Cat is not eating - Fluid in abdomen, mast shown in Ultrasound

I have a domestic long hair that is about 11 years old and used to be almost 24lbs. A couple of weeks ago, it stopped eating and losing weight (currently weighs around 12lbs). I've been syringe feeding him and the last 2 weeks, fluid has been building up in his abdomen.

The first vet I took him to did an ultrasound, gave him antibiotics, and said that it revealed some sort of inflammation.

The second vet also did an ultrasound and also withdrew some of the "mass" matter for analysis. They also added a feeding tube.

Both vets did extensive blood tests and nothing was found except low levels of albumin.

Today he became so weak and agitated, I took him to the ER. The doctor there said based on the previous history that the other 2 vets faxed over, that there is a 95% chance he has terminal cancer and that it has spread through out the intestine. They said that they can tell by the fluid and because the rest of the intestine is not absorbing vitamins/food properly.

Tommorow they will be removing the mass from the small intestine and doing exploratory surgery. They will then do analysis on the mast to see what kind of cancer it is. They said even after the surgery, he will still not eat and will waste away.

Is there any chance that it could just be non-benign tumor?

How can they be so sure that it has spread throughout the intestine?!?!?!? The ultrasound only revealed a mass in the small intestine...so how can they be sure it has spread?!?!?

What is the likely prognosis?

BTW, I should mention that when the second vet withdraw some of the "mass" matter for analysis, it was done during the ultrasound using a needle. It wasn't a biopsy and it was only used to check for lymphoma.

The result was "non-diagnostic"....which I think means he doesn't have lymphoma?

When the surgeon went in, he did not find a mass...instead, he found a section of the intestine covered in white plaque and thickened. He also found white plaques in several other areas and all throughout the abdomen.

He also said the white plaques in the intestine was causing "diffusion" and fluid build up in the abdomen.

He doesn't have a definitive diagnostic of what it is.....but he thinks it could be either cancer or FIP (indoor cat only). He did take a white colored antibiotic 1 day ago.

He will be taking biopsies of the plaques and sending them to pathology which will take a week for diagnosis.

Does anyone know what this is? Is it cancer? Can we treat/cure it?

So it was the ER Vet who said he will just wither away even with the surgery?  Who is doing the surgery?  My question to you is....do you trust this ER Vet?  And WHY would you have it done if, according to this person, there is no hope? 

I would ask more questions, probably of my MAIN Vet...someone you trust.  Find out how they can possibly make a diagnosis like that without any type of biopsy.  Ask what that needle "non=-diagnostic" deal was, etc.  Get as much information as possible so you know what to expect.  If there is a chance of survival....GREAT!  If not, then why put him through the surgery?.   If it IS Lymphoma, that can be treated.  There are several cats here on TCS who have had "chemo".  Chemo in cats is much different than with humans....better. 

I WILL say, though, if he has lost half his body weight in just two weeks, at the moment he may have Hepatic Lipidosis.  Did anyone even mention that?  Are the inside of his ears yellow (jaundice)?  How about his gums?  This is quite serious and has the potential of killing him of not treated.  And if that mass is preventing food from absorbing, then that is definitely an issue, because for HL, food is mainly the treatment   Did they run bloodwork at the ER Vet?  Were his liver values raised? 

Well, as I said, i would definitely talk to the Vet I trust the most about everything and ask all my questions before doing anything.  Including prognosis after removal of the mass, whether or not it could be benign, etc. .

It is most likely FIP which is strange since it is an indoor cat.

How exactly is FIP fatal? Can we install a catheter for his abdomen and drain the fluid out?  If it doesn't eat, can we do a saline/protein injection? If he receives nutrients through the blood and we drain the abdomen, how can FIP be fatal?

I'm so sorry they found something...I just wish you didn't have to wait so long for the biopsy results    If he had the coronavirus as a kitten, it can manifest into FIP later in life

Here are some articles on FIP:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/fip-in-cats

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/health_information/brochure_ftp.cfm

Some cats with FIP do have the fluid drained occasionally.  I'm not aware of any type of saline/protein injections to replace food.  As far as I know, the only thing there is for feeding is a feeding tube, and therein lies the problem. He could get Vitamin B shots, but don't think that is nearly enough to sustain.   But I'm not a Vet...did you ask your Vet these questions? 

In the meantime, is he still being fed via his feeding tube?  Even though there is this white plaque throughout his intestines, I guess some nutrients from the food might still get thru the walls of his intestines of there is any healthy tissue at all?

I didn't know older cats got FIP, I thought it was just the young ones. It is fatal 100% of the time, as far as I know.  Our Darcy lasted about 2 months after diagnosis and vets were surprised at that.  It maybe cancer, because Cindy had some fluid in her stomach, along with the mass on her colon they removed. With Chemo she lived another 22 months, but eventually started wasting away again and had a feeding tube.  Even with giving her a substantial amount of food through the tube, she never gained weight and eventually started losing again.  I'm so very sorry you and your baby are going through this.

The waiting the the biopsy is SO HARD, but I'm afraid that's probably what it's going to take

I don't know how anyone here can do any more than simply guess at what it might be, and their guesses would probably be the same as the Vet.  BUT, maybe it's possible someone out there will see this and have had a similar experience where it wasn't cancer or FIP.  

In the meantime, how's your boy doing?  He's on a feeding tube, correct?  Is he hospitalized, or at home? 

 

mrsgreenjeens said:

 
The waiting the the biopsy is SO HARD, but I'm afraid that's probably what it's going to take

I don't know how anyone here can do any more than simply guess at what it might be, and their guesses would probably be the same as the Vet.  BUT, maybe it's possible someone out there will see this and have had a similar experience where it wasn't cancer or FIP.  

In the meantime, how's your boy doing?  He's on a feeding tube, correct?  Is he hospitalized, or at home? 

 

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We did the surgery and he is in the intensive care unit since friday. His blood pressure has been dropping everyday so they are giving him blood pressure medication. Unfortunetly, they are on their last type of blood pressure medication having maxed out the other 3. They are also giving him anti-inflammatory drugs.

I wish I never did the surgery, it was a big mistake. All of the veternarians were so sure it was a tumor/cancer. I wish I had taken the holistic path instead.

He is still responsive, just very sedated. I just hope that his blood pressure will stabilize soon and I can take him home to try some natural remedies.

Just checking in to see how he's doing today.

Went to visit him. They transfered him to a new cage with a heater.

He was meowing a lot and suddenly collapsed and started asphyixating. The blood pressure dropped to 20. They quickly put him in the operating table and started him on some drug that raced his heart and begin clearing the asphyixation. After about 30 mins, he stabilized.

I just don't understand why his blood pressure keeps dropping. The doc keeps saying it's FIP....but he was FINE before the surgery. I think it's the shock and combination of medication they are giving him.

They are giving gabapentin (pain killer) and dexamethosone (steroid). His abdomen fluids are slowly building up too. I'm thinking of asking them to stop both of these and just keep giving IV fluids, dextrose, and tube feeding.

I just wish his blood pressure stabilize so I can take him out of there and start some sort of holistic treatment.

My cat died today around 6:40am (I euthanized him). I got the call around 4:30am saying he is deteriorating fast and they are unable to stabilize his blood pressure. I rushed to the ER and when I got there, he recognized me, crawled over and meowed. I was devestated.

After spending some time with him, I decided it was time.

I should've never done the surgery and instead gone with a holistic path. Before the surgery, he was moving about, I was able to feed him through the tube, he only had a little discomfort. After the surgery, he was horrible.

He didn't die from FIP.

He died from surgery.

We are all  very sorry for your loss.

To my fellow members, should you ever encounter this awful disease, as a point of medical "fact", there is no cure for FIP, the "wet" or effusive version which is the most common comes on very quickly.  It is always fatal. There is no cure, including no holistic cure.  With the effusive version the most one can generally get is a few days of partial relief through fluid removal etc, however most vets recommend very timely euthanasia.

The "dry" (non-effusive) version can allow the cat to live for a period of time with support therapies, but in time it too is fatal.  

There is no effective test.  A positive corona virus test is not diagnostic for FIP, it just means that FIP is possible.  A positive corona virus test only supports a diagnosis if the cat is already extremely ill.  A healthy cat that tests positive for Corona means essentially nothing, most cats test positive for Corona because its a common cold virus.  In very rare occasions and for reasons that are not well understood, sometimes the virus mutates in a way that causes this disease.

There is no effective vaccine for FIP.

Resource links include:

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/health_information/brochure_ftp.cfm

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2134&aid=212

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feline_infectious_peritonitis

I am so sorry to hear this sad news. You certainly did all you could, and there is no need for you to beat up on yourself. From everything that you have written about, he was very sick indeed, and whether he had the surgery or not, would probably have died quite soon. At least you saved him from any more suffering. And it is good that you were with him at the last and able to spend some time with him. He knew you were there and that he was loved.

In accordance with TCS policy, I shall now close this thread as a mark of respect for the cat who has passed. I do hope that you will feel able to open a new thread for him in the 'Crossing the Bridge' forum, where you can tell us all about him and others can show their sympathy. The Moderating Team join me in extending their condolences.