Scared and Nervous

Hello all,

You may remember the saga of Lady Harriet...she had a blockage (they think, but they never went inside her to look) but after staying at the hospital she got hydrated, passed, and was better.

Everything was going well.  Now she isn't feeling well again.  She vomited the food that she had been able to eat when sick (we'd been doing so well I was exploring other foods until today) and seems tired.  I've given her some yogurt/wiped it on her so she licked it off in the hopes that maybe she is just constipated.  

I just finished her tri-otic today for an ear infection. 

We've been doing the Azithromycin paste from the hospital visit.  

I'm so scared now because when I went in on Monday with Lord Wilson for his reg. checkup, the vet asked how LH was. I said she was fine and she was SO RELIEVED because she'd been reviewing the bloodwork from the hospital and was starting to worry LH had FIP.  

Lady Harriet was doing really well when we had this conversation.  Now LH is not doing well, and I don't know if it is just a finicky stomach or GI track or if she does have FIP...even though she was getting better.  The vet is supposed to give me a call tomorrow.  I'm a wreck at the moment and internet research isn't really helping the situation.  

Sometimes doing research on the internet does more harm than good.  The best thing you can do at this point is wait and talk to the Dr. in the morning rather than getting upset for what possibly is nothing. 

That she's just got a sensitive tummy and nothing else

And remember: FIP is a very, very complicated disease, with no definitive diagnosis, aside from a necropsy. It is ofte thrown out there as a "diagnosis" when weird things start happening and vets have no answers. It often times an easy way out- for the vet, that is. I would never, EVER, take a FIP diagnosis without a second, or even a third opinion. That's just me, of course.

Thank you.  

We went to the animal hospital last night because LH wasn't eating and just seemed so unhappy.  They gave me no answers, but hydrated her and ruled out the blockage (I guess that is an answer).  They think she should get tested for FIP.

We are going to a cat clinic today...wish us luck.  Perhaps she just has IBS. 

belle8bete said:

Thank you.  

We went to the animal hospital last night because LH wasn't eating and just seemed so unhappy.  They gave me no answers, but hydrated her and ruled out the blockage (I guess that is an answer).  They think she should get tested for FIP.

We are going to a cat clinic today...wish us luck.  Perhaps she just has IBS. 

Click to expand...

There is no test for FIP. There is a test for the Corona Virus, but that doesn't say much - the majority of cats that have been through a shelter, or in a multi-cat situation have been contaminated with. Do NOT take a positive Corona Virus test as a positive test for FIP. It is NOT the case.
Please research a GOOD vet in your area. Talk to people you know who have pets, ask them for a referral..... IMHO this is one of the best ways to get a good vet. Or try to get a feline specialist.

This is exactly what I did...we went to a cat specialist today.  

We are going to a board-certified ultra-sound person on Monday.  We still don't know what is going on.  She is back home with me now, and we are just going to keep her eating and content until we find out more.  

It all very tiring and I am feeling very down.  All of the possible reasons she is sick seem really bad/hopeless: i.e. maybe she has cancer, maybe FIP, etc etc

sigh. Sorry if this didn't make much sense, I just feel like I'm in a fog. 

Horse, not Zebra until told otherwise. You have support. We will get through this one step at a time. Meanwhile, enjoy LH and LW.

LH is on many a medication, but she is eating well this weekend.  I've also seen her drink water and she has played as usual.  I'm taking these all as very good signs.  

Also Carolina, thanks so much for the info you've given me concerning FIP.  The cat clinic did not test her for the virus, citing the same facts you just did.  

I am so lucky that I've had CKDexter (who is my friend outside of the forum as well) helping me through this (going to the e-vet and cat clinic with me) and my mother who is financing the tests.  Also, the person who rescued my other baby, LW, has been a constant source of good advice.  I also have my boyfriend who is on the phone with me each night, and of course, all of you at the cat site.  

This might seem like a silly post, but reminding myself that, whatever happens, there are these resources---it really helps.  

Carolina already addressed the FIP issue, so I just wanted to pop in to agree with CKDexterHaven, horse not zebra until told otherwise. :heart2: Take a deep breath or two, and take things one day at a time, one step at a time. (I know, easier said than done). But I have a cancer survivor that was given four weeks to live when diagnosed - and we're 1.5 years into remission, almost 2 years now since being diagnosed. :heart2:

Thank you.

Also, I should mention that the "new" vet noticed that she has a very swollen lymph node.  They couldn't get any samples because it was too hard and too painful for poor LH.  They will probably get a sample from it on Monday.  She also has gingivitis. 

She tests negative for Feline Leukemia. 

Good luck, belle8bete. This kind of thing is so scary and no fun! I'm glad you have tge support that you do, and I'm sending you and your cat family good vibes. We all love LH and LW.

Tomorrow is ultra sound day.  LH is slowing down as the appetite stimulant begins to wear off.  Now she mostly wants to sleep.  

Hoping by now she has had the Ultrasound and maybe you have some answers.  Good or bad, it's nice to know what the heck is going on, right?

Hi,

We actually don't know much yet.  They are going to send out a lot of tests on samples and stuff.  They think that the swollen lymph node could actually be an abscess.  

So they didn't see anything on the ultrasound other than the apparently swollen lymph node?

I hate waiting for results.

Well........ Look at the bright side - they didn't find cancer..... or fluid on the chest cavity (indication of FIP).... all this is very good news. I would take what you have and waiting for results any day actually..... I know it sucks, but it could been worst. Hang in there hun.... :cross: it won't be anything serious and your baby will be just fine.

Meanwhile, make sure ( and I mean ****sure****) she eats well and keeps the food in

Hi again.

Thanks everyone. 

LH is eating several times a day.  She doesn't eat a lot at any moment, but she is drinking, using the litter, eating frequently, and playing as normal.  I am giving her the medications as ordered, so until I see any negative change, I will not assist feed her.  It would traumatize us both.  If it were my other cat, it would be fine, but it's not.

They haven't ruled anything out yet, though they don't think it is stomatitis.  I still don't have any results from the office.  

Just noticed this thread and so sorry that LH is sick again! Hoping you get some answers soon.

Thanks Franksmom.

Also, while I'm at it, I'd like you all to "weigh in" (this will become a pun, just wait for it) on something.

So, LH is thin, probably on the brink of underweight, while LW is on the brink of being overweight (but he isn't).  I've taken away unlimited access to dry food for LW and hidden it in boxes and such, so if he is hungry he has to work a little (so that he doesn't just eat out of boredom or something).  Some good news is that both LH and LW have been more active the last two days.  

LH doesn't care for dry food, at least not in her current condition, so I frequently am putting out wet food.  She will eat a little most times, which is really good, but she likes eating a bunch of small meals instead of two bigger ones.  I don't want to mess with her eating patterns right now, so I generally just have out some wet food throughout the day.  They both eat at it....neither one will eat a whole can or even half a can at one go.  LH definitely eats more of the wet food than LW.  

Is there anything wrong with this unlimited wet food, considering LH's condition?  I'm home most of the day in the summer so nothing is going bad...I sometimes stick it back in the fridge here and there.  I put LH in my room at night with some wet food, so that she can snack at night (which she does...thank you collars with bells on it) and it is out of LW's reach.  They also tend to like different flavors, so LW doesn't go nuts over whatever wet food LH prefers.