Hi,
I am new here, I stumbled on this site trying to find info on if you could flush a cats eye out with water if you suspect something might be in it, while reading I figured I would ask a question about my other cat.
I have two cats, both 13 year old males, Echo and Sneakers. My one cat, Sneakers starting losing weight last year. In october I took him to the vet to see what was wrong, he usually weighed around 13 pounds, he dropped to just under ten. They did alot of blood tests, then had me bring him back for an ultra sound and biopsy of his liver. The tests revealed he has Severe Chronic Hepatitis with mild Hepatic Lipidosis.
My treatment options were limited as there is no cure. I could put him on pills that would suppress his immune system, and a steroid, or try a natural approach, Or let it take its course. I chose to not put him on anything that would suppress his immune system, and started him on SAMe. I did alot of research while trying to decide what to do, I dont know if I made the right choice or not, but he has been taking that since then - once a day. His color is starting to change, sometimes he looks jaundiced other days he doesnt, only on the skin by his ears though, his eyes still look white. He has days when he lazy and just sleeps, and days when he acts like he is still a kitten, he also has days that he wants attention and others when he doesnt. LOL, typical of a cat right? But he is different than he has been for the past 13 years.
This week was scary, I thought I was going to have to take him in to put him to sleep. I had company in town, and it seemed to stress him out to the point that he was listless. Most of my company left mid week, adn he perked back up. Stress obviously affects my little guy. But my heart broke all night when I was trying to figure out if it was time or not that night. I cant imagine him not being here when I get home.
Anyway, now you know a little about Sneakers. Here is the odd thing, and I am wondering if anyone else has a cat with this and these kind of "symptoms". Everything I have researched on Hepatic Lipidosis tells me that cats stop eating. My cat eats like a pig. He always wants food, at times I think that he has forgotten that I just gave him a can of food cause he is such a little beggar and can eat so much. He does not gain any weight though. I thought about taking him to a different vet, but then I would put him through all those tests again. And I dont know if I can do it to him. My vet said to watch for signs of throwing up, siezures, hiding and such before I decide to put him to sleep. Thankfully he has not done any of that!!
Ok, long post I know, I am sorry. And I feel like its a little scattered, but I just want to know if anyone else has a cat with this. Especially the Chronic Hepatitis, I only find limited info on it, and most of that is for bacterial hepatits.
Thank you so much of you took the time to read this
I am new here, I stumbled on this site trying to find info on if you could flush a cats eye out with water if you suspect something might be in it, while reading I figured I would ask a question about my other cat.
I have two cats, both 13 year old males, Echo and Sneakers. My one cat, Sneakers starting losing weight last year. In october I took him to the vet to see what was wrong, he usually weighed around 13 pounds, he dropped to just under ten. They did alot of blood tests, then had me bring him back for an ultra sound and biopsy of his liver. The tests revealed he has Severe Chronic Hepatitis with mild Hepatic Lipidosis.
My treatment options were limited as there is no cure. I could put him on pills that would suppress his immune system, and a steroid, or try a natural approach, Or let it take its course. I chose to not put him on anything that would suppress his immune system, and started him on SAMe. I did alot of research while trying to decide what to do, I dont know if I made the right choice or not, but he has been taking that since then - once a day. His color is starting to change, sometimes he looks jaundiced other days he doesnt, only on the skin by his ears though, his eyes still look white. He has days when he lazy and just sleeps, and days when he acts like he is still a kitten, he also has days that he wants attention and others when he doesnt. LOL, typical of a cat right? But he is different than he has been for the past 13 years.
This week was scary, I thought I was going to have to take him in to put him to sleep. I had company in town, and it seemed to stress him out to the point that he was listless. Most of my company left mid week, adn he perked back up. Stress obviously affects my little guy. But my heart broke all night when I was trying to figure out if it was time or not that night. I cant imagine him not being here when I get home.
Anyway, now you know a little about Sneakers. Here is the odd thing, and I am wondering if anyone else has a cat with this and these kind of "symptoms". Everything I have researched on Hepatic Lipidosis tells me that cats stop eating. My cat eats like a pig. He always wants food, at times I think that he has forgotten that I just gave him a can of food cause he is such a little beggar and can eat so much. He does not gain any weight though. I thought about taking him to a different vet, but then I would put him through all those tests again. And I dont know if I can do it to him. My vet said to watch for signs of throwing up, siezures, hiding and such before I decide to put him to sleep. Thankfully he has not done any of that!!
Ok, long post I know, I am sorry. And I feel like its a little scattered, but I just want to know if anyone else has a cat with this. Especially the Chronic Hepatitis, I only find limited info on it, and most of that is for bacterial hepatits.
Thank you so much of you took the time to read this