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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / September 2003bad news at the vet today :(
Today I took my black baby Peewee (age 12) to the vet for a recheck of what was diagnosed previously as ringworm. Well, I got the "good" vet today, and it isn't fluorescing ringworm - symptoms are weird looking ears and forehead (velvety hair/skin, somewhat balding), and itchy. Some swelling above the eyes. It is unlike anything I have ever seen before. BUT - the worst thing is that he lost 1.3 lbs in the last few months!! This cat eats like a piggy. :( So, we did a full blood panel including recheck for FeLV/FIV, and T4. I am just sick - if and when I lose this cat, I will be inconsolable. I hope to god whatever it is is treatable. Man it sucks - all of my mammalian companions are elderly except one, and I just lost one of my (young) snakes very unexpectedly. This is the sucky part of loving another creature - regardless of species. -L. -L. <k3_e81@yahoo.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > Man it sucks - all of my mammalian companions are elderly except one, > and I just lost one of my (young) snakes very unexpectedly. This is > the sucky part of loving another creature - regardless of species. Why do you think after Kami there simply won't be anymore for me? Just wouldn't be up to it. Maybe a siamese fighting fish or something.  SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? >Why do you think after Kami there simply won't be anymore for me? Just >wouldn't be up to it. Maybe a siamese fighting fish or something. Bettas pretty much have a personality of sorts and live a long time. Ours died on Christmas day, and even thhat was sucky, we'd had him for a long time. RIP, Admiral Bob. Sherry > >Why do you think after Kami there simply won't be anymore for me? Just > >wouldn't be up to it. Maybe a siamese fighting fish or something. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Sherry I had one for 2 years - Scooby. Best fish I ever had. Fish are one species I don't do that great with... -L. -L. <k3_e81@yahoo.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > I had one for 2 years - Scooby. Best fish I ever had. Fish are one > species I don't do that great with... I do all right, but I don't get too weepy. Only when one of my African frog accidentally drown and was dancing in the current from the pump. It was funny, but soooo sad. No, I hope Kami goes from one of her other ailments before we have really nasty CRF issues. A little heart failure while she's peacefully sleeping would do me just fine. SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? > Today I took my black baby Peewee (age 12) to the vet for a recheck of > what was diagnosed previously as ringworm. Well, I got the "good" vet > today, and it isn't fluorescing ringworm - Whoa! Relax at bit! ;) About *half* the cases of ringrorm don't fluoresce under a Wood's Light! Also, did your vet allow the light to warm up for at least 5 minutes? We've had *many* false negatives with the Wood's Light in our shelter that almost led to epidemics! The most reliable test for ringworm (dermatophytosis) is a *fungal culture*. A couple of inexpensive in-clinic test kits are availabe. Our vets use the Sab-Duet kit - they say its easier than the standard DTM (Dermatophyte Test Media). You might want to mention that to your vet. Btw, don't worry about sample collection for the culture - there's no cutting or anesthetic involved. All your vet has to do is brush the area with a *new* toothbrush then press the bristles into the culture medium and incubate. symptoms are weird looking > ears and forehead (velvety hair/skin, somewhat balding), and itchy. > Some swelling above the eyes. It is unlike anything I have ever seen [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I am just sick - if and when I lose this cat, I will be inconsolable. > I hope to god whatever it is is treatable. The T4 is not always reliable. The most reliable thyroid test for cats is free T4 by equilibrium dialysis (fT4ED). Cornell runs the test for about $20. Only a blood sample is needed. > Man it sucks - all of my mammalian companions are elderly except one, > and I just lost one of my (young) snakes very unexpectedly. This is > the sucky part of loving another creature - regardless of species. Whoa! Never under estimate the resiliency or the *indomitable* spirit of the cat! Keep the faith! Good Luck, Phil. > > Today I took my black baby Peewee (age 12) to the vet for a recheck of > > what was diagnosed previously as ringworm. Well, I got the "good" vet > > today, and it isn't fluorescing ringworm - > > Whoa! Relax at bit! ;) About *half* the cases of ringrorm don't fluoresce > under a Wood's Light! Yeah - I know :) - that's why I said isn't *fluorescing* ringworm. It might be something else - and we are going to treat him with Program and/or antihistamines to see if we can knock it back down... >Also, did your vet allow the light to warm up for at > least 5 minutes? We've had *many* false negatives with the Wood's Light in > our shelter that almost led to epidemics! Humm...dunno! > The most reliable test for ringworm (dermatophytosis) is a *fungal culture*. > A couple of inexpensive in-clinic test kits are availabe. Our vets use the > Sab-Duet kit - they say its easier than the standard DTM (Dermatophyte Test > Media). You might want to mention that to your vet. Yeah, I thought about mentioning that. May go that route if the Program/antihistamine doesn't work. > Btw, don't worry about sample collection for the culture - there's no > cutting or anesthetic involved. All your vet has to do is brush the area [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > free T4 by equilibrium dialysis (fT4ED). Cornell runs the test for about > $20. Only a blood sample is needed. Thanks for the info - I read this message before I spoke to the vet and she actually suggested it - and I agreed, since his T4 was 2.6 (borderline). So we are running that right now. It was $45 BTW...ouch! > > Man it sucks - all of my mammalian companions are elderly except one, > > and I just lost one of my (young) snakes very unexpectedly. This is > > the sucky part of loving another creature - regardless of species. > > Whoa! Never under estimate the resiliency or the *indomitable* spirit of > the cat! I know, but I'm a little bummed about it. I have been *so* lucky with these guys so far. > Keep the faith! > > Good Luck, Thanks, and thanks to all who replied! We are also going to do a fecal to rule out worms/parasites. The weight loss is a big puzzler. If he's hyperthyroid, I'd like to do I-151, but might not be able to get DH to choke down the $800 quote. His priorities and mine don't always mesh equally...Grrrr! Thanks again to all who replied! -L. > > > Today I took my black baby Peewee (age 12) to the vet for a recheck of > > > what was diagnosed previously as ringworm. Well, I got the "good" vet [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Yeah - I know :) - that's why I said isn't *fluorescing* ringworm. > It might be something else - I meant that it *could be* ringworm even though it doesn't fluoresce. IOW, the Wood's light is right only in about half of the cases. Many culture-confirmed cases of ringworm don't fluoresce. IOW, the Wood's light is not definitive for ruling out ringworm. Sorry for not being clearer. and we are going to treat him with > Program and/or antihistamines to see if we can knock it back down... > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Humm...dunno! Allowing the lamp to warm up increases its sensitivity. > > The most reliable test for ringworm (dermatophytosis) is a *fungal culture*. > > A couple of inexpensive in-clinic test kits are availabe. Our vets use the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Yeah, I thought about mentioning that. May go that route if the > Program/antihistamine doesn't work. If it does turn out to be ringworm, speak to your vet about Itraconazole (Sporanox) - its about the best drug for ringworm there is and very easy to administer. Let one of those little restaurant-type butter tubs melt down at room temperature, then thoroughly mix the 100 mg capsule in the liquified butter - then refrigerate. When butter becomes solid, cut the cube into four or five equal pats - each piece contains an equal amount of drug - i.e., 5 pieces @ 20 mg ea. A 4 kg (9 lb) cat usually gets 40 mg/day (or whatever your vet prescribes) - so a 9 lb cat gets 2 pieces. You can cut those 2 pieces into smaller pieces if necessary so that the cat can gobble them right down. Most cats just love butter - and the fat increases absorption of the drug. > > Btw, don't worry about sample collection for the culture - there's no > > cutting or anesthetic involved. All your vet has to do is brush the area [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > (borderline). So we are running that right now. It was $45 > BTW...ouch! Actually, that's not a bad price considering the blood sample should be sent with a cold pack via overnight courier. > > > Man it sucks - all of my mammalian companions are elderly except one, > > > and I just lost one of my (young) snakes very unexpectedly. This is [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > get DH to choke down the $800 quote. His priorities and mine don't > always mesh equally...Grrrr! If he is hyperthyroid, put him on a reversible tx *first* (e.g.,Tapazole) for a few months and monitor his kidney function. If his kidney function remains stable while he's on Tapazole, you can probably go ahead with I-131 radioiodine tx. This is a safety precaution because I-131 is irreversible. Hyperthyroidism increases glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow which can mask chronic renal failure in cats with underlying kidney disease. After hyperthyroidism is treated, GFR could drop to its true rate causing clinical develoment of overt renal failure in cats that have underlying (and undetected) kidney disease. > Thanks again to all who replied! Keeps us posted. When I don't hear back from people, I tend to fear the worst. Best of luck Phil. > > Yeah - I know :) - that's why I said isn't *fluorescing* ringworm. > > It might be something else - [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > culture-confirmed cases of ringworm don't fluoresce. IOW, the Wood's light > is not definitive for ruling out ringworm. Sorry for not being clearer. Oh, I know - I'm not being very clear myself. I actually suspect it *is* a non-fluoresceing dermatophyte. <snip> > > > The most reliable test for ringworm (dermatophytosis) is a *fungal > culture*. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > them right down. Most cats just love butter - and the fat increases > absorption of the drug. Thanks for the tips! I will ask her about the drug. <snip> > > Thanks for the info - I read this message before I spoke to the vet > > and she actually suggested it - and I agreed, since his T4 was 2.6 [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Actually, that's not a bad price considering the blood sample should be sent > with a cold pack via overnight courier. The lab that had his sample was going to run it from the blood they took the other day - I guess they had enough serum left. <snip> > > Thanks, and thanks to all who replied! We are also going to do a > > fecal to rule out worms/parasites. The weight loss is a big puzzler. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > remains stable while he's on Tapazole, you can probably go ahead with I-131 > radioiodine tx. This is a safety precaution because I-131 is irreversible. Ah, yes - I-131 - I always say 151. I think I do that every time I post, LOL! I think tapazole would be first-route of treatment for him, as well, eventhough I think it is a crappy drug. Where as radioiodine is a cure... > Hyperthyroidism increases glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma > flow which can mask chronic renal failure in cats with underlying kidney > disease. After hyperthyroidism is treated, GFR could drop to its true rate > causing clinical develoment of overt renal failure in cats that have > underlying (and undetected) kidney disease. If he had underlying kidney disease, would it show on bloodwork NOW, and could the vet detect abnormalities with palpitation? His kidney function looks good from the bloodwork we did Wednesday. > Keeps us posted. When I don't hear back from people, I tend to fear the > worst. Well, I'm sorry to say, it is worse. :( He vomited last night (fur ball/bile) and has diarrhea and won't eat (did eat a couple kibbles of chow). First time in 12 years that this cat has refused food. I called the vet - I am observing him today, and may go in this evening. -L. >Today I took my black baby Peewee (age 12) to the vet for a recheck of >what was diagnosed previously as ringworm. Well, I got the "good" vet [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > >-L. Lyn, I'm sorry about Peewee. Does the vet have any ideas at all re: diagnosis? What about allergies, or the stress involved with a new house and all? Also your snake; you're right about emotional bond knows no species. We had a terrapin (not the right word but that's what we always called the litte land turtles here) who used to come up to the house and eat the dog's food. For probably 15 years or more. He got so used to us messing with him he wasn't afraid of us at all anymore. I accidentally ran over him in the driveway last week. Believe it or not, the whole family was upset. Sherry > >Today I took my black baby Peewee (age 12) to the vet for a recheck of > >what was diagnosed previously as ringworm. Well, I got the "good" vet [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > afraid of us at all anymore. I accidentally ran over him in the driveway last > week. Believe it or not, the whole family was upset. Total bummer! Did he have a name? Did you have a funeral for him? We haven't had Delilah's funeral yet, but I picked the park where she will go. It sounds so stupid, but I really loved that snake. She was so pretty and so sweet. I just don't think I can ever have the heart to replace her. -L. >Total bummer! Did he have a name? Did you have a funeral for him? Yes, he *did* have a name, as a matter of fact. It was "J-Turtle". When my daughter Jamie (now grown) was about 8, she painted a J on the poor thing's back with red fingernail polish. It took years to wear off. We buried him (her??) underneath the Rose of Sharons where he hung out a lot. >We haven't had Delilah's funeral yet, but I picked the park where she >will go. It sounds so stupid, but I really loved that snake. She was >so pretty and so sweet. I just don't think I can ever have the heart >to replace her. > >-L. Oh, gosh no, it doesn't sound stupiid at all. Love of any living creature isn't limited to mammals. Sherry If he is losing weight and that is hopefully ringworm, he might be diabetic. Have you tested him for diabetes? > If he is losing weight and that is hopefully ringworm, he might be > diabetic. Have you tested him for diabetes? Diabetes was negative, and that was my first thought as well. :) -L. > Today I took my black baby Peewee (age 12) to the vet for a recheck of > what was diagnosed previously as ringworm. Well, I got the "good" vet [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > -L. I'm sending good thoughts to PeeWee. I'm sure whatever it is, it'll be treated and he'll be just fine. :) Karen > Today I took my black baby Peewee (age 12) to the vet for a recheck > of what was diagnosed previously as ringworm. Bummer Lyn. I remember you posted about that but I figured it was gone by now. Purrs that the vet finds the cause of the weight loss and the skin problem. Boy oh boy do I know how worrisome that is. |
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