fibrosis of the liver

[Rafiki]

Does anyone know anything about Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome?

In trying to figure out what Rafiki could possibly ingest that would lead to toxicity, I looked up my sunscreen. To my surprise, it does not contain zinc. It contains titanium dioxide. I have to apply it daily and Rafiki loves to lick my arms. I have an appointment with my dermatologist on Friday so I will ask him how long titanium dioxide remains on the skin.

According to the internet, ingesting titanium dioxide can cause FHS and FHS attacks the liver.

She does have most of the symptoms, but I don't know how much of it is just her weird behavior. Rafiki has been a major licker from day 1. That is how she greets everyone - with a lick. I have seen her skin rippling on the back just above the tail and she does chase and bite her tail. Her tail is always in movement. She does dash off madly around the house. She has the worst ADD that I have ever seen on a cat. On occasion, she utters persistent, loud meowing. I just always assumed that these were the savannah (amped up) version of what every cat does. But now I wonder......

 

[Rafiki]

And bottom line....I am thinking that toxicity is worth pursuing as a cause. It really does make a lot of sense. Fibrosis of the liver says that something has been going on long before the change in formula (May) made her refuse to eat. She probably had liver issues for quite a while but it took her fasting to push everything into overdrive. I was previously thinking that zinc was high on the suspect list but now it looks like titanium might be it instead. If I can figure out the cause, I can save her! Prayers please!

 

[Pam Flachs]

I think that researching the possible effects of Rafiki licking your sunscreen could be a cause of her current issues....it does sound as if she might have symptoms of FHS with the skin rippling and tail chasing...and keep looking for answers to the cause of the liver fibrosis. I think you are on the right path to finding the cause, and ultimately the treatment and cure for Rafiki....you have my continued prayers!

 

[Rafiki]

I have set up an appointment with Bonnie Illies, an animal intuitive & healer for Friday. Leaving no stone unturned.

 

[Patti]

It sounds like you might be on the track of something here, keeping my fingers crossed that it leads to answers!

 

[admin]

You can do it Linda! You are doing a great job of figuring things out so far... Keep it up! Hoping for some answers for you on Friday... How is Rafiki doing?

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[Rafiki]

She is still sweet and loving but does not want to play. She leaps from shelf to shelf in her catio and has probably the energy level of a normal cat. She has started to hide under the bed when she has had enough of my chasing her around with either pills or food. On Sunday, we took the cats out for a walk. It took forever to get her walking jacket on - she really wanted to go out but was afraid that the walking jacket was just a lure to get her to the vet. Poor baby. She loves going out but due to her illness we have not been able to give her the booster shots so I have been keeping her inside.

It is still a real struggle to get Rafiki to eat 6 oz a day. Lately she has been eating a mixture of human baby food with either cooked or raw meat mixed in along with some taurine. Last night I was too tired to cook and pulled out some Hormel beef. She has never liked beef. I gave her a piece off my plate and she wolfed it down. Needless to say you know who ate my dinner! I have also begun eating cereal and milk for breakfast so that she can have some. If I just place a bowl with milk or milk+cereal, she snubs. It has to come from my bowl. Both vets told me to continue doing this.

 

[Rafiki]

I have not updated in a little while. Something changed on Tuesday. We don't know if the Denamarin finally started to kick in or if it was the Cyclosporine. When Steve came home from work, she brought him "Angry Pig" to play with. She has been quite playful the last few days.

Her appetite is decent. I still have to give her a sample off my fingers but then she eats. I can put 2 oz of food down without her getting discouraged. She is still not back to a raw diet. I have been feeding her cooked chicken tenders mixed in with baby food as "gravy" and sole or polluck mixed in with people tuna for flavor. I am only supplementing with taurine right now. She still is not fond of canned cat food and wont go anywhere near kibble. But at least she is back to eating at least 6 oz per day and hopefully will stop the weight loss.

She had a healing with Bonnie Illies on Thursday. I will post more details in that thread but since she was already starting to feel better, I am not sure how well it went.

The bad thing is that she now totally refuses the pill pockets. One of the Pepcid tablets came partially out and the bitterness of the cut pill was apparently highly offensive. She also is very leery of treats - she tends to steal Jammu's just in case we may have tried putting meds in hers. Also, she is regaining her strength - so pilling her has become that much more difficult. I will talk to the vet about pill shooters - unless someone here can recommend one. My index finger is starting to look worst for the wear. She does not bite but I have scraped my finger across those teeth so many times now.

We weaned her off the appetite meds and the Pepcid AC. She is still on Denamarin, Cyclosporine and Prednisone. I will talk to the vet tomorrow about weaning her off the Prednisone. She has been on it for over 3 weeks and we never saw a change until after we added Denamarin (2 weeks ago) and Cyclosporine.

Tomorrow she goes back to the internal medicine vet for a follow-up ultrasound, blood work, and vitamin B12 shot. I will probably do the sub-q fluids too just to help flush out toxins. Fortunately my regular vet does not mind having him do the weekly B12 shot so I only have to catch her once. And yes.....catching her for pills and trips to the vet is seriously no fun.

Positive thoughts please!

 

[Carykd7kau]

Prayin' still Linda...

 

[Trishy]

I think of Rafiki every day and hope for good news. Who is angry pig? Glad to hear that she is feeling a bit playful. Hoping, praying, and sending good thoughts that the follow-up goes well.