Should I trust the vet with her diagnosis of my cat? What does this sound like to you? I suspect renal failure?
My 15 year old indoor cat Pookie’s health has seemed to decline over the last year with lack of grooming, looking frail, and increased thirst. Previously the vet has minimized these symptoms by saying her issues are from aging but otherwise "Pookie was healthy". I put her in the hospital Saturday after she had diarrhea, vomiting (saliva) , and extreme weakness. I thought she was dying. The vet said she thinks it’s a stomach issue. They gave her an antibiotic shot, dewormer and fluids. Vet said Pookie’s kidney values were slightly elevated to a 5, but that didn’t indicate failure.Everything else in the bloodwork was normal. Now that she’s home she seems so weak and just sleeps, but is walking around a little and eating a little. I’m thinking this could be renal failure since Pookie had stones removed several years ago and
the thirst, loss of weight, and lack of grooming happening before the recent vomiting and diarrhea. The vet wants to see if her stomach treatment works, and then do x-rays and ultra sounds on Pookie’s belly. I’m wondering if this treatment the vet is suggesting is just a money pit unrelated to what’s really going on here. Sorry for the long post. I just want to do what’s best for Pookie. I hate to be shoving dewormer down her throat and subjecting her to stomach scopes when she’s actually got a kidney issue. Any tips appreciated.
Tagged with: bloodwork • Cat Health • Cat Sound • Decline • dewormer • diagnosis • diarrhea • extreme weakness • health • increased thirst • indoor cat • kidney • money pit • quot • renal failure • saliva • scopes • stomach • Thirst • vet • vomiting • vomiting and diarrhea • x rays
Filed under: Passing Kidney Stones
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The blood tests would show crf (kidney failure) so that is not it. The next step is an ultra sound to find out if there are any tumors or such
It is expensive. I hope all turns out ok
I know you love your cat but it’s probably time to end her suffering. I don’t know your vet but some will x-ray and do a bunch of other tests for the almighty dollar. Be strong and do the right thing.
The blood work should have shown if there is any diagnosable renal failure. Kidney failure starts to show up on blood work when about only 25% of the kidney function is left. If it is above 25%, it is not always going to show in blood work.
At least the BUN and Creatinine should have been elevated well above the lab’s reference levels.
You said her kidney values were at 5 – what values?
Which substances? There is BUN and Creatinine – which was elevated or were both? What were they? What is the lab’s reference range for BUN and Creatinine?
A cat with renal failure will have severely elevated BUN and Creatinine, not just a few digits above the reference range for the lab.
Say the lab’s reference range for BUN was 0.8 – 4 I’m talking about a BUN like 25 – not just 5 – being a sign of renal failure.
You always have the option take all of her records – everything, blood work, x-rays, etc – to another vet for a second opinion.
Make it clear to your vet what you have made clear here – you are getting fed up with the continued treatments and diagnoses which are not producing any results.
Get a copy of the records – you should not have to pay for them – and see another vet.
Call around and find one who will review the records and do a basic office visit exam.
You could drop the records off to the other vet before the appointment to give them time to review them before the appointment.
Is she well hydrated? If not, perhaps you can give her some subcutaneous fluids at home – ever done that? It is common practice for CRF cats.
If not, send me a message and I’ll run it down for you. Either click on my name at the upper left of this answer to go to my profile and use the email link there or go to our site about Feline Diabetes at http://www.sugarcatsimon.com and look for the email link on the left of the pages.
Good Luck
Kidney issues would show up on the bloodwork. Did they do a urinalysis for a possible diabetic cause to this? Did the cat have a fever?
Go back to the vets and ask the clerk at the desk for a full copy of your cat’s records, which you are entitled to. You may have to pay photocopy costs for them, but they ARE yours. Take them to a different vet clinic and have a vet there give you a second opinion based on the latest bloodwork results.
I would not do the ultrasound, it’s expensive and would basically be looking for tumors or masses in the body cavity. If your vet did not mention cancer, an ultrasound is not needed here, especialy as they’d ahve to sedate your cat to get it done.
Or, at the very least just take your cat AND the cat’s records to another clinic for a checkup and consult with another vet.
On the good side, fluids and the antibiotic are a good thing to get. I don’t know about the dewormer–if you did not have a fecal sample there for them to test, I don’t see why they would treat for worms if the cat did not show signs of them.