Poor Onyx....Not good update

**Glacier** · 01-15-2008, 01:46 PM

I took Onyx to the vet yesterday. He has lost some weight lately. I think he's been loosing for awhile, but it just hit that noticeable stage. He's double coated and long haired so he looks bigger than he is. Last time he was at the vet, Onyx weighed just over 18 pounds(that was quite awhile ago). Yesterday he weighed just over 11 pounds. So the vet, Dr. Helen, ran every blood test known to felines!

She just called with the results. Onyx's T-4 levels are borderline high and his one of kidney enzyemes are elevated. I have to drop him off tomorrow morning so they can run a urine test to see if his kidneys are concentrating properly. If they aren't, we'll run into the same problem I had with Beau--treat the hyper-t and make the kidneys worse; treat the kidneys and make the hyper-t worse. Fortunately(?), Onyx is only 6 so he's a much better candidate for any kind of treatment than ol' Beau. He would have to fly to Vancouver if he needs the radioactive iodine treatment.

**Felicia's Mom** · 01-15-2008, 01:51 PM

Am sending prayers and vibes for Onyx. Hope is feels better soon!

**Cinder & Smoke** · 01-15-2008, 02:15 PM

Hi God ~

We need s'more help down here onna ole Durt Ball --- up inna Yukon fur Onyx da Kat ...

His Mom sez he's not eatin so gud - lost a buncha poundz.
Anna Vet Gurl sez his Kidney zymes are goofie.

When You finish *polishin* Filou's toofers; can You *zip* over to the White Coats' Lab
in Whitehorse, YT - an supervise Onyx's *pee* test?

We'll all be sendin up PT Purrayers that Onyx will be an easy fix - we'd rather not hafta
send him out fur da Glow-Kat treatment in Vancouver.

THANKS, God!
/s/ the Prayer Pups

**Anikaca77** · 01-15-2008, 02:22 PM

My prays for Onyx and you.

**Medusa** · 01-15-2008, 03:13 PM

Oh boy, sorry to hear this. Let's get this all straightened out so that Onyx doesn't need treatment for any of it. Miracles happen every day. Let's expect one.

**catmandu** · 01-15-2008, 04:11 PM

The Found Cats, Porch Cats And All The Pet Angel Army Are Sending Prayers For Onyx, That He Will Start Eating Agan, And That The White Coats Can Help Him Regain His Health.
I Know What A Shock It Is When The Vet Gives You Bad News About Your Cat, Esecially When They Are Relatively Young Cats.

**Freedom** · 01-15-2008, 08:11 PM

Prayers for Onyx from RI.

**Catty1** · 01-15-2008, 08:27 PM

Prayers for Onyx to get through this and have many, many healthy and happy years.

**Queen of Poop** · 01-15-2008, 08:41 PM

Prayers for you and Onyx from the kittens and I.

**krazyaboutkatz** · 01-16-2008, 01:01 AM

I'm sorry to hear this.

I hope that the treatment that he receives will help him. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.

**Glacier** · 01-16-2008, 04:59 PM

Onyx had another series of tests today to determine how his kidneys are functioning. Unfortunately, it's not good. His urine is not concentrated properly and his BUN/Creatine levels are elevated. He is in the early stages of kidney failure.

His T-4 levels are slightly elevated, just at the borderline level for hyperthyroidism. His vet, Dr. Helen, thinks that slight elevation is helping his kidney function and that if we treat the hyperthyroidism we will, and I quote her clinic terms "Fry his kidneys". She believes that will shorten his life span and his quality of life dramatically and quickly. He is not a candidate for the radioactive iodine treatment due to the reduced kidney function. His heart, liver, blood pressure and all that other stuff that hyperthyroidism can affect are normal right now.

So for now, all she wants to do is redo the bloodwork every six months and change his diet, if he'll co-operate to a low protein renal support food. Not sure how I'll do that with kibble since I can't change the kibble the others eat and scheduled feedings cause a major rebellion in my house! Onyx loves canned food so I think I can get him to eat that easy enough.

I'm so sad and angry for him. He just turned 6 in September. He's too young for this!!

**Laura's Babies** · 01-16-2008, 05:03 PM

I hate to hear that about Onyx . He IS to young for this to be happening to him. Lets keep our fingers, toes, paws and everything crossed that maybe a change in diet will help..