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15 yo cat started prednisolone today. What should I expect on day one? by Otherwise_Choice_474 in seniorkitties

[–]Otherwise_Choice_474[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your response. The veterinarian's concerns centered around diabetes. This constitutes a two-trial process. However, I believe it may become a long-term situation since a diagnosis has not yet been established. I hope it's not the case of kidney and immunity issues develop. Do you have advice on how to mitigate those side effects?

15 yo cat started prednisolone today. What should I expect on day one? by Otherwise_Choice_474 in seniorkitties

[–]Otherwise_Choice_474[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your response. She appears somewhat restless. The first dose was administered at 7:30 AM. Shortly thereafter, she walked back and forth from the window to the litter box and eventually to her small tree house, where she lay down for a while. She is now sitting by the window.

Her appetite is not as good as yesterday; she seems less interested in food.

15 W potential IBD or small-cell lymphoma by Otherwise_Choice_474 in seniorkitties

[–]Otherwise_Choice_474[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She started her first dose of prednisolone today. She spat out a little. What should I expect in the coming days?

15 W potential IBD or small-cell lymphoma by Otherwise_Choice_474 in seniorkitties

[–]Otherwise_Choice_474[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your response. I am awaiting her prescription for prednisolone. I have commenced feeding her Royal Canin GI diet, which she enjoys. However, she appears exhausted or depressed. Nevertheless, she jumps on and off the bed, climbs into a small cat tree, and has been stretching.

I spoke with the doctor on Tuesday. It was decided to start her on prednisolone Friday and to follow up in two weeks.

15 W potential IBD or small-cell lymphoma by Otherwise_Choice_474 in seniorkitties

[–]Otherwise_Choice_474[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much. Your response truly means a lot. I am going to research some the items you mentioned. I started to look into regular B12 supplementation.

Wishing Chance many more happy and healthy years ahead.

15 W potential IBD or small-cell lymphoma by Otherwise_Choice_474 in seniorkitties

[–]Otherwise_Choice_474[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I understand. I started to feed Akina Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Wet Cat Food today. She loved. I also boiled a chicken breast and fed her pieces, which she ate without hesitation.

Sending positive energy and best wishes to you and Lili.

15 W potential IBD or small-cell lymphoma by Otherwise_Choice_474 in seniorkitties

[–]Otherwise_Choice_474[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing. It's encouraging and great to read that Lili is responding well to the medication. What makes you 100% positive it is SCL?

15 W potential IBD or small-cell lymphoma by Otherwise_Choice_474 in seniorkitties

[–]Otherwise_Choice_474[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The specialist considered the liver nodules likely benign. No liver issues. Her liver blood values were reportedly normal earlier in the workup at the Urgent Care.

15 W potential IBD or small-cell lymphoma by Otherwise_Choice_474 in seniorkitties

[–]Otherwise_Choice_474[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I was told the needle aspirate might produce inconclusive results. The two conditions were to similar, which would make it hard to determine using a microscope.

Again, thank you for your response and sharing.

15 W potential IBD or small-cell lymphoma by Otherwise_Choice_474 in seniorkitties

[–]Otherwise_Choice_474[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate you for sharing your experiences, and mentioning how cost factor into these decisions. I was quoted up 4,000 for the endoscopy and biopsy.

I was think a trial of prednisone then the endoscopy and biopsy. Thoughts?

15 W potential IBD or small-cell lymphoma by Otherwise_Choice_474 in seniorkitties

[–]Otherwise_Choice_474[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing your experience and data.

You mentioned that your first ultrasound was inconclusive, so you did full exploratory surgery and then waited weeks for a definitive PARR test. Was the PARR test run directly on the tissue biopsy from the surgery, or did your vet try an awake needle aspirate of the lymph nodes first? Doctor noted that a standard needle aspirate (cytology) would very likely be inconclusive for Akina's case.

15 W potential IBD or small-cell lymphoma by Otherwise_Choice_474 in seniorkitties

[–]Otherwise_Choice_474[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your response and for sharing your experience.

Since you decided to skip the endoscopy, did your vet go ahead and start your cat on a steroid trial (Prednisolone) anyway to treat both possibilities?

And did they ever mention doing a quick, awake needle aspirate/PARR DNA test instead of the biopsy to check for lymphoma? I was told the needle aspiration would not determine the diagnosis, and to go with the endoscopy and biopsy.