Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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CONGRATULATIONS ON THE FIVE SECOND STAND FOR THE 300TH POST!!!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
I got the test results back a little bit ago. Petunia’s thyroid levels look perfect, but her liver and gallbladder levels have increased since her panel in September. Her ALT was a bit elevated back in Sept, which is why we had her thyroid checked cause the vet doc said it could be related. And now it’s even more elevated. So she gave me two options: (1) get an ultrasound to see if there is a tumor, or (2) go in blindly and put her on two meds (antibiotics) that helps the liver and re-test her a few weeks later. I told her I am going to get back to her tomorrow.
I am not going to lie, I am a mess right now. I do try to calm myself by saying that we don’t know what is wrong yet, but it’s hard. I pretty certain I am going to do the ultrasound, even though it is so expensive. I am also going to cancel her rehab appts for now until it is known what her near future will be. I asked about the gabapentin and they have the 100mg capsules through their vet hospital that I can measure out half of each capsule and put it in her wet food. $25 for 60 capsules, so it’ll be two months worth (thank goodness!).
Please keep my Petunia in your thoughts.
Geez, what the heck Petunia? You didn't need to throw this monkey wrench into the equation. to worry your Mom some more!!
We know it's hard to keep calm when your mind is swirling with the unknown.. Getting the ultra sound wilmay give you a better picture of what may, or may not, be going on.
However, before trying to fund the ultra aound ask the Vet if going with the two antibiotics could bring results that could be measured within a two week period. Adding, IF you do the ultra sound and IF it is a tumor, what would the treatment plan be and would it be something would do or Petunia would want you to do?
It may simply be that the antibiotics will do the trick. Also, I know with dogs, there's a liver supplement used called....I think it's called....Demeraxx? I'll have to look it up....something like that..
I'm sure Holly will have far more j sight than I, but just wanted to throw out a couple of thi6 to ask your Vet as uou decide a path forward.
One thing to remember, Petunia is one tough cat!!!
(((((((Hugs))))))
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Considering she had bone cancer, I feel like getting an ultrasound might be best. In the X-ray that was done when it was first discovered, it appeared not to have spread anywhere. But there was a month from when we found out to her surgery. And her ALT levels were already above the normal range. If the antibotic and the other med she mentioned (I forgot what it was) doesn’t work, then I would have to get the ultrasound anyways. The vet doc (who has pretty much been both P&P’s primary doc this entire year) said she will be working all day tomorrow if I have anymore questions, so I’m glad to get any input from you all, especially that it is so hard to think straight right now
Also, I wouldn’t want to ask what the next steps would be once she gets the ultrasound until we know what’s going on. Right now I just want to have the answer of why her liver values are elevated. She told me she would know from the ultrasound if all she will need are those 10 day meds.
You're doing a good job of processing. Write all your questions down until yoj cant think of anymore. Keep the pad and pen next to uou because uoj prob will think of more! But once written down, let it go and know you'll have some guidance tomorrow from your Vet.
I guess I have one 1uestion. Could the way Petunia walks jave ANYTHING to do with liver, etc???
If I think of anymore "out there" questions I'll post here.
♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
I am reviewing the symptoms of high liver values and she isn’t displaying any of them. But is it in the early stages? Ugh, I don’t know what to do.
Thanks Sally! I did ask her if all the meds she’s been on since her surgery (including when she had herpes) would affect her liver, and she said it wouldn’t.
Of course now I read that pets with a liver tumor could be asymptomatic. Huge part of me needs to see the whole picture.
I don’t know what to do.
Of course you dont know wjat to do right now. You don't know what "it" is that's cau this. Okay, it's very important you do this tonight:
Get off fake doctor Google! You know, and we all know, we can drive ourselves crazy on Google!
The other thing yiu can do is KNOW you will have some answers and a plan when you talk with your Vet. You'll be more clear on doing the ultra sound (or not), best ways to support the liver, etc.
♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
I think know what questions to ask. I would’ve asked more when I talked to her last night, but I also was in a gas station parking lot when I took the call. And my mind was going all over the place.
I wanna know the specific levels of her liver, ie, how high above the normal range. I want to know if she has seen these meds improve the liver values at the values Tuni is at currently. I did ask her if these would be lifetime meds if we did see improvement, and she said no. I’d want to know if we saw improvement, but she is still above normal levels, what would that mean.
Back in April when she had the bloodwork done for her dental surgery, her liver value was a bit on the higher end, but nothing she was really concerned about. In Sept’s bloodwork, it was higher than April, and then higher just now. I am curious if there was a tumor, would we see a steady incline in values, or would the values jump even more significantly between April-Sept-Dec? I’m kinda kicking myself for not asking more about the liver values back in April, even know she wasn’t too heavily concerned about it.
I am now more leaning towards going the antibotics route first and then testing her values. I want to ask her if the meds did not work, are we to assume that it is probably a tumor, or are there other things that it can be? Or can this just be a natural occurrence in old age?
I don’t know if these questions are all the questions I need to ask, or if I’m missing some important ones to ask to help decide if I want to go the meds or ultrasound route. But I think to start off, I have some good ones.
Excellent on the thyroid level; I remember you saying Petunia's alt was elevated, and yes, the thyroid can do that, but the alt goes back down when the thyroid is in control.
Maybe this article will help you Why Are My Dog Or Cat’s ALT Blood Levels Abnormal ⬅️
Sally is talking about Denamarin ⬅️And yes, this is one liver supplement that can make a difference. We tried it once, and Purrkins had a rare side effect that would make him throw up. We use Pet Wellbeing Milk Thistle Bacon Flavored Liquid Liver Supplement for Dogs & Cats ⬅️
We need ongoing liver support because Purrkins is phenobarbitol for focal seizures, and we get labs done more than the norm. We know & can see in labs milk thistle helps the liver values. I would add milk thistle regardless of what you decide to do and SEE.
Trust me when i say I 100% UNDERSTAND and how worrisome it is when something show up in labs. 🫂TRY to stay level-grounded and not think the worst. Never give up hope until all hope is lost. We do not know the cause yet . Of course, we go to the worst-case scenarios. This journey does that to us, but until you have the worst case, know there are other causes and hope for anything treatable.
As far as canceling rehab, my input is, please rethink that one. It would be most helpful to get rehab's input on the video you posted and the gabapentin & alternative meds, regardless, right? Petunia has no idea these labs are off so continue on the best you can as you were. NO reason not to at this time . (my thoughts)
It helps not to jump so far ahead and get some answers first. My aunt always said to take one tick at a time, as in the tick of the clock. It is all we can do live each sec, minute at a time.
I wondered the same on the antiviral med. Yes, I agree to get a copy of the labs I always do. See what elevation means, how high are the values and what else is off.
I think all those questions are excellent and relevant. I am like you in the sense I ask any and all questions that pop in, our vets appreciate that so never hold back on those questions. I always write everything down so I can just go off my paper and not get derailed. I make a copy and pass one to my vet so she has one I have one and we go down that list.
Let us know what you decide today and the next plan, but do get those labs. How were possum labs?
Petunia & you are in our thoughts and prayers.
((((HUGS)))))🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Dr. Google is great when we KNOW what we are dealing with to get any and all information we can to treat and move forward. BUT Dr. Google is our worst nightmare when we don't know what is wrong - we read all the worst case scenarios MOST TIMES! So yes sometimes we HAVE to google thats our nature but if anything read the why's things can be off and than shut if off. Wait until we know more.
((((HUGS))))
Thanks for your input Holly! I know better that Medical Google can be our worse enemy, but I was so distraught last night. I did assume the worse which is why I initially thought to do the ultrasound first. It’s as if I was expecting it. I am feeling mor relaxed and clear headed this morning. As for her rehab, this morning I actually decided to keep the appts. The ultrasound is $450 and I just thought it would be better using the money I would have spent on rehab for the ultrasound. And with my mind thinking the worse and it is a tumor, what would be the point of putting money towards rehab if I am looking at the end soon. I know those are some dark thoughts to go through my mind, but like you said, our minds can go to the worse possible scenario cause the unknowns are scary.
I am going to ask again about the antiviral meds cause I can’t imagine the liver not being affected as the meds do get processed through the liver, right?
Possum’s bloodwork was perfect. She couldn’t be happier with the results. Liver levels look amazing. It’s funny cause I thought Possum was gonna be one with all the medical problems, as she was diabetic for a year and the first to have hyperthyroidism. I’m grateful she is doing great!
I will let you know what I decide to do.
You are welcome!
We all know better but can't help ourselves, right? When we hear something is off straight to Dr. Google, we go. I'm glad you were able to wheel yourself in.
Trust us when we say we GET IT!!! It is good to give yourself time to think and process all this. We don't know exactly what to process yet.
You are right about processing through the liver, and I would start the milk thistle regardless of what you decide to do. It can't hurt and can HELP. Yes, it will be an added cost. Discuss with the vet, and they will agree it is helpful.
I'm glad you're going to keep rehab!
Most excellent on Possums labs.
Thank you!
(((HUGS)))
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