Sunday 3 February 2013

Share It Sunday’, Guest Blog Newt The Cat!


Nominated by last weeks' guest Tattlecat!



Cat liver Shunt Info

When new acquaintances ask about Newt, I try to give them my "elevator speech" (the quick, 30-second overview), and not overwhelm them with too many of the details which are routine to us, but might be mind-boggling for others.

So, here's my personal version of the quick and dirty on liver shunts in cats:

A liver shunt is a condition where the blood is not properly purified, because it bypasses the liver. As a result, toxins can accumulate and cause "Very Bad Things" to happen. Liver shunts are even more rare in cats than in dogs, affecting approximately 1 in every 10,000 cats. However, there is Hope - many cats with liver shunts are able to live normal, happy lives!

Okay, that was one floor; if they haven't gotten out of the elevator yet, and want more info, the next part goes like this:

A liver shunt may also be known as a portosystemic shunt (PSS), and be intra-hepatic, extra-hepatic, or some combination of both. Treatment options include surgery and/or medical management, using a combination of diet and medicine. More studies and statistics are available on surgical options, but we are now seeing more anecdotal evidence regarding successful medical management, both pre-operative, and in lieu of, surgical correction, as with our Newt.

Is the listener still on the elevator with me, or are they planning to jump out whether or not the next floor is theirs?

The "Very Bad Things" that can happen are a result of Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE), where the toxins have accumulated and start causing problems. Depending on the severity of the HE episode, signs can include, but are not limited to, lethargy, circling, head-pressing, drooling, blindness, seizures, and neurological impairments. However, many owners are able to control/minimize these episodes in their liver shunt cats through a combination of diet, medication, and/or surgery.

Which takes us back to the first (and most important) part of the whole elevator speech, which is simply ...

"Cats with liver shunts - there is Hope."

About Me!




Newt is a copper-eyed wondercat who has his parents wrapped completely around his little pink footie paws. His parents began fostering him after he was rescued after being abandoned inside a wall at three weeks of age. Shortly after his diagnosis with a portosystemic shunt (also known as a liver shunt) at eleven weeks of age, they decided to formally adopt him.

The rest is history.

His mother, Lisa Dupree, is a technical writer. Since Newt’s dramatic arrival into the family almost five years ago, she has devoted her spare time to promoting awareness of the rare condition, and sharing hope with fellow owners of liver shunt cats.

In addition to his blog, Newt’s main website is www.CatLiverShunt.com.

Continuing to give something back on my ‘Share It Sunday’. We all share and we grow together.  Pop over say hello and make a new friend.

From the author Molly The Wally.

Stop over at Blogvilles’ Power Of The Paw web site where we wish our furry friends who are under the weather well or put on a link yourself.


28 comments:

  1. Awh...poor kitties...I was unaware of this condition! Oh Molly, you are just so gracious to host so many stories on Sunday! I enjoy MIZ MOLLY every day of the week! See you tomorrow! Oh I love that maiden of the rising sun on my left on your sidebar....you have a way with making me chuckle so heartily!

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  2. Newt is gorgeous. We are so happy that he found a wonderful family to take care of him despite being ill. How could anyone do that to a 3 week old kitten - terrible!
    Dip Bridge and Elliot x

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  3. I guessed it - it must be a wondercat. I have never seen a kittie with copper eyes - and it looks great ;o) Thanks for another great sharing sunday ;O)

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  4. Hi Molly, very seldom but very hard. One of the littel Puppies of my sister Andra - her name was Amy - must die of a liver shunt in the age of 6 month two and half year before - terrible. Since this time I didn´t even know this word liver shunt and I guess the most owner of dogs - or cats ditn´t know this too.
    Please stop the rain and have a wonderful sunday
    Wuff and LG
    Aiko

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  5. So glad that Newt is surviving and thriving with his liver shunt, he looks lovely. Our cat Baby had accute fatty liver and with prompt treatment she recovered quickly


    urban hounds

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  6. Newt is a handsome and lucky kitty. He and his family are blessed to have found one another.
    Hugs
    Madi your bfff

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  7. Hi molly we could not find Newt's blog...we went to the shunt blog clicked on Newt's blog but got some odd link
    Hugs
    Madi

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  8. You are a super cat, Newt! It's so great to learn about this. :)

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  9. Thank you so much for sharing the Cat liver Shunt Info, I have not heard of this before. So glad to hear that Newt has found a new home and his peeps love him.

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  10. Newt looks very nice! Happy he found a great family and collie friend!
    Have a great sunday, Molly!
    Pip :) :D wuf

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  11. Newt is a looker and is indeed a wondercat!!!

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  12. I will definitely hop over to read more. My dog, Indy, is in liver failure. The vet told me over two years ago that he wouldn't live longer than another month or two. I did my own research and have kept him on a special home-made diet, use metroproclamide with his meals, 400 I.U. of vitamin E daily, and 1-225 mg Denoysl an hour before dinner each day. Indy will be 13 years old next month. He has good days and bad, but overall he's doing pretty well!

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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  13. well, newt certainly landed in the right home.

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  14. We had never heard of this... it is SAD butt it sounds like there is plenty to be hopeful about!! THAT is very much good news.

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  15. I hadn't heard of this condition, poor brave little Kitty. I have Ambercat here with stripy from next door snorting on catnip. They both send your kitty friend lots of purrs. Betty x

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  16. Aw, we hate it when critters have troubles!

    Your 1-Year-Old-Birfday-Doodle-Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  17. Hi Mollie Newt is gorgeous how can anyone just abandon a pet.

    I'd never heard of a liver shunt before.

    Have a great Sunday.

    Sheba.

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  18. I've read about Newt before! He has the most awesome eyes!

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  19. Newt is cute. Glad he is doing well.

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  20. What a great kitty Newt. Glad you got a great home and did well with your surgery. Horrah for you!

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  21. Many prayers for the whole family... what a gorgeous friend you have!! We hope everything goes well for Newt!

    Shelle, Milo, Dixie and Newby,
    http://simpaticodreams.blogspot.com/

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  22. We have never had to have a shunt but know about them. We found this interesting. Thanks for posting.

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  23. What a beautiful and blessed kitty. We're so happy he's in just the right home.
    (((purrs)))
    Katie & Glogirly

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  24. A three week old kitten isn't the easiest thing to attended to.. but we do it :-) x x x They grow into such beautiful cats... x

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  25. Newt is a very handsome kitteh. We has not heard of dis condition either, but him is very lucky to have found such a wunderful family dat takes such good care of hims.

    Woofs and Licks,
    Maggie Mae and Max

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  26. I am so glad that Newt found such a fabulous home with people who will do anything to ensure his well being. This is a fantastic post with such great information. Thank you

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