Hi,
Shaggy is now 12 and has always been healthy. In the past two weeks, I had noticed him drinking more water and urinating more. Took him to the vet, although he was not due for his annual checkup until May. Bloodwork showed elevated urea nitrogen (41) and somewhat elevated T4 (6). All other blood and urine values were normal. The vet started him on kidney diet, but no thyroid meds yet as he has not lost weight or shown any other signes of thyroid disease, except for the drinking. One disturbing behavior has accompanying these changes and this is the one which worries me the most. The vet (two vets actually) have no idea what it is.
Shaggy has begun doing something like this: He turns his head and neck all the way to the left. At the same time his right eye closes and he seems to grimace. The "episode" ends with him licking his paw and rubbing the right side of his face. The vets examined his mouth, cheek, eye, ear, and could find nothing. I wonder if it might be something neurological. But even if it is...then what? He is acting normally otherwise, except he hates the kidney diet. I wonder if it is really necessary since all the urinanalysis values were normal. If anyone has had any experience with something like this, I would love to hear. Thanks.
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Sudden new problems in 12 year old cat..
Replies (1)
Hi There,
It does sound like Shaggy has some kind of neurological problem and it may take a specialist to determine exactly what is going on. However, I did look up a site for you that I am hoping will be helpful and possibly give you some insight:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=C&C=10&S=2
Your baby is healthy otherwise so you may or may not decide to pursue a diagnosis. Whatever you are comfortable with is what is important.
As far as the kidney diet, I wouldn't push it at this point. There is no real evidence that a low protein diet is helpful in early stage kidney disease anyway and Shaggy's numbers are only slightly high. He seems to be doing well for an older kitty! You must take very good care of him 
Take care, and please let me know if you have any other questions. I have one cat that is severely neurologically impaired so I do have a little bit of experience.
Regards,
PHKitkat
