Rascal: 10 years old, blonde/orange tabby. He often goes outside in backyard only. He sometimes ate the tall fescue grass, which at times would make him vomit. Diet for the past 3-4 years has consisted mostly of wet food like Wellness, California Naturals?, Natural Balance, Tiki Cat, and dry food like Solid Gold. Recently, I've added Purina Pro Plan since he's been so bored with just the other choices and he dislikes Wellness. I need to know what dry food to give him because the Natural Balance low calorie food probably is not a good choice for him (although the overweight female needs it). Anyway, Prior to the good diet, he was eating Fancy Feast, Purina, Friskies, etc.
History: Last year Rascal weighed approximately 18 lbs, which for him was about 2 lbs. overweight. Both he and younger female calico received annual Feline Leukemia shots in mid/late March. In early April, female was sick with something and I got her treated with an antibiotic. Male showed different signs of beginning to have issues. Urine had strong odor, he began to lose weight. Later that month, the city sent out a letter that we had a higher concentration of coloforms in the water supply than normal. When asked, they of course denied that this could've been a problem for the pets and said no one else reported that there pets became ill.
By maybe June or July, Rascal had lost 3 lbs. Later in the year, his throwing up had become more common place and he was losing weight, even though his appetite was as good as can be if not increased. Okay, come February, he was throwing up much more often that I finally took him to the vet. I know, I waited much too long and now I'm really sorry about that. Well, unfortunately, I can't change the past, but I'm certainly wanting to do whatever I can possibly do within my means to improve the future for him.
He's been to the vet 3 times and after $800+ worth of lab work, an x-ray, antibiotics and Denamarin (milk thistle/SamE), he's now on Prednisone. I'm surprised the vet took him off of the Denamarin because that was actually helping to reduce the liver enzymes, but the problem is he has an incredibly high amount of white blood cells, liver enzymes, and Absolute Lymphocytes. Without doing a biopsy, my vet thinks he either has lymphoma/leukemia or some kind of Hepatitis.
Here is the Clinical pathologist review:
There is a mild to moderate lymphocytosis which has increased in magnitude since the last 2 CBCs performed 3-2012. The lymphocytes are small and mature. This could be a reactive population secondary to immunostimulation but evolving chronic lymphocytic leukemia is also possible. If there are changes of the lymphoreticular organs, biopsy recommended. Recheck CBC at 2-4 week intervals to monitor lymphocyte numbers and morphology.
So, last we checked, WBC=33.7, Absolute Neutrophil Set=14491, Absolute Lymphocyte=17861, ALK Phospatase=177, ALT(SGPT)=551 and in a prior CBC AST(SGOT)=170, A/G Ratio=0.9,
After the first treatment of Denamarin/antibiotic, the liver enzymes can down, but the white blood cells increased. We added Baytril to the mix and then being retested about a week after being off of everything, the numbers were all back up again. So, now we're only treating with Prednisone. Not sure why we stopped the Denamarin.
What I need from the community: I want to know what is recommended for further troubleshooting (besides biopsy), treatment, and for helping Rascal be as comfortable as possible if these are his last days with us. Right now, he's a spunky guy with a big appetite so you'd never know he had any problems, but his bloodwork shows otherwise. And, Rascal's weight is now down to 10 lbs. He's severly underweight!!
Thanks in advance!!
Randi (and Rascal)
History: Last year Rascal weighed approximately 18 lbs, which for him was about 2 lbs. overweight. Both he and younger female calico received annual Feline Leukemia shots in mid/late March. In early April, female was sick with something and I got her treated with an antibiotic. Male showed different signs of beginning to have issues. Urine had strong odor, he began to lose weight. Later that month, the city sent out a letter that we had a higher concentration of coloforms in the water supply than normal. When asked, they of course denied that this could've been a problem for the pets and said no one else reported that there pets became ill.
By maybe June or July, Rascal had lost 3 lbs. Later in the year, his throwing up had become more common place and he was losing weight, even though his appetite was as good as can be if not increased. Okay, come February, he was throwing up much more often that I finally took him to the vet. I know, I waited much too long and now I'm really sorry about that. Well, unfortunately, I can't change the past, but I'm certainly wanting to do whatever I can possibly do within my means to improve the future for him.
He's been to the vet 3 times and after $800+ worth of lab work, an x-ray, antibiotics and Denamarin (milk thistle/SamE), he's now on Prednisone. I'm surprised the vet took him off of the Denamarin because that was actually helping to reduce the liver enzymes, but the problem is he has an incredibly high amount of white blood cells, liver enzymes, and Absolute Lymphocytes. Without doing a biopsy, my vet thinks he either has lymphoma/leukemia or some kind of Hepatitis.
Here is the Clinical pathologist review:
There is a mild to moderate lymphocytosis which has increased in magnitude since the last 2 CBCs performed 3-2012. The lymphocytes are small and mature. This could be a reactive population secondary to immunostimulation but evolving chronic lymphocytic leukemia is also possible. If there are changes of the lymphoreticular organs, biopsy recommended. Recheck CBC at 2-4 week intervals to monitor lymphocyte numbers and morphology.
So, last we checked, WBC=33.7, Absolute Neutrophil Set=14491, Absolute Lymphocyte=17861, ALK Phospatase=177, ALT(SGPT)=551 and in a prior CBC AST(SGOT)=170, A/G Ratio=0.9,
After the first treatment of Denamarin/antibiotic, the liver enzymes can down, but the white blood cells increased. We added Baytril to the mix and then being retested about a week after being off of everything, the numbers were all back up again. So, now we're only treating with Prednisone. Not sure why we stopped the Denamarin.
What I need from the community: I want to know what is recommended for further troubleshooting (besides biopsy), treatment, and for helping Rascal be as comfortable as possible if these are his last days with us. Right now, he's a spunky guy with a big appetite so you'd never know he had any problems, but his bloodwork shows otherwise. And, Rascal's weight is now down to 10 lbs. He's severly underweight!!
Thanks in advance!!
Randi (and Rascal)