Hepatic Lipidosis won't eat AGAIN

Although I am sure your vet is doing everything in her power for this wonderful cat, I would encourage you to seek a second consult with a feline specialist if you have one in the area. Your vet can even do this through teleconferencing and the Internet, sharing notes and test results on file with the person, and all you pay is a consulting fee and a phone call.

When my horse foundered and my vet was shaking his head and telling me that there was little or nothing we could do, and chances were bleak for Race to recover, I refused to accept that. I had 4 vets out to look at him, 2 farriers, one that specialized in founder- which is ironic to me right now, because no one even really knows why founder happens. But at any rate no one conventionally could help me so I went holistic.

The point is, sometimes when an animal is critical, a fresh pair of eyes is sometimes key to a survival that at this point may not happen. I would at least talk to your vet about this possibility. If you can get the A/D canned food and dribble some gravy over the top of it for Dylan would at least be getting some substantial nutrients his depleted body needs.

Originally Posted by hissy

Although I am sure your vet is doing everything in her power for this wonderful cat, I would encourage you to seek a second consult with a feline specialist if you have one in the area. Your vet can even do this through teleconferencing and the Internet, sharing notes and test results on file with the person, and all you pay is a consulting fee and a phone call.
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If you can get the A/D canned food and dribble some gravy over the top of it for Dylan would at least be getting some substantial nutrients his depleted body needs.

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Great idea...my vet (or should I say my poor vet) has done this many times in the past year and a half, since nothing my guys do is necessarily straight-forward re diagnosis or treatment. I love it because I "keep" my vet, with whom I have a rapport and who has such a great way with my cats, and she gets additional input and observations/advice.

Also...great idea to try to work some of the a/d in!

and a little story...in nursing school, I had a part-time job was working home healthcare. One of my regular assignments was to care for 3 Irish sisters, ranging in age from the youngest in her 80's to the oldest in her mid 90's, who was bed-ridden. The oldest was the one I was there to care for, and there came a time when she'd become ill, was recovering, but her appetite was horrendously off. All her food had to be pureed, and there was a set menu of favorites that her sisters had me feed to her. Nothing much was going in and I was very concerned. Yes, I could call the agency to report the problem but I decided to try a concoction...she loved ice cream....I took peanut butter (thinking ooh...high protein) and mixed it with the vanilla ice cream and it was a hit She began eating better, and I like to think getting this into her helped.

If your vet does decide on the feeding tube it does have the plus of you will *know* Dylan is getting the amount of calories and suggested food your vet wants for him, it will help his liver continue to heal, and it's temporary!

wishing you and Dylan a good day,

Ok, just a note of warning please. This thread is charged with emotion, and in dealing with a terminally ill cat, things can quickly get out of hand.

Having dealt with HL more times than I would like to remember, the fastest way to get the cat the food and nutrients he needs is to do the feeding tube. That is the bottom line on this disease. It does not have to be permanent, and admittingly it is a bit distressing to look at, but it will feed the body the nutrients it needs for the cat to survive.

I've been watching this thread for quite some time too and am amazed with your strength in battling this illness. My heart-felt prayers have been going to you and Dylan, so please take comfort in knowing that we hope Dylan overcomes this. (((hugs))), I know what it's like to have a very ill animal. You're doing your best under the circumstances, and that's much more than most people could say if they were in your shoes.

I'm thinking about you and Dylan. How are you both doing?

Originally Posted by CS_Hopper

I'm thinking about you and Dylan. How are you both doing?

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Dylan is eating every day....although not as much as I would like. (he eats about 2 jars of baby food a day and some crunchy food)

His spirits are up though, because I have opened up the windows of the apt. a few inches and he has been sitting on the window sill sniffing the air and looking outside. He used to love to do that in our old apartment.

We are going in at 4pm today for the follow up blood chem. and several other follow up tests that will let me know exactly where Dylan is and how bad or good he is ACTUALLY doing.

I will also talk to the vet about getting presciption dry food (since he won't touch the canned presription stuff, but is eating crunchy food again)

I am going to have a very serious talk with her and ask a lot of questions about the feeding tube to see if that he is beyond or if it would actually help him.

My biggest fear is that since this has been going on since early May, that it might not be fixable even with a feeding tube. And also don't know if feeding tube is necessary if he is eating on his own.

As I said Dylan's appt is at 4pm...if there are ANY questions that I should ask...let me know....I need to be armed with as much info as posssible when I walk in there today since we are at such a critical phase in his treatment.

We just got home from the vet...and I was expecting to hear bad news when I got there...but instead she said that Dylan is doing AMAZING!!

She said that he has gained a little bit of weight, his fur looks healthier, his ears, gums and eyes are not even slightly jaundiced...and she took him off of the antacid.

She did however put him on a stool softener because he is a little bit constipated. But she said that should clear up in about 3 days.

She also gave me a prescription crunchy food for him...Hill's K/D...The second we got home I put some in a bowl and Dylan LOVES it!! So this is a very good thing.

She said to make sure he eats atleast half a small bowl of that a day...and if he likes the baby food, to keep feeding him that as well. But she said that whatever I am doing is working and that he has made tremendous progress. (and here I thought he was on his last leg!)

See how easily people can scare when they read things? I was SURE he needed a feeding tube or he was a goner...but she said he is NO where near that point...and she is pretty confident that he will not need one at all since he is making such progress!!!

Blood Chem will be back tomorrow and I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will also reflect such positive results as she thinks his outward appearance reflects.

Boy, he loves that new crunchy food, he has gone over to the bowl 4 times already!! This is how he used to eat before he got sick!

Wonderful to hear this good news! Fingers crossed for the labs to also be great news.

Skritches to Dylan,

I am SO happy for you, so HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You almost wonder if it was really fatty liver that he had, only cause 2 vets told me they don't eat ANYTHING if they have that. Now wouldn't that be great!!!

according to all of the blood work etc. that they have done both vets determined that it is fatty liver.

I just chase him around like a little maniac 10 times a day on the days when he doesn't want to eat....also, now that he is getting better he is eating a lot more of his own free will.

But initially, 5-6 weeks ago when this all started he was barely eating with out serious coaxing.

I am just glad though that the vet thinks he is doing better...I won't be able to rest though until blood work comes back and confirms the same!

I will update tomorrow and let you all know as soon as I hear from the vet.

I am so happy for you and Dylan! Keep up the amazing job you are doing in taking care of your fur-baby!

hope the lab results are good too!

I'm so happy to know Dylan is doing so much better! Can't wait to hear the tests results!
Stephanie

I swear that Dylan heard the vet, and then realized that he was just being mopey...and got his act together...

Because today and last night when we got home, he started acting like he was JUST FINE. I mean really fine.

He slept in the bed again, has been up and about hasn't been hiding behind the couch. And has continued to go over to the new Hills K/D and eat like crazy in little tiny sittings.

The vet put him on a stool softner because he has been terribly constipated for the past 5 days...and has been in and out of the litter box like 15 times a day and would come out not having done anything...

And he just went in and out twice in 10 minutes, and I checked and He pooped! I never thought I'd be so happy about it, but I had to get up from my computer and go congratulate him....He practically rolled his eyes at me when I did too. It was pretty funny. But, he was really uncomfortable, and needed to go because he hadn't in over a week.

So YEAH now he is eating regularly and Pooping again!!!

This is major...I can't even tell you how major. I mean, since this all started, he has been very irregular...and so I am very happy for him.

I took away his Purina one crunchy and stored it in a ziplock baggy in the closet, and also switched his new food to the little food bowl that I bought last week (for his soft food) rather than the large bowl that I usually use for his crunchy food. I think this way I can better monitor how much he is eating...and also will be able to keep the food fresher. (and he seems to get really excited each time I pour new kibble into the bowl and rushes over to eat more)

I have a question for you guys....now that he has gone to the bathroom...should I keep giving him the stool softner for a few days just to help him stay "regular" or just give it to him every once and a while?

I will also ask the vet when she calls to follow up with me. Originally, she said to give it to him for 3 days, but she said this thinking it would take about that long for him to "go".

What do you think?

Such fabulous news, Susan! I'm so thrill Dylan is acting healthy again! And he even went poop! Hurray, Dylan! I agree you should ask your vet about the stool softener!

Dylan...glad to hear he "went". Honestly, I'd ask the vet, and ask if they want Dylan on something on a regular/several times a week basis(i.e. laxatone) to be sure he stays regular.

Glad to hear he's munching down the house

Susan-
I just went through and read your entire thread, and saw Dylan's story and his picture and I am so touched by your love for your sweet boy I can't even tell you how many times I teared up reading. I am saying a prayer for you and Dylan that his health will continue to improve. I am so happy to hear Dylan is eating and even pooped

WAY TO GO DYLAN !!! You keep up the fight against this awful illness!!!

oh my what wonderful news! I am so happy to hear this! I am so relieved for you and Dylan, and wish you both the continued success! congrats! GO DYLAN GO!

So, yesterday and today...dylan seems to be really interested in the Hills prescription crunchy food--and no baby food or canned food.

He is eating pretty regularly (morning, evening and middle of the night snack)

Each time he eats, he leaves a huge crunched up mess around the bowl, so I know he has been there and has eaten(he has ALWAYS been a messy dry food eater) And each time he eats, I clean up the "food art" (a la Sasha! )
so that each time he eats I know if he ate a little or a lot.

Last night, he had a BIG midnight snack, so this morning has not yet eaten.

I am still giving him the stool softner but, only once a day since he does continue to go in the litter box a little more than usual--and the poopies could be a bit more soft.

Dylan is REALLY enjoying sleeping in my boyfriend's laundry basket...I think because it is hidden in the closet and is a quiet and warm, etc. etc.

Do any of you have cat beds?

Dylan has a scratching post and millions of toys but no kitty bed...but I am thinking maybe he needs one to hide in MY closet.

Dori has a kitty bed. She occasionally sleeps in it during the day. If you get one I would suggest laying something of your over it. Like a tshirt wear it, and don't wash it just lay it over the kitty bed. I actually used my bathrobe that Dori liked to lay on. She refused the kitty bed at first, but once I put my bathrobe on it she slept in it all the time. After a couple weeks, I took the bathrobe out and she still sleeps in the bed

Good luck with it, and again I am glad to hear Dylan is doing so well.

Opps, I almost forgot another thing about the bed. If you try to encourage him to sleep in it, like putting him in it etc. he may not use it. But if you put it there like it isn't a big deal, he will probably be more likely to check it out

ARRRRRRRRRRRgh

Dylan just walked over to the soft food on the plate...and don't know if he ate too fast...I picked up the plate right away.

But he just threw up three times and it was yellow.
Maybe it is from the stool softner, today is only the third time he took it, and I only gave it to him about an hour ago.

He didn't throw up that much, but still, he hasn't thrown up in a LONG time--months--and now he is walking around looking very unhappy.

ok, he is lying down now. whew. poor little guy.