Harry's Results

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

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.

If that's not the most innocent looking cat I've ever seen. Once fatty had had the X ray I just wanted her scanned ASAP. I self referred to another cardiologist when the vet said they'd given me the wrong day. I could not wait another week!

'Innocent'? 'Butter wouldn't melt' more likely.

What a wonderful lad.

Hope all goes well for you and your humans Harry.

We call it his ‘who me?’ face!

We’re going to see what the x ray shows tomorrow and then think about what we’re going to do next. Unfortunately none of the cardiologists are local so if he has to go it’ll depend on when DH can take him as I have no holiday spare.

He really has the most amazing markings - like The Joker!

Fingers crossed for today. Hope all goes well and the results are good.

Good luck Harry darling.

The vets have just called and, all things considered, it sounds like good news.

Harry has a small amount of fluid around his heart, but his heart isn't too enlarged and the vet doesn't want to send him for further scans at this stage. For now he's going to have liquid medication and regular check ups and hopefully it can be managed.

Thank you for all your support and good wishes, I'll try and get a picture of the patient later on.

Good timing, I was just seeing if there was an update.
That does sound a decent outcome if they don't think he needs further scans. Here's hoping the meds help him out.

Well done Harry.

Oh that's good news. Lovely Harry. Give him an ear scritch (or whatever he likes best) from me.

We’ve got him home now and he’s staggering all over the place but his appetite is fine, I don’t think he’s come up for air yet!

His thyroid was tested and is fine, so all in all it’s a good day for Harry (and us). We’re waiting to find out whether his meds can go in his food and, if so, whether they can go in with the Ipakitine. That would be the easiest option because of his jaw but if not we’ll have to syringe it into his mouth.

I'm so glad it was good news. If it needs to be a syringe could you use a soft or very thin one? (Thinking of kitten or hedgehog feeding!)

That’s a good idea, I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll ask at the vets tomorrow, if not I’ll order something from Amazon.

Right that's my good idea done for the week!

Yay Harry! Now be a good boy and take your meds :).

I try to aim for one good idea a month and any more makes me look better!

I can't promise I will have anymore in the foreseeable future!

All sounding promising, good boy, Harry

What medication have they started him on? Frusemide? Fatty has it in tablets. Glad it was not as bad as expected

It’s a lot more positive than I was expecting, and even my eternally optimistic DH was expecting bad news.

I haven’t got the medication yet as the vet has to order it so I should be getting it tomorrow night but I think it is frusemide. Is Fatty on it permanently? I got the impression they are trying Harry on it for a month and seeing how it goes. I’m hoping it can go in his food as it’ll make life a lot easier for us all!

Yes she's on three tablets in the morning and two in the evening. If it's frusemide make sure it's the round tablets. The square ones are more difficult to get down easily.

I'll never get 5 tablets down him and live! Fingers crossed it's the liquid and I can hide it in his food.

Fatty is such a good girl!

I looked into liquid for fatty, as I thought it might be easier. They didn't realise it exists. (It does, we use it at work) but is very expensive.