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Espy in hospital (Phil, you around?)
Bad. He was limping yesterday, rear left leg. It didn't appear to be a
saddle clot since it was warm and looked more like it hurt than that he couldn't use it. Off to the specialty vet. By way of review, he wouldn't eat two weeks back, the vet found abnormal liver enzymes and a huge blocked bladder. Specialty vet says he has a heart murmur. He was getting better since then and was just about back to normal yesterday. They found no apparent reason for the limp (he wouldn't even limp for them - adrenalin rush I guess) and we were all set to go home. The bladder was full however so I asked the vet if she could express it just to make sure that there wasn't another blockage. Well, there was. Half an hour later out comes the vet with a whopping bill covering the next four days of care. Minimum 1600, maximum 2300 if nothing else goes wrong. Really no choice though. If I take him home, maybe he pees but maybe he dies. So I held him a bit, already covered in alcohol. They look so pathetic with the fur all plastered down. Then I left him. Some minor good news. Last night, they were able to get a catheter in him so the bladder is drained. Now Ihave to wait for more news. I still don't know why the blockage is occuring though. If he needs a prescription diet we're going to have a real problem because this is one very picky eater. |
#2
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Espy in hospital (Phil, you around?)
Please review the abdominal xrays (there should be 2 views) and the
chest xray. Be sure there is no tumor in the area of the bladder blocking or restricting normal urination when bladder is fuller, or in the kidney area as well. With the vaugue and intermiddent symptoms and the prices you should be getting definitive diagnosis and fast. Also limping in hind legs and murmor potential could be both pointing to heart related issues as well. These may be, or a consequence of another primary condition. What breed is espy, any Maine coon in him? There is some type of vein or arterty that goes from the heart to liver and both were brought up as possible issues. Ask the doc about these too and any interconnection or relation to the food and excretion issues. Good luck! keep us posted. dgk wrote: Bad. He was limping yesterday, rear left leg. It didn't appear to be a saddle clot since it was warm and looked more like it hurt than that he couldn't use it. Off to the specialty vet. By way of review, he wouldn't eat two weeks back, the vet found abnormal liver enzymes and a huge blocked bladder. Specialty vet says he has a heart murmur. He was getting better since then and was just about back to normal yesterday. They found no apparent reason for the limp (he wouldn't even limp for them - adrenalin rush I guess) and we were all set to go home. The bladder was full however so I asked the vet if she could express it just to make sure that there wasn't another blockage. Well, there was. Half an hour later out comes the vet with a whopping bill covering the next four days of care. Minimum 1600, maximum 2300 if nothing else goes wrong. Really no choice though. If I take him home, maybe he pees but maybe he dies. So I held him a bit, already covered in alcohol. They look so pathetic with the fur all plastered down. Then I left him. Some minor good news. Last night, they were able to get a catheter in him so the bladder is drained. Now Ihave to wait for more news. I still don't know why the blockage is occuring though. If he needs a prescription diet we're going to have a real problem because this is one very picky eater. |
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Espy in hospital (Phil, you around?)
On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:49:03 +0000 (UTC), Billy
wrote: Please review the abdominal xrays (there should be 2 views) and the chest xray. Be sure there is no tumor in the area of the bladder blocking or restricting normal urination when bladder is fuller, or in the kidney area as well. With the vaugue and intermiddent symptoms and the prices you should be getting definitive diagnosis and fast. Also limping in hind legs and murmor potential could be both pointing to heart related issues as well. These may be, or a consequence of another primary condition. What breed is espy, any Maine coon in him? There is some type of vein or arterty that goes from the heart to liver and both were brought up as possible issues. Ask the doc about these too and any interconnection or relation to the food and excretion issues. Good luck! keep us posted. Espy is pure DSH. I don't know if anyone even took a chest Xray. I'll be yelling about that later. I'll talk to the specialty vet around 10am ET and know more then. |
#4
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Espy in hospital (Phil, you around?)
"dgk" wrote in message ... Bad. He was limping yesterday, rear left leg. It didn't appear to be a saddle clot since it was warm and looked more like it hurt than that he couldn't use it. Off to the specialty vet. By way of review, he wouldn't eat two weeks back, the vet found abnormal liver enzymes and a huge blocked bladder. Specialty vet says he has a heart murmur. He was getting better since then and was just about back to normal yesterday. They found no apparent reason for the limp (he wouldn't even limp for them - adrenalin rush I guess) and we were all set to go home. The bladder was full however so I asked the vet if she could express it just to make sure that there wasn't another blockage. Well, there was. Half an hour later out comes the vet with a whopping bill covering the next four days of care. Minimum 1600, maximum 2300 if nothing else goes wrong. Really no choice though. If I take him home, maybe he pees but maybe he dies. So I held him a bit, already covered in alcohol. They look so pathetic with the fur all plastered down. Then I left him. Some minor good news. Last night, they were able to get a catheter in him so the bladder is drained. Now Ihave to wait for more news. I still don't know why the blockage is occuring though. If he needs a prescription diet we're going to have a real problem because this is one very picky eater. Oh, I am so sorry he is sicker than they first thought. Phil will chime in soon, I am sure. Poor baby, I know it was hard for you to leave him there. The money you spend taking such good care of him will come back to you. I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. How old is Espy? |
#5
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Espy in hospital (Phil, you around?)
On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:44:26 -0400, "cybercat"
wrote: "dgk" wrote in message .. . Bad. He was limping yesterday, rear left leg. It didn't appear to be a saddle clot since it was warm and looked more like it hurt than that he couldn't use it. Off to the specialty vet. By way of review, he wouldn't eat two weeks back, the vet found abnormal liver enzymes and a huge blocked bladder. Specialty vet says he has a heart murmur. He was getting better since then and was just about back to normal yesterday. They found no apparent reason for the limp (he wouldn't even limp for them - adrenalin rush I guess) and we were all set to go home. The bladder was full however so I asked the vet if she could express it just to make sure that there wasn't another blockage. Well, there was. Half an hour later out comes the vet with a whopping bill covering the next four days of care. Minimum 1600, maximum 2300 if nothing else goes wrong. Really no choice though. If I take him home, maybe he pees but maybe he dies. So I held him a bit, already covered in alcohol. They look so pathetic with the fur all plastered down. Then I left him. Some minor good news. Last night, they were able to get a catheter in him so the bladder is drained. Now Ihave to wait for more news. I still don't know why the blockage is occuring though. If he needs a prescription diet we're going to have a real problem because this is one very picky eater. Oh, I am so sorry he is sicker than they first thought. Phil will chime in soon, I am sure. Poor baby, I know it was hard for you to leave him there. The money you spend taking such good care of him will come back to you. I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. How old is Espy? He's only 7, maybe not even that. |
#6
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Espy in hospital (Phil, you around?)
"dgk" wrote He's only 7, maybe not even that. This gives him a better shot. What worries me, from the catheter story, is that Phil may be right and the second vet may have damaged his urethra. |
#7
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Espy in hospital (Phil, you around?)
On Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:20:13 -0400, "cybercat"
wrote: "dgk" wrote He's only 7, maybe not even that. This gives him a better shot. What worries me, from the catheter story, is that Phil may be right and the second vet may have damaged his urethra. Maybe, and I'm always concerned about such things, but I wouldn't bet on it here. These folks are really very good. It's one of those places with 20 doctors with various specialties. I brought Jackie there to have all of her teeth pulled; they have (well, had) a dental specialist. It's this place: http://www.myvetspecialist.com/ Also, some good news. The vet reviewed the various results from my vet and is not concerned about the liver enzymes. Apparently they are not very far from normal. Nor are they concerned about the limp, which likely is unrelated. Espy has been lively and peeing so they are likely to let me take him home today. Funny, they're not concerned about the liver enzymes, and my vet isn't concerned about the heart murmur. I, of course, remain concerned about both. But if he eats and acts normal, I'll likely leave him home when I go away next week. That's also if the poop cam and software continues to track the litterbox activity. I did have to reboot it once but otherwise it does a fine job of keeping me an informed pet slave. My plan (if all goes well) is to check twice a day or so and review the videos. If I don't see Espy going, or if I see him going repeatedly, then I tell the cat sitter to take him to the vet. This is a wonderful use of technology. |
#8
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Espy in hospital (Phil, you around?)
I'm sorry to say this but I would cancel the trip. Technoly will not
replace being there and your hearing that from a 20 year tech veteran. If Epsy has to go through surgery that is. I keep hearing this doc is not concerned, that doc is not concerned....but i would recommend that you take a step back (i know it's hard) and re-assess all of the facts, not just the opinions of the vets. What do the vets facts point to, what is ruled out? Finding out a root issue is sometimes ruling out all others with a direction based on clues, if no clear facts present themselves definitively. I hope you get an answer soon. wrote: On Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:20:13 -0400, "cybercat" wrote: "dgk" wrote He's only 7, maybe not even that. This gives him a better shot. What worries me, from the catheter story, is that Phil may be right and the second vet may have damaged his urethra. Maybe, and I'm always concerned about such things, but I wouldn't bet on it here. These folks are really very good. It's one of those places with 20 doctors with various specialties. I brought Jackie there to have all of her teeth pulled; they have (well, had) a dental specialist. It's this place: http://www.myvetspecialist.com/ Also, some good news. The vet reviewed the various results from my vet and is not concerned about the liver enzymes. Apparently they are not very far from normal. Nor are they concerned about the limp, which likely is unrelated. Espy has been lively and peeing so they are likely to let me take him home today. Funny, they're not concerned about the liver enzymes, and my vet isn't concerned about the heart murmur. I, of course, remain concerned about both. But if he eats and acts normal, I'll likely leave him home when I go away next week. That's also if the poop cam and software continues to track the litterbox activity. I did have to reboot it once but otherwise it does a fine job of keeping me an informed pet slave. My plan (if all goes well) is to check twice a day or so and review the videos. If I don't see Espy going, or if I see him going repeatedly, then I tell the cat sitter to take him to the vet. This is a wonderful use of technology. |
#9
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Espy in hospital (Phil, you around?)
"dgk" wrote in message ... By way of review, he wouldn't eat two weeks back, the vet found abnormal liver enzymes and a huge blocked bladder. Were crystals or plugs found as the cause of the obstruction? How was the obstruction relieved? Was Espy catheterized during his first obstruction? snip The bladder was full however so I asked the vet if she could express it just to make sure that there wasn't another blockage. Well, there was. What was causing the blockage? Was a crystal or plug retreived? Was the vet able to express Espy's bladder? -which isn't a good idea because the bladder is very fragile when its overdistended and could rupture easily. Anyway, if the vet was able to express Espy's bladder, then he probably didn't have an actual outflow obstruction. You said during his previous episode he had a "huge blocked bladder". I assume you meant his bladder was overdistended. Overdistention can cause damage to the bladder detrusor muscle by separating the tight junctions between the muscle fibers- kinda like streching a sock. Loss of the tight junctions between muscle fibers prevents the flow of motor nerve impulses that make the bladder contract. So, even after the obstruction has been removed, the cat still can't voluntarily empty his bladder. If this is the case, the only thing you can do is keep his bladder empty so that the tight junctions can reform. Another aftermath of an obstruction is urethral spasms- these can also prevent a cat from urinating even though he doesn't have another obstruction. Another strong possibility is the vet might have damaged your cat's urethra during catheterization- especially if he tried to reverse flush the urethra. Best of luck, Phil |
#10
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Espy in hospital (Phil, you around?)
On Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:51:38 GMT, "Phil P."
wrote: "dgk" wrote in message .. . By way of review, he wouldn't eat two weeks back, the vet found abnormal liver enzymes and a huge blocked bladder. Were crystals or plugs found as the cause of the obstruction? How was the obstruction relieved? Was Espy catheterized during his first obstruction? snip The bladder was full however so I asked the vet if she could express it just to make sure that there wasn't another blockage. Well, there was. What was causing the blockage? Was a crystal or plug retreived? Was the vet able to express Espy's bladder? -which isn't a good idea because the bladder is very fragile when its overdistended and could rupture easily. Anyway, if the vet was able to express Espy's bladder, then he probably didn't have an actual outflow obstruction. You said during his previous episode he had a "huge blocked bladder". I assume you meant his bladder was overdistended. Overdistention can cause damage to the bladder detrusor muscle by separating the tight junctions between the muscle fibers- kinda like streching a sock. Loss of the tight junctions between muscle fibers prevents the flow of motor nerve impulses that make the bladder contract. So, even after the obstruction has been removed, the cat still can't voluntarily empty his bladder. If this is the case, the only thing you can do is keep his bladder empty so that the tight junctions can reform. Another aftermath of an obstruction is urethral spasms- these can also prevent a cat from urinating even though he doesn't have another obstruction. Another strong possibility is the vet might have damaged your cat's urethra during catheterization- especially if he tried to reverse flush the urethra. Best of luck, Phil On the initial visit to my vet he expressed the bladder without a catheter. Urinalysis showed (going by memory here) amporphus urate crystals. The bladder was very large on the xray and he said that it was impinging on other parts making it difficult to poop as well. The specialty vet certainly used a catheter (two since I understand Espy objected to the first one and dislodged it). I think they did flush the bladder. The rest of the potential problems you mentioned seem like the reason that they want to keep him four days. I just spoke to my vet. He says that it is possible Espy will need to have PU surgery. I guess that makes sense but I think he will never forgive me. First I neuter him then cut off his penis. Going to be one angry cat. I can't imagine what this is going to cost. Espy has been transferred from ICU to the medicine division at the Specialty vet. I'll talk to them later today. The really bad thing is that I'm going away next Wednesday (not this one at least) and will be gone for a week. I very well might need to board him at the vet. |
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