Unusual Sores, Anemia and Medication

swampmonster

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Our FLV positive cat has recently had scabs and scratches showing up around his face and neck. A few days ago we found a large gouge-looking wound had appeared on his cheek. Feeling certain he must be injuring himself on something in the basement, I scoured every room and "cat-proofed' things that I felt might be dangerous. We took him to the vet yesterday and she cleaned the wound up. First she felt they could be from an allergic reaction, but then she had concerns in regards to his white cell count. She sent a blood sample for testing - results will be received on Tuesday. To hold us over the weekend she administered a shot of Convenia (an antibiotic dreaded by many). He is now very lethargic and pale. I always felt that he had a "feverish" temperature normally, but today he's not nearly as warm to the touch. His paws, gums and his nose are pale. I'm worried it's anemia and it's a result of the Convenia. He still cleans himself and drinks water but he's not eating a whole lot and he's not very active. He usually has bouts of energy, where he runs around meowing at us, but today not so much. I'm sure it's natural for any medication to cause a cat to be somewhat lethargic afterward, but there were a few things that had me really concerned. Aside from the anemia, he has been sneezing. He sneezed all the way home and was calling and reaching for me. He's not crazy about car rides so I just assumed that's why he was panicking. He calmed down a little when we got home but he was still sneezing. The sneezing has decreased today, but suddenly while we were watching a movie he ran upstairs from the basement, let out a call (similar to the wail he gives when he's bringing up a toy) and began panting frantically. He hid under the side table. My fiance said he could see our cats third eyelids and felt that the tongue was protruding slightly. I thought maybe the medication was making him feel sick and he might be preparing to vomit. It passed though, and our normally non-lap cat took to sitting in my fiance's lap for half an hour. 

I know that Convenia can have some really awful side effects, but I also know it can work well on many animals. Our vet is thinking about administering a stronger antibiotic to our cat, pending the results of the blood tests. She's worried about his ability to fight off infection because he is an FLV positive cat. 

I realize this is a hoard of questions, but has anyone experienced anything similar? 
- What's the deal with the scabs and open sore? Is this FLV related? Like herpes? 

- What can I do about the anemia, is it temporary or should I take him to the emergency vet? Is there anything I can do for him right now at home to improve the situation?

Thank you in advance!
 

cocheezie

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I don't know have experience with what your cat is going through. Hopefully someone on the forum will be online soon to answer your questions. 
 
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ldg

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I hate to say it, but it sounds like anaphylaxis. I can't advise whether or not you should be on the way to the E-vet or not. It does sound like it started on the way home... but the "anemia" - the pale lips - is most likely due to a drop in blood pressure, which would also explain why your kitty feels cooler than normal. :( It also fits with the sneezing. :(

http://www.2ndchance.info/anaphylaxis.htm

At a minimum, I'd be at the vet first thing AM as an emergency.

:vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: I'm sorry Cat. :hugs:
 

quiet

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You need to get your cat to a vet now. Any time a cat pants it needs to be considered an emergency. They just don't pant normally. So it could be related to the injection or it could be something completely different. But often they will need O2. The pale gums and the coolness are another alarming thing.

When cats are allergic to certain foods (and they can develop a food allergy at any time) the most common reaction seen in the skin is severe itchiness and scratching of the head and neck area. Is your vet thinking that this wound was self inflicted? Have you found bits of her own fur in her back nails?

The low white blood count could be the feline leukemia starting up.

Is she inside only?
 
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swampmonster

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Hello everyone,

He seems better today. He's drinking and eating some (a little more than yesterday), he seems more active and alert, but his gums still look pale to me (this is a ginger cat, but I don't think pale gums are that normal).  The panting only happened once for a very short period of time - it could have been under a minute, but felt like forever because we were worried about it. I know that cats pant for a variety of reasons, but last night it seemed like something illness related. Since he was in the basement we couldn't see what he was doing prior to coming up. I also have a cat that pants and coughs before having a hairball so I wasn't sure how worried I should be. 

The thing is, I'm not sure if our cat had anemia before the shot because I never thought to look inside his mouth. I assume the vet would've done it but neither me, nor my fiance, can recall seeing her check.  So whether this is linked to the medication is debatable. If it is just  anemia, what can be done? Does he get vitamin shots?

The wounds on his face are believed to be a food allergy. My fiance removed his collar and we considered changing our food but the vet told us to hold off for a bit. He started the new food about six months ago, I don't know if timing has much to do with it, does it really take this long for an allergy to manifest? I'm not sure if the wound is self inflicted, I didn't see scratch marks around it, although since it's shown up he does try to itch it and I don't blame him. It looks almost like there was an abscess or something and it just burst, because it's very clean and circular, like a patch of fur and skin just disappeared. It resembles the herpes virus. It is the only wound, however, that looks that way and is that severe. All the others have been the size of a pencil head, looked like cat scratches, with the exception of a bruise on his left ear (since healed).  My mother had a cat with a food allergy and I remember it well, this does seem like a food allergy but given his FLV I wondered if it could be anything else. 

When she examined his scab underneath a microscope, the vet went from believing it was an allergy to worrying about the white cell count. We never had a confirmation that it was in fact an allergy because she became preoccupied with the blood test.

Thank you for your help thus far!
 

quiet

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I would go ahead and call your vet today anyway and discuss what happened over the weekend. You are supposed to keep them updated anyway and I am sure she would want to know. I am glad kitty is eating and drinking. I am sorry for the FELV status.
 
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swampmonster

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Unfortunately I can't call my vet today :( they're closed for the long weekend. I suspected as much. They have the number for the emergency vet, we're considering calling them and discussing the situation to see if they can help. It sucks that our vet doesn't have emergency hours because I prefer them having access to our cats history. 
 

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Just to reinforce what others have said, FeLV cats with anemia, and pale gums are a sign of that is very serious.  And the immediate cause of the condition is also probably very serious.  He may need a transfusion but regardless I would consider this to be at the level of very serious/emergency and try to get to an emergency vet if possible.
 

ldg

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Unfortunately I can't call my vet today :( they're closed for the long weekend. I suspected as much. They have the number for the emergency vet, we're considering calling them and discussing the situation to see if they can help. It sucks that our vet doesn't have emergency hours because I prefer them having access to our cats history. 

Just to reinforce what others have said, FeLV cats with anemia, and pale gums are a sign of that is very serious.  And the immediate cause of the condition is also probably very serious.  He may need a transfusion but regardless I would consider this to be at the level of very serious/emergency and try to get to an emergency vet if possible.

I don't want to scare you Cat, but we've seen similar problems to this on the forums, and it did not end well because the poster did not act quickly enough because the cat appeared to improve. :(

:vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes:
 
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swampmonster

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Sorry for the delay in my response, the news wasn't particularly awesome and I needed some time to deal with it. The good news is that he didn't have an allergic reaction to the shot, it just made him a little sleepy. We wondered if there really was anything wrong because his condition improved quite a bit the next day. We chose to monitor him over Monday and would take him to the ER if his health declined. We called our vet Tuesday morning to discuss what had occurred over the weekend and they asked us to come in for another appointment. We had a gentlemen this time (they rotate) and he was awesome. He went over the blood test results with us and it appears our cat has actually been struggling with anemia for some time. He said the numbers in the test were dramatically low and if it had been any other cat (non FLV+) it would have killed them, but apparently because it's been such a gradual onset our cat's body has been adapting to the change. His red blood cell count is down significantly. They took a blood sample to look under the microscope and it was very watery. They found the body wasn't producing many red blood cells and the cells that are being produced are irregular sizes. He believes it's related to the bone marrow, but felt the pathologist should be able to provide us with better insight after the analysis is complete. We had confirmation that his body is in fact having difficulty producing red blood cells and that its not related to parasites or the like, it's just FLV.

Our vet gave us multiple options for dealing with and improving our cats quality of life. Unfortunately, many of which are out of our price range and likely will cause more problems than they're worth. For example, we could investigate blood transfusions but it's a four hour trip to the place that provides it, overnight care for a very weak cat who despises anything vet-related and strangers, and it's a $1000 each transfusion for a mere sixty days of life extension. We were terrified the stress of undergoing the procedure would kill him and it's a lot of money for something that might not work.  Our other option is to give him a good life by spoiling the crap out of him, providing him with good quality food and vitamins. 

The vet said it is possible that his body can bounce back and the situation may correct itself, but we aren't banking on miracles. We knew when we decided to raise a FLV+ cat that inevitably his health would decline and it would be a very difficult ending, but nothing could prepare us for the thought of life without him. We're very sad but for our cat's sake we're trying our best to put on a brave face and keep going with life as usual. Maybe we might get another couple of months out of him, maybe not, the important part is that he's not suffering right now. The vet said he'll feel very weak at times but he shouldn't be in any pain. I'm happy that we have been able to give him a good life and take him off the streets (where he had no chance of living). It always makes me smile to see him at the window watching birds and squirrels, or sleeping in his favorite chair or my closet, or when he yells at me and wants me to chase him. These are the things I will cherish the most. : )

Thank you for the advice and support, it's been greatly appreciated.
 
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ldg

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Well, it's a relief to now it wasn't anaphylaxis, but... :( I'm so sorry for the news. :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: It's such a nasty disease, and so heartbreaking. :heart2: People whom (especially knowingly!) adopt an FeLV cat into the family are so special and such kitty heroes. :hugs: :heart2: :rub:

I have no idea if this is an option with FeLV, but might erythropoietin help? :dk: You should be able to give the injections at home. It may be cost prohibitive too - I don't know prices there. If it wasn't mentioned, it's at least worth asking about. It helps stimulate red blood cell production in the marrow. But I think it only helps if the marrow is able to work. :(

:hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes:
 

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I'm very sorry to hear the news, you are wonderful parents to give an FeLV cat a chance for as long as he can hold out.  Maybe you can post a photo of him for us to admire.  Enjoy every moment with him, and when you feel its time, give him the final gift of letting him go.  Many vets will do a house call for this purpose, its something you can discuss with your vet.

And please keep us updated.
 
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swampmonster

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Thank you again for all the support and advice.

On Saturday night, some time after eight o'clock, we had our cat Milo euthanized.  Since my initial post his health appeared to decline more and more each day. I did not expect it to be as sudden as it was. He went from being a golden ray of orange and white sunshine, so full of spirit and zest, to a very weak, fragile little thing that couldn't even bring itself to drink or eat. We were becoming painfully aware of his situation at the beginning of the week and there were discussions about what to do in case he were to die. However, when we were thinking these things, we thought that it would be a matter of a few weeks rather than a couple of days. I knew things were taking a turn for the worse when I had to hand feed our baby his kibbles, when he could barely look me in the eye, and when what I did give him to eat caused him to throw up (and appear as though he were choking to death). My nerves were so rattled I stayed up late Friday night, slept a little but awoke each hour checking behind the couch to see if he had passed in his sleep. Each time I saw him his eyes were so wide and full of fear. It was killing me. On Saturday morning my fiance was too disturbed to see him hide (he didn't hide much, only after the choking and panting scare, mostly he just slept in his favorite chair for very long hours), so he picked him up and put him in front of the sliding door, where he brought the bird feeder over and threw out hoards of peanuts for squirrels and chipmunks. My baby spent his morning joyfully watching the birds and the squirrels eating. He spent the rest of the day asleep in his chair, until I woke him up to feed him some food and treats. Realizing that it can't go on like this, my fiance and I began to discuss the very serious topic of helping him to die. A part of me wanted to wait and have it happen naturally but I was terrified that he might suffer. I made the decision that at eight o'clock we'd take him to the vet, as a house call is not a possibility here (but I would have loved it to be possible, because he was so afraid of the vet). We took him around to his favorite rooms, and into my sewing room where he loved to be. We kissed him and said goodbye to him a thousand times that week, but that day it still didn't seem like enough. When the time came, I gave him his favorite toy and wrapped him in a blanket, his dad held his hands at the back of him and I was face to face with Milo, gently rubbing his nose and telling him how much he meant to me. 

And then he passed and I felt my whole world come crashing down. 

I have mourned the loss of my best friend and it doesn't even come close to the pain I am experiencing right now. My fiance and I raised this little one from a kitten to a full grown cat (one month shy of his birthday), we do not have kids and we never want them, but as things work out, our cats have become our children. I felt as though that were my child, my firstborn son, and I lost him to this horrid FLV. I know there was nothing I could to do to stop this, we did everything in our power to give him a good life and keep him healthy, but we lost our battle against FLV. My only solace is that we did give him a good life and he loved us tremendously. He could never be very far from us, whenever I went into the basement he came bounding off the cat tree to watch me do my work, and would murmur and coo at me to get my attention (he never had to try very hard, because he always had it). I will miss him sitting in my lap in his  sewing room and I will miss him sleeping beside our bed. I'll miss our long drawn out conversations, even if I don't know the heck he was saying.

This has been the hardest thing in my life. I know we did the right thing but coping with it seems impossible. I feel as though I can't even be in this house because everything is linked so strongly to him. This morning my fiance and I left to go for a hike in a small conservatory out of town. We spent half the day outside and we still cried and felt tremendous heartache, yet it seemed to help a little bit. Now I am back home and I feel caged in. I have this sense of urgency to get out. I don't know what to do. I've been attempting to address the sense of loss by looking at photos of him, remembering the good times, and purchasing orange and white flowers which are going in his new memorial garden (by his window). I'm even planning on utilizing my skills as an artist to create memorial pieces, like a shadow box of his toys and photos, a stuffed animal that has his meow, a plaque and eventually a statue. These are things that have helped to some degree, but I can't shake the denial. Even though I know he's gone somewhere in my mind there's this refusal to accept it; like when I awoke from my nap I was certain I must have dreamt the whole thing. It just makes feel so empty inside. What can you do to deal with the loss when it effects such a huge part of your routine? My fiance is just as depressed as I am and he is facing the same difficulties. We can no longer go into the basement and just being here in this house feels awful, but I don't want to keep avoiding this because it does have to be addressed.

What can I do to manage the pain and cope with the loss?
 

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Talking about it helps.  Posting in the rainbow bridge forum can help.  If you're on facebook posting a tribute there will get many caring responses.  And lastly calling the ASPCA grief hotline can help a lot too.  The therapist who takes those calls is trained in animal/pet loss and grieving, and I've spoken to her on many occasions and she is nothing short of amazing.  A wonderful compassionate woman who knows what you;re going through and knows how to help.  A link below.

In the end, grief is a process and you will need to work through it one day at a time until you eventually come out the other side.

I am so very sorry for your loss.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-loss

ASPCA Pet Loss Hotline at (877) GRIEF-10. (877-474-3310)

http://www.thecatsite.com/f/19/crossing-the-bridge
 

Docs Mom

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I know your pain... Felv kitties are very special with wonderful personalities. Whether they have a short life or a little longer you have given him love and a life that he might not have had under different circumstances.
this is Kayenne, I just lost her a month ago, a few months shy of her 5th birthday. Pretty amazing for a Felv kitty...

I send you hugs and good thoughts to get you through...

Lisa
 

ldg

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:'( I am so so so so so so sorry. :heart2: Our hearts are always broken, loving pets that do not live as long as we do. But with FeLV, they always leave us far too soon. :'(

:hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs:
 
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swampmonster

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Thank you for your kind words! 

I'm beginning to feel a little bit better. We completed the garden in his honor and I will be creating some artistic pieces as well. It makes me happy to look at his last photographs, I can see he at least enjoyed his final day, despite being very weak and withdrawn. I can even see a smile on his face. That's one thing about our boy, he was always smiling. My fiance bought me this wonderful plush that looks exactly like Milo as a kitten. In these last few days it has never been far from us or Milo's favorite spaces. I feel content that I gave my cat the gift of life. I know if we hadn't intervened on that sunny July day, that poor little kitten likely would not have survived. I am proud to have been his mother  and I know now just how much he loved me when I see the way he looked at me in photographs. I am more confident in my decision to end his suffering, but there is still pain there. It will take time. Even my poor little brown tabby Gimli, who could never develop a relationship with Milo is missing him tremendously. He sits by the door sticking his paws underneath and waits but hears nothing. It is heartbreaking and I wish I could do something for him, he just doesn't understand. I never thought they could develop a relationship through doors!


 
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