Another vote for a second opinion from another vet. It really can make a world of difference to have a different set of eyes. Did they retry x-rays once the fluid was removed?
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Wet Fip
- Thread starter lucy2423
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This rules fip out completely. My gut instincts just screamed at me it was not.
So now my advice above is even more critical to get ASAP.
Need to prevent HP so get the calories in him right away, hating it or not, poor thing doesn't want it when he isn't feeling well....
Get a new vet appt right away, he is clearly quite unwell, there is something going on that needs immediate attention and an open mind to what is happening.
Any cat specialists?
He needs another ultrasound by an expert for an accurate reading.
So now my advice above is even more critical to get ASAP.
Need to prevent HP so get the calories in him right away, hating it or not, poor thing doesn't want it when he isn't feeling well....
Get a new vet appt right away, he is clearly quite unwell, there is something going on that needs immediate attention and an open mind to what is happening.
Any cat specialists?
He needs another ultrasound by an expert for an accurate reading.
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He has seen more than one vet. They're planning to do another fluid draw and ultrasound tomorrow. The pathologist is planning to do more testing regarding bacterial infections. In the meantime, I'm supposed to be giving him clavamox.
This is a tough one. And very frustrating for you. At this point, one of the the main goals should be to make sure he's getting enough calories. How is his eating? You may need to force feed him with a syringe, he won't like it but he has to get the calories.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Tiger. Please keep us updated. Sending you a big comforting hug and get better wishes to Tiger.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Tiger. Please keep us updated. Sending you a big comforting hug and get better wishes to Tiger.
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I'm trying to syringe feed him. He puts up on hell of a fight each time. But this last time I put him between my legs and trapped him. Helped but he still fought as much as he could.
I definitely feel for you, been there more than once, had food all over the place.....some reeeally fight it...
If you are not able to get enough food in to him, he will end up needing a feeding tube, and HP is nothing easy, kind of a nightmare really.
It can happen as soon as 2 days of lacking calories.
Did you happen to check out the link I sent? It gives you the idea of just how well the fluid drawn can tell by the cell content where the fluid is coming from, and distinguish from that where to look for the problem.
It may be something just as bad as fip, but as of now at least it may not have the dreaded ending and gives hope it might be something that can be treated, unlike fip.
Still frustrated I'm sure, he is sick and time is of the essence.
Be thinking positive thoughts to you both.
If you are not able to get enough food in to him, he will end up needing a feeding tube, and HP is nothing easy, kind of a nightmare really.
It can happen as soon as 2 days of lacking calories.
Did you happen to check out the link I sent? It gives you the idea of just how well the fluid drawn can tell by the cell content where the fluid is coming from, and distinguish from that where to look for the problem.
It may be something just as bad as fip, but as of now at least it may not have the dreaded ending and gives hope it might be something that can be treated, unlike fip.
Still frustrated I'm sure, he is sick and time is of the essence.
Be thinking positive thoughts to you both.
It’s reassuring that he has the strength to fight, though it sure makes it harder for everybody. 
A feeding tube makes it all easier but it’s a surgical procedure and you want to be sure you really need it for more than a few days. I don’t see it going back through the messages, is he getting an appetite stimulant? Any medication at all?
Hang in there, we are all keeping our thumbs crossed for you and Tiger.
A feeding tube makes it all easier but it’s a surgical procedure and you want to be sure you really need it for more than a few days. I don’t see it going back through the messages, is he getting an appetite stimulant? Any medication at all? Hang in there, we are all keeping our thumbs crossed for you and Tiger.
I wouldn't keep doing any more tests on that vet. There are hundreds of them... find another one, as soon as possible... if you need three or four..!! (I know it's difficult, but you can probably still help Tiger, and in this forum, you are getting a lot of help, but the best thing, always, is a professional)
The colleagues are giving him very good advice.. Tiger needs to eat urgently, otherwise he'll have a complications hi very dangerous
All this is very distressing, I understand that you are going through a lot, it is a horrible situation, but you must act quickly.
I send my best wishes to Tiger
The colleagues are giving him very good advice.. Tiger needs to eat urgently, otherwise he'll have a complications hi very dangerous
All this is very distressing, I understand that you are going through a lot, it is a horrible situation, but you must act quickly.
I send my best wishes to Tiger
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My vet did say it could be a false negative and I have read online that it's a possibility. I just don't know what to think anymore.
I'm really wondering if it even could be an infection because shouldn't he have a fever with that?
He did receive some cerenia to help with his tummy but that didn't seem to help. Also received a B12 shot.
After trying to syringe feed him last night, and the massive fight he put up, I gave up for a few minutes but was able to get him to lick some of the cat food off my finger a few times. That gave me a little hope. I let him rest a little and then I was back at it, sitting on him, trying to get food into him.
I'm starting to struggle with where to go. I live in North Dakota so everything is a long drive from where I am. I also have a demanding job and I don't know how to balance everything out. I don't have friends/family to count on so it's either me or nothing. I'm absolutely drained. I'm terrified of losing him and it will be because I can't stretch myself thin enough for this situation.
I'm really wondering if it even could be an infection because shouldn't he have a fever with that?
He did receive some cerenia to help with his tummy but that didn't seem to help. Also received a B12 shot.
After trying to syringe feed him last night, and the massive fight he put up, I gave up for a few minutes but was able to get him to lick some of the cat food off my finger a few times. That gave me a little hope. I let him rest a little and then I was back at it, sitting on him, trying to get food into him.
I'm starting to struggle with where to go. I live in North Dakota so everything is a long drive from where I am. I also have a demanding job and I don't know how to balance everything out. I don't have friends/family to count on so it's either me or nothing. I'm absolutely drained. I'm terrified of losing him and it will be because I can't stretch myself thin enough for this situation.
I understand your situation, with your work and the fact that you have no help is terrible. I don't know if you can ask for some time off from work, a few hours, to take Tiger to another vet, I don't know... everyone has their own situation and you clearly know what you can and can't do. I know what it's like to feel that anguish, it's horrible what you're going through....
Fever is a symptom that occurs in FIP, it is almost always a symptom..,
I personally believe that your vet will not rest until he finds the FIP, he doesn't know how to do anything else, (that's my opinion only) and he will relate every symptom to that because he doesn't look for more... You need an open-minded vet to look for another disease, because if it doesn't fit, it's not FIP and in your cat, it doesn't fit (I repeat it's just my opinion, my small opinión).
Fighting for your food is very important now, every bite will be very important, even if it is small, but it is very important and you are doing it very well !
There's nothing in the medication he's on to avoid pain. Perhaps you could ask, even if it's your vet right now, if you could give him some pain medication. If Tiger doesn't have a fever, he's probably in pain and refuses to eat. There are also medicines to whet the appetite can help it.
I understand that it is exhausting, but you are being strong for Tiger, continue being so. feel all our support, I send strength
Fever is a symptom that occurs in FIP, it is almost always a symptom..,
I personally believe that your vet will not rest until he finds the FIP, he doesn't know how to do anything else, (that's my opinion only) and he will relate every symptom to that because he doesn't look for more... You need an open-minded vet to look for another disease, because if it doesn't fit, it's not FIP and in your cat, it doesn't fit (I repeat it's just my opinion, my small opinión).
Fighting for your food is very important now, every bite will be very important, even if it is small, but it is very important and you are doing it very well !
There's nothing in the medication he's on to avoid pain. Perhaps you could ask, even if it's your vet right now, if you could give him some pain medication. If Tiger doesn't have a fever, he's probably in pain and refuses to eat. There are also medicines to whet the appetite can help it.
I understand that it is exhausting, but you are being strong for Tiger, continue being so. feel all our support, I send strength
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Just got back from the vet. Third time in a row with no fever. But he does have antibiotics in him right now (and did the second time they checked him).
His WBC count was up from last time. Neutrophils and monocytes are both up. Monocytes were in the normal range last time and now they're high. Band neutrophils are suspected but I don't even know what that means.
I've been trying to mention all sorts of different things to my vet and she just doesn't seem to feel like anything is really fitting.
They drew more fluid out of him today. They're going to do some in-house testing on it and then send it out again to see about bacterial issues.
His WBC count was up from last time. Neutrophils and monocytes are both up. Monocytes were in the normal range last time and now they're high. Band neutrophils are suspected but I don't even know what that means.
I've been trying to mention all sorts of different things to my vet and she just doesn't seem to feel like anything is really fitting.
They drew more fluid out of him today. They're going to do some in-house testing on it and then send it out again to see about bacterial issues.
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I'm kind of wondering how I would even go about finding a vet who won't be focused on fip. The second vet I went to requested all of Tiger's records from my current vet. Wouldn't a new vet do the same thing and see fip all over the place and then get it in their head as well?
Is there a university with a Veterinary Medical School attached near enough for you to reach? Now, this will not be cheaper than a feline specialist, and in some cases can even be more expensive, BUT...they will be practising cutting-edge medicine with the latest diagnostic tools and treatments for any conditions, AND they will NOT just look at his records and say "Oh, FIP, of COURSE!" This is part of their last year of training, and they want to be very, very thorough. And they work under the direction of some of the most knowledgeable vets around.
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The second vet I saw mentioned maybe taking him to a specialist and the closest is 8-9 hours away. I don't think that's a possibility with my job and that fact that my other cat has an overactive thyroid and needs medication twice a day. I need to be in three places at once.
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I would find a 3rd vet
You are in a tough dilemma there.....but remember, you are not alone, you have lots of support here from us.
I hate to say this but you might be stuck with that vet. Meaning to get her convinced to research further and ask colleagues, a repeat of the corona titer test might be needed.
Negative twice tells her positively, it is NOT fip so time is wasted if she remains focused on it.
Also wanted to mention, chicken baby food warmed up is often times irresistible and might help with feeding. Tuna in water too. So frustrating but it's honestly a good thing that he is fighting it, vs giving in from being weak.
Can the vet give you the fluid results with more detail? As in numbers of which cells, description and specific gravity of the fluid?
I hate to say this but you might be stuck with that vet. Meaning to get her convinced to research further and ask colleagues, a repeat of the corona titer test might be needed.
Negative twice tells her positively, it is NOT fip so time is wasted if she remains focused on it.
Also wanted to mention, chicken baby food warmed up is often times irresistible and might help with feeding. Tuna in water too. So frustrating but it's honestly a good thing that he is fighting it, vs giving in from being weak.
Can the vet give you the fluid results with more detail? As in numbers of which cells, description and specific gravity of the fluid?
Ummmm..... Not if he/she is any good. Vets are not sheep, they can think for themselves.
Maybe the evidence for FIP is really overwhelming and that’s why both vets are thinking it. Negative Coronavirus titers are not unknown in FIP, I don’t know whether you can get a negative PCR. I would ask the vet specifically about that and ask her to explain why or why not. You are smart, you can understand the explanation.
Band neutrophils are young neutrophils, freshly made. They turn into mature neutrophils. Neutrophils are a kind of white blood cell. It means he’s mounting an immune response to an infection.
The most important thing right now is that he eat, however the food gets into him. The second important thing is to think of what else the disease could be and to make sure you are treating for it (like giving him antibiotics for a possible bacterial infection). That could be the most useful thing about a second or third opinion.
Hang in there but also cut yourself some slack. You can only do as much as you can do. You don’t have infinite resources; no one does. Don’t beat up on yourself because you can’t do certain things. Just do your best. Sending you lots of comforting hugs and get better wishes to Tiger.
Absolutely. Whatever is going on, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! We are on this journey with you.
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Not a whole lot of change. Doesn't seem quite as "active" as before but it might be because of that Clavamox... When he does come out from hiding, which is only a couple of times that I see (at work all day), I take my opportunity and administer the meds. I think they mess with his stomach so he seems subdued after that. Should be done with the meds Sunday morning so I'll see what happens from there. I'm still syringe feeding him and I still suck at it but I'm not giving up.
Either today or Monday I should hear back SOMETHING about the bacterial issues.
I've been in zombie mode for days. Mentally broken, I think. I hardly have any tears anymore. Just numb to the entire thing right now.
I appreciate all of the support I'm receiving here. It's not the same in the "real world". Coworkers/friends/family have run out of interest so I don't even bring him up anymore. The little bit of "help" they were giving me, by listening, is gone. It's nice to come here and be able to talk about the situation without getting a look of boredom or a generic response with a text. Thank you all!
Either today or Monday I should hear back SOMETHING about the bacterial issues.
I've been in zombie mode for days. Mentally broken, I think. I hardly have any tears anymore. Just numb to the entire thing right now.
I appreciate all of the support I'm receiving here. It's not the same in the "real world". Coworkers/friends/family have run out of interest so I don't even bring him up anymore. The little bit of "help" they were giving me, by listening, is gone. It's nice to come here and be able to talk about the situation without getting a look of boredom or a generic response with a text. Thank you all!
