Lethargy, pain, limping.. need real help/advice

Hi all.

We have a 9-10 year old cat named Kitty. Since last Thursday (today is a week) she has been showing increasingly alarming symptoms. Last week started with general lethargy. By the weekend (memorial day weekend, of course) it was severe lethargy and not eating. We also suspected she had a fever, which she did and does. She seems to have pain when walking and she is favoring her paws. She seems to have pain when we pick her up.

The doctors are not able to figure it out so far and our googling things has resulted in many doomsday diagnoses. She has seen her vet three times and her oncologist (she had a growth removed from behind her ear last year). I've had to take a lot of time of from work this week, we're both super stressed, and so far the week of tests has cost us over $1200.

They have taken multiple blood samples and tested for leukemia, FIV, cancer markers and they are now testing it for pancreatitis. They have X-rayed and ruled out cancer in her lungs (or anywhere else they could tell). Today she went through an ultrasound and they supposedly ruled out cancer in her intestines or any kind of blockage.Those blood test results may take days and we're at our wits end because she does appear to be getting worse. The only directions we were given today were to give her the pain medication they sent us home with on schedule.

We really do not know what to do and don't feel our vet(s) has given us any direction at all. Everything we've read about pancreatitis suggests this is something that should be immediately treated... yet we feel that these doctors are taking a rather dismissive approach about all this.

Are we overreacting because we're so worried about her? Has anyone seen anything like this?

You are not over-reacting and seeing another vet for a second opinion is totally warranted.  Since she has a fever one has to suspect an infection.

What is her temperature?

Has she been put on antibiotics?

Any URI symptoms?

Hydration?

Is she eating?  If she lost appetite, did that happen at the same time as the lethargy or did one precede the other?

Thanks for the reply. Today was very busyor I would have responded sooner.

Her fever hovered around 103.3... which they said was a "mild" fever. Cats must have a higher normal temperature than humans? If I had 103 fever I would be flipping out.

No anti-biotics. She has not been drinking, but eats some wet food in small amounts (which is insanely not like her.. she is a pig). We are trying to give her water by keeping a cup of it and dipping our fingers in it. She licks people like crazy. So this has helped. We also re-purposed the little medicine syringe and have been giving her bits of water that way.

Lethargy definitely came first. And now I realize I had also noticed (for a couple months) what I thought was signs of depression. She just really laid her head differently. Very stretched out in front of her and flat.  It just screamed "depression" to me. My GF didn't think so and thought I was being crazy. I'm so mad now that we didn't bring her in. We thought, if anything, she just is sick of our kitten.

They found out today it is pancreatitis almost for sure. They told the GF that "5.7" (on a scale/test of whatever they were testing in her blood) was considered to have the disease.. and Kitty is at 27. So really has it bad. But they said other indicators (liver function mainly) seem normal.

We're still really freaked out.

wthellcat said:

 
Thanks for the reply. Today was very busyor I would have responded sooner.

Her fever hovered around 103.3... which they said was a "mild" fever. Cats must have a higher normal temperature than humans? If I had 103 fever I would be flipping out.

No anti-biotics. She has not been drinking, but eats some wet food in small amounts (which is insanely not like her.. she is a pig). We are trying to give her water by keeping a cup of it and dipping our fingers in it. She licks people like crazy. So this has helped. We also re-purposed the little medicine syringe and have been giving her bits of water that way.

Lethargy definitely came first. And now I realize I had also noticed (for a couple months) what I thought was signs of depression. She just really laid her head differently. Very stretched out in front of her and flat.  It just screamed "depression" to me. My GF didn't think so and thought I was being crazy. I'm so mad now that we didn't bring her in. We thought, if anything, she just is sick of our kitten.

They found out today it is pancreatitis almost for sure. They told the GF that "5.7" (on a scale/test of whatever they were testing in her blood) was considered to have the disease.. and Kitty is at 27. So really has it bad. But they said other indicators (liver function mainly) seem normal.

We're still really freaked out.

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i have some experience with feline pancreatitis.

may i ask what brands of canned cat food, and what style they are (pate, chunky, or shredded) that kitty likes? for a cat with gastro upset, it can help to have smooth textured wet food (you can just puree it in a blender or food processor) until their system has calmed down and stayed calm for anywhere from 3 - 5 to 10 days (depending on how severe the gastro upset was). this is easier on their gastro system/less irritating and is easier for them to digest. something that might be worth trying is stage 1 meat (ie, chicken and gravy, turkey and gravy, or ham and gravy -- the kinds that only have meat, water, and some have a bit of cornstarch as the ingredients in it) baby food in the little jars -- gerber and/or beechnut brands. this is the feline equivalent of a "liquid diet", like humans need sometimes. many cats just love the jar baby foods. surprising to me, my snick's favorite is the ham and gravy. the jar baby food would be the gentlest, easiest for your girl's tummy/system right now.

that's really good that you're getting water into kitty.

i would encourage you to seek a second opinion from a vet at another practice. if you're unhappy with your current vet in any way, it can't hurt to see another vet for their opinion/diagnosis.

Has the vet given fluids to take home with you? It might help her feel better plus it will keep her hydrated. Pancreatitis can cause nausea which could be the cause of her eating only a little. Cats necessarily do not have to vomit to be nauseous. Usually they will lick their lips or sniff the food and walk away. Is she still taking the pain meds?

Make sure she is eating enough if not assist her by for example finger feeding her. I would want to avoid hepatic lipidosis.

I would ask your vet to refer you to a specialist in internal medicine. Or find one on your own. There should be the initials DACVIM after their name. You can also try local university teaching hospitals. I don't think from what you have said your vet is the right one to be treating this. If the liver was fine when the blood work was done it doesn't mean it is fine now since the decreased appetite.

Did you say something about a kitten? Do you have a new cat in the house? 

As others have said nausea is a common symptom in pancreatitis and can depress appetite even without vomiting so an anti nausea medication (cerenia being among the best) may be indicated along with other supportive care including fluids (sub q) and diet.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I just wanted to give an update in case anyone was wondering.

So we did end up staying with our Vet (who has always been very good up to this) and worked with another person on staff. They called out for a few second opinions and ended up deciding on going with a wide-spectrum anti-biotic (I can't recall the name) in addition to giving her fluids again. That was on Saturday. We have seen some pretty steady improvement since then.

We're obviously still concerned, because it isn't clear what it was. If it was really pancreatitis (and that alone) I'm not sure if we would have seen improvement with the AB. The Vet thinks now it could have been complicated by Toxoplasmosis.

That being said we are keeping up with the AB as well as making sure she is eating the Hill's Science Diet I/D wet food. She definitely is not back to being 100% of the way she normally is.. but I would say we are at 75% and my GF is no longer convinced that this could be the end of her. Huge relief.

Appreciate everyone's feedback and confirmation that my concerns were founded. Hope all of your pets are doing well!

That's good news! Keep us updated ok :-)