We have a wonderful vet clinic here in town with a helluva good staff. Recently, HRH Kittyface[Cleo, our indoor kitty] started vomiting a lot. As she has seasonal allergies, we thought it was time to take her up to see Dr. Stacy [as we call her] to get a steroid shot.
Long story short and a blood test later, Dr Stacy diagnosed Cleo with feline hepatic lipidosis and thanks to her being on the stick, we’ve caught it in the very early stages; nothing that can’t be fixed with a daily dose of Milk Thistle. The thing that made her think “Hmm…it’s not just allergies,” was the throwing up but her not losing weight. Cats who are starting to get sick are usually anorexic, and believe me, this cat is NOT. She’s always been in good weight, her energy levels are appropriate for a 15 year old cat, and for her to start vomiting so much, so often, was a hint of what was going on.
There’s still a couple tests that need to be run, but overall, I am so, SO thankful that Dr Stacy found this in time. I shudder to think what would have happened if we didn’t have a vet like her around.
So, to all you vets, vet techs and the like, I would like to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for all you do!!
Good on your vet for catching it quickly! And good on you for taking Cleo in sooner rather than later!
My sweet little Gabbi kitty was pretty far into hepatic lipidosis before it was diagnosed. We knew she was losing some weight, but she was FAT so we thought it was a good thing. Then we realized she wasn’t eating, and that we couldn’t get her to eat. A couple of trips to the vet, a feeding tube (through her neck and into her esophagus), several cans of watery, rich cat food, some gel with something for her kidneys and a bunch of $$ later, she was good as new. Now, we watch her eating and weight like a hawk - I don’t ever, ever want her or us to have to go through that again.
Here is Gabbi, the tortie on the left, a few years after the whole ordeal. The tabby on the right is Bailey.
Echoing - thank you vets and vet techs! You are a special, wonderful bunch!
I love my vet. I took my old malamute in to a new vet for an ear infection. He’s gotten lethargic and fat, but I attributed it to old age. I really didn’t know how much longer he had, sort of expect him just not to wake up one day. Anyway, the ear infection came up, so I took him in. One of the vets was walking across the waiting room and said “that looks like a thyroid dog to me!” Once he got into the exam room, the vet pulled blood for a thyroid panel. Sure enough he was severely hypothyroid. I started him on thyroid hormone (more than 20 times the dosage I take! :eek: ) and 6 month later he’s like a new dog. He’s lost 30% of his body weight, he’s active and runs to meet me. He’s still an old dog, but whatever lifespan he’s got left has certainly been improved because the vet went beyond treating an ear infection.
Echoiing how great DVM’s are, but not a happy outcome. My kitty, Evie/Babycat, had a brain infection two months ago, and had to rush her to Emergency care, and then the State Vet school for more intensive care. After 10 days, she was not going to make it, and we let her go. But, the care she got was wonderful, caring for both cat and her people, just exemplary in what any medical care should be.
The neurologist on her case was great about calling and discussing her problems in detail, even after being on duty for a shift and a half, with surgery. He always followed up.
It was a sad experience in losing the best cat I’ve ever had to a rough disease, but, to see how everyone in the process, from emergency clinic, to State Vet Hospital, was compassionate and clear in process, was really heartening. Veterinarians have a beautiful great heart for healing.
