Abdominal liquid mass. Anyone?

[Jcatbird]

rubysmama Thank you for the paw crossing. We are going to need it. Also, thank you for putting the link up to Banjo and some of the frog pictures. I got a much needed laugh again. Dear Banjo and her antics.

fionasmom Banjo definitely deserves her own story and I would love to write more about her, the lifelong love of Froggie and his love for her. I think I do know how it began. There have been so many cats here and so many stories that I could not tell it all in the thread but Banjo has managed to find her spot. It has been an eventful few years! I hope to have much more to share as we go.

Back to the matter at hand. The viable egg question is only one aspect. I have so many questions about this condition and so do the experts working to help us. We just don’t have answers yet. I am continuing to reach out to any source that may give me tips or advice. I spend part of each day sending out more emails to find info or to share it. I hope we all learn from this. Banjo will be having a few more tests this week. An updated FIV test for one thing. Previous tests were negative but we need to document any changes or lack of change. If she tests positive now, I don’t think it will alter our treatment plans but guardians of cats, in particular FIV cats, may want to consider how often they give treatment for tapeworms. Vets should be consulted and given the info we offer here. Paws crossed on all her tests!

neely Thank you! Banjo stole my heart from day one of seeing her under that old building. She deserves everything I can offer and more. I hope the medicine does work it’s magic on her and if any cat can make that happen, I would think it would be Banjo. She managed to encapsulate that nasty old worm so her system has worked some magic too. Cats are amazing!

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Ordering more candles...

 

[Jcatbird]

I finally have an update. Banjo has been re tested for FIV and Felv and was negative! That’s great news! It took weeks to get the medicine that has been prescribed to treat the mass of necrotic tapeworm tissue in her abdomen. It had to be compounded to be easier to give her large doses or I would have been giving her stacks of pills! Instead it is two and a half pills per dose. She has remained on 1.5 mg. of lactulose twice a day. We will be starting her on 160 mg. Of Praziquantel once a day for three days and then we wait. If this does not cause failure of her aortic vessel, blood vessels in the mass or her colon, we will be going back to the vet school for follow up tests to determine if the mass has diminished any. The plan right now is that will all be followed up by a second round of the high dose.
At the same time that Banjo is treated, I will be treating every cat here with tapeworm meds at regular dosage levels. I had questioned the specialist if any tapeworm egg could still be present in the necrotic mass. No one knows. No one knows if a viable egg could be passed in some way. So, to be safe, I treat every cat at once. Shortly after treatment, every cat also gets Bravecto.
I am told that the meds will be strongest in Banjos system for the first four hours after ingestion. During that time I will not be leaving her unattended AT ALL! If the aortic vessel or other systems that are surrounded by the necrotic mass are adversely affected, we expect it to happen in those four hours. I will be by her side during that time.
I located another study done in Southeast Asia. Cats were given 40mg. Injected Doses of Praziquantel for parasites from eating raw fish. Some cats can experience drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. I don’t know if dehydration will become a factor in this higher dose but I will be watching.
In the many discussions with the vet and specialists involved with this case, it has been debated if FIV or Felv cats should be treated regularly for tapeworms since they might be more susceptible to tapeworms/eggs invading the system. We don’t really have a clear answer. Each cat guardian will have to make that decision based on what their own vet advises along with personal choices. My hope is that we all learn a lot as this progresses and that this works! For now, I am devoting as much quality time as possible to Banjo. Savoring every happy moment.

It would appear that she feels good and wants my phone! Lol

 

[WMM201]

I have been following this story, Jcatbird , and I hope Banjo is able to tolerate the treatment! What a story for this super cute and brave kitty. Your dedication to find help for Banjo is wonderful and I hope Banjo and all your cats will emerge healthier from this tapeworm problem.

 

[fionasmom]

I am glad to hear that Banjo Has arrived at this next step in her treatment. Sending good thoughts for a safe and successful outcome.

 

[artiemom]

Banjo is so sweet... I love him...
Sending for succession and for him to be able to tolerate the medications!!

and ((hugs))) and. to you...

 

[rubysmama]

I'm glad you finally got the meds for Banjo. Fingers and paws crossed that the treatment is successful, with zero side effects.

 

[Jcatbird]

W WMM201 I am glad you are following this. I started out looking for input but now I am hoping that somewhere, somehow this may help others. As you know, we anticipated Wet FIP or cancer. This was a shock and still, I find no other cases exactly like this. I hope that anyone who has a cat given a wet FIP or abdominal mass diagnosis will investigate a bit further. From what I am learning, worms of more than one type can be in the liver or other organs! I went through heartworms with another cat and he survived that despite being FIV. We learn as we go. Dedicated? I just really love her. How could I give up if hope remained? It’s definitely a challenge to pursue help but my whole heart is hers.
Thank you for adding hope for us. Of a cat can “pull a rabbit (or anything else. Lol) out of a hat” to make everything okay, I would think it might be Banjo.

Please share what we learn with any and all cat guardians you know.

fionasmom Thank you! We embark /emeow on a new journey. Banjo has a way of taking me all sorts of places I never envisioned. She is a strong individual. I have great hope.

artiemom I am very grateful to you. Thank you! Banjo sends purrs and love there! We hold hope together. Strength in numbers.

rubysmama Thank you! Hoping for a win, win on this one! It’s time for Banjo to have pure happiness. Her Dad defied the odds so maybe she has his genes!

 

[neely]

During that time I will not be leaving her unattended AT ALL! If the aortic vessel or other systems that are surrounded by the necrotic mass are adversely affected, we expect it to happen in those four hours. I will be by her side during that time.For now, I am devoting as much quality time as possible to Banjo. Savoring every happy moment.

And we will be waiting with you, savoring every happy moment through your posts and updates. If anyone can come out on top it's sweet Banjo. You have all our support and best wishes. Prayers and special thoughts for both of you.

 

[Jcatbird]

neely Thank you! All the support, prayers and wishes are going to help us both! She sleeps in my lap as I type. Content. Me too.

 

[Jcatbird]

Just an update. Banjo has had her first treatment. It was eight pieces of pills broken down small enough to keep her from choking on them but they still weren’t small. I gave her a couple of treats in between each pill and she took them without giving me any problems. After about an hour I noticed her fur standing up on her back. She retreated to her bed. She came out later to stay snuggled with me and even when I got up, she stayed put. She has pretty much slept all day. I noticed a little bit of fast breathing during the first couple of hours. She wakes if there is any noise but seems mostly very tired.
After the first four hours had passed I started giving out treatments to the others. It took a lot of convincing for three of them. Lol I still have more to go too. I am about halfway through giving meds for the night. I should come close to getting them all but can finish up tomorrow if needed.
I am going to wake Banjo now to see if she is hungry.

 

[neely]

Banjo is an ideal patient. You are truly a Cat Whisperer and her trust in you shines through. I hope once the regimen of meds are over she will regain her energy and not be as fatigued. Hugs to both of you and the other kitties in your clowder.

 

[Jcatbird]

neely Thank you! I hope the meds work. Poor Banjo. The pills are huge and I am amazed she is willing to take so much. Cats are smart though and today she seemed to understand the pills would make her feel a bit lethargic. She took them but I could tell she wasn’t as happy about it. If they weren’t compounded she would have to take way more though. I break these down because they are so large. 2 and 1/2 of these.

She is eating well though. She also went to the litter box well.

 

[neely]

neely I hope the meds work. Poor Banjo. She is eating well though. She also went to the litter box well.

We all hope the meds work their magic. Banjo is such a remarkable trooper. Glad to hear she is eating and using the litter box. How are the rest of the kitties doing with their meds? I can only imagine how tuckered out you must be.

 

[artiemom]

Sending. and.
To you and Banjo...
You are both HEROS!!

 

[IndyJones]

neely Thank you! I hope the meds work. Poor Banjo. The pills are huge and I am amazed she is willing to take so much. Cats are smart though and today she seemed to understand the pills would make her feel a bit lethargic. She took them but I could tell she wasn’t as happy about it. If they weren’t compounded she would have to take way more though. I break these down because they are so large. 2 and 1/2 of these.View attachment 424019
She is eating well though. She also went to the litter box well.

Horse pills. Can you crush it? It doesn't look like it's time released to me since there's a line down it to split the pill.

 

[Whenallhellbreakslose]

Jcatbird Praying that you work out how to best give Banjo the meds and that she handles it well. Also, I hope the other kitties handle the treatment well. I pray for a super duper dose of strength and determination so everyone at Chez Catbird is treated and you are not completely worn out. Take care. HUGS.

 

[WMM201]

Jcatbird Banjo is so brave and sweet, and like others said, she totally trusts you to go through with all these giant pills. I hope her reaction to the meds will taper off as her body gets used to them and starts destroying the dead worm. Good luck to you and Banjo! And solidarity with your other kitties who need to have these pills, too.

 

[Jcatbird]

neely I am tired. I have been pursuing cats until the sun rises! Lol I have one cat dodging me on the meds. Lol One in every bunch? I got the most difficult ones first. (I thought! Lol) However, I am going to have to do it all again with fleas meds!

artiemom Thank you! Banjo really is amazing. The kitties are my heros and they show me by example. If only I could be as tough.

IndyJones Thank you. Great idea but Banjo is too smart. She won’t eat it. It can be crushed and broken so now I am breaking the two and a half pills into about eight pieces. She is taking them but I got a little slow in pulling my finger out. Lol Crunch. Today she just couldn’t swallow them so I diluted the crushed pills and syringed it in. That worked but it’s very nasty tasting. I know because she shared with me! Lol The meds are making her drool a lot. I am syringing water afterwards and then she gets broths. Today she would eat but tonight she is doing better.

Whenallhellbreakslose I am tired but we’ll get through. My index finger is worn out. Lol Bandaids! The main thing is that Banjo and all the others have gotten their meds. Yay! Bravecto is the next thing to be given. I must wait 24 hours before giving that.

W WMM201 Poor Banjo. She does trust even though I am forcing this medicine into her. For now, she is off it until I get her back out of state for tests to see if it had any effect. I hope, hope, hope it is working! Thank you for the wish for luck for us all! We need all the luck we can get. I have to figure out how to arrange a cat sitter and transport again! I’ll be trying to work that out next. I HAVE to get her there. Thankful she hasn’t had the meds constrict her aortic vessel or colon. At least ,as far as I can tell right now.


Thank you to everyone!! I will update as we go. Right now Banjo is just very tired.

 

[tabbytom]

Sending vibes to Banjo