The vet did a thorough exam and said she was having a hard time hearing his heartbeat. She recommended x-rays to see if she could tell what was going on.It turned out to be a good news/bad news scenario. The good news was there was no tumor in his chest and his lungs were clear. The bad news was that that information didn't answer any of the questions about the cyst or his heart. She recommended a test of the fluid in the cyst, blood work, and a thyroid test.
Last evening I talked at length with the vet on the phone. Again, there was good news and bad news. No sign of cancer. The cyst may be an indication of something deeper or it could be a reaction to an injury and will heal in time. There is no problem with his thyroid, but that means that he probably has the beginnings of heart disease. The lab work did show the start of kidney disease, which means we will be starting him on special food that is very low in protein. Poor Leo ~ he loves his protein-filled wet food and little tastes of meat as special treats.
There are good signs: he's not having trouble breathing and none of his habits have changed. Our best estimate is that he's about 14 years old, so all things considered he's doing okay.
It is silly to be so attached to little guy. I asked him last week who I would talk to if he wasn't around. He looked at me as if to say, "What's for dinner?" So we will take it one day at a time and do what we can to keep him as healthy as possible.
12 comments:
Poor Leo....I remember when he showed up on your doorstep and you were deciding whether or not to keep him.
Hope this is no big deal for Leo and that you all enjoy more happy years together.
Oh, it isn't a BIT silly to treasure your feline friend.
I believe it's a sign of humanity to care for domesticated animals--wild ones, too!!!
May he recover...and soon.
Patti
We do not realize how attached we are to our pets until they get sick or have a problem. Hope Leo is totally well soon.
My new companion "Callie" I saved from being put to sleep. Had her a year next month. She watches every move I make :)
oh Sharon, it is never easy falling in love with someone-furry or not so furry. It is a perpetual risk as we are all fragile each in our own way. And yet, how sad a world it would be if we chose to shelter our hearts instead of opening them, instead of risking loss somewhere down the twisting path? Leo is so blessed to have you there to feed him and love him and care for his well being. And it goes without saying that his presence in your life is a blessing of equal measure. I had kitties with cysts and kidney problems who lived to be 18, I don't know so much about heart problems...Consider each day a gift. That is true no matter what!
Fluffy hugs to Leo and to you-
Ahhhhh, our aging beloved pets! It is so hard for me to cope with these things. 14 years old! he looks great for his age. You've given him some wonderful years Sharon- imagine where he would be without you taking him in!
When our dog went missing last year, there was a gaping hole in my life for 24 hours. I never would have anticipated my extreme feelings of loss! (Toby's our first dog.) Now I have a better appreciation that he is living on borrowed time. Indeed, we all are!
Enjoy your time with Leo!
It's not at all silly to be attached to Leo. Animals love us unconditionally when we care for them, so it's hard NOT to get attached. We have a cat who's 14 now, too, and starting to slow down. I worry a lot about her. My son and I picked her out at the shelter when he was a boy -- so she has a special association with my son, who's now living on his own in Chicago...
That's mostly good news, I think. It's clear to see that Leo is a charmer. What a gorgeous fellow!
It seems that kidney disease is very common among cats as they age. You're doing everything you can to ensure Leo has a comfortable, loving life. He has many happy, healthy years in him yet.
Blessings,
Carolynn
He's gorgeous. And 14 is super! Hope all goes well for many more 'what's for dinner' looks;-)
PS- I think the decision to go off wet food is controversial and outdated? They need lots of fluids and I was to give very little dry food and more wet because of this. Perhaps different if he has stones too? Male cats are prone to FUS more than females so... worth studying to see what the latest is- sometimes vets don't really know.
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