Our head nurses cat!

Re: Our head nurses cat!

Bob Russell — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 09:43:40 GMT

We have pretty well accepted that the gall stone may well be of limited clinical significance and are treating the pancreatitis. If we are struggling we will have a re-think. Intermittent vomiting is a bit of an issue at the moment.

Re: Our head nurses cat!

Rob Davis — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 08:49:51 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

Ultrasound showed gall stone but also stones in the pancreatic duct , bright mesentery around the pancreas (confirming pancreatitis!).

Never had a case of gallstones in a cat before!

[/quote]

I have only seen one, and I found that as an incidental finding when x-raying the cat for unrelated reasons. The cat was euthanased because of a tumour in its chest and I performed a post-mortem, confirming the gall stone. It was approximately 1cm diameter and had not apparently been causing any problems, though there weren't any stones in the pancreatic duct which as you say are probably more worrying.

Re: Our head nurses cat!

Hannah Wynne Richards — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:50:22 GMT

I would have referred as well Not the sort of surgery I'd be happy trying

Wynne

Re: Our head nurses cat!

tess — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:48:42 GMT

Keep us posted!

Re: Our head nurses cat!

Bob Russell — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:32:47 GMT

I have sent the cat over to one of our nearby referral centres so the medium term future is being discussed!

Re: Our head nurses cat!

Nixthevet — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:10:22 GMT

It's got to be a tricky one really- is the gallbladder managing to empty then ...i.e. you're not worried about rupture. and ( sorry just a very unusual and interesting case) will you operate once/if you can stabilise the cat ? I'm pretty sure you can't do anything to dissolve them in cats and dogs can you? The pancreatitis /triaditis is obviously something you need to stabilise first to an extent but I wondered what approach you are/have been/would advice taking in relation to the fact that the stones aren't going to help and will probably be a nidus for infection until removed.

Re: Our head nurses cat!

Bob Russell — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:57:27 GMT

It has been decided to manage the cat medically for now. Co-amox plus pain relief as necessary. The gallstone is of less worry than the stones in the pancreatic duct plus the pancreatitis of course!

Re: Our head nurses cat!

Nixthevet — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:52:27 GMT

wow - interesting. Have seen a lot of sludging before but never a stone. Cholecystectomy for you then! ( well the cat!)

Re: Our head nurses cat!

tess — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:08:04 GMT

Would be interested to know what you treated it with. Colleague saw one last week with the exact same symptoms, x-rays,bloods etc. (I'd never seen one before).

Re: Our head nurses cat!

Bob Russell — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 12:53:39 GMT

Ultrasound showed gall stone but also stones in the pancreatic duct , bright mesentery around the pancreas (confirming pancreatitis!).

Never had a case of gallstones in a cat before!

Re: Our head nurses cat!

tess — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:00:27 GMT

Gallstone? Try ultrasound to confrim?