Bunny Goes To The Vet (constipation And Early Kidney Degeneration)

I noticed Bunny crouching this morning, like he was straining to defecate.

Then, he vomited all his breakfast out. I waited a bit, and gave him some canned chicken, which he was able to retain but later, he vomited clear bile.

In 2014, Bunny had a chronic vomiting episode which no vet could figure out, and finally, it resolved by itself, after months. Even did TCM and that did not work either.

Being FIV+, Bunny has had a long and colourful medical history.

So, not taking any chances, I took him to the vet’s this morning. I had earlier sent the vet Bunny’s entire medical history (through text).

The vet found that Bunny was very constipated. There are big stools in his colon. It is possible that he has not defecated for a few days. I didn’t know this as the Cow Clan uses the sandpit and there are always faeces to be scooped every day. Bunny was eating very well (as usual), so I did not suspect anything.

Bunny was also dehydrated, so the vet gave him 200ml of subcut at the clinic.

An ear-prick blood test showed no increase in white blood cells so there is no infection. Despite the “orchestra” in the car, Bunny’s temperature was normal.

The vet asked if Bunny’s ear has always been bald and I said yes. She examined his ears and found a lot of ear dirt. This was examined under the microscope and it was found that Bunny has a yeast infection. Maybe he had always had this and that is why he scratches and hence, bald pink ears. For this, an ear drop has been prescribed.

Bunny has tartar and one of his molars has a hole in it. Ideally, it would need to be extracted, but that would have to wait first. The molar isn’t as rotten as Cow’s.

Blood was taken for testing. The vet says it would be best to do the SDMA test as well (this is for early detection of kidney disease).

About the SDMA test: http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/products/kidney-disease-cats-in-new-idexx-sdma-screening-test-can-catch-it-months-years-earlier

Bunny is FIV+, already 13 years old, so the likelihood of having some early kidney disease is quite possible. According to statistics, 1 in 3 (that’s a 33.3% likelihood) of cats will end up with kidney disease.

Here’s Bunny’s bloodwork:

The SDMA is high, so it means Bunny has early kidney degeneration. To address this, Bunny will need subcut twice a week. His diet is recommended to be low-salt too. Bunny can still eat normal food; renal food would be good as well (but it doesn’t have to be 100% renal diet).

The globulin reading is high because Bunny is FIV+; the body is constantly producing antibodies to combat the FIV. We know globulins destroy the nephrons in the kidneys.

Bunny weighed 5.3kg on the vet’s scale. The vet also confirmed that Bunny IS blind (we already know this).

Although Bunny’s creatinine level is still within the normal range, the vet says that anything above 140 is suspect, so true enough, “luckily” the SDMA test was done. At least we know now and can do something to delay the progression of the kidney disease.

It’s only been a week since Vincent’s passing, but for Vincent, we didn’t know until it was Stage 4.

For the constipation, initially the vet thought of doing an enema, but decided not to because Bunny is dehydrated. So, it’s Lactulose, and Omeprazole for the gastritis.

The vet also gave me a bottle to collect Bunny’s urine, to be tested for proteinurea. But it would have to be done when the clinic is open, because I have to send the urine sample straight-away. The urine cannot be kept in the fridge for the testing of proteinurea. The vet could not express any urine today because Bunny’s bladder was too small.

The vet also asked if Bunny’s urine has been “clearer”. Come to think of it, yes, it has been. It also does not smell as strongly as it used to. These would all be signs of early kidney disease.

The vet said it’s expected of a 13 year-old cat and with FIV+ too.

We drove back, orchestra in full swing.

Back home, I gave him the Lactulose and Omeprazole first. He struggled and he’s strong, so this is going to be a challenge.

Bunny needs a quarter of the Omeprazole and the vet had already divided out a few for me, and put them into capsules. What I did was too cut the capsule shorter so that it’s smaller and easily to plonk.

I bought two packs of RC renal wet food today. So, I fed Bunny. Of course he ate. Bunny eats anything!

Bunny manja-ing up to his favourite person.

Brothers-in-arms.

With sister, Pole.

Cow and his favourite person, yesterday.

I hope Bunny will cooperate for the twice-weekly subcut so that I can do it myself at home.

Meanwhile, we are waiting for Bunny to poop. The vet taught me how to feel for stools in his colon, but I failed miserably at that.

Source: https://myanimalcare.org/2019/03/24/bunny-goes-to-the-vet-co..

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AnimalCare is a registered society that promotes caregiving to street animals and helps in their neutering and medical needs. AnimalCare has a Medical Fund, Food Fund and Education Fund.

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