Help! Is Fip Possible With High Albumin?

[biscuitsmom]

My sweet sweet boy Biscuit has just been diagnosed with dry FIP. I will seek 2nd opinion next week from a larger vet hospital, but in the meantime, would greatly appreciate the insights from other cat parents here.

A bit of history: I adopted Biscuit from the local shelter when he was 4 months old. He is now 10. About a month ago, he developed an eye problem where his right eye was murky and reflective under the light. He also wasn't eating and tried to hide under the bed. I took him to the vet, he was diagnosed with uveitis. He was put on Onsior for three days as well as given eyedrops for about ten days. He was back to his normal self almost the 2nd day, and his eye cleared up fairly quickly.

I was hoping it was a single incident. But this Monday, I saw the same thing with his other (left) eye - murky and reflective, hiding under the bed, not eating. And a low fever this time. I rushed him to the vet, the vet said that because it was recurring, more tests should be done to see if there's an underlying cause. He was given the same med this time, and has been slowly improving in the past few days, though it didn't work wonder as last time.

Yesterday the vet emailed me that his test results were back, and she strongly suspected that he had dry FIP. I was devastated. I requested his test results today from the hospital, but noticed sth strange - his globulin level is normal while albumin level is HIGH, given him an A:G ratio of 1.2.

I don't know what the vet's diagnosis was based upon, the FCV titers only or sth else. Have sent her that question but haven't heard back yet. Based on my rudimentary search online yesterday and today, Biscuit's A:G ratio is definitely not typical of FIP.

So I wonder, is it still possible to have FIP even with high albumin? I so long to breathe a sigh of relief, for myself and for him!

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

it's hard to say why the Vet is saying possible FIP. I've not heard that high Albumin is a sign, but things in the FIP world seem to change frequently. I do know, though, that eye problems can be one of the symptoms .

It's probably best to just wait and talk to your Vet and ask in detail WHY she is giving you this possibly diagnosis.

that she is incorrect.

 

[biscuitsmom]

Thank you mrsgreenjeens for the input! If my vet doesn't reply the email, I'll try to schedule a consulting session next week with her. I also sent Biscuit's test results to the hospital affiliated with the shelter where I adopted him, hoping they'd be more experienced with FIP.

My little guy is doing so well today, eating a ton, playing a lot, and more energetic than the past few days. I pray fervently that the vet is wrong.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

You might follow up with a phone call to your Vet expressing your anxiety and letting them know you need a call back asap!

Glad the little man is feeling better today!

 

[biscuitsmom]

I drop in the hospital today to pick up his test results and asked to speak with the vet, but front desk said the vet who gave the diagnosis wouldn't be in until next Monday. I was given the option of emailing vs a consulting session next week.

I will keep this post alive as he and I go through this FIP diagnosis maze together.

 

[white shadow]

Hi biscuitsmom and welcome to the forum !

While you'll find people with varying degrees of experience with diseases and conditions on general discussion sites like this, some very difficult feline-specific conditions also have their own specialized online communities.

There is such a group for FIP and it's been active online for the past 16 years with almost 2700 members - the information and informed experience you're looking for is sure to be found there.

Now, you're 'shooting in the dark' at this stage when you're looking for a FIP-competent Veterinarian...and, that's fraught with opportunities for disaster. Those of us who have been 'around the block' with complicated feline disease know full well that Vets are not created equal.....and, FIP may well be the most complicated of all. These specialized communities often have lists of Vets who have demonstrated diagnostic and treatment skills specific to each condition. You will need to ask for this information.

OK, here's where you'll find those folks: Support & Information for Owners of FIP Cats Just click the purple + Join Group button.

BEFORE you join up.....these groups use email as their 'operating platform'. I would recommend that you get a new, separate email account dedicated to the group - it will best help you manage the info flow. Yahoo works best (Yahoo dot com).

Finally, do keep us updated - you'll get lots of support here. And, just so you know, we never refuse pics !
.

 

[biscuitsmom]

Thank you white shadow! I *think* I posted my question in the group but it's kind of hard to find where it is... Ah well Yahoo groups require some practice to get used to. I will keep digging

Here is a picture of him grooming himself in the carrier this morning. Not his best shot, but I was super happy to see him peacefully grooming again after the last few days' lethargy.

 

[biscuitsmom]

OK I got a 2nd opinion from a different vet, this one from the hospital affiliated with the shelter where Biscuit was adopted. She was very nice, looked at Biscuit's test results and answered all of my questions on the phone. Her opinion is the same as mine, that nothing besides the FCV titer in his blood work would raise concern about FIP. She also said that usually with FIP the kitty would continue deteriorating, and the fact that he was perfect healthy for a couple of weeks after the first treatment was a strong indicator that it wasn't FIP. On the other hand, uveitis is common among young kittens, and it's not uncommon for it to flare up in different eyes. She said that she could see why the previous vet was worried but wouldn't be too concerned herself.

I will take her words as gospel for now and continue monitoring Biscuit while hoping for the best. Fingers crossed.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

 

[biscuitsmom]

To (kind of) answer my initial question, I came across this research paper, published in 2012 in Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a3bb/026ec63407415274cf9285ee2244cfbdad52.pdf

They examined 100 hospitalized cats showing signs of FIP (all had lethargy and loss of appetite, together with some other signs such as diarrhea, neurological problems, etc.). 68 of these cats had A:G ratio > 0.8. 38 of them lived longer than a year (so definitely not FIP). 30 died within one year, but NONE was diagnosed with FIP in autopsy.

Even when A:G ratio is < 0.6, only 3 out of 12 cats (25%) were confirmed to have FIP.

Their conclusion is that A:G ratio > 0.8 pretty much rules out the possibility of FIP (yay for Biscuit!), and even a low ratio may not be super predictive of positive FIP. Hope others find this helpful as well!

 

[biscuitsmom]

Finally heard from my vet (who diagnosed Biscuit with "FIP with high possibility"). Her reasoning was that "FIP is a top consideration for a young cat with uveitis and fever". He had fever for that one single day - it subsided after the IV fluid.

That makes me even more suspicious of the diagnosis. I will continue caring for him and praying for his recovery.

 

[white shadow]

I'd be most interested to know what FIP-experienced/knowledgeable people in the Yahoo group say about all this - including their feedback on that piece of research you found.

And, after re-reading here, I thought I'd just waive a yellow flag about the Onsior......yes, it's approved for cats, but, IMO that doesn't obviate the plain facts around the feline's inability to deal with these substances.
.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

Let's just hope all that worry was absolutely for nothing. At least you are now much more informed than you were before.

 

[hunter1]

I had a Bengal kitten 13 years ago, got sick, and was diagnosed with FIP. He was put to sleep at only 4-5 months old. I didn’t know any better, wish I knew this information back then..so sad, he was just a kitten.

 

[biscuitsmom]

Hi all - Just want to share the good news. I brought Biscuit to see an internal medicine specialist yesterday, he was given a chest x-ray and an abdomen ultrasound. He has no fever, no fluids in abdomen or chest, no enlarged lymph nodes. All organs look perfectly healthy. The internal med doctor also brought in an ophthalmologist for her opinion, and she said that with FIP the uveitis was usually much more severe and uncontrollable. She has never personally seen a case with mild uveitis and FIP.

Putting everything together (he was also eating like a pig and playing like crazy in the past few days), the doctors believe his chance of having FIP is pretty much zero. He is prescribed new eyedrops to fight the little bit of remaining eye inflammation, and I'm bringing him in to recheck with the ophthalmologist in two weeks. But other than that, he is a perfectly healthy little guy!

 

[biscuitsmom]

mrsgreenjeens white shadow thank you for the support and for sharing all the resources. This has been a roller coaster journey but being in this community really helps a lot.

H hunter1 I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty... He is in a better place now We can only try to be the best parents we can be, and learn with our furry babies along with way.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

Hi all - Just want to share the good news. I brought Biscuit to see an internal medicine specialist yesterday, he was given a chest x-ray and an abdomen ultrasound. He has no fever, no fluids in abdomen or chest, no enlarged lymph nodes. All organs look perfectly healthy. The internal med doctor also brought in an ophthalmologist for her opinion, and she said that with FIP the uveitis was usually much more severe and uncontrollable. She has never personally seen a case with mild uveitis and FIP.

Putting everything together (he was also eating like a pig and playing like crazy in the past few days), the doctors believe his chance of having FIP is pretty much zero. He is prescribed new eyedrops to fight the little bit of remaining eye inflammation, and I'm bringing him in to recheck with the ophthalmologist in two weeks. But other than that, he is a perfectly healthy little guy!

I'm so glad

 

[hunter1]

Hi all - Just want to share the good news. I brought Biscuit to see an internal medicine specialist yesterday, he was given a chest x-ray and an abdomen ultrasound. He has no fever, no fluids in abdomen or chest, no enlarged lymph nodes. All organs look perfectly healthy. The internal med doctor also brought in an ophthalmologist for her opinion, and she said that with FIP the uveitis was usually much more severe and uncontrollable. She has never personally seen a case with mild uveitis and FIP.

Putting everything together (he was also eating like a pig and playing like crazy in the past few days), the doctors believe his chance of having FIP is pretty much zero. He is prescribed new eyedrops to fight the little bit of remaining eye inflammation, and I'm bringing him in to recheck with the ophthalmologist in two weeks. But other than that, he is a perfectly healthy little guy!

Good to hear the good news on Biscuit..Yeah, He was my first one, didn’t know any better, maybe I could’ve done something to save him..but you’re right, he’s in a happy pace now.

 

[hunter1]

Hi all - Just want to share the good news. I brought Biscuit to see an internal medicine specialist yesterday, he was given a chest x-ray and an abdomen ultrasound. He has no fever, no fluids in abdomen or chest, no enlarged lymph nodes. All organs look perfectly healthy. The internal med doctor also brought in an ophthalmologist for her opinion, and she said that with FIP the uveitis was usually much more severe and uncontrollable. She has never personally seen a case with mild uveitis and FIP.

Putting everything together (he was also eating like a pig and playing like crazy in the past few days), the doctors believe his chance of having FIP is pretty much zero. He is prescribed new eyedrops to fight the little bit of remaining eye inflammation, and I'm bringing him in to recheck with the ophthalmologist in two weeks. But other than that, he is a perfectly healthy little guy!

Good to hear the good news on Biscuit..Yeah, He was my first one, didn’t know any better, maybe I could’ve done something to save him..but you’re right, he’s in a happy pace now.