Some upsetting news at the vet's tonight

Benny and Sadie had wellness exams tonight at the vets. I wasn't going to mention it, because I expected there to be no news. Unfortunately, we got some rather disturbing--and inconclusive---news tonight about Benny.

I had the vet exam Benny first so they could process the blood work while she looked at Sadie. One of Benny's liver values had jumped 100 points, and when she looked at his past several results, the number was nearly the same. (I believe it was the ALT level. His number had been about 78 but jumped to 181 in six months.)

It was nearly closing time, but she asked if I wanted to do an ultrasound. I said yes, and asked to watch. She looked around for a while, then asked another vet to come in and look too. His liver has all sorts of white "dots" on it, which is not normal. She then did an x-ray, but that showed his liver as *smaller* than normal. (Cancers would make it larger.) There was a possible odd spot, but it could have been the stomach, which overlaps that part. She also noted that one corner of the liver was more rounded than usual.

Things are inconclusive now. I agreed to give him milk thistle supplement for one month and retest his blood. She is hoping that will be enough to help. Whatever "it" is, it's too early to look too far ahead. He is not showing any symptoms, his weight was good, his other organs look good.

My head is reeling at the possibility that he may have cancer. He is 14, and Tucker was diagnosed at age 14 with cancer, also in December. I can't look too far ahead, but I saw that odd-looking liver on the ultrasound. . .I'm having serious deja vu tonight.

This was the first time a crisis has come up with this new vet (The vet we had seen for years left the clinic one year ago. When Tucker was so ill, we saw a different vet there). She was very kind and laid out all the options. I liked her approach and know that I decided on the right vet.

Benny was very upset after all the poking around. He was actually hissing and growling in the x-ray room, which I'd never seen him do before at the vets (not that I blame him). I  haven't cried yet. .. but I know tears will come soon.

One positive note: This is why I bring older cats to the vet every six months. Maybe this is "nothing," but if it is something, I want to know before it's too late to try anything.