we are a truly blended household... right down to the cats. when my husband and i got married 8 years ago, i became step-mom to his domestic shorthair, now somewhere in the vicinity of 16 years old. (and he became step-dad to my purebred himalayan, now 14.) both cats are sterilized, indoor cats.
my concern is for screamer, his cat. apparently she's always had digestive problems as well as spraying issues, which no vet we've taken her to has been able to diagnose. so i've learned to accept having to clean up after her frequently. but lately the problems seem to be compounding.
up until about three years ago, screamer weighed a very healthy 11 lbs. and then suddenly within about a year, she dropped a lot of weight. i took her to the vet and had what i thought was a complete (and very expensive) physical workup done on her. by this time she'd dropped about a third of her weight (last vet check she was 7 lbs), and despite having a lot of loose hanging skin under her belly, she's very bony. when all the test results came back, the only health problem she had was slight dehydration. training ourselves to leave the bathtub faucet trickling so she can drink fresh running water corrected that problem.
but she in the last month or so, i've noticed other changes. her gait seems to be a little stiff, probably due to age, but what i am finding to be very unusual and disturbing is that for the first time, her fur is matting and coming out in little clumps! she despises being brushed, although she loves being massaged with those little tripod looking hand held vibrating things that you can pick up at walgreens.
a recent visit to the vet shed a little light on her previous health workup... it wasn't complete. they left out one test, because the cost of that test alone is over $300. the vet informed me that even if the results had been positive, nothing could be done about it anyway. there is no treatment i guess. i was told there is a vaccine to prevent it (also very expensive i think she said), but apparently no cure. it was not recommended that i get her the vaccine without testing her for the condition.
the thing is, i can't for the life of me remember what the disease is called that the test would have checked for! i had never heard of the disease before, nor had i ever been told until now that there was a vaccine for it. i'd always gotten her just the standard set of shots.
if i knew what the disease is called, maybe i could find information on the symptoms and get an idea of what to expect as far as additional symptoms that may yet appear, and as far as life expectancy, and maybe any suggestions on what i can do to make her more comfortable. or maybe i'd find out that her symptoms don't match the disease at all, and she's just getting old.
does anyone have any suggestions?
question about an older cat
Call the vet and ask what was the suspicion and what the test was. That's the answer.
However, this vet too may have been inexperienced, and not knowing exactly WHAT tests were done, ever, it's impossibloe for us here to give a diagnosis.
My advice? See a new, feline-only vet. Your kitty could have one of many numerous disease conditions that need to be detected and diagnosed correctly.
I would advise testing for FELV/FIV, full bloodwork (this means a full geriatric blood profile, including CBC and chemical profile, thyroid function testing, blood and urine glucose testing). These tests are essential for all cats over the age of 7, yearly or twice-yearly.
The weight loss, dehydration and poor coat condition (and potential arthritic condition) are serious matters. Get thee to a new, more competent, feline-only vet NOW.
However, this vet too may have been inexperienced, and not knowing exactly WHAT tests were done, ever, it's impossibloe for us here to give a diagnosis.
My advice? See a new, feline-only vet. Your kitty could have one of many numerous disease conditions that need to be detected and diagnosed correctly.
I would advise testing for FELV/FIV, full bloodwork (this means a full geriatric blood profile, including CBC and chemical profile, thyroid function testing, blood and urine glucose testing). These tests are essential for all cats over the age of 7, yearly or twice-yearly.
The weight loss, dehydration and poor coat condition (and potential arthritic condition) are serious matters. Get thee to a new, more competent, feline-only vet NOW.
..........Traci
Re: question about an older cat
is the FELV/FIV the feline equivalent to aids? i will take your advice and try to find a feline only vet.... i wasn't aware there were vets that only cared for cats. since moving here to vegas we've always used banfield. (there was only a small country vet where we used to live.) i do recognize some of what tests you mentioned as having been done... i'm pretty sure they did the thyroid, they did do the urine and blood glucose tests, and it seems like tested her kidneys because of her spraying. (she confines her spraying to the litter box, but it tends to go right over the side every time!)
the CBC and chemical tests though, i don't even know what those are, so they may not have included those. i'll pay a visit to banfield monday and see if i can't get a duplicate set of results for what all they did. thanks
the CBC and chemical tests though, i don't even know what those are, so they may not have included those. i'll pay a visit to banfield monday and see if i can't get a duplicate set of results for what all they did. thanks
Re: question about an older cat
FIV is the equivalent, but please understand it is NOT the same thing as human AIDS. Most cats who are FIV+ can lead normal healthy lives with appropriate care and treatment.
Without more information from you, please understand it's impossible to advise beyond you seeing a new vet. I want to help, but you need a qualified vet who is comitted to proper tests to rule out various health issues. The main concern is the weight loss, dehydration, poor coat condition, and her gait, any of these symptoms could be nearly anything, it's imperative you get the appropriate testing done to ensure no primary health condition has been undetected. If you have to start over, so be it, geriatric blood profile, CBC, chemical profile, thyroid function test, urine/blood glucose testing. It could be that significant changes have taken effect since she was last seen or since bloodwork was done last time (if appropriate bloodwork/testing was even done). Timing is imperative here, because any symptom left untreated may progress and make it much more difficult to treat.
Please, new feline-only vet ASAP, call one or more local emergency vets for referrals to a feline-only vet.
Without more information from you, please understand it's impossible to advise beyond you seeing a new vet. I want to help, but you need a qualified vet who is comitted to proper tests to rule out various health issues. The main concern is the weight loss, dehydration, poor coat condition, and her gait, any of these symptoms could be nearly anything, it's imperative you get the appropriate testing done to ensure no primary health condition has been undetected. If you have to start over, so be it, geriatric blood profile, CBC, chemical profile, thyroid function test, urine/blood glucose testing. It could be that significant changes have taken effect since she was last seen or since bloodwork was done last time (if appropriate bloodwork/testing was even done). Timing is imperative here, because any symptom left untreated may progress and make it much more difficult to treat.
Please, new feline-only vet ASAP, call one or more local emergency vets for referrals to a feline-only vet.
..........Traci
Re: question about an older cat
just wanted to post an update. i found a cat-only vet. she's wonderful, and far less expensive on her rates than any other local vet i've been to. she truly loves what she does for a living, and does all the dirty work herself rather than leaving most of it up to an assistant. she's also very thorough on teaching patients owners what they need to know to care for their cats.
anyway, for less than what i paid banfield (who never found the problem) this vet ran all the tests needed and has diagnosed screamer with a multitude of problems starting with a UTI and acid reflux, and ending with kidney disease and hyperthyroidism.
i know without a doubt that banfield had indeed tested for kidney disease and for thyroid problems and said she had neither of those. maybe they have developed in the last year or so since going to banfield, but given her sudden weight loss a few years ago it seems more likely that banfield missed it.
it seems that hyperthyroidism and kidney disease are not the best problems to have at the same time, since the medication for the thyroid could shut down her kidneys, but the vet has prescribed medicine to try and manage both diseases as best she can.
so screamer is now on a strict diet of canned K/D (with chicken) mixed with water, and has now recommended i add benefiber to her food until her bowel movements are normal again. she also sent me home with some kitty laxitive to get them moving a little quicker. she is taking four different medications in pill form as well and took plenty of time to help me learn to get them down screamer's throat without losing my fingers or sending the cat into hiding when she sees the pill-pusher in my hand. she's taking antibiotics for the UTI, antacid for the vomiting, thyroid medicine and kidney medicine. i've also bought a kitty fountain so that screamer can drink fresh running bottled water instead of tap water from the bathtub faucet.
after the second visit, the vet says that her hydration is good, the UTI is not quite cleared up (so the rest of that rx is being given in two daily doses instead of one, the dose being only a half tablet at a time) she's still losing a little weight but that she's definitely not ready to die yet. i guess we have a few more years with her, hopefully.
she does seem much more comfortable than she has in a long time, and her coat condition is improving.
i never knew that cat-only vets existed. and once i knew, i never would have imagined just what a difference in care and treatment there is between cat-only specialists and conventional vets. it's a terribly long drive to the other side of the valley, but it's worth the time, the traffic, and the gas.
anyway, for less than what i paid banfield (who never found the problem) this vet ran all the tests needed and has diagnosed screamer with a multitude of problems starting with a UTI and acid reflux, and ending with kidney disease and hyperthyroidism.
i know without a doubt that banfield had indeed tested for kidney disease and for thyroid problems and said she had neither of those. maybe they have developed in the last year or so since going to banfield, but given her sudden weight loss a few years ago it seems more likely that banfield missed it.
it seems that hyperthyroidism and kidney disease are not the best problems to have at the same time, since the medication for the thyroid could shut down her kidneys, but the vet has prescribed medicine to try and manage both diseases as best she can.
so screamer is now on a strict diet of canned K/D (with chicken) mixed with water, and has now recommended i add benefiber to her food until her bowel movements are normal again. she also sent me home with some kitty laxitive to get them moving a little quicker. she is taking four different medications in pill form as well and took plenty of time to help me learn to get them down screamer's throat without losing my fingers or sending the cat into hiding when she sees the pill-pusher in my hand. she's taking antibiotics for the UTI, antacid for the vomiting, thyroid medicine and kidney medicine. i've also bought a kitty fountain so that screamer can drink fresh running bottled water instead of tap water from the bathtub faucet.
after the second visit, the vet says that her hydration is good, the UTI is not quite cleared up (so the rest of that rx is being given in two daily doses instead of one, the dose being only a half tablet at a time) she's still losing a little weight but that she's definitely not ready to die yet. i guess we have a few more years with her, hopefully.
she does seem much more comfortable than she has in a long time, and her coat condition is improving.
i never knew that cat-only vets existed. and once i knew, i never would have imagined just what a difference in care and treatment there is between cat-only specialists and conventional vets. it's a terribly long drive to the other side of the valley, but it's worth the time, the traffic, and the gas.
Re: question about an older cat
I suspected there was a thyroid condition. Unfortunately, the Banfield vet probably didn't test thoroughly, or utilize the appropriate tests. The weight loss and poor coat condition should have prompted him to test appropriately in the beginning.
If the UTI doesn't clear up within a reasonable amount of time, ask your new vet to do a urine culture, it could be a bacteria that is resistant to the current antibiotics.
Vomiting can usually be controlled with proper hydration support, did your vet recommend to you to consider sub-q fluid therapy at home? If not, talk to her in greater detail about this, it is relatively easy to do, is imperative for renal-impaired cats.
If the UTI doesn't clear up within a reasonable amount of time, ask your new vet to do a urine culture, it could be a bacteria that is resistant to the current antibiotics.
Vomiting can usually be controlled with proper hydration support, did your vet recommend to you to consider sub-q fluid therapy at home? If not, talk to her in greater detail about this, it is relatively easy to do, is imperative for renal-impaired cats.
..........Traci
Re: question about an older cat
i had asked about sub-q hydration the first time i took her in, although i wasn't aware it could be done at home. i had asked the receptionist about it though, and forgot to ask the vet herself. it was not administered at that time, but yesterday when i told her i hadn't seen screamer actually drink from the new fountain and wasn't sure she was using it, the vet said that she was getting plenty of fluids because her hydration is fine now.
since screamer has had vomiting problems all her life, she's giving the antacid to see if that will eliminate it. it's helped, but she still vomits about once a week. dr. steelman said to call in two weeks with a progress report, and that if she hasn't ceased vomiting by then, we'll try alternative treatment.
since screamer has had vomiting problems all her life, she's giving the antacid to see if that will eliminate it. it's helped, but she still vomits about once a week. dr. steelman said to call in two weeks with a progress report, and that if she hasn't ceased vomiting by then, we'll try alternative treatment.
Re: question about an older cat
oh yeah, and the follow-up visit yesterday was midway through the UTI treatment, and so i'm fairly confident it will be cleared up by the end of the rx. she checked her urine yesterday and said there was less blood and bacterial activity in it.
Re: question about an older cat
Hyperthyroidism and renal impairment oftentimes go hand in hand....both conditions often produce symptoms of vomiting and dehydration. Depending on the degree of renal impairment and natural water intake by drinking, will depend on her hydration status. If the renal impairment is moderate to severe, then sub-q fluid therapy at home would be a wise choice. Sometimes this only needs to be given once or twice a week, sometimes more often depending on the severity and degree of dehydration. Keep in mind also, that some medications can interfere with proper hydration, anorexia and decreased water intake, so talk to your vet about that as well.
..........Traci
Re: question about an older cat
i will, thanks.