Whispers health – part 1

Introduction to Whispers helath history is availible HERE

After a month of new diet and B12 supplementation, Whisper was still licking her belly. We’ve excluded other diseases, such as cystitis and other urinary tract problems. Another reason was gastric tract issues, which we knew has shown in previous ultrasound. Such symptoms may be corelated with IBD (Inflammation Bowel Disease). Other option for these changes was something I wanted to keep away from my mind. I decided to consult Whisper with a friend of mine, who specializes in diagnostic imagining. With my own cats it’s hard to be objective so I wanted to gain an independent opinion. Unfortunately dr Mateusz Wereżynski not only confirmed my suspections for IBD. In the ultrasound the intestinal wall was changed but also pancreas and abdominal lymphonodes. Doctor also  suggested the disease I was trying not to let into mind. That kind of ultrasound symptoms tend to occur in IBD but also in certain kinds of lymphoma and can be one of the first symptoms.

 

Neither Whispers behavior nor her blood test results, suggested cancer. But sometimes, in early stages, it may be hard to diagnose. In this situation the only reliable differential method between OBD and lymphoma was histopathology. Which means collecting Intestinal wall samples and lymphonodes, during laparotomy. This is much more invasive method and before deciding about the surgery I wanted to balanced Whispers B12 level. We’ve changed her diet to one recommended for IBD patients. Diagnostic Laparotomy with surgical biopsy was planned for beginning of December.

Whisper is our first thai and also the oldest cat in the family. I’ve always dreamt of a thai cat but I dared to decide about buying a purebred cat not sooner than during studies. Back then it was related to many sacrifices (scholarship wasn’t that much anyway 😉 ) but I was determined. On the internet I found a cattery but it took me a few days to call and ask about everything. But when I finnaly dared to contact her, everything was easier with every step. I was even able to choose a name for my future girl.

In 2009, after summer exams, I got home a bit skinnier, but with enough money to buy a cat. What was left, was waiting for Whisper to be old enough to join our family. When she arrived at our home I had everything prepared. Whisper has stollen our hearst soon after. But it was immpossible not to fall in love with such a plushy sweetheart.

At first she was also the only one purebred cat in the family. She accompanied us everywhere. Even while going on holiday, we we’ve had chosen places where we could have taken her. At the seaside it was most important for her, to be with is. Even size of the beach or waves didn’t scare her if we were around.  

 

We’ve lived together in OIsztyn and bonder really tight. We were going together through traveling from home to university and back. Together we’ve taken care of first kittens as there was no other cats to help.

 

From all our cats it’s Whisper is the one that gets me best, sometimes even without words. She’s the one to accompany me in most of my everyday duties, while other cats nap in their favorite places. When it was time for her retirement from breeding, I couldn’t imagine that she could leave us. 

Maybe that’s also why our breeding program is not so busy, because we have limited capacity for new cats. Other issue is older cats in the cattery, as this means diseases related to age. Many people tnd to think that if there are sick cats (no matter if this is age related or a disease beyond breeders influence), it means it’s a “bad cattery”. And this isn’t true. But many people dont understand that and that’s also why many of cat breeders of any breed, don’t speak/write about it. Sometimes it can be a result of not knowing about such problems, as cats are long retired in new homes. But not our cats, I can’t imagine that. Whisper has been with me for so many years, as an emotional support, company, a friend and breeding queen. That’s why I also want her to have the best care, while still in the family. It’s not only me who is attached to her, but also she is to me. There’s no way we can be parted.

When it comes to our cats, I tend to be overprotective owner and vet. I am very emotional with all the problems and worrying symptoms. With all my medical knowledge, I am aware of the worst scenarios and probably that’s why I tend to act sooner than needed. Just a suspicion of lymphoma made me unstable and sometimes I cried from fear about Whisper. Maybe that’s also why it took me a while before writing this post. Little time I had because of new job, bedroom renovation at that time, and many other home tasks, were another excuses for myself. All that occupied my mind and I didn’t have to thing about posts pending to be written about this whole situation (writing would mean I have to think about all that scared me the most). But upcoming surgery was forcing me to face my fears and worries. I know I’m not the only one who goes through this, as I also have patients like Whisper at the clinic. It’s also for them, that I decided to write all about this. And also for all the cats and their owners – to show them that certain things happen and can happen to anyone. That’s why it’s important to perform regular check ups and act if something comes up.

As I was writing this post, we were waiting for upcoming Monday. Whisper was gonna have exploratory laparotomy then. Preparations for this procedure included chest X ray – luckily everything was ok. Standard blood panel, along with B12 and other pancreatic and enteritic parameters, were also normal. We were crossing our fingers for the surgery. And hoping for good histopathology results that was another step to take.