Rufus is in the hospital

[coontuffy]

Perseus, I have a long list of labs that I have been emailing and asking to test food.
So far, it has been a zero.

I am hoping that AV can get food tested at Cornell Veterinary College lab and will certainly include Wellness in that request.  If you have a particular flavor and lot number and we can do this, please let me know.

I found these folks late last night, they are not on my original list,but have not had the time or the energy to contact them yet.

http://foodtestinglab.com/food-testing-services.htm

[Bonkers]

  Would someone please explain as to what Rufus's labs actually mean please?

[coontuffy]

Bonkers, I'm sorry.
Allow me to explain.

You know that the liver is the organ that detoxifies the body along with the kidneys.

The 2 liver enzymes that show up on basic blood chemistry tests are
AST(SGOT)
ALT(SGPT)  Alanine (ALT, Alanine aminotransferase--formerly known as SGPT). ALT is an enzyme contained inside the fluid part of each liver cell. The larger the number of cells that are damaged, the higher the number. This test is a good indicator of acute disease (disease coming on quickly), but not for chronic liver diseases like cirrhosis where the cells have died and been replaced by fibrous tissue. ALT stays in the blood stream for about 60 hours. Because of this, sometimes your doctor will want to repeat the blood test to track how the body is responding.
ALT Too High (Liver enzymes elevated): Rule out hepatocellular (liver cell) diseases such as cancer, fatty liver, cell death due to bacteria/viruses/hepatitis or toxins, cirrhosis, obstructive jaundice, and infectious mononeucleosis.

ALT Too Low: Rule out pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) deficiency.


There are 2 other liver enzymes but they would require specialty testing for analysis
LD
GGT

Rufus has very elevated AST

AST (Aspartate aminotransferase--formerly known as SGOT): AST is an enzyme contained in all cells of the body, but is used as a diagnostic marker for liver and muscle damage. Its half-life is about 12 hours.

AST Too High: Rule out liver disease (death of cells and cancer), skeletal muscle diseases, (myositis and muscular dystrophy), trauma, pancreatitis, renal infarct, eclampsia (milk fever), cancer, cerebral damage, seizures, alcohol, heart tissue disease (heart attacks, pericarditis), infections in the bloodstream (septicemia), intramuscular injections, drugs such as corticosteroids, primidone, antibiotics and other drugs processed through the liver. Hemolysis (ruptured red cells from improper handling of the blood) can also raise AST levels.

AST Too Low: Rule out pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) deficiency, and terminal stages of liver disease.

Lymphocytes: Lymphocytes live in the immune rich tissues like the lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils, thymus, gastrointestinal lymphoid tissue, bronchial lymphoid tissue, bone marrow and in the blood. There are lots of lymph nodes in the breast, under the arm, behind the knees, in the neck, and in the groin areas. Lymphocytes are specifically attracted to viruses, pollens and cells that have anything wrong on them on the outside of the cell (this is called cell-mediated immunity). They live a lot longer (weeks) than neutrophils and DO recirculate from the tissue to the blood and back. They go where they are needed. Lymphocytes are further broken down into T-cells, and B-cells, but special testing is needed to determine how much of each we have.

In the case of Rufus' very low lymphocyte count, it could mean the following:

Lymphocytes Too Low (Lymphopenia): Rule out corticosteroids, stress, pain, acute systemic infections (viral and bacterial), acquired T lymphocyte deficiency (neonatal infections), immunosuppressive drugs, irradiation, loss of lymph, chylous thoracic effusion (ruptured thoracic duct), lymphosarcoma, enteric neoplasms, granulomatous enteritis, Johne's disease (cattle), protein-losing enteropathies, ulcerative enteritis, lymphatic cancer destroying lymph nodes, and hereditary T-cell deficiency.

There could be a serious infection either viral or bacterial causing sepsis, meaning it has penetrated his blood stream and is traveling with the blood to all his organs.

The other issue, because the liver is a detoxifying organ, is that Rufus has some sort of toxin in his body.  Elevated levels of minerals like Zinc, can cause liver complications causing zinc toxicosis.

Mold, fungi, aspergillus niger, vomitoxin and a host of others can also be toxic to the body and cause the same liver elevations.

[Bonkers]

   Thank you for the explaination!

[coontuffy]

Rufus is home

I am number one on his sh*t list right now.
Hopefully this is just figuratively and not literally.

They sent him home because he was not eating for them at all today.
No vomiting as of yesterday and no diarrhea.......actually no feces at all.

I'm thinking he's saving it up for me.
So if there are seismic readings coming from NY, it's Rufus not an earthquake.

They wanted to keep him to continue with the heavy antibiotics via IV, but his not eating becomes more of a concern at this point.  They sent me home with heavy duty oral antibiotics one of which is the tablet of flagyl.  Cross you fingers for me because I start tomorrow with the flagyl and if I miss this one, I have foamy mouth rabid kitty.  And I have to give this twice a day for 10 days.  Gonna be a loooooong 10 days.

He looks a thousand times better.  They told me if I waited another 24 hours he would have been dead.

He ate like a horse when we got home.

[Frosty]

I'm so glad that you got to bring him home today. Good luck on giving him the meds! I know how most kitties are with the pilly-willys!

Sending you prayers for continued improvement for Rufus.

[Bonkers]

 That is great news ct! And I am sure he will forgive you for shooting all those pills down his throat. Any results yet on the labs from the rest of your kitties?  Oh, and what about the food? Is AV going to have any testing done? Sorry so many questions....

[sherrylynne]

I don't know if this has any relevance, but two of mine are on 50/50 Wellness pouches and Evo 95%, and(touch wood), so far no problems. Would the pouches have the same premix as the cans?

[Perseus]

CT, what wonderful news!  I like the part about eating like a horse!  Nothing better than a kitty eating good.  Keep us posted about the rest of the test results.  I'm anxious to know anything AV can come up with.  If you decide on a lab for testing, let me know and I'll have my batch done too.

Sherrylynne, thanks for mentioning that about Wellness pouches having no problems.  I think all Wellness has the premix added, there's no other way to get all the vitamins and minerals in it that's needed.

[coontuffy]

Per AV, all other cats had "okay" blood work which "should be repeated in 6 months".  I haven't got the copies yet, but I will tomorrow when they are faxed to my office.

Still pending on the zinc toxicity test.

AV has never had food tested before!!   
I told her with me there's always a first   

She will make some inquiries and then get back to me an a couple of days.

I will keep you posted.

I'm going to say goodnight.......I am really tired

Thank you all so very much for your prayers and best wishes for my Rufus.

[5CatMom]

Glad he's home.  Can't keep a good Rufus down for long.

Something sure went "blooey" all of a sudden.

Lots of things ruled out, thanks to Peg's excellent care.

[kaffe]

Many wonderful pet lovers are praying for Rufus, Peg:

http:prayersforpets.org/

Sending our prayers.
 
 
If responding, send to: xxxxxx@yahoo.com
Name:   Phoebe
Email:   xxxxxx@yahoo.com
Where are you from?:   California
 
PLease pray for my freind's cat, Rufus - he is a maincoon and today had to be rushed to the ER having liquid diarrhea and vomitig feces!
Vet thinks zinc toxicosis from the Nutro he had been eating... Rufus
is intensive care and vet said it looks bad.... please please pray for
the BIG fella that he makes it though this!
 
Bless you all and your furkids!
Phoebe



I've had so many replies to my post like this one:

Hi Phoebe,
 
I am praying for Rufus..Believing God for total healing. Please keep us posted.
Blessings,
Liz

Dear Phoebe,
 
Dear Father in Heaven, the Great Physician who has authority over all physicians, in the Name of Jesus we come before You with this most serious request for Rufus.  We ask that You please heal him right now and restore and strengthen his body.  We ask that You satisfy him with long and healthy and happy life.  Please put a hedge of protection around him and have Your angels watch over him.  Lead and guide all the doctors and all those who help take care of him to do all the right things.  Pour out Your blessings in a miraculous way right now.  The Bible says that You are a present help in the time of trouble and this precious one needs a very immediate and present help right now.  Please sustain him until his parents can acquire anything else that is needed to help this little one. Lord, we give You the praise, the honor and the glory and in the Name of Jesus, we claim his healing by the stripes of Jesus right now. (1 Pet 2:24)  Amen.

Dear Phoebe,
I will definately pray for Rufus and your friend.
Here is a great prayer you can adapt to him since you will be saying it for him. We are all God's creations after all,
Susan

I am happy to pray for your precious Rufus, asking God to send Holy Angels to hold your Rufus close as they minister health and healing.

Please remind Rufus about how God send Jesus here, not only to reconcile us back to Him, but also to conquer sickness, sin, disease and death.  Rufus has been saved from it ALL!

You are in my prayers for God's Wisdom concerning your Rufus.  I *believe* in the power of prayer, I *believe* in God's healing power, and I *believe* in laying hands on the sick and anointing with oil that the prayer of the righteous WILL bring God's healing directly and immediately to save the sick.  I *believe in seeing a full and complete healing, and seeing the power of God in action.... in the Almighty Holy Name of Jesus, before whom EVERY knee shall bow - especially poisoning, all effects, and *anything* that could present itself against the way God created Rufus back before the beginning of time.

Now go get some oil, and rebuke anything which has attacked YOUR cat... a PERFECT GIFT (and HIS creation) from the MOST HIGH GOD to YOU - HIS precious child.
:-)
I'm looking to God to meet you at the point of your faith, to uplift you, and to edify you, as you stand for Rufus.

Remember, if Jesus lives in you, then your hands are His hands, your words are His Words!

I've sent your request on to the Prayers for Pets email list.

Love,
Melanie

I will keep Rufus in my thoughts and daily intentions.  I pray St. Francis will intervene and guide the doctors so that Rufus will recover and be healthy and whole again.  I pray if the food was the source of his illness that the manufacturer will come forward and take their product off the market so no other animals will suffer. I pray Rufus will stay strong and fight so that he will be home with his forever family very soon. Please keep us updated. Thinking of you and wishing you all the best,  debbie

[sherrylynne]

I'm so glad Rufus is home! I guess I didn't notice the second page when I asked about the Wellness pouches .
I'm not sure who I feel sorrier for right now- Rufus, because he's still sick, or you having to give him all those meds!
I'm just glad he's eating, and feeling better right now

[Bonkers]

  Hey coontuffy! We need an update as to how Rufus is doing. 

[sherrylynne]

Agreed! I was just about to post in asking, but Bonkers beat me to it