Prayers for Muffin Please

Could the scabs be from something else? Allergy, food or fleas? I know people with Diabetes heal slowly, but that would have showed up in his bloodwork, right?

I hope it is nothing at all

Originally Posted by KatKisses

Could the scabs be from something else? Allergy, food or fleas? I know people with Diabetes heal slowly, but that would have showed up in his bloodwork, right?

I hope it is nothing at all

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The vet first talked about allergies. But when he examined him closer, he realized it was the wounds that Muffin got when he was attacked in the yard in Oct. The vet just doesn't understand why the place are not totally healed and the scabs gone.

I see someone else also suggested FIV - that was a thought of mine too. IMO, it would be worth it to test Muffin, just to rule it out. Low WBC + the scabbing from an old injury to me makes me think immune suppressed.

And there are many who say FIV+ cats cannot live w/ other cats. Not true. Laurie/LDG has an FIV+ cat in her multi-cat household, and Eileen/eilcon has rescued several FIV+ cats before. Oh & let's not forget Katie who has FeLV+ cats, some are double positives & have FIV also.

Many vibes for Muffin! If you want to learn more about having FIV+ cats living with healthy cats you should talk to LDG- their Chumley seems very healthy and lovely despite his FIV+ status.

Muffin!

I am bumping up my thread on Muffin's last vet visit since I have been waiting for some answers from the vet. If you remember, Muffin had low WBC and some scabs remaining from an attack in Oct. Today the vet's secretary called me. She said the vet wanted me to know he hasn't forgotten me and my questions. He is still researching why the scabs are not going away. She is telling me now that the vet says the low WBC is stress related. Is there anyone here that works in a vets office or has enough experience to know if this might be true. I have been searching the internet. In reading from several websites, I am reading the opposite, that a highly stressed cat will have high WBC. Does anyone know.

From the description of how resilient the scabs are, I would think it's an infection of some wort that is using up white blood cells faster than Muffin can create them. You are right, stress should increase white blood cells. The only thing I can think of is that those scabs are infected somehow and Muffin is actively using white blood cells to fight off the infection. The only way to get lower white blood cells is to have your current white blood cells die fighting off something. They don't just die on their own.

Sorry to hear your Muffin is not feeling well and sure hope he gets better very soon. I can't offer much more on the low WBC on top of what other's here have said, but I know it usually means a viral infection and that all of the WBC are concentrating in the area of the infection and not circulating as they would normally do, accounting for the low count. Hope you get things under control and some answers soon

Hoping you find an answer to this. Any possibility of a second opinion? Another set of eyes may bring you closer to what is going on.

Originally Posted by farleyv

Hoping you find an answer to this. Any possibility of a second opinion? Another set of eyes may bring you closer to what is going on.

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I was trying to wait to give my vet time to make a decision. He called me this morning. He wants to start Muffin on a ten day course of Doxycycline. It is an antibiotic for microbacteria infections. He said this pill has to be followed with a couple cc's of water and then food. He also told me if it is going to help results can be quickly seen. He wants to recheck Muffins bloodwork and test for FIV and Leukemia. He is not overly concerned and said he really was not thinking about that with the scabs until the WBC came back low. His machine does not test all that he wants to see, so he will send it out to a lab for the results he wants to see. I will get the bloodwork done this week, and start the antibiotic today. It will be a daily dose. My question is has anyone else given this drug to their cat and did the tolerate it well. Thanks for replying.

Originally Posted by blueyedgirl5946

I was trying to wait to give my vet time to make a decision. He called me this morning. He wants to start Muffin on a ten day course of Doxycycline. It is an antibiotic for microbacteria infections. He said this pill has to be followed with a couple cc's of water and then food. He also told me if it is going to help results can be quickly seen. He wants to recheck Muffins bloodwork and test for FIV and Leukemia. He is not overly concerned and said he really was not thinking about that with the scabs until the WBC came back low. His machine does not test all that he wants to see, so he will send it out to a lab for the results he wants to see. I will get the bloodwork done this week, and start the antibiotic today. It will be a daily dose. My question is has anyone else given this drug to their cat and did the tolerate it well. Thanks for replying.

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Glad they are doing the FeLV/FIV testing. Not that it's something you want to be positive, but it's important to know for sure, instead of playing guessing games.

How is Muffin feeling/acting?

I don't know how old muffin is, but has his thyroid been checked? It isn't always covered on a blood panel. That can cause high liver values.

Originally Posted by booktigger

I don't know how old muffin is, but has his thyroid been checked? It isn't always covered on a blood panel. That can cause high liver values.

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Thanks for this input. I will look on his bloodwork sheet I have. If not, I will ask the vet about it. I always appreciate input from others when it comes to doing all I can for my cats.
FarleyV, Muffin is eating well, frisking around all over the yard, and acting like he feels great. Thanks for asking. I started the antibiotic tonight. The vet told me be sure he gets water afterwards, and I told him I would pill him first and then give water with a syringe and then feed him. He said that should be enough to keep him from having any problems. He told me there is necessity to be careful with this pill in being sure he swallows it and the water and food will insure that.

My question again to anyone listening is have you ever given doxycycline to your animal and did they tolerate it well. Keep up prayers that this medicine and the topical neosporin will heal him. His bloodwork will be Tues. eight o'clock am.

Muffin had his follow up blood work this morning to check the WBC to see if it is normal. It was low when he had his annual check up. Also the vet wanted to check for FIV and Feline Leukemia. The bloodwork will be sent out. The part that checked the FIV and Leukemia was done in the office was both negative. The vet also said he does not think the sores on Muffin are any better. He is going to wait he get the results of the bloodwork to make a further decision what to do for Muffin. I am sad that this doxycycline and neosoporin has not seemed to help. Oh someone asked in a previous post to this thread if his thyroid has ever been checked and it has. It is fine.

Wow, glad about the negatives!! It seems to me there is something that people get that prevents sores from healing.....my brain isn't working today.

Gosh, this is a puzzling thing. He is acting good though.

I know circulation plays a role in healing, but these on his neck should have good circulation.

I am gonna ask at my vet tomorrow when I go in to pick up some Arthur food.

Well, good news on the negatives for those diseases! Just hoping you can get an answer on the sores, poor Muffin!!! More vibes for you and your kitty

I am updating here just to say, I am still waiting to hear from the vet about Muffin's low blood white blood count. As stated previously the FIV and leukemia tests are negative.

I hope the results come back saying everything is ok

I did hear about his blood test late yesterday. Everything is in the normal range. I am still waiting to hear from the vet what if anything he knows to do now to heal up these scabs that are from the wounds he received in October.