Update on Jake's liver failure

I'm cross posting this from the Lantus group.
Jake is doing poorly. Yesterday he spent the day at his usual vet and had several tests done: xrays, blood tests, ultrasound. The day before that he was checked at another clinic and it was a waste of time and money. They told me he was in severe kidney failure but his blood tests revealed this is not true. The tests at his regular vet did reveal that his kidney function is fine. His liver values are very high (as we know because he is very jaundiced). The ultrasound revealed that he either has several tumors or protruding bile ducts from his gall bladder. His xray revealed that his abdomen is very gassy. He began having liquid diarrhea at the vet but that has resolved to a thicker pudding consistency. Luckily he does wobble his way to the litter box for this. His usual vet does not feel he would survive any kind of gall bladder surgery. I know you would like to see numbers but I haven't yet gotten all of the values because some of the blood work has been sent out and the results haven't been back yet. I'm still considering taking him to a specialist (which would be a long car ride and ordeal for Jake), but my vet tells me that Jake isn't going to get better or even stabilize. The most I can do now is make him comfortable. He said that Jake would probably die if he underwent any procedure.

Last night I thought for sure he was going to cross so I kept waking up to check on him. He was extremely quiet and light breathing. I thought for sure it was time. Then this morning after some fluids and breakfast, pills, insulin, etc. He perked up and walked to the litter box to go. He then began to walk down the hall to the front door. So I decided to take vacation from work and we spent about 5 hours sitting out in the grass. He would periodically get up and wander to a new location in the grass and I followed him. Being outside is like medicine for Jake. If he cannot get well, at least this is good for his spirit. Of course I never leave him alone so I read almost an entire novel out there. Luckily it was a beautiful sunny day and not too hot.

Then I check his glucose at 9.5 and he was at 85. So I gave him a bit of gravy from his favorite kind of food and he licked the syringe hungrily. I look at him and he is so weak and yellow and I feel really sad. The vet tells me that he has palpated his entire abdomen and he has no indication that Jake is in any pain. He said he is probably uncomfortable but in distress. So we are going to keep going and hope for a miracle.

last condo: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=19128

 

Lydia, I am sorry to hear Jake hasn't gotten any better. I went through a severe liver crisis with Tigger a few years ago, although his wasn't HL, but his liver values were all through the roof. I hope your vet doesn't give up on him.

Besides antibiotics and denamarin we also gave him ursodial (Actigall) as mentioned by someone in your other thread. "....it improves the flow of bile through the tiny ducts into the gall bladder and improves the flow of bile from the gall bladder into the intestine. In other words, it helps the flow of bile, which in turn facilitates the removal of toxic bile acids (as well as other toxins excreted in bile) from the body."

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Conten ... 0&EVetID=0

My vet hadn't even heard of it three years ago but was willing to try. I don't know if it would help your Jake or not, but it made a big difference for Tigger. My vet now uses it in a lot of liver cases. He had it compounded into a flavored liquid so I just had to add it to his food.

Maybe just run it by him? Also Jess offered her help in your other thread. If you haven't already, you might PM her. She is a vet tech and very knowledgeable about liver disease.

My prayers are with your sweet Jake. I hope and pray he pulls through this.

 

I am so sorry that Jake is not better yet. I am really praying for him - and for you.
I know how scared and upset that you must be to see your baby feeling so poorly.

{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}

~M