, I sure hope those enzymes have showed improvement since last time.....

Give Nola lots of hugs for us, and keep us posted......

[Dave B]

Once in a while we get to win one! The mass on Nola’s lung turns not to be in her lung at all. After doing the ultrasound, the doctors got a much better view and apparently its part of the gall bladder which is poking through a small hole in her diaphragm. They did an aspiration and the lab said it was filled with bile and no other problems. The doctors felt she has probably had this condition most of her life and not to worry. Ok, we can easily stop worrying. Her liver values dropped considerably. The ALT went from 480 to 288 and the AST went from 494 to 131. We have a ways to go but at least they went the right way. One of her kidneys appeared slightly smaller than the other, so they’re doing a culture on her urine. The general feeling is, not only are they showing signs of aging, but there might be a small bacterial infection. So she’s on amoxicillin and we’ll test her again in a week or so. Lastly, she has slightly high blood pressure, I guess from all the worrying , so they started her on Norvasc.

All in all, I can’t believe it turned out this well and we are ever so thankful. Thanks again Traci for all your help.

Dave B

[kkay]

Oh Dave, this is *wonderful* news! Please keep us up on Nola's progress. kk

[Traci]

I can imagine just how relieved you are with this news (I am too!)

Thank YOU Dave, for your diligent testing for her, for going the extra mile for her.

[Dave B]

Hi

I had a couple of questions on Nola's drugs. She's currently taking Amoxicillian (100 mg twice a day) and I was wondering if this would make her seem a little groggy. Also, she just started Amlodipine (1/4 tablet once a day). Is there any accurate way to cut this pill into 1/4's? They're so small to begin with. We bought a pill splitter or should I say disintegrator which works fair, however, we wind up with more powder than pill. Also, is it ok to mix it into her food?. Thanks again and I'm sure you'll be hearing from me again.

Dave B

[Traci]

Dave, it could actually be the Norvasc that is causing the problem....it can actually cause hypotension, depression or weakness, so if you are noting these symptoms, call your vet and talk to him about it. He may decrease the dose or opt for an alternate, it's up to him.

As for the amoxi, this seems a little high of a dose if Nola weighs less than 10 lbs (I am assuming you're giving 100 mg tablets?), although since you mentioned bile from the gall bladder, the amoxi prescribed that high might be appropriate. In any event, it's unlikely that the amoxi is causing her grogginess and unlikely the two meds are interacting, but I would definately give your vet a call and discuss it. You might also try giving the meds seperately, about an hour apart, and make sure she has eaten something prior.

Also ask if the Norvasc can be dissolved in a syringe with water and given via syringe orally rather than having to cut the tablets and risk losing potency and correct dosage. Many meds can be dissolved in water and given via syringe, but I'm not sure on the Norvasc.

[Dave B]

Well, Nola just had another blood test and things are looking better. Her creatinine is down from 3.3 to 2.6, BUN is 42 down from 52 so things seem to be better in the kidney department. However, her ALT is greater than 2500 and her AST is 2139. Our vet feels this is due to the biopsy that was done. I have a call in to Tuft's to confirm this, but I was wondering if that sounds feasable. Her old numbers were ALT 480 and AST 494 from 2 weeks ago. She certainly seems to be perkier, so with guarded optimism we are ecstatic. Thanks again for everything

Dave B

[Auntie Debbie]

I hope the news will be good for you tomorrowI've got my fingers crossed that Nola will be okay!