Hello,
I've been treating my cat Munchkin for the last few weeks. After a series of tests and vet visits, he was diagnosed with Hepatic Lipidosis. He's very jaundiced, vomits on occasion, and generally acts sick. He had a feeding tube inserted, and I've been syringe feeding him prescription canned food as well as attempting to administer subcutaneous fluids via IV.
Here are the following medications he is on: Flagyl, Clavomox, Mirtazipine, Denamarin, Reglan.
He also has B-Complex injected into his fluid packs.
...
Here is my situation:
-I have already spent more money than I can afford on treatment. I read the sticky on Vet Care being part of the responsibility, and I have done the best I can to finance his care. In Orange County, vet practices are fairly predatory...and the abundance of wealth here creates an environment of "Money isn't an obstacle" when it comes to pet care. I finally found a compassionate vet that I like, and she still would like to charge me thousands of dollars in medications, visits, continual tests, etc.
The thing is...we already know what he has, and what the treatment is. His liver is messed up, he needs tube feeding, and I'm doing the best I can. I have completely altered my life to account for this, I am overdrawn financially and cannot afford continual "check ups" at $100 for 5 minutes every other day. The economy in CA is failing, and I may not have a job in the future.
I have a game plan, and I'm doing the best I can to follow it.
Here is the problem:
-Everything I'm told and everything I've read tells me that he needs FOOD and FLUIDS above all else. Munchkin takes both without issue. However, his medications are making him miserable, causing him to vomit, and do not seem to be improving his condition.
In addition, my vet seems obsessed with medicating this guy to within an inch of his life...even though medication is making him vomit (which is making him lose food and fluids). Every concern I bring up is answered with more medication...and each additional medication makes him sicker. His condition seems best when I held off on medication for a day due to repeated vomiting. Of course, I'm sure the $50 per medication price tag doesn't encourage this behavior at all.
This is where my brain is at: I haven't slept more than three hours in two weeks, so I'm a little loopy.
Food + Fluid = Healthy Munchkin
Medication = Vomiting Munchkin
Vomiting = Negative Food + Negative Fluid
Vomiting = Unhealthy Munchkin
Medication = Unhealthy Munchkin
This is my question:
Do any of you have experience with a cat that recovered from Hepatic Lipidosis (at the jaundice point) without the influx of half a dozen medications?
If I routinely feed him prescription "recovery" food via syringe, inject him subcutaneously with fluids via IV, and MAYBE keep the REGLAN for nausea...
...is this enough to make him recover?
---
I have asked the vets, and they answer with prescribing more medication. I informed them that he's vomiting with medication, and they've prescribed more medication. I've asked them the same question (is food + fluid enough), and they answer with yet more medication.
Enough. I've had it.
I understand that no one here can give me a definitive answer, so I'm asking for personal opinions and experiences.
Have you recovered a cat with Hepatic Lipidosis using JUST IV fluid and prescription food?
Have you heard of an aunt/neighbor/cousin who did so?
Are there alternatives to medication that won't make him vomit IN YOUR EXPERIENCE?
Thanks for your patience.
~Munchkin's Dad
Before:
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After:
I've been treating my cat Munchkin for the last few weeks. After a series of tests and vet visits, he was diagnosed with Hepatic Lipidosis. He's very jaundiced, vomits on occasion, and generally acts sick. He had a feeding tube inserted, and I've been syringe feeding him prescription canned food as well as attempting to administer subcutaneous fluids via IV.
Here are the following medications he is on: Flagyl, Clavomox, Mirtazipine, Denamarin, Reglan.
He also has B-Complex injected into his fluid packs.
...
Here is my situation:
-I have already spent more money than I can afford on treatment. I read the sticky on Vet Care being part of the responsibility, and I have done the best I can to finance his care. In Orange County, vet practices are fairly predatory...and the abundance of wealth here creates an environment of "Money isn't an obstacle" when it comes to pet care. I finally found a compassionate vet that I like, and she still would like to charge me thousands of dollars in medications, visits, continual tests, etc.
The thing is...we already know what he has, and what the treatment is. His liver is messed up, he needs tube feeding, and I'm doing the best I can. I have completely altered my life to account for this, I am overdrawn financially and cannot afford continual "check ups" at $100 for 5 minutes every other day. The economy in CA is failing, and I may not have a job in the future.
I have a game plan, and I'm doing the best I can to follow it.
Here is the problem:
-Everything I'm told and everything I've read tells me that he needs FOOD and FLUIDS above all else. Munchkin takes both without issue. However, his medications are making him miserable, causing him to vomit, and do not seem to be improving his condition.
In addition, my vet seems obsessed with medicating this guy to within an inch of his life...even though medication is making him vomit (which is making him lose food and fluids). Every concern I bring up is answered with more medication...and each additional medication makes him sicker. His condition seems best when I held off on medication for a day due to repeated vomiting. Of course, I'm sure the $50 per medication price tag doesn't encourage this behavior at all.
This is where my brain is at: I haven't slept more than three hours in two weeks, so I'm a little loopy.
Food + Fluid = Healthy Munchkin
Medication = Vomiting Munchkin
Vomiting = Negative Food + Negative Fluid
Vomiting = Unhealthy Munchkin
Medication = Unhealthy Munchkin
This is my question:
Do any of you have experience with a cat that recovered from Hepatic Lipidosis (at the jaundice point) without the influx of half a dozen medications?
If I routinely feed him prescription "recovery" food via syringe, inject him subcutaneously with fluids via IV, and MAYBE keep the REGLAN for nausea...
...is this enough to make him recover?
---
I have asked the vets, and they answer with prescribing more medication. I informed them that he's vomiting with medication, and they've prescribed more medication. I've asked them the same question (is food + fluid enough), and they answer with yet more medication.
Enough. I've had it.
I understand that no one here can give me a definitive answer, so I'm asking for personal opinions and experiences.
Have you recovered a cat with Hepatic Lipidosis using JUST IV fluid and prescription food?
Have you heard of an aunt/neighbor/cousin who did so?
Are there alternatives to medication that won't make him vomit IN YOUR EXPERIENCE?
Thanks for your patience.
~Munchkin's Dad
Before:
[/IMG]
After: