Every heard of this...

[CatDad]

I just wanted to give a quick update for everyone.

We may be over the getting sick period for the month, actually I hope it is forever. She ate all her wet food that I gave her and she is also eating the dry food that they have. She did not get sick once yesterday, so I have hope that we will go back to normal for the moment.

I think that I am going to feed her one more quater pepcid today just to be sure. Then stop that again too.

I will continue to switch her over to the Wellness food and hopefully that will go well(no pun intended).

I will talk to my vet today, the receptionist promised me that she would make sure that happened. I love the staff at my vet, they are so good to me.

That is about it for now. Thank you again to everyone.

[anna_66]

I'm glad to hear that she's doing well, and continues that way!

[Cataholic]

Bryan,
Positive thoughts for Joey and you that you find out what is ailing our little princess!

[Killearn Kitties]

I'm glad to hear that she seems to be settling down. Poor girl. I really hope it doesn't come back.

[Barbara]

Bryan, I'm sorry I missed this. I send my best thoughts to Joey -that everything may stay ok

[CatDad]

Update

Well, I talked to my vet today, and they want me to take her to the hospital up north and do an endoscopy to check for IBD. I am not sure how I feel about her answer, it makes sense but I was not convinced that she really went back and looked at all the records. I know she is a good person, I talked to one of the vet techs about her. I am just not convinced at this point.

I think that what I am going to do is some more research on my own. I am also going to get a copy of her medical records and talk to the vet that Jeanine recomemded, see what they have to say. I often find that doctors(vet and human) can often have very different opinions and it is usually worth the a office or consultation fee to get a couple of them.

Of course, this will all be determined by how Joey is feeling. At the moment she is doing fine and hopefully will stay that way. However if she takes a turn for the worse, I will need to make a decision quicker.

I will let you know what happens when I know more.

Thanks for being there for my little girl and me.

[tomkatzid]

Who did they want you to see? What kind of Dr.? Just wondering?
I think your plan is a good one, and see what the new vets say.
Katz

[CatDad]

Hi again, just what you wanted from me more information. Well Katz asked, talk to her.

From everything that I can tell, even though I am no vet, it is the next thing to do. I really don't want it to be but I have done a fair amount of reading tonight. I just don't want to rush into it and find out later that we could have avoided it. Especially since Joey is feeling better. I think that I have a little time to get some answers. Plus if I can put a little time inbetween vet visits it will reduce her stress factor(and mine) a little. She did just get her teeth cleaned and she has gotten over that visit in record time. She is my lovey girl again. I don't want to push my luck.

My vet wants me to go to the hospital in Lynnwood. It is all part of a conglamerate of vets offices and hospitals called Pet's Choice. They are based in Bellevue. It is the same hospital that we went to last Thanksgiving. They seemed pretty good and they treated Joey well. I can't remember the name of the doctor that my vet wants me to see, however. I remember her saying that they were a specialist in this area.

I still like the idea of a second opinion. I would also like to see what it may cost at another vet, at least another one that I would take Joey to. Low cost provider is not exactly what I am after, but if I have two that I trust. I will see if I like one over the other, then I will compare prices.

So at this point, time will tell. I will call up my vet tomorrow and ask that they copy off Joey's records. That will take some time, I know that there is alot. I will also check and see if they have all of the hospital records if not I will get those too.

On the good news front Joey ate all her food again and has not thrown up yet, I am hoping for not at all. However, if she was going to it would usually be by now.

OK, well I just realized that you asked two questions and I gave you a short story. Guess I was just forming up my plan in writting.

Thanks for letting me think 'out loud', so to speak.

[leslie flenner]

What is IBD? Some kind of intestinal blockage disease/disorder? I made it up!

[CatDad]

Oops, sorry.

I have been reading so much about it that I just started to use the acroynm. IBD is Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Here is a brief description of it:

IBD is actually a group of gastrointestinal disorders, usually chronic in nature, which are characterized by an increase in the number of inflammatory cells found in the lining of the stomach or intestinal tract. These changes can affect the function of the organ involved. The causes of IBD are variable, and often no single cause can be identified in a given patient. The symptoms include chronic vomiting, diarrhea, or both, and in some cases, weight loss and change in appetite. Some patients may defecate outside their litter box, especially if diarrhea is present. The symptoms may be cyclical in nature, with the cat appearing to be normal at times. It is not unusual for these patients to be misdiagnosed as having hairballs.

I also found out that my vet is on the right track in trying to diagnose it. Here is something else I found:

A definitive diagnosis of IBD is only possible by intestinal biopsy, which is best accomplished using fibreoptic endoscopy. This technology allows veterinarians to diagnose and treat many gastrointestinal disorders more easily than in the past. The endoscope is an instrument that allows visualization of the stomach and intestinal tract through a flexible tube that is passed into either the patient's stomach or colon. The tube contains fibreoptic bundles that deliver bright light to its tip and transmit the images back into an eyepiece. Small, but adequate biopsies (about the size of this capital letter "O") can be taken using this instrument, thus avoiding surgery. The procedure is performed under a short general anesthesia with most patients able to return home the same day. Since endoscopic procedures are minimally invasive (there are no surgical wounds to heal) and short in duration, they are less traumatic to the patient and recovery time is quicker.

I know just a simple question, and see what I give you.

[rg_girlca]

Oh dear sweet precious Joey, what are you doing upsetting your daddy like that for? Come on sweetpea, you can't keep doing this to him, or to us either. I hope and pray that this is the last time you have tummy upsets.

Bryan, I would definitely, without question, get a second opinion on the situation with your sweetheart. Only then, IMO, you could make the decision to go ahead, if necessary, on the endoscopy.
You're such a good cat daddy.

Also, all updates and any kind of venting, rambling, or whatever, is a requirement on PT, so don't worry about it okay.

Take care and give Joey a hug and kiss for me please.

[smokey the elder]

IBD is tough to diagnose in animals or humans. It's what's called an autoimmune disease, in which one's own cells come under "friendly fire" from the immune system.

I hope that once Joey is properly diagnosed with whatever she has, then she can get the right therapy. Hang in there!

[Laura's Babies]

Sorry I missed this thread before Catdad. Here we go again with another helpless baby having problems. I hope they find out Joey's problem soon and things can settle down for you and you baby. Nothing worse that a sick or injured baby. Good thought for you and Joey!

[sqwelch]

I also apologise for seeing this thread late. I'm glad Joey is feeling better for the moment and I really hope they manage to suss out whats wrong with the wee sweetheart. Just one more thing to add, thought I'd say what a great Dad you are, she is obviously well cared for !!!

[rpcathouse]

Catdad just came to Cat Health for the first time. My you have your hands full. I hope Joey is doing better. Did they do x-rays to see if there is a blockage. When is the procedure being done. Is it in the stomach or intestines? Sorry I am full of questions. I can't stand when a cat is not doing good and I know you have done all that you can. I am sending lots of GLOWS for you and Joey. My Prayes are with you also. Please keep us up to date.

Stella

P.S. Again I am sorry I didn't see this before. I will, also get more gray hairs worring about Joey for you. (So you don't have toooo!)