My 10yr old indoor Cat Has Anemia & abdominal bleeding

My baby is 10 yr old neutered male, who is the sweetest thing in the world. I am scared to death to lose him, and pray I can find a Doctor who can figure out what is causing his anemia and abdominal bleeding/discomfort. He has seen 4 vets already, and one of them said he has never seen anything like the abdominal liquid retention he has. X-rays show no signs of abnormalities blood work came back fine as well, with the exception of being anemic 18 HCT and calcium levels elevated. He has a minor heart murmur level 2/6.. But looks over all very healthy. He's 18lbs & I must say.. He was fine and full of life before he had his Rabies Vaccine. I have been on line researching ALL possibilities, and seen that some cats can have a bad reaction to vaccines, causing them to have the kind of anemia that attacks his own blood cells. So far, none of these vets have discovered whats causing the anemia, nor can they admit to it being a bad reaction to rabies vaccine. They are just telling me it's required by law and every cat must get it, dispite my baby is a full time indoor cat. At this point, I just want to know why his HCT is dropping each day, and what I can do to cure him and his abdominal discomfort. He keeps licking his lower abdominal area raw and it is bleeding all over my home & bed. I have purchased several vitamins on my own from 1800-pet meds but can't find anything specific for anemia and his condition. I was told yesterday by a vet to give him baby Benadryl and read on line it is never safe to give animals human medication. They wanna keep running more test and hospitalize him and I refuse to leave him alone in the hands of vets I do not trust. It's very expensive too, I only work part time and I am a student other days, I feel they aren't doing the best with the blood work and X-rays I spent over 600 dollars since the 18th of August when he received that vaccine! He was fine before that! Anyone please help with any info. Or experience you have regarding Anemia and lower abdominal pain/swelling/bleeding. Thank you! He means the world to me, I just lost my oldest 17yr old to renal failure in June of this year, I can't imagine going through that heartache again.

I'm so sorry that your baby is so sick

My cat Reilly had a bad reaction to the rabies vaccine but it was very short lived and he recovered quickly.  We have many knowledgeable members here at TCS.  I'm sure they will be along to this thread shortly to offer some advice.

Anything anyone can do to help direct me would be a blessing! This is affecting me greatly, I can't sleep and I myself am feeling sick from the anxiety and run around with my babies illness since this shot was given. It's a shame they do not prepare you for the possible side effects nor give you a say so especially when your cat is ALWAYS in doors and never goes outside. I live in a Condo! Even if my cat got out, he would have to get on an elevator to go downstairs, and I doubt that would ever happen! What these vets are doing is an injustice to the animal! Plain and simple. Look at my babies abdominal area. It's much worst today, this was taken just days after the shot. No one knows whats causing it, and I believe he is bleeding internally and may be suffering from IHMA (if I am spelling it right) .. The immune disease caused by vaccines. I keep researching on my own since the X-rays and blood work aren't showing abnormalities, I am trying to find my own answers. I would appreciate any information from anyone knowledgeable with these symptoms.

OMG, that looks like he's really filling up, and I can't believe none of the Vets you've seen can find anything wrong.  Have you tried seeing a Feline only Vet?  I know it seems redundant, but I don't know what else to tell you other than to keep looking until you find a Vet who can help.  If he had IMHA, it would NOT be from internal bleeding, and he would be jaundice (at least that's what I read in this article http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=1390)

In the meantime, are they treating the Anemia?  That's  critical, I would think. 

The reason he is licking that area, IMHO, is because he senses something is wrong on the inside, and he's licking it trying to "fix it".  I don't see how the benedryl could possibly work .  Did any of the other Vets think that was any kind of viable solution?  There ARE occasion where it is ok to give human meds to animals, and some allergy meds are one of those occasions.  Right now, Zrytec seems to be the allergy medication of choice, although some people do give benedry, mainly for sneezing cats. 

I was going to suggest trying to find a University that has a Veterinary School nearby, but upon googling, didn't find one in your area.  So....if you can't find a Feline Only Vet, can you send the above picture to one of the Vets you saw whom you felt the most comfortable?  Or are there any MORE vets in your area.  Maybe a Holistic Vet?  I wish I had any more advise other than "see a Vet", but I just don't.  I'm so sorry.  This definitely needs a medical expert.

Oh, BTW, even if rabies is required by law, once a bad reaction is noted, you can get an exception for the next time. 

I had never seen anything like that before.  I looked for certified feline specialists in your area, there are three but they aren't in your area.  One is in Orlando, one in Largo and one in Ormond Beach.  Are any of the vets willing or have consulted with a specialist by phone and/or e-mail.

One thing that springs to mind is Hemangiosarcoma of the spleen (cancerous tumor).  That can cause both anemia and internal bleeding.  I have a dog who hasn't had a rabies shot in 7 years because she has a compromised immune system, my vet (AKA my dad) gave me a medical exemption form so the county doesn't get their hackles raised over it.  I'm so sorry you are dealing with this.  I have a cat who is a fur mower and chews on her abdomen due to chronic pancreatitis, her's isn't nearly as bad as your kitties though.

Here's an update... The Vet called to tell me there is good news & bad news. The good news is his HCT count went up from 18 to 24, and the calcium levels in his blood work stabilized to norm. The bad news is... Being that everything came back normal in blood work, he now is not sure what is causing this abdominal problem. The only thing he concluded is that he would like to start treatment in a new direction, and treat with Antibiotics, so he prescribed 100mg doxycycline and wants me to give him that twice a day along with pet-tinic, a liquid vitamin and mineral with Iron to aid with the energy and anemia levels. He mentioned if his gums do not change color from the pale color they are, and the energy levels and tummy issues don't improve, he will then recommend a Biopsy of the abdominal area. Now... I came home, gave him his meds, vitamins, healthy treats and organic wet food with Chicken liver, and then pass out from mental exhaustion with him holding me. I now wake up to the usual.. Bloody fluid leaking from his lower abdominal area. It is leaking sooo much, I placed about 10 tissues from my tissue box, and as you can see in the photo, it is just alot of fluid constantly leaking from there. He doesn't know what it is, even after blood work and X-rays, NO ONE knows whats going on?! I don't get it. It isn't a Tumor, according to him and the other vet who viewed the X-rays of his chest and abdominal area, all seems normal.. But this is CLEARLY not normal, and he is clearly very uncomfortable. They also sold me the cone to keep him from licking himself, and he just keeps taking it off! I tie it as tight as I can leaving two fingers in the space as instructed, and he still manages to remove it. I appreciate all the advice, but I still don't know what to do! I have another vet that's been in practice for many years that I want to take him to, but again...all of these vets are just wasting my money telling me the SAME THING!!! NOTHING.. Meanwhile, I am part time at work, now almost 1,000 dollars in from depleting my savings & borrowing from my mother who has little to NOTHING, and yet I can't resolve this issue with my boy! [emoji]128553[/emoji][emoji]128554[/emoji] this pains me like no other, my heart feels troubled yet I have faith now only because he isn't as anemic, but with the bleeding as bad as it is, and the doc NOT knowing what this could be even after consulting with other doctors in house, I am perplexed! And that is the word he himself used! This cat is my spouse (cause I'm single), he's my rock when I am down, my best friend and the ultimate partner in my every day life, he's my WORLD. I adore him, not only because he honestly is the sweetest cat in the world and I have had many in my lifetime including another boy now who is 6, there is just something very rare and special about ADD. ( his love name from me..don't laugh.) [emoji]128522[/emoji] All the vets that have seen him all fall in love with his demeanor. He as a kitten was always cooperative. He ate for me out of a litter of 8, when none of the others were cooperating during being bottle fed. He ALWAYS takes his vitamins with NO hesitation, he's just sooo well behaved, he has been my blessing! And I can't fathom losing him! I don't know what else to do.... He told me to give the meds time to work, but this bleeding is concerning me! It's ALL OVER MY HOME, my bed is covered in it, and I can see in his abdominal pouch the liquid mixture of blood and what seems like watery fluid combined just keeps seeping through his pouch. I am at a lost for words, and feel like I'm going in circles with NO resolve. [emoji]128560[/emoji]

This is just SOME of the tissue I just used to absorb the liquid leaking from his lower abdominal area. Why is this happening?! I don't get it. There are no signs of cancer, tumor, heart abnormalities.. They simply DON'T KNOW! He only told me this can be an infection of his fat pouch, and even that isn't coming up in blood work, there are no signs of bacteria! I feel everyone is diagnosing him wrongfully! Clearly..

I'm sorry you are going through this. I would ask one of the board certified cat specialist in Florida to consult on your case. They will do that if you can't bring the pet in they will just need the records. I have had help this way.

I feel so badly for you and your kitty.  Truly.  It's torture when they just don't know what's wrong.   You could try the Feline Health Center at Cornell who will do a phone consultation but there is a fee:  http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/health_resources/camuti_service.cfm

They can't officially diagnose or give second opinions by law, but who knows, maybe one of the vets there has seen something like that before and can tell them what to look for.  You can ask the receptionist when you call how much it would be. 

Just read the post above and that's a great thought too, maybe better because they can be more specific.

And yes you are going in circles, that's how anyone would feel when faced with an obviously very sick kitty and no way to fix it.

Oh poor thing   I hope some of the resources that have been listed in your area are able to shed some light on what is going on.  Praying for you, this must be very hard for you

Okay, so here's my thoughts.

Oh and I want to ask you WHERE the rabies vax was given exactly on his body.

I DO believe this is from only the vaccine. It appears to me as a type of an abcess.

I think the leakage is not as much blood as you think it is, I can see the blood is very diluted with fluid, and the leaking is poison/infection or just body fluid because the area is EXTREMELY mad with the rabies med and it's way of pushing it out.

It is excellent news that his blood has improved! This is half the battle in my opinion, when you are faced with a problem in a cat, it is compounded enormously when the cat's overall health is comp0romised. 

So this is VERY good!

I also believe that it's an excellent choice to get him on doxycycline. Doxy is a strong, kick-ass drug that should make all the difference.

I also believe that the draining is not a bad thing but a good thing.

This is his body's own reaction to wanting to be rid of the poison it received with the rabies vax.

Get him going on doxy, stay on schedule and be SURE he gets the entire dose and is not able to spit it out at all.

You need to be calm for him, don't you know that he is stressed because you are? Calmness, positive thoughts, comforting him, telling him why you are giving him the meds, and so on.

Calm, panicking never changes a thing, neither will worrying yourself sick, so cut it out.

Focus and be calm, he WILL recover, it was a VERY bad thing that happened, and now the antibiotics will get him through this, along with your care and support and your love. Okay?  



Now I want you to understand, I am in the same boat as you are with my Krissy.

She is almost as chubby as your cat, is 12 yrs old now, I got her the day she was born, and she is my everything. I am also currently struggling with something being wrong with my bunny girl, and can't figure it out. VERY disturbing, I lose lots of sleep and cry alot with worrying myself sick.

So I DO get it.

Just stop and regroup, and remember, positive thinking, he WILL be well again soon, and stay focused.

After googling rabies vax reactions I read this, interesting.

vaccines site reactions: abscesses can occur if the vaccine was contaminated with bacteria or if bacteria from the skin was inadvertently pushed under the skin by the vaccine needle. Abscesses need veterinary attention.

@catwoman707 I first want to say thank you for the comforting words and reassuring words of wisdom you shared with me. Believe me, I am doing my very BEST to stay centered and calm for him, and I am trying to stay positive, but my fear of losing him takes over me at times. It's only natural granting the situation I'm in.. Seeing him bloody and uncomfortable is driving me mad. Now, to answer your question, the shot was given in the back thigh, I believe the right one. His entire tummy and groin area became discolored within days.. And only progressed as the time passed. Today marks the 23rd day since he received the shot! That's a little over 3 weeks now, and he is just so uncomfortable and dripping bloody fluid all over the place. It's great to hear Your opinion on the antibiotic he is on, along with the release of fluids from his abdomin, but the question here is.... Will this medication be able to STOP the pain/bleeding all together and refuse these symthoms, or should I resort to immediate attention from another vet to this matter? How long should the meds take to work?? Also, he seems very sleepy once I have administered the meds to him, he is also constipated from the meds, hardly is drinking much water and seems to be walking like the pain is getting worse. I wish they can talk to us and tell us what is wrong. He is such a healthy cat! Over all, looking ok, with the exception of this abdominal leaking. He has been on the Doxycycline for only 24 or so hours.. So for now, I am just trying to give it some time to work.. But at the same time, I want to know for sure that I am doing the right thing and not taking any chances with him, because time is of the essence and can make things better or worse. I'm just trying to do what any good mommy would do.

Sooo, here's an article I found on line that basically sums up my boys condition;


http://www.petplace.com/cats/hemope...eding-in-cats/page2.aspx#sthash.gXTtm1Nm.dpuf

Specific causes of hemoperitoneum include:

Trauma.

Tumors.

Hematomas.

Coagulopathies.

As you can see, this is what I have been up against daily with my boy, blood all over his hind legs from constant dripping of fluid from his abdominal area. It's a concern for me, he is very uncomfortable, and I need to help him heal from this for once & for all. Watching him alone is destroying me inside. I can't believe I didn't Ask the vet of the side effects of this shot before he decided to give it to him. It happened so fast, he just mentioned "this is his rabies vaccine, and gave it to him quickly before I got a word in. These vets take matters into their own hands, at times with regard for consequences.

Thank you all for all of your support. I am feeling so hopeful and blessed to have found this forum of Cat lovers who are all so compassionate and informative. Thanks again!! [emoji]128591[/emoji][emoji]10084[/emoji][emoji]128149[/emoji][emoji]10024[/emoji]

Put different dishes of water around the house, new and curiosity entices at least a few licks

Just now I have my Krissy next to me, leaning on my leg and chirping, she is ready for bed and where's my treats??! She is the one and only thing in my world that is good, all good, makes me happy, gives me love and smiles and everything good.

I adore her, more than words can say. So I DO truly understand.

So the pics do help, he needs good strong antibiotic treatment.

He NEEDS to drink though, he has GOT to stay hydrated, extremely important.

Some tips for getting him to drink more.

Diluted tuna water

Slightly diluted chicken broth

Leave the sink tap running slowly

plop ice cubes in his water

Cats do like moving water, it's an instinctual thing that keeps them from getting sick from still water in the wild.

Is his fur missing due to the swelling of the area or was he shaved?

As for the fluid/blood, as I said before, if you think about it, you can take a glass of water and put drops of blood in it, and it will easily look like it's alot more blood than it is.

It's mostly fluid.

Just keep on the doxy and in a few days hopefully you will begin to see some improvements, I bet you will.

@catwoman707 he is shaved, and I have a flowing water fountain for him already, and have placed water bowls around the house, So all good tips, just praying he will improve and drink as he normally does. Will try the broth. What's wrong. With Krissy?

Ok Everyone, so now I am starting to worry. The Doctor prescribed 100mg doxycycline to be given twice a day, morning and night 0.8 each time to him, before food (why, who knows!) and today he threw it ALL UP. I find it odd that he would tell me to give it on an empty stomach when even us human beings take it with food. Also.. I want you to look at the Syringe. If the dose is 0.8 to give him, someone please tell me WHY this moron of a so called "Doctor" told me to count 3 lines after the # 1, and that would be his dose TWICE a day. First of all, WHY TWICE a day?!?!? I never took antibiotics twice a day, so why a small animal?!?? And then, this guy apparently doesn't know Math! But if I'm not mistaken, shouldn't you count after the 1/2 (which is 50) three lines down to make it .80?!! NOT AFTER THE ONE?!!! This doctor has me here overdosing my cat, and I know what he told me to do! He said count three likes down from the 1. I am so upset right now beyond belief! He even marked it with a sharpie but it faded away! I am at a lost for words the my experience with ALL of these vets! I am disgusted with them ALL!!! And I do not trust any of them. My cat was perfectly fine before the vaccine, he is old!!! He never had the vaccine before, why would he need it now?! He never goes out side of my condo, and I live on the beach! Not in the woods where there are bats and mice in the middle of no where land!! If it isn't broken, don't fix it! Moral of the story! Now look at the situation I'm up against! I don't know what to do now. His tummy is running twice as much today, he is rejecting antibiotics and doesn't even want to drink or eat! I placed water all around him, and food. He only licked at it for a little and stopped. I put water in the syringe 3 times and forced it in his mouth, most of which he spat up. This is horrifying for me. I don't know which way to go with this now. Also, the "Doctor" from this reputable clinic he seen told me to call him on Thursday (Today) to let him know how he is doing. Turns out he is OFF today!?!?! Really. So how was I to report to him! And look what I'm going through, and he can't even hear about it, he is enjoying his day off while I have to be here suffering with my cat in this nightmare! One word.. MALPRACTICE!!! These vets don't know what they are doing!! They have depleted me from my savings, taking 3 hundred here, three hundred there, 2 hundred here, and my cat is WORST today! Why can't I find a sincere vet who knows what he or she is doing?!!! And are these side effects to this vaccine reversable!!!???! I don't even want to give my kitty any more meds! He is rejecting them at this point, threw up all the liquid, and I am now just praying he will eat & drink water!! This is nuts! A cat who loves food & water, and never ever gave me a hard time to eat or drink, not even with vitamins! He always took them! I'm at a loss for words! This will forever be with me!! I officially HATE vets and trust none of them! I didn't take him to a mom & pop! He was at one of the best hospitals in South Florida! I can now only pray for a miracle :'(