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...and it's a mixed bag. Of course it is, right?
Three of the four tests came back fine. UPC unremarkable, urine culture negative, PTH within reference ranges. But his urinary calcium levels, both ionized and total, are high. Our boy has a new diagnosis: idiopathic hypercalcemia. Basically, my understanding, with the Google-Fu I've done on this, is that his body isn't absorbing calcium properly and it's evacuating to some degree in his urine, as is evidenced by the high calcium reading in same.
This could probably eventually mean low-bone density for our boy, among other issues, so the treatment is the same as it is for humans: bone density drugs. For Lars' case, this means 10mg of Fosamax 1-2 times per week. This is not a veterinary formulary drug, we've come to find out. Neither VCA nor Dr. B could get it via their veterinary pharmaceutical channels. It has to be specially compounded by a compounding pharmacy that does veterinary compounding. Tried the Bolingbrook Compounding Pharmacy first--they can't get the needed components from their suppliers. Sigh. Called VCA and told them of my lack-o-Fosamax woes, and they called their go-to compounding pharmacy, The Compounder, which is a stone's throw (evidently) from the VCA out in Aurora, and they are able to order the necessaries to compound the drug for us. Waiting on them to contact us regarding same once things are ordered. Cindy out at VCA says they do mail service either free of charge or at a nominal fee, so if I don't feel like being adventurous and attempting to drive out to find this place I won't have to, which is nice and convenient.
So Lars' CRF diagnosis has changed some. It's now Chronic Kidney Disease IRIS Stage II, Renal Hyperparathyroidism to include the hypercalcemia component.
Hypercalcemia can explain away his lack of appetite issues as well as his chronic constipation issues. J and I are both hoping once he's on the Fosamax for a time both those issues will start correcting themselves, but we're not foolish enough to count on any changes, either. We're just not that lucky. :/
My poor, broken boy just keeps getting more broken. We'll keep trying to fix him, though. :)
Three of the four tests came back fine. UPC unremarkable, urine culture negative, PTH within reference ranges. But his urinary calcium levels, both ionized and total, are high. Our boy has a new diagnosis: idiopathic hypercalcemia. Basically, my understanding, with the Google-Fu I've done on this, is that his body isn't absorbing calcium properly and it's evacuating to some degree in his urine, as is evidenced by the high calcium reading in same.
This could probably eventually mean low-bone density for our boy, among other issues, so the treatment is the same as it is for humans: bone density drugs. For Lars' case, this means 10mg of Fosamax 1-2 times per week. This is not a veterinary formulary drug, we've come to find out. Neither VCA nor Dr. B could get it via their veterinary pharmaceutical channels. It has to be specially compounded by a compounding pharmacy that does veterinary compounding. Tried the Bolingbrook Compounding Pharmacy first--they can't get the needed components from their suppliers. Sigh. Called VCA and told them of my lack-o-Fosamax woes, and they called their go-to compounding pharmacy, The Compounder, which is a stone's throw (evidently) from the VCA out in Aurora, and they are able to order the necessaries to compound the drug for us. Waiting on them to contact us regarding same once things are ordered. Cindy out at VCA says they do mail service either free of charge or at a nominal fee, so if I don't feel like being adventurous and attempting to drive out to find this place I won't have to, which is nice and convenient.
So Lars' CRF diagnosis has changed some. It's now Chronic Kidney Disease IRIS Stage II, Renal Hyperparathyroidism to include the hypercalcemia component.
Hypercalcemia can explain away his lack of appetite issues as well as his chronic constipation issues. J and I are both hoping once he's on the Fosamax for a time both those issues will start correcting themselves, but we're not foolish enough to count on any changes, either. We're just not that lucky. :/
My poor, broken boy just keeps getting more broken. We'll keep trying to fix him, though. :)
