• Everyone can read this forum. To post on this forum, you must be a Community or VIP member. You can register here. If you are a member, to login use your email address for the username and the same password you use for the main site. If you have problems logging in to the forum, please email support@holisticactions.com.

Cat has serious liver/gallbladder disease; recently had surgery

BenjaminP

All-Access Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 2, 2021
Messages
7
Hello,

I have a 5 year old cat who had an intestinal blockage approximately 8 weeks ago. It was a risky surgery but after several days in the ICU she recovered and came home. After about 2 weeks of being home her appetite decreased. After a specialist visit she was found to have liver disease. I have much more to add but right now her bilirubin won’t go down and they suspect partial biliary tract obstruction. They said if she doesn’t improve soon she will need another risky surgery or euthanasia. I am scared for her so I am seeking other opinions while I still can. Thank you
 

Dr. Jeff

Administrator
Moderator
Veterinarian
Joined
Feb 23, 2017
Messages
5,242
Hi Benjamin-

I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty's health challenges.:confused:

As we discussed in the private message, your adding lots more context in this thread (thanks for starting it BTW).

Perhaps start by sharing the notes from your internist and any recent diagnostics along with the context from the forum posting guide:


Also, you may want to schedule the first available HMDM guidance call so we can talk soon.

Let's get your kitty on the road to balance and health as soon as possible.
 

BenjaminP

All-Access Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 2, 2021
Messages
7

  1. Your pet's name: Luna
  2. Approximate age: 5 years old
  3. Sex: female
  4. Neutering status: spayed
  5. Breed: russian blue
  6. Approximate weight: 7 lb
  7. What's their BEAM (behavior, energy, appetite, mood
    1. Behavior: good
    2. Energy: lower than usual, but better than it was a few weeks ago
    3. Appetite: up and down, down over the last 24 hours
    4. Mood: very relaxed and quiet, not as spry as she used to be
  8. Diet: eats a lot of Koha food single meat pate, rabbit is her favorite
  9. Vaccination history / exposure to toxins, other medication:
    1. Possible lily exposure in June this year, she received 3 days of IV fluids and 3 more days of subq fluids. Her renal labs are completely normal now, it is unlikely she ingested any of the lily
    2. Kitten vaccines and rabies only
  10. Primary problem, when it began and if there was anything else happening around that time
    1. In the middle of July she had a decreased appetite for a day or so, then she started vomiting and was very distressed. I took her to an emergency vet surgeon and they removed a GI obstruction in her small intestine. They could not identify the obstruction and did not save it for me to investigate (which bothered me). She was in the ICU for several days following surgery because she had gone septic from a perforation caused by the obstruction. They did say it was some sort of piece of fabric. And this cat has never been known to eat anything other than food, even when she was a kitten. I suspect it was a bandage of some sort from when she stayed overnight to get IV fluids for the lily exposure.
    2. Once she got home she was in recovery mode following the surgery. Her appetite and mood were improving, but after 2 weeks her appetite began to decrease again. Something seemed off with her so I took her to an emergency vet again. I suspected there was a surgical complication at the suture site.
    3. They did labs and an ultrasound on her. Her bilirubin and liver enzymes were elevated, and her gallbladder and liver looked bad on the ultrasound.
    4. This second treatment started on 8/19/21. They placed an e-tube for feeding and medications.
    5. She is currently on prednisolone, meropenem (she didn't get better after a few days of clavamox, flagy, and orbax), cerenia, mirtaz, and buprenorphine as needed.
    6. As of 9/1 her liver enzymes have slightly improved, but her bilirubin is stuck at 7.5. They have said if she doesn't respond to a few more days of steroid they recommend surgery or euthanasia. I don't like either of those options and so I am seeking out alternative opinions.
  11. Is the condition better or worse from exercise, heat, cold, time of day, certain foods, emotional upset, being touched, excitement, etc?
    1. Tough to say, I cannot determine her biliary blockage amount
  12. Has any diagnostic work been done? Diagnosis if available (you can attach your diagnostic tests to the post if you have them)
    1. Ultrasounds: last one shows her biliary and pancreatic ducts are distended, although her gallbladder and liver have vastly improved
  13. Current and previous treatment
    1. Current: ursodiol, mirtaz, prednisolone, cerenia, meropenem, fortiflora
    2. Previous: same except instead of meropenem she was on orbax+clavamox+flagyl
  14. Other health concerns
    1. Interested in supplements and therapies to help her liver, gallbladder, ducts, and overall health/inflammation
 

Weekly Digest

Weekly Digest
Subscribe/Unsubscribe
Top Bottom