Navigating Liver Disease in Our Furry Friend Ozzy

Meet Ozzy, our little furball

Our kitty Ozzy has been part of our family since 2016, bringing joy and endless entertainment to our lives. However, things took a worrying turn when we discovered Ozzy had liver disease in June 2024.

Waiting at the animal hospital.

The Discovery

It all started with subtle changes in Ozzy's behavior. You see, Ozzy always has been a feisty little

fella. His frisky personality was part of the reason we adopted him, plus he is adorable and has the personality of a Jack Russell Terrier. But our playful and energetic cat seemed more tired than usual and was slowly becoming disinterested in his favorite toys. He was throwing up more and more, losing weight, and as weird as it sounds, he was laying around in strange spots.

A trip to Petchester Veterinary and routine blood work revealed unsettling and surprising news—Ozzy's liver enzymes, bilirubin, total protein count, and white blood cell levels were all elevated. Dr. Carozza also told us that he was jaundice and his little belly was enlarged. Upon recommendation, we immediately brought Ozzy to Veterinary Emergency Group where he had an abdominal ultrasound completed and aspirates taken from his liver and spleen. They had to shave his little belly :( The results pointed to the diagnosis of nonsuppuritive Cholangiohepatitis, which is a form of liver disease that causes inflammation of the liver and bile ducts. My research shows that cats living with nonsuppuritive Cholangiohepatitis can have unpredictable prognosis long term. We were devastated and determined to do everything in our power to help Ozzy.

Poor guy had to stay overnight at the hospital.

Navigating the Unknown

Navigating a pet's illness can be overwhelming, filled with uncertainties and tough decisions. We embarked on a journey of medications and what felt like endless vet visits. The road ahead was uncertain and we were fearful of losing our beloved little boy too soon. Having to give Ozzy medication each day and taking him to the vet bi-weekly was disruptive to him and also to us. Additionally, we learned that he had a heart murmur which played into how we were going to treat him. Steroids are the number one treatment for nonsuppuritive Cholangiohepatitis in cats but these types of meds can cause serious effects in a cat with heart issues.

Ozzy checking out his lab results.

A Journey of Resilience

Needless to say, June and July 2024 were very stressful months. We weren't sure if he was going to make it, and the worry of the sad reality of whether or not we would be able to afford to keep him alive definitely led to inner turmoil and much anxiety. With the help Dr. Carozza, we were able to come up with a cost-effective approach for keeping Ozzy with us longer. We decided that since his murmur was faint, we would start Ozzy on a course of prednisone (a steroid) to see how he did. Despite the challenges in the beginning, we began to witness small victories, teaching us the true meaning of resilience. Ozzy began to play again, his vomiting slowed down and he even became more affectionate. His fight against his illness was both heart-wrenching and inspiring.

As we continue to navigate Ozzy's journey with liver disease, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. The stress of giving him a course of meds each day has now changed to giving him just prednisone every other day. At the beginning of August, we brought him to the vet and were told that Ozzy is not a textbook version of nonsuppuritive Cholangiohepatitis and that he is defying the odds, signifying to me that Ozzy, and we, are lucky but that we still need to be vigilant with his care and realistic with his diagnosis.

Cherishing Every Moment

The experience with Ozzy's diagnosis of liver disease has taught us to cherish every moment spent with him. It taught me that medical care for our furry friends should not be taken for granted and that finding a supportive and trusting vet is paramount. In the midst of adversity, we found moments of joy, laughter, and an unbreakable bond that grew stronger through the challenges we faced together.

Our journey with Ozzy's liver disease has been a rollercoaster of emotions, but through it all, we have learned the true meaning of love, resilience, and hope. And as we look ahead to the future, we do so with gratitude for the lessons learned and a deep appreciation for the unwavering feisty spirit of our beloved Ozzy.