Treating FIP

[moxiewild]

We’re currently treating a cat with suspected FIP.

Last Monday, I woke up and Salem’s abdomen was very distended, mostly the left side. He was acting completely normal otherwise.

A preliminary exam and ultrasound showed enlarged kidneys and some sort of masses or something on both kidneys.

Bloodwork showed stage 3 CKD, though no CKD symptoms had been observed at that point.

Vet suspected PKD, lymphoma that originated outside the kidneys, or fungal granuloma. Our vet was leaning toward lymphoma.

We scheduled some more imaging and a biopsy for that Thursday.

This imaging showed other irregularities on the kidneys, as well as thickening of the intestinal walls.

At this point, the vet ruled out PKD.
He also seemed to doubt it was lymphoma now, but maybe some other cancer. Fungal granuloma was still a possibility.

But now he and the imaging specialist strongly suspected dry FIP.

We came home and immediately started arranging for treatment with GS, and Salem got started on it the very next day.

The biopsy results were supposed to take 3-5 business days. Today is day 5, and my vet was unable to even get ahold of the place. They have no idea why they haven’t gotten results yet.

Salem was acting fine all last week. But since Saturday, he has gone downhill fast.

He is very lethargic and not at all himself. I’ve increasingly noticed CKD symptoms - drinking and peeing a lot, greasy, spikey coat. He is also nauseous. He lost 1.3lbs in a week or so, down from 15lbs.

I am a complete mess. As I understand it, most cats improve with treatment within the first week.

Not having the biopsy results is killing me. I wanted to make a preemptive appointment last week with an oncologist so we could get in quickly if it turned out to be cancer, but I needed a referral and my vet couldn’t give me one until the biopsy results came back.

Now I fear that if it is cancer, it will take way too long to see the oncologist.

I don’t know why I’m posting here. I’m just scared. I don’t know what to do, I don’t even know for certain what we’re dealing with.

Those of you familiar with treating FIP - how long did it take for your cat to improve after starting GS?

If we don’t get the biopsy results by tomorrow, I’m thinking about just bringing him to the ER tomorrow evening.

I don’t know though… I feel like doing that might be selfish of me? Stressing him like that when they might not be able to do anything without the biopsy results?

But the ER has specialists and an oncologist there, as well as more equipment, so maybe we could actually get more answers. Or at least supportive care for his kidneys, something to slow things down, make him feel better?

And if we do find out it’s cancer tomorrow and I can’t get into an oncologist for another week+, do I just try to take him to the emergency room anyway just to TRY and get some advanced care asap?

I don’t know. I don’t know what to do. I feel so helpless.

I had so much hope when I found out it was FIP. Now, I feel like I’m losing him.

In a lot of ways, it feels like I’ve lost him already. This cat follows me everywhere, he is ALWAYS on me. Everyone always remarks how “obsessed” with me he is. My boyfriend always jokes that he wants to live in my blood.

But I haven’t seen that cat since almost a week now, and I feel completely broken. I’m now seriously fearing I won’t ever see that cat again either. And that soon I’ll really have to say goodbye.

I’m not ready for this…

 

[Furballsmom]

Hello,
To break this down into a couple pieces that are a bit more manageable and will help his comfort level;

Can you get more water into him?

Tips To Increase Your Cat’s Water Intake – TheCatSite Articles

Do you have something to help with his nausea?

 

[moxiewild]

Also - has anyone ever heard of cancer progressing this rapidly?

Salem’s abdomen became severely distended literally overnight. It was so fast, that I was sure he must have an effusion, rupture, or possibly a blockage that somehow wasn’t yet painful for him.

Like I said, he is constantly all over me. This was absolutely not something I EVER would have missed. The distention is severe and very, very hard.

He was acting completely normal otherwise though. It’s only been the last 5 days that he’s deteriorated so rapidly.

I’ve never seen cancer move this quickly before, which is why I also thought FIP made more sense, especially the overnight distention.

 

[Furballsmom]

He is gorgeous

 

[moxiewild]

Hello,
To break this down into a couple pieces that are a bit more manageable and will help his comfort level;

Can you get more water into him?

Tips To Increase Your Cat’s Water Intake – TheCatSite Articles

Do you have something to help with his nausea?

Just got Cerenia today for nausea, as well as an appetite stimulant. If that doesn’t work, I will assist feed him tonight.

He’s on wet food with water added. I don’t have any lactated ringers right now, and despite being stage 3, his values didn’t indicate need for subqs, so the vet didn’t recommend them yet - that was last week though.

 

[Furballsmom]

The baby food soup recipe, even if it might not sound like much, is typically really well received by most cats, and anything he would enjoy would be a good thing.

 

[moxiewild]

Yeah. He’s never been food motivated at all, so he’s definitely not falling for any of the usual tricks at the moment. Just praying the meds work. The vet was out of the usual appetite stimulant so I’m using one I have no experience with and just waiting for it to kick in at the moment.

 

[Jcatbird]

Is Salem having bowel movements okay? Was the imaging CT? I only ask because I had to get a lot of testing done to figure out if a kitty here was FIP or Cancer. Neither. She presented suddenly with hard abdomen but she was severely constipated too. The CT didn’t tell the whole thing but aspirating a sample did give us clues. The ultrasound showed some but CT gave more. I think there is a CKD group out there that might be helpful too. A friend told me about a group called ,”Tanya’s”. Maybe they can offer some help? You can google to find a guide and other links. Maybe you can determine if that plays a part here.
I hope you get some answers for Salem . I know how the “not knowing” can be for us. The kitty here was not eating either. Some Fancy Feast broths were appealing to her and some flavors of Weruva which was something we had never tried. A local pet supply place (started by a person whose cat needed specialty foods while sick) suggested it to me. The ones with Pumpkin are what she favored. Hopefully the appetite stimulant will kick in and things will be better from then on.

 

[Furballsmom]

do I just try to take him to the emergency room anyway just to TRY and get some advanced care asap?

My two cents is that I think it would be worth it.

friend told me about a group called ,”Tanya’s”

The website is felinecrf .org

 

[moxiewild]

Is Salem having bowel movements okay? Was the imaging CT? I only ask because I had to get a lot of testing done to figure out if a kitty here was FIP or Cancer. Neither. She presented suddenly with hard abdomen but she was severely constipated too. The CT didn’t tell the whole thing but aspirating a sample did give us clues. The ultrasound showed some but CT gave more. I think there is a CKD group out there that might be helpful too. A friend told me about a group called ,”Tanya’s”. Maybe they can offer some help? You can google to find a guide and other links. Maybe you can determine if that plays a part here.
I hope you get some answers for Salem . I know how the “not knowing” can be for us. The kitty here was not eating either. Some Fancy Feast broths were appealing to her and some flavors of Weruva which was something we had never tried. A local pet supply place (started by a person whose cat needed specialty foods while sick) suggested it to me. The ones with Pumpkin are what she favored. Hopefully the appetite stimulant will kick in and things will be better from then on.

I have been trying and trying to catch him making a bowel movement but haven’t been able to, so I have no idea what’s going on in that department right now

It definitely wasn’t a CT. I’m pretty sure it was just an ultrasound, but with an actual specialist.

the ER vet does have a CT and stuff though, which is one reason why I’m contemplating taking him there. They just have access to so much more, plus they’re specialists.

I am part of the CKD group but also intensely familiar with CKD, having treated a couple dozen cats for it now. I’ve also lost all of my cats to CKD so far too.

So what did it end up being with your kitty? Just severe constipation?

 

[Furballsmom]

so I have no idea what’s going on in that department right now

Something to check at the next visit, most definitely.