Mishi to the White Coats today

[RedHedd]

Mishi has an appointment at the white coats this afternoon. Last year after I adopted him, his blood results came back "slightly elevated" for kidney function. Last fall, after being on a healthy diet and free-feeding schedule he'd gained too much weight too quickly so the vet recommended switching to twice daily feedings, which we did. Since then he's become mightly lean - almost too lean, so I'm having him checked. I hope it's nothing, that he just has a fast metabolism, but he just feels very thin to me. Wish us luck. The really hard part will be getting him into the carrier :rolleyes:

[RedHedd]

We're back - poor Mishi. His kidneys are enlarged and the vet says they don't feel normal and his coat doesn't look normal - it doesn't; it's just kind of dull and flat. Even though he hasn't lost any weight (he's up to 15.2 lbs), she agreed with me that he feels bony and she could tell he's losing muscle in his hind legs. My poor big boybee. :( They're running blood tests first and then she wants to either take X-rays or do an ultrasound. As X-rays may not be as informative as an ultrasound, if they do just take X-rays first, he may also need an ultrasound also if the X-rays aren't too clear to see what's actually going on.

I checked with my pet insurance and they don't really cover this unless it turns out to be cancer or he needs surgery. I hope it's neither and that somehow I'll find the money to pay the credit cards -- all this is going on plastic. The blood work, exam and urinalysis today set me back almost $200! :eek:

I'll have the blood work results tomorrow. PT prayers please that my Mishi isn't as sick as it sounds right now. I'm kinda scared.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Hi God ~

Lil Help down here, paleeze!

We're all crossin Pawz & Klawz fur Mishi -
Could You Help da White Coat figger out a fix fur his problem?

'Preciate Your Help, God!

/s/ the Prayer Pups

[kimlovescats]

Oh, poor Mishi!!! Prayers coming your way, that the test results show something very minor, and easily treatable!;)

[Amber]

Oh Mishi! :(

You are one of my favoret kitties on PT!

I will definatly keep you in my prayers tonight, and in my thoughts.

[Craftlady]

Will keep good thoughts for Mishi's blood test results.

[jazzcat]

Oh no! Poor Mishi! Prayers are on the way that everything is okay and your sweet Maine Goon will be okay.

Please give Mishi some extra scritchies and rubs for me.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Georgia, I'm so sorry to hear about Mishi.:( Prayers and positive thoughts are being sent your way. I sure hope that whatever he has is an easily treatable condition. Please try not to worry too much and take care of yourself. {{{HUGS}}}

[slick]

Praying that Mishi is OK. We've got the Prayer Pups dialing God so things should be fine.

[RockysMommy]

I'm so sorry that Mishi is not feeling well.

Here are a few links to the best resources on the internet for information on managing feline chronic renal failure, if that is the condition Mishi's blood tests reveal:

http://www.felinecrf.org/

http://www.felinecrf.com

Feline CRF Support Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Feline-CRF-Support/)

Rocky's Mommy

[RedHedd]

.... but the mystery continues. All of Mishi's test results came back absolutely normal! Blood, urine, kidney function and whatever else they tested for with those substances - everything checks out normal. The vet said all his levels look "very good" so it's a mystery as to why his kidneys are enlarged. Everything is functioning normal.

She recommended and I concurred that we ultrasound him to see what's going on there, so he'll go in for the ultrasound on Monday. My poor guy will be shaved again. :rolleyes: He came to me with a little kitty mohawk and I guess it's only appropriate for his first gotcha anniversary with me that he'll have one again. Let's just hope nothing too difficult (& expen$ive) to treat shows up. Fingers and paws crossed here, that it's siomething easily treatable. The normal levels give me hope that whatever it is, we're catching it in time before it does real damage.

PT prayers work - you guys are the BEST! Mishi says meeeeoooowrrrrrrrrrrrrr in thanks.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so glad to hear that Mishi's test results came back normal.:) Now hopefully the ultrasound will be able to detect what the problem is and hopefully it's nothing serious and easily treatable. More prayers and positive thoughts are being sent your way.

[Felicia's Mom]

I hope Mishi's problem can be easily cured, and isn't expensive.

Today is the first time I noticed this thread.

[Killearn Kitties]

Aww, poor Mishi. All fingers and paws crossed here that things go well with his ultrasound.

[catcrazylady]

I'm so sorry I've been behind and just now catching up. Poor Mishi! You now have my prayers added that all will turn out well! Keep us posted!

[Cataholic]

Anxiously awaiting the results of the scan. Also, you didn't specifically mention thyroid...which is what I first thought when I read the 'sighs', esp the weight loss and flat coat. Did the vet specifically check Mishi's thyroid levels? Hoping good things...

[RedHedd]

Originally posted by Cataholic
Anxiously awaiting the results of the scan. Also, you didn't specifically mention thyroid...which is what I first thought when I read the 'sighs', esp the weight loss and flat coat. Did the vet specifically check Mishi's thyroid levels? Hoping good things...
Yes, I'm waiting .... not too patiently. After looking at the websites that were posted on CRF I, too, am wondering about his thyroid levels. They did a very thorough blood panel and I would hope that thyroid was included -- it sure as heck cost enough! :eek: The vet did say that ALL his levels were normal. When she calls (soon I hope!) I do plan to ask.

[RedHedd]

Whew! Vet's office called; they're done. Mishi's ready to be picked up; of course I have to wait until I get off work. I confirmed that the blood work did cover thyroid function, so we know that's normal. The tech who called said the vet will talk to me about the results when I pick Mishi up --- more waiting! ARRGH! :(

[jazzcat]

The waiting is awful! I hope it's good news.

[AmberLee]

Anxiously waiting here, too.

Fingers and paws crossed for you, and saying a few prayers for him and for your nerves, too.

[RedHedd]

Good news/bad news. Mishi's left kidney is failyg, his right kidney is compensating for the failing kidney, which is why it's enlarged. The ultrasound also showed an enlarged lymph node in the kidney area which the vet said was unusual. The treatment is reduced protein (kidney) diet - whew! That part is easy. They gave me three kinds to try: K/D, N/F and Feline Modified. Question to those of you with kidney cats, which one is the best? Which one does your cat prefer? Right now Mishi's eating the K/D and the tech said most cats prefer that one.

They will recheck in a month to see if there's any change in the lymph node. The vet also said she will see what she can do about reduced pricing for the recheck.

I'm just glad we caught it early; it's easily treatable and hopefully Mishi will live a long life with me.

One bad thing that happened, his cat carrier broke AGAIN! That's the second time this soft-sided Samsonite case has broken - the top zippers just pop apart and can't be zipped again. I think I'm going to get a carrier on wheels for him. He's so heavy for me I almost threw my back out taking him in this morning. One of the techs helped me get him home in a borrowed carrier.

Mishi has the cutest little belly shave ... heh heh heh .... getting ready early for summer with a modified bikini waxing :rolleyes: :D I'll try to take pics if he'll let me; he's pretty grumpy right now and Mitzi is hissing at him. Poor dude!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Thanks for the update. I'm sorry to hear that one of Mishi's kidney's is failing but I'm glad to hear that you've caught it in time and that the new k/d diet will help him. I also hope that the enlarged lymph node turns out to be nothing and that Mishi will be able to live a long happy healthy life with you and Mitzi. Prayers and positive thoughts are still being sent your way.

[Killearn Kitties]

Aww, poor wee Mishi. Keeping my fingers crossed that he likes his food and things go well for him.

The girls send headbumpies.

[catcrazylady]

I'm so glad that Mishi is easily treatable. Poor guy! Prayers and good thoughts are still being sent your way. Mishi is such a sweetie and I just know he will be ok.:) :) http://petoftheday.com/talk/images/our_smilies/smile.gif

[RedHedd]

Thanks everyone. He gobbled down the K/B last night; this morning it was obvious he's not feeling well at all. He turned his nose up at the N/F food (the tech said most cats didn't like that one so I guess Mishi falls into the category of "most cats" in this case). He was meatloafed on the bed most of the morning so I fed him breakfast in bed and tried the more expensive Feline Modified food which he ate a little bit of. As he always shares my morning cereal, I also shared my breakfast with him in bed. Yup, he's spoiled, but right now he deserves some spoiling.

As he looked so punky and Mitzi seems to be picking up on his not feeling well, I didn't have the heart to take their food up this morning, so they've been left to free-feed all day. Poor guy. I hope it's just trauma from yesterday's events and that he'll perk up tonight.

Thank you for all the good thoughs, kind words and prayers. They mean so much to us right now.

[Craftlady]

Keeping postive thoughts your way. It's good your keeping food out all day that way it's easier for Mishi to get a nibble of food when hunger urge comes to him. Just like us humans when we aren't feeling well are eating habits are different.

[slick]

Originally posted by RedHedd
Which one does your cat prefer? Right now Mishi's eating the K/D and the tech said most cats prefer that one.
Speckles is on something called Medi-Cal Reduced Protein. I tried to get her to eat the K/D dry but she would not have any part of it.

Get better soon Mishi.