Ultrasound?

Ellie · Ultrasound?

Just a question on Persians for you Celeste. Dakota is acting pretty healthy, however I feel I should have an ultrasound on his kidneys since he had cyst a year ago. I wonder if regular ultrasounds are a necessary thing for these little cats. If anything, it would put my mind at ease.
Our vet wasn't real concerned when he first went in for all his tests since we were worried about his vomiting issues.
I hate to put him through it but I would hate to think I neglected the little guy.

Celeste

Ellie, probably and usually with any other disease I would say yes however PKD does not have a known path on its progression. It may very well lie dormant for years and then advance quickly. In other cases it may never advance at all. If Dakota were mine :smile

I would have an annual blood panel done and also rely on a physical examine.

Josh is ultrasounded frequently, however, this is due to his other medical conditions. And if I use him as an example here, from Dec/2007 to April/2008 his PKD advanced considerably. From that point to now, it has not. Using Allie as another example where she has a few small cysts on her kidneys, her status never changed. In her case the disease attacked her liver late in life.

So what I am trying to say here is an ultrasound at any given point in time doesn't amount to much. It isn't like making sure there is no new growth after lets say when a tumor is removed.

Typical symptoms for possible advancements are increased thirst, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite. Rather vague in my opinion since any of these symptoms can be responsible for so many other issues.

Ellie

Well, after reading everything , I see they don't give much that says an ultrasound is definite proof of the disease as you said. I will do the full blood work again and just wondered if the cyst is growing. He is healthier now than he has ever been and like everyone,I would love to keep him that way.
He is such a doll that I would just hate to think I didn't do something that may help him in the furture, but this PDK thing just doesn't seem to work that way. So sad.

Celeste

Another point of interest here is was the original ultrasound done by a radiologist? Many doctors and even specialists do their own. This isn't to say that their diagnosis is necessarily incorrect and they do mean well, however they do lack the experience needed to read ultrasounds properly.

This I actually found out the hard way with Allie in 2006. :sad

cindybasty07

Your vet must be well versed enough in telling you the truth if your pet cat really needs an ultrasound. Anyway, it is a non-painful procedures but naturally require sedation because the cat will have to be lied down. Go to your vet now and ask him what would be the best remedy to suppress the vomiting of your cat.

posiepurrs

Another point to check besides if it is done by a radiologist is the machine itself. Some are better than others. I tried to find the article I have on this, but my sleep clouded brain isn't working well this AM. I have never heard of a PKD cyst turning cancerous. I agree at this point the blood panels are the best way to determine how he is doing.

JoaneWing

I hope you don't mind me adding my 2 cents worth here since I also had a persian diagnosed with PKD.

I am a worrier first and foremost and with that being said--- I had the blood tests done AND the ultrasound. Everything came back with good levels on the blood and the cysts were small. Buddy's outlook was good at that point. Three weeks later he died from HCM at the age of barely three years old. So I only had the opportunity for a first set of tests done on him. Would I have continued to have the tests performed----yes because that is me. For my own peace of mind even tho' a week later everything could have changed in an instant.

I had a cat diagnosed with HCM at the age of one and he lived to be over 13 years of age. He was only given 2 maybe 3 years to live tops! I took him to a Feline Cardiologist. I worried each and every day over him---that is my nature. So I DO UNDERSTAND how you feel Ellie. And Celeste---you are my hero. How you manage to keep yourself together is truly unreal. My best to all of you with PKD positive cats.