Need some positive thoughts please

[debral09]

Hi All!
I am in need of some positive thoughts right now, or more so our 5yr old cat.  For all the pet lovers I am sure you can feel my families pain.  We had to take our 5yr old male cat, Linus, to the emergency vet today.  He became lethargic Tuesday and most likely Monday night.  He has not eaten since dinner Monday night and has been throwing up.  He can't keep food or water down.  I took him to the vet yesterday and they did blood and urine tests.  The vet called me today to tell me that he has liver disease.  WHAT the........  This out of nowhere!!!!!!!!!!!!  The emergency vet agreed and she put a cathater in him and started him on iv's.  They will do ultrasounds tomorrow on his liver and spline.  The numbers that they are concerned about are 4 and 5 times higher than they should be which can be fatal.  They have to force him to eat in order to try and reverse this.  He has in plain terms a "fatty liver".  They say that this can happen just like that with no real warning signs.

So far we are aleady in for almost $1000 but can you really put a price on love?  NO!!!!!  Linus is my husband's cat so he is taking it pretty hard.  I can't imagine our house without him here.  Who's going to chase Missy, our 11yr old cat, around to keep her young?  Who is going to make our 6 month old daughter scream with delight?  Mind you she already knows the difference between him and Missy.  It's amazing!

Well thanks for listening!  You guys are all great!
Debra

[mercyone]

All my books at home are for dogs - so I couldn't find how to detox the liver for a cat but I thought it might be in there someplace - you might try taking kitty to a holistic vet to do a liver detox.

My little girl Doberman had a liver ultrasound, a bile acid test that came back normal, but her liver enzymes were off the chart and for no good reason - they were getting ready to do a liver biopsy and I said "wait a minute" that is too painful for my dog - one vet said "your dog has liver disease and is going to die" - thanks much - so I bought another Doberman knowing that it would take him about two years to be an adult and my little girl Dobie was now almost four years old - long story short - now I have a healthy 6 year old Dobie and one rather sinker of a lover (if you know what I mean) 18 month old male.

My little girl did and is doing just fine - but I home cook her food - and still do - a very mild diet - boiled chicken breast, rice, carrots, oil, and supplements - but she is a dog - you can't do the same for cats they need different diets - special cat diets - so please change her food and look into a liver detox with a holistic vet.

Mercy

[SharJ]

Hi Debra,

I am saying prayers for Linus and for all of you.  Pets have always been important in our family, because they are a part of our family.

I hope Linus continues to improve and able to go home with you soon.  
Dad & I are here for all of you.  

Love, Mom
(Sharj)

[hbananas]

Here are best wishes from Nelly and me that your dear Linus keeps improving and is back to his old self very soon.
Holly

[debral09]

Hi!  Just wanted to share that we just got back from visiting Linus.  He looks more alert but we are very cautious still.  They said that he ate around 10am and has kept the food down.  They were going to feed him again at 2pm with hopes that he keeps it down as well.  He was at least up and walking around.  The vets still don't know what is making him sick.  

To Kit:  I wish that it was as easy as changing his diet.  But the liver disease is not the main reason that he is sick.  Something caused his liver to stop working and right now they don't know why.  The biopsy of his liver won't be back for a couple of days and once it does we should hopefully know what caused all this.  I am glad that you are feeling better though and wish you continued good health.

I just want to thank everyone for their support and love again.  It truly does mean alot to me.  Hope everyone is having a better weekend than us!

Debra

[kitonthemoon]

Not intending to compare myself to a cat......but, I do think changing Linus diet might help save his life.   Reason being?

Well....when liver gets fat deposit, it cannot detox properly, probems arise.

I was diagnosed of having medium fatty liver about 5 months ago.  Not that I eat fatty foods, but I do crave for sweets and pastries (*yum!).so my doc odered me to get on zero carb diet for 2 months.....after 2 months, I began to add some good carbs to my diet.  Couple weeks ago, the follow up CT scan result came back, MY LIVER IS COMPLETELY NORMAL NOW.  Goes to show what change eating habit can do.  Yes?

Anyhow, I thought I'd share my own experience with you.  By the way, I'm that crazy KIT who screams in the closet once in a blue moon.  Giggles.

Prayers are with your 'kids' and baby.  Lots gentle hugs,
Kit

[Fluffysmom]

I'll be praying for Linus, too, and all of you that love him.  I've always been a lover of cat's; my first cat was named Lucy.

My Fluffy is almost 14, has three legs (since he was a day old), has hyperthyroidism, inflammatory bowel disease, and sometimes has a reaction to his med that makes him itch and pull out clumps of his fur.  I get up at 5 am to give him one dose of his meds.  His vet bills are astronomical, and I'm on a fixed income.  He's my little boy, though, and I will pay what I'm able to keep his quality of life.

I lost his mom when he was two, to a car (Fluffy is now an indoor cat).  He spent about a year looking for her, under and behind furniture, calling mournfully.  There was definitely an empty space in our home.

I pray that Linus will heal quickly and come home to his loved ones.

Kathy

[debral09]

I just wanted to say a quick thank you to all of you!  I knew if I needed some support I could find it here.  

So the vet did the ultrasound of Linus' liver and could not find anything conclusive.  They did a biopsy because of that but we won't get the results for a couple of days.  The vet did say that he ate last night and kept the food down.  They did have to force feed him though.  I don't know when we will be able to take him home.  They said that they would keep him tonigt to monitor him and they would call us in the am.  Our house just seems so wierd without him here.  I think MIssy, our older cat, is actually missing him.  She has kind of been moping around today like my husband.  I have had the distraction of our daughter so I really haven't had time to be too depressed.  When I do think about what the possible outcome could be I tear up.  All this not knowing is really getting to us.  The vets don't yet know what the cause of the liver disease is or could be.  There is always an underlying problem that leads to liver disease.  

Well it's off to bed with me and from me and my family thank you for your prayers, love and hugs!  It means the world to us.

Have a good night!
Debra

[Quixotic1]

Linus and your family are in my thoughts.  Fatty liver can result when the cats stop eating even for just a short while, like more than a day or so.  Sometimes they can bring them out.  It depends on what caused it and how far gone it is.

My family (sister, Abby, Clyde, Trax, and Tony) have you all in our hearts.

Quix

[SharJ]

Sweetie, If I could only take this pain away from you and Brian, I would do it in a second.    I just want you to know that Daddy & I are here for both of you.  Linus is a part of our family.  I am sending you positive thoughts, and we are only phone call away.  I know this is very stressful for all of you.  Please take care of yourself too.

I love you Debra,
Mom (sharj)

[monotreme]

I will pray for your cat too.  A few months ago, our puppy got rocks stuck in his small intestine and needed an emergency operation.  That cost us 2300 dollars but she is our family so we agreed to it.  She is fine now.

I understand what you mean about pets being part of the family.  Once they are with you, you can't imagine life without them.

I hope your husband's cat recovers.  Try not to stress too much.  Prayers.....

Elaine

[mercyone]

You need to change your cat's diet - right away - pick something with no toxics, something all natural and not just the label but really all natural high end quality - no cheap walmart stuff. Try to research a liver detox treatment (Holistic) for cats - I don't have my health books here at work - they are at home - so I can't give you any way to do this until Monday. She needs a liver detox treatment - I think the people one will do that you can buy in a good health food store - but that is just a guess and of course a cat is small in size so that matters. But I will research for you.

This happened to my Doberman and it costs me a bunch and I changed her diet - test after test after test - today she is fine - no meds or anything - just diet change. Do not keep giving her, her old and usual food. Stop immediately.

I wish you the best and will do a healing ceremony for your cat this weekend.

Mercy

[Rena705]

My thoughts are with you honey...I had a sheltie that got really ill a few years ago and she became diabetic and I had to test her blood twice daily and do insulin injections and it became very stressful as she was our baby.  We have no children so 'Kassy' was our whole life.  I truly hope that you have good results with Linus and know that the veterinarians are doing the best for the cat and will try to keep things as easy as possible for you and your family.  Keep us posted as to Linus' condition and know that we are thinking of you ok?

Lots of Hugs,

Rena

[LLWB]

Adding my prayers for your family, ALL your family, furkids and your beautiful baby girl. Please relax, knowing he is in the best hands, Gods.

Maggie

[debral09]

Thank you so much ladies for your love and support!  They are supposed do to the ultrasound sometime today on his liver and spline.  He will probably need a tube placed in his stomach so that he can be force fed.  I will let you all know later how he is doing.  Both of our cats are our children as well as our beautiful 6 month old daughter.  I just don't know what we would do without Linus.  He is still so young and has many years of trouble to get it in!!!!:):):)

Thanks again for the prayers and the hugs!  I am trying not to stress to much so that I don't get a big reation from the MS.

Always,
Debra

[Heather3418]

Oh sweetheart...if you need prayers for you, your family and your kitty cat, you've got them.  Trust me on that.

In my world my animals are like me children.  I too, would spend what money I had to take care of one of my babies.  I feel like your vet is doing all they can to reverse this fatty liver problem.  I've prayed for their success, so you'r baby can be back home with you and the family.

Please keep us updated on his progress.  Please?

Big Hugs,
Heather

[mary_kay]

You have my empathy at this tough time.  I have 3 dogs and 3 cats.  I love them so much!  The hardest thing is knowing when you are prolonging their pain instead of prolonging their life.  My thoughts and prayers are going out to you. Do take care of yourself...Mary Kay

[princess73]

I have not been on for a while, but am glad to be back. I will pray for your cat. I have 2 cats and a dog. I love them all dearly. They are like my children. My dog has helped keep me going since I got sick last Oct.  I know it must be very difficult to handle this. Remember that he is in good hands and they are doing their best to make him better. This is definitely a lesson on handling possible loss of a pet. It can hurt as much as the loss of a family member. Keep your chin up! I don't know what your health situation is, but stress makes most problems worse. Let us know how Linus is doing tomorrow!
-Princess