Hello,
Maybe some of you remember me from Noodles so long ago. I now have his sister, Shannon. She's fourteen and having some serious health problems. Since Noodles died of Lymphosarcoma and Shannon is experiencing the same symptoms, I am, of course, heartbroken. Please pray for Shannon. I know you all understand how hard this time is. Thank you so much. God bless...
Peg
Shannon
Re: Shannon
prayers for Shannon...
what did the vet say?
what did the vet say?
Re: Shannon
The vet said to watch her closely for two weeks and see if her behavior changes. She is playful and loveable and he thought this was normal behavior. He said the blood in the feces was at the end of it and that meant lower GI and could be IBD but given her age, it could be the start of something. She had a lump which he said was a cyst and nothing to be concerned about. The concern was when she had her shots in September, she was 10 lbs. Now she is 8 lbs. He gave her medication to help with the bowel situation and said if it did not improve to have a full blood workup and x-rays done.
Shannon is on CD for UTI. Would it hurt if I mixed a little regular cat food in or should i leave well enough alone. She won't take the meds with the CD. Took one bite and walked away. The vet said to get some acidophilis or yogurt to help her digest food. Can I put the crushed pill in that?
Shannon is on CD for UTI. Would it hurt if I mixed a little regular cat food in or should i leave well enough alone. She won't take the meds with the CD. Took one bite and walked away. The vet said to get some acidophilis or yogurt to help her digest food. Can I put the crushed pill in that?
Re: Shannon
Prayers being sent that it's not what you are thinking.
Re: Shannon
Peg, I remember Noodles and Shannon.
I'm confused, when exactly was Shannon tested with bloodwork, or x-rays etc, and what was your vet's exact diagnosis, or was he unable to diagnose her accurately? If so, please, seek a new vet right away for a second opinion! I'm confused as to what your vet thinks he's "treating", based on what evidence. If he is uncertain, or you do not have much confidence in him, don't delay in getting that second opinion ASAP.
Don't change her diet, if she's on a specific diet for a history of UTI's or FLUTD, you can't risk a reocurrance if you switch her diet. What medication has he prescribed, for what purpose, and can you ask for oral suspension, it is much easier to administer to cats.
I'm confused, when exactly was Shannon tested with bloodwork, or x-rays etc, and what was your vet's exact diagnosis, or was he unable to diagnose her accurately? If so, please, seek a new vet right away for a second opinion! I'm confused as to what your vet thinks he's "treating", based on what evidence. If he is uncertain, or you do not have much confidence in him, don't delay in getting that second opinion ASAP.
Don't change her diet, if she's on a specific diet for a history of UTI's or FLUTD, you can't risk a reocurrance if you switch her diet. What medication has he prescribed, for what purpose, and can you ask for oral suspension, it is much easier to administer to cats.
..........Traci
Re: Shannon
Thank you, Marty, I appreciate your prayers.
Hello, Traci,
Thanks for replying. I took Shannon to the emergency room last night because she had blood in her stools. She eats well and is very active and playful. However, since that was what happened with Noodles, I was panicked. The vet tested the stool for worms and parasites and there were none. He said the blood was bright red and at the end of the stool which could signal colitis or straining or lower GI problems like IBD. He also said it could be natural aging. He said to give her Metronidazole for three days and there should be a difference with the stool if it's colitis. If it persists, have the workup done and x-rays.
I took her to our vet tonight and he said he can feel her backbone but given her age, it was not enough for him to be concerned with the weight loss. She's not a big cat and never was but he thought 10 lbs would be a better weight. She does eat well and drink water and plays with her toys. She's very active. Both vets didn't think she acted like she was in any distress.
The emergency vet also mentioned acidopholis in her food or maybe a little yogurt. I don't profess to know enough to second guess them and don't know whether to give her the yogurt or not. Any advice would help. I'm not ready to lose her yet. Thanks again.
Hello, Traci,
Thanks for replying. I took Shannon to the emergency room last night because she had blood in her stools. She eats well and is very active and playful. However, since that was what happened with Noodles, I was panicked. The vet tested the stool for worms and parasites and there were none. He said the blood was bright red and at the end of the stool which could signal colitis or straining or lower GI problems like IBD. He also said it could be natural aging. He said to give her Metronidazole for three days and there should be a difference with the stool if it's colitis. If it persists, have the workup done and x-rays.
I took her to our vet tonight and he said he can feel her backbone but given her age, it was not enough for him to be concerned with the weight loss. She's not a big cat and never was but he thought 10 lbs would be a better weight. She does eat well and drink water and plays with her toys. She's very active. Both vets didn't think she acted like she was in any distress.
The emergency vet also mentioned acidopholis in her food or maybe a little yogurt. I don't profess to know enough to second guess them and don't know whether to give her the yogurt or not. Any advice would help. I'm not ready to lose her yet. Thanks again.
Re: Shannon
My prayers and thoughts go out to you as well.
Re: Shannon
To Cleo and Tambrey,
Thank you for caring. I really appreciate it.
Much Love,
Peg
Thank you for caring. I really appreciate it.
Much Love,
Peg
Re: Shannon
Peg, blood in the stools is not always concerning, it could be from stress, a mild bacterial infection or a mild GI tract disturbance. However, in a 14-year old kitty, you truly should get a full bloodwork panel done for her, including urinalysis and thyroid function testing, this should be done yearly for any cat over the age of 7.
If she has lost a significant amount of weight in a short time, this needs to be addressed by your vet promptly, with bloodwork, etc.
Where was the "lump" located?
If Shannon is kept indoors only, there is no need to keep vaccinating her. Given her age, I would cease vaccinations, as long as she is strictly indoors and not exposed to other cats who have not been vaccinated.
The acidophilus can be safely given in food, did your vet give you acidophilus to take home? If it's in a capsule, open the capsule and sprinkle it over her food (ask your vet, since he may have a different form of this).
If she has lost a significant amount of weight in a short time, this needs to be addressed by your vet promptly, with bloodwork, etc.
Where was the "lump" located?
If Shannon is kept indoors only, there is no need to keep vaccinating her. Given her age, I would cease vaccinations, as long as she is strictly indoors and not exposed to other cats who have not been vaccinated.
The acidophilus can be safely given in food, did your vet give you acidophilus to take home? If it's in a capsule, open the capsule and sprinkle it over her food (ask your vet, since he may have a different form of this).
..........Traci
Re: Shannon
Thank you, Traci, I'll make an appointment for her right away. The lump was on her side just above the hip and was the size of the top of you finger. The vet took hold of it and moved it and said it was a cyst. Shannon has a lot of scar tissue in that area due to kids breaking her leg when she was four. She has arthritis there also.
Shannon is very quiet today. She panicked at the vets and scratched and bit everyone. She was screaming and they threw a towel over her head and she was fighting so hard. I'm sure she may have pulled some muscles as they were holding her down. She is eating and drinking and jumping on the furniture but she won't take the pill in her food. I crushed it and she take one bite and won't eat it. I even caught her with her paw in her bowl separating the good meat from the "bad" meat. Is this the type of pill I can put in her mouth?
The vet did not give me the acidophilis. I bought it when Noodles was sick. Are the bottles they sell at the pet store OK or should I get it from the vet?
Having been through cancer with Noodles, even with blood work and tests, if it's cancer, what chance does she have? I know things are changing since Noodles' had cancer.
Shannon is very quiet today. She panicked at the vets and scratched and bit everyone. She was screaming and they threw a towel over her head and she was fighting so hard. I'm sure she may have pulled some muscles as they were holding her down. She is eating and drinking and jumping on the furniture but she won't take the pill in her food. I crushed it and she take one bite and won't eat it. I even caught her with her paw in her bowl separating the good meat from the "bad" meat. Is this the type of pill I can put in her mouth?
The vet did not give me the acidophilis. I bought it when Noodles was sick. Are the bottles they sell at the pet store OK or should I get it from the vet?
Having been through cancer with Noodles, even with blood work and tests, if it's cancer, what chance does she have? I know things are changing since Noodles' had cancer.