Update On Katie
 

Jim took Katie to the vet today for a full blood panel and second stool sample test. So first they took blood from her poor itty bitty little neck. :( Then Jim gave the vet a sample of her stool WITH BLOOD IN IT so they could see the blood for themselves. After that, Jim asked the vet to listen to Katie's heart again. When Dr. Jaffe did, he couldn't hear a murmur anymore! He listened to Katie's heart for about 10 minutes and then called in the other vet who works there (Dr. Kaufman) to listen to Katie's heart. So both doctors were unable to hear a murmur. They were VERY confused because they both heard a murmur Monday night and they said that heart murmurs don't just "disappear" within a few days.

Dr. Jaffe said this does not prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Katie does not have a heart murmur. Her condition is still suspicious because she's lost weight and has blood in her stool. So we're still going to go ahead and have tests performed until we know what the root cause of all this is. So please keep my little girl in your thoughts and prayers.

As far as the blood in the stool goes, Dr. Jaffe told Jim not to feed Katie kibble or anything hard until further notice. He said we should feed her plain white rice, boiled chicken, eggs and plain yogurt. We'll know the results of the stool sample tonight around 5 or 6 p.m.

Thank you all so much for your support and advice. Please keep your fingers (and paws) crossed for my Katie. :(

:D It seems like my little Katie bear is getting the care she needs. You and Jim are such good furbaby parents to care for Katie the way you do. I will keep everything crossed (well all the body parts that I can cross anyway). Katie is a fighter and you'll see just how strong she really is. Smile and keep your head up, becaue that's what Katie needs.

I'll keep Katie in my prayers. Hopefully with the test that they'll run something will show up. Good to hear that she doesn't have the heart murmur, though.

I don't know if this is good or bad news ....Have they given you any other reasons that she would be losing weight ? You know she's in my prayers and I hope they will find out what's going on asap so they can begin treating her and getting some meat on that little girl ....GOOD LUCK and keeping Katie in my heart....

V I feel the same way!! I don't know if this is good or bad news. :( Katie is much too thin and has blood in her stool. And now all this about not hearing a murmur anymore. It's all just making me frustrated! :confused:

What confuses me is that Katie EATS LIKE A PIGGY!! Last night I fed her and Codie plain white rice with some boiled chicken that I cooked in sodium-free chicken broth. Katie gobbled it up like a hungry hippo! So WHY on earth is she LOSING weight when she eats a lot all the time? If anything, because of the amount she eats, she should be OVER weight -- not under! I know this may sound terrible (so please no one yell at me) but I almost hope she has worms or something else similar to that because at least worms can be treated and cured. If Katie does have a heart murmur, there's no cure for it and it could kill her in the long run. :( Also worms would explain Katie's blood in her stool and weight loss, wouldn't it? :confused:

I'm taking Katie for a second opinion on Tuesday evening after work. Hopefully that, combined with the test results tonight, will help us figure out what is wrong with my little cutie booty girl. :(

Jenn I am soo glad they don't hear the murmur anymore...and I agree with you on the worms..if that is what it is at least she can be treated fairly easily and she will be up to her normal self in no time..I am sending prayers, hugs and kisses your way!!!

I am glad the heart murmur is gone. Hopefully the vet can tell you why she is losing weight and has blood in her stools. I will keep Katie in my thoughts.

Thanks babe. Katie sends Maxi kisses.

I tried the white rice like you suggested and they LOVED it!

Are the vets sure murmurs don't come and go (or at least sometimes are more difficult to hear than at other times)? My son and I both have innocent murmurs that doctors sometimes hear and sometimes don't. Also, several doctors have told us that murmurs sound louder if they are on the point of closing up -- which they sometimes do. They're louder as they close because the opening becomes smaller so the turbulence going through the opening is greater and therefore louder. Maybe Katie's murmur is gone because the opening or floppy valve (whatever it was) has closed properly now.

I hope she will be healthy as a horse before you know it! As far as not hearing the murmur.....do you think fluid may have built up around the heart? I don't want to scare you any more. It happens frequently with humans and is known as congestive heart failure. However, a water pill can cure it in a human. Maybe ask the vet if it is a possibiliy. Please let us know as soon as you hear from the vet. You are in my prayers.

I will keep Katie in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us posted.

I will have little Katie in my prayers. I really hope the vets find out why she is loosing weight and treat her. I hope she get better soon. Please keep us posted.

This is probably a dumb question but have they check for the basics, like heart worms? I'm sure you are giving her meds but just in case...Also, when Chloe was little she had a weird kind of worm that I did not see but showed up in her stool tests. And, what's with all the time it is taking to get results? I'm sorry, you don't need someone questioning your vet, we all are just as anxious as you are to find out the problem and get one with resolving it. You are all in my prayers.