Bear is at the vet. He's very sick, liver looks horrible.

Best wishes for Bear to pull through

PS I agree that the hair could have been sitting there for a long time causing problems, including interfering with absorption of nutrients. Hair balls can cause very serious problems, more than people are aware of.

Amelia has asked on her Facebook if an update could be posted as she can't get to the laptop

Vet called a few minutes ago to say that Bear made it through the night and he syringe fed him. He said Bear is taking the food and meds like a pro. Bear has always been great at taking meds. =) I asked the vet so many questions that he probably figured that I would never get off of the phone, lol. He said the ultrasound is a ... See moregreat idea but the woman who comes to do them only comes every other week. He is going to call her, he said she is probably the best in the state so I bet she is a specialist. I just hope she can come asap. Its 300$ but I dont care what it costs, he will get whatever he needs to get better. The vet said he wanted to wait on the biopsy, he said if Bear improves then we dont need it. But if he gets worse he will take a few biopsies of the liver and pancreas. I asked about a urinalysis, he said it would just show the same thing the bloodwork showed-high levels. I asked about a Thyroid test and he said he does not think it is that, to wait.

Thanks for posting Bear's update Susan.

Feel better sweet Bear

Did the vet mention anything about those supplements I posted for the liver? What about the PLI/TLI testing? It needs to be sent away to Texas so the sooner it is done the better.....

If the lady that will be doing the ultrasound can not get to the clinic for 3 weeks I would ask the vet to refer you to someone else that is just as competant. Your kitty can not wait 3 weeks for an ultrasound....do not get the liver biopsy until you get an ultrasound

I am so happy to hear that he is eating!!! That is a great sign You can also take him some of his regular food that he eats at home. I had to do that for Bishop. It made him eat on his own. He didn't like the crappy vet food...hehehe - smart cat!!!

BEAR IS COMING HOME TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!



The vet called and said his blood levels look better today, and that Bear ate good today (don't know if he ate it on his own or if it was with the syringe). He is still really sick, but we have to wait on his liver to heal. I may wait on the ultrasound, depending on how much his levels have improved. We have to go back in thursday for more bloodwork.

Originally Posted by booktigger

Fingers crossed for him - I have had a cat with cholangiohepatitis, she had had raised liver enzymes for 10 months prior to that though, but unfortunately refused to be medicated - she was about 15 though. I do know of cats that have successfully been treated though, hopefully Bear will be one of those

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He takes meds great!

Originally Posted by Denali

Did the vet mention anything about those supplements I posted for the liver? What about the PLI/TLI testing? It needs to be sent away to Texas so the sooner it is done the better.....

If the lady that will be doing the ultrasound can not get to the clinic for 3 weeks I would ask the vet to refer you to someone else that is just as competant. Your kitty can not wait 3 weeks for an ultrasound....do not get the liver biopsy until you get an ultrasound

I am so happy to hear that he is eating!!! That is a great sign

You can also take him some of his regular food that he eats at home. I had to do that for Bishop. It made him eat on his own. He didn't like the crappy vet food...hehehe - smart cat!!!

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I am going to ask about the other meds when I get there. I don't remember which Pred he is on, I will make sure it is the right one though, thanks! I will ask about those tests, but I am not so sure about fasting him for 12hrs.. it is critical that he eats. I will ask though. I love my vet, and I trust him completely. He said the reason he wanted to use that specific lady for an ulrasound is because not many people know how to read them properly, and that she is great at it. He wanted to wait on the biopsy, and do the ulrasound first. He is a great vet, he diagnosed a very rare problem for my grandmas dog (dog has hypoparathyroid issues, you can barely find it on google). I trust him.

Every moment with our sweet loves is precious...
I was so pleased to read that Bear will be home with you.
Bear

I have a kitty named Bear, too, and I know how I would feel if he were so ill. I'm so sorry the two of you have had to go through this.for Bear's swift recovery.

for Bear's continued recovery.

Yay, really glad to hear this news.

So glad your buddy is home again. Hope he continues to improve!!

Awwww brilliant news!!! lots more healthy for good measure

Ok update time.

The vet gave me a "recipe" to for Bear, it uses specific amounts of a/d, veggi oil, and water. I am to feed Bear 4-5 syringes full of this recipe 5 times a day. Which is about every 5 hrs.

When I got him home yesterday I did not have the veggi oil so I fed him the a/d straight out of the can with nothing added because it is critical that he eats. No vomiting.

2nd feeding I fed him a/d straight again. No vomiting.

3rd feeding I mixed up the recipe that the vet gave me and gave it to him. No vomiting.

4th feeding I was about to feed him and when he smelled the food he vomited up the food from the 3rd feeding (recipe mix). I figured that it was just because it was time for his stomach meds. I got that down him and fed him the recipe mixture.

5th feeding (2 hrs ago) I started feeding him the recipe mixture again, and he vomited up the food from his 4th feeding (recipe mis again). I decided to just feed him the a/d plain and not mix it, because he keeps it down.

I called the vet, he's out on lunch. I am calling back soon though.

When our babies are ill, it rips our emotions apart.

Keep your food down sweet Bear.

What is the veggie oil for? Just feed him what he will eat. If that is his regular food then feed him his regular food.....if it is the a/d then feed him the a/d.....and don't add the veggie oil....add water to keep him hydrated though.

Did your vet get you those supplements?

It is great that Bear is home!!! But you have to get something to start treating his liver ASAP!

When I first got my cat home he was okay for a couple of hours and then started vomitting again so I had to rush him to emergency. Are u still treating him with meds for both an infection and inflammation? Because he is going to continue to vomit until you are treating him for the correct problem....which only the ultrasound can tell you forsure

Bloodwork from yesterday:





This is Saturdays bloodwork:




The recipe is on a printed paper that has info on HL, but my vet changed the amounts of oil, food, and water to mix together specifically for Bear. It is: 2 cans a/d, 5-6oz water, and 1.5oz vegetable oil. Mixed and fed by mouth via syringe. Bear will not eat on his own, but he dosn't really fight me feeding him. I don't know what the oil is for, I will ask when I call in a few mins.

Bear is on the same meds, plus Milk Thistle. I trust my vet, he is doing something right since Bears levels are dropping. We go back in 2 days for more bloodwork, the vet said if the bloodwork improves enough then we do not need an ultrasound. I literally have $45 and change in my pocket. My care credit card is almost a joke, the limit is low and it's payed off. If his levels stop improving he WILL get the ultrasound, no questions. If his levels keep improving then we really do not need it.

Off to call the vet...

Ok, vet said I can give him the a/d straight, but it's best if I add water to keep him hydrated. Bear was dehydrated when I took him in on Saturday. No more oil.

I have Bear set up in a huge dog crate with everything he needs, he has no intrest in getting out of it. In fact when I get done feeding him I just let him go and he gest back in the crate on his own. I put a carrier in there for him to hide in, and that is where he stays. I also put a few pieces of kibble on his blanket but he hasn't touched it. He has water & a litter box. I have him seperate so I can see if he eats, drinks, goes potty, and so the other cats don't pick on him. I will let him out if he wants me so he can exercise but he wants to be in the crate right now.


Thanks everyone for your support! We need it!!!!



Here is a pic of him from yesterday, on his way home. I would get some pics today, but it's dark in his crate and I don't want to use flash with him so sick.



Its a cell phone pic so the color is off, he is a little more yellow in person.

Poor little sick boy. Hopefully he's stopped vomiting now that he's not getting the vegie oil added to his food. But at least he's home where it's got to be much more comfy!

And I see where YOU are taking comfort from Miss Moneypenny's story!! How great that she is recovering so nicely, as Bear will too

The assist feeding website mentions adding oil too, though butter is prefered: http://www.assistfeed.com/ExtraCalories.htm I am about to feed him again, god I hope he doesn't barf again.

Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens

Poor little sick boy. Hopefully he's stopped vomiting now that he's not getting the vegie oil added to his food. But at least he's home where it's got to be much more comfy!

And I see where YOU are taking comfort from Miss Moneypenny's story!! How great that she is recovering so nicely, as Bear will too

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I hope it works too. I'd vomit too if I had to eat that mess, lol! It smells gross. If he barfs up the plain a/d I will try blending up the wet he usually eats (Authority) and try that for the other feeding. Miss Moneypenny is Bear's (and mine!) hero right now! Thanks for the 'get well' wishes, we need em!

Just finished feeding him. He barfed before I started feeding him, the food he barfed was from the last time I fed him, the recipe mix. I am very hopefull that the plain a/d I just gave him will stay down. If his next meal (in 5hrs) doesnt stay down, I will call the vet again and see if we need to come in.

*EDIT, one good note! After we finished feeding he walked into his crate and smelled the water bowl a couple times, like he was interested in drinking. But he did not drink.