Author Topic: Shadow not well :(  (Read 4620 times)

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Offline Shadow

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Shadow not well :(
« on: December 06, 2015, 02:48:37 PM »
Ok so I have just noticed Shadow is drinking quite a bit of water the last few days, this is not normal for her. So this could mean a few things. I googled the symptom and there is a list of things it could be (Diabetes, hyperthyroidism, CRD..etc.) So when I take her to the Vet what should I get her tested for? Or will one blood test figure it out? I am so worried now :(
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Offline Pet South

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Re: Shadow not well :(
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2015, 03:25:21 PM »
Blood and urine should be all that is needed
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Offline Pookie

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Re: Shadow not well :(
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2015, 04:18:46 PM »
Blood and urine should be all that is needed

What Pet South said.

Sending purrs and hugs to you and Shadow, and crossing paws that everything's ok.  Just out of curiosity, do you run a humidifier when the heat is on?  Maybe the air is dry and she's thirsty because of that?

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Offline Middle Child

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Re: Shadow not well :(
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2015, 04:29:09 PM »
Ask for a senior panel, which includes superchem and cbc, but emphasize  that the vet should include thyroid, especially T-4 and free T-4.

And the urinalysis.

Sorry to hear you are worried about Shadow, how old is she?

All paws crossed here, keep us posted!

Offline Lola

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Re: Shadow not well :(
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2015, 04:30:46 PM »
There is basic blood testing that most vets do, but there is also blood testing that includes more than the norm.  Full panel?  Geriatric?  MC will know the exact wording.  My theory... the cat is already at the vet, so go all the way.

When is Shadow's appointment? 
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Offline Lola

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Re: Shadow not well :(
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2015, 04:31:33 PM »
Senior panel!  Thanks MC!!!!  :)


Quote
but emphasize  that the vet should include thyroid, especially T-4 and free T-4.
  I agree!  I had to make the request with my previous vet, but not with my current vet.  What is the norm for one, isn't for another.

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« Last Edit: December 06, 2015, 04:34:00 PM by Lola »
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Offline Shadow

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Re: Shadow not well :(
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2015, 05:14:40 PM »
Wow Pookie I did not think about that. I do have the heat on now and it is very dry in here. I am also having issues with sinuses. So this would make her drink more? I do not have a humidifier, guess I should look into getting one of those.  Shadow is 14, she seems ok except for her eye. I have tried to find Lactoferrin here for her but it is actually an american product, so I cannot get it. She gets L-lysine, but I really wanted to get her the Lactoferrin.  As I sit here and write this she is sleeping beside me and she is actually snoring lol!  so I am thinking now that the drinking water has to do with the dry air.
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Offline Lola

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Re: Shadow not well :(
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2015, 05:17:35 PM »
When was her last blood work done? 
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Offline Shadow

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Re: Shadow not well :(
« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2015, 05:56:36 PM »
When was her last blood work done? 
Probably about two yrs ago.

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Offline Middle Child

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Re: Shadow not well :(
« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2015, 07:19:33 PM »
Definitely time for more blood work, then. Hopefully it's just the dry air, but I think blood work every year after about age 12 or 13 is essential.

Offline Middle Child

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Re: Shadow not well :(
« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2015, 07:21:18 PM »
PS regarding the lactoferrin...can you just get it on Amazon and have it shipped in?  Is there something to do with customs why you wouldn't be able to order it?

http://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=lactoferrin


Here I went into amazon Canada:

http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_6/185-3289824-4376843?url=search-alias%3Dhpc&field-keywords=lactoferrin&sprefix=lactof%2Caps%2C516


Offline Shadow

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Re: Shadow not well :(
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2015, 12:45:37 AM »
When Laurie posted about the Lactoferrin on FB someone in that thread said something about having difficulties ordering into canada ( customs maybe)?  Though that price is way to expensive for me anyhow :(
Thanks anyway MC :)
Shadow is now sneezing..ugh!!
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Offline Lola

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Re: Shadow not well :(
« Reply #12 on: December 07, 2015, 02:53:21 PM »
Her age, drinking lots of water, sneezing, time frame of last vet visit...  personally, I would get her to a vet ASAP. 
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Offline Shadow

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Re: Shadow not well :(
« Reply #13 on: December 07, 2015, 08:05:48 PM »
Her age, drinking lots of water, sneezing, time frame of last vet visit...  personally, I would get her to a vet ASAP. 
She has been to the Vet twice recently for her eye. Thing is today she is doing fine and acting like a kitten Oy!! her eye is much better today, I have been giving her vetricyn since the Vet's cant figure out what to do. I turned the heat off last night, no sneezing or drinking water since. Will keep an eye on things this week, if I see anything she will go to the Vet ASAP! :)

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Offline Pookie

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Re: Shadow not well :(
« Reply #14 on: December 07, 2015, 08:20:39 PM »
It certainly doesn't hurt to add some moisture to the air.  If you have a wood stove or pellet stove, you can put a large pot of water on it and that can add some moisture until you can find a humidifier.  But for what it's worth, my parents' house had a fireplace and then a wood stove, which they used regularly to keep the heating costs down.  And let me tell you, it was DRY in that part of the house, and yes, it made me very thirsty.  That dry air is going through the nasal passages and down the throat (?) to the lungs, so it can dry all of that out.  That may or may not be what's going on with Shadow (I really hope it's something as simple as that), but like I said earlier, it won't hurt either of you to add moisture to the air while the heat is on.

I hope this helps!
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