Unexplained weight-loss

New here, hoping someone out there has experienced this and can offer some insight.

We have a 13 year old ragdoll mix kitty that has been losing weight for over a year. At her biggest, she was around 8 lbs so she's never really been a BIG girl but she was healthy with a fluffy, healthy coat.

About a year ago we noticed she was dropping weight. We took her to the vet, ran labs including glucose, thyroid everything. It was normal, perfect down the board. So, we attributed it to aging and went on. She continued to eat normally. However, the weight continued to melt off.

We had the labs run again in February this year and again, perfect. The vet couldn't explain the weight loss. He recommended we see a feline specialist so we took her in. She did x-rays and found nothing in her digestive tract, however she was severly constipated. We put her on enzymes to help digest food, pumpkin to help move the bowels and kitty 'ensure' to get calories in her. She was at about 5.4 pounds by this point.

The vet was concerned it was cancer that wasn't showing itself yet so we tried the above treatments, however, she continued to drop. The feline vet then did a steroid shot as a hope that it would give us a little more time for the cancer to show itself.

She rebounded quite well and her weight got up to around 6.4 pounds but her coat didn't rebound. She dot the shot in March and in July I began noticing she was dropping weight again. Took her in for a weight check and she was down to 5.7. Met with the vet again, bloodwork came back perfect again. That was July 16. I took her for a weight check today and she was down to 5.2.

My DH works from home so he feeds her wet food throughout the day, if he can get her to eat. A lot of times she won't eat the wet food but she will munch happily on dry. But she just isn't either eating enough or isn't absorbing it to put on/keep on weight. We have bought every.single type of wet food available. She will eat some for a couple of feedings and then refuse it. Others she won't eat at all. While we prefer to feed the cats premium brands, we are feeding her whatever she will eat, even Fancy Feast or Friskies, we just want her to put on weight.

So, medically we can't find anything wrong with her. But she is melting away before our eyes. Has someone experienced something similar and can point me in a new direction? We are going to try Hills Prescription A/D tomorrow (getting it at the vets office). We've forced nutrition on her before but we won't do that again.

Anyone?

Well, my suggestion would be an abdominal ultrasound, a test for pancreatitis (the fPLI test), trying oral anti-inflammatory medication and an appetite stimulant.

Do you have a copy of a recent complete chemistry profile and CBC? If not, ask for one and go over the values yourself. You might see something that has been overlooked. I know, I fully realize, it's not any of our business, but I would still encourage you to post all the results of a complete chemistry profile and CBC for us. One of us might see something that requires attention. Something that, for one reason or another, has been overlooked. Yes, it happens and the results can be devastating and heartbreaking. So I'm suggesting this just to be on the safe side.

The abdominal ultrasound would look for and find hidden cancers or inflammation that don't show up in other test results. Very common. Inflammation would respond to anti-inflammatory medication (prednisone or prednisolone). This treatment would also help with appetite. Cancer might respond to specific treatment depending on what type it is. (There are cancers for which there is no known treatment though, like the liver cancer one of mine had for instance.)

Unfortunately sometimes it can take a long time and even several ultrasounds to find an abdominal cancer, so I can completely understand that your vet is thinking of cancer. Also, there are tumors that cannot be felt when a vet is doing a physical exam. Anyway, if your vet hasn't suggested it yet, please talk to him about doing an ultrasound now.

Right now I can't think of anything else to tell you, this is where I would start in your situation. (Have been in your situation and done these things that's why I'm thinking of them.)

Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions. We did start the appetite stimulant tonight so I'm waiting for that to kick in, want to get a good feeding in before bed.

I hadn't thought of an ultrasound, will mention to the vet tomorrow when we go in to pick up the A/D.

It's just been so long....the steroid shot she got earlier may have been prednisone. There was so much going on, trying to get weight on her I can't remember everything clearly. We were also dealing with a sick dog at the same time so it was a little hairy.

I will also get a copy of her last 2 labs while I'm there as well. I don't mind posting, we are turning over every stone to try to get her help. This just doesn't make sense.

I definitely recommend an ultrasound. Our kitty was losing weight and bloodwork and xrays showed nothing... turns out he did have cancer. The depo shot (long acting steroid) masked it (how he was feeling). The ultrasound can see in FAR more detail, so I second Violet's advice to ask about an abdominal ultrasound.

for your baby. What's her name?

I forgot to mention her name...it's Cleo. Let me see if the link works for a pic

Oh she's beautiful!!!

What a pretty girl!!

I third the advice of an ultrasound. You can't fight what you can't see. Knowledge is power and you need power over what is making Cleo ill.

Your kitty is in my prayers.

So here are her labs:

Most recent:
WBC - 6.03 10^9/l
LYM - .65 10^9/l
MON - .38 10^9/l
GRA - 5 10^9/l
LY% - 10.8 %
MO%- 6.3%
GR% - 82.9%

RBC-8.72 10^12/l
HGB- 13.9 g/dl
HCT-41.45 %
MCV- 48 fl
MCH - 16 pg
MCHC- 33.6 g/dl
RDWc- 18.9 %

PLT - 261 10^9/l
PCT - .34 %
MPV - 12.9 fl
PDWc - 41.9 %

ALB 4.0 g/do
ALP 49 u/l
ALT 42 u/l
AMY 1085
TBIL .2 mg/dl
BUN 21 mg/dl
CA 10.1 mg/dl
PHOS 4.0 mg/dl
CRE 1.2 mg/dl
GLU 78 mg/dl
NR+ 146 MMOL/L
K+ 4.9 MMOL/L
TP 6.9 g/dl
GLOB 2.9 g/dl

QC OK
HEM 1+
LIP 0
ICT 0

T4 2.0 ug/dl
CHOL 140 mg/dl

February #s (from a fax copy so a little difficult to read)
Total serum protein 8 g/dl
Albumin 3.1 g/dl
Calcium, serum 9.1 mg/dl
Phosphorus, serum 3.52 mg/dl
Glucose 75 mg/dl
BUN 19 mg/dl
Creatinine 1.1 mg/dl
Total bilirubin 0.15 mg/dl
ALP 64 U/I
CK 303U/I
AST (SGOT) 33 U/I
ALT (SGPT) 63 U/I
Globulins 4.9 g/dl
A/G Ratio .63
GGT <3U/I
Amylase 1498 U/I
Cholesterol 166 mg/dl
Sodium, scrum 151.1 meq/l
Potassium, serum 4.0 meq/l
Na/K Ratio 37.8
Chloride, serum 117.9 meq/l

Total WBC's 6080
Differential/%
Neutrophils 77
Lymphocytes 1.3?
Monocytes 3
Eosinophils 7
ABSOLUTE %
Neutrophils 4682
Lymphocytes 790
Monocytes 182
Eosinophils 426

Red blood cells 7.8
Hemoglobin, blood 13.3 g/dl
HCT 39.5
Spun PCV 32
MCV 50.6
MCH 17.1
MCHC 33.7
Platelet estimate 155
Platelet comment Clumped
Plasma protein 7.3 g/dl

RBC Morphology
Anisocytosis 1+

WBC Morphology Normal

Hemoparasites None Seen

Comments: platelet clumps are present on the smear and can falsely decrease both the automated and estimated platelet counts. The platelet given should be considered a minimum. A new sample is required for an accurate platelet count.

So, that is both. Please tell me if you see something. Thanks!

Thanks so much!

Oh, before I forget, Cleo is very beautiful.

Just one quick question: was the blood work done on an empty stomach after an overnight fast?

I'm thinking and thinking about a couple of values in the chemistry profiles. Blood glucose level and amylase.

The blood glucose level is very low, it's in the fasting level range. After a fast that value might be explained, but if there was no long overnight fast I would want to look into that. (Functioning blood glucose level is normally over 100, somewhere around 110-130, depending on diet.)

Also, amylase is high, even though lower now than the February reading. This might be a sign that something is going on with the pancreas, but it might also be caused by gastrointestinal disease. The kidney values are great, so going by those numbers I don't think we have to worry about renal disease as an underlying issue. And the liver values are also good. No reason to suspect liver disease.

So I'm thinking, the best thing would be to ask for the fPLI test to check for pancreatitis and schedule an ultrasound as well as soon as possible. Hopefully the results of these tests will finally reveal what's going on with your baby.

Violet - Thank you for your thoughts. While it wasn't purposeful fasting, she hadn't eaten very much the night before or morning of. It was one of those days we couldn't get her to eat.

I'll go research pancreatitis as well.

She started the A/D today and has eaten twice! I'm really happy she'll eat it. I spoke to the nurse today about an ultrasound and she said she would talk to the vet and call me on Monday.

So, we are moving along in our quest. Thank you all so much.

Update: Had the ultrasound, found nothing. She is continuing to lose weight, down to 5 pounds now. She refused all food earlier this week so we tried straight on tuna....knowing it's not good for them, however, it's better than her starving to death. She finally agreed to eat the tuna. But, only Starkist, she won't touch Chicken-of-the-Sea.

This morning I found she had thrown up blood so back to the vet we went. It was bright red and the vet feels like it is from a ruptured blood vessel in her stomach or esophagus, due to the strain of vomiting.

She's just a sick little girl but DH will not let her go. So, we did another Depo Medrol/Dex injection since it made her feel better last time. A Cerenia injection as she is constipated again and sub-q fluids, which I will be doing weekly for a bit.

She's just wasting away. We keep building her back up only to have her fall a little further each time. DH and I need to have a serious conversation about her but he just isn't ready.

So, we keep trying. I hope this injection gives my DH the time he needs to prepare to let her go. Whatever this is, she's hiding it like a pro.

I'm very, very sorry you're in this situation. Going back to our earlier conversation I have to ask you, did your vet do the fPLI test? This is very, very important.

The thing is, intestinal cancer/inflammation and pancreatitis can have the same exact symptoms, so without the fPLI test there is no way to tell for sure what's going on.

Also, sometimes intestinal cancer can only be found by doing exploratory surgery. It doesn't show up on any test results. (I've been in that situation with one of our cats.) What I'm trying to say is this: by doing the fPLI test one can rule out a very important disease that is treatable, in most cases, more treatable than intestinal cancer. If one is left with the strong suspicion of intestinal cancer and exploratory surgery isn't what anyone would want to do in a particular situation, treatment can still be attempted, there are several things vets can do going by the symptoms. And treatment, presuming intestinal cancer, can work as well as if the cancer showed up on test results.

As for your DH having a hard time letting your little girl go, I completely understand. In our family it's always been the men who couldn't face having to make the final decision. A few months ago my sister-in-law and her husband were in this situation with one of their cats. It wasn't the first time but this is something that never gets any easier, no matter how many times one has to deal with it. He was struggling with the fact that they had done everything humanly possible and there was nothing else left to try. Eventually it was this advice that my sister-in-law had found that finally helped him come to terms with the final but most loving decision they could make
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Ask-Veter...IBS-eating.htm

My heart is breaking for you in this difficult, sad situation. If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be this: have the test done, rule out pancreatitis. I can't tell you how very important this is. If the result is negative, find out what treatment options are available for what you're left with before you make a final decision.
Don't rush into a final decision without being absolutely, one hundred percent sure it's the right one.

I'm sorry to have to mention this but I'm wondering.....are you sure your vet is doing everything one should expect in a situation like this?

Originally Posted by Violet

My heart is breaking for you in this difficult, sad situation. If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be this: have the test done, rule out pancreatitis. I can't tell you how very important this is. If the result is negative, find out what treatment options are available for what you're left with before you make a final decision.
Don't rush into a final decision without being absolutely, one hundred percent sure it's the right one.

I'm sorry to have to mention this but I'm wondering.....are you sure your vet is doing everything one should expect in a situation like this?

Click to expand...

I am also so, so, so sorry!

The only thought I want to add is... if you run the test and it's negative, you may want to consider searching the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) to see if there's a holistic DVM in your area. You may want to seek a 2nd opinion from someone that can provide some actual alternative suggestions. http://www.ahvma.org

Excellent suggestion, I wholeheartedly agree.

I'm sorry. I forgot the pancreatitis test....yes, we did it, nothing returned.

And I do have confidence in our vet, she is a feline specialist and she is turning over every stone but she is also restricted by mine and DH's level of comfort. He and I have, in the past, done anything to make our pets better, putting quantity of life before quality.

Last year, we were faced with a spinal cord tumor on our dachshund mix. We pushed and pushed. Short of spending the $6,000 for the MRI and subsequent high risk, low probability surgery we pushed food, medicine and, looking back, made his last few weeks on earth pure hell. He suffered tremendous pain for which we pushed pain medicine and steroids to keep the tumor under control. We took him out to the bathroom every 45 minutes, day and night, many times carrying him when he couldn't walk. He lost his dignity. And we will never forget how selfish we were. And I will never forgive myself for that...he deserved better from me.

Cleo is a sensitive girl. We've forced food and medicine and she becomes terrified of me. She will run when I enter the room and cries when she sees me. It absolutely breaks my heart. I want to respect her and her boundaries. I want her to be happy and comfortable in her home. I don't want her last however long to be anything less than dignified.

Some may disagree or not understand but these are the decisions we are making. We will ensure she is comfortable and receives proper vet care and medications that keep her comfortable and happy. And will try not to make the mistake we made with Andy.

Do you think she could have a stomach ulcer? Has she received any Xrays? It seems like she has a low appetite. how much less is she eating than before? Do her bowel movements look unusual?

Originally Posted by mediCATe

Do you think she could have a stomach ulcer? Has she received any Xrays? It seems like she has a low appetite. how much less is she eating than before? Do her bowel movements look unusual?

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We've had x-rays and an ultrasound. The vet ruled out ulcer, don't ask me how, there have now been so many tests and shots. She is eating SIGNIFICANTLY less. We've given her appetite stimulants but she still refuses food. She has been eating tuna but today, I got her to eat some actual cat food. I think this Depo Medrol is kicking in, and the fluids. And whatever the other shot was.

I'm ordering some of the dried mackerel that was mentioned in another thread to see if we can entice her some more.

Originally Posted by RAFM

Cleo is a sensitive girl. We've forced food and medicine and she becomes terrified of me. She will run when I enter the room and cries when she sees me. It absolutely breaks my heart. I want to respect her and her boundaries. I want her to be happy and comfortable in her home. I don't want her last however long to be anything less than dignified.

Some may disagree or not understand but these are the decisions we are making. We will ensure she is comfortable and receives proper vet care and medications that keep her comfortable and happy. And will try not to make the mistake we made with Andy.

Click to expand...

I think we all understand. You will do everything in your power, but ultimately her comfort and happiness are what's most important. I can't imagine anyone disagreeing with this approach.

I also have every confidence in our vet. He's saved the life of two of our cats where the local vet missed the mark. I wouldn't trade him for the world.

That said, my experience says that there are times when western medicine and training fail us (both our animals and ourselves). Because of our FIV+ kitty and his multiple problems when first rescued, when our "western med" vets were unable to help him, I searched for a holistic vet (a DVM also trained in acupuncture, chinese medicine, nutrition, herbs, western herbs and I don't remember what else). His diarrhea (chronic diarrhea is a problem in about 30% of FIV+ kitties) under her care was gone inside of four days (after five months of other treatments/trials). His allergy problems (rodent ulcers, overgrooming to the point of bare spots on his legs and a completely bare abdomen) were solved with the first herbals she "prescribed." Of course, those take a little longer to work. But it was apparent within a few weeks we were on the right track. He was diagnosed by her with an "extreme spleen Qi deficiency," and he was "extremely yin deficient." Chumley was miserable for months, and traditional western medicine just didn't have the answers to help him. It's possible steroids would have done the trick, but with the FIV, we didn't want to further suppress his immune system.

I can't imagine it would hurt to see if there's a DVM trained in alternatives that is accessible to you.

I understand, of course, if it's not something you want to pursue. Just thought I'd share our experience for your consideration.

I've just thought of something else. Have you by any chance tried Kentucky Fried Chicken? I've heard it's irresistable. (without the skin)

Thanks for understanding our position. I will talk to DH about the holistic approach. We aren't ruling anything out.

I was looking in my Cleo picture file today and was stunned at her decline over the past year. It makes me so sad.

Cleo, happy and healthy a year or so ago.


This past Thursday, hanging out with DH while he worked.