The results are in!!!

Luke has acute pancreatitis

No tumor. Which is a huge relief to hear.

We went in for the ultra sound and there were 8 other anipals in to get ultra sounds too (4 cats, 4 dogs). I met a sweet 22 year old cat named, Anthony. He was so handsome. He had gone deaf about 3 years ago. He's apparently had a rough 3 years. But 22!!! Wowza. That is amazing! He was in getting his kidney's looked at. I hope he will be okay. His parents were so sweet.

It was hard meeting many others that were there with their babies... So many stories to tell. Everyone was so open, we were all just worried sick over our babies. The love we all have for our animals is so strong. It is clear that most of us would do almost anything for them. Our babies/best friends... life without the is just pure sadness.

Luke went in for the ultra sound & I had to wait out in the waiting room. Thankfully no sedation was needed. He came out & I was hoping we would get the results right away. But, the specialist faxes the findings to our VET. Then our VET contacts us with the results. Which was driving me crazy with the waiting! He finally called me close to 6pm and gave me the low down. It was kind of hard to hear him (my cell phone sucks) So I made plans to visit with him this morning to get all the info of Luke's game plan.

The bottom line is that Luke has an over active pancreas. He also has those gall bladder stones. He will be on a special dry food & wet food. As well as a some holistic medicine (see above picture) to thin out those gall bladder stones so they can be passed, or just break down. We are scheduled to come back to the VET office in 30 days for an x-ray to see how those stones are doing. He offered the holistic medicine instead of the "conventional" medicine, because he said there are some risks with conventional medicine. Being that this is his first case in 20 years of a cat with gall bladder stones, he wanted to do more research on the drugs. He was going to be contacting another VET for a recommendation if these holistic medicines to do not so the trick.

For now Luke is on:
Liquid Hepato: It contains a standardized extract of milk thistle along with full complex of B vitamins and antioxidants to help promote normal liver function. The active bioflavonoid complex in milk thistle, silymarin, increases the uptake of hepatic glutathione and stimulates hepatocyte protein synthesis. It's bacon flavored liquid that is to be given orally. Hope he likes it!

Rx Biotic: Which is just a pro-biotic. It helps maintain normal, healthy intestinal micro-flora and normalize bowel ecology. I am suppose to mix a scoop full of this in his wet food. I am not sure if he will take to the wet food. Since he started eating again, I haven't given him the option of the wet food in a few days now. Hoping he will like the new wet food prescribed. Because, if he doesn't I will have to add water to it & give it to him orally. Fingers crossed he likes the wet food!

(If anyone has an experience with these medicine's for their cat or dog, please comment. I would love to know the out come.)

The out come for Luke is pretty positive right now! I feel a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. His condition can be reversed. We just have to hope that those stones will not rupture anything. That with the aid of the meds they will just dissolve and/or pass.

I am so glad that Luke is going to have more time with us & hopefully be able to come back to work someday. Thank you everyone who hung in with us during the last couple of weeks. It was such a roller coaster ride. So crazy. I think I added 50% more gray hair to my head with all the worry.

I am so glad I listened to my gut & went to the other VET for a second opinion. The other VET had me thinking it was a tumor - because he had no clue what anything was in the x-rays. He had been trying to convince me to put Luke down at more than one visit with him. I can only imagine how many people who would have listened to his advice. Terrible thought. To think that your baby could have had their life taken away unnecessarily. When all they needed was someone more knowledgeable & with proper care. I am curious how long that fellow has been a practicing VET.

I totally recommend Lonsdale Animal Hospital in North Vancouver, BC!!! They are such a great team there. They are super stars in my eyes.

As for Atlas over on Marine Drive in North Vancouver. I am not so sure. Maybe a good clinic for a minor concern. But, if your animal is really sick - seek elsewhere! I hate to kind of bad mouth them, but I know I would not return there. I also did find some questionable reviews online about them here & here. But it was a long weekend when we took Luke there. No one else was open.

I am just glad it all worked out for now.

Thank you so much to everyone that helped get Luke to the ultra sound appointment!!!
His bill for the ultra sound was $400.00. His bill for the meds and food was $107.50!
We had just enough to cover that! It couldn't have worked any more perfect.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!

You all have been so amazing with all your financial contribution, advice & positive healing vibes you sent our way. We couldn't have made it with out you. We give you the biggest hug EVER!!!
We hope that we can continue the friendships we've made here foreverness!

XOXOXOXO