In DIRE need

Kate, I'm so relieved to hear that Beazy is doing better, and that you've found better vets.
FIP is feline infectious peritonitis, and is very difficult to diagnose. I imagine the one vet just mentioned it as a possibility, because they're not sure what Beazy has. FIP would be very bad news, indeed, but since she seems to be improving, that is probably a needless worry.
Are you familiar with this Website: http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp ? I've found it very helpful when trying to understand various canine or feline diseases.
Beazy continues to be in my thoughts.

Bless your heart. I hope your sweet baby continues to feel better. You are a wonderful catmom. She feels all your love and I believe she is trying to pull through for you! <3 You and your babies are in my thoughts and prayers.

Kate, I'm so happy to hear that Beazy seems to be improving! I would like to offer another bit of advice, if I may. Don't be afraid of feeding her too much; 8-10 ML at each feeding isn't really a lot. I was feeding Bob 3x that much at each session. I would try to get a little more into her each time; as my vet told me, it takes a lot of food just to keep a cat from losing additional weight.

I also used milk thistle with Bob; one of my vet's techs gives it to her cats on a regular basis. I don't remember the exact amount. I do remember finding a couple of web sites that helped me figure it out.

I hope dear Beazy continues to improve. Sending loads of good wishes your way.

I've said it before and I'll say it again--you guys are the best. I'm off to check the site mentioned (I hadn't found that one, jcat)--and to look for milk thistle information. It seems to be a very small amount that's reccomended... If you talk to your vet tech, would you ask about dosage for me? Beazy weighs about 13 pounds. Did you just mix it with Bob's food?

Thanks for the feeding advice. The vet here said she should eat 1/3 can of i/d each day. That's much lower than Hill's reccomends. I'll try to get her to eat more.

One more bit of good news--today we had a stool. (How to put that tactfully...) This is GREAT news, I think, as it's the first time in over a week. Something must be working again...

Kate

I thought I'd move over to your post and offer what limited advice that I have.

I don't know which medications you have available, but the one that seemed to help my guys the most is called Denosyl. They were also taking Marin, which has milk thistle extract (I believe).

As far as force-feeding goes, my thoughts are with you. I can't imagine doing such intense feeding without a feeding tube. I guess my only advice is to feed relatively small amounts (to prevent vomiting) but to feed often enough that the daily nutritional needs are being met. With Sally (who was around 15 lbs) the daily requirement of A/D was 280 mls and Cory (9 lbs) gets 240 mls. I used a combination of A/D and this stuff called Rebound, but the A/D can also be blended with a small amount of water. I also tried to not feed more than 40 mls at a time, since I got very tired of cleaning up vomit.

I will send good energy your way...I know how hard this is. Just hang in there, okay?

Kate, I believe most milk thistle capsules are 175mg.; you give one capsule for each 25 lbs. of body weight (so 1/2 a capsule for Beazy). I just opened the capsule & mixed the powder in with Bob's food.

HUGS & PRAYERS!!!

I'm off to find milk thistle tomorrow! Are Denosyl and Marin brands of herbal remedies? I haven't seen them here, but I'll keep looking. And, thanks for the dosage info--and the continued support, hugs and prayers.

Just wanted to share some good news--she ATE! Now, it was only a tiny bit, but she ate on her own. I've been offering it to her all warmed and soupy before I put it in the syringe. Today, she ate some of it! I'm waiting a bit and then continuing on with the syringe. So, food is beginning to go in and out on its own. Her ears aren't yellow and neither are her eyes.

I know we're not out of the woods, but I can really see a light now.

Kate

I have been following this thread but not had any advice - still don't, but wanted to say how fab it is that the jaundice is going, and that she has eaten something on her own and poo'd. Fingers crossed that she continues improving - dont worry if you have the occasional bad day though.

Wow, I'm so tickled for you! Eating on her own is a great sign. Got my fingers & toes crossed that Beazy continues to improve. (((big hugs))) to both of you

Originally Posted by imogen

I'm off to find milk thistle tomorrow! Are Denosyl and Marin brands of herbal remedies? I haven't seen them here, but I'll keep looking. And, thanks for the dosage info--and the continued support, hugs and prayers.

Just wanted to share some good news--she ATE! Now, it was only a tiny bit, but she ate on her own. I've been offering it to her all warmed and soupy before I put it in the syringe. Today, she ate some of it! I'm waiting a bit and then continuing on with the syringe. So, food is beginning to go in and out on its own. Her ears aren't yellow and neither are her eyes.

I know we're not out of the woods, but I can really see a light now.

Kate

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That's terrific news! Come on, Beazy, you've got people from all over the world pulling for you, so eat some more!

You guys are great! She hasn't eaten on her own again, but I continue to hope. I know that having your support makes me calmer and more rational--which is a help when I'm dealing with a sick cat. She needs me calm--not an emotional mess.

I see the vet today and don't know what to tell her. Do I want to continue the iv treatments? They're stressful, sometimes painful, and seemed to do no good. But, I don't think I'm getting enough food in her yet. We're up to 25 ml at each feed.

Maybe I should just ask for a blood sample to be drawn today and see what the numbers are. If I were home, I'd ask the vet's advice. Here, I'm not convinced they know more than I do.

Any suggestions?
Kate

I have been folowing this thread and thought I would offer what I could. My hoggie has been very sick with a liver infection. His ears and any skin you could see were yellowed. He was eating but very little. He had lost 3 lbs in a very short period of time and was very weak. I didn't think he would make it. They thought a first it was Hepatic Lipidosis but his bloodwork was not consistent with that. After ruling out cancer( thank you!) they fianlly decided on a liver infection of unknown origin. He took denosyl for his liver, baytril( an anitbiotic) and cyproheptadine( an appetite stimulant). He was in the hospital about a week. He has been home now for two weeks and is doing so much better. He is eating on his own without me hand feeding him, he is gaining weight and the yellow is disappearing. There is light at the end of the tunnel. I thought for sure I would lose him, but so far, so good. I would have the vet check bloodwork and look at his liver values- it should tell them whether it is fatty liver( hepatic Lipidosis) or another liver infection. However, the treatment is basically the same for both so it would be for your own knowledge. The denosyl was a lifesaver so I would certainly ask about that. It sounds like your baby is doing better so I am sending good thoughts and prayers your way for continued improvements. Sometimes it's only baby steps but that's okay!

I just got back bloodwork from today. Her bilirubin levels (that's translated, so I'm not sure how to spell it in English) are WAY down as are her shelochnaya fosfataza levels (not sure what that even IS in English). They're still higher than normal, but there has been a huge improvement.

The vet is very encouraged and says we can stay home (eating lots) until Saturday. Hooray!

I'm still going to ask about denosyl, though, just in case...What I'd REALLY like is an appetite stimulant. I keep telling Beazy that the sooner she eats the sooner we can stop the syringe feedings, but I'm not getting through. ;>

Kate

That sounds very encouraging!

Kate, how is dear Beazy?

She's hanging in there. She isn't fond of the syringe feeding, but won't eat on her own yet. I know it's early days to expect that, but I'm really looking forward to her eating on her own again!

She's more affectionate. She jumped up on the bed when the alarm went off yesterday for the morning cuddle that she used to love--but hadn't been interested in for awhile. That lifted my heart!

I'd love any tips for getting her to eat on her own. I think she needs an appetite stimulant, but the vet doesn't really do that.

We're off to the vet on Saturday so we'll know more then. But, so far, so good!

Kate

Here's Beazy in happier days.

Yikes! How do I resize?

Originally Posted by imogen

Yikes! How do I resize?

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I've resized it for you. This freeware is easy to use for resizing. www.irfanview.com