Four year old losing weight (big thread inside)

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Tracy

Post   » Mon Nov 14, 2022 8:56 pm


How is your piggy doing, Squiggles?

Squiggles

Post   » Tue Jan 17, 2023 1:44 am


He was doing well. But now I'm afraid he's dropping again. He was between 730-750, but now he's heading back to the 600s. I'm debating on increasing the medication, just a bit, but I want to take him for bloodwork first. I'm so bummed. He was doing fantastic. Still eating and functioning with no problem, I still give him two feedings of Emeraid by spoon, which he still loves, but now the weight dropping is back.

User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Tue Jan 17, 2023 8:11 pm


You might be able to consult with your vet by phone about increasing the medication. Depending on the illness and the medications, some vets will provide guidelines in advance to help you adjust it if needed.

Squiggles

Post   » Fri Jan 27, 2023 8:50 am


I did talk to him when I took one of my cats, and he said I can increase a bit. But yesterday I took him for blood, and he says everything looks fine, but his potassium is a bit high. I'm guessing it's from the Emeraid? Because I definitely do not feed them bananas. Now he's saying I shouldn't up it, but I'm concerned about the weight loss since he used to be between 730-760, now he's jumping between 700, 710- 720. Lynx, may I send you a copy of his bloodwork so you can post it on here? I can never line it up correctly when I do, and it might be help for someone in the future (or now).

This is why I wish I could find a good exotic vet since the only one around here (and in 50 miles) turned out to be a bust, but I don't think the results would change any, even if I did.

User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Fri Jan 27, 2023 10:39 am


You are welcome to send me a copy of the bloodwork (I personally am not very knowledgeable but I can post it!).

If it is a file, send to:
Image

If it is all text, you can send it using the mailer (or above address).

Squiggles

Post   » Sat Jan 28, 2023 1:59 pm


Thanks! I sent it over. His liver is all high as well, but I'm guessing it's from the medication. I'm debating if I want to request a refill of the milk thistle since he hasn't been on it for a while because I ran out (it was from the exotic vet originally).

User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sun Jan 29, 2023 10:00 am


The results don't display nicely if I just copy and paste so I've tried to format them as best I could.
Note that if there is a ratio, there are no units.
If there is no "Adult Reference Range", you'll only see the results and units.

Test Requested . . . .Results . . . .Adult Reference Range . . . . Units

Superchem w/SDMA

TOTAL PROTEIN ..... 5.1 .......... 4.5-6.5 ...... g/dL
ALBUMIN .............. 3.4 .......... 0.5-6.0 ...... g/dL
GLOBULIN ............ 1.7 .......... 2.0-4.1 ...... g/dL
A/G RATIO ............ 2.0 (HIGH) .......... 0.7-1.4
AST (SGOT) .......... 102 (HIGH) .......... 10-45 ...... IU/L
ALT (SGPT) ............ 63 (HIGH) .......... 10-35 ...... IU/L
Alk Phosphatase ...... 32 ............ 15-45 ...... IU/L
GGT ..................... 5 .............. 0-20 ...... IU/L
Total Bilirubin ........ 0.1 ......... 0.0-1.0 ...... mg/dL
BUN .................... 17 ............. 9-30 ...... mg/dL
Creatinine ............ 0.3 (LOW) .......... 0.5-2.2 ...... mg/dL
SDMA ................... 6.0 UG/dL
SDMA has been validated for canine and feline species only. Although it can be run in other species, reference intervals and interpretive comments are not available.

BUN/CREAT RATIO ..... 57
PHOSPHORUS .......... 4.8 .......... 4.2-8.5 ...... mg/dL
Glucose ................ 144 (HIGH) .......... 60-125 ...... mg/dL
CALCIUM ................ 9.5 .......... 8-12 ...... mg/dL
MAGNESIUM ............ 2.6 mEq/L
SODIUM ............... 133 (LOW) .......... 140-160 ...... mEq/L
POTASSIUM ............ 10.7 (HIGH) .......... 4.3-5.8 ...... mEq/L
NA/K RATIO ........... 12
CHLORIDE ............. 101 .......... 90-110 ...... mEq/L
CHOLESTEROL ......... 84 .......... 50-250 ...... mg/dL
TRIGLYCERIDE ......... 42 (LOW) .......... 50-200 ...... mg/dL
AMYLASE ............... 737 IU/L
PrecisionPSL ........... 29 U/L
CPK ..................... 2,787 IU/L

Sample Conditions
AST may be lower than reported due to a Hemolysis 4+, but is still abnormal.

Test - Requested - Results - Adult Reference Range - Units
T4 ..... 3.0 ug/dL

Squiggles

Post   » Thu Feb 02, 2023 3:08 am


Thank you for posting, Lynx. I have attached a photo of his results back in July 2022. Hope I did it right. I tried to get a refill of the milk thistle, but the exotic vet isn't answering. Guess they're sore at me not returning their call back in September when they wanted to perform more tests on him (that I probably would have done out of not knowing what to do, if Tracy hadn't come along and saved us from that). I was looking at the list for Connecticut (since New York for me is out because that's the only exotic vet next to going to Long Island) and I found one that both is on this list and Cornell recommends, so I'm thinking maybe I'll take him there just to see their opinion. I don't want to subject this poor baby to anymore, but I also don't like that the slide of his weight has begun again.

Image

User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Thu Feb 02, 2023 9:00 am


I tried to get a refill of the milk thistle... Is this a prescription product? Looks like it is sold as a supplement that you could buy. Also looks like there can be mixed results as to how effective it might be - and there are some cautions in humans.
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/milk-thistle

Squiggles

Post   » Thu Feb 02, 2023 4:36 pm


They wrote back. Of course they want to see him for a recheck soon, but they said tbey will refill it if needed. He was put on it twice a day at 0.03 back in August-September. I would have still had it, but of course one day when I was giving it to him, he decided to headbutt the bottle, and down it went all over.

From his medical record back in August: -

Image

User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Thu Feb 02, 2023 7:32 pm


RX
Metacam 1.5mg/ml - Give 0.2ml (0.5mg/kg) by mouth once daily as needed for pain and inflammation. This is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication.
Continue as previously prescribed
Emeraid Herbivore - mix with water until a smoothie consistency. Feed up to 20ml 2 to 3 times per day if not eating well. Feed slowly to avoid aspiration. Can also be offered in a bowl.
Milk thistle 333mg/ml - Give 0.03ml (15mg/kg) by mouth every 12 hours. This is a liver support supplement.
I transcribed your image so it's a little easier to read and will be searchable. Glancing over the ingredient list, it seems to me Critical Care by Oxbow has better ingredients (but I haven't tracked down the CC for comparison).

Squiggles

Post   » Sat Feb 04, 2023 6:59 am


No problem. Whatever makes it easier. He was on CC originally to where I syringe fed him, but he hated it to a point he nudged the syringe away. Then the exotic vet gave him the Emeraid and he loves it so much it eats it by himself.

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