About Orangie (our cat)

[Alana]

We have been concerned about the health of our cat recently, so we took her to the vet. She is a fluffy orange cuteness, 14 years old, and recently she started crying for food 3 times a day (she used to eat 2xday), and seemed more outdoorsy. The vet did some blood tests on her, and it appeared that she had kidney infection. We were given antibiotic that she took 2xday and he said that by the time she finished the pack the infection should be gone. There was also a very little hypothyroidism (not enough to make him worry about it) and some liver issues, most likely the results of the infection.

During the time she was given her antibiotic, Orangie continued to ask for food 3xday and being more active than usual and that continued until this week (she was taken to the vet about a month ago). These past few days, there was a change: she stopped eating (didn't eat anything for about 3 days, which is very unlike her! I checked today and I saw that she had a third of her food) and she had several seizures as well (one caused her to fall off the stairs). She has also been less interactive and sleeping more. The seizures are not new, btw, she used to have them few years back, but then they went away for a couple of years now and resurfaced now again.

We called the vet and he said he didn't know what was causing all these, he mentioned her old age, and suggested that we take her to the closest big city (which is about 5 hrs from here and Orangie does not like trips in cars) for a CAT scan. So that was the latest we got from the vet yesterday. Before we do anything, we thought of asking your advice. I was also interested to see if Dr Herr Eisenheim had any homeopathic advice for our Orangie, anything that might help with her seizures, appetite...

Ah, also, the last couple of weeks we started adding fish oils on her food, which she seemed to like at first, but then she stopped eating both the fish oils and her food at the same time.

And here's Orangie herself

 

[lake_george]

Hello Alana,

What a beautiful Kitty you have!

I certainly am not an expert but I would say, from having had 3 elderly cats and currently one elderly dog, that stop giving the fish oil, since you have only been doing it for 2 weeks and the odd behaviors started after that. There are some oils that the cat's liver cannot process, I am not sure if this could be what is going on but it sounds like all was well until that was added so it coudn't hurt to stop.

I would also say keep her inside so that you can monitor what she is eating, drinking, and excreting.

What I have learned is that as cats age, usually they get chronic renal failure, or else diabetes. Thyroid problems also happen, and once the thyroid is under control, renal problem become apparent.

Diabetes: Loses weight, wants to eat a lot, drink a lot, pee a lot, can be controlled with medication and/or insulin shots and diet.

CRF: not much energy (anemia is a side-effect), and toxins build up in the body because the kidneys stop filtering. Both of these can be controlled with shots of epigen (for anemia), special food, and aluminum hydroxide. There are also other was to work with CRF.

Here is a website with A LOT of information about cats.

http://www.felinecrf.org/

There is also a yahoo group you can join from this site, and there are people there who know a LOT about cats -- since many vets really don't know as much about cats as is out there to know.

I hope this is a help.

Best wishes to you and Orangie.

 

[Windmill knight]

Oh I knew that cat - for a while we were friends! I hope she gets better, or if her time has come, that she has a smooth transition. I must say that last time I saw her more than two years ago she already looked old... Give her a hug on my behalf.

 

[lake_george]

A few more thoughts: The antibiotic could have killed the good bacteria in her intestines, giving her diarrhea. You can buy probiotics for cats from the vet, or possibly online if your vet does not have it.

ALSO --- she could be dehydrated. When you grab a fold of her flesh, does it stay stiff? Your vet can tell if you can't, and your vet can administer subcutaneous fluids to rehydrate her. You can also buy the fluid, tubes and needles and administer it yourself (I have done this for my dear cat Claude). The people on the CRF yahoo group can give more hints on how to do this too. It might be that she is worn down right now from being dehydrated, especially if she has had diarrhea she could be dehydrated.

 

[SeekinTruth]

That's one cute cat, Alana. Hope everything works out for her.

 

[bngenoh]

Orangie doesn't look 14 at all, but I don't know anything that can help though. :(

 

[Alana]

Hello Alana,

What a beautiful Kitty you have!

I certainly am not an expert but I would say, from having had 3 elderly cats and currently one elderly dog, that stop giving the fish oil, since you have only been doing it for 2 weeks and the odd behaviors started after that. There are some oils that the cat's liver cannot process, I am not sure if this could be what is going on but it sounds like all was well until that was added so it coudn't hurt to stop.

Yes, we stopped giving her fish oils. It might have been the culprit because today she actually ate. Twice she went to her food-dish and almost finished her whole meal.

I would also say keep her inside so that you can monitor what she is eating, drinking, and excreting.

The last couple of days she hasn't gone out at all. And when out, I haven't seen her munching on anything all the times, she just takes strolls for shorts periods and then wants inside.

What I have learned is that as cats age, usually they get chronic renal failure, or else diabetes. Thyroid problems also happen, and once the thyroid is under control, renal problem become apparent.

Diabetes: Loses weight, wants to eat a lot, drink a lot, pee a lot, can be controlled with medication and/or insulin shots and diet.

CRF: not much energy (anemia is a side-effect), and toxins build up in the body because the kidneys stop filtering. Both of these can be controlled with shots of epigen (for anemia), special food, and aluminum hydroxide. There are also other was to work with CRF.

Here is a website with A LOT of information about cats.

http://www.felinecrf.org/

There is also a yahoo group you can join from this site, and there are people there who know a LOT about cats -- since many vets really don't know as much about cats as is out there to know.

Thank you for suggestions and for that link, lake_george. I read through, but I am still not sure that this is what she has, there are so many symptoms included in that diagnosis. We will phone the vet again today and ask him about it. I also want to ask about diabetes too, and getting those tests, because from reading the symptoms it might be a possibility.

A few more thoughts: The antibiotic could have killed the good bacteria in her intestines, giving her diarrhea. You can buy probiotics for cats from the vet, or possibly online if your vet does not have it.

She doesn't have diarrhea, from what I've see in her litter box her stools are usually on the dry side.

ALSO --- she could be dehydrated. When you grab a fold of her flesh, does it stay stiff?

I am not sure. I asked another household member to try it, and we both agreed that it feels like always, or not very stiff, but it is hard to tell, she is has a lot of fur. I noticed before that she was not drinking a lot of water in general, though I read in that website you posted that wet foods (that's all she eats nowadays, she used to vomit if she ate dry food) are about 80% water, so that keeps them hydrated. She probably needs more water though. We will ask the vet, and maybe take her in again.

Thank you all for your support, and hug given :)

 

[Z...]

If you have the results of the blood test could you please post them.
It sounds like your cat is suffering from kidney failure not just simple infection, but I would need to see blood test values- especially CREA and UREA/BUN.

 

[lake_george]

Thank you all for your support, and hug given :)

You are very welcome Alana! and a hug back to you and Orangie!

It is good you are asking for help about your cat. I did not find the CRF website and group until after my dear cat had died - I was just following what the one vet said, and from what I found out later, I think more could have been done earlier for my cat. I still have my little dog with CRF who was diagnosed 2 years ago, about the same as the cat (long story which I will spare you - the upshot being get as much information and support as you can - and thankfully it is out there!)

14 is not always so very old in cats - I hope you will enjoy many more years with Orangie.

 

[Alana]

If you have the results of the blood test could you please post them.
It sounds like your cat is suffering from kidney failure not just simple infection, but I would need to see blood test values- especially CREA and UREA/BUN.

I took a picture of the results but I could not attach it here, it was too large, so I e-mailed it to you. Let me know if you receive it and what do you think. Thank you, HE!

It is good you are asking for help about your cat. I did not find the CRF website and group until after my dear cat had died - I was just following what the one vet said, and from what I found out later, I think more could have been done earlier for my cat. I still have my little dog with CRF who was diagnosed 2 years ago, about the same as the cat (long story which I will spare you - the upshot being get as much information and support as you can - and thankfully it is out there!)

I am very sorry to hear about your cat and dog, lake_george, and that the vet did not do all he could for your cat's sake. It's one of the reasons I am asking here, since I am not sure that this vet will do his best for our cat. It's always better to educate ourselves about everything these days.

14 is not always so very old in cats - I hope you will enjoy many more years with Orangie.

Me too, and thank you. I hear that cats can live up to 20 years, so I am crossing my fingers. She is loved by many, this cat :)

 

[Voyageur]

Glad you are getting some help here Alana, not knowing is difficult with our animals. Orangie is lovely and @ 14 sounds like she has had a caring and active life - hope she gets well.

 

[Z...]

If you have the results of the blood test could you please post them.
It sounds like your cat is suffering from kidney failure not just simple infection, but I would need to see blood test values- especially CREA and UREA/BUN.

I took a picture of the results but I could not attach it here, it was too large, so I e-mailed it to you. Let me know if you receive it and what do you think. Thank you, HE!

I just had a look. I don't think she suffers from any infection and IMO antibiotic was unnecessary. Also it looks like her kidneys are working fine. It is definitely a liver issue and the seizures could be the result of poor liver function and toxic encephalopathy. I think it is a good idea to follow your vets advice and take her to CAT scan before we can decide on further course of treatment.
hypothyroidism in cats is extremely rare and this is most awkward, but as I said it would be better to gather more information asap before we can decide on some homeopathic remedy.
In the meantime it will not heart to start her ASAP on Milk Thistle ( 80% concentration) 3 drops twice a day for a week. Then we take it from there.


and I forgot to ask - how is Orangie's diet?

 

[Aiming]

Hi Alana,

just want to say what a beautiful fellow you have there! I'm glad Dr Herr Eisenheim is around and hope that Orangie will be getting better soon. My best wishes.

 

[Alana]

If you have the results of the blood test could you please post them.
It sounds like your cat is suffering from kidney failure not just simple infection, but I would need to see blood test values- especially CREA and UREA/BUN.

I took a picture of the results but I could not attach it here, it was too large, so I e-mailed it to you. Let me know if you receive it and what do you think. Thank you, HE!

I just had a look. I don't think she suffers from any infection and IMO antibiotic was unnecessary.

I am now sorry I didn't send you the blood test results as soon as we got them.

Also it looks like her kidneys are working fine. It is definitely a liver issue and the seizures could be the result of poor liver function and toxic encephalopathy. I think it is a good idea to follow your vets advice and take her to CAT scan before we can decide on further course of treatment.

Well, I just spoke with their office to find out where in this other city we could take her for CAT scan, what are the costs, etc, and the vet was out so they will call me back. But she did say that the recommendation on her file was for ultrasound, not CAT scan (which again is in this city 5 hours from here), I mistakenly remembered CAT scan for some reason. Would you advice to get a referral for CAT scan? (in this country you need referral for everything!)

hypothyroidism in cats is extremely rare and this is most awkward, but as I said it would be better to gather more information asap before we can decide on some homeopathic remedy.
In the meantime it will not heart to start her ASAP on Milk Thistle ( 80% concentration) 3 drops twice a day for a week. Then we take it from there.

Ok, I'll check with our health food store or find a homeopath in the area. Thank you HE!

and I forgot to ask - how is Orangie's diet?

She is very particular when it comes to her food, so we went through a lot of different brands and tastes to end up with the Whiskas wet food (this one: http://www.whiskas.ca/en-ca/Products/Wet-Food/Re-closeable/WHISKAS-Chicken-Dinner.aspx) of which she eats all tastes except for whitefish/tuna. Until about the end of last year, she would have 2 cans of that a day, and would also munch on dry food once in a while. But she started vomiting every time she ate the dry food, so now she eats only the wet foods. As I mentioned, until she started having her symptoms, since the beginning of the year she was eating 3 cans of wet food a day.

Thank you voyageur and Puzzle!

 

[mcb]

...and I forgot to ask - how is Orangie's diet?

I decided to let you ask.

...She is very particular when it comes to her food, so we went through a lot of different brands and tastes to end up with the Whiskas wet food (this one: http://www.whiskas.ca/en-ca/Products/Wet-Food/Re-closeable/WHISKAS-Chicken-Dinner.aspx) of which she eats all tastes except for whitefish/tuna...

Good, no grain. Not sure what "meat by-products" are, though, and that is the second ingredient. Those could be good (offal) or bad (floor sweepings). It doesn't have the excessive veggies found in some "healthy" brands (good!). I don't know what calcium carbonate is doing in there either. For humans it can be bad news (higher chance of heart attack); for cats I don't know. Ground bones would be better.

Cassie seems to be doing well on pastured raw food (lamb/chicken/turkey formulas that include small bone bits). When I posted about her, we thought it was all over but here she is (below). She is younger (~3 1/2 years), but somewhat weak physically and has health problems (asthma, especially), so in some ways she is like an older cat. But very spirited. I couldn't start my day without a nip from her (she often communicates using her teeth).

The food is expensive, but then we were paying $1000 or more for some of Cassie's vet trips, and we can buy a year's supply of prepared raw food for the cost of one of those trips. She has hardly been to the vet since we put her on raw food.