Sebastian's Vet Visit Today

The last few months I thought Seb may have been losing weight. Either that or it was shifting lower due to gravity and age. His behavior didn't change. He still plays with Daphne, runs around, eats and drinks. I thought he may have been drinking a bit more than usual but its hard to tell when I'm gone at work.

So, I finally had enough money to take him to the new vet. They were just wonderful. This is the first time I ever felt involved with a vet visit.

Doctor said he was dehydrated which is bad because I know he drinks often. He is also down to 11 pounds from 13 pounds at this time last year. I know some here believe he was "fat" at that weight, but he wasn't. Now I can feel details of his spine and ribs which has never been the case. He looks sunken on his sides.

They took blood for a blood panel for multiple tests and urine for two tests. They also gave him subQ fluids.

They took him to a room for the blood and urine - I could hear him fighting them. When they tried to do the subQ, he just fought too much so they brought him to me and asked if I would hold him. He did much better but towards the end he bit me several times. The pad of my thumb on left hand pretty much looks like hamburger. Okay, not that bad, but you know what I mean. They chose to stop just shy of the whole bag but it should help. The doctor even went with me to make sure I washed and medicated my hand then she put 4 large bandaids on it. Isn't that kind? I was more concerned about him getting the fluids though. I heal pretty well. My mom doesn't so it would have been stressful and really painful for her.

The doctor says it could be thyroid, diabetes, etc but she mentioned cancer several times which scares the heck out of me. I can't seem to stop crying. I'm really just rambling here. Hope it makes some type of sense.

They will call tomorrow with the results of most of the tests. One urine test will take a few more days.

Please send lots and lots of vibes for him? He is such a sweet guy. He really tried to be good up to all the needles going into him.

Sending tons of vibes for Sebastian

Lots and Lots of vibes for big beautiful Seb!

The first think I think of is chronic renal failure, that and hyperthyroidism would be the two most likely.

It is odd because it seems like vets are saying cancer/lymphoma much more quickly these days than they used too. I was warned several times that Stomper's illness could very well be lymphoma. Scared the begeebers out of me. I think they really just want us to be prepared for any possibility. If we are thinking cancer and they say CRF, that seems like a really good thing.

Lots of for you and Seb

It sounds like it could be crf or thyroid.
How old is your cat?
I was told 3 years ago that Coco had lung cancer and it wasnt.
That bad vet has been shut down.
it was severe asthma and a very bad uri with phnmonia.
She has crf now though.
I hope your cat will be ok.

I love Sebastian Many vibes for your sweet boy A big Hug for you

Thank you. This means so much to both of us Here's a photo of him this afternoon - he's been sleeping most of the evening.

I just hope and pray that whatever the problem is, it is managable and doesn't cause him distress.

Awww bless his heart How old is Sebastian?

Lots of mega healthy coming his way

Awww, the poor guy. Sending many calming and healing vibes for Sebastian.

He's a real cutie. Many many Prayers and for Sebastian

He is about 13 years old and FIV positive. Its 10:25am here and no call from vet yet. I suppose I should give them enough time to actually run the tests

Lots of good wishes for you and your beautiful boy.

Ok, heard from the vet. The one test for UTI should be back on Thursday. Let's see if I can make sense of the notes I took while she talked.

His thyroid is midrange and normal. Blood sugar is normal. So not thyroid issue or diabetes.
They also double-checked for FIV and yep, he's positive.

He has changes in his liver enzymes although since this is the first time he's been tested they aren't sure exactly what his normal levels are. For the liver they checked ALT, ALP and something that sounds like "bilivarian"? She said the ALT and "bilivarian" were elevated and the ALP was mildly elevated.

Kidneys enzymes are normal so not CRF.

Doctor said that FIV positive cats have a 5 times greater chance of developing intestinal lymphoma (cancer). This is why they mentioned it several times. Intestinal lymphoma causes hunger with weight loss, she said.

The next step is to wait until Thursday to see what the urine tells us. If it is a UTI, then medicate for that and see if he improves.

If it is not a UTI, then the next step is either a set of x-rays ($185) or ultrasound of his belly from a specialist ($350). She recommended the ultrasound because of the two choices, it would give the best results. Not sure where this money will come from.

What I want to know is: is he in pain? Doctor could not really answer this. I know UTIs are painful. In the past when he hasn't felt good, he just sleeps a lot and doesn't eat or drink much. He eats a lot, drinks (too much probably), plays - chases Da Bird, plays with his little mouse. He chases Daphne around and still does the "crazy kitty" thing after going #2.

Right now he's lying on the computer tower watching his tail flick around. In a second, he'll attack it.

I know cats are stoic with their pain and I don't want him to be hurting.

Oh Bless him Continued prayers and vibes

Heard from vet. The final urine culture isn't quite complete but they don't have any growths in it which means they doubt there is any type of urinary tract infection. She will let me know, though.

Next step is ultrasound and biopsy. This will determine what the problem is. I was really focused on it being lymphoma (cancer) but the vet said it could be something like a liver infection or inflammation which is much easier to treat. She told me to not focus on the lymphoma part so much. It still could be that, though.

The ultrasound is $410 and each biopsy needle is $241. Hopefully they will just need one. I don't know what I'm going to do. Tried Care Credit and they rejected the application. Looked up Animal Aid emergency fund but it maxes out at $100.00.

I so wish I would have gotten insurance on Seb back when he was perfectly healthy. I do need to get it for Daphne as soon as possible.

Please keep Sebastian in your thoughts.

Bless his little heart I really hope you can get the finances for Seb

More healthy coming his way

Bless him.
Sending lots of for you, that everything works out andlots of get well for Sebastian.

Bonnie I am so glad to hear the vet is not set on lymphoma. Liver isn't great either, but it is treatable.

Why so much for the ultrasound? Even at the high buck specialty vet here for Stomper it was $350, at the rural "expensive" vet it is $250. Have you asked them for the poor person discount? I did this with the Specialty vet, just let them know that it was seriously pushing my limits. The did take some money off. Also, not sure if you have a vet school near you, but I wonder if they would do it for less and write it off as a teaching case.

Also, search the cat lounge for UAN, they have some special grant programs and might be able to help. They are a really great organization and if they can't help they might be able to tell you who can. One of the higher ups in the organization posted in the thread that was just started a week or so ago. I had some dealings with them during hurricane Katrina and they were wonderful.

Plus there is this thing called a "fundable" page. You post your story and the amount of money you need to raise and people choose to donate money to your cause. You have a limited time period to meet your donation max. The trick it that you must make your goal amount to get any of the funds. The animal request usually do well, expecially when pictures are posted.

I know what it is like to be looking at a vet bill bigger than a bill you would want to pay for your own medical care. I will keep searching for some finacial help for you. In the meantime if they think it is a liver infection can they put him on antibiotics or do they not want to affect the biopsy results?

Lots of hugs for you and for sweet Sebastian.

Bonnie, how is your baby doing?
Sending so many many prayers and vibes for sweet Seb
and hugs for you
Let us know how things are.