Update on Cooper's Hypercalc Tests

Cooper

So, I finally had a follow-up talk this week with the vet at MSU re:Cooper's hypercalcemia.  The rest of his tests came back. He had high glucose in the urine but not in the blood. They think it's stress related because he was calm when they took the blood but had had his ultrasound and xrays before they drew the urine. His urine also had bacteria but because the vet found out last Friday,the day after the urine was originally drawn, it was too late to culture so he didn't prescribe an antibiotic. In the real world, his vet would have given him Clavamox and gone on from there. But at MSU they culture it to see which drug is needed. The MSU vet said the bacteria was low enough and not to worry. Just keep an eye on him, give him water by mouth along with water in his food.

His PTH parathyroid test is the same as last year's test-zero-where it shouldn't be.  That's a bit of an anomaly. Usually, if calc is high, PTH is high, indicating an issue with the parathyroid. We now need to do a throat scan of the parathyroid to rule out issues with it before proceeding to think of the calcium level as idiopathic.  And if we can get him to be calm there or at his vet, retest his urine.  And if idiopathic hypercalc, find a solution to bring down the calc, and up the phos. Still waiting on MSU to call me back to schedule the scan. Will let you know more in a week or two after we've had the scan.

As a reminder, hypercalcemia is not normal in a cat or even in a human. It can be brought on by poison, too much vitamin D, cancer or other disease such as kidney disease (it can be the result of kidney disease or it can cause kidney disease), Feline Leukemia or Feline Immune disease, and issues with the parathyroid.  It means the body isn't absorbing into the bone the calcium and the excess is "spilling" into the body, ready to play havoc.  If the phosphorous is high, will combine with calcium to create cement in the heart and kidneys.  But hypercalc itself brings on many other problematic symptoms such as lethargy, vomiting, lack of eating, etc.  And lack of eating, lack of drinking just brings on even more problems.  Hypercalcemia can endanger the cat's life.

For more information here are some links and they are just three of hundreds or more online:

http://felineihc.org/   For more on idipathic hypcalcemia

http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vetmed/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=529459&sk=&date=&pageID=2

http://www.cat-world.com.au/hypercalcemia-in-cats

Use Medical Terminology Effectively

I've posted previously (Friday, December 10, 2010)  about the benefits of using and understanding medical tests and medical terminology.  I have experience using medical terminology even though I'm not a medical professional.  I learned much from being exposed to terminology when I worked on a medical project at the University of Michigan Hospital.  I also have had a lot of exposure due to Myrna's HCM condition.  I find it best to use medical terminology that I understand when discussing issues with doctors-my doctors and the vets.  It seems to help doctors relax, maybe because it gives them a sense that you're on the same page and there's a better connection between you because you speak their language, you potentially will understand things better.  Not sure. But I used the terminology when at MSU yesterday with Cooper.  For example, I used TID for three times a day; QD for once a day.  I noted that he'd been NPO (no food) since 9 p.m.  I spoke about relationships between values-for example, citing BUN and creatinine as kidney values.


When talking to vets, understand CBC/chem values and their relationships-no one value stands alone or means one thing.  They are all interconnected.  Understand what is sub q, and TID or QD or q or prn.  There is much to know when one has a cat with an illness.  The more we understand what the vet is saying or what is needed for our pet (or ourselves) the better we will be at communicating with the doctors.

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2009/may2009_Understanding-CBC-Chemistry-Profile-Results_02.htm

This is one of many online links to understanding CBC/chem values.

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=13561

This is a link to understanding Latin medical notations such as QID.

Hypercalcemia Cat to MSU Thursday

I took our hypercalcemia cat Cooper, to Michigan State Vet school yesterday to try to solve the problem. Hypercalc can indicate cancer, parathyroid issues, or be idiopathic. Even if idiopathic, it can cause blockage to kidneys and damage the heart and other tissues. The phosphorus can be high or low and cause issues and other values might be off and cause issues. So far-but we'll know more next week when the parathyroid test comes back-blood work "normal" even if still has hypercalc; hypercalc not so high that it causes immediate concerns; glucose turned out normal even though very high every time it was taken this past year. They believe it's just stress related and at MSU, he had been there for two hours before the blood was drawn so he may have calmed down more than when he's quickly in and out of his vet's office. But the urinalysis will tell us if there is glucose-and we'll know that later today. While he's lost over a pound this past year, he's not malnourished nor too thin. All other vitals normal, well hydrated, good responses, etc. were seen. Palpation of body revealed organs felt normal; xrays and ultrasound of chest/bladder and kidneys showed all is normal-no lumps or masses, no extreme signs of inflammation (which can be hard to see unless it's extreme), and no calcification of organs from the hypercalc. Next step-if parathyroid is affected, will need surgery; if not then need to better manage calcium and will discuss diet and supplements with the vet. So, more on that later. I will post more info when I get the CBC/chem panel results and when the PTH test returns.

Plavix for $37.00 a Month-Check Out the Coupon

http://www.internetdrugcoupons.com/Plavix-Coupon

Plavix has a coupon that allows you to get Plavix for $37.00 a month.  You need to sign up with them. Not sure how it works but check it out.

Generic Plavix Finally Approved

Generic Plavix finally approved by the FDA. No word on how soon we might find it in the pharmacy. Check around for pricing at local pharmacies. Kroger has many heart meds as $4.00 generics. Will be interesting to see what the price point is for this.


http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/245615.php

Myrna's Paw Infection and Chlorhexidine

Myrna could have a compromised immune system due to her HCM or to any of the meds she's on.  I'll have to ask the cardiologist when I see her in July.  But Myrna has a slight infection on her front right paw. She needs to have chlorhexidine rubbed into it once a day and wear the collar while the med dries enough so that she can't lick it off. Not sure why she has an infection. She had been constantly cleaning it since late Monday which I thought nothing about until she drew blood Wed. Thursday we went to the vet and voila! Nothing inside pad; no rips only where she's picking at the pads. Could be allergies. Need to keep an eye on other pads. Is healing quickly.

Ann Arbor Cat Fancier's Cat Show May 12, 2012

http://annarbor.com/news/cat-lovers-turn-out-for-annual-show-in-ann-arbor/

Report on the cat show from Ann Arbor.