Prayers for Gracie Please

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2002
Prayers for Gracie Please
14
Thu, 04-21-2005 - 8:25pm

This is such a difficult post...I have been extremely brokenhearted over the past 24 hours. I heard back from Dr Sharyn yesterday. She said she'd heard back via e-mail from the FIP expert at Texas A&M (Dr Wolf) and also from the internal medicine specialist at VSEC hospital in Kansas. Both had reviewed Gracie's blood tests and her cytology report. Sadly both had told Dr Sharyn that they think Gracie has FIP and will die. The specialist at VSEC said he did not see any point in my bringing Gracie to see him for more testing. He said they see cats like her all the time and he seemed confident it was FIP. I was told to give her 1/2 pill of prednisone twice a day to help reduce inflammation, to hopefully increase her appetite and make her feel generally better. The down side is it supresses her immune system and there's no going back. :-( I still can't accept this since Sharyn had just last week led me to believe this was NOT FIP and that there was hope. Now it's all gone again. How can they be so certain when she's been holding her own....maintaining her weight, playing with Misha, keeping a mostly normal temp, having normal eyes and heart and other organs?? I wish they'd do a coronavirus teter test as well as MRI or something to non-invasively show what's going on inside her. I need more proof! I am sending her records to Dr Pedersen at UC Davis. He is supposed to be the world's best expert on FIP. He just had an article on FIP in the June issue of Cat Fancy where he said he is against vets misdiagnosing FIP without having all the facts. I pray he'll respond to me and confirm if I should get any more tests. I am just in shock and don't want to give up on her unless every expert tells me they are 100% sure it's FIP. I am forced to give her this med now and basically give her as much comfort and support as I can while she's still reasonably well. If she begins to decline (which is hard to imagine since she's done so well for 2 months now) and shows signs of pain and/or organ failure, then I will of course, with much remorse, be with her as she leaves this world. It was horrible watching ^Gandalf^ be euthanized and I have a feeling it's going to be even worse watching Gracie....she's had such a close bond to us all and she really is our baby! Then I will have to once again tearfully watch as she is cremated. When we had ^Gandalf^ cremated we saw a beautiful figurine of a cat that looks like gracie that you can put the ashes into. I think that's what we will choose to hold her ashes.....the thought is making me cry again.

I wish I had better news. I couldn't even post last night I was so torn apart. Thank you all for your friendship, support and prayers for my Gracie. I wish she could have a miracle! Misha is going to miss her so much and it will break my heart to see it.

Love & Hugs,

A very sad Suzy





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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Sat, 04-23-2005 - 9:25am
The local vets around this rural area don't do in depth tests unless you make them. Alot of times they will say your animal has such and such and advise to pts. I have a cat that has the "pudding" upset tummy alot, the vet put her on predisone to try and stop it and I believe flagyl once also. They said she could have diabetes or the intestine problems. Her meds pretty well cleared her up, also I had been giving her milk, which she didn't need. I couldn't tell you about any blood work. I guess that, and the low grade fevers tell you something is wrong with your cat and her low amount of food she needs. I still am glad you are seeking excellent treatment. I hope you hear from the specialist Monday, if not call them back and call them back. You do have hope with Gracie keeping on some weight. Have you tried chicken broth, real chicken or fish? My cats hate the science diet can foods of any kind. After my cats recent surgery she didn't want to eat much, the vet (from a larger town), said to feed her the table food, anything she wanted for a few days. Please let us know what the vet says. Good luck and just keep thinking positive thoughts. Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2002
Sat, 04-23-2005 - 12:24pm

Thank you (((Donna))). I have gotten her to eat a wee bit of tuna but I hesitate to give her too much since it's supposedly not good to feed on a regular basis. I will try some chicken on her today. She ignored the cottage cheese, roast beef, etc. I've tried in the past per my vets' suggestions. The Science Diet canned is for syringe feeding...I'm not sure if there are any other foods I could syringe feed her with? One woman at the Humane Society suggested I try putting in some cooked rice with the can food to help prevent diarrhea. I guess I could try that too?

I will search for someone to do the ultrasound and other two tests I want done before giving her prednisolone again which I honestly feel is like a death sentence since there would be no going back as far as her immune system goes. I just have to give her this last chance.

Hugs,





iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Sat, 04-23-2005 - 8:35pm
I wonder if some baby foods could be syringe fed? I know they put rice in lots of cat and dog foods so it should be safe. Maybe not too much though, it wouldn't swell up in her stomach or anything would it? I'd ask my vet if I were you. You need to go with your gut feeling on the predisone and get the tests done and then quickly decide. I wish tomorrow was Monday so you could get started. Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-13-2005
Mon, 04-25-2005 - 8:39am
I HAVE GIVEN MY CATS CHICKEN BABY FOOD AND THEY WELL EAT THAT WHEN THEY WONT EAT ANYTHING ELSE. DUSTY LIKES IT. IHAVE 2 CATS THAT HAVE A CAPSOLE 2 TIMES A DAY AND OPEN THE CAPSOLE AND MIX IT IN BABY AND THEY EAT IT RIGHT DOWN. I'LL BE THINKING ABOUT GRACIE AND PRAY EVERTHING GOES WELL. JOANN

LOVE IS SHOWN BY DEEDS, NOT WORDS.

LOVE IS SHOWN BY DEEDS, NOT WORDS.

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