Senior versus other kind of blood panel; Distemper Shot

Question:  why would a vet order a senior panel for a 4.5 year old female cat?  What would show in a senior panel versus a normal panel?

Background/discussion:  I noticed Ritz has been drinking more water in the past two months, though peeing normally.  The vet said it could be because of the dry air in the house (heat) or possibly crystals.  Ritz has a history of UTIs, stress or bacteria induced.  I have been feeding Raw for over two years (prey model raw). 

The vet did a urine analysis and ordered a senior panel, Results Monday afternoon.

I don't think he is trying to rack up the bill; he discussed what was optional and what he strongly recommended.  I have pet insurance, and he coded the bill so that it would be a "sick" office visit (covered) versus "wellness" office visit (not covered).

I mentioned Ritz throws up about twice a week (she can't handle red meat on an empty stomach), and he wasn't concerned.  Though I expressed concern that frequent vomiting could pre-dispose her to other health conditions.

We agree to disagree about my feeding Ritz raw.  Though he did indicate in the office notice "beautiful" fur condition.

She also lost some weight in the past year (now 9.5 pounds, though looks heavier to me) (I have body dysmorphia).  When I said, oh, she's lost weight, the vet just shrugged.  Ritz was getting a little chunky.

On a separate matter (and, because it helps to share my worries):  the distemper shot is really affecting Ritz.  But what is strange is, the side effects (lethargy, loss of appetite) didn't kick in until almost eight hours after she got the shot.  I I know the side effects are normal; I wasn't aware of the delayed reaction.  I'm trying not to freak out (esp after I read the post about distemper shot and kidney disease).  I will certain call the vet if she doesn't eat by mid afternoon.

Thanks for listening...

I hope that Ritz is acting/feeling better and eating by now.   I've got the results of a senior panel I had done on one of my cats last month, it's 3 pages. I don't know what it has on it that a juvenile panel wouldn't. I'll be glad to email it to you if it would be of any help. Just a thought about the delayed reaction to the vaccination; sometimes mine are so relieved to get back home from the vet that they're a little wired, symptoms can even miraculously disappear for a couple of hours.

It could just be what the test is titled.  Maybe he wanted a more Comprehensive blood panel and that was called a Senior Panel.  The effects of vaccines can take up to 24 hours to show up.  I would make sure they mark an alert on her chart that she reacted with lethary, and also have them report the reaction to the company.

Thanks. Ritz is feeling much better. Meow ed for food. I learned that a Sr panel usually tests for less stuff than a Jr panel. The vet was more interested in what the urine analysis will show versus the blood work. (She will have to have a dental cleaning in about 2 months, so blood work is a good idea.)

LESS stuff!!!  That doesn't make sense, since seniors usually aren't as healthy and start getting sicknesses not "normally" seen in younger cats.  That's just plain odd. 

Well, whatever, just glad Ritz is feeling better, and here's hoping all the tests come back normal   (although, it would be nice to know WHY she is throwing up every so often...that is definitely NOT normal   Could that be related to her Feline Hyperthesia or whatever it is she has (I know what it is, just can't think of what it's called at the moment ).  I would think that would be stressful on a cal, not understanding what is happening to them and all, and we  know stress does strange things to ALL of us )

It is becoming apparent to me that Ritz can't handle red meat on an empty stomach--that is usually when she throws up. I will ask for a copy of the blood work and urine analysis. Yes I would think a Sr panel would test for diseases not normally found in a Jr cat--like kidney disease. I'm trying not to catastrophic. Her vomiting does not seem to be related to her Fhs though the symptoms are worse after she has eaten. I'll let you know what the tests show. She is still a little subdued but eating, peeling and pooping normally.

Update. Blood work and urine analysis perfectly normal. There were some anomolies which the vet explained away "as I said the elevation of GGT & Creatnine Kinase is due to the hemolyis. The elevation of the hematocrit is due to splenic contraction from excitement."
pH level a healthy 6.5.
Still not sure if the weight loss is real or a malfunction of the vet/scale. She doesn't look like she's lost weight, though I'm a poor judge of that. I have a scale which is accurate, I'll see if she will get--and stay--on it long enough for me to get a reading.
Ritz is due for a dental late March/April, so I'll get her weight checked then.
GO RITZ!

Ritz said:

Update. Blood work and urine analysis perfectly normal.
pH level a healthy 6.5.

GO RITZ!

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Hooray! Great news.

Yes, its great that her blood work came back perfectly normal.  So you think the vomiting is strictly related to red meat?   Guess you'll have to start a journal of every meal to know for sure.

I thought it was strictly red meat, but she threw up turkey (Rad Cat) last night.  And then wanted to eat her vomit right away.  She enjoyed her ham baby food five minutes later.

She'd gone longer than usual without food (12.5 hours versus 11.5 or 12 hours).

So I think she also has some acid build up.

I tried giving her some freeze dried treats before her dinner meal, but she meowed too loudly too long for me to hold out the requisite 15 minutes, and results were mixed.

I've also thought about giving her Pepcid, but I think you also have to wait 15 minutes for it to take effect.  It's worth a try.

I mentioned her vomiting to the vet with concerns that this might precipitate more serious illnesses (IBD?) but he just kind of shrugged.

PS:  I do keep a food journal.

Did the blood work include thyroid levels?

Ritz said:

 
I thought it was strictly red meat, but she threw up turkey (Rad Cat) last night.  And then wanted to eat her vomit right away.  She enjoyed her ham baby food five minutes later.

She'd gone longer than usual without food (12.5 hours versus 11.5 or 12 hours).

So I think she also has some acid build up.

I tried giving her some freeze dried treats before her dinner meal, but she meowed too loudly too long for me to hold out the requisite 15 minutes, and results were mixed.

I've also thought about giving her Pepcid, but I think you also have to wait 15 minutes for it to take effect.  It's worth a try.

I mentioned her vomiting to the vet with concerns that this might precipitate more serious illnesses (IBD?) but he just kind of shrugged.

PS:  I do keep a food journal.

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Interesting.  Well you know there have been other cats on raw that have suddenly started "rejecting" all raw and had to go back to canned temporarily.  Then when reintroduced to raw, did fine with it.  I don't know why this happened, and can't remember exactly who it happened to, but know it happened to more than one member's cat. 

As to the acid build-up, whenever one of my cats gets that, as soon as they get something in their stomachs, that usually helps stop the throw-up.  It's when they don't get food with the over acidity that they will throw up that frothy stuff.  If Callie goes more than about 9 hours without a little treat, she will throw up froth, but as long as she eats just one or two freeze dried treats around the 9th hour, then she's AOK in that department. 

Gosh, seems like your Vet isn't taking the vomiting seriously enough, as IMHO, vomiting isn't normal.  Maybe since he doesn't agree with you feeding Ritz raw, he's assuming it's the food that's causing it (which MAYBE it is, but MAYBE it isn't)  Are you giving her digestive enzymes?  I know she's been eating raw for a couple of years now, hasn't she?  So it's not like it's new to her or anything, is it?  And she's pretty adventurous with it, as I recall.    Gosh, and turkey is pretty benign . 

shunra said:

Did the blood work include thyroid levels?

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No, it did not include Thryoid, which I know is usually included with older cats (Ritz is around 4.5 years old.) During her wellness check, I assume the vet felt around her thyroid area and would have mentioned any abnormalities.

mrsgreenjeens said:

Interesting.  Well you know there have been other cats on raw that have suddenly started "rejecting" all raw and had to go back to canned temporarily.  Then when reintroduced to raw, did fine with it.  I don't know why this happened, and can't remember exactly who it happened to, but know it happened to more than one member's cat. 

As to the acid build-up, whenever one of my cats gets that, as soon as they get something in their stomachs, that usually helps stop the throw-up.  It's when they don't get food with the over acidity that they will throw up that frothy stuff.  If Callie goes more than about 9 hours without a little treat, she will throw up froth, but as long as she eats just one or two freeze dried treats around the 9th hour, then she's AOK in that department. 

Gosh, seems like your Vet isn't taking the vomiting seriously enough, as IMHO, vomiting isn't normal.  Maybe since he doesn't agree with you feeding Ritz raw, he's assuming it's the food that's causing it (which MAYBE it is, but MAYBE it isn't)  Are you giving her digestive enzymes?  I know she's been eating raw for a couple of years now, hasn't she?  So it's not like it's new to her or anything, is it?  And she's pretty adventurous with it, as I recall.    Gosh, and turkey is pretty benign . 

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When Ritz throws up, it is almost always undigested food, and she usually only throws up once or twice, in rapid succession. And if I let her, she'd eat what she threw up. If she throws up more than twice, then it is frothy bile.
Today she is having turkey thigh, which she ate Monday night and did fine on.
Yes she is very adventurous with food (chicken HEAD anyone!). She's always been a puker, I would say more so within the past 1.25 years; concidentally, that is about the time my work schedule changed, necessitating me to be away longer during the days. (I moved and now commute at least 1.25 hours one way).
When she started throwing up everything and could keep anything down, the vet blamed it on "bad meat".
I keep on saying "I'm going to take her to a holistic vet" or "take her to a feline vet only" or "I'll get a food timer [and put in freeze dried/dehyrdated treats]". I think the latter is my first step.
I am giving her probiotics every day usually with her evening meal (are they the same as digestive enzymes)? Would you advice me giving them to her in the morning?
Thanks.

Digestive Enzymes are difference from probiotics.  They simply aid in digestion.  People can take them too if they have issues.  And they help get the most nutrition out of the food that is being served up.  Prozyme of the one I use (bought it from Amazon)  Like probiotics, I just mix it right into their food.  And a little goes a long way.  Carolina's cats gained weight on it, so if Ritz is prone to pudginess, you really want to make sure you use those teeny measuring spoons with it. 

As to the probiotics, I don't think time of day makes any difference.  Some people actually split them between morning and evening.  When I feed ground, I prepare a few meals at the same time, so in go the probiotics and digestive enzymes, then I just dish some out and then put the container back in the fridge until the next meal (so basically I'm splitting it between breakfast,lunch AND dinner )

Thanks. I think the largest factor is timing between meals. For example, yesterday my sister stopped by my house around noon and gave Ritz some dehydrated treats. Ritz didn't throw up last night--and she ate the same food (turkey). Course that didn't affect her appetite, she still wanted her normal meal, treats and then some!
Will renew my research on timers. Ritz is prone to cubbyness, so I'll hold off on the digestive enzymes for now.