Anemia Help?

[daddyg]

Hi there.

Wondering if anyone has dealt with Anemia in their cat(s)?
The vet suspects my male cat has Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia. He is very weak, lack of appetite, lethargic, Respiration is a little laboured.

The vet is starting Prednisone, and an Antibiotic to counter any infection.

I am nervous, and wondering if anyone can offer any insight into dealing with this, and suggestions to make the cat more comfortable.

Thanks

[twinmommy]

The prednisone will do the trick, however, anemia is often a symptom of something else. Has he been fully evaluated?

sorry your baby doesn't feel well....

[daddyg]

twinmommy -

thanks for your reply.

The vet has checked for the Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, negative.
The blood screens don't show any visible infection, but to be on the safe side, they are starting ABX. They are going to have him come back in tomorrow for more bloodwork and test again.

It is confusing, because he is an indoor cat, with no exposure to other animals. Hopefully it is not a disease.

Thanks

[twinmommy]

Get them to do stool analysis and urinalysis as well.
Parasites even in indoor cats can account for the loss of blood.

Good luck and keep us updated

[daddyg]

Will do. Thanks

[chico2]

I have no advice to give,but you obviously love your tabby very much,as I do mine and I hope he'll be fine,it's so heartbreaking when they get sick.
Did you have someone else look after him when you were on vacation??Could depression from you being gone have brought this on??
Anyways,fingers crossed for your kitty

[daddyg]

chico2 -

thank you for your reply.

I was only away for 5 days, and I did have a friend come in and fill up his food/water/litter.
I expected him to be a little upset when I returned, but it seems that he has really taken a turn for the worse in the past week.

[chico2]

DaddyG,cats are,like Lucky says,very thinskinned and get upset easily if their routine is changed.I know when hubby and I go away,twice a year,we have to pack downstairs cause the cats know what suitcases mean
I don't know what causes Anemia in cats,but I hope he'll be ok,maybe he did not eat much with you gone....I soooo hope he'll be ok :love:

[daddyg]

Unfortunately, my cat's condition has worsened. He was started on PRednisone and ABX on Thursday, as well as getting a lactated ringer for fluids. Friday, he was still lethargic and not eating. They ran more bloowork and his red cell count continued to drop. The decided to move him to the Vet Emerg clinic to see about a Transfusion. At the clinic, they are giving him oxygen and started a transfusion, however, he seems to be reacting to it and they've had to slow it down. HIs red counts are still dropping. They have started him on an IV as well as IV ABX and Prednisone. They still do not know what is causing it, but they are worried it may be lymphoma or some sort of cancer. They are going to do a marrow biopsy in the next day or two. I hope he has a positive response to the Steroids, to at least get his Red Count up to try and slow the Anemia. This is all very puzzling and upsetting as it seems to be happening so fast.

I am going to try and visit him today, if they are able to have me go in.

[chico2]

DaddyG,I am so sorry to hear that,it sounds like an awful lot of procedures for a little cat,I don't know if I would have been able to go through all that with any of my cats.... :sad:
I can understand you wanting to do anything possible to save him,but are the vets giving you any hope??
I'd think with all he's been through,they would know by now if it's cancer..
I am not trying to make you more upset,I just feel for you :sad:
I don't think you ever told us his name,at least not in this thread...
If you go and see him today,maybe you'll have some answers.
I hate to say this but if he is steadily getting weaker and all these treatments are just causing him more discomfort and pain,no,I won't say it it's too difficult...you'll know yourself,only you know your cat.

[daddyg]

chico2 - thank you for your reply.

if he continues to decline today, and the transfusion/pred. is not helping, i will likely want to end this suffering (the vet has told me that she will let me know if she thinks he is past the recovery point). it is all so confusing, as a few weeks ago, he was a healthy (perhaps not inside) cat. it is hard because they have not been able to come up with a definitive diagnosis of what is causing his anemia.

his name is renton.

[chico2]

DaddyG,I am so sorry for you and Renton,I am just hoping he has a strong will to live,he certainly has enough love..
He is at 8yrs,a relatively young cat,but their little bodies have a hard time dealing with disease,still I am hoping for the best,for both you and Renton

I have had several cats,who lived to a ripe old age,but once they get sick,it is confusing,you don't know if you are doing the right thing,or just prolonging suffering for the sake of still having them with you a while longer.
If you have a good vet,whom you trust,he/she should help you with any serious decisions,but hopefully it won't come to that.
Did you get to see him today??

[daddyg]

I did get to see him today, and he is a very distressed little fellow. He was in midst transfusion but still panting a lot, and very weak. I am not sure if it is purely from the illness, or he is just so traumatized by the past few days (he is a one person, indoor cat, not used to being handled by others much) that he is overcome with stress. The vet in the emerg clinic does not like his prognosis, as he is not responding to therapy so far. I am going to wait until later tonight, and see if the tranfusion helped him or not. Either way, I do not want him to suffer like that and will make the best decision for him tonight.

[chico2]

Awww,poor little Renton :sad:
I wish he could come home just for a few days,but I suppose he's too sick :sad:
It would be nice for him to have his final moments,if it comes to that,in his home,after what he's been through and I can imagine a lot of costs,maybe your vet will be kind enough and come to your house.
To me it was always very important my cats never passed in the hands of a stranger,but in the arms of the person who loved them and whom they loved.
I'll be thinking of you both and hope for a miracle for little Renton :love:

[Karin]

Just jumped in on this thread..

Ask your vet about a "Hail Mary" dose of vitamin K, just in case. (maybe more than one dose)

I have seen this many times and it resembles poisoning. Insecticide, fungicide etc. There are many other poisoning agents out there that can cause sudden severe anemia. Check the gums for bleeding and also small broken blood vessels in the white of the eye.

Just a thougt...

[daddyg]

I think he is just too sick to bring home at this point, although it would be nice. The vet at the emerg. clinic is not my regular vet. However, the vet at the clinic seems very confident and is trying everything. I would not be able to get in touch with my own vet until Monday, which might be too late, and I don't want to prolong his suffering if he will not improve.

They are worried, because his white blood counts are also low.

I will go back tonight and hopefully his condition has improved.

[justncase]

Panting is a side-effect of Prednisone. Please read my private message to you for more info on this.

[chico2]

I can understand how you are confused,you say the vet seems confident after all the meds and procedures he's suffered through..and Renton is still sooo sick :sad:
I really hope the vet is right,Renton has a lot of people rooting for him and you :love:

[justncase]

Daddyg,
is it possible to update us on Renton? I read in a book were Vitamin K shots in specific acupuncture points along with Phosphorus will bring about "stunning" results for this. I've contacted the author as to who the doctor is who does this because she's not more specific as to exactly where those acupuncture points are. She has yet to reply. Were you able to make your way through the other info?

[daddyg]

hi there

I wish I had happy news to report.

Sadly, Renton's condition continued to detiorate, even after the transfusion. He started having agonal breathing spasms and could not get off his side. The vet felt he did not have a great chance of making it through the night and his long term prognosis was very poor. I made the decision to go down and be with him and have him put to sleep. I did not want to have him suffer and get a call from the hospital to say he had passed on without me being there.

IN consultation with a critical care specialist and an internal medicine vet, they all felt that he likely had cancer that may be in his marrow.

It is a very sad day for me, but I know that not having him suffer when his prognosis was so poor, was the right thing.

Thank you all for your support.

[BMDLuver]

I'm so very sorry that you had to say goodbye to your very dear friend Renton. Thank you so much for updating and giving him such loving care.

[badger]

Oh, I am so sorry. You did the right thing; unfortunately, it doesn't make losing them any easier. Poor fellow - do you have a nice place to bury him?

[justncase]

Please accept my condolences( also,please look for another pm from me).

[chico2]

Aww DaddyG,although I could see it coming,tears are still flowing for poor Renton,it's a relief though knowing he's not suffering anymore poking and prodding in a strange place.
It's heartbreaking,but you did what you did out of love and he's thanking you for it :love:
RIP,sweet Renton
If you need support,we're here for you always :love:

[Karin]

Sail on Renton...


I am so very sorry DaddyG.