Worried about Tiger again

booktigger

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She was looking a bit on the thin side the other week, so I booked her in to be weighed at the same time as Lucy, it is 2 months since her last weigh in. She has lost 200g, which the vet is trying to convince me is nothing due to the time of the year - and ordinarily, I would be convinced, except for the fact she is constantly demanding food, I have to send her out of hte kitchen and shut the door when washing up cos she pesters so much, it doesn't matter how long it is since her last meal, and it isn't just one extra time a day she asks, it can be loads, I generally end up giving in at least once a day, so when the vet asked just how much a day she has, I couldnt say, but will start measuring the dry again so I have an idea. She was slightly gassy, so has had a Vit B jab, put on sensitivity food and I have to worm her later (should be fun, got scratched for putting her back in the carrier!!). She has already had full bloods done this year, and everything was perfect for a nearly 14 yo, even her thyroid. She is getting so much like Pebbles it is untrue - same leg that has issues, and we had constant weight battles with her too. I just hope it isn't something underlying again.
 

jean44

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I'm sorry to hear that Tiger may have problems.

How long has it been since she had blood work done? If it was early this year something could have changed.

My first thoughts with weight loss and increased appetite are diabetes or hyperthyroidism. After doing a Google search it appears that her symptoms also fit IBD- inflammatory bowel disease.

Has she had any vomiting or diarrhea? Has she been drinking more water than usual or peeing more than usual? These are all symptoms of one or more of the diseases I mentioned. Here are a few links you may want to look at. Good luck in determining if Tiger has a problem and, if so, what it might be. Hugs to both of you.


http://www.moggies.co.uk/html/ibd.html
http://www.fabcats.org/diabetes.html
http://www.fabcats.org/hyperthyroidism.html
 
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booktigger

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JEan, bloods were done in Feb, vet doesnt seem keen to re-do them, she says a 200g weight loss isn't unusual at this time of year - and if she wasn't trying to eat me out of house and home as well, I would agree!! My thoughts were hyper-t, but vet says they were fine in Feb. She does bring up furballs, but not noticed more than that - there has been some slightly runny poo in the tray recently, but I have two using that tray, so wasn't sure it was actually her. Not really noticed her drinking much more - but it is warm here at the moment, so I would expect her to. She is sleeping in different places in the house, and sometimes snappier than usual though. She also has an unexplained limp, this has been x-rayed, which showed nothing, and then sent off to a specialist (didn't want to take her, as she is very tempermental, a sedation wasn't enough to do x-rays on her, they had to knock her out!!), who also couldn't see anything, and bloods had already been done which showed nothing. She has had antibiotics, anti-inflams, Metacam and Cartrophen for that, nothing worked, so I decidd to just leave that.
 

jean44

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Why does the vet think the weight loss is not unusual for this time of year? I have to agree with you that it seems odd given her increased food intake. Does the vet have any thoughts on that? It can be so irritating when the vet thinks we don't know when something is going on with our cats.

It's too bad none of the meds helped her limp. It seems as though the vet tried all the obvious ones. Does she seem uncomfortable? Poor Tiger, more hugs to her.
 
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booktigger

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Vet says cos it is getting warmer and they are more active, it is normal to lose weight at this time of year - but with what she is demanding (although not always getting!!), she should be putting weight on, not consistently losing. She advised me to worm her, in case that was the issue, but they dont catch things, so not convinced of that, but she has been done now so we shall see!! My vet should actually know better by now though!!

I know - I like having cats with health issues that stump the vet though - she asked how I keep managing it, but Tiger actually came through them (owner wanted her pts at the age of 13), so told her to blame her receptionist this time!! Doesn't seem to bother her that much, apart from she doesn't sit properly anymore - but she has been eating more since it started.
 

crismd

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Well I hope that all is ok. If you are worried, despite what the vet may think, insist on having a blood test again so that you can put your mid at ease.
 
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booktigger

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I think I will give her another 2 months, and if I am still worried, get the bloods redone, it will be 6 months between them then.
 

sooty_94

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Originally Posted by booktigger

I think I will give her another 2 months, and if I am still worried, get the bloods redone, it will be 6 months between them then.
That sounds like a good idea. But if you are really worried, persist.
 
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booktigger

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Yeah, I will keep an eye on her, and maybe take her up sooner if I am concerned about her looking thin again. Vet did threaten to sedate her next time though, cos she is very snappy.
 

cloud_shade

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Do you have Tiger's T4 value from last time? If it was nearing the middle of the range (for example, if the range is 0.8 to 4.0, was the T4 2.0 or higher) then I would do the blood work now. The symptoms sound like hyperthyroidism, and it's possible that the values have increased since February.
 

batgirl2good

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It could very well be the heat. I am praying for Tigger.

One of my cats has decreased appetite and doesn't want to eat much.

Originally Posted by booktigger

JEan, bloods were done in Feb, vet doesnt seem keen to re-do them, she says a 200g weight loss isn't unusual at this time of year - and if she wasn't trying to eat me out of house and home as well, I would agree!! My thoughts were hyper-t, but vet says they were fine in Feb. She does bring up furballs, but not noticed more than that - there has been some slightly runny poo in the tray recently, but I have two using that tray, so wasn't sure it was actually her. Not really noticed her drinking much more - but it is warm here at the moment, so I would expect her to. She is sleeping in different places in the house, and sometimes snappier than usual though. She also has an unexplained limp, this has been x-rayed, which showed nothing, and then sent off to a specialist (didn't want to take her, as she is very tempermental, a sedation wasn't enough to do x-rays on her, they had to knock her out!!), who also couldn't see anything, and bloods had already been done which showed nothing. She has had antibiotics, anti-inflams, Metacam and Cartrophen for that, nothing worked, so I decidd to just leave that.
 
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booktigger

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Dont have the results, vet just looked on the screen and said everything was perfect.
 

cloud_shade

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I'd suggest getting copies whenever you have blood work done. I've found that I noticed trends that my vet missed, and in discussing the blood work with other people, I learned that a "normal value" isn't always normal for my cat. For example, the normal range for T4 is often 0.8 to 4.0 (it depends on the lab), but a normal level for a senior cat is closer to 0.8 to 2.0 or 2.5. When the T4 starts to creep up into the upper part of that range, it may be a good idea to have a Free T4 test done, since the Free T4 can often give a different part of the picture and show that the cat is really borderline.
 

mnjulz

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I'm sorry I see Tiger is on sensitive food but I didn't see what kind it is. Whats the brand? His body is obviously craving something he's not getting.
 

lisalee

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I hope it's nothing serious, I know how frustrating it is to not know what's going on. Tiger will be in my thoughts and prayers.
 
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booktigger

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Can't get copies of bloodtests, they aren't allowed to give them out apparently, but I can go in and look at them!! She had RC sensitivity for two days, but everything seems fine, so she is back on normal food now. Still demanding a lot of food!! Batgirl - she is eating, that is the prob, she demands food a lot. She does seem to be bothered by the fosters more than normal though, think that is why she is sleeping in my room, have been giving her RR but it is unlike her to go for them when all they do is walk past her (ignoring her!!), and she actually slept on my tummy the other night for over an hour, that is unheard of. Think I will ask about this Free T4 test, cos she is grumpier than normal.
 

cloud_shade

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Who told you that? In the US, we have the right to copies of our pets' bloodwork and so forth. We paid for it after all. I know it's not illegal for vets in the UK to give them out either, as Tanya's CRF site mentions keeping copies of bloodwork, and that is UK based (http://www.felinecrf.org/diagnosis.htm#which_tests). Personally, I would go back and offer to pay a nominal charge for copies of the results. You know your cat best, and you know when she's not acting "right," so continue to be her advocate.
 
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booktigger

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The receptionist checked with the vet, I will pop in on Thurs to at least look at the results and hopefully make a note of the thyroid test. She is still demanding lots of food, and I deliberately hovered in the kitchen tonight to make sure only she ate her food.
 
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booktigger

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Poor baby has diarrhea again, so am going to pick up some more sensitivity food from the vets and see if she needs to be seen again. I haven't changed her food though, she is on Nature's menu and Bozita, the only thing I can think of is that I keep it on the kitchen windowsill so it might be a bit cold on her tummy. Just given her a very small amount of JWB for her brekkie until I can get to the vets. She is still really grouchy too, so am worried about her.
 
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