FIP confusion

stellaarmani

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Hi everyone. So I have two kittens that I adopted together and are littermates and a month ago one of them was diagnosed with dry FIP because he had a fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and an inflamed colon. The vet gave me panacur, metronidazole, and a pill for nausea. I gave him those medications and instantly he gained weight, fever went away, and his appetite came back. I took him to the vet a week later and his fever was gone and he'd gained more than a pound. I've read about FIP online and it said that it's characterized by a fever that will not respond to medication so does that mean he may not have it? When we went back to the vet his colon was still enlargered and the vet said that she was fairly sure it was still dry FIP. I attached pictures of his bloodwork so maybe someone who's been through this can help me understand what it means as well as if they personally thinks he has FIP. I am going to get a second opinion when I have the funds to do so.

Secondly, about a week ago my other kitten was looking a little bloated and was slightly lethargic (but if you interacted with her she would play) so I took her to the vet. The vet drew fluid from her stomach and said that she most likely has the wet from of FIP. My kitten had no loss of appetite, no weight loss, no diarrhea, no fever, basically no symptoms of FIP other than a bloated tummy. I do not have her bloodwork but as soon as I get it I will post it on here. I just want to know if I'm going crazy bc I don't think either of my cats have FIP. FIP is so rare so the odds of both of my kittens having it seems way out there to me.

The attached blood work is for the dry FIP.
 
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stellaarmani

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Also both of my cats are on prednisone as of right now
 

mrsgreenjeens

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I'm going to see if @catwoman707 can take a look at your thread since she's (unfortunately) one of our resident experts on FIP. 
 

catwoman707

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So....

The lack of symptoms may easily be due to the stage of fip now, a cat can and may very well seem normal but as it does it's damage internally, that can quickly change.

However, and keep in mind I am not a vet nor would I advise going against your vet, but in theory, these blood results do not show several of the classic things that we usually would see.

Low lymphs, high neutrophils, high glob, high alt and alp are common, but remember he may not be advanced enough to show these changes.

Low plt and high glob are concerning.

Then high eos tell me his body is trying to fight off infection and/or inflammation.

I'd like to know, was a titer test done to see whether he was exposed to corona virus?

Was the fluid in his sisters tummy analyzed?

Scratch that, I see she has. I'd love to see those results, as there are very classic things with the fluid that would really only be seen in fip fluid.

Color of straw, thick like raw egg white, high in protein content.
 
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catwoman707

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Also wanted to ask, where did these kitties come from, a shelter?

You said he was diagnosed a month ago, is he any different?

Was this blood testing done a month ago?
 
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stellaarmani

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First off, Thank you so much for your response catwoman707 catwoman707 . I have been so confused and scared and it's people like you who are getting me through this incredibly difficult time.
I do not think that a titer test was done on either of them but I will call my vet tomorrow and ask and I will also ask for Stella's bloodwork and the analysis of the fluid.
And yes I adopted them both from the SPCA
He is doing so much better. Honestly it's as if he was never sick. He eats like a little monster, poop is completely back to normal, he cuddles and plays like any regular kitten would. Even before he started the prednisone and he was just on the metronidazole and panacur he was better than I'd ever seen him.
And yes the blood test was done a month ago when he was having diarrhea and had lost a lot of weight. Should I ask for an updated blood test to be done?
 
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catwoman707

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You're very welcome, and am glad to hear this site is helping you.

If you can afford to have another blood test ran on him I think it will be a good idea. I do not believe it's possible for certain blood levels to improve if he has fip.

But what about the girl? 

The titer test can completely rule out fip, but can't indicate it. Meaning, either they have had exposure to the corona virus or they have not, if not then impossible to have fip, if they have, it doesn't mean fip for sure it only means it can't be ruled out.

I expect them to test positive for titers due to being exposed to a shelter environment. But might be surprised too.

I know that dry fip can go through waves of feeling better then not so well, up and down for a bit then no more ups.

Wet is much faster, a matter of weeks, like a couple/few at the most.

Dry can go as long as 8 months, but usually doesn't go quite that long, and sometimes dry becomes wet too, making a downslide pretty fast then.

I do not wish to give you false hopes, the last thing I want to do here, and not my style. I see some abnormalities in the test like the glob so high like that as indicative. But lacking several things that are normally pretty classic in blood of an fip kitty.

It's hard to know if the fever responded to med or not because it will be high, but drop down on it's own too, and you didn't say he was on antibiotics either, which is what is watched whether it brings the fever down or not.

Anytime a kitten to a young cat has a random fever of an unknown origin my brain goes straight to fip. It's just not as rare as it sounds. In my rescue, I have had one foster at my house who came down with fip, and overall through the years from all of my foster moms, maybe 40 total, so not common, but not rare enough.

I've also had 1 foster who had 2, one right after the other. So it does happen, but highly unusual.

Personally, my theory is genetics play a good part in this, as well as illness/if they had a uri as kittens, and shelter exposure due to stress.

These circumstances seem to play a part in whether a cat gets rid of the corona virus or hibernates it where it becomes fip.
 
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stellaarmani

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catwoman707 catwoman707
I just got Stella's blood work and I have attached it. The vet is sending me the analysis later today.
When Armani went into the vet his temperature was 103.2 and as I understand that's just above normal temperature so I guess I'm wondering if a small fever contributes to the diagnosis?
I am also getting new bloodwork done for Armani and a titer test for both of them when I have the funds to do so and I will post the bloodwork on here.
 
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mrsgreenjeens

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Just so we know, are these two BLOOD siblings, or not? 
 

catwoman707

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Interesting, almost the same.

Please post results of fluid when you can.

103.2 is a fever, not low but not high, but def a fever.
 
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stellaarmani

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mrsgreenjeens mrsgreenjeens yes they are blood related
catwoman707 catwoman707 the vet said that they would send them today but they haven't yet so I'm calling again now
Thank you both so much for your concern
 
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stellaarmani

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Just an update: the vet called me and asked how the cats were doing and said that she consulted with 2 other vets and they both said that both of my cats have FIP. Should I still get a second opinion? Also she said she would send the fluid analysis tomorrow.
 

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I certainly hope she is using the appropriate wording, since fip has no definite diagnosis until post-mortem autopsy were done.

I hate to say this but suspect fip as well, I'm still hesitant about saying so though, but it be because the blood results I see are often more advanced than these, as they are lacking several of the classics, it's the high glob and low plt's that look like fip to me.

If this is so, what a tragedy for you, and for them, having their lives cut so short, but for you, to be unlucky enough to have one with fip is enough, but 2? 

Just awful.......
 
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stellaarmani

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It is really tough. I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst. And this is my first time owning pets so I feel as though the universe is trying to tell me something. But ever since I adopted my little ones I have given them the best possible life I could give them. And although their lives may be short, I have and will continue to give them enough love to last a million life times. Thank you for your time and your help. I really do appreciate it and I know Stella and Armani do to [emoji]10084[/emoji]️️ I will post the fluid analysis tomorrow and keep updating
 

catwoman707

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Well it was very hard to read so small, so I put 2 pairs of magnifiers on!

Not good, a positive rivalta test, the amt of protein content in the fluid, the cytology in the fluid, and the blood results all point to fip.

I wish I could have given better news and some hope, but sadly this awful invader can not be stopped.........

How sad for you :(
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Well it was very hard to read so small, so I put 2 pairs of magnifiers on!
Lisa, if you click on the lab results, it opens up just like any picture to a larger size...makes it easier to read
.  Did you STILL need two pair of magnifiers?  If so, you might need some new ones.

@stellaarmani, I'm so sorry that it appears the news is bad after all
.   

In times like this I always think of that Garth Brooks song "The Dance".  It's so sad, but so beautiful because he knew love and realized it was worth the pain of loss to have known the wonders of that love.  And there is nothing like the love we hold for our little fur kitties.  Nothing compares, IMHO.  Yes, we outlive them, normally, but how sad it would be not to have experienced them in our  lives at all
 
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stellaarmani

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So sorry for the late reply! Yes, I was hoping for a better outcome but I am slowly accepting the diagnosis. Thank you both for all your help! mrsgreenjeens mrsgreenjeens catwoman707 catwoman707
 
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