My senior cat has gallbladder issues: surgery or medication?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am very sorry that BJ is so sick! It sounds as though your Vet is doing a very good job trying to get BJ better. All those supplements and antibiotics are perfect. Sometimes though they do not work and surgery is need to remove the gall bladder. I am assuming that BJ has had an ultrasound when he was first diagnoses? It may be warranted to recheck the ultrasound if the values have worsened. If he is feeling fine and the ultrasound has not changed then maybe you can discuss with your Vet giving him more time with the medications. If he is feeling poorly and the ultrasound reveals that the gall bladder wall is unhealthy or about to rupture then surgery is his best chance. There are no other medications that I can think of, he is on everything already! I wish you and BJ the best!

It’s hard to know what to recommend without having access to Riley’s full medical record. I wouldn’t necessarily think the Lyme disease would change your decision since it can be treated and the liver and gallbladder changes would not be related. It might make sense to try to sample the liver masses first to try to determine whether or not they are cancer, although this might not be possible. Don’t be afraid to ask your vet to discuss pros and cons of surgery with you again if you’re having a difficult time making a decision.

Hello. I am so sorry for this diagnosis. Diagnostic tests are often very helpful, but sometimes you need to get an actual biopsy to really tell what is going on, & nothing is a substitute for a surgeon getting his eyes on a situation. Yes, it is expensive, a scary to think about surgery, but If this is something really serious, & there is a possibility that surgery can be at least partially curative, then you may have many good years with her. You might want to check out Care Credit ( https://carecredit.com ) which is a medical credit charge that can has some favorable rates to pay off an expensive procedure. I know whatever you decide, it will be best for you & Baylee. Good luck & thanks for contacting PetCoach.

Hello. The most common disease is cholangitis/cholangiohepatitis. Most simply, this is a case where bacteria can back up from the intestines into the biliary tree affecting the gallbladder & often the surrounding liver. This can & will make a cat extremely sick & without immediate & aggressive treatment, will probably not survive. There really is nothing you can do for him at home other than seek veterinary assistance as soon as possible. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Without knowing the course of his illness, test results, etc. it is difficult to give accurate advice. It does sound serious enough that your cat likely needs a feeding tube surgically placed so that you can give him the necessary amount of food each day. It is quite difficult to force feed a cat who is sick and doesn't want to eat. The feeding tube is often needed in these situations. You should discuss this option with your veterinarian and inquire about having it done asap. It may also be necessary that your cat remain hospitalized for more intense supportive care including IV fluids. Please consult with his doctor right away.

Jaundice can be caused by many things but kidney stones are not one of them. Gallstones can sometimes cause jaundice but this is actually very rare and would typically be from obstruction of the biliary tree or sepsis, both of which are very serious. Did your pet have a full abdominal ultrasound to look at the abdominal organs? If jaundice is present, and these 2 entities are not players, then another cause is likely which would mean a different treatment approach. Medical therapy for gallstones can be employed (especially if underlying liver disease is the cause) but if there is obstruction surgery is typically needed. What i would recommend is that your Sandy see a specialist. Your family vet can likely provide a referral for an internal medicine specialist in your area. An internist is a great person to manage an older pet with liver and kidney issues and they may have medical options for her. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

If she keeps having rectal prolapse I am afraid surgery will be the only option Billie is going to have. Pre-anesthetic blood test could be performed before surgery to assess level of anesthetic risk. The surgery is not extremely invasive and quite short in terms of surgical time. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.