Heinz Bodies

[Horopu]

My 1.5 year old cat has been vomiting up his food repeatedly. A physical exam by the vet showed up no problems and he does not have a temperature. Blood tests show everything is normal except his Heinz bodies which are very high.

He has been not quite as energetic as before but is OK. It is winter here and very wet and windy so that may be why he hasn't got out quite as much as usual. His vet has recommended he has an ultrasound which I have arranged.

Does anyone have any experience of this or advice on what to expect?

[Toomuch2young]

Is their any chance he could of ingested a poison? Or a foreign body?
The ultrasound will just be to check all his organs look normal and to help rule out a blockage/ partial blockage or anything causing an obstruction.

[Toomuch2young]

Also hope he is ok and recovers quickly

[Horopu]

Thanks Toomuch2young. He could have eaten anything. We are in a very rural location and he goes in lots of other people's gardens and fields. He eats birds that he catches. He also catches mice and rats but doesn't eat them.

[cozietoesie]

I'm afraid that this is way above my pay grade, Horopu and you probably need one of the vets who post on the board - but is the vet suggesting Heinz Body Anaemia and what other treatment is s/he recommending?

Does your cat eat food from the house at all? This may sound daft, but if so is there any possibillty that he's been eating food which could have onions in it?

[cozietoesie]

PS - sorry. How long has this been going on for?

[Horopu]

He will nibble on anything he finds under the table or by the bin if he fancies it (messy children). I have wondered about onions. No one is recommending any treatment. My local vet is suggesting sending him for the ultrasound with another vet. That is going to be a 2.5 hour journey each way which won't be fun for him. I've made an appointment for Thursday.

He started being sick about 10 days ago.

[Toomuch2young]

Disclaimer - I am a no longer in practice rvn - so like Cosie not a vet - but just dug a book out to wake up my memory on these. Onions certainly can be a cause.
Otherwise Heinz body can be a sign of all sorts of systemic illnesses or drug toxicity. How worrying for you having to wait until Thursday. Is he keeping any food down?

[Horopu]

It is hard to tell. He's been sick this morning (I'm in NZ) but I haven't seen any other evidence for a couple of days. But that probably just means it is in a field somewhere!

[cozietoesie]

Is he still actually eating and drinking?

[Horopu]

Yes. I've gone from feeding him twice a day to four times a day (same overall amount of food) which seems to have helped.

[cozietoesie]

That's good anyway. I think, in the absence of a current diagnosis, I'd be ultra careful about his possible consumption of non-cat food. (Basically, I''d ban anything other than food designed specifically for cats.) Maybe one of the vets who post will see your thread and can suggest something to be considered in addition though.

Good luck to him.

[Horopu]

Thank you so much for your help.