Weight loss in an old cat, how much is too much?

Re: Weight loss in an old cat, how much is too much?

An On MRCVS — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:30:47 GMT

Sorry for anon log-in - on somebody else's computer again.

I would most definitely be interested in urinalysis - old thinning cats and wee have a fairly direct relationship. The fact that this cat is eating well and is on phenobarb would suggest that there's an issue of catabolism and/or malaborption/malassimilation. First thing I'd be looking for is protein coming out of the back end.

(And then there's always the issue of what you actually do with your results, whether they change management in any way,or even QOL and lifespan. These owners are clearly willing to go along with investigation, so it might actually be worthwhile, in contrast to the usual 'oh, I don't want to mess him about, he's too old to be giving tablets (usually painkillers) to and I don't want him to suffer (!?) anyway).

Re: Weight loss in an old cat, how much is too much?

HMC — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 10:24:31 GMT

[quote user="Busybee"]

In a year (May 2011 to June 2012) the cat has lost nearly 30% of it's body weight - to me that is a significant loss. I know Sarah Caney tries to equate cat weight loss to human weight loss - in this case, it's like a 10st person losing nearly 3st in 1 year!

[/quote]

But is it? If you think human years vs feline years. Just a thought.

Re: Weight loss in an old cat, how much is too much?

Kate Richardson — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 10:23:20 GMT

Whats the cats USG?

Re: Weight loss in an old cat, how much is too much?

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 10:15:08 GMT

I learned a new word describing lean body mass in old animals the other day at a lecture on nutrition - sarcopenia, which is what it sounds like this old cat has. I would thoroughly question the owners over this cat's appetite and what it is actually eating and re-examine its mouth, I had one revisit me yesterday after 2 months of this scenario and found a sub-lingual SCC which was not evident at a dental 6 months earlier. If there are no obvious disease processes some supportive feeding may be useful.

Re: Weight loss in an old cat, how much is too much?

Busybee — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:13:15 GMT

With regards to what may be going on with the cat, here's where I would be thinking...

Causes of weight loss - 1) malnutrition (just not eating enough/the right thing!) 2) malabsorbtion (eg. GI disease) 3) masassimilation (eg. diabetes; normally alongside polyphagia)

Causes of (possible) hypercalcaemia - Granulomatous disease (fungal, parasitic, bacterial) Osteolytic (tumour, infection) Spurious (machine error, lipaemia, haemolysis) Hyperparathyroidism Drug related (thiazide diuretics, calcuim containing phophate binders) Addisons Renal failure Nutritional (excess vit D/ vit A / calcium) Idiopathic Tumour.....ie GOSH DARN IT!

Now run through these and put the cat in the picture - do any of them fit?

Re: Weight loss in an old cat, how much is too much?

Jo Cobbett — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 13:14:50 GMT

[quote user="James Laidlaw"]Dental issues? I'd be concerned with that amount of weight loss too, [/quote]

[quote user="Busybee"] In a year (May 2011 to June 2012) the cat has lost nearly 30% of it's body weight - to me that is a significant loss. [/quote]

Glad you think so too, I was suprised it hadn't been picked up by my colleagues earlier and thought maybe it was because I was overreacting!!

Re: Weight loss in an old cat, how much is too much?

Busybee — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 13:11:21 GMT

Re: Weight loss in an old cat, how much is too much?

Jo Cobbett — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 12:40:02 GMT

I forgot to mention, if doesn't have any teeth!! But eating well. (not excessive)

Re: Weight loss in an old cat, how much is too much?

James Laidlaw — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 12:38:41 GMT

Dental issues? I'd be concerned with that amount of weight loss too, but your investigation seems pretty thorough too...