The Call from Winton's Vet

Well, I just got a phone call from my vet, Dr. Evans. Basically, Winton's labs aren't too bad. His BUN and Creatinin have crept up a little bit since his last blood work-Feb 07.

• BUN Jan '08 78

• BUN Feb '07 60

• Creatinin Jan '08 3.3

• Creatinin Feb '07 3.2

She said that within the kidney parameters of 1, 2, 3 and 4, Winton falls in the 2 category of Renal Failure parameters.

Everything else checked out fine:

• cholesterol normal

• calcium - normal

• thyroid - normal

• no sign of diabetes

I can start giving fluids 1-2x a week if I choose-it wont harm him. It would be from 50-100 cc's and also if his appetite begins to wane I can give him a 1/4 tablet of 10mg Pepcid AC. CRF cats can develop uremic ulcers in the stomach area and the pepcid seems to help and is also a benighn treatment (wont hurt him). So I'll be doing that!

As for his weightloss...here is the stinger. She feels that his blood work numbers are not contributing to his dramatic weight loss. She's concerned about his heart murmur and his rapid weight loss and recommends I get a bi-cavity ultrasound and an echocardiogram. AH! She's actually more concerned that he may have cancer so the bi-cavity ultrasound she would have first.

As for the heart disease, a large percentage of cats that have heart disease NEVER show any clinical signs!

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed! I love my animals and will do anything for them-but all of this is coming when I haven't been working since the middle of November because of the WGA strike.

She's recommends getting the Bi-cavity ultrasound and Echo done at Advanced Veterinary Care here in the southbay. i'm going to call them right now and see what they say.

Well I've set up an appointment for his abdominal ultrasound for Winton tomorrow at 10am at Advanced Veterinary Care with Doctor Dani Kobayashi, who is the internist. Let me tell you, I should have become a vet like I had thought about doing!!! The consultation is $155 and then the Ultrasound is $320. And of course Winton doesn't have Pet Health insurance because he had already been diagnosed with CRF way before I got pet insurance on Kodak, Perf and Velcro. Lets hope that his weight loss is from old age and not cancer!

Another Day another shot and dollar....

Well, Kodak turned his nose up at his canned food-figures all this shit would happen and I'm leaving town tomorrow. But his shot was better today...maybe,hopefully, he was just sore yesterday!I think they know I'm feeling ill about leaving! I have so much to do today. I must get Winton's prescription, removable zip ties for the dog's crate, litter and paper towels so my pet sitter has everything she needs. I hate leaving my boys. This is why I had wanted to drive all of them cross country! I really need to get a small trailer or RV or something so when I need to leave town I can take all my animals with me. A tow behind trailer would be perfect! They would have a home away from home.

A note to the person who left the anonymous comment last nite-thanks-but I know Kodak will live longer than 1 year and it's ok if the pet insurance doesn't help after that! I'd pay it no matter what! And I believe ever bit counts! He only has a lifetime limit of $1500 anyway for this-but once again every little bit counts! Especially right now with the WGA strike at the holidays-I'm out of work so in the true sense every little bit counts!