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Harry's Results

303 replies

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 19/02/2018 16:13

I've just had the results of Harry's blood test for his heart and it's not good. His proBNP level is 344 and anything over 270 is classed as serious heart disease. I'm sitting at my desk at work in tears as I don't know what to do. As far as I can see I've got three options:

  1. Get a second opinion
  2. Have him referred for tests to see how serious it is and decide on treatment
  3. Leave him be.


Please don't flame me but I'm leaning towards option 3. He's 13 years old, has been through more sedations, tests and operations than I care to remember over the last two years and is absolutely find in himself. He's eating, drinking and playing, doesn't get out of breath and, if he hasn't got long, I want him to be happy in that time, not in and out of vets all the time.
OP posts:
Vinorosso74 · 19/02/2018 17:17

Sorry it isn't good news. As upsetting as it is for you I think option 3 is the kindest for him. As you say the poor lad has been through a lot and the main thing is he is happy.

DancesWithOtters · 19/02/2018 17:24

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Allergictoironing · 19/02/2018 17:45

Sorry Pink, and poor Harry Sad.

I think I would also go for option 3. I'm not an expert but I don't think there's an awful lot they can do for serious heart disease except treat the symptoms. It may be worth asking the vet if he/she would recommend any medication without further tests, but I think I agree that he's been through so much recently that any more may upset the quality of life he still has.

halesie · 19/02/2018 17:53

OP I read your earlier post and am so sorry to see your update.

We've just lost our old boy (who was the mirror image of Harry!) to liver cancer with hyperthyroid on top. He had an ultrasound to investigate the cancer but the vet said it was too spread out to consider operating. Tbf that made it easier for us not to keep interfering with him in his old age and he had a very contented last 9 months with us.

Have you already discussed with your vet the types of treatment that could be offered and whether any of them are non-invasive and easy enough for him to cope with (e.g. would he be ok taking tablets if that's an option?). If the treatments would all be invasive and upset him I would def go with option 3.

Thanks

Toddlerteaplease · 19/02/2018 18:30

I didn't know there was a blood test for heart disease. Personally having gone through it with Fatty, I would scan and treat. But can totally understand why you wouldn't want too. And he is older than Fatty and has other issues.

Toddlerteaplease · 19/02/2018 18:30

Poor You and poor Harry. Thanks

lljkk · 19/02/2018 18:32

Can't find previous thread to find out what the symptoms were...

No treatment is often the best treatment.
I'm lucky my vets are pretty hands off, quality is much more important than quantity of life.
I could imagine doing nothing but need to discuss specifics with vet.
An inexpensive easy to administer medication might make him more comfortable or slow down progression. Worth asking about.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 19/02/2018 19:00

Thank you for all your kind words and not making me feel awful for thinking of not treating him.

If this was his first or only issue I wouldn’t hesitate. I just don’t want however long he’s got to be spent having tests at the vet and having medication forced down him.

Halesie, there’s no way we’d be able to get pills down him. As well as being a bit bad tempered at times (his vet notes say fractious!) he fractured his jaw a couple of years ago and it didn’t heal properly. I’d be worried about damaging it again. He also had a dental infection that weakened it.

lljkk, he has no symptoms. He’s had a bit of a cough but only when he wakes up, never when he’s running around. The vet listened to his chest and immediately said he had a heart murmur on both sides so did the blood test.

Toddler, I immediately thought of Fatty. I just keep thinking of his age and everything else he’s been through and I want him to have quality over quantity. (Obviously I want quantity and quality but I don’t think we’re going to manage that Sad)

OP posts:
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 19/02/2018 19:03

And here is my gorgeous boy. Please ignore the shaved patch on his neck, the new vet wasn’t as neat as his old one!

Harry's Results
OP posts:
Vinorosso74 · 19/02/2018 19:21

I do enjoy Harry pics.

DancesWithOtters · 19/02/2018 19:22

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PinkSparklyPussyCat · 19/02/2018 19:33

He’s got gorgeous eyes.

Harry goes limp when he’s at the vets, there’s clouds of fur when he’s stroked and his paws are sweaty.

The vet wouldn’t give me any clue as to how long he might have but the heart disease wouldn’t be cured, only managed. Your cat sounds amazing Dances!

OP posts:
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 19/02/2018 19:35

Here’s another couple of pictures showing his lovely eyes!

Harry's Results
Harry's Results
OP posts:
DancesWithOtters · 19/02/2018 19:36

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PinkSparklyPussyCat · 19/02/2018 19:39

I’m not sure to be honest. I like to be in control so from that point of view yes, as I would have an idea what I was dealing with. The problem is I’d probably get to that point in time and then go into a complete panic!

OP posts:
LivingInMidnight · 19/02/2018 19:46

Option 3 I think. He's a puddle cat at the vets isn't he? I'm not even sure I'd want a proper timescale. Something vague maybe so I'd have some idea but not so specific that it felt like impending doom every day.

So sorry Sad

DancesWithOtters · 19/02/2018 20:01

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TheLongRider · 19/02/2018 20:03

I too would go with option 3. You will do right by him whatever you decide. Flowers

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 19/02/2018 20:17

The vet hasn’t said anything about managing it, just getting him referred to a specialist. From what I’ve read medication can delay the progress so I’ve asked is there anything he can have without any further tests. I should find out about that tomorrow.

He doesn’t eat treats (strange boy!) so that won’t be an issue. I think if it was me I’d be curled up on the sofa eating chocolate, watching the entire back catalogue of the X Files and ogling David Duchovny!

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 19/02/2018 20:18

Love the picture of him staring straight at you. He's definitely the boss! I didn't realise he was awful to get tablets down. In that case then I wouldn't treat, and you have made the right choice.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 19/02/2018 20:39

We’ve never actually tried to pill him. We didn’t have to before he broke his jaw and there’s no way I could force his mouth open now in case I damaged it. I really can’t see him taking kindly to it and his claws are extremely sharp!

We tried syringing medicine into his mouth but that was a disaster. I held him while DH put the syringe in the gap where his teeth are missing, squirted the liquid in and straight out the gap the other side! The vet looked pityingly at Harry and told us to put it in his food!

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 19/02/2018 22:36

I worry about prizing Fatty's mouth open after her issues last year. It's difficult to grip on to anything on the left side as her cheek bone is missing. But she's incredibly good with them really.

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cozietoesie · 20/02/2018 00:12

I'm so sorry, Pink. Option 3, I reckon?

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 20/02/2018 07:11

Right, after sleeping on it we’ve come up with a plan. First of all, I’m trying to convince myself he’s actually no different to how he was this time last week, before his trip to the vet and he’s going to be treated exactly the same.

I’m going to phone our vet and make an appointment for DH and I to go in and talk to her to find out what exactly the tests involve and what treatment is available. We can then decide whether it’s in Harry’s best interests or not. We are still leaning towards option 3 but I want all he facts so we can make an informed decision rather than always wondering and relying on Dr Google.

Thanks again for all your support, it’s been a huge help. I don’t know what I’d do without the support and advice from here!

OP posts:
DancesWithOtters · 20/02/2018 07:13

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