HELP!! URGENT FIP INFO NEEDED !! POSSIBLE DIAGNOSIS??

teddysmommy

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Any and all info would be much appreciated . My exotic short hair (teddy) who will be a year old on January 17 of this year has been perfectly healthy up until last friday morning when I woke up to find him vomiting white foam and same thing when he tried to have a bowel movement . Took him straight to the vet who suspected based on X rays that he had swallowed a "Linear shaped foreign object" . Monitored him and referred him to an urgent care facility for an ultrasound and possible surgery . He Had a very very high white blood cell count and a fever of 104 (both resolved quickly with antibiotics and fluid). Ultrasound indicated again , possible obstruction by foreign object and a "very small amount" of free fluid. 

I consented to the surgery (which i feel horrible about putting him through) They found no foreign object , but took biopsies of intestine and lymph nodes because they were enlarged. Free fluid was tested and turned out to be just normal fluid from swelling and inflamation in the colon . We were told it was highly likely it was a bacterial infection because he has improved on meds , possibly Inflamitory bowel disease and less likely lymphoma or cancer, and then the mention of the "less than 1% chance of something called FIP that we are not concerned about at all" 

We Brought him home yesterday, despite his huge healing surgical site , he is eating very well, drinking very well and going to the bathroom, no diarrhea but a little on the softer side, given the fact likely he is on 3 antibiotics . Today we get the phone call from hell telling us that the pathologist says that FIP is highly suspected and his biopsy results are "classic for FIP" I am completely in denial , he recovered well and quickly with antibiotics and the fluid in his abdomen was not what i have read is typical with FIP fluid . We now have to wait for 10 days for another "dye test" on the biopsy samples for more information and for a recheck of the ultrasound to see if inflamation has improved. ANYONE WITH ANY INFO ON THIS DISEASE PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME IF MY POOR BABY IS CONSISTENT WITH AN FIP CASE OR POSSIBLY SOMETHING ELSE BEING MISDIAGNOSED !!! \

HELP!!!
 

zoneout

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The only peace of mind I can give you is that they were wrong before and so proven they could be wrong again.   The fact that he is showing marked improvement on antibiotics I believe is indicative of something other than FIP which does not respond to antibiotics in any way and in fact an elevated fever almost would certainly continue. 

If I were you I would most definitely call the Cornell University Feline Health Center.   They can discuss your cat`s issue over the phone and the cost is only $55 to speak with an expert in the field.    Contact info is at  http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/health_resources/camuti_service.cfm

Good luck to you and kitty!
 

catwoman707

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Hi and welcome.

FIP would obviously be bad, as you surely know there is no cure and is 100% fatal.

There are really not many classic symptoms that scream fip over many other issues either, and no way to confirm fip.

What they CAN do however is take what they do have in the way of symptoms, and basically do more of an elimination type thing. 

A few basic classic signs are a fever that comes and stays, but then goes down on it's own, even sub temps below normal happen.

BUT.....this fever does NOT go down due to antibiotics. 

As the antibiotics are continued, as you said his temp is down now, watch to see if it goes back up again. It will likely do this in fip.

The fluid, well anytime there is inflammation there is a small amt of fluid, so that is not an indication of fip.

That is of course unless it really increases, then it can be drawn out and tested. The abdominal fluid is quite classic in color and consistency when it is fip.

They need to do a titer test for coronavirus.

If it tests negative that will rule out fip, if it is positive it doesn't mean it is fip, but does mean he has had exposure to this virus which is where fip starts and mutates.

Where did he come from? How old when you got him?

You said they ran blood panel on him, did it have any other indicators for fip or anything else?

What biopsy results had the pathologist thinking it looks like fip?
 
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teddysmommy

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I'm not sure what about the biopsy said FIP but when I pressed the night doctor for further answers he said that the surgeon who did the operation. And took the biopsies was adamant that nothing she saw suggested FIP. I'm feeling like these people are playing me for money but I am still terrified for my baby! I want to get a second opinion but not sure who medically to trust at this point. They are waiting on the 10 day dye test on the biopsy that will give them a clear picture I suppose?
 
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teddysmommy

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Sorry I failed to completely forgot to answer the rest of your question. We got him from a breeder we investigated at length and found to be trustworthy and we have been in touch with her aswel and she said the same basic thing , she says far too many people put kittens Down because the doctor says FIP and then rule it out by necropsy . We have had him since he was 8 weeks old and the only health issue ever was a minor kitten cold which our vet gave an antibiotic for which subsequently caused some diarrhea . Since this (nearly a year ago) he's been plump , fluffy and perfectly healthy! They did every test they could possibly think of And the dr I spoke with tonight said in addition to the surgeon stating she observed nothing, the blood tests were lacking certain things they see with FIP . He initially had severely high WBC count which resolved on fluids and antibiotics the next day
 

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FIP is such a horrible disease because it's so sudden and nothing you can really do about it.

The group I volunteer for had a kitten who was diagnosed as probable FIP but her foster mom refused to accept the answer and wouldn't let her be put to sleep. She worked with the kitty for a couple of months on antibotics and a very limited diet. She eventually recovered and is now a healthy cat, but has to be feed a very limited diet. They decided she has food allergies and was sick with something at the time. So both together made the vet think she had FIP... 

Hopefully he just a tummy flu or something and makes a full recovery!

In regards to a second opinion ask your breeder for a vet recommendation she should know a couple of good vets she can recommend for a second opinion. If not her, look for local rescue groups and see who they recommend.
 
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teddysmommy

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A few more tests back. He does or did have a bacteria present also. I don't know how this effects anything?
 

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I don't know much about FIP, but I sincerely hope your cat continues to improve! Since there's a bacteria present, then maybe that was the cause of the infection? I would seek a second opinion with another vet.
 

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A few more tests back. He does or did have a bacteria present also. I don't know how this effects anything?
Hence the reason for the improvement with antibiotics.   My gut is telling me this is not FIP.    Once you finish the course of antibiotics as prescribed make sure to give him a probiotic to help reestablish the gut flora.  There are many brands.   I don`t have a favorite but perhaps someone else can suggest a good one for you.  Good luck!
 
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teddysmommy

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Thank you all! Also the blood test for the corona virus antibodies came back just below the threshold of being bad? Not sure what this means if anything
 

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Sorry, you lost me for a short time, I got hit with the flu!! Ugh.

So the test for coronavirus came back low?

Let's hope this is NOT fip, it's not really looking quite like it is at this point, but it's a funny/tricky virus too. 

How is she doing? Fever?
 
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teddysmommy

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Yes corona antibody test was low and he is doing great ! Only issue is some diarrhea from the 3 antibiotics he's on. Not sure I mentioned they also did find a bacterial infection . Going out of my mind worrying
 
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teddysmommy

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Oh and still no fever. Last fever was a week ago and it has not come back
 
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catwoman707

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I bet you are worried out of your mind.

Just try as best to remember, worrying is not going to change anything.

It can only cause more trouble with stress in you and your cat.

No fever for a week after antibiotics started? Well that's a positive sign.

Diarrhea is common as a side effect of antibiotics too.
 
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teddysmommy

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I am worried out of my mind! I can't really sleep or eat . He's probably doing better than I am! The vet changed the antibiotics today because the bacteria that showed up is rather hard to kill I guess or doesn't react to what he was on. Still no fever today. Seemed a little sleepy but I'm watching him like crazy and he's always been a drowsy cat. I hear typical of the breed
 

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I'm so sorry you are going through this. Although I have not dealt with FIP, my Min had chylothorax (leak in the chest cavity) and I know the anxiety you are feeling. I lost 10 pounds in a couple weeks and would go to bed at 8pm JUST so I wouldn't have to think about it! I just want to say, you need to take care of yourself...pull yourself together, as YOU certainly don't need your health jeopardized as well... plus the fact that kitty can sense when mommy isn't doing well. I finally relied on my faith, after the stress was so great....but I hope you can take a few moments to inhale/exhale and know that everything possible will be done to help kitty... there's nothing you can do by worrying so much that will help anything... he only needs your love right now... and for you to be strong for him. I pray your boy will pull through this and pray for you as well... ugh I know how hard it is. (big hug)
 
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teddysmommy

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Thank you so much. I appreciate the kind words and prayers. It's so impossible not to worry! I wish I could just not think about it and have him be ok
 

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My Darcy just died in December from FIP. It is a HORRIBLE disease and I pray your Teddy doesn't have it.  Darcy was 7 months old, and running around playing like a normal kitten.  Next thing she had no energy, was sleeping and hiding. We took her to the vet and she had a temperature around 1.06.  Antibiotics did not bring the fever down, I think the lowest it went was still nearly 1.05.  We did the tests and what not, had an ultrasound where they found a "little bit" of fluid in her abdomen, that "didn't look like" FIP.  But they drew some fluid and ran a test on it, and it came back (along with the other symptoms and tests) as probable FIP.  I can tell you that the fluid was a light yellow color and the way it coagulated on the bottom of the tube was the way they see it with FIP.  My vet saved some of the fluid so I was able to se it.  Can you ask your vet what color the fluid was?  I know exactly the stress and worry you are going through, and my heart goes out to both of you.  I knew nothing at all about FIP before Little Darcy got it - and now I know way too much.  
 
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