Emergency!

mariekitty

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Yesterday my cat was stumbling around, seemed to have partial paralysis in her back legs, and was drooling profusely. She is pregnant with 5 kittens(we were told 5 after x-rays were taken.)We took her to the vet immediately. They put her on oxygen, and told us it would be several hours until they could run tests on her. They called several hours later, telling us she has FIV, and was most likely stung by a scorpion, we live in Arizona. They told us she was not yet stable enough to come home, and they would contact us later. Yesterday evening they called again and told us she possibly had a thromboembolism, and was paralyzed in her legs permanently.

This morning they sent her home telling us she was perfectly fine, back legs were normal again. Except they aren't. She can't walk at all, she can stumble a step or two before collapsing. She looks like she is going to die, and keeps trying to drag herself under the furniture. We called the vet back, they said when she left the clinic she was 100% fine, that there is nothing wrong with her.

We think that because she is so small and there are 5 kittens that something is being pinched in her back end. She doesn't have any of the other symptoms of a thromboembolism, and when she was released to us we were told that was not the problem. We were also told that we cant abort the kittens because she would die because of the FIV. We were also told she can never be spayed because of the FIV.

At this point, she can't walk, she can't possibly give birth or take care of these kittens. We can't get rid of the kittens. The vet hasn't given us any options, and it doesn't seem like she will make it through the night. We are skeptical of everything the vet has said because they don't seem to be knowledgeable. They told us the FIV will infect ALL of her kittens (which we have researched and found not to be true) and told us to abort the kittens, then they said they can't be aborted, then she had a thromboembolism that she didn't really have.

I know this is a lot, but we are very frustrated that after a $900 bill we are left with all of this conflicting information and the lack of help from the vet, and a cat that is worse than when we took her in. Please share any suggestions you have for us.
 

stephanietx

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I'd get her to the emergency vet clinic or a second vet for a second opinion pronto!  She needs help now, not tomorrow.
 
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mariekitty

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We want to take her in but unfortunately we feel that if we do it will be to put her down. We can't afford another $900 to be left with no answers and a dying kitty. We are most likely going to take her within the hour, but I wanted to give her some time, keep an eye on her, and seek out other possible answers before I made the final decision :(
 

red top rescue

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Can you find an AAHA rated emergency clinic anywhere within reasonable driving distance?  If so, go there.  If she does have the thrombus, it is terribly painful, and it isn't fair to make her suffer.  At least you could get her some serious pain releief while you consider your options.  Whoever you talked to knows nothing of FIV, it isn't a death sentence at all, and yes she can be spayed.
 

feralvr

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I am so sorry that your kitty has become so very sick, so quickly, AND while pregnant too. Yes, please update when you can. :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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mariekitty

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We took her in to a different emergency clinic last night, the only thing they could find wrong with her was low phosphorus levels, which they said could cause muscle weakness. They did not think she had a blood clot, and her heart sounded normal.

They did tell us she could be spayed even with the FIV, but again they acted like it was a death sentence and encouraged getting rid of the kittens, which we refuse to do. Everything I've read suggests otherwise.

Today she is marginally better, we are going to try and take her in today to get her phosphorus retested and possibly get her on a medicine to bring that back to normal.
 

stephanietx

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FIV kitties can live very long, wonderful lives.  The problem is that they are very hard to adopt out because so many people are afraid of the FIV diagnosis.
 
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mariekitty

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I'm very curious if the vet is correct in saying the kittens will definitely have FIV or if my internet sources, including the ASPCA site are correct in saying it's rare to pass from mother to kitten?

Unfortunately they can't be tested until they are a few months old so when we find them homes we won't really know.
 

catsallaround

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I would worry about what will happen with 5 kittens if the Mom is unable to feed them.  It adds up fast with formula costs.  I have only had experience with the end FIV when a cat shows up to my house already sneezing blood/severe gum and teeth issues but I do get FIV is not that bad, often wish it had been named something else though as I think people just freak at the name. 2 came few months apart and both it was obvious the cat had underlying issue from minute I saw them.

From what I know kittens may come up positive for a few months but test negative after and really not have it. FIV can cause cats to abort on own so keep that in mind.
 

red top rescue

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Thanks for the update.  I'm glad you found a better emergency clinic and also glad she definitely did not have a clot.  I'm off on my vacation now but am checking in on you and one other person who had some scary things over the weekend.  Both of you sound stabilized now which means I can leave you in good hands without the breath-holding worry I was feeling.  I wonder if people who ask us questions realize how very emotionally involved we sometimes get with them and their cats.  There are a few people on here with a lot of experience with FIV and can give you accurate information.
 

quiet

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What are you going to do with the kittens when they are born? Are you going to keep them all or try to find them homes?
 

stewball

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Hang on a minute everyone.
This vet has given so many things wrong with her which aren't true. Maybe the FIV isn't true. How do they test for it. Dsyingu he sent home a perfectly healthy kitty who wasn't makes me believe that this is a useless vet and she should be retested for FIV by somebody else.
This is my opinion. I hope she'll get better.
:vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 

stewball

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Sorry. I think the weird word is anyway.
My speller is giving me problems.
 

quiet

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That was quite a word though.

If it was me I would do a western blot test to confirm any positive FIV diagnosis.
 
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mariekitty

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Mama kitty is doing much better. I personally think she was stung by a scorpion and had an allergic reaction.

As for the kittens, we cannot keep them all, we don't have room for 6 cats and a dog. We'll adopt them out when they are old enough. I want to get another FIV test as well.
 

feralvr

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Thanks for the update and glad to hear that momma is doing better. Phew!! Yes - another FIV test would be a good plan, just in case and it is a simple test with immediate results. After kittens are over two pounds they can all be spayed/neutered PLUS momma cat. I would encourage you to get them all done before you give them away. OR better yet - find a local humane society that would take the kittens and adopt them out for you. Kittens adopt out quickly and the shelter will have contracts and agreements for the potential adopters so that they are fixed. Best of luck with her upcoming delivery and hope she continues to do well. :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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