Blood tests - quick canvas of opinion

[Desley (booktigger)]

Glad to hear this Sue - I wondered if the test would be for pancreas, but it is a very tricky thing to test for in the UK. Fingers crossed for his diet - might be worth seeing if he can tolerate JWB, it was approved by the specialist last year when Tiger was iffy with the RC food, and comes in 4 flavours.

[Schmew]

Hi folks sorry not managed to get to computer.

I'm happy to say, all his results are within normal range    He could be accused of being slightly anaemic, but vet thinks this will sort itself out and is prob due to being run down at mo (having been treated for diarrhea, snuffles, and sore eye).

He thinks drinking prob due to diarrhea, and as diarrhea helped by special food it's possibly caused by food intolerance so keep him on that and see how go - poss try change to Burns or similar at later date.

So, I'm wrong about his kidneys and I'm pleased to be wrong! The extra blood tests were for pancreas and bacterial overload or something but when I collected him we discussed it and decided they were unlikely to tell us anything useful.

He seems to have recovered now from his sedation and his eye is looking a bit better too. he's not massively keen on the RC food but tummy just about settled again so fingers crossed we've just had a run of bad luck and he'll be healthy now indefinitely!

x

[Desley (booktigger)]

It would depend on what he was going to test for - Tiger had a bout of this last year, and when everything (including scans and bloods at the specialist, think that was around £350) was normal we put it down to the fact she had developed some kind of food intolerance, but after a while it went, and she was fine - although we did suspect cancer in her knee. With articles I have read since, i suspect that some of the meds we were using to sort out her limp was causing it - has Biscuit been on any new meds?

[lilynmitz]

Interesting to see that one of the cat food suppliers has caught onto this diet.  One of my cats used to love boiled peas on their own!

[Dawn F]

Oh I see, the thing I was thinking of was an actual dried food, venison and pea I think, somebody I knew with a cat with a skin complaint told me about it

[lilynmitz]

Mine were getting fresh fell-bred venison from my local butcher (much to his amusement), minced and cooked by my own fair hand!  The dried sensitive tummy food I had them on later was made by Hills.  I tried them on fish and rice before the venison, and it just came out the other end as fish and rice lol!

[Dawn F]

I've heard of that venison food, who makes it?

[lilynmitz]

I had cats with permanent squits for a few months when I first brought them home.  After loads of inconclusive tests we put them on a diet of venison and potato, which did the trick instantly, as some unidentifiable protein was clearly aggravating their gut and the venison would be a completely new protein they hadn't previously experienced.  If I took them off it too soon their squits came back, so I kept them on it for a couple of months till their tummies had settled.  If the sensitive tummy food is working for you, keep them on it until their tummies really have settled.  It wouldn't do any harm to keep them on it long term, as I later did with others of mine who were prone to d&v.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Seems very expensive to me but if he is not well you do need to find the cause.

[Angeladeedah]

I'm the same - they are my babies.  Mine are insured though.

[Leanne]

I would but then I am a neurotic fur mummy

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

The fact the he was better on the RC sensitivity food i would say its a case that he cant tolerate normal food.
If it was me i would carry on with that food and see how he goes......if he had a bacteria infection the RC wouldnt stop the diarrhea

[Schmew]

Biscuit is in the vets today for sedation and blood tests.

He's having a full profile done see if we can get to the bottom of the drinking more recently.

However, he did have diarrhea which the vet thinks is the cause of the extra drinking. the diarrhea settled after a steroid job and some Royal canin senstitivity food. BUT - I've started to phase in normal food again and his diarrhea has returned.

Vet has suggested we send blood away for further tests to see if we can get to bottom of diarrhea - says can test for bacteria levels or something. This would costr an extra £100 (on top if the nearly £100 we're looking at for sedation and general profile). Eek. 

Does anyone know much about this test and do you think it's worth it? I've had elderly FIVs with long term diarrhea before and never got to the bottom of it so a big part of me thinks it's worth a try but in all honesty I'm wondering where I am going to find all that money!