My vet has made the assumption that my cat has FIP. I initially took him to the vet for gagging and vomiting and very loose stools on a daily basis for about a week. My vet told me to keep an eye on it, and if it continues to bring him in. He was becoming thin from not being able to eat or drink. The day that he was seen by my vet, he vomited up a massive amount of what appeared to be mop string. After he vomitted up this mass, his symptoms disappeared. The vet insisted on doing lung/abdomin x-rays. They showed that he had an infection in his lungs. He was put on 1.5 cc of Keflex every 12 hrs. I had him re-checked and re-xrayed after the antibiotics were finished. The infection has been cleared of his lungs, but now the vet suspected that he has fluid on the outside of his lungs, and did blood work. The results came back with following numbers:
Albumin 2.3
Globulin 6.4
AST 148
ALT 106
Bilirubin 0.7
Creatinine 0.5
Amylase 1484
CPK 2101
FELV Negative
FIV Negative
FCV IFA at 1:400 Positive
FCV IFA at 1:16 Negative
T3 (RIA) 21
I was just wondering if it is too late to start him on a natural immune booster (e.g. dandelion, ashwagandha, milk thistle, echinacea, etc.), or if this will even help after the fact. The following is information on him:
He is a 2 yr. old neutered domestic short haired cat. He has undergone blood work and x-rays. His Globulin level was elevated, and the blood work shows that he has been exposed to the Coronavirus. This is how three vets have made their assumptions. I just started him on the above supplements last night, as a last ditch effort to help my beloved friend. Since he had been feeling under the weather from ingesting the mass, I gave him Sub-Q fluids for 1 week, and force fed him Science Diet A/D and Nutrical. He has been feeling better, and is eating and drinking on his own. I have been feeding him fancy feast in the can for the past week or so. He has never really been a canned food type, so he basically just eats the gravy and leaves the chunks. He does still eat dry food in small amounts a few times a day (Purina Nauturals with vitamins and minerals). His bowels are back to normal, and he still consumes normal quantities of water. Thank you so much for your time, and I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Hello,
Thank you for your inquiry to Holistic Pet Info. It’s not too late to offer your cat an the immune booster, so that’s a good place to start.
It is difficult for me to remark or make any kind of diagnosis without examining the cat or seeing the x-rays. I know he has seen several veterinarians but I highly recommend you taking him to a holistic vet. A holistic vet will probably change his diet to therapeutically help support his immune system and additionally use homeopathics and supplements to help fight the virus.
The diet makes a big difference in recovery and the Science Diet and Purina are too high is carbohydrates to benefit a sick cat.
It is interesting he did better after vomiting up the mop string, as that may be a sign that it was the primary problem. Bloodwork showing exposure to the corona virus is not necessarily a positive diagnosis of FIP. As long as he is improving I would continue to support his immune system. Best of luck.
Regards,
Colleen Smith DVM, CVA, CVCP