Author Topic: Mazy has declined supper  (Read 16885 times)

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Offline Lola

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Re: Mazy has declined supper
« Reply #45 on: November 16, 2015, 02:12:23 PM »
Any chance she is "working" it off, due to the change in weather... more active???
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Offline Middle Child

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Re: Mazy has declined supper
« Reply #46 on: November 16, 2015, 04:40:59 PM »
I don't think so. She'll have some blood work done and the doc and have a good feel around her tum and abdomonen and ...

Well, you know it takes a LOT for me to take Mazy cat to the vet.  In herself she seems "fine".  But the weight loss is very worrisome.  I need to get to the bottom of it.

Offline Pookie

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Re: Mazy has declined supper
« Reply #47 on: November 16, 2015, 05:24:08 PM »
I hope your vet is open-minded about this.  I suspect most will freak when they hear "cortisol" -- no matter what the dose.  They need to keep in mind Goldilocks and the 3 Bears:  too much was a problem, too little is a problem, it needs to be "just right."   :)

Crossing fingers and paws that all goes well with her appointment, and the vet is able to determine why she's not gaining weight.  But it's definitely a good idea to have her thyroid checked out.  And major kudos to you for being on top of that!  She's a lucky girl to have you!

grouphug  HeadButt grouphug  HeadButt grouphug
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Offline Pookie

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Re: Mazy has declined supper
« Reply #48 on: November 20, 2015, 10:20:51 AM »
Sending purrs that Mazy's appointment goes well today!  CatPurr
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Offline DeeDee

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Re: Mazy has declined supper
« Reply #49 on: November 20, 2015, 10:23:49 AM »
fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed fingerscrossed
"In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semihuman. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog." Edward Hoagland
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Offline Middle Child

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Re: Mazy has declined supper
« Reply #50 on: November 20, 2015, 01:31:18 PM »
Thanks all.  We'll be leaving in a minute.  mazy cat is so cooperative.  Last night I told her I would very much prefer her to have her next poop tomorrow morning (meaning this morning) so I could bring a sample to the vet. And didn't she just tell me this morning after her second meal, to follow down stairs again (she'd already been down to pee, with me watching) and give me a poop.  She didn't even bury it, she hopped out and watched carefully as I scooped it up and put it in a plastic bag.  I have no idea what her thoughts are about why mommy wants her poop, but I think it's amazing that she gave me one, just when I asked her to.

I left a half hour early for work this morning so I could drop the sample off fresh. No one at the vet all the doors locked when I got there. I was starting to feel quite frantic when I saw a tech drive in so I hurried over to her car and as she rolled down her window handed her the little package (double bagged) and asked her to bring it in for me.

There was a call when I came home, the stool sample is negative (for whatever it is they test for)

The carrier has been wiped with a feliway wipe, the carrier towel sprayed,  and Mazy cat has had some drops of rescue remedy

I'm going to change my shirt and off we go.

(nails all trimmed last night of course)

Offline Lola

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Re: Mazy has declined supper
« Reply #51 on: November 20, 2015, 01:57:28 PM »
Quote
I think it's amazing that she gave me one, just when I asked her to.

Beyond cool!!! 
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Offline Middle Child

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Re: Mazy has declined supper
« Reply #52 on: November 20, 2015, 04:12:49 PM »
Mazy cat is just incredible when it comes to her understanding of what I need from her in the litter box.

Back from the vet.  Since I fasted Mazy because I wanted her to have blood work I am going to be spending he rest of the night trying to get enough food into her.  Even so she's going to be almost an ounce short for the day but I can't risk her bringing it all back up by trying to stuff it all into her.

She missed .9 oz of her breakfast, and that is the amount I will not be able to make up.  She just had her lunch (.6 oz canned) and she's still got pre-meal (.6 oz ), supper (1.1 oz ), and bed time (.6 oz ) meals to eat, and it's already 5:00

Okay now that I am done moaning here's what happened.

Mazy is the perfect picture of health.  Her coat is soft, shiny and full. Eyes bright and clear. No lumps in abdomen or thyroid or kidneys that can be felt by hand, and the vet dug deep in spite of Mazy cat's growls and occasional spit or swipe (only twice!).    Even her ears look nice and almost completely wax free.

The vet spent an hour with us.  That included taking her back for the blood draw.  She knew a lot about the cortisol tests I asked about, but mostly in terms of Addison's and dogs.  But she has a clear understanding, it seems to me, about the things I was struggling to ask her about.  When I read of the blood tests recommended by Dr Plechner she knew what they are and where the blood would have to be sent to get them done.

I gave her what I had printed out to read over and keep in Mazy's file.

I also asked about doing Mazy cat's B levels. That also takes an extra vial of blood.

So we're starting with the standard senior panels.

I brought up the possibility of masses forming in her intestines, because you know I've read a lot about that these are the end results of cats who have this kind of chronic intestinal inflammations. Now Mazy doesn't fit the profile of an IBD cat because, with the exception of that one episode last month, she has never had diarrhea. But there is no doubt she has inflammation.

We start with the blood. If that all comes back normal and the weight loss continues the next step is some x rays.  x rays might not show anything if there is something still too small to show up. After x rays of course we're talking specialist because they don't have reliable ultrasound equipment.

Incidentally vet winced when I brought up intestinal lymphoma.  But I needed to bring it out in the open. It's a real possibility and I can't pretend it isn't to make myself feel better.

It would have been easy to just ignore the fact that Mazy is eating a half ounce more a day for the past 4 weeks and has lost another ounce, rather than gaining anything.  Especially because it's Mazy.  I mean,she's not skin and bones, she's a normal weight for her size and build.  but the reason I HAVE a scale is to monitor this kind of stuff. Take the guess work out of..."does she feel thinner?  Does she look thinner?"   the answer to both is yes, but it's so subtle and her fur is so thick, if I didn't have the weight records, I would second guess myself and ignore it until she WAS skin and bones, you know?

And you all know how much I dread taking Mazy cat to the vet.  Remember the ear thing? 

But I did it, we got through it and now we wait for the results and go from there.


Offline Pookie

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Re: Mazy has declined supper
« Reply #53 on: November 20, 2015, 04:23:07 PM »
Thank you for the update!  HeadButt

It sounds like everything went pretty well, all things considered.  Mazy is very lucky that you are on top of things like her weight.  Better to catch something early (if there is anything to detect) than late.  I really hope that if, heaven forbid, there is something going on, that the blood tests that were done reflect it so you and the vet know the next steps to take.

Sending purrs . . .

p.s.  I am shocked the vet was familiar with Dr. Plechner's tests!   :o  That's wonderful!  multistars
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Offline Middle Child

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Re: Mazy has declined supper
« Reply #54 on: November 20, 2015, 04:32:15 PM »
Thanks Pookie.

To clarify she wasn't familiar with Dr Plechner himself but did understand what the tests were. When I read off the IGa, IMa and IGg tests, she said "those are hormone tests"  I said yes and she went on to talk more about what they would be used for, a lot of info that has exited my brain already.

But it did help me feel extra confidence in her ability (and willingness) to help Mazy, since she really did seem to know what she was talking about. Perhaps she will do some more looking into it, that is, in her non existent spare time. I know she has a family, husband, young children, so I often worry she will burn herself out.  She is very dedicated, coming in on her day off to check her patients, making calls to follow up, and you know I'll never forget how she came in on her day off to do that full mouth extraction and jaw bone surgery on Blue, the cat I rescued so long ago.  Hard to believe that was 5 1/2 years ago already!

I was thrilled that she spent a whole hour with us and made a point of thanking her for the time.  Even if it was because she had no other appointments, I was very grateful.

Offline Lola

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Re: Mazy has declined supper
« Reply #55 on: November 20, 2015, 05:02:20 PM »
Yes, thanks for the update! 
Not that I want Mazy to have IBD, but ... a cat can have IBD and not have diarrhea. 
I know you keep EXCELLENT notes.  What about her regurgitating (if any) episodes relating to her weight loss?
Overall, it sounds like the vet visit went pretty well.  Mazy did good.  :)  You were able to ask questions.  The vet was very helpful.  thumbsup1



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Offline Middle Child

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Re: Mazy has declined supper
« Reply #56 on: November 20, 2015, 05:28:04 PM »
Thank you Lola. When Mazy cat regurgitates I make up the deficit.  She never goes short of her daily quota, with the possible exception of today, though I may stay up very late and make sure she gets it all anyway.  After all she already had her 9 hour fast for the day.

The only time she's missed getting her full amount was on the day of her dental on August 17, and that day I fasted her for 14 hours to stop the diarrhea cycle.

And for the past month she has been getting a half ounce MORE than her normal amount.  with no weight gain, in fact an ounce lost. I wonder how much she would have lost if I hadn't been feeding her the extra.

Something is wrong. Cats don't lose weight for no reason.

Offline Lola

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Re: Mazy has declined supper
« Reply #57 on: November 20, 2015, 07:08:31 PM »
Thanks for the answers.  I don't mean to be a pain in the butt.  I was kinda hoping you missed an important detail that would explain her weight loss. 
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Offline Middle Child

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Re: Mazy has declined supper
« Reply #58 on: November 20, 2015, 07:55:46 PM »
You aren't a pain in the butt and questions are good, might help me see something I've missed. You never know.

Offline DeeDee

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Re: Mazy has declined supper
« Reply #59 on: November 20, 2015, 08:49:02 PM »
Now the hardest part. The waiting begins.  :o

I'll be praying that everything turns out okay, and continuing to hope that she's feeling so good when you're not home that she's burning off a ton of energy. fingerscrossed fingerscrossed
"In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semihuman. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog." Edward Hoagland
"Thorns may hurt you, men desert you, sunlight turn to fog; but you're never friendless ever, if you have a dog."

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