please help!

So just over a week ago my cat went outside for the night like he usually does, and didn't come back for three days. When he came home he had a very swollen eye, was sneezing and coughing, and moving very slowly. I took him to the vet, and they did xrays which came back normal, and bloodwork. He was then diagnosed with FIV . He used to be a stray cat, so the vet said he probably contracted it when he was an unneutered stray. She also had to give him fluids at the vet as he was dehydrated. She gave me antibiotics, pain meds, and eye drops which I have been giving him for three days now.

Since he came home about a week ago, he wasn't eating as much as he used to. Today he stopped eating all together. He still gets excited for his food, but once I put it down he just won't eat anything. He also has not had a bowel movement in about 4 days. Now the vet did say considering he has FIV that he may not bounce back from this illness that he has right now.

So my question is, since he is not eating I am wondering if something could be wrong in his mouth? Or is he just getting sicker? I am a university student and don't have a lot of money to spend at the vet, considering I just spent over $500 there just three days ago, and he has another check up in a couple weeks. I don't know whether to bring him back in tomorrow and spend even more on treatments that may not work or to put him down. I really don't want to put him down as he is only 2 years old and I feel that this is un fair to him. Does any one else have experience with FIV and could give me any advice? I don't want him to keep suffering. Thanks so much. 

hi and welcome to TCS!

i don't have experience with FIV cats, but i'm sure others who do have experience will be along shortly.

i'll see if i can attract the attention of someone with experience in this area. @LDG -- may i ask for your experience for the OP (original poster)?

could you try wiping with your finger some canned cat food on your boy's front paw? many times cats will lick right off food (or hairball remedy, etc) that is wiped on their front paw. they like to stay clean.

another thing that might be worth trying is some canned fancy feast cat food. even if this isn't what he normally eats, it might help to get him started eating again. many/most cats just love fancy feast canned foods. or you could try some stage 1 meat baby food in the little jars (beechnut or gerber -- the kind that only has meat, water, and some have a bit of cornstarch in them), like turkey in gravy or ham in gravy. these wouldn't have all the nutrients in it that cats need, but would be ok temporarily,  to help entice your boy to start eating again.

you could try slightly warming the canned cat food in the microwave, which would make it smell more strongly for him. make sure the cat food isn't too hot though.

i'm not sure but it could possibly be the antibiotics or pain meds that might "throw off" his sense of smell or taste, or effect his appetite. but you said that he was sneezing and coughing, so...does he have an URI (upper respiratory infection)? an URI could effect his sense of smell and possibly taste. it's important that he continues to eat well though.

Yes, Good advice above from michNsnicksmom!  He NEEDS to get eating. If he goes too long w/o eating he will develope  fatty liver, &  that is another serious issue you don't want to happen. It can be very fatal!  

I understand the financial situation, & I suggest you apply for care credit. It's pretty easy to get. It will give you peace of mind to know that when you need to take him in, you can.  (payments are low).

  I tell you this because Angel had cystitis a couple of times a couple of years ago, & I HAD to get it to pay the bill. 

(He had to stay at the vets for 3 nights waiting for him to pee on his own) , I am so glad I got it!  Not that I want to add to the bill, but if I ever have to take him in & I don't have the money, his health, & comfort is not compromised.  (especially when we ended up in the vet E.R. two Christmas's ago, ON Christmas day, because I noticed blood in his urine that morning). 

I hope this helps a little, & wish you luck.    

There are a lot of very knowledgeable, supportive people on this site, & someone who can help you more should be around soon!  

Thank you both for your advice! I ended up taking him to the vet today, where they did more blood work and a urinalysis. They also gave him more fluids, put him on a lysine supplement, and gave him an appetite stimulant so I'm really hoping he gets better!! 

That's great. I'm sure you feel better having taken him.

 I give Angel lysine every day too. (I have ever sense the vet suggested it when I first took him in.)

He has feline herpes, which is common in most cats. I was having to get eye drops for him every few months, but after being on lysine for years, (5)  he hasn't needed them in a few years. 

I find the best deals for lysine on amazon. (I'm sure way cheaper than the vets). 

I just get the 500 mg. capsules, & give him 1/2 a cap in his breakfast, & the other 1/2 in his dinner.  If his eyes are ever looking suspect again, or if he just needs an immune boost, (under any stress, etc..)  I double up on it, & give him a full 500 mg.s 2XS/day,  (vet recommended, as well as many on this site)

for a week or two, depending on what's going on w/ him. 

Just thought i'd give you guys a quick update. The vet just called me with the results of his blood work and urinalysis. She basically said he is getting progressively worse. His kidneys and liver seem to be damaged, and are not going to get better. She said I should be looking at keeping him comfortable and considering euthanasia at this point I am completely heartbroken right now. This all happened so fast and I wish there was something more I could do for him.  

Oh Jenna, I am so sorry to hear that!  I will be praying for him, & you too. 

Keep us posted sweetie.

Hey! just another update on Edgar. I have been doing a LOT of research lately on his disease. I asked the vet to send me a copy of his blood test and urinalysis results so that I could research them further as the vet seemed kind of unsure of whether or not his liver and kidneys were damaged when they called me. They said it could just be a coincidence that some of his liver enzymes were low.

So what I have been reading is that these will be low if the cat is malnourished. Seeing as he hadn't eaten much the past few days before taking him in, this could be a likely cause. As for his kidneys, they probably do have some damage based on what the vet had told me, and his lab values.

Edgar still seems to be acting fine, other than not wanting to eat much. He is still cuddly and purring like crazy! So I am going to try force feeding him for a while, along with keeping up with his antibiotics, lysine, eye drops, and appetite stimulants. I have another vet appt on sept 4th so I think I will keep this up until then, and see if any of his lab values or anything have improved by then.

He also still has not had a bowel movement (its been over a week). So maybe this will come now that I am force feeding him more? What do you guys think of this plan? I hate to have to force feed him (he hates it too!)  but I have tried everything to try and get him to eat and the most that he will eat is a couple kibbles of dry food, and treats. Any other suggestions on what else I could do for him to help him get better?

Thanks!

Hi Jenna, I'm glad you did some research. I am in no means an expert in this area at all, but it sounds good to me. He does HAVE to eat, & enough, so he doesn't get a fatty liver. 

Mentioning LDG, & carolina, to bring attention, & more knowlegeable help for you & your baby.  I think they will be able to help you more.       

Nutri-Cal is a high calorie paste that you can get from your local pet supply store. Its easy to administer by syringe and can help give them an extra boost.

edit: See below :-)

He was seen by the vet on Tuesday. But I started force feeding him wet food yesterday, and he had a bowel movement last night . He has another vet appt on September 4th!

Jenna5225 said:

He was seen by the vet on Tuesday. But I started force feeding him wet food yesterday, and he had a bowel movement last night

. He has another vet appt on September 4th!

Click to expand...

GREAT!!!

 Progress! That's great! 

@Jenna5225 -- how is your edgar doing?

How's Edgar doing?

@JLKHGKP  @mickNsnicks2mom  sorry for not replying for soo long. Unfortunately Edgar did pass away 

I'm so sorry for your loss but happy about the new cat.

i'm so sorry for your loss.

i'm glad you found room in your heart to adopt finn! he's a very handsome boy!

So sorry for your loss