Conference misery::feline_v1

    Karen,
    
    	I can't help you with your problem but I can relate.  My dog
    Scruffy was in the vets for 4 days and they ran tests that ended up
    costing me in the vicinity of $300.  Luckily Scruffy got better but if
    he didn't we were going to have to stop treatment also since the cost
    was too much.  
    	Anyway,  I'll say a prayer to St. Mathew for you and Stinky and I
    hope everything works out ok.  Please let me know how the biopsy goes. 
    Flirtaysha and I send our love and hugs to Stinky and especially you
    since I know the guilt and pain of being totally helpless in this type
    of situation.  Just know that you are doing all you can and we are sure
    that Stinky knows that too.  We love you and are praying for you.
    
    Lisa and Flirtaysha

    My prayers are with you to find the *culprit* and also a speedy 
    recovery.
    
    Sandi and the Storm Troopers
    
    

    Poor Stinky...all I can think of is that maybe he ate something
    that didn't agree to him...such as a plant, tree water, some cleaning
    stuff under the sink.. etc.
    
    Our prayers are with you on trying to find what's causing poor
    Stinky to suffer and also for a fast and healthy recovery.
    Please keep us posted you are in our thoughts.
    
    Sandy and the bunch....
    
                         
    

    sending good vibes to stinky.  (with such a name, he deserves some good
    luck!  ;-)
    
    diane, stanley & stella
    

    Thank you all for your kind thoughts.  I just got the last result, his
    T4 test (for thyroid) is 2.2 which they tell me is normal.  The tech
    said this was strange that he is showing all normal but his urine the
    other day was a dark green!?  We are still in the dark.
    Karen, Stinky (he doesn't smell! real name is Shin Khaan), Ruby, Wing

    
           Well,  this all sounds to me like what we just had in the house.  
    the vet said it was a flu which is going around in cats.  The weekend
    before x-mas, Mitties had phenominal vomiting and diarreah, it was
    incredible. The diarreah and vomit eventually turned yellow then green!
    It stayed green for days.  She couldn't eat for days either. After
    $100+,  it was determined she just had the flu. She still has it, just
    the sneezing, sniffly part, though.  She has definatley been eating up
    a storm after those few  bad days were over.  It's just odd that none
    of the others got it.  Max was a little feverish and listless for a
    bit, but not the symptoms that Mitties had.  I was prepared for 11 cats
    having massive diareah and vomit.  So far, I've been lucky. Let's hope
    it stays that way..........did the vet put Stinky on anything?  
    I had to go through a 10 day course of pills.
    
                                          Denise
       

    Karen, what did the vet think about the lump on the thyroid?  Can he
    biopsy it?  A friend out her just had to have surgery on one of her
    cats for a thyroid problem.  They removed part of the thyroid I
    believe.  I can get you more details next week, the friend is enjoying
    a vacation in Italy at the moment.  She will be back on Sunday though.
    I will ask her more about Livvy's problem and the symptoms.
    
    Hang in there.  For now, I guess the best way to handle it would be to
    continue to treat the symptoms until you can figure out what is causing
    the underlying problem.
    
    Jo

    Karen,
    
    This sounds identical to what Pookie had just after Percy got killed.
    The vet thought it was a combination of poisoning (she ingested some
    weed killer) and emotional distress at losing her brother. We thought
    that she would just fade away and die of a broken heart, but she
    didn't!!!! It took *months* for her to get better - loads of
    anti-diarrhoea cures and lots of love got her back to health plus a
    couple of new playmates. Now she is looking great, eating well and
    doing what she should be doing at the other end :-)
    
    I hope Stinky gets better soon - its horrible when you don't know whats
    wrong :-(
    
    
    Fingers, paws etc all crossed for Stinky,
    
    
    
    Lisa plus Pookie, Rolf and Florence.
    

    Have you told the vet about the green urine?  And is that new?  Its
    possible that it could be the result of medication but if it isn't
    it could be significant.  For example, in humans, hepatitis can cause
    the stool to turn clay colored and the urine to turn brown.
    
    Good luck with Stinky.  We'll be praying for him.
      Nancy DC
    

    HELLO!  I have not experienced any of your problems, but do have a cat
    with other problems.  I had a team of Vets (same clinic), and they were
    not able to provide me with much support, although, they did do what
    they thought was right.  The final diagnosis was to put my Boy to
    sleep.  I wasn't convinced and didn't give up.  Even though they had Dr
    Marder of Tufts Vet School and who also write for the Prevention
    magazine diagnose him, I went to a new vet in Pepperill Ma and he
    operated on my Boy and has given him a new lease on life.  Yes, there
    will be a day when his ailment will become worse, but this Vet has
    worked very had to help him.  If you live in the area:  Try Dr. Brad
    Smith of the Pepperill Vet Hospital.  He also has helped my other cat
    with a severe allergy.  My original vet I had been going to some 10+
    years and think he is great, but for some reason, he failed me this
    time on both animals.  I truly feel if any vet can help, Brad Smith
    can.  Good luck, and it is hard!
    
    Lorraine

We lived in Pepperell and loved Dr. Brad -- he really cares about his patients
and has a good bedside manner with owners as well.  We liked his approach in
trying out a minimal solution before trying anything drastic, and he always
explained any and all alternatives clearly.  

While we didn't have anything particularly difficult for him to deal with, we
felt confident that he knew what he was doing and wouldn't hesitate to refer us
on to someone else if it was necessary.  Glad he did so well for you!


Jan

    Just to be brief:  We heard from the vet earlier and they say that it
    must all have been caused by STRESS!  I suppose he could get upset
    about my being gone for one nite, Ruby being pregnant and I don't know
    what else, but this is rediculous.  The vet also said that when Ruby
    has her babies that he could do this again!  We told them no more
    testing, we can give him the Xanax for his stomach.  He was always a
    little nervous but got lots of love and special attention, maybe too
    much.  In one way it makes you feel good that his love or affection is
    so strong, but on the other hand it isn't a healthy relationship!
    Gotta run!  (no pun intended!)
    Karen, Ruby, Stinky, and Wing

    Back in the late 1960 through the early 1970s, I recall hearing some
    young men talk of some non-drug that they could ingest that could turn
    their urine green in preparation for a draft physical. I also remember not
    long ago when there was talk of drug testing employees someone
    mentioned this. For some reason, I am getting a mental picture of
    someone swallowing green food coloring in a gelatin capsule, but I
    don't think that is right. (I do know of folks that claim this has
    happened after drinking a lot of green beer on St. Patrick's day). I guess 
    what I am saying here is that your cat might have gotten into something
    harmless which, when ingested in a large quantity could colored his urine.

    Deb

    How is he doing?  i couldn't tell from your last note if the
    symptoms were going away.
    

    Hi Karen!
    Yes, Stinky is now eating and starting to put a little weight back on. 
    He does seem to be a little more standoffish than before.  It could
    very well be that he is responding to Ruby's pregnancy.  They had
    always been extremely close and now she couldn't give a hoot about him.
    I continue to give him as much attention as I can but it is hard not to
    make a big deal out of Ruby.  I pray that he will just be understanding
    and put up with all this nonsense!
    Karen, Ruby, Stinky, Wingg

    Glad to hear that Stinky is on the mend!
    
    
    Lisa.

    I'm so glad he's getting better.  Cats are such sensitive creatures.
    
    Bye for now,
    
    Karen (and Georgie)