Conference misery::feline_v1

2251.0. "sick cat, what's wrong?" by CIRCUS::KOLLING (Karen, Sweetie, & Holly; in Calif.) Fri Feb 24 1989 18:47

    Below is a message that was posted on sci.med on the Ultrix/Unix
    network.  If anyone has any advice, I'll bundle it up and send it along
    to the poster.
    
From: perley@trub.steinmetz (Donald P Perley)
Newsgroups: sci.med,rec.pets
Subject: Medical mystery
Date: 23 Feb 89 21:20:08 PST
Sender: news@steinmetz.ge.com
Reply-To: perley@trub.steinmetz.ge.com (Donald P Perley)
Organization: GE Corp. R & D, Schenectady, NY

I'll start off by saying this is about a cat, but since there is no
sci.med.vet, here we are.

Symptoms started with listless behaviour, no appetite, vomiting clear
fluid (reddish tinge). X-rays showed the intestine was bunching up,
which often indicates a piece of string or thread stuck in there
(which would not show up directly).  Surgery was done to remove it but
none was found.  

During the surgery the vet noticed the cat's liver was enlarged, took
a sample, and decided the problem was some kind of liver malfunction,
probably fatty liver syndrome.  This is a positive feedback situation
where some initial malnourishment causes fat in the liver to be
metabolized, causing GI spasms & vomiting, causing malnourishment etc.
The solution was IV feeding, prednisone, and, since the cat went
hypothermic, an incubator for about a week.

It is now about 7 weeks after initial symptoms.  Appetite & activity
are at normal levels.  The remaining problem, and the mystery, is her
white blood cell count.  A test when she was discharged showed an
abnormally low count.  A followup now that she's been off the
prednisone for a couple of weeks shows even lower.

The vet is somewhat stumped, but thinks she may have a marrow tumor.
I am doubtful, since it seems like there should be some connection with
the previous symptoms & liver situation.  The two possibilities that
I can come up with  are:

	1) Something has made the liver go hyperactive in its function
	   of removing old white cells to the extent that the marrow
	   can't keep up.  This apparently happens with spleens
	   occasionally, with swelling of the organ.  

	2) The liver and marrow are both being affected by some common
	   cause, maybe a toxic exposure?

Any ideas or suggestions from the immune experts of netland?


misc clues:

She has been vaccinated for feline leukemia.  

She has had access to a shedding poinsetia (not seen eating it, but
may have).  I know they are poisonous, but haven't been able to find
out what the effects are.

The only current medication is a prophylactic dose (50 mg/day) of
antibiotic (amoxillin.)

Age 6 years, weight 7-8 pounds.


    

    Karen,
    
    I don't have any idea what is wrong, but the person that posted that
    should probably post it to rec.pets newsgroup (also on the USENET) as
    the people in there are pretty informed and I've noticed a few vet
    students in there.
    
    Deb

    Just one thing...... Poinsettias ARE NOT poison to animals or humans.
    
    Sure hope they can find out what is the matter with that poor cat.
    Are they near a vet school by any chance, (like Tufts etc.)? Some-
    times these schools of vet medicine love these kinds of problems.
    
    Barbara

    It was cross-posted to rec.pets.
    

    you're right; I didn't look at the newsgroup line, and I didn't
    remember reading in rec.pets so I made the stupid assumption that they
    didn't post it there. Come to think of it, I haven't gotten anything
    from rec.pets or any other newsgroups in a couple of days; I wonder if
    something has been down
    
    Deb

    What's rec.pets?

	Rec.pets is a 'conference' of a sort on the Usenet.  I used
	to receive it daily through the mail, but ending up canceling
	my subscription, as it tended to get long-winded at times :^}

	I don't have the information handy on this node, but if
	anyone is interested in subscribing, send me mail and I'll
	send you the procedure - it's quick and easy.

	Sandy