Have had Gabby (9 years old) to vet every day except Sun. for last week and half. Her temp is running at 105, but has fluctuated bewteen that and normal. Left her at vet's last Mon, Tue and Wed of last week. Had X-ray and ultra-sound of kidneys and liver. All normal. She has obvious pain when they press on her back above the kidneys. Going back to vet today to see what latest results of bloodwork are. She absolutely will not eat or drink. The vet has been giving her fluid treatments and I have been force feeding her, much to her and my distress. She actually ate a bit at the vets, especailly when there overnight. I am truely afraid that my anxiety is affecting her. Vet says options are, drive 400 miles to specialist, give her steroids or exploratory surgery. I have looked up a lot about stgeroids and they scare me. Once you give them, you have no idea what damage they have caused and they only mask the symptoms. Exploratory surgery is not an option in my mind, because if they find the worst possible I will not put her through chemo. I just found this board today and so know I will not get any suggestions prior to today's vet visit. I am leaning to the specialist idea as the least invasive.
However, putting her down has not been mentioned and I am almost to the point where I am thinking about it. She seems to feel so bad. She can barely walk, although sometimes she still makes it to the bed. She hides from me, the "tortureor". I am at wits end.
Elevated Temp - Will Not Eat on Own
Re: Elevated Temp - Will Not Eat on Own
Ask your vet to consult with the specialist via phone consult so that you can get an idea of the diagnostics the specialist will recommend before you go. I would definately suggest the specialist option, especially if your vet cannot find the cause.
Steroids can be helpful for many conditions, they can reduce inflammation that causes illness and pain, and used judiciously, can help treat or manage a specific condition. Sometimes they are used for a short period of time, in which side effects are less likely. Don't forgo your vet's or the specialist's recommendations if they suggest antiinflammatories such as prednisone, etc.
Since this seemed to develop suddenly, you don't have much time to waste, please talk to your vet immediately about the specialist consult/option and take it from there. Don't give up on your kitty, a specialist may be able to find the cause and be able to treat it effectively. You won't know until further diagnostics are performed.
Steroids can be helpful for many conditions, they can reduce inflammation that causes illness and pain, and used judiciously, can help treat or manage a specific condition. Sometimes they are used for a short period of time, in which side effects are less likely. Don't forgo your vet's or the specialist's recommendations if they suggest antiinflammatories such as prednisone, etc.
Since this seemed to develop suddenly, you don't have much time to waste, please talk to your vet immediately about the specialist consult/option and take it from there. Don't give up on your kitty, a specialist may be able to find the cause and be able to treat it effectively. You won't know until further diagnostics are performed.
..........Traci
Re: Elevated Temp - Will Not Eat on Own
Traci, Thank you so much for your prompt reply. I did receive it before I left for the vet and took your advice about the steroid treatment. They dosed her at the vet and gave me prednesone in liquid form to bring home. We are going back Wed for follow up. Her white cell count had gone down from 27,000, but her red cell count was lower than it had been. I don't know the new number, but vet said it was down to dangerous level. Actually vet said we were really running out of options and that coupled with your advice convinced me to go ahead. Still thinking of specialist visit, just have to wait and see what she looks like on Wed. I am feeling more hopeful that we can turn this around.
Re: Elevated Temp - Will Not Eat on Own
Is there any reason you can't speed up the process of seeing the specialist? If the blood count is low, you can't afford to be taking a wait and see approach. I would suspect there may be an immunological problem going on coupled with a bacterial infection somewhere....or even a cyst or mass that may be going undetected. I do not wish to scare you, but the unrelenting fever is concerning, and the low blood count needs to be addressed and the cause identified in order to treat it most effectively.
Be prepared for a feline serology (immunological function) if Gabby doesn't show improvement within a day or two, that will need to be sent to an outside lab...the results may take up to 5-7 business days but the attending vet can request the lab expedite the results....or if the specialist is at a university, they may be able to utliize the testing at their own lab.
I wouldn't wait on this, talk to your vet about any suspicions he may have, and if your instincts tell you he isn't doing enough, get her to the specialist promptly.
Be prepared for a feline serology (immunological function) if Gabby doesn't show improvement within a day or two, that will need to be sent to an outside lab...the results may take up to 5-7 business days but the attending vet can request the lab expedite the results....or if the specialist is at a university, they may be able to utliize the testing at their own lab.
I wouldn't wait on this, talk to your vet about any suspicions he may have, and if your instincts tell you he isn't doing enough, get her to the specialist promptly.
..........Traci
Re: Elevated Temp - Will Not Eat on Own
Thans Traci for your good advice. I was wrong about the red cell count being dangerously low, but it was lower. Good news is her temp was normal today and she nibbled a bit at the vets. She has done the same since being home. She has been acting like she feels better since the first steroid pill on Monday. Will get blood work results for today this PM.
I am feeling a great deal of relief. Hopefully she will continue to improve.Thanks again, it is just wonderful to have this messsage board service available.
I am feeling a great deal of relief. Hopefully she will continue to improve.Thanks again, it is just wonderful to have this messsage board service available.
Re: Elevated Temp - Will Not Eat on Own
If she continues to improve, that would be good, but if the blood counts continue to fall below normal or the symptoms reoccur, at the very least, ask your vet to consult with the specialist on your behalf if you cannot make the trip in a prompt manner. This should only cost you the price of a long-distance phone call, or a teleconference call......your vet can discuss Gabby's lab work, physical symptoms and history with the specialist for more diagnostic or treatment options.
..........Traci
Re: Elevated Temp - Will Not Eat on Own
Hi Traci,
I backed off writing here because I felt that I was getting overloaded.
I have taken Gabby to two local specialists, in addition to my regular vet and they all have a different "gut" feeling about what her problem is.
One specialist says to have her tested a third time for toxoplasmosis. All we know about the results of first test is that she tested negative. The second test showed some titers and she needs another in a couple of weeks to see if they are increasing. He also says that his best guess is FIP. I asked for copy of her results so I could see the actual numbers, but he has not sent them. My vet says they are not conclusive, which of course, is almost always true with tests for FIP. If she does have that, it is the dry variety because she does not have the fluid build-up.
I have to admit that she does have symptoms of FIP. Two weeks ago she had a siezure when I got her home from the vets. Two days after the siezure, her temp went down to normal and she felt great for a couple of days. Today her temp was back to 104. We are continuing with the 5 mlg of prednsone and antibiotic daily. I am hanging in there with her as long as she is eating and does not seem to be in pain. I think all vets are in agreement that her problem is an auto-immune defense of some kind. I guess my question is, is there a possibilty that it could be an auto-immune problem that is curable?
I backed off writing here because I felt that I was getting overloaded.
I have taken Gabby to two local specialists, in addition to my regular vet and they all have a different "gut" feeling about what her problem is.
One specialist says to have her tested a third time for toxoplasmosis. All we know about the results of first test is that she tested negative. The second test showed some titers and she needs another in a couple of weeks to see if they are increasing. He also says that his best guess is FIP. I asked for copy of her results so I could see the actual numbers, but he has not sent them. My vet says they are not conclusive, which of course, is almost always true with tests for FIP. If she does have that, it is the dry variety because she does not have the fluid build-up.
I have to admit that she does have symptoms of FIP. Two weeks ago she had a siezure when I got her home from the vets. Two days after the siezure, her temp went down to normal and she felt great for a couple of days. Today her temp was back to 104. We are continuing with the 5 mlg of prednsone and antibiotic daily. I am hanging in there with her as long as she is eating and does not seem to be in pain. I think all vets are in agreement that her problem is an auto-immune defense of some kind. I guess my question is, is there a possibilty that it could be an auto-immune problem that is curable?
Re: Elevated Temp - Will Not Eat on Own
If one of the vets suspects FIP, a second titer can be done 4 weeks after the first to help determine accuracy (i.e, to note fluctuations in titer). It would seem unlikely due to her age, and presumably, that she has been indoors only and has not had exposure to FIP.
Toxoplasmosis would be a suspect to rule out. Ask your vet to use the IgM or IgG titers, but I would strongly suggest also the full feline serology to test for other or associated immune-mediated problems, such as FELV, FIV, coombs, hemobart, toxo, heartworm, fungal disease. These tests can be mixed or broken down, depending on what your vet suspects and wants to test for specifically.....in Gabby's case, I would opt for the *full* serology that includes all immunologicals. Also ask your vet about other antibiotics approach, as some immunological diseases may not respond to general broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Depending on the extent of the disease process (if immunological), and depending on rapid diagnosis and agressive/correct treatment will depend on the prognosis. This is why I suggest the full feline serology to ensure you've ruled out the majority of the possibilities (although testing for toxo may need to be seperate because they are specific titiers). I also suggest this be done immediately, with no time to waste. The fever, anorexia, and now seizure activity are concerning, and it needs to be diagnosed correctly in order to provide the correct treatment approach, and in a timely manner. I can't stress this enough, get your vet to do a feline serology and get it sent to the lab ASAP,...again, he can call them to help expedite the results. With toxo, if the results show a positive, it would probably indicate she is in active infection (since it has been within 4 weeks of initial illness), in which agressive treatment would be beneficial, and your vet would then know the treatment approach to take (i.e., different antibiotic approach, etc)
Please don't wait on this, call your vet first thing in the morning and get those labs sent out ASAP.
Toxoplasmosis would be a suspect to rule out. Ask your vet to use the IgM or IgG titers, but I would strongly suggest also the full feline serology to test for other or associated immune-mediated problems, such as FELV, FIV, coombs, hemobart, toxo, heartworm, fungal disease. These tests can be mixed or broken down, depending on what your vet suspects and wants to test for specifically.....in Gabby's case, I would opt for the *full* serology that includes all immunologicals. Also ask your vet about other antibiotics approach, as some immunological diseases may not respond to general broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Depending on the extent of the disease process (if immunological), and depending on rapid diagnosis and agressive/correct treatment will depend on the prognosis. This is why I suggest the full feline serology to ensure you've ruled out the majority of the possibilities (although testing for toxo may need to be seperate because they are specific titiers). I also suggest this be done immediately, with no time to waste. The fever, anorexia, and now seizure activity are concerning, and it needs to be diagnosed correctly in order to provide the correct treatment approach, and in a timely manner. I can't stress this enough, get your vet to do a feline serology and get it sent to the lab ASAP,...again, he can call them to help expedite the results. With toxo, if the results show a positive, it would probably indicate she is in active infection (since it has been within 4 weeks of initial illness), in which agressive treatment would be beneficial, and your vet would then know the treatment approach to take (i.e., different antibiotic approach, etc)
Please don't wait on this, call your vet first thing in the morning and get those labs sent out ASAP.
..........Traci
Re: Elevated Temp - Will Not Eat on Own
Traci,
All of the tests you mentioned were done last week by an "Internal" specialists team. "Full" serology, coombs, toxo, fungal diseases, the works. Plus FELV and FIV. All have revealed nothing. We did not do another CBC yesterday, we are waiting a week to do that with the third toxo, but her gums look pink and so it appears that her anemia has improved. It is because all of these tests have revealed nothing, that I am at end of my rope.
All of the tests you mentioned were done last week by an "Internal" specialists team. "Full" serology, coombs, toxo, fungal diseases, the works. Plus FELV and FIV. All have revealed nothing. We did not do another CBC yesterday, we are waiting a week to do that with the third toxo, but her gums look pink and so it appears that her anemia has improved. It is because all of these tests have revealed nothing, that I am at end of my rope.
Re: Elevated Temp - Will Not Eat on Own
Did the serology also include tick-borne and heartworm?
Did anything on her chemical enzymes appear out of range? (i.e., liver, kidney, heart, GI, pancreas, etc) Has the vet opted to recheck with a new chem profile? Was pancreatitis and IBD ruled out?
Your next step will be a new toxo titer, but also ask him about any unusual chem profile changes, ruling out inflammatory disease (or an undetected mass)
Just out of curiosity, were the specialists specialized in any particular area? (such as feline internal med, gastroenterology, immunology, etc) If not, you can still ask your vet to consult with a feline internal med specialist at a nearby veterinary university for help in diagnosis and treatment options.
Don't give up, sometimes cases like this are difficult to diagnose specifically, but Gabby is depending on you to persue all options and if a veterinary university specialist consult is necessary, then by all means, ask your vet to consult on your behalf.
Did anything on her chemical enzymes appear out of range? (i.e., liver, kidney, heart, GI, pancreas, etc) Has the vet opted to recheck with a new chem profile? Was pancreatitis and IBD ruled out?
Your next step will be a new toxo titer, but also ask him about any unusual chem profile changes, ruling out inflammatory disease (or an undetected mass)
Just out of curiosity, were the specialists specialized in any particular area? (such as feline internal med, gastroenterology, immunology, etc) If not, you can still ask your vet to consult with a feline internal med specialist at a nearby veterinary university for help in diagnosis and treatment options.
Don't give up, sometimes cases like this are difficult to diagnose specifically, but Gabby is depending on you to persue all options and if a veterinary university specialist consult is necessary, then by all means, ask your vet to consult on your behalf.
..........Traci