Re: Kitty Gus is sick
Just got off the phone with the vet now that all of Gus' test results are back. He also discussed them with the pathologist who reviewed the biopsies as it's kind of a muddy picture.
The hypercalcemia (high calcium level in the blood) has been diagnosed as idiopathic, which means they don't know why the calcium is high. The only thing to be done for that would be to give subq fluids to help flush the kidneys.
The test for parathyroid hormone came back in the normal range so that suggests there is no growth on the parathyroid gland.
The PTH-related hormone test came back negative, which says there's no raging lymphoma.
The vet says there is a gradient in cats from IBD to lymphoma. They believe that lymphoma often gets started with IBD and it may even be that most cats with IBD eventually will develop lymphoma.
So Gus' diagnosis is severe IBD and/or emerging lymphoma - that he's likely somewhere in the middle of that gradient.
He's being prescribed prednisolone (steroid) for the IBD and leukeran (low-grade chemo drug that's good at targeting lymphocytes).
And he's to stay on a novel-protein diet in case his diet is part of the IBD.
This is a cat who basically can't be pilled. Still working on a solution for that. The vet says it could be compounded into a single medicine but I'm going to try the pills first.
And will try to get him to eat the Lamb IVD.
Natalie
Just got off the phone with the vet now that all of Gus' test results are back. He also discussed them with the pathologist who reviewed the biopsies as it's kind of a muddy picture.
The hypercalcemia (high calcium level in the blood) has been diagnosed as idiopathic, which means they don't know why the calcium is high. The only thing to be done for that would be to give subq fluids to help flush the kidneys.
The test for parathyroid hormone came back in the normal range so that suggests there is no growth on the parathyroid gland.
The PTH-related hormone test came back negative, which says there's no raging lymphoma.
The vet says there is a gradient in cats from IBD to lymphoma. They believe that lymphoma often gets started with IBD and it may even be that most cats with IBD eventually will develop lymphoma.
So Gus' diagnosis is severe IBD and/or emerging lymphoma - that he's likely somewhere in the middle of that gradient.
He's being prescribed prednisolone (steroid) for the IBD and leukeran (low-grade chemo drug that's good at targeting lymphocytes).
And he's to stay on a novel-protein diet in case his diet is part of the IBD.
This is a cat who basically can't be pilled. Still working on a solution for that. The vet says it could be compounded into a single medicine but I'm going to try the pills first.
And will try to get him to eat the Lamb IVD.
Natalie
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