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Update to my earlier thread;
My sweet old man Stormy finished his 30 days of meds for high liver numbers, so he went back to the vet today for a re-test. The blood test (thyroid T-4 profile) showed his liver numbers are still high & showed no improvement. So he's getting another 30 days of the same meds (S-adenosylmethionine 100 mg) and then will have to go back for another blood test. I was hoping for some improvement, so I'm a little disappointed. These meds are supposed to support the liver and stimulate it's own regenerative function (my vets words). I asked what if the 2nd round doesn't do any good, and he said we'll have to wait and see.... whatever that means. Stormy is 17 years old, and perhaps his liver is just wearing out. Don't know if there's much to be done for him. He's eating, drinking using the litter box, and getting around ok & not showing any signs of discomfort. So he's doing ok for now. I guess I'll do this round of meds and try to save the worrying until it becomes really necessary. I hate watching my kids getting old like this.
........ I guess I'll do this round of meds and try to save the worrying until it becomes really necessary. I hate watching my kids getting old like this.
Our furballs just don't live long enough. At 17 he's outlived many other cats and I'm sure had a wonderful life with you - both well cared for and loved. As long as he's not in pain or suffering.... let him be if there's still no improvement.
My thoughts are with you. I hope Stormy's liver values decrease over the next 30 days. I agree that there is no reason to do anything drastic if he's not in pain.
Our lab had liver disease and the vet also suggested SAMe. He also suggested that we change her diet to include more highly assimilable and digestible proteins. In her late stage of liver disease all she received was home prepared meals that consisted of the correct type of proteins for her.
You might want to ask your vet if there are any specific foods that he knows of that are high protein but absorb easier. If Stormy's food has any corn, soy or meat by products (which basically are beaks, feet etc) these are very hard to digest and hard on the liver so try to stay away form any foods that have things like that.
Crossing paws that his retest in 30 days is MUCH better!!!
Our lab had liver disease and the vet also suggested SAMe. He also suggested that we change her diet to include more highly assimilable and digestible proteins. In her late stage of liver disease all she received was home prepared meals that consisted of the correct type of proteins for her.
You might want to ask your vet if there are any specific foods that he knows of that are high protein but absorb easier. If Stormy's food has any corn, soy or meat by products (which basically are beaks, feet etc) these are very hard to digest and hard on the liver so try to stay away form any foods that have things like that.
Crossing paws that his retest in 30 days is MUCH better!!!
I am avoiding discussing anything diet related with my vet. He's a good vet & I like him, but the entire front half of his small office is packed to the ceiling with every imaginable variety of Hills Science Diet... if that tells you anything. That's usually the first thing he reaches for if the subject of food comes up, and I'm not going there. None of my guys will eat that crap anyway.
Stormy doesn't eat dry food now, and is very picky about wet food. There's 2 flavors of Friskies and 2 flavors of Fancy Feast that he likes and that's about it. I know I need to find some healthier food for him and I'm going to work on that. I've already exhausted all the cat food options in my small town, and will have to go quite a distance to the closest Petsmart to find anything better/different. I also have the problem of reading pet food labels, and still not understanding exactly what's in it.
Anyway, I appreciate the well wishes and the advice.
Update;
My 17 year old Stormy finished his 2nd 30 day round of meds for his high liver numbers and went in for a blood re-test last week. His liver numbers are still high, and he's also showing indications of Pancreatitis & kidney failure. So even though he's doing ok for now, I know my time left with him is limited.
He's still eating, using the litter box, and getting around just fine... just sleeping a lot. I'll do what I can for him as long as I can, but am not going to let him suffer.
I really, really hate this.
Getting old stinks........for we humans and our furry felines.
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