possible FIP in cats

[claret09]

My little boy - Jerry has been to see two different vets as he has lost weight. he is only 7, his sister is like tigger. He has always had a sensitive stomach and could very easily have a runny tummy. about two months ago i got really worried about him and took him to the vet who prescribed a course of probiotics(she also took bloods at my suggestion - and reported back that they were ok) - they seemed to help initially and then his system went into over drive and he became almost incontinent. i immediately stopped the probiotic and he then become constipated. he has also lost a lot of muscle tone and is very quiet. last wednesday i took him back to the vet - saw a different one and she suggested giving him a simple single protein diet. friday i decided to take him back - he ended up in their headquarters having a scan and more bloods (ok - but red blood cells a little low) - he has gone a bit potbellied and is quiet, but still eating. they suggested it he might have a tumour - although they couldn't see it as he had a lot of fluid in his stomach or that he might have FIP- which i had never heard of before.

long story short - decided to get a second opinion - took him to the willows in solihull - lovely vet - spent and hour and a half with us talking about his history, etc. as part of the consultation briefly scanned him - couldn't see a mass in his tummy =- liver and kidneys looked ok- but he was very concerned about his diarrhea - very liquid/yellow/green - he also suggested it might be FIP -

He is not himself, quiet, uncomfortable, not eating very much and drinking more than normal. i don't want him to suffer and am seriously thinking of ringing the vet in the morning and booking him in to have him put to sleep - but have i missed anything that can make him better? he is currently asleep on my bed

 

[Shady]

Very first thing, has he been wormed ? sounds stupid but before anything else, this needs to be confirmed.
If yes
Have they done a poo sample? need to check for bacterial/ parasite/ protozoa. Really really important.

After if nothing shows up you could opt for a full spectrum bloods to check enzymes etc. Expenive probably but can reveal a lot

I have just been through a terrible time with one of my Orientals . Never a robust cat and has a sensitive stomach. Suddenly started drinking a lot , vomitting every other day, chronic diarhea, and then solid poos , weight loss(1kg) and lethargy. Vet thought diet related but decided to work with me to eliminate other possibilities. Before all else I had to worm as symptoms can be similar. I knew really that it wasn't a worm burden but did it anyway. No change. Tried Fortiflora probiotic on vets advice and Royal Canin gastro. Initially helped ,then back to the above symptoms. Had kidneys checked due to excessive drinking..all normal., Next, poo sample sent and BINGO , alarming levels of Hemolytic e- coli. Off the charts, so 10 days of the correct ( very important) antibiotic and he improved within 3 days. Now back to just being sensitive
Have to say that some of what you are describing sounds similar but in truth the stomach fluid sounds worrying. FIP is definitely a possiblility . How are his eyes? with his symptoms he should have a noticeable eye change.
If it is FIP there is an amazing support group called FIP Global Cats. If you can get your vet on board for the drugs needed, FIP can be treated and cured. Not an easy road, but worth discussing

I have to walk my dogs now, but no way did I want to read and run. I hope the above helps a little . There are a couple of vets on here who post sometimes. I really hope one sees this and can offer advice

 

[Boulty]

If the vet suspects FIP there are tests that can be done to check for this but they do take a while to come back (at least a week if memory serves), although if they sample the fluid and examine under a microscope this alongside blood results could give them reasonable suspicion.

There IS a treatment for it but it is fairly new, is only available from one company & is extremely costly (we have done one so far at work & I believe total cost was somewhere in the £8-10k region, but he did need a lengthy hospital stay as was very poorly & it’s possibly slightly cheaper if you go the tablet only route but I believe the chance of success is not as high in certain cases that way)

 

[Boulty]

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) | International Cat Care

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease of cats worldwide. Previously thought to be fatal, there are now significant developments for treatment.

icatcare.org

 

[claret09]

thank you both. i would say that one of his eyes is definitely more green/yellow than the other. he is rather listless and his spark has gone - he has always been such a gentle sole. i have booked him in to put him to sleep this afternoon - i wonder if it's worth asking if he can have a course of anti biotics - he looks uncomfortable and hasn't eaten much this morning - most unlike him

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Really hoping it isn't FIP, but thought I'd link to my thread about "The Alley Cat" in case you wanted to read through it (will warn you it wasn't a happy ending so you may not feel like reading it)

AC has suspected FIP

I know a lot of you have enjoyed AC's exploits on the worst thing the cats done thread. Unfortunately AC is currently really not right and went to the vet yesterday. One of his eyes since about Xmas has been cloudy and when I took him to get it looked into around then, the vet said they suspect...

forums.horseandhound.co.uk

The thing I will always always wonder is AC's death was around the time of the Applaws recall of their dry food and we did feed it (he and PD had different ages). I have barely a doubt he had FIP but will always wonder if the food caused an even quicker demise.

It's a truly vile awful disease - the only thing that would make me question it is your boy is older than the "classic" age for it to mutate - it's usually 1-2 years old, AC was nearly a year old. I don't want to give false hope though and obviously the vets know more than me.

Really hope they can find a cure one day

 

[Shady]

thank you both. i would say that one of his eyes is definitely more green/yellow than the other. he is rather listless and his spark has gone - he has always been such a gentle sole. i have booked him in to put him to sleep this afternoon - i wonder if it's worth asking if he can have a course of anti biotics - he looks uncomfortable and hasn't eaten much this morning - most unlike him

Oh bless Claret09. He does sound pretty poorly . So difficult to know the best course of action without a definate diagnosis and FIP is tricky to confirm . I thought I was going to lose my boy for sure, he looked so awful at one point, but FIP was never concidered in his case . If you can see a definate eye change in one eye it could well be FIP, tho there are two sorts, and to be honest it is nearly always in young cats and kittens. I dont know the percentage in older cats , but I guess corona virus can mutate in any age, just less so for older domestic cats.

Talk to your vet for sure, she would have to decide which antibiotic to try as in my case I first tried Metrobactin(Métronidazole) , which had a short term affect , but becuase the ecoli strain needed a different one , the positive result was short lived and he went back to liquid diarrhea within a week. When the poo test came back for Hemolytic ecoli, we popped him on a different type and that killed off the infection.
I am so sorry that you might have to pts your lovely Jerry. Really feel for you, and you've clearly tried so hard to get him help. Thinking of you both

 

[claret09]

hi guys - jerry is currently in the catspital on an iv drip. he is having antibiotics. lovely vet who had seen him last week reviewed all the bloods and data and suggested he has an infection, is dehydrated and is a bit anaemic. not sure how long he will be in for but hopefully we can get him better . thank you shady for your suggestion about antibiotics the vet was very much in agreement.

 

[Shady]

Oh golly I am keeping everything crossed for him.
I can see where she's going with the meds. Excellent that vit b12 has been added. Really important as consistant diarrhea causes a depletion in b12 , thus affecting the digestive tract. I had the Cobalaplex tablets . 1 every 2 days
I'd have to look up a few of the meds as i'm in France, so a little different. I see a corticoid and something for appetite, I think
I see a pee sample is to be taken , but no poo sample?? has been done already?, if not I would want this . It will tell you a lot, although it will take a few days for bacterial results. She's put a question mark for IBD, so looks like she's almost mirroring my situation, which started with possible IBD as the cause, but ended with ecoli infection. I can't quite tell which antibiotic is being given (amoxicillin maybe) but it's a good mix and you should see an improvement quite quickly.
Really do hope it's something treatable that has just overwhelmed Jerry's system and he responds to the meds. They can be tweaked like mine were, as more results come in
Please keep us posted ?
Thinking of you both x

 

[HollyWoozle]

Everything crossed for Jerry!

 

[claret09]

thank yoyu shady - i have been really impressed by the vet - just hoping we can get him right

 

[Shady]

thank yoyu shady - i have been really impressed by the vet - just hoping we can get him right

Me too and he sounds like he is in good hands. Having a vet you have faith in is really important. I have an excellent relationship with my vets and it really helps when discussing treatment options. x

 

[Griffin]

I am so sorry to hear Jerry is so ill. It does sound like FIP sadly, which although it tends to be in young cats, can be found in older ones. I have lost two kittens to it in the past and both presented as listless and off their food with swollen tummies. The vet said that they could see they had FIP due to their eyes and that when they took some liquid from their stomachs, it was straw coloured.

When it happened to mine, there were treatments you could buy in from America but they were not licensed and cost thousands of pounds. I had both kittens put to sleep before their quality of life deteriorated further. They were such lovely boys, brothers and losing them both was heartbreaking.

 

[claret09]

hi guys. wanted to update you. jerry was discharged from catspital this morning - he is still not out of the woods - i think they still think he might have FIP but he was well enough to come home. he has come home with a lot of meds - anti biotics, etc. he has had b12 injection and has been on an iv drip for 36 hours. he is due to back to the vets on wednesday for a check up and then friday if he is well enough for another b12 jab.

the sample of his wee has so far shown up nothing very much, but they will continue to cultivate it and see what happens.

he was very pleased to be home.

we are by no means out of the wood yet.

he is having his tables in his food - am i better leaving them whole or breaking them up - just wonder if they taste more if you break them up?

 

[Shady]

Well that is very good news and I will remain quietly optimistic. Sending healing vibes Jerry's way. x

As long as he eats the meds in his food, it doesn't matter how. More likely to leave a whole one behind though. Really depends on the cat. Fussy eaters always get them whole in the mouth in my house and the greedy guzzlers get them disguised in whatever is their favourite food ,or crushed into normal food if I know they will eat it all. If there are multiple meds to give you will probably have to experiment and success in food often depends on the cats appetite and well being. Keep us posted . xx

 

[claret09]

overnight last night my beautiful Jerry slipped away over the rainbow bridge. He had been ill for a few weeks - we had been backwards and forwards to the vets to try to get him better, but sadly no matter how much money and love I gave him I couldn't get him better. Heart broken as he has always been my little mate who followed me round the house where ever i went. He would sit on phil in the lounge but as soon as i got up to do something he would jump off him and follow me.
he was such a gentle sole, he just loved being with phil and i - never wanted to meet strangers and would hide if anyone he didn't know appeared.
He and his sister Margo were never far away from me. She is sitting by me know as i write this - she has been so good with him - she used to love playing with him, running round the house and pouncing on him, but she had been so careful with him in recent weeks.
i will never ever forget my beautiful little boy (he was only 7 far, far to young to leave). The vets and I suspect he may have had a corona virus - FIP.
He put up such a brave fight - even eating his chicken last night and sitting on the table with me (he always liked to be the first dinner guest at the table) to see what he could persuade me to share with him off my plate. I could tell then he was going down hill.
Finally, i am pleased that he died at home with his sister and i around. i am glad i didn't have to make the decision to end his life - he went quietly in his sleep surrounded by love,
Rest in peace Jerry - love you forever - i will miss seeing your beautiful face and hearing you talk

thank you for all your support HHF i really appreciated it

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I’m so sorry you have lost Jerry. I was hoping after he came home he was on the mend. Hugs xx

 

[claret09]

thank you lindylouanne - i was hoping he was going to get better. he was the kindest, most beautiful boy - i find it difficult to understand that i won't see him slope round the door into my bedroom, hope on the bed and go to sleep. his sister is missing him and wants to be near me. they are/were both such loving souls

 

[fetlock]

So sorry x

 

[Errin Paddywack]

So very sorry to hear about Jerry but amongst the sadness the relief that he slipped away peacefully without intervention.

 

[claret09]

thank you errin paddywack - he was very peaceful - stretched out like he did normally and just slipped away

 

[Shady]

Oh I am so sorry to read this . I was hoping , like Lindylou , that he would recover when the vet sent him home .Feeling very sad for you and his sister, as I've been there myself and I hope she finds comfort with you.
A peaceful ending at home is what we all hope for and does make the loss a little easier to bear. RIP little Jerry xxxx

 

[claret09]

thank you shady - i just feel so sad to have lost him - he was the most beautiful boy. his sister is constantly with me and although she saw that he was gone is still listening to see if she can hear him. i was wondering about getting a kitten for her - do you have any experience?

 

[Birker2020]

I'm so sorry I've just caught up with this on your socials. Thinking of you, call in for a chat at the weekend xx

 

[claret09]

anne i will pop in over the weekend

 

[Snow Falcon]

Am so sorry to read this.

 

[claret09]

Am so sorry to read this.

thank you. i can't explain how much i will miss him. i adore his sister but he was my best mate = everytime i opened the front door he was there to say hi. he always followed me around the house and wanted to have a cuddle. he never ever raised a claw or threatened to bit, he was such a gentle soul. i will always miss him

 

[Snow Falcon]

I lost my old girl last year. She used to sleep on the bed, but when I fell pregnant she curled up inside the duvet by my stomach. We used to have conservations together. They leave pawprints across our hearts.

 

[Kunoichi73]

So sorry to hear about your lovely Jerry.

 

[claret09]

I lost my old girl last year. She used to sleep on the bed, but when I fell pregnant she curled up inside the duvet by my stomach. We used to have conservations together. They leave pawprints across our hearts.

so agree. they leave a huge paw print on our lives - the sad thing is he was only seven and should have had many, many happy years ahead of him. he will always leave a shadow where he should have been