Something wrong with Taz...update #56

[GSDOG]

well he is 13 right..and unfortuantly cats when they get that age will almost always have kidney damage to some degree. i am thinking tumor... i see this kind of thing ever day. if it is upper abdomen it could be and enlarged kidney/tumor or if lower ab it could be liver or spleen.

[GSDOG]

you know sis..there is a thing called a floating rib that can look like it sticks out and then i just disappears...but how big is the lump..can you move it at all? like wrap your fingers around it? fist size or marble size?

[Taz_Zoee]

you know sis..there is a thing called a floating rib that can look like it sticks out and then i just disappears...but how big is the lump..can you move it at all? like wrap your fingers around it? fist size or marble size?

Ugh, I wish you lived closer so I could show you!!!
When I put my hands on his sides it just feels like it's his tummy. It's not a separate item. And it shows on both sides. What would be the chances of a floating rib sticking out on both sides? It is not small nubby, it's large and bulbous. Also, don't forget that last night his sides behind the buldges were sunk in, as the last pic shows really well.
I cannot wrap my fingers around it because it seems to be part of his belly. And it's fist size.
Sigh.........

[GSDOG]

i know money is an issue..but i would take him to another vet and tell them you want x-rays of his abdomen.

[kimlovescats]

I would still try to get a belly tap done. I didn't want to scare you in my first post ... but abdominal fluid from FIP could be involved. I pray it isn't ... but only a belly tap (inserting a needle into the fluid) would tell for sure. FIP fluid is thick and gooey like honey.

HUGS,
Kim

[GSDOG]

I wouldnt think FIP, mainly because of his history, and because otherwise he has been fairly healthy. i would be thinking of other things, but i dont want to upset you. should probably talk to you on the phone.

[Taz_Zoee]

So we went out of town for a long weekend. I took the "kids" to my parents, well Zoee went to my brothers right next door. I took Taz because his auto feeder only feeds for 3 days AND I wanted someone to watch him since his issues. I'm glad I did.
I talked to my mom on Friday (we left Thursday) and she asked if she should take him to the vet because he hadn't eaten at all. He had eaten when I fed him Thursday morning but threw it all up 20 minutes later. At the time I didn't think anything of it. So I gave my mom some suggestions to entice him to eat. It didn't work. He was drinking plenty of water though. We told her not to take him unless she really felt he needed to go.
He still hadn't eaten anything when I picked him up Sunday night. So I stayed home today (Monday) and took him to the vet this morning. We saw the other vet in the office (which now I think is a good thing). She felt his belly (she also saw the pix posted in this thread) and felt two masses around his kidneys. She did an ultrasound and saw two large fluid filled cysts that were pushing on his kidneys. She did blood work and his BUN only went up about 7 numbers since March and his creatine (sp?) only went up 3. So those are not extremely high to be causing the not eating issue. Of course she's never seen these cysts before. Leave to me to have an animal with a new discovery .
So, she drew urine (which is very diluted) and drained the cysts. He is on appetite stimulants (which aren't working yet) and potassium. I'm sorry I am not clear on the details because I was upset and worried. Plus the fact that I couldn't pay for it all today....that was another BIG issue which I have since solved. But the urine culture and sensitivity was cancelled to lower my bill. I will do it later if it is necessary. Oh, along with a specialists doing another ultrasound I'll do later if needed.
So for right now I'm just hoping the draining of the fluid and the pills will help get him back on track. We went through something similar about two years ago, so I believe we can get through this too. Of course a little PT power is always appreciated.

[Moesha]

You know that you and Taz will be in my thoughts! I'm glad that they found something wrong with him. Well, not that something is wrong, but at least there they discovered a reason for the concerns you've been having. I hope that Taz is feeling better and eating soon.

[Catty1]

Prayers that dear Taz will start eating soon! Do you have some stinky tuna or salmon?

Hugs to you and Taz.

[Taz_Zoee]

LOL, I understood what you meant Moesha. And I agree. Thanks.

Catty1, my mom tried the tuna and it didn't work. I tried to give him treats that he usually loves tonight....didn't work. I'll give the appetite stimulants some time to do their magic. But yeah, I need to get some tuna. I don't think we have any in the house.

Thanks Ladies!!

[Karen]

Taz will be in our prayers. For me, the thing that was the most amazing appetite stimulant ever was the prednisone they put me on for my asthma. Man, I thought I could eat everything and anything you put in front of me. Of course, it has the opposite effect on my brother ... he had to be reminded to take in nourishment ... so if the appetite stimulant isn't working for Taz, after a couple days maybe see if there's something different they can try.

[Medusa]

You have prayers coming your way from Mary and the Fur Posse.