FIP, When should i put my kitty to sleep?

[oscar]

So sorry to hear about your precious babies! What part of Taffy's bowel is obstructed? If you decide on surgery, make sure it's someone competent, experienced, who will provide excellent 24-hour care afterwards, including fluids and nutrition. A massive hairball and a tumor are difficult to differentiate without surgery. Both can cause the same problems.

As to the FIP, one of our cats showed up as positive after a blood test. Totally freaked us out, but it turned out to be a false positive. There are many things that can cause a bloated belly, like others have said. I totally agree with the quality of life aspect, and giving both your babies lots of love. It's ok to cry, scream, whatever you need to do!!!! Vets and their staff totally understand your feelings and most likely share them!

One more thing: talk to people who care, and maybe check on vets that can come to your home if need be. There are compassionate vets who will help you do the right thing at the right time, in your home rather than the whole carrier thing and cold office.

 

[cs_hopper]

Well, to continue about Kegan, he's been running his fever for 5 weeks, and the fluid was sent out to be tested. I know it's FIP, just not sure when to put him down, now my concern is for TAFFY, my 9? year old who I adopted in January.

I feel so bad, bringing a kitten into the house after only having Taffy here for 3 months. What was I thinking. She's such a sweet little Persian with her little doll face, a little brown tabby with short little fat legs and the biggest paws you ever saw. Gentle like snow, loved to lick my fingers. From day one, didn't like the kitten, jealous and looked at me as to "why did you do this". I thought it would get better, and maybe it would have, but then for the last 5 weeks he's been so sick, and I swear she knows it, maybe trying to protect herself from his deadly virus. Poor girl, I have 3 eating bowls and 3 water bowls in the house, giving her options to stay away, now I see today, at the vet, some obstruction or something in her bowel which the vet isn't sure is a hairball or tumor.

Now my husband, damn, we're starting to argue as to what to do. I just thought, ok, the vet says to operate, she's not eating, losing weight, and I know if something isn't done soon, she's going to die.

He said tonight that the vet should take a biopsy to see what it is. Well, I asked my husband how long will that take to "pan out". 3 -4 days, well Taffy probably doesn't have that long, plus, she has a awful tumor that came out of nowhere on her leg. An ugly red thing that stinks about an inch and is round like a quarter.

Now my husband says that she probably is infected with what Kegan has, it's serious surgery and we'll ending up spending thousands of dollars on a 9 year old persian who's life expectancy isn't that long to begin with. He always has said that Persians don't live as long as domestic cats.

So now I'm dealing with my sick (most likely FIP kitty) my 9? year old recently adopted Taffy who's sick, and my husband who is not in agreement with me as to what to do. And what I want to do is what the Vet recommends, which is surgery, which I know may be in vain, cause poor Taffy has been exposed to my most likely FIP kitty for the last 2 1/2 months, eating, drinking and sharing 2 litter boxes, and her immune system is probably bad.

So, what do I do now?????????????????????????????????

 

[bibby]

Sympathies
You obviously did what you thought was best bringing the kitten home- exactly a year ago I brought a Persian kitten home as a friend for my adopted now 10 year old adult- who was extremely upset- it was also a 'why did you do this' reaction. She settled and they now get along.
You weren't to know this would happen.
I had to spend a lot on vets after I adopted Bibby- then she became sick again a few weeks after Beau arrived- I was on a major guilt trip- as I blamed the stress of the new kitten. (She has IBD as well as PKD)
I don't know about Persians having a shorter lifespan- unless they have something like PKD- I've heard of Persians living to 18.
Did you get a second opinion for Taffy- would that help convince your husband.
I'm not an expert on FIP but I thought it mainly affected young cats?? Someone else here should know..

 

[cs_hopper]

The vet called this morning with Taffy's results. She has fatty liver disease. He wanted to have me bring her in, starting with an i.v. to get her in better shape for her surgery to remove the tumor? or hairball? on Monday. Then depending if it's cancerous or not, follow from there. Many weeks of recovery, plus a feeding tube in her. We have had her only 5 months since i drove to san antonio to adopt her. Found her photo on the internet.

Anyway, we think she's about 9 or 10. Big decisions, and my husband and I've decided to no go ahead with it all. To put her through all of that for an uncertain outcome is hard to justify, especially with her age, Persians life expectancy etc. This is so hard, my kitty with FIP who is on borrowed time, now my beautiful Taffy. I don't know if I should try to syringe feed her in hopes of reversing this on my own, if that's possible. Please, anyone with advice in this area please respond.

 

[anne g]

Keep your hopes up! My male kitten Johnny had exactly the same symptoms, fever, sleeping, swollen belly, and the vet throught it might or might not be FIP. AND IT WAS NOT! He had an inflammation in his belly (I don't know the exact details), and needed surgery to clean things up. The cause was probably a bite from another cat, that had gone by without anybody noticing.

He had another bite that was inflamed, and was cleansed and treated with antibiotics for 10 days. When the 10 days were over, he got sick with the belly inflammation. Probably the antibiotics had inhibited the belly illness for a while. Hope this helps.

 

[mzjazz2u]

As I've told you in my emails... I'm so sorry you're going through this. I've been thinking about you and your two kitties the last couple of days and just emailed you for an update. ((((HUGS))))

 

[mzjazz2u]

Originally Posted by CS_Hopper

The vet called this morning with Taffy's results. She has fatty liver disease. He wanted to have me bring her in, starting with an i.v. to get her in better shape for her surgery to remove the tumor? or hairball? on Monday. Then depending if it's cancerous or not, follow from there. Many weeks of recovery, plus a feeding tube in her. We have had her only 5 months since i drove to san antonio to adopt her. Found her photo on the internet.

Anyway, we think she's about 9 or 10. Big decisions, and my husband and I've decided to no go ahead with it all. To put her through all of that for an uncertain outcome is hard to justify, especially with her age, Persians life expectancy etc. This is so hard, my kitty with FIP who is on borrowed time, now my beautiful Taffy. I don't know if I should try to syringe feed her in hopes of reversing this on my own, if that's possible. Please, anyone with advice in this area please respond.

Oh gosh, I just saw this one. Why does your husband think a Persian has a shorter life expectancy? That just isn't true. Average lifespan for a persian is about 18 years. Even many with PKD live very long lives into their teens. Personally, I'd go ahead with Taffy's surgery. It's probably a hairball obstruction and likely heal just fine. I'd really like to know where your hubby got his statistics from. Or if maybe it's just something he picked up around the water cooler.

 

[dr. doolittle]

Hopper,

I am so sorry to hear about your Kitty. FIP is a terrible disease with a poor prognosis. I am glad to see that your main concern is Kegans quality of life- It shows that you truly have his best interest at heart. Sometimes we hold onto our pets longer than we should just because it is so hard to let them go. It is very difficult to balance quality of life with quantity in these situations. Ultimately you know him best and you will know when he is ready to go. As long as he is comfortable and happy you can put off euthanizing him. If the diagnosis comes back FIP, talk to your vet about medications that will make Kegan comfortable.
Your grief is understandable and worsened by the fact that you alone will have to make the ultimate decision on a young and otherwise "healthy" kitten. It is extremely hard to be put in such a postion of power over another life even though it is out of love. I think too, waiting for the results and the "not knowing" is an aggravating factor.
I am sure that you will be strong but we are sometimes stronger for the passing of family members because we feel we have to be. Sometimes this grief builds up and spills over when we lose a pet. When my Nana passed away I was away at school and unable to be with my family. I had to be strong and take my midterms so I cried for awile and carried on. Later on in the program the dog I was assigned to care for had to be put down. (I was in an Animal Health Tech program). I sat with him as his sedation took effect and as the Dr. put him to sleep I cried my eyes out and could not be consoled.
Please do not worry about crying at the vets office. I have cried along with many of our clients as they say good-bye their to old (and young) friends. I have seen loggers, bikers, and others blubber like babies. If anyone understands their grief, it is the vets, techs and receptionists that have cared for those same animals throughout their lives.
-Meghan

 

[cs_hopper]

Taffy has probably eaten 2 tablespoons of food in the last 2 days. I'm in such a dilema as to what do do about her. I think i should try to do something to make her start eating. I can't imagine force-feeding her, and don't know where to start. I wish my husband was a vetenarian. Last night she slept with us, hasn't had any water to drink.

Kegan is holding is own right now. I've been hoping his swollen belly would go away and there would be a miracle here. Today is better for me, not like yesterday, when i spent the day on the couch and felt physically sick.

 

[ldg]

I'm so, so sorry about Taffy's problems now too! You poor thing.

Here's an entire thread about getting kitties who won't eat to eat: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36533

Hope this helps some.

 

[ldg]

I'm certainly no expert, but what is Kegan's white blood cell count? I'm asking re: determing immune response. My understanding is that there should be a high corona virus titre count if it is, indeed, FIP - unless there is an immune response problem as well. ???????????

Also - I don't know where your town in TX is, but would you have access to a feline internist specialist? Several vets were unable to help our Tuxedo, but a feline internist specialist knew the problem right away.

 

[cs_hopper]

Is titer could came back low, don't know the numbers, but before the stomach swelled up he thought it wasn't FIP. Don't know is white cell count. Get the results from the fluid aspiration on Friday. by the way i live in Houston.

My Taffy isn't eating or drinking, i wonder how long she can go on like this until it's time? Last night my husband said, no more cats, no dogs, no animals never again. I can understand to an extent, after going through this I wonder if i'll be able to take the "chance" again. A home doesn't seem a home with fur faces.

 

[ldg]

I know how hard it is.

Did you read the thread with suggestions as to how to get a sick kitty to eat? I hope it helps.

And being in Houston, I would simply call my vet and ask if there's a feline internist specialist. They are usually referral services anyway, though.

WOW! Did I just find a FABULOUS website on FIP!!!!!! Here's the link: http://www.dr-addie.com/

 

[ldg]

This expert says 8 of 10 samples submitted were NOT FIP.

 

[ldg]

I went to the American Association of Feline Practitioners website (www.aafponline.org) and conducted a search to find feline practitioners in Houston. Here are the results: http://www.aafponline.org/find_resul...&Submit=Submit

Again, hope this may help.

 

[momofmany]

If you are in the Houston area, I will highly recommend Dr. Joe Mandola of Richmond Animal Hospital if he still practices there - out in Fort Bend County. He was my vet for years when I lived there and the man walked on water!!

 

[mnjulz]

I'm sorry to hear about your Kegan. I have a 1 year old cat that had the exact same symptoms (and I had yours) and was diagnosed with FIP by 2 different vets. She just had her 1 year check-up and she is 100% normal and healthy. In fact she is now overweight. Whatever it was she fought it off. The vets can't explain it. As long as Kegan isn't suffering, wait a while and see what happens. Those FIP tests are too unreliable. Mine showed extremely high titre. All over the internet everyone talks about how wrong those tests are. PM me if you'd like. Good luck - my heart goes out to both of you.

 

[cs_hopper]

Gosh, thanks, I'm still hoping on Kegan, That's so great about your kitty. did he have a swollen belly as well, if you tell me yes, i'm going to have renewed hope.

My Taffy, I know there's no hope for her reading about Fatty Liver disease. i really feel i should take her in a.s.a.p. to end it for her, my husband wants to wait, but he hasn't read all the things that i have. How long do you wait to end the suffering. She's in our courtyard now, loves to be out there, but not eating or drinking in 5 days, she hasn't to feel like crap. I love her so much, but feel that i should just end it tomorrow, or Tuesday. My husband says not to play god, I think he's in denial thinking she's going to somehow be o.k. but I know cats can't not eat for this long without taking extreme measures (i.e. feeding tube, i don't believe in that for her, considering her age, surgery, etc. etc.) Im so thankful to everyone who responds to this, it is so comforting to read your suggestions, thoughts, and prayers.

 

[cs_hopper]

Oh god, yesterday I put Taffy down, still hoping about Kegan. His stomach is SO SWOLLEN, he's still eating, but has had diarrhea know when he goes to the bathroom. We're still waiting on the test results, and for him to STOP eating, but i'm just so scared now that something AWFUL with happen in the middle of the night and he'll be in awful shape.

I can tell this isn't going to work out. I wonder what will happen next. This NIGHTMARE continues

 

[cilla]

Hold in there Hopper. Praying for you and Kegan.