I Need Some Advice, Please...

kittkatt · Dec 5, 2007

As most of you know, I have 2 FIP cats - Geronimo being one of them. He needs to be neutered badly: he's been starting to spray all over the house, and has been "howling" something horrible the past few days (I think it's b/c Indigo - one of my strays - is in heat, and Geronimo can "smell" her through the opened windows: plus, he's been going after poor Gabriel, like he's out for blood

). Anyway, I've been putting him getting neutered "on hold" for two reasons: for one thing, we haven't had the money to get him fixed - especially since we've spent so much on other vet bills (I took care of that problem though, by selling one of my emerald rings), and I'm also afraid to take him in b/c of his FIP: I'm worried that he might pick up something while he's there getting fixed, that he won't be able to fight off.

The vet requires that the cat is up-to-date on their shots, and I don't want Geronimo to have his shots anymore.

It seems to me that if he got them, there would be more of a risk of him getting infected w/ something that could kill him - after all, they are being injected w/ a virus - wouldn't that defeat the purpose in Geronimo's case??

And besides, he doesn't go outside, so there's no threat in him picking up something..

I'd never be able to forgive myself, if by doing the "right" thing, I might inadvertently end up doing the "wrong" thing...

I called the vet's office, to find out what he thinks about the whole thing: I'm waiting for him to call back...

What would you do, if you were in my shoes?

If the vet insists that Geronimo HAS to have his shots before he'll neuter him, would you take that risk of exposing your cat?? Or would you find another vet who'd be willing to do the neutering w/o having to get the shots (assuming you could find a vet that would)?? I don't want to risk Geronimo's life: but I also know that he NEEDS to be neutered, b/c NOT having him neutered is also a health factor. I don't know what to do..

Any advice would be appreciated.

~KK~

tsorcus · Dec 5, 2007

In Ireland no vet will require shots before they neuter - it never even comes up. I had the kitten's mother spayed in July and the vet said that as she was a stray it would be best if she wasn't vaccinated until next year in case she's had them already with her last owners. Which really makes me wonder about the vaccines as the vet obviously thinks that a repeat dose is more of a risk than letting her catch anything...

Look up Dr Dodd's vaccination protocol; it reccomends doing a blood check of the immune levels before / instead of boosters.

Good luck with Geronimo!

white cat lover · Dec 5, 2007

There's no easy answer. I'd wait to see what the vet says & think on this for a bit.

kittkatt · Dec 5, 2007

Originally Posted by tsorcus

In Ireland no vet will require shots before they neuter - it never even comes up. I had the kitten's mother spayed in July and the vet said that as she was a stray it would be best if she wasn't vaccinated until next year in case she's had them already with her last owners. Which really makes me wonder about the vaccines as the vet obviously thinks that a repeat dose is more of a risk than letting her catch anything...

Look up Dr Dodd's vaccination protocol; it reccomends doing a blood check of the immune levels before / instead of boosters.

Good luck with Geronimo!

Here, almost all vets require the cat getting their shots before they'll neuter or spay them.

IMO, I think that decision should be left up to the owner...

I've never heard of Dr. Dodd.

Is that something that's online?

Thanks for your input!

~KK~

kittkatt · Dec 5, 2007

Originally Posted by white cat lover

There's no easy answer. I'd wait to see what the vet says & think on this for a bit.

No, there isn't an easy answer for this one..

I love Geronimo to pieces

even though he is a "brat".

I'd feel just horrible if anything happened to him..

Thanks for caring, WCL.

~KK~

cloud_shade · Dec 5, 2007

Can you tell me more about how your cats were diagnosed with FIP? Since there are no real tests, save biospy and autopsy, I'm curious how the vet came to that conclusion. The reason for the diagnosis makes a difference in whether I would suggest waiting or not.

ETA: I read some of your early posts on Geronimo and Winchester. It sounds like your vet tested them for coronavirus titer levels and then misinterpreted the results. Is there a way you can get a copy of the tests (I think they are required to provide them upon request)? If they had been exposed feline enteric coronovirus, they could have high titers but that wouldn't mean they have FIP. In fact, it's possible that they could have cleared the coronavirus from their systems and may not be infected at all--it may be worth retesting to see if that is the case.

Also, if your vet isn't able to give you firm evidence of why he declared your two healthy cats had a nearly-always fatal disease, I would find a new vet. This one sounds like he doesn't keep up on the latest research.

Here are some sites that describe more about the way titer tests should be interpreted and the symptoms that you would see if your cats did have FIP. Dry FIP has a variety of symptoms depending on which organs are being attacked by the cat's body, but it certainly isn't a silent disease. The respiratory issues that Geronimo and Winchester had could have been due to an upper respiratory infection or the feline enteric coronavirus infection, but they are not likely to be the result of FIP. I lost my cat Willow in September to confirmed dry FIP (confirmed by triple PCR after necropsy), so I unfortunately have first-hand knowledge of this horrible disease. She survived 5 weeks while we tried to eliminate any other possible causes for her symptoms, but there was no treatment that could keep her body from attacking itself.

http://www.tahealth.net/fip.html
http://www.lbah.com/feline/fip.html

I would go ahead with the neutering. If you aren't comfortable with the vaccines, see if the vet will do titer testing instead to prove that he has immunity. Unless Geronimo is showing signs of illness, I think the benefits outweigh the risks.

kittkatt · Dec 6, 2007

Cloudshade, Geronimo & Winchester have the dry form of FIP. The vet came to that conclusion by doing some blood testing. I realize that there isn't an accurate test that can be done to determine a 100% diagnosis, from what I've read about FIP. The way the vet explained it to me is pretty much like you've done. Maybe I'm using the wrong terminology when I refer to their FIP - I don't know.

I'm certainly no medical expert: all those medical terms are way beyond me..

But I do trust my vet: maybe he's a little behind the times in his knowledge and research info, but he must know what he's doing b/c Geronimo & Winchester have gone in to remission and stayed there, ever since my vet put them on the Interferon. Winchester was to the point where he was having several coughing attacks a day - every day. I don't think the Interferon would have helped them at all, if the vet misdiagnosed the FIP (or whatever it's called).

In any case, I talked to my vet, and he said he would not administer the vaccinations - with the exception of the Rabies shot & Feline Leukemia - which I don't mind if he administers them, b/c those shouldn't cause any problems. Geronimo is scheduled to have his neutering done next Thursday..

I appreciate all your input & advice, Cloudshade.

And I'm sorry to hear that you lost your precious Willow to this horrid disease..

I hope that they find a cure for this terrible disease some day soon: too many furbabies lose the battle against it..

~KK~

I Need Some Advice, Please...

kittkatt

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tsorcus

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white cat lover

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kittkatt

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cloud_shade

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